System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media related to concurrent presentation of retail facility maps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10467720-B2
Application number	US-201615010449-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2016
Priority date	Jan 29, 2016
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

Techniques related to concurrent presentation of retail facility maps are disclosed. The techniques involve acquiring tracking data relating to a location of a mobile device in a retail facility and acquiring, using for a search engine module, map data relating to a layout of the retail facility. A first map based on the map data is presented on a display of the mobile device. The first map comprises an entirety of the layout. A second map based on the map data and tracking data is concurrently presented on the display of the mobile device. The second map comprises a zoomed-in portion of the layout that is proximate to the location of the mobile device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A server, comprising:
a tracking system being configured to receive tracking data relating to a location of a mobile device as the mobile device moves through a retail facility;
a database comprising map data relating to a layout of the retail facility; and
a processor configured to:
generate for presentation on a display of the mobile device a first map based on the map data, wherein the first map is static and comprises an entirety of the layout; and
generate for concurrent presentation on the display of the mobile device a second map based on the map data and the tracking data, wherein the second map comprises a zoomed-in portion of the layout of the first map that is proximate to the location of the mobile device, wherein the first map and the second map are displayed on the display of the mobile device at a same time, the zoomed-in portion of the second map changes to follow the location of the mobile device as the mobile device moves through the retail facility, a boundary graphic indicative of a perimeter of the second map is displayed as an overlay over the first map, the overlay changes over the first map as the second map changes, the boundary graphic moves on the first map as the location of the mobile device moves through the retail facility, and the overlay further comprises an indicator graphic that tracks the location of the mobile device within the boundary graphic.

2. The server of claim 1 wherein the tracking system is located at the retail facility.

3. The server of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the second map for full-screen presentation on the display of the mobile device and the first map within a window displayed over a part of the second map.

4. The server of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the first map such that the layout presented in the first map provides a user of the mobile device context as to where the user is located at the retail facility.

5. The server of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to change the zoomed-in portion of the layout presented in the second map by automatically centering the location of the mobile device on the second map based on an updated location of the mobile device.

6. The server of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the second map with a variable zoom, with a zoomed-in state for presenting the zoomed-in portion of the first map, and a zoomed-out state for presenting at least one of a zoomed-out portion of the layout of the first map or the entirety of the layout of the first map.

7. The server of claim 6 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the first map for presentation when the second map is in the zoomed-in state, and hide the first map when the second map is in the zoomed-out state.

8. The server of claim 7 wherein the processor is further configured to overlay a graphic on the second map when the second map is in the zoomed-out state, and hide the graphic on the second map and overlay the graphic on the first map when the second map is in the zoomed-in state.

9. The server of claim 8 wherein the graphic is indicative of at least one of an orientation of the mobile device in the retail facility, a location of at least one of an item for sale at the retail facility, an entrance or exit at the retail facility, a checkout station at the retail facility, a restroom at the retail facility, or a department at the retail facility, or advertising or promotional information relating to an item for sale at the retail facility.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising:
acquiring, with a tracking system, tracking data relating to a location of a mobile device as the mobile device moves through a retail facility and map data relating to a layout of the retail facility;
presenting, using a processor, a first map on a display of the mobile device wherein the first map is static based on the map data and comprises an entirety of the layout; and
concurrently presenting, using the processor, a second map on the display of the mobile device wherein the second map is based on the map data and the tracking data and comprises a zoomed-in portion of the layout of the first map that is proximate to the location of the mobile device, wherein the first map and the second map are displayed on the display of the mobile device at a same time, the zoomed-in portion of the second map changes to follow the location of the mobile device as the mobile device moves through the retail facility, a boundary graphic indicative of a perimeter of the second map is displayed as an overlay over the first map, the overlay changes as the second map changes, the boundary graphic moves on the first map as the location of the mobile device moves through the retail facility, and the overlay further comprises an indicator graphic that tracks the location of the mobile device within the boundary graphic.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein the tracking system is located at the retail facility.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein presenting the second map further is further defined as presenting, with the processor, the second map in full-screen on the display and wherein presenting the first map is further defined as presenting, using the processor, the first map within a window displayed over a part of the second map.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein presenting the first map is further defined as presenting, using the processor, the first map such that the layout presented in the first map provides a user of the mobile device context as to where the user is located at the retail facility.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein presenting the second map further is further defined as presenting, using the processor, the second map such that the zoomed-in portion of the layout changes by automatically centering the location of the mobile device on the second map based on an updated location of the mobile device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 further comprising providing, using the processor, the second map with a variable zoom, with a zoomed-in state for presenting the zoomed-in portion of the first map, and a zoomed-out state for presenting at least one of a zoomed-out portion of the layout of the first map or the entirety of the layout of the first map.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 wherein presenting the first map further occurs when the second map is in the zoomed-in state, and further comprising hiding, using the processor, the first map when the second map is in the zoomed-out state.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 further comprising of:
overlaying, using the processor, a graphic on the second map when the second map is in the zoomed-out state;
hiding, using the processor, the graphic on the second map; and
overlaying, using the processor, the graphic on the first map when the second map is in the zoomed-in state.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the graphic is indicative of at least one of an orientation of the mobile device in the retail facility, a location of at least one of an item for sale at the retail facility, an entrance or exit at the retail facility, a checkout station at the retail facility, a restroom at the retail facility, or a department at the retail facility, or advertising or promotional information relating to an item for sale at the retail facility.

19. The computer-implemented

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc
• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Pellow Benjamin
• Poplawski Emily
• Aase Stephen

Classifications

• H04W4/33

  for indoor environments, e.g. buildings · CPC title

• G06Q30/0261

  based on user location · CPC title

• G06Q90/20 Primary

  Destination assistance within a business structure or complex · CPC title

• H04W4/021

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title