System and method for optimized navigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11115780-B2
Application number	US-201916261089-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2019
Priority date	Jan 29, 2018
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

Various embodiments include a system that can comprise one or more processing modules and/or one or more non-transitory memory storage modules storing computing instructions on the one or more processing modules. The computing instructions can be configured to perform the acts of receiving an ordered list from a user via a software application on a mobile device of the user, wherein the software can comprise a bar code scanner, wherein the ordered list can comprise a first set of records describing a first set of physical items; receiving first data obtained from the barcode scanner, wherein the first data can comprise a first distinct record describing a first distinct physical item within the first set of physical items; querying a physical item database, wherein the physical item database can comprise a second distinct record describing the location of the first distinct physical item and a second set of records describing locations of the first set of physical items; calculating a first optimized route from the location of the first distinct physical item to a first series of distinct physical items using at least a portion of the second set of records and the second distinct record, wherein the first series of distinct physical items can comprise at least a portion of the first set of physical items; creating a first reordered list from the first series of distinct physical items using the first optimized route; and presenting the first optimized route and the first reordered list to the user via a graphic user interface on the software application on the mobile device of the user. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory memory storage devices storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and perform:
receiving an ordered list comprising a first set of records describing a first set of physical items;
receiving first data obtained from a barcode scanner, wherein the first data comprises a first distinct record describing a first distinct physical item within the first set of physical items;
querying a physical item database, wherein the physical item database comprises:
a second distinct record describing a location of the first distinct physical item; and
a second set of records describing locations of the first set of physical items;

calculating a first optimized route from the location of the first distinct physical item to a first series of distinct physical items using at least a portion of the second set of records and the second distinct record, wherein:
the first series of distinct physical items comprises at least a portion of the first set of physical items; and
the first optimized route comprises a shortest walking route from the location of the first distinct physical item to each respective distinct physical item of the first series of distinct physical items;

creating a first reordered list from the first series of distinct physical items using an order of each respective distinct physical item of the first series of distinct physical items in the first optimized route; and
presenting the first optimized route and the first reordered list to a user via a graphic user interface on a software application on a mobile device of the user.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein
receiving the ordered list from the user comprises:
receiving user address data;
accessing a set of building layout data wherein the set of building layout data comprises a set of records describing a physical layout of each building of a set of distinct buildings, wherein each building of the set of distinct buildings contains at least a portion of the first set of physical items; and
recommending an optimal building from the set of distinct buildings using at least a portion of the first set of records, the user address data, and the building layout data.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ordered list is created using at least one of (1) a set of records selected by the user or (2) a past route traveled by the user.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing instructions are further configured to perform:
receiving fourth data gathered using the barcode scanner, wherein the fourth data comprises a fifth distinct record describing a third distinct physical item not in the first set of physical items;
querying the physical item database wherein the physical item database further comprises a sixth distinct record describing a location of the third distinct physical item;
calculating a third optimized route from the location of the third distinct physical item to a third series of distinct physical items using at least a portion of the second set of records and the sixth distinct record, wherein the third series of distinct physical items comprises at least a portion of the first set of physical items;
creating a third reordered list from the third series of distinct physical items using the third optimized route; and
presenting the third optimized route and the third reordered list to the user via the graphic user interface on the software application on the mobile device of the user.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the software application on the mobile device of the user further comprises at least one of a GPS module, a WiFi module, a NFC module, or a RFID module;
receiving the ordered list from the user further comprises:
receiving second data obtained from the GPS module, the WiFi module, the NFC module, or the RFID module; and
accessing building layout data, wherein the building layout data describes a physical layout of a building;

calculating the first optimized route further comprises using the building layout data and the second data to calculate the shortest walking route from the location of the first distinct physical item to each respective distinct physical item of the first series of distinct physical items; and
presenting the first optimized route and the first reordered list to the user further comprises presenting the user with an optimal entrance to the building via the graphic user interface on the software application on the mobile device of the user.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the building layout data comprises a computer aided design file.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
calculating the first optimized route further comprises calculating a first completion time for the first optimized route; and
presenting the first optimized route and the first reordered list to the user further comprises presenting the first completion time to the user via the graphic user interface on the software application on the mobile device of the user.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the computing instructions are further configured to perform:
receiving third data obtained from the barcode scanner, wherein the third data comprises a third distinct record describing a second distinct physical item not in the first set of physical items;
querying the physical item database, wherein the physical item database further comprises a fourth distinct record describing a location of the second distinct physical item;
calculating a second optimized route from the location of the second distinct physical item to a second series of distinct physical items using at least a portion of the second set of records and the second distinct record, wherein the second series of distinct physical items comprises at least a portion of the first set of physical items;
creating a second reordered list from the second series of distinct physical items using the second optimized route;
calculating a second completion time for the second optimized route; and
presenting the second optimized route, the second reordered list, and the second completion time to the user via the graphic user interface on the software application on the mobile device of the user.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second distinct record comprises an aisle number describing an aisle, wherein the aisle comprises a shelf within the aisle and a section number describing a portion of the shelf; and
the second set of records comprises a set of aisle numbers describing a set of aisles, wherein the set of aisles comprises a set of shelves and a set of section numbers describing portions of each of the set of shelves, and wherein the set of aisles comprises the aisle, the set of shelves comprise the shelf, the set of section numbers comprises the section number, and the portions of each of the set of shelves comprise the portion of the shelf.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first optimized route directs the user to a distinct aisle of the set of aisles and a distinct portion of the shelf of the portions of the set of shelves.

11. A method comprising:
receiving an ordered list comprising a first set of records describing a first set of physical items;
receiving first data obtained from a barcode scanner, wherein the first data comprises a first distinct record describing a first distinct physical item within the first set of physical items;
querying a physical item database, wherein the physical item database comprises:
a second distinct record describing a location of the first distinct physical item; and
a second set of records describing locations of the first set of physical

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Daniyalzade Eytan
• Atikoglu Berk
• Nelms David

Classifications

• G06Q30/0639 Primary

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

• G08B21/24

  Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms · CPC title

• G06K7/10366

  the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications · CPC title

• G06Q10/047

  Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem · CPC title

• H04W4/024 Primary

  Guidance services · CPC title