# US 10,499,754 B2 · Sensing device for shopping cart > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,754 B2 - Document ID: US10499754B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/685,015 - Filed: 2017-08-24 - Published: 2018-03-22 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-21 - Assignees: Walmart Apollo, LLC - Applicants: Walmart Apollo, LLC - Inventors: Daniel Howell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499754B2 ## CPC - A47F 10/02: for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets (A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D) - G01C 21/206: {specially adapted for indoor navigation} - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G06Q 10/08726: {for replenishment processing, procedures, or recommendations using forecasting or optimisation} - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A sensing device is paired with a shopping cart for assisting an operator of the shopping cart, and comprises a sensor unit that receives and processes telemetry data received from a context source; a processor that reads the telemetry data from the sensor unit; and a transmitter that wirelessly transmits the read telemetry data directly from the sensing device to a mobile computing device. The read telemetry data is processed by the mobile computing device to perform a navigation operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensing device paired with a shopping cart for assisting an operator of the shopping cart, comprising: a sensor unit that receives and processes telemetry data received from a context source; a processor that reads the telemetry data from the sensor unit; and a transmitter that wirelessly transmits the read telemetry data directly from the sensor unit to a mobile computing device, wherein the sensing device operates as a proxy for an application executed by the mobile computing device which lacks a function performed by the sensor unit such that the read telemetry data is processed by the mobile computing device to perform a navigation calculation operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a power source configured to supply power to at least one of the sensor unit and the transmitter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the power source is at least one of a battery, kinetic capacitor, or solar device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes at least one of a visual light context (VLC) processor or a camera. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the telemetry data includes signal strength information, which is compared to known telemetry, geography, and signal strength levels broadcast in a region of the sensing device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the telemetry data is not stored on the sensor unit after transmission. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is integrated with a portion of the shopping cart. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is detachable from the shopping cart. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is paired with the shopping cart to allow for ergonomic holstering or pocketing of the sensing device while maintaining system functionality. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the shopping cart is a storage-free shopping cart and the telemetry data is delivered directly from the storage-free shopping cart to the mobile computing device for performing the navigation calculation operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit senses a change in context when the sensor unit is moved to different contexts at a store location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit and the processor provide the proxy for a mobile device application. ### Claim 13 A shopper assistance system, comprising: a mobile computing device application; and a peripheral device attached to a shopping cart, the peripheral device comprising: a sensor unit that receives and processes one or more environmental input data; a processor that reads the environmental input data from the sensor unit; and a transmitter that wirelessly transmits the read environmental input data to the mobile computing device application, wherein the sensor unit operates as a proxy for the mobile computing device application executed by a mobile computing device which lacks a function performed by the sensor unit such that the read environmental input data is processed by the mobile computing device application to perform a navigation calculation operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The shopper assistance system of claim 13, wherein the environmental input data includes telemetry data that is delivered directly from the shopping cart to the mobile computing device application executed by the mobile computing device for performing the navigation calculation operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The shopper assistance system of claim 13, wherein the sensor unit senses a change in context when the sensor unit is moved to different contexts at a store location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The shopper assistance system of claim 13, wherein the sensor unit and the processor provide the proxy for mobile computing device application. ### Claim 17 A method of navigation in a store, comprising: collecting telemetry data from one or more sensors in the store by a peripheral device attached to a shopping cart; and wirelessly transmitting, with a transmitter of the peripheral device, the collected telemetry data to a mobile computing device configured to use the telemetry data to perform a navigation operation, wherein the peripheral device is a proxy for the mobile computing device lacks a function performed by the peripheral device such that the telemetry data is processed by the mobile computing device to perform a navigation calculation operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the telemetry data is delivered directly from the shopping cart to the mobile computing device for performing navigation operations from a processor of the mobile computing device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the peripheral device senses a change in context when the shopping cart is moved to different contexts at a store location.