Systems and methods for projecting action indicators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11776366-B2
Application number	US-202318101752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2023
Priority date	Apr 30, 2019
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to projecting action indicators on items in a retail facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises an image capture device configured to capture an image of a shelving unit, a control circuit configured to identify items located in the shelving unit, determine an action item for an item located in the shelving unit, identify boundaries of the item, and generate an action image including an action indicator based on the action item for the item, wherein the action indicator is located within the boundaries of the item, and a display device configured to present the action image on the shelving unit, wherein the action indicator is presented on the item.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for displaying action indicators on items in a retail facility, the system comprising:
an image capture device, wherein the image capture device is configured to capture an image of a product storage unit;
a control circuit, wherein the control circuit is communicatively coupled to the image capture device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to:
identify, based on the image of the product storage unit, items located in the product storage unit;
determine, based on an identity of at least one of the items located in the product storage unit, an action item for the at least one of the items located in the product storage unit;
generate, based on the image of the product storage unit and the action item for the at least one of the items located in the product storage unit, an action image, wherein the action image includes an action indicator based on the action item for the at least one of the items located in the product storage unit; and
output signaling to cause the action image to be displayed to a user.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the product storage unit includes at least one bin.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a point-of-sale (POS) system, wherein the control circuit is communicatively coupled to the POS system, and wherein the POS system is configured to:
provide, to the control circuit, sales data.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the action item includes one or more of a restock action, a recall action, an expiration action, a do nothing action, a pick action, a modular action, and a priority action.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an activity sensor, wherein the activity sensor is configured to:
detect activity; and
in response to the detection of activity, transmit a detection signal to the control circuit, wherein the detection signal triggers outputting of the signaling to cause the action image to be displayed to the user.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the activity sensor is one or more of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor, a light sensor, an auditory sensor, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the detection signal includes an indication of a person detected by the activity sensor, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
determine, based on the indication of the person detected by the activity sensor, an identity of the person, wherein inclusion of the action indicator is based on the identity of the person.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
generate, in response to receipt of the detection signal, an updated action image.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the image capture device, the control circuit, and the display device is located in a stockroom of the retail facility.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display device associated with the image capture device, wherein the display device is communicatively coupled to the control circuit, and wherein the display device is configured to display the action image.

11. A method for displaying action indicators on items in a retail facility, the method comprising:
capturing, by an image capture device, an image of a product storage unit;
identifying, by a control circuit based on the image of the product storage unit, items located in the product storage unit;
determining, by the control circuit based on an identity of at least one of the items located in the product storage unit, an action item for the at least one of the items located in the product storage unit;
generating, based on the image of the product storage unit and the action item for the at least one of the items located in the product storage unit, an action image, wherein the action image includes an action indicator based on the action item for the at least one of the items located in the product storage unit; and
outputting, by the control circuit, signaling to cause the action image to be displayed to a user.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the product storage unit includes at least one bin.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, by the control circuit from a point-of-sale (POS) system, sales data.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the action item includes one or more of a restock action, a recall action, an expiration action, a do nothing action, a pick action, a modular action, and a priority action.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting, by an activity sensor, activity; and
in response to detecting the activity, transmitting a detection signal to the control circuit, wherein the signal triggers outputting of the signaling to cause the action image to be displayed to the user.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the activity sensor is one or more of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor, a light sensor, an auditory sensor, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the detection signal includes an indication of a person detected by the activity sensor, further comprising:
determining, based on the indication of the person detected by the activity sensor, an identity of the person, wherein inclusion of the action indicator is based on the identity of the person.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
generating, in response to receipt of the detection signal, an updated action image.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the image capture device, the control circuit, and the display device is located in a stockroom of the retail facility.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a display device associated with the image capture device, wherein the display device is communicatively coupled to the control circuit, and wherein the display device is configured to display the action image.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Letson Eric A
• Douglass Tom G
• Bellar Jason D

Classifications

• G08B5/22 Primary

  using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

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

• G06T7/0004

  Industrial image inspection · CPC title

• H04N7/183

  for receiving images from a single remote source · CPC title

• G06V40/10

  Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands · CPC title