US 2019/0294835 A1Published application

Radio frequency monitoring of a shopping facility

AssigneeWalmart Apollo, LLC

InventorsNicholaus A. Jones, Jeremy R. Tingler, Alvin S. Taulbee, Todd D. Mattingly

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Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitor a shopping facility. The shopping facility can include an array of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers distributed throughout the facility to thereby receive and read signals generated from RFID tags within the facility. RFID tags can advantageously be coupled to and associated with products within the facility so that readings of the tags can be used to monitor the status of the products. A control circuit can be coupled to the RFID readers to thereby analyze the readings and compile readings over time. With this, the control circuit can monitor the shopping facility to identify scenarios requiring follow up. Upon identification of one of the scenarios, the control circuit can instruct an automated ground vehicle (AGV) to inspect an identified product at a location within the facility. The AGV can operate a sensor thereof to determine a status of the identified product.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for monitoring a shopping facility using transmitters, the system comprising:

an array of receivers within the shopping facility configured to read transmitters coupled to products within the shopping facility;
an automated ground vehicle (AGV) having a sensor;
a control circuit in communication with the database, the array of receivers and the AGV, the control circuit configured to:
receive readings of transmitters from one or more of the receivers;
analyze the readings to identify the products associated with the transmitters;
determine locations of the products within the shopping facility;
monitor fluctuations of a read rate and signal strength of the readings over time for individual ones of the products to identify the presence of customers adjacent thereto to identify a predefined situation selected for investigation for a particular product;
command the AGV to investigate the particular product according to the predefined situation;
wherein the AGV is configured to:
navigate to a location of the particular product;
and
operate the sensor to capture data as set forth in the predefined situation;
wherein at least one of the control circuit and the AGV is further configured to analyze the data to determine a next action.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/436,376Filed 10 Jun 2019
Priority: 21 Jul 2017
Published: 26 Sep 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06K 7/10376
The interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications: the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
B62B 5/0096
Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts: identification of the cart or merchandise, e.g. by barcodes or radio frequency…
G06K 7/10475
The interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications: arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices,…
G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…

Family

Application62/535,397Us provisional application · filed 21 Jul 2017
Application16/041,425Continuation · filed 20 Jul 2018
Application16/436,376Continuation
US 10,366,261 B2Related patent
US 10,558,829 B2Related patent
US 2019/0026513 A1Published application
US 2019/0294835 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.