# US 2017/0285128 A1 · Systems and Methods for Estimating a Geographical Location of an Unmapped Object Within a Defined Environment

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- Number: US 2017/0285128 A1
- Document ID: US20170285128A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/478,628
- Filed: 2017-04-04
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04
- Assignees: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
- Applicants: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert James Taylor; Nicholaus Adam Jones; Matthew Allen Jones; Aaron James Vasgaard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285128A1

## CPC

- G01S 5/0252: {Radio frequency fingerprinting}
- G01S 5/0294: {Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering}
- G01S 5/0295: {Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals}
- G01S 13/74: Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
- G06K 7/10722: {Photodetector array or CCD scanning}
- G06K 7/1413: {1D bar codes}
- G01S 19/13: Receivers
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media are provided for rendering at an electronic terminal a first set of graphical user interfaces to request a first set of data from a user, receiving, at a central server in communication with the electronic terminal, the first set of data from the user, communicating the first set of data via a stateless edge appliance to a third party verification server in a selected one of a plurality of third party computer networks to validate the first set of data, rendering a second set of graphical user interfaces to request a second set of data from the user, communicating the second set of data to the third party verification server to authenticate the second set of data, and authenticating the user in response to receipt of authentication of the second set of data.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for estimating a geographical location at which an unmapped object is disposed within a defined environment comprising:
retrieving, from an activity database, a first list of objects associated with a first completed collection action, the first list of objects including an unmapped object and a first plurality of mapped objects;
retrieving, from an object mapping database, a first set of locations that includes a location within the defined environment of each of the first plurality of mapped objects;
determining, by a processor, based on the first set of locations, a first estimated route traversed through the defined environment to acquire the first plurality of mapped objects;
retrieving, from the activity database, a second list of objects associated with a second completed collection action, the second list of objects including the unmapped object and a second plurality of mapped objects;
retrieving, from the object mapping database, a second set of locations that includes a location within the defined environment of each of the second plurality of mapped objects;
determining, by the processor, based on the second set of locations, a second estimated route traversed through the defined environment to acquire the second plurality of mapped objects;
detecting, by the processor, at least one intersection point of the first and second estimated routes at a geographic location within the defined environment; and
identifying, by the processor, one of the at least one intersection points of the first and second estimated routes as an unmapped object location within the defined environment,
wherein the first list of objects indicates an order of collection of the first list of objects; and
wherein the determination of the first estimated route is further based on the order of collection of the first list of objects.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
retrieving, from the activity database, a third list of objects associated with a third completed collection action, the third list of objects including the unmapped object and a third plurality of mapped objects;
retrieving, from the object mapping database, a third set of locations that includes a location within the defined environment of each of the third plurality of mapped objects;
determining, by the processor, based on the third set of locations, a third estimated route traversed through the defined environment to acquire the third plurality of mapped objects;
detecting, by the processor, at least one intersection point of the first second and third estimated routes at a geographic location within the defined environment; and
identifying, by the processor, one of the at least one intersection points of the first, second, and third estimated routes as an unmapped object location within the defined environment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the unmapped object location with the unmapped object in the object mapping database.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the activity database is coupled to one or more mobile devices, each mobile device including a scanning module and executing an application.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
scanning, via each of the scanning modules of the one or more mobile devices, machine-readable elements encoded with identifiers associated with the objects in the first, second or third list of objects and
receiving, via each of the applications executed on the one or more mobile devices, decoded identifiers associated with the objects in the first, second or third list of objects.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second list of objects indicates an order of collection of the second list of objects; and
wherein the determination of the second estimated route is further based on the order of collection of the second list of objects.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the first list of objects indicates an order of collection of the first list of objects;
wherein the determination of the first estimated route is further based on the order of collection of the first list of objects;
wherein the second list of objects indicates an order of collection of the second list of objects;
wherein the determination of the second estimated route is further based on the order of collection of the second list of objects;
wherein the third list of objects indicates an order of collection of the third list of objects; and
wherein the determination of the third estimated route is further based on the order of collection of the third list of objects.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
detecting an indication of an incoherent route associated with at least one of the first estimated route, the second estimated route, or the third estimated route; and
excluding the at least one of the first estimated route, the second estimated route, or the third estimated route associated with the indication of an incoherent route from the detection of the at least one intersection point.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of at least one of the first estimated route or the second estimated route is further based on previously recorded sensor data acquired by a plurality of sensors distributed within the defined environment.

### Claim 10

A method for estimating a geographical location at which an unmapped object is disposed within a defined environment comprising:
receiving, at a central computing device from an activity database, a series of lists of objects associated with a series of completed collection actions, each of the series of lists of objects including an unmapped object and a plurality of mapped objects;
retrieving, from an object mapping database in response to receiving the series of lists of objects, a series of sets of locations, each set of locations including a location within the defined environment of each of the plurality of mapped objects;
determining, by a processor, based on the series of sets of locations, a plurality of estimated routes traversed through the defined environment to acquire each plurality of mapped objects corresponding to each of the series of lists of objects;
detecting, by the processor, at least one intersection point of the plurality of estimated routes at a geographic location within the defined environment; and
identifying, by the processor, one of the at least one intersection points of the plurality of estimated routes as an unmapped object location within the defined environment,
wherein the series of lists of objects each indicate an order of collection of the respective list of objects; and
wherein the determination of the plurality of estimated routes is further based on the order of collection of the plurality of lists of objects.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising associating the unmapped object location with the unmapped object in the object mapping database.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
storing the plurality of estimated routes in a memory of the central computing device;
receiving, at the central computing device, at least one additional list of objects associated with at least one additional completed collection action, the at least one additional list of objects including an unmapped object and a plurality of additional mapped objects;
retrieving, from an object mapping database in response to receiving the at least one additional list of objects, at least one additional set of locations including a location within the defined environment of each of the plurality of additional mapped objects;
determining, by the processor, based on the set of locations, at least one additional estimated route traversed through the defined environment to acquire each of the additional plurality of mapped objects;
detecting, by the processor, at least one updated intersection point of the plurality of estimated routes with the at least one additional estimated route at a geographic location within the defined environment; and
identifying, by the processor, one of the at least one updated intersection points of the plurality of estimated routes as an updated unmapped object location within the defined environment.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising associating the updated unmapped object location with the unmapped object in the object mapping database.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the central computing system is coupled to one or more mobile devices, each mobile device including a scanning module and executing an application.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
scanning, via each of the scanning modules of the one or more mobile devices, machine-readable elements encoded with identifiers associated with the objects in the first, second or third list of objects and
receiving, via each of the applications executed on the one or more mobile devices, decoded identifiers associated with the objects in the first, second or third list of objects.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
detecting an indication of an incoherent route associated with at least one of the plurality of estimated routes; and
excluding the at least one of the plurality of estimated routes associated with the indication of an incoherent route from the detection of the at least one intersection point.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the determination of at least one of the plurality of estimated routes is further based on previously recorded sensor data acquired by a plurality of sensors distributed within the defined environment.

### Claim 18

A system for estimating a geographical location at which an unmapped object is disposed within a defined environment comprising:
an activity database storing a plurality of lists of objects each associated with one of a plurality of completed collection actions, each of the lists of objects including an unmapped object and a plurality of mapped objects;
a mapping database storing a plurality of sets of locations, each set of locations including a location within the defined environment of each of the plurality of mapped objects;
a central computing device having a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the central computing device to:
retrieve, from the activity database, a first list of objects associated with a first completed collection action, the first list of objects including an unmapped object and a first plurality of mapped objects;
retrieve, from the mapping database, a first set of locations that includes a location within the defined environment of each of the first plurality of mapped objects;
determine, based on the first set of locations, a first estimated route traversed through the defined environment to acquire the first plurality of mapped objects;
retrieve, from the activity database, a second list of objects associated with a second completed collection action, the second list of objects including the unmapped object and a second plurality of mapped objects;
retrieve, from the object mapping database, a second set of locations that includes a location within the defined environment of each of the second plurality of mapped objects;
determine, based on the second set of locations, a second estimated route traversed through the defined environment to acquire the second plurality of mapped objects;
detect at least one intersection point of the first and second estimated routes at a geographic location within the defined environment; and
identify one of the at least one intersection points of the first and second estimated routes as an unmapped object location within the defined environment,
wherein the series of lists of objects each indicate an order of collection of the respective list of objects; and
wherein the determination of the plurality of estimated routes is further based on the order of collection of the plurality of lists of objects.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the central computing device to:
retrieve, from the activity database, a third list of objects associated with a third completed collection action, the third list of objects including the unmapped object and a third plurality of mapped objects;
retrieve, from the object mapping database, a third set of locations that includes a location within the defined environment of each of the third plurality of mapped objects;
determine based on the third set of locations, a third estimated route traversed through the defined environment to acquire the third plurality of mapped objects;
detect at least one intersection point of the first second and third estimated routes at a geographic location within the defined environment;
identify one of the at least one intersection points of the first, second, and third estimated routes as an unmapped object location within the defined environment; and
associate the unmapped object location with the unmapped object in the object mapping database.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the first list of objects indicates an order of collection of the first list of objects;
wherein the determination of the first estimated route is further based on the order of collection of the first list of objects;
wherein the second list of objects indicates an order of collection of the second list of objects;
wherein the determination of the second estimated route is further based on the order of collection of the second list of objects;
wherein the third list of objects indicates an order of collection of the third list of objects; and
wherein the determination of the third estimated route is further based on the order of collection of the third list of objects.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the central computing device to:
detect an indication of an incoherent route associated with at least one of the first estimated route, the second estimated route, or the third estimated route; and
exclude the at least one of the first estimated route, the second estimated route, or the third estimated route associated with the indication of an incoherent route from the detection of the at least one intersection point.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of sensors distributed within the defined environment, wherein the memory further includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the central computing device to:
receive, from the plurality of sensors distributed within the defined environment, a quantity of previously recorded sensor data, wherein the determination of at least one of the plurality of estimated routes is further based on the previously recorded sensor data.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, further comprising one or more mobile devices coupled to the activity database, each mobile device including a scanning module and executing an application, the one or more mobile devices configured to:
scan, via each of the scanning modules, machine-readable elements encoded with identifiers associated with the objects in the first, second or third list of objects and
receive, via each of the applications executed on the one or more mobile devices, decoded identifiers associated with the objects in the first, second or third list of objects.