System, method, and machine-readable media for monitoring objects in a cart using sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12423737-B2
Application number	US-201715785835-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2017
Priority date	Oct 18, 2016
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A technique for monitoring objects in a cart is disclosed. A cart is configured to receive an object and includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect a location of the cart and a characteristic of an object in the cart. The cart also includes a docking station that can receive an electronic device and operatively and electrically couple the sensors to the electronic device. A computing system is in communication with the electronic device and configured to access a database containing a stored list generated by the user. The computing can identify the object in the cart based, at least in part, on data received from the plurality of sensors and the location of the cart. The computing system can also determine whether the object in the cart is included on the stored list.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring objects in carts operated by users, the system comprising:
a cart of a user configured to receive an object, wherein the cart contains a plurality of sensors;
the plurality of sensors configured to detect a geographical location of the cart of the user, scan a scannable identifier of the object in the cart, and measure a measurable physical characteristic of the object in the cart of the user, wherein the measurable physical characteristic includes dimensions of the object in the cart,
at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors configured to output to an electronic device of the user of the cart: the detected geographical location of the cart, the scannable identifier of the object in the cart, and the measurable physical characteristic of the object in the cart of the user; and
a computing system disposed remotely from the electronic device of the user of the cart and configured to be in communication with the electronic device and to:
access a database containing a stored list, the stored list being a list of objects that are preselected for retrieving and placing into the cart of the user, wherein each of the objects on the stored list in the database is associated with an expected geographical location;
identify the object in the cart of the user based, at least in part, on the detected geographical location of the cart and at least one of: the scannable identifier of the object or the measurable physical characteristic of the object received from the at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors;
determine, based on an identity of the object, whether the object in the cart of the user is included on the stored list; and
based on a correlation of the geographical location of the cart of the user and the expected geographical location of the objects on the stored list:
determine that the cart of the user has passed the expected geographical location of one of the objects on the stored list without the one of the objects on the stored list having been placed in the cart of the user; and
after a determination by the computing system, that the cart of the user has passed the expected geographical location of one of the objects on the stored list without the one of the objects on the stored list having been placed in the cart of the user, transmit a command, to the electronic device of the user of the cart,
wherein after the command is received by the electronic device of the user of the cart, the electronic device of the user of the cart generates an electronic notification within a graphical interface on a display of the electronic device of the user of the cart, the electronic notification visibly indicating to the user of the cart that the cart of the user has passed the expected geographical location of the one of the objects on the stored list without the one of the objects on the stored list being placed into the cart of the user.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing system is configured to:
determine that the cart of the user passed a different object on the stored list based on the location of the cart of the user and the expected geographic location of the different object; and
transmit a command to the electronic device to generate a notification after a determination by the computing system that the cart of the user passed the expected geographical location of the different object on the stored list without the different object on the stored list being placed in the cart of the user.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing system is further configured to determine that an object on the stored list is not disposed in the cart of the user and to transmit a command to the electronic device to generate a notification that the object on the stored list is not disposed in the cart of the user.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing system is further configured to determine that the object in the cart of the user is not on the stored list and to transmit a command to the electronic device to generate a notification that the object in the cart of the user is not on the stored list.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing system is further configured to receive location information from the electronic device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing system is further configured to transmit a command to the electronic device to provide navigation instructions for navigating to the object on the stored list.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the navigation instructions include a visual or audio output.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a sensor configured to monitor temperature, pressure, off-gassing, weight, or moisture.

9. A method for monitoring objects in a cart of a user, the method comprising:
detecting, using at least one sensor of a plurality of sensors, a geographical location of the cart of the user, wherein the cart of the user contains the plurality of sensors;
scanning, using at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, a scannable identifier of the object in the cart;
measuring, using at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, a measurable physical characteristic of the object in the cart of the user, wherein the measurable physical characteristic includes dimensions of the object in the cart;
outputting, via at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, to an electronic device of the user of the cart: the detected geographical location of the cart, the scannable identifier of the object in the cart, and the measurable physical characteristic of the object in the cart of the user;
accessing, by a computing system disposed remotely from the electronic device of the user of the cart and in communication with the electronic device, a database containing a stored list, the stored list being a list of objects that are preselected for retrieving and placing into the cart of the user, wherein each of the objects on the stored list in the database is associated with an expected geographical location;
identifying, by the computing system, the object in the cart of the user based, at least in part, on the detected geographical location of the cart and at least one of: the scannable identifier of the object or the measurable physical characteristic of the object received from the at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors;
determining, by the computing system and based on an identity of the object, whether the object in the cart of the user is included on the stored list;
based on a correlation of the geographical location of the cart of the user and the expected geographical location of the objects on the stored list:
determining that the cart of the user has passed the expected geographical location of one of the objects on the stored list without the one of the objects on the stored list having been placed in the cart of the user; and
after a determination that the cart of the user has passed the expected geographical location of one of the objects on the stored list without the one of the objects on the stored list having been placed in the cart of the user, transmitting a command, to the electronic device of the user of the cart;
wherein after the command is received by the electronic device of the user of the cart, generating by the electronic device of the user of the cart, an electronic notification within a graphical interface on a display of the electronic device of the user of the cart, the electronic notification visibly indicating to the user of the cart that the cart of the user has passed the expected geographical location of the one of the objects on the stored list without the one of the objects on the stored list being placed into the cart of the us

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Jones Matthew Allen
• Vasgaard Aaron James
• Jones Nicholaus Adam
• Taylor Robert James

Classifications

• G06Q20/3224

  Transactions dependent on location of M-devices · CPC title

• G07G1/0081

  the reader being a portable scanner or data reader (G07G1/009 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06Q30/0625

  by formulating product or service queries, e.g. using keywords or predefined options · CPC title

• G06Q30/0633 Primary

  Managing shopping lists, e.g. compiling or processing purchase lists (shipping orders G06Q10/083; order filling G06Q10/087) · CPC title