Vlc location data applications in a retail setting
AssigneeTarget Brands, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Olsen, Robert Gilman, Lew Price
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Abstract
A retail merchandising system includes a plurality of gondolas positioned in a retail space, a plurality of visible light communication (VLC) sources positioned in the retail space, and at least one VLC sensor disposed at a fixed location relative to each of the plurality of gondolas. The plurality of VLC sources and the at least one VLC sensor are configured to cooperatively identify a location of the gondolas in the retail space. With pre-stored planograms and the locations of the store gondolas, product locations can be readily determined. Additionally, the system can determine customer locations and communicate with customers and/or track customer activity.
Claims20
A retail merchandising system comprising:
- a plurality of gondolas positioned in a retail space;
- a plurality of visible light communication (VLC) sources positioned in the retail space;
- at least one VLC sensor disposed at a fixed location relative to each of the plurality of gondolas, the plurality of VLC sources and the at least one VLC sensor being configured to cooperatively identify a location of the gondolas in the retail space;
- and
- a system server communicating with the VLC sources and the VLC sensors, wherein the system server is programmed to process data received from the VLC sensors to identify the location of the gondolas,
- wherein a mobile device associated with a customer is configured to receive signals from the VLC sources, and wherein the system server is programmed to determine a location of the mobile device and to communicate with the mobile device and the VLC sensors.
A method of operating a retail establishment using visual light communication (VLC) technology, the method comprising:
- (a) positioning a plurality of gondolas in the retail establishment;
- (b) positioning a plurality of VLC sources in the retail establishment;
- (c) positioning at least one VLC sensor at a fixed location relative to each of the plurality of gondolas;
- (d) identifying a location of the gondolas in the retail space based on signals from the VLC sources and the at least one VLC sensor;
- and
- (e) determining a location of a mobile device configured to receive signals from the VLC sources and communicating with the mobile device.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of gondolas positioned in a retail space, the plurality of gondolas aligned in rows and defining shopping aisles between them;
- a plurality of visible light communication (VLC) sources positioned in the retail space;
- at least one VLC sensor positioned relative to each of the plurality of gondolas, the plurality of VLC sources and the at least one VLC sensor being configured to cooperatively identify a location of the gondolas in the retail space;
- a system server communicating with the VLC sources and the at least one VLC sensor, the system server storing planograms of the products placed in the shopping aisles, wherein the system server is configured to identify locations of the products in the retail space placed in the shopping aisles based on the locations of the gondolas and the planograms;
- and
- a wireless network,
- wherein the system server communicates with the mobile device via the wireless network, and wherein the mobile device comprises a unique address/identifier, the system server constructing a special packet that combines location information gathered via the VLC sources with the unique address/identifier of the mobile device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.