Detection system for unsafe activity at a shelving unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10157532-B2
Application number	US-201715850797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2017
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

Methods, systems, and machine readable medium are provided for a detection system for identifying unsafe activity occurring at a shelving unit. A plurality of distance sensors are disposed at a top end of the shelving unit and point downwards towards a bottom end of the shelving unit. The plurality of sensors are configured to detect presence of a person near the shelving unit. An initial height of the person is determined, and a change in height of the person is detected. A processor determined whether the change in height indicates unsafe activity at the shelving unit. If unsafe activity is determined, then an alert is generated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for alerting a user of unsafe activity at a shelving unit, the method comprising:
disposing a plurality of distance sensors at the shelving unit, the shelving unit having a top end and a bottom end, the plurality of distance sensors disposed at and along the top end of the shelving unit and pointing downwards towards the bottom end of the shelving unit;
detecting presence of a person near the shelving unit via data sensed by one or more of the plurality of distance sensors;
determining an initial height of the person relative to a floor using at least one of the plurality of distance sensors;
detecting, via a processor, a change in height of the person relative to the floor, wherein the change in height indicates an increase from the initial height;
determining, via the processor, whether the change in height indicates unsafe activity at the shelving unit;
generating, via the processor, an alert when the unsafe activity is determined;
determining a location of the unsafe activity within a facility using at least one of the plurality of distance sensors;
determining one or more users proximate to the location of the unsafe activity; and
transmitting the alert to one or more user devices associated with the one or more users.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether the change in height indicates unsafe activity is based on the initial height and the change in the height.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the alert to the user device based on proximity of the user device to the unsafe activity.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to generating an alert, transmitting an electrical signal to a speaker to cause the speaker to generate an audible warning to the person.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unsafe activity relates to the person climbing the shelving unit.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shelving unit has a height that is greater than six feet five inches measured between the bottom end and the top end.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shelving unit has a height of at least seven feet measured between the bottom end and the top end.

8. A detection system for alerting a user of unsafe activity at a shelving unit, the system comprising:
a plurality of distance sensors disposed at the shelving unit, the shelving unit having a top end and a bottom end, the plurality of distance sensors disposed at and along the top end of the shelving unit and pointing downwards towards the bottom end of the shelving unit;
wherein one or more of the plurality of distance sensors are configured to detect presence of a person near the shelving unit;
a server in communication with the plurality of distance sensors, wherein the server is configured to:
determine an initial height of the person relative to a floor using at least one of the plurality of distance sensors;
detect a change in height of the person relative to the floor, wherein the change in height indicates an increase from the initial height;
determine whether the change in height indicates unsafe activity at the shelving unit;
generate an alert when the unsafe activity is determined;
determine location of the unsafe activity within a facility using the plurality of distance sensors;
determine one or more users proximate to the location of the unsafe activity; and
transmit the alert to one or more user devices associated with the one or more users.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the server determines whether the change in height indicates unsafe activity based on the initial height and the change in the height.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to transmit the alert to the user device based on proximity of the user device to the unsafe activity.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to transmit an electrical signal to a speaker to cause the speaker to generate an audible warning to the person in response to generating the alert.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the unsafe activity relates to the person climbing the shelving unit.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the shelving unit is at least seven feet tall.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that causes a processor to implement a method for alerting a user of unsafe activity at a shelving unit, the method comprising:
receiving data sensed by a plurality of distance sensors at the shelving unit, the shelving unit having a top end and a bottom end, the plurality of distance sensors disposed at and along the top end of the shelving unit and pointing downwards towards the bottom end of the shelving unit;
detecting presence of a person near the shelving unit via the data sensed by one or more of the plurality of distance sensors;
determining an initial height of the person relative to a floor using at least one of the plurality of distance sensors;
detecting a change in height of the person relative to the floor, wherein the change in height indicates an increase from the initial height;
determining whether the change in height indicates unsafe activity at the shelving unit;
generating an alert when the unsafe activity is determined;
determining location of the unsafe activity within a facility using the plurality of distance sensors;
determining one or more users proximate to the location of the unsafe activity; and
transmitting the alert to one or more user devices associated with the one or more users.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting the alert to the user device based on proximity of the user device to the unsafe activity.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises in response to generating an alert, transmitting an electrical signal to a speaker to cause the speaker to generate an audible warning to the person.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Jones Nicholaus Adam
• Jones Matthew Allen
• Vasgaard Aaron

Classifications

• G08B21/182

  Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold · CPC title

• G08B21/02 Primary

  Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons · CPC title

• G08B21/0469

  Presence detectors to detect unsafe condition, e.g. infrared sensor, microphone (G08B21/0476 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08B21/22 Primary

  responsive to presence or absence of persons · CPC title

• G06V20/52

  Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) · CPC title