Overriding control of motorize transport unit systems, devices and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9994434-B2
Application number	US-201615061350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2016
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

Some embodiments include apparatuses providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, comprising: multiple self-propelled motorized transport units; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system, wherein the central computer system comprises: a transceiver; a control circuit; and a memory storing computer instructions that when executed cause the control circuit to: receive an override command, from a worker associated with the shopping facility, to cause a first motorized transport unit of the multiple motorized transport units to implement one or more actions; confirm a valid authorization of the worker to override one or more operating limits of the first motorized transport unit; and override the one or more operating limits and communicate one or more instructions to the first motorized transport unit configured to cause the first motorized transport unit to implement the one or more actions in accordance with the override command.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, comprising:
multiple self-propelled motorized transport units configured to move through at least a portion of a shopping facility;
a wireless communication network; and
a central computer system that is separate and distinct from the multiple motorized transport units and configured to communicate with each of the multiple motorized transport units via the wireless communication network, wherein the central computer system comprises:
a transceiver configured to communicate with the motorized transport units located at the shopping facility;
a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and
a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to:
receive an override command, from a first worker associated with the shopping facility, to cause a first motorized transport unit of the multiple motorized transport units to implement one or more actions;
confirm a valid authorization of the first worker to override one or more operating limits of the first motorized transport unit; and
override the one or more operating limits and communicate one or more instructions to the first motorized transport unit configured to cause the first motorized transport unit to implement the one or more actions in accordance with the override command;

wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
identify that the override command causes an override of a customer that is associated with the first motorized transport unit at the time the override command is received; and
wherein the override of the one or more operating limits comprises overriding one or more instructions intended to implement actions to support the use of the first motorized transport by the customer, and override the customer and inhibit control of the first motorized transport unit in accordance with a shopping experience by the customer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
identify one or more sensors on the first motorized transport unit that detect one or more conditions confirming that at least one of the one or more operating limits are exceeded;
disregard sensor information detected by the identified one or more sensors and received from the first motorized transport unit; and
continue to communicate the one or more instructions in contradiction to the sensor information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more operating limits is a geographic boundary limit that the first motorized transport unit is restricted from passing, and at least one of the one or more instructions overrides the restriction of the boundary limit and is configured to cause the first motorized transport unit to travel outside the boundary limit.

4. An apparatus providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, comprising:
multiple self-propelled motorized transport units configured to move through at least a portion of a shopping facility;
a wireless communication network; and
a central computer system that is separate and distinct from the multiple motorized transport units and configured to communicate with each of the multiple motorized transport units via the wireless communication network, wherein the central computer system comprises:
a transceiver configured to communicate with the motorized transport units located at the shopping facility;
a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and
a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to:
receive an override command, from a first worker associated with the shopping facility, to cause a first motorized transport unit of the multiple motorized transport units to implement one or more actions;
confirm a valid authorization of the first worker to override one or more operating limits of the first motorized transport unit; and
override the one or more operating limits and communicate one or more instructions to the first motorized transport unit configured to cause the first motorized transport unit to implement the one or more actions in accordance with the override command;

wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
identify that the override command causes an override of a second worker that has overridden the operation of the first motorized transport unit, wherein the first worker has a higher authorization priority than the second worker; and
wherein the central computer system in overriding of the one or more operating limits is further configured to override one or more override commands received from the second worker and inhibit control of the first motorized transport unit by the second worker.

5. An apparatus providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, comprising:
multiple self-propelled motorized transport units configured to move through at least a portion of a shopping facility;
a wireless communication network; and
a central computer system that is separate and distinct from the multiple motorized transport units and configured to communicate with each of the multiple motorized transport units via the wireless communication network, wherein the central computer system comprises:
a transceiver configured to communicate with the motorized transport units located at the shopping facility;
a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and
a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to:
receive an override command, from a first worker associated with the shopping facility, to cause a first motorized transport unit of the multiple motorized transport units to implement one or more actions;
confirm a valid authorization of the first worker to override one or more operating limits of the first motorized transport unit; and
override the one or more operating limits and communicate one or more instructions to the first motorized transport unit configured to cause the first motorized transport unit to implement the one or more actions in accordance with the override command;

wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
identify that there is not a predefined route of travel for the first motorized transport unit to follow to implement the override command; and
record the override command along with one or more subsequent override commands and movement of the first motorized transport unit defining a new route in implementing the one or more actions.

6. An apparatus providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, comprising:
multiple self-propelled motorized transport units configured to move through at least a portion of a shopping facility;
a wireless communication network; and
a central computer system that is separate and distinct from the multiple motorized transport units and configured to communicate with each of the multiple motorized transport units via the wireless communication network, wherein the central computer system comprises:
a transceiver configured to communicate with the motorized transport units located at the shopping facility;
a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and
a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to:
receive an override command, from a first worker associated with the shopping facility, to cause a first motorized transport unit of the multiple motorized transport units to implement one or more acti

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc

Inventors

• High Donald R
• Atchley Michael D
• Kay Karl
• Winkle David C

Classifications

• G01S2201/02

  Indoor positioning, e.g. in covered car-parks, mining facilities, warehouses · CPC title

• G01S1/7038

  Signal details · CPC title

• G01S1/7034

  Mounting or deployment thereof · CPC title

• G01S1/72

  using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves · CPC title

• G01S1/02

  using radio waves (G01S19/00 takes precedence) · CPC title