Systems and methods for monitoring shopping cart wheels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10118635-B2
Application number	US-201715835958-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2017
Priority date	Feb 9, 2017
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for evaluating shopping cart wheels using a sensor module or one or more microphones engaged with the shopping cart. The microphones can be used to detect sounds generated by the wheels of the shopping cart. A sound signature can be determined from the detected sound and compared to sound signatures in a database. If the detected sound indicates that a wheel of the shopping cart is failing, an alert can be generated using an associate alert system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring the status of a wheel of a manually driven shopping cart, the system comprising:
a shopping cart including a frame, a basket supported by the frame, and wheels configured to support the frame;
a sensor module engaged with the shopping cart, the sensor module including one or more microphones positioned on the shopping cart to detect sounds generated by the wheels of the shopping cart and a communication module configured to emit wireless transmissions in response to the sounds detected by the one or more microphones;
a wireless receiver configured to receive the wireless transmissions from the sensor module; and
a server in communication with the wireless receiver, the server including an associate alert system and a processor that can execute instructions to:
receive the wireless transmissions from the sensor module via the wireless receiver, the wireless transmissions including signals associated with the sounds generated by the wheels detected by the one or more microphones of the sensor module; and
generate an alert using the associate alert system in response to determining that the signals received by the server indicate that at least one of the wheels of the shopping cart is failing.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor module further comprises an identifier associated with the shopping cart, and wherein the communication module is configured to emit wireless transmissions including the identifier.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor module further comprises a memory including a database of sound signatures and a processor to execute instructions to:
receive signals associated with the sounds generated by the wheels detected by the one or more microphones;
derive a sound signature from the received signals;
compare the sound signature of the received signals to a signature in the database of sound signatures; and
send, via the communication module, wireless transmissions including the results of the comparison.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein generating an alert using the associate alert system in response to determining that the signals received by the server indicate that at least one of the wheels of the shopping cart is failing includes:
deriving a sound signature from the signals received via wireless transmission;
comparing the sound signature to a signature in a database of sound signatures; and
generating an alert using the associate alert system if the comparison indicates that at least one of the wheels is failing.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the sensor module includes a first microphone and a second microphone.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein deriving a sound signature from the communication includes comparing signals from the first microphone and the second microphone to identify a wheel from among the plurality of wheels on the shopping cart, and wherein alerting the associate using the associate alert system includes indicating the identified wheel to the associate.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor module further comprises one or more of a digital signal processor or a frequency pre-filter.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor module includes a power generation system.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the power generation system generates power from motion of a cart wheel, a solar cell, or an inductive charging station.

10. A method of monitoring the status of a wheel of a manually driven shopping cart, the method comprising:
detecting sounds generated by the wheels of a shopping cart using a sensor module engaged with the shopping cart, the sensor module including one or more microphones positioned on the shopping cart;
receiving, at a server including an associate alert system and a processor, wireless transmissions from a communication module of the sensor module including signals associated with the detected sounds generated by the wheels;
generating an alert using the associate alert system in response to determining that the signals received by the server indicate that at least one of the wheels of the shopping cart is failing.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving the signals from the one or more microphones at a processor of the sensor module, the sensor module comprising a memory including a database of sound signatures;
deriving, using the processor, a sound signature from the received signals;
comparing, using the processor, the sound signature of the received signals to a signature in the database of sound signatures; and
sending, via the communication module, a communication including the results of the comparison.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein generating an alert using the associate alert system includes:
deriving a sound signature from the communication;
comparing the sound signature from the communication to a signature in a database of sound signatures; and
alerting a user of the associate alert system in response to the comparison indicating a failing cart wheel.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor module includes a first microphone and a second microphone.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein deriving a sound signature from the communication includes comparing signals from the first microphone and the second microphone to identify a wheel from among a plurality of wheels on the cart, and wherein alerting the associate using the associate alert system includes indicating the identified wheel to the associate.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor module further comprises one or more of a digital signal processor or a frequency pre-filter.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor module includes a power generation system.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising generating power with the power generation system from motion of a cart wheel, a solar cell, or an inductive charging station.

18. A shopping cart, comprising:
a frame;
a basket supported by the frame;
wheels configured to support the frame;
one or more microphones disposed on the frame or the basket and positioned to detect sounds generated by rotation of at least one of the wheels;
a frequency pre-filter configured to filter signals output by the one or more of the microphones;
a communication module; and
a digital signal processor operatively coupled to the one or more microphones via the frequency pre-filter and operatively coupled to the communication module,
wherein the digital signal processor is configured to control the communication module to transmit a message corresponding to the signals output by the one or more microphones to a server.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Jones Nicholaus Adam
• Biermann Matthew Dwain
• Lewis Steven Jackson

Classifications

• G01H3/00

  Measuring {characteristics of} vibrations by using a detector in a fluid (G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62B3/1404

  Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements (B62B5/0423 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62B5/0096 Primary

  Identification of the cart or merchandise, e.g. by barcodes or radio frequency identification [RFID] · CPC title

• G07C3/14

  Quality control systems · CPC title

• B62B3/1492

  Wheel arrangements · CPC title