Product display unit with vibration sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10874229-B2
Application number	US-201715809005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2017
Priority date	Nov 10, 2016
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to determining an action to be performed based on vibrations detected on a product display unit. In some embodiments, a system for determining an action to perform based on vibrations comprises the product display unit, one or more vibration sensors, the one or more vibration sensors affixed to the product display unit and configured to detect vibration of the product display unit and transmit an indication of the vibration of the product display unit, and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the one or more vibration sensors and configured to receive, from the one or more vibration sensors, the indication of the vibration, estimate, based on the indication of the vibration a characteristic of at least one item on the product display unit, and determine, based on the characteristic, the action to be performed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for determining an action to be performed based on vibrations detected on a product display unit, the system comprising:
the product display unit;
one or more vibration sensors, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are affixed to the product display unit and configured to:
detect vibration of the product display unit; and
transmit an indication of the vibration of the product display unit;

a control circuit, the control circuit communicatively coupled to the one or more vibration sensors and configured to:
receive, from the one or more vibration sensors, the indication of the vibration of the product display unit;
estimate, based on the indication of the vibration of the product display unit, a type of product located on the product display unit;
identify the product display unit;
determine, based on the identification of the product display unit and a planogram, an expected product type for the product display unit;
determine, based on the type of the product located on the product display unit and the expected product type for the product display unit, that the type of the product located on the product display unit is different than the expected product type for the product display unit;
determine, based on the determination that the type of the product located on the product display unit is different than the expected product type for the product display unit, an action to be performed; and
cause transmission of an indication of the action to be performed.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the product display unit includes a first end and a second end, and wherein a first sensor of the one or more sensors is located towards the first end and a second sensor of the one or more sensors is located towards the second end.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein a third sensor of the one or more sensors is located between the first sensor and the second sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
determine, based on the type of the product, that an incorrect product is located on the product display unit.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
estimate, based on the indication of the vibration of the product display unit, a characteristic of at least one product on the product display unit.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the characteristic of the at least one product on the product display unit is a quantity of products on the product display unit.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the characteristic of at least one product on the product display unit is a location of the at least one item on the product display unit.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the action to perform is a relocation action.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the product display unit is identified by a location of the product display unit in a retail facility.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the vibration of the product display unit includes a magnitude of the vibration of the product display unit, and wherein the type of product located on the product display unit is estimated based on the magnitude of the vibration of the product display unit.

11. A method for determining an action be performed based on vibrations detected on a product display unit, the method comprising:
receiving, from one or more vibration sensors that are affixed to the product display unit, an indication of vibration of the product display unit;
estimating, based on the indication of the vibration of the product display unit, a type of product located on the product display unit;
identifying the product display unit;
determining, based on the identification of the product display unit and a planogram, an expected product type for the product display unit;
determining, based on the type of the product located on the product display unit and the expected product type for the product display unit, that the type of the product located on the product display unit is different than the expected product type for the product display unit;
determining, based on the determination that the type of the product located on the product display unit is different than the expected product type for the product display unit, the action to be performed; and
transmitting, to one or more terminals, an indication of the action to be performed.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the product display unit includes a first end and a second end, and wherein a first sensor of the one or more sensors is located toward the first end and a second sensor of the one or more sensors is located towards the second end.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a third sensors of the one or more sensors is located between the first sensor and the second sensor.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining, based on the type of the product located on the product display unit, that an incorrect product is located on the product display unit.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
estimating, based on the indication of the vibration of the product display unit, a characteristic of at least one product on the product display unit.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the characteristic of the at least one product on the product display unit is a quantity of products on the product display unit.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the characteristic of the least one item on the product display unit is a location of the at least one item on the product display unit.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the action to perform is a relocation action.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the product display unit is identified by a location of the product display unit in a retail facility.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication of the vibration of the product display unit includes a magnitude of the vibration of the product display unit, and wherein the type of product located on the product display unit is estimated based on the magnitude of the vibration of the product display unit.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Jones Nicholaus A
• Jones Matthew A

Classifications

• A47F10/02 Primary

  for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets (A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D) · CPC title

• A47F2010/025

  using stock management systems · CPC title

• A47F10/00 Primary

  Furniture or installations specially adapted to particular types of service systems, not otherwise provided for (conveyor aspects B65G; building aspects E04H; coin-freed apparatus G07F) · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title