On-demand shelf signage printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016110633-A1
Application number	US-201414514627-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2014
Priority date	Oct 15, 2014
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for use in a retail store. An example system includes a mobile base, a printer, an image capture subsystem on the mobile base and coupled to the printer, the image capture system including at least one image capture device and at least one image processor, the image capture device configured to obtain images of items in the retail store, the image processor configured to derive item identification data from the images of items, and a control subsystem coupled to the printer and to the image capture subsystem, where the control subsystem is configured to receive information identifying items requiring signage, acquire item identification data from the image capture subsystem, determine, based on the information identifying items requiring signage and on the item identification data, items requiring signage, and to direct the printer to print signage for the items requiring signage.

First claim

1 . A system for printing signage for use in a retail store, the system comprising:
a self-propelled mobile base; a printer in physical contact with the mobile base; an image capture subsystem physically disposed on the mobile base and communicatively coupled to the printer, the image capture system comprising at least one image capture device and at least one image processor, the image capture device configured to obtain images of items present on shelves in the retail store, the image processor configured to derive item identification data from the images of items; and a control subsystem communicatively coupled to the printer and to the image capture subsystem, wherein the control subsystem is configured to receive information identifying items requiring signage displaying a price, acquire item identification data from the image capture subsystem, determine, based on the information identifying items requiring signage displaying a price and on the item identification data, items requiring signage displaying a price, and to direct the printer to print signage for the items requiring signage displaying a price.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of image capture devices, wherein the image capture subsystem is further configured to obtain a single image of multiple items in the retail store using the plurality of image capture devices, and the image processor is configured to derive item identification data for the multiple items from the single image of multiple items.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the image processor is configured to derive item identification data from at least one of item signage and item packaging.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the image capture subsystem comprises multiple image capture devices, wherein the multiple image capture devices are configured to simultaneously obtain images of items at differing heights.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the image capture device is configured to be movably adjusted to capture images at a plurality of heights, and wherein the image capture subsystem is configured to provide height information to the control subsystem.

6 . (canceled)

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile base is configured to provide travel distance data to the control subsystem.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control subsystem is further configured to acquire location information and generate, based on the location information, a map of item locations within the retail store.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control subsystem is configured to prompt an operator to at least one of: move the system, install printed signage, or remove existing signage.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the control subsystem is further configured to receive information identifying items for which signage is to be removed, and determine, based on the information identifying items for which signage is to be removed and on the item identification data, items requiring signage removal, wherein the control subsystem is configured to prompt an operator to remove existing signage of the items requiring signage removal.

11 . A method of printing signage for use in a retail store, the method comprising:
obtaining, by a control subsystem of a system for printing signage for use in a retail store, information identifying items requiring signage, the system for printing signage for use in a retail store comprising a self-propelled mobile base, a printer in physical contact with the mobile base, an image capture subsystem physically disposed on the mobile base and communicatively coupled to the control subsystem, and the control subsystem, wherein the image capture subsystem comprises at least one image capture device and at least one image processor, wherein the control subsystem is communicatively coupled to the printer and to the image capture subsystem; obtaining, by the image capture device, images of items present on shelves in the retail store; deriving, by the image processor, item identification data from the images of items; acquiring, by the control subsystem, item identification data from the image capture subsystem; determining, by the control subsystem and based on the information identifying items requiring signage displaying a price and on the item identification data, items requiring signage displaying a price; and printing, by the printer, signage for the items requiring signage displaying a price.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the obtaining, by the image capture device, images of items in the retail store comprises:
obtaining, by the image capture subsystem comprising a plurality of image capture devices, a single image of multiple items in the retail store; and deriving, by the image processor, the item identification data for the multiple items from the single image of multiple items.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the deriving, by the image processor, item identification data from the images of items, comprises:
deriving, by the image processor, the item identification data from at least one of item signage and item packaging.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the image capture subsystem comprises multiple image capture devices, the method further comprising:
obtaining, simultaneously, images of items at differing heights by the multiple image capture devices.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the image capture device is configured to be movably adjusted to capture images at a plurality of heights, the method further comprising:
providing, by the image capture subsystem, height information of the image capture device to the control subsystem.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
providing, by the mobile base, travel distance data to the control subsystem.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
acquiring, by the control subsystem, location information; and generating, based on the location information, a map of item locations within the retail store.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
prompting, by the control subsystem, an operator to at least one of: move the system, install printed signage, or remove existing signage.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
obtaining, by the control subsystem, information identifying items requiring signage removal; determining, by the control subsystem and based on the information identifying items requiring signage removal and on the item identification data, items requiring signage removal; and prompting, by the control subsystem, an operator to remove existing signage of the items requiring signage removal.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Moore Steven R
• Wu Wencheng
• Venable Dennis L
• Wade Thomas F
• Paul Peter

Classifications

• H04N1/00278 Primary

  with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer · CPC title

• H04N23/50

  Constructional details · CPC title

• G06Q30/0276

  Advertisement creation · CPC title

• H04N5/2251

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N1/2154

  the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer · CPC title