VLC location data applications in a retail setting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10707960-B2
Application number	US-201916661324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2019
Priority date	Mar 18, 2016
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. 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 a VLC sensor at a fixed location, wherein a location of the gondolas in the retail establishment is identified based on signals from the plurality of VLC sources and the VLC sensor;
(d) determining a location of a mobile device configured to receive signals from the VLC sources and communicating via a system server with the mobile device;
(e) identifying a section location or a product location in the retail space based on the location of the gondolas; and
(f) the system server communicating at least one of the section location and the product location to the mobile device.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein step (e) is practiced by identifying the section location, and wherein step (f) is practiced by guiding a user to the section location via the mobile device.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein step (e) is practiced by identifying the product location, and wherein step (f) is practiced by guiding the user to the product location via the mobile device.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein step (e) is practiced by identifying the product location, and wherein step (f) is practiced by guiding a user to the product location via the mobile device.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a user's personal mobile device, and wherein step (f) is practiced by enabling the user's personal mobile device to act as an indoor global positioning system to guide the user to the section location.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a tablet computing device attached to a shopping cart.

7. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising monitoring with the system server customer dwell time and collecting data relating to the dwell time.

8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising monitoring with the system server customer shopping direction and collecting data relating to the shopping direction.

9. A method according to claim 1 , the retail establishment having a wireless network, wherein step (f) is practiced via the wireless network.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the mobile device comprises a unique address/identifier, the method further comprising constructing with the system server a special packet that combines location information gathered via the VLC sources with the unique address/identifier of the mobile device.

11. An indoor global positioning system for a retail environment including a plurality of gondolas, the indoor global positioning system comprising:
a plurality of visible light communication (VLC) sources positioned in the retail environment;
a VLC sensor disposed at a fixed location, the plurality of VLC sources and the VLC sensor being configured to cooperatively identify a location of the gondolas in the retail environment;
a system server communicating with the VLC sources and the VLC sensor, wherein the system server is programmed to process data received from the VLC sensor to identify the location of the gondolas; and
a mobile device associated with a customer that is configured to receive signals from the VLC sources, wherein the system server is programmed to determine a location of the mobile device and to communicate with the mobile device and the VLC sensor,
wherein the system server is programmed to identify a section location or a product location in the retail environment based on the location of the gondolas, and wherein the system server is programmed to communicate at least one of the section location and the product location to the mobile device based on the location of the mobile device.

12. A system according to claim 11 , wherein the system server is programmed to identify the section location, and wherein the system server is programmed to guide a user to the section location via the mobile device.

13. A system according to claim 12 , wherein the system server is programmed to identify the product location, and wherein the system server is programmed to guide the user to the product location via the mobile device.

14. A system according to claim 11 , wherein the mobile device comprises a user's personal mobile device, and wherein the system server is programmed to enable the user's personal mobile device to act as an indoor global positioning system to guide the user to the section location or the product location.

15. A system according to claim 11 , wherein the mobile device comprises a tablet computing device attached to a shopping cart.

16. A system according to claim 11 , further comprising a wireless network, wherein the system server is programmed to communicate with the mobile device via the wireless network.

17. A system according to claim 16 , wherein the mobile device comprises a unique address/identifier, the system server being programmed to construct a special packet that combines location information gathered via the VLC sources with the unique address/identifier of the mobile device.

18. A system according to claim 11 , wherein the VLC sources comprise overhead lights in the retail space.

19. 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;
a VLC sensor positioned relative to each of the plurality of gondolas, the plurality of VLC sources and the 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 VLC sensor; and
a wireless network,
wherein a mobile device associated with a customer 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, and wherein the system server communicates with the mobile device via the wireless network using the special packet, the system server being programmed to guide the customer to a section location or a product location, thereby enabling the mobile device to act as an indoor GPS.

20. A system according to claim 19 , wherein the VLC sources comprise overhead lights in the retail space.

Assignees

• Target Brands Inc

Inventors

• Olsen Christopher
• Gilman Robert
• Price Lew

Classifications

• H04B10/116 Primary

  Visible light communication · CPC title

• G06Q30/0623

  by investigating goods or services · CPC title

• G06Q30/0639

  Locating goods or services, e.g. based on physical position of the goods or services within a shopping facility · CPC title