# US 11,109,692 B2 · Systems and methods for merchandizing electronic displays

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- Number: US 11,109,692 B2
- Document ID: US11109692B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/434,354
- Filed: 2019-06-07
- Published: 2019-09-19
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-12
- Assignees: RTC Industries, Inc.
- Applicants: RTC Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: John Swafford
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11109692B2

## CPC

- A47F 5/0068: {Shelf extensions, e.g. fixed on price rail}
- A47F 10/02: for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets (A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D)
- G06Q 10/08726: {for replenishment processing, procedures, or recommendations using forecasting or optimisation}
- A47F 1/126: {the pushing device being urged by spring means}
- A47F 2010/005: {using RFID elements}
- A47F 2010/025: {using stock management systems}
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/08724: {by shelf level inventory management, e.g. planograms}
- G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- 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

Systems and methods for a merchandizing display related to a continuous display formed by electronic displays embedded along product shelves and on the packages stored on the product shelves. An electronic label device may detect the presence of a consumer and send a trigger to the packages on its product shelf. The electronic label device may also send a trigger to surrounding electronic label devices. A streaming video may then be apportioned among displays on electronic label devices and the packages. Each of the displays may simultaneously output a different portion of the streaming video.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
determine a location of one or more shelf edge electronic displays positioned on a shelf, the shelf edge electronic displays associated with one or more items positioned on the shelf within a facility, wherein the one or more items each have an electronic display;
detect a computing device associated with a user within the facility;
determine, via the computing device, whether the user is in proximity to the one or more shelf edge electronic displays associated with the one or more items;
direct the user to the one or more items by altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays when the user is in proximity to the one or more items;
alter the electronic display of a first item of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items; and
direct the user to other items similar to or related to the one or more items by altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays and the electronic display of the first item of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items by apportioning a streaming video between the one or more shelf edge electronic displays and the electronic display of the first item of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
determine that the one or more items are on a shopping list stored on a mobile device associated with the user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays further comprises displaying an advertisement of a first item.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the advertisement comprises an indication that the first item is on sale.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
re-altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays or an electronic display of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items for a threshold period of time.

### Claim 6

A method comprising:
determining a location of one or more shelf edge electronic displays associated with one or more items within a facility, wherein the one or more items each have an electronic display;
determining a computing device associated with a user within the facility;
determine, via the computing device, whether the user is in proximity to the one or more shelf edge electronic displays associated with the one or more items;
directing the user to the one or more items by altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays when the user is in proximity to the one or more items;
altering the electronic display of a first item of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items; and
direct the user to other items similar to or related to the one or more items by altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays and altering the electronic display of the first item of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items by apportioning a streaming video between the one or more shelf edge electronic displays and the electronic display of the first item of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
determine that the one or more items are on a shopping list stored on a mobile device associated with the user.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays further comprises displaying an advertisement of a first item.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the advertisement comprises an indication that the first item is on sale.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising
re-altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays or an electronic display of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items for a threshold period of time.

### Claim 11

One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
determine a location of one or more shelf edge electronic displays associated with one or more items within a facility, wherein the one or more items each have an electronic display;
detect a computing device associated with a user within the facility;
determine, via the computing device, whether the user is in proximity to the one or more shelf edge electronic displays associated with the one or more items;
direct the user to the one or more items by altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays when the user is in proximity to the one or more items;
alter the electronic display of a first item of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items; and
direct the user to other items similar or related to the one or more items by altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays and altering the electronic display of the first item of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items by apportioning a streaming video between the one or more shelf edge electronic displays and the electronic display of the first item of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
determine that the one or more items are on a shopping list stored on a mobile device associated with the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 11, wherein altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays further comprises displaying an advertisement of a first item.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
re-altering the one or more shelf edge electronic displays or an electronic display of the one or more items when the user is in proximity to the one or more items for a threshold period of time.