Systems and methods for presence estimation for missing products

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform operations for presence accuracy enhancement in a wireless tag tracking environment, the operations comprising:

• accessing a data structure linking each of a plurality of wireless identification tags with an associated product, wherein each associated product is linked to an associated product family;
• receiving in a first time period, first identification transmissions from a first set of at least some of the plurality of wireless identification tags;
• determining locations of the first set of wireless identification tags during the first time period based on at least one of an amplitude, a phase, a frequency, or data content of the received first identification transmissions;
• receiving in a second time period, following the first time period, second identification transmissions from a second set of at least some of the plurality of wireless identification tags;
• determining locations of the second set of wireless identification tags during the second time period based on at least one of an amplitude, a phase, a frequency, or data content of the received second identification transmissions;
• determining, based on a difference between the first identification transmissions and the second identification transmissions, a cessation of reception of a missing wireless identification tag, wherein the difference between the first identification transmissions and the second identification transmissions includes an absence in the second identification transmissions of transmission of a wireless identification tag which existed in the first identification transmission;
• determining a percentage likelihood that the missing wireless identification tag remains present at a particular location of the missing wireless identification tag, the particular location being a determined location of the missing wireless identification tag during the first time period, wherein determining the percentage likelihood is based on at least two of:
• the particular location of the missing wireless identification tag during the first time period,
• other products detected during the second time period in proximity to a previously known location of the missing wireless identification tag,
• locations determined during the second time period of other wireless identification tags linked to associated products of a same product family as the missing wireless identification tag,
• identification transmissions received during the second time period from other wireless identification tags linked to associated products of the same product family as the missing wireless identification tag whose identification transmissions were not received during the first time period,
• structures in proximity to the particular location of the missing wireless identification tag during the first time period,
• a total number of other products in the product family of the missing wireless identification tag detected during the second time period, or
• a total number of products in the product family of the missing wireless identification tag expected to be present during the second time period;
• and
• adjusting an inventory based on the determined percentage likelihood;
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the first identification transmissions from the first set of wireless identification tags and the second identification transmissions from the second set of wireless identification tags via at least one reader in a retail establishment, the at least one reader being configured to automatically receive signals transmitted by the wireless identification tags;
• and
• wherein the at least one reader includes at least one of a handheld scanner or a fixed scanner.

A method for presence accuracy enhancement in a wireless tag tracking environment, the method including steps executed by at least one processor, the steps comprising:

• accessing a data structure linking each of a plurality of wireless identification tags with an associated product, wherein each associated product is linked to an associated product family;
• receiving in a first time period, first identification transmissions from a first set of at least some of the plurality of wireless identification tags;
• determining locations of the first set of wireless identification tags during the first time period based on at least one of an amplitude, a phase, a frequency, or data content of the received first identification transmissions;
• receiving in a second time period, following the first time period, second identification transmissions from a second set of at least some of the plurality of wireless identification tags;
• determining locations of the second set of wireless identification tags during the second time period based on at least one of an amplitude, a phase, a frequency, or data content of the received second identification transmissions;
• determining, based on a difference between the first identification transmissions and the second identification transmissions, a cessation of reception of a missing wireless identification tag, wherein the difference between the first identification transmissions and the second identification transmissions includes an absence in the second identification transmissions of transmission of a wireless identification tag which existed in the first identification transmission;
• determining a percentage likelihood that the missing wireless identification tag remains present at a particular location of the missing wireless identification tag, the particular location being a determined location of the missing wireless identification tag during the first time period, wherein determining the percentage likelihood is based on at least two of:
• the particular location of the missing wireless identification tag during the first time period,
• other products detected during the second time period in proximity to a previously known location of the missing wireless identification tag,
• locations determined during the second time period of other wireless identification tags linked to associated products of a same product family as the missing wireless identification tag,
• identification transmissions received during the second time period from other wireless identification tags linked to associated products of the same product family as the missing wireless identification tag whose identification transmissions were not received during the first time period,
• structures in proximity to the particular location of the missing wireless identification tag during the first time period,
• a total number of other products in the product family of the missing wireless identification tag detected during the second time period, or
• a total number of products in the product family of the missing wireless identification tag expected to be present during the second time period;
• and
• adjusting an inventory based on the determined percentage likelihood;
• wherein the at least one processor receives the first identification transmissions from the first set of wireless identification tags and the second identification transmissions from the second set of wireless identification tags via at least one reader in a retail establishment, the at least one reader being configured to automatically receive signals transmitted by the wireless identification tags;
• and
• wherein the at least one reader includes at least one of a handheld scanner or a fixed scanner.