Method, product, and system for unmanned vehicles in retail environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016110701-A1
Application number	US-201514883146-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Oct 15, 2014
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, computer program products, and systems for operating a retail environment using unmanned vehicles are provided. The methods include observing a person interacting with one or more items with a camera carried by an unmanned vehicle, identifying the one or more items based on data received from the unmanned vehicle, and adding each identified item to a transaction for the person. The methods can further include charging the person for the transaction, presenting promotions, retrieving a desired item, answering questions, following a person, guiding a customer to a location, and showing images of inventory items.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating a retail environment, comprising:
observing a person interacting with one or more items with a camera carried by an unmanned vehicle; identifying the one or more items based on data received from the unmanned vehicle; and adding each identified item to a transaction for the person.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
charging the person for the transaction.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the one or more items comprises identifying at least one of the items from one or more images captured with the camera carried by the unmanned vehicle.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein observing the person comprises directing the unmanned vehicle to capture an image of an unidentified item with the camera.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request from the person for a location of an item; and leading the person with the unmanned vehicle to the location of the item.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request from the person for an item; and directing the unmanned vehicle to retrieve the requested item.

8 . A computer program product for operating a retail environment, the computer program product comprising:
observing a person interacting with one or more items with a camera carried by an unmanned vehicle; identifying the one or more items based on data received from the unmanned vehicle; and adding each identified item to a transaction for the person.

9 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises:
charging the person for the transaction.

10 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein identifying the one or more items comprises identifying at least one of the items from one or more images captured with the camera carried by the unmanned vehicle.

11 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

12 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein observing the person comprises directing the unmanned vehicle to capture an image of an unidentified item with the camera.

13 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises:
receiving a request from the person for a location of an item; and leading the person with the unmanned vehicle to the location of the item.

14 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the operation further comprises:
receiving a request from the person for an item; and directing the unmanned vehicle to retrieve the requested item.

15 . A system for operating a retail environment, comprising:
a computer processor; an unmanned vehicle with a camera and a network interface, wherein the unmanned vehicle is communicatively connected with the computer processor via the network interface; and a memory containing program code which, when executed by the computer processor, causes the system to perform an operation comprising:
observing a person interacting with one or more items with the camera;
identifying the one or more items based on data received from the unmanned vehicle; and
adding each identified item to a transaction for the person.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the operation further comprises charging the person for the transaction.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the operation further comprises outputting a message recommending an item to the person, based on the identity of the item.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the operation further comprises:
receiving a request from the person for a location of an item; and leading the person with the unmanned vehicle to the location of the item.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the operation further comprises:
receiving a request from the person for an item; and directing the unmanned vehicle to retrieve the requested item.

Assignees

• Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corp

Inventors

• Herring Dean Frederick
• Johnson Brad Matthew
• Singh Ankit
• Smith Jeffrey John
• Teeples Seth

Classifications

• G06Q20/204 Primary

  comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit · CPC title

• G06F3/012

  Head tracking input arrangements · CPC title

• G06Q30/0251

  Targeted advertisements · CPC title

• G07G1/0063

  with means for detecting the geometric dimensions of the article of which the code is read, such as its size or height, for the verification of the registration · CPC title

• G06T11/60

  Creating or editing images; Combining images with text · CPC title