Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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SHOPPING FACILITY ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD TO RETRIEVE IN-STORE
ABANDONED MOBILE ITEM CONTAINERS
Technical Field
These teachings relate generally to shopping environments and more
particularly to
devices, systems, and methods for assisting customers and/or workers in those
shopping
environments.
Background
In a modern retail shopping facility environment, there is a need to improve
the customer
experience and/or convenience for the customer. Routine tasks can be difficult
to keep up with
for a variety of reasons, particularly during peak hours. For example,
shopping carts are left
abandoned at various locations within the retail shopping facility for a
variety of reasons. These
shopping carts may have items placed in them, thereby making it more difficult
for an associate
passing by to identify the shopping cart as being abandoned.
Those abandoned shopping carts, in turn, give rise to any number of nuisances.
For
example, abandoned shopping carts can block aisles and/or product displays,
thereby
inconveniencing customers. As another example, abandoned shopping carts
represent a
temporarily wasted resource in that the shopping cart is not conveniently
available for use by a
customer in the shopping facility itself. And as yet another example, the
items disposed in an
abandoned shopping cart are generally not perceived by customers as being
available to them
and therefore wasting possible sales opportunities.
Committing human resources to finding and returning abandoned shopping carts
can help
ameliorate such concerns. Unfortunately, using human resources can constitute
an inefficient and
uneconomical solution in and of itself and can divert, for example, associates
from other
necessary tasks.
With increasing competition from non-traditional shopping mechanisms, such as
online
shopping provided by e-commerce merchants and alternative store formats, it
can be important
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for "brick and mortar" retailers to focus on improving the overall customer
experience and/or
convenience.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above needs are at least partially met through provision of embodiments of
systems,
devices, and methods designed to provide assistance to customers and/or
workers in a shopping
facility, such as described in the following detailed description,
particularly when studied in
conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 comprises a block diagram of a shopping assistance system as configured
in
accordance with various embodiments of these teachings;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are illustrations of a motorized transport unit of the system
of FIG. 1 in
a retracted orientation and an extended orientation in accordance with some
embodiments;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations of the motorized transport unit of FIGS. 2A
and 2B
detachably coupling to a movable item container, such as a shopping cart, in
accordance with
some embodiments;
FIG. 4 comprises a block diagram of a motorized transport unit as configured
in
accordance with various embodiments of these teachings;
FIG. 5 comprises a block diagram of a computer device as configured in
accordance with
various embodiments of these teachings;
FIG. 6 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various
embodiments
of these teachings;
FIG. 7 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with various
embodiments
of these teachings; and
FIG. 8 comprises a schematic block diagram as configured in accordance with
various
embodiments of these teachings.
Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have
not necessarily
been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning
of some of the
elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help
to improve
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understanding of various embodiments of the present teachings. Also, common
but well-
understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible
embodiment are
often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these
various embodiments of
the present teachings. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or
depicted in a particular
order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such
specificity with
respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used
herein have the
ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by
persons skilled in the
technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings
have otherwise been
set forth herein.
Detailed Description
The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made
merely for
the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments.
Reference
throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar
language means
that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in
connection with the embodiment
is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
appearances of the phrases
"in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this
specification
may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, devices and
methods are
provided for assistance of persons at a shopping facility. Generally,
assistance may be provided
to customers or shoppers at the facility and/or to workers at the facility.
The facility may be any
type of shopping facility at a location in which products for display and/or
for sale are variously
distributed throughout the shopping facility space. The shopping facility may
be a retail sales
facility, or any other type of facility in which products are displayed and/or
sold. The shopping
facility may include one or more of sales floor areas, checkout locations
(i.e., point of sale (POS)
locations), customer service areas other than checkout locations (such as
service areas to handle
returns), parking locations, entrance and exit areas, stock room areas, stock
receiving areas,
hallway areas, common areas shared by merchants, and so on. Generally, a
shopping facility
includes areas that may be dynamic in terms of the physical structures
occupying the space or
area and objects, items, machinery and/or persons moving in the area. For
example, the sales
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floor area may include product storage units, shelves, racks, modules, bins,
etc., and other
walls, dividers, partitions, etc. that may be configured in different layouts
or physical
arrangements. In other example, persons or other movable objects may be freely
and
independently traveling through the shopping facility space. And in another
example, the
persons or movable objects move according to known travel patterns and timing.
The facility
may be any size of format facility, and may include products from one or more
merchants. For
example, a facility may be a single store operated by one merchant or may be a
collection of
stores covering multiple merchants such as a mall.
Generally, the system makes use of automated, robotic mobile devices, e.g.,
motorized
transport units, that are capable of self-powered movement through a space of
the shopping
facility and providing any number of functions. Movement and operation of such
devices may
be controlled by a central computer system or may be autonomously controlled
by the motorized
transport units themselves. Various embodiments provide one or more user
interfaces to allow
various users to interact with the system including the automated mobile
devices and/or to
directly interact with the automated mobile devices. In some embodiments, the
automated
mobile devices and the corresponding system serve to enhance a customer
shopping experience
in the shopping facility, e.g., by assisting shoppers and/or workers at the
facility.
In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises:
a
plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move
through a shopping
facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a
respective motorized
transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a
central computer
system having a network interface such that the central computer system
wirelessly
communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units
and the plurality of
user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to
control movement of
the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space
based at least on
inputs from the plurality of user interface units.
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates embodiments of a shopping
facility
assistance system 100 that can serve to carry out at least some of the
teachings set forth herein. It
will be understood that the details of this example are intended to serve in
an illustrative capacity
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and are not necessarily intended to suggest any limitations as regards the
present teachings. It is
noted that generally, FIGS. 1-5 describe the general functionality of several
embodiments of a
system, and FIGS. 6-8 expand on some functionalities of some embodiments of
the system
and/or embodiments independent of such systems.
In the example of FIG. 1, a shopping assistance system 100 is implemented in
whole or in
part at a shopping facility 101. Generally, the system 100 includes one or
more motorized
transport units (MTUs) 102; one or more item containers 104; a central
computer system 106
having at least one control circuit 108, at least one memory 110 and at least
one network
interface 112; at least one user interface unit 114; a location determination
system 116; at least
one video camera 118; at least one motorized transport unit (MTU) dispenser
120; at least one
motorized transport unit (MTU) docking station 122; at least one wireless
network 124; at least
one database 126; at least one user interface computer device 128; an item
display module 130;
and a locker or an item storage unit 132. It is understood that more or fewer
of such components
may be included in different embodiments of the system 100.
These motorized transport units 102 are located in the shopping facility 101
and are
configured to move throughout the shopping facility space. Further details
regarding such
motorized transport units 102 appear further below. Generally speaking, these
motorized
transport units 102 are configured to either comprise, or to selectively
couple to, a corresponding
movable item container 104. A simple example of an item container 104 would be
a shopping
cart as one typically finds at many retail facilities, or a rocket cart, a
flatbed cart or any other
mobile basket or platform that may be used to gather items for potential
purchase.
In some embodiments, these motorized transport units 102 wirelessly
communicate with,
and are wholly or largely controlled by, the central computer system 106. In
particular, in some
embodiments, the central computer system 106 is configured to control movement
of the
motorized transport units 102 through the shopping facility space based on a
variety of inputs.
For example, the central computer system 106 communicates with each motorized
transport unit
102 via the wireless network 124 which may be one or more wireless networks of
one or more
wireless network types (such as, a wireless local area network, a wireless
personal area network,
a wireless mesh network, a wireless star network, a wireless wide area
network, a cellular
network, and so on), capable of providing wireless coverage of the desired
range of the
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motorized transport units 102 according to any known wireless protocols,
including but not
limited to a cellular, Wi-Fi, Zigbee or Bluetooth network.
By one approach the central computer system 106 is a computer based device and
includes at least one control circuit 108, at least one memory 110 and at
least one wired and/or
wireless network interface 112. Such a control circuit 108 can comprise a
fixed-purpose hard-
wired platform or can comprise a partially or wholly programmable platform,
such as a
microcontroller, an application specification integrated circuit, a field
programmable gate array,
and so on. These architectural options are well known and understood in the
art and require no
further description here. This control circuit 108 is configured (for example,
by using
corresponding programming stored in the memory 110 as will be well understood
by those
skilled in the art) to carry out one or more of the steps, actions, and/or
functions described herein.
In this illustrative example the control circuit 108 operably couples to one
or more
memories 110. The memory 110 may be integral to the control circuit 108 or can
be physically
discrete (in whole or in part) from the control circuit 108 as desired. This
memory 110 can also
be local with respect to the control circuit 108 (where, for example, both
share a common circuit
board, chassis, power supply, and/or housing) or can be partially or wholly
remote with respect
to the control circuit 108 (where, for example, the memory 110 is physically
located in another
facility, metropolitan area, or even country as compared to the control
circuit 108).
This memory 110 can serve, for example, to non-transitorily store the computer
instructions that, when executed by the control circuit 108, cause the control
circuit 108 to
behave as described herein. (As used herein, this reference to "non-
transitorily" will be
understood to refer to a non-ephemeral state for the stored contents (and
hence excludes when
the stored contents merely constitute signals or waves) rather than volatility
of the storage media
itself and hence includes both non-volatile memory (such as read-only memory
(ROM) as well
as volatile memory (such as an erasable programmable read-only memory
(EPROM).)
Additionally, at least one database 126 may be accessible by the central
computer system
106. Such databases may be integrated into the central computer system 106 or
separate from it.
Such databases may be at the location of the shopping facility 101 or remote
from the shopping
facility 101. Regardless of location, the databases comprise memory to store
and organize
certain data for use by the central control system 106. In some embodiments,
the at least one
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database 126 may store data pertaining to one or more of: shopping facility
mapping data,
customer data, customer shopping data and patterns, inventory data, product
pricing data, and so
on.
In this illustrative example, the central computer system 106 also wirelessly
communicates with a plurality of user interface units 114. These teachings
will accommodate a
variety of user interface units including, but not limited to, mobile and/or
handheld electronic
devices such as so-called smart phones and portable computers such as
tablet/pad-styled
computers. Generally speaking, these user interface units 114 should be able
to wirelessly
communicate with the central computer system 106 via a wireless network, such
as the wireless
network 124 of the shopping facility 101 (such as a Wi-Fi wireless network).
These user
interface units 114 generally provide a user interface for interaction with
the system. In some
embodiments, a given motorized transport unit 102 is paired with, associated
with, assigned to or
otherwise made to correspond with a given user interface unit 114. In some
embodiments, these
user interface units 114 should also be able to receive verbally-expressed
input from a user and
forward that content to the central computer system 106 or a motorized
transport unit 102 and/or
convert that verbally-expressed input into a font' useful to the central
computer system 106 or a
motorized transport unit 102.
By one approach at least some of the user interface units 114 belong to
corresponding
customers who have come to the shopping facility 101 to shop. By another
approach, in lieu of
the foregoing or in combination therewith, at least some of the user interface
units 114 belong to
the shopping facility 101 and are loaned to individual customers to employ as
described herein.
In some embodiments, one or more user interface units 114 are attachable to a
given movable
item container 104 or are integrated with the movable item container 104.
Similarly, in some
embodiments, one or more user interface units 114 may be those of shopping
facility workers,
belong to the shopping facility 101 and are loaned to the workers, or a
combination thereof.
In some embodiments, the user interface units 114 may be general purpose
computer
devices that include computer programming code to allow it to interact with
the system 106. For
example, such programming may be in the form of an application installed on
the user interface
unit 114 or in the form of a browser that displays a user interface provided
by the central
computer system 106 or other remote computer or server (such as a web server).
In some
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embodiments, one or more user interface units 114 may be special purpose
devices that are
programmed to primarily function as a user interface for the system 100.
Depending on the
functionality and use case, user interface units 114 may be operated by
customers of the
shopping facility or may be operated by workers at the shopping facility, such
as facility
employees (associates or colleagues), vendors, suppliers, contractors, etc.
By one approach, the system 100 optionally includes one or more video cameras
118.
Captured video imagery from such a video camera 118 can be provided to the
central computer
system 106. That information can then serve, for example, to help the central
computer system
106 detemiine a present location of one or more of the motorized transport
units 102 and/or
determine issues or concerns regarding automated movement of those motorized
transport units
102 in the shopping facility space. As one simple example in these regards,
such video
information can permit the central computer system 106, at least in part, to
detect an object in a
path of movement of a particular one of the motorized transport units 102.
By one approach these video cameras 118 comprise existing surveillance
equipment
employed at the shopping facility 101 to serve, for example, various security
purposes. By
another approach these video cameras 118 are dedicated to providing video
content to the central
computer system 106 to facilitate the latter's control of the motorized
transport units 102. If
desired, the video cameras 118 can have a selectively movable field of view
and/or zoom
capability that the central computer system 106 controls as appropriate to
help ensure receipt of
useful information at any given moment.
In some embodiments, a location detection system 116 is provided at the
shopping
facility 101. The location detection system 116 provides input to the central
computer system
106 useful to help determine the location of one or more of the motorized
transport units 102. In
some embodiments, the location detection system 116 includes a series of light
sources (e.g.,
LEDs (light-emitting diodes)) that are mounted in the ceiling at known
positions throughout the
space and that each encode data in the emitted light that identifies the
source of the light (and
thus, the location of the light). As a given motorized transport unit 102
moves through the space,
light sensors (or light receivers) at the motorized transport unit 102, on the
movable item
container 104 and/or at the user interface unit 114 receive the light and can
decode the data. This
data is sent back to the central computer system 106 which can determine the
position of the
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motorized transport unit 102 by the data of the light it receives, since it
can relate the light data to
a mapping of the light sources to locations at the facility 101. Generally,
such lighting systems
are known and commercially available, e.g., the ByteLight system from
ByteLight of Boston,
Massachusetts. In embodiments using a ByteLight system, a typical display
screen of the typical
smart phone device can be used as a light sensor or light receiver to receive
and process data
encoded into the light from the ByteLight light sources.
In other embodiments, the location detection system 116 includes a series of
low energy
radio beacons (e.g., Bluetooth low energy beacons) at known positions
throughout the space and
that each encode data in the emitted radio signal that identifies the beacon
(and thus, the location
of the beacon). As a given motorized transport unit 102 moves through the
space, low energy
receivers at the motorized transport unit 102, on the movable item container
104 and/or at the
user interface unit 114 receive the radio signal and can decode the data. This
data is sent back to
the central computer system 106 which can determine the position of the
motorized transport unit
102 by the location encoded in the radio signal it receives, since it can
relate the location data to
a mapping of the low energy radio beacons to locations at the facility 101.
Generally, such low
energy radio systems are known and commercially available. In embodiments
using a Bluetooth
low energy radio system, a typical Bluetooth radio of a typical smart phone
device can be used as
a receiver to receive and process data encoded into the Bluetooth low energy
radio signals from
the Bluetooth low energy beacons.
In still other embodiments, the location detection system 116 includes a
series of audio
beacons at known positions throughout the space and that each encode data in
the emitted audio
signal that identifies the beacon (and thus, the location of the beacon). As a
given motorized
transport unit 102 moves through the space, microphones at the motorized
transport unit 102, on
the movable item container 104 and/or at the user interface unit 114 receive
the audio signal and
can decode the data. This data is sent back to the central computer system 106
which can
determine the position of the motorized transport unit 102 by the location
encoded in the audio
signal it receives, since it can relate the location data to a mapping of the
audio beacons to
locations at the facility 101. Generally, such audio beacon systems are known
and commercially
available. In embodiments using an audio beacon system, a typical microphone
of a typical
smart phone device can be used as a receiver to receive and process data
encoded into the audio
signals from the audio beacon.
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Also optionally, the central computer system 106 can operably couple to one or
more
user interface computers 128 (comprising, for example, a display and a user
input interface such
as a keyboard, touch screen, and/or cursor-movement device). Such a user
interface computer
128 can permit, for example, a worker (e.g., an associate, analyst, etc.) at
the retail or shopping
facility 101 to monitor the operations of the central computer system 106
and/or to attend to any
of a variety of administrative, configuration or evaluation tasks as may
correspond to the
programming and operation of the central computer system 106. Such user
interface computers
128 may be at or remote from the location of the facility 101 and may access
one or more the
databases 126.
In some embodiments, the system 100 includes at least one motorized transport
unit
(MTU) storage unit or dispenser 120 at various locations in the shopping
facility 101. The
dispenser 120 provides for storage of motorized transport units 102 that are
ready to be assigned
to customers and/or workers. In some embodiments, the dispenser 120 takes the
form of a
cylinder within which motorized transports units 102 are stacked and released
through the
bottom of the dispenser 120. Further details of such embodiments are provided
further below.
In some embodiments, the dispenser 120 may be fixed in location or may be
mobile and capable
of transporting itself to a given location or utilizing a motorized transport
unit 102 to transport
the dispenser 120, then dispense one or more motorized transport units 102.
In some embodiments, the system 100 includes at least one motorized transport
unit
(MTU) docking station 122. These docking stations 122 provide locations where
motorized
transport units 102 can travel and connect to. For example, the motorized
transport units 102
may be stored and charged at the docking station 122 for later use, and/or may
be serviced at the
docking station 122.
In accordance with some embodiments, a given motorized transport unit 102
detachably
connects to a movable item container 104 and is configured to move the movable
item container
104 through the shopping facility space under control of the central computer
system 106 and/or
the user interface unit 114. For example, a motorized transport unit 102 can
move to a position
underneath a movable item container 104 (such as a shopping cart, a rocket
cart, a flatbed cart, or
any other mobile basket or platform), align itself with the movable item
container 104 (e.g.,
using sensors) and then raise itself to engage an undersurface of the movable
item container 104
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and lift a portion of the movable item container 104. Once the motorized
transport unit is
cooperating with the movable item container 104 (e.g., lifting a portion of
the movable item
container), the motorized transport unit 102 can continue to move throughout
the facility space
101 taking the movable item container 104 with it. In some examples, the
motorized transport
unit 102 takes the form of the motorized transport unit 202 of FIGS. 2A-3B as
it engages and
detachably connects to a given movable item container 104. It is understood
that in other
embodiments, the motorized transport unit 102 may not lift a portion of the
movable item
container 104, but that it removably latches to, connects to or otherwise
attaches to a portion of
the movable item container 104 such that the movable item container 104 can be
moved by the
motorized transport unit 102. For example, the motorized transport unit 102
can connect to a
given movable item container using a hook, a mating connector, a magnet, and
so on.
In addition to detachably coupling to movable item containers 104 (such as
shopping
carts), in some embodiments, motorized transport units 102 can move to and
engage or connect
to an item display module 130 and/or an item storage unit or locker 132. For
example, an item
display module 130 may take the form of a mobile display rack or shelving unit
configured to
house and display certain items for sale. It may be desired to position the
display module 130 at
various locations within the shopping facility 101 at various times. Thus, one
or more motorized
transport units 102 may move (as controlled by the central computer system
106) underneath the
item display module 130, extend upward to lift the module 130 and then move it
to the desired
location. A storage locker 132 may be a storage device where items for
purchase are collected
and placed therein for a customer and/or worker to later retrieve. In some
embodiments, one or
more motorized transport units 102 may be used to move the storage locker to a
desired location
in the shopping facility 101. Similar to how a motorized transport unit
engages a movable item
container 104 or item display module 130, one or more motorized transport
units 102 may move
(as controlled by the central computer system 106) underneath the storage
locker 132, extend
upward to lift the locker 132 and then move it to the desired location.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate some embodiments of a motorized transport unit 202,
similar
to the motorized transport unit 102 shown in the system of FIG. 1. In this
embodiment, the
motorized transport unit 202 takes the form of a disc-shaped robotic device
having motorized
wheels (not shown), a lower body portion 204 and an upper body portion 206
that fits over at
least part of the lower body portion 204. It is noted that in other
embodiments, the motorized
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transport unit may have other shapes and/or configurations, and is not limited
to disc-shaped.
For example, the motorized transport unit may be cubic, octagonal, triangular,
or other shapes,
and may be dependent on a movable item container with which the motorized
transport unit is
intended to cooperate. Also included are guide members 208. In FIG. 2A, the
motorized
transport unit 202 is shown in a retracted position in which the upper body
portion 206 fits over
the lower body portion 204 such that the motorized transport unit 202 is in
its lowest profile
orientation which is generally the preferred orientation for movement when it
is unattached to a
movable item container 104 for example. In FIG. 2B, the motorized transport
unit 202 is shown
in an extended position in which the upper body portion 206 is moved upward
relative to the
lower body portion 204 such that the motorized transport unit 202 is in its
highest profile
orientation for movement when it is lifting and attaching to a movable item
container 104 for
example. The mechanism within the motorized transport unit 202 is designed to
provide
sufficient lifting force to lift the weight of the upper body portion 206 and
other objects to be
lifted by the motorized transport unit 202, such as movable item containers
104 and items placed
within the movable item container, item display modules 130 and items
supported by the item
display module, and storage lockers 132 and items placed within the storage
locker. The guide
members 208 are embodied as pegs or shafts that extend horizontally from the
both the upper
body portion 206 and the lower body portion 204. In some embodiments, these
guide members
208 assist docking the motorized transport unit 202 to a docking station 122
or a dispenser 120.
In some embodiments, the lower body portion 204 and the upper body portion are
capable to
moving independently of each other. For example, the upper body portion 206
may be raised
and/or rotated relative to the lower body portion 204. That is, one or both of
the upper body
portion 206 and the lower body portion 204 may move toward/away from the other
or rotated
relative to the other. In some embodiments, in order to raise the upper body
portion 206 relative
to the lower body portion 204, the motorized transport unit 202 includes an
internal lifting
system (e.g., including one or more electric actuators or rotary drives or
motors). Numerous
examples of such motorized lifting and rotating systems are known in the art.
Accordingly,
further elaboration in these regards is not provided here for the sake of
brevity.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate some embodiments of the motorized transport unit
202
detachably engaging a movable item container embodied as a shopping cart 302.
In FIG 3A, the
motorized transport unit 202 is in the orientation of FIG. 2A such that it is
retracted and able to
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move in position underneath a portion of the shopping cart 302. Once the
motorized transport
unit 202 is in position (e.g., using sensors), as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the
motorized transport unit
202 is moved to the extended position of FIG. 2B such that the front portion
304 of the shopping
cart is lifted off of the ground by the motorized transport unit 202, with the
wheels 306 at the rear
-- of the shopping cart 302 remaining on the ground. In this orientation, the
motorized transport
unit 202 is able to move the shopping cart 302 throughout the shopping
facility. It is noted that
in these embodiments, the motorized transport unit 202 does not bear the
weight of the entire cart
302 since the rear wheels 306 rest on the floor. It is understood that in some
embodiments, the
motorized transport unit 202 may be configured to detachably engage other
types of movable
-- item containers, such as rocket carts, flatbed carts or other mobile
baskets or platforms.
FIG. 4 presents a more detailed example of some embodiments of the motorized
transport
unit 102 of FIG. 1. In this example, the motorized transport unit 102 has a
housing 402 that
contains (partially or fully) or at least supports and carries a number of
components. These
components include a control unit 404 comprising a control circuit 406 that,
like the control
-- circuit 108 of the central computer system 106, controls the general
operations of the motorized
transport unit 102. Accordingly, the control unit 404 also includes a memory
408 coupled to the
control circuit 406 and that stores, for example, operating instructions
and/or useful data.
The control circuit 406 operably couples to a motorized wheel system 410. This
motorized wheel
system 410 functions as a locomotion system to permit the motorized transport
unit 102 to move
-- within the aforementioned retail or shopping facility 101 (thus, the
motorized wheel system 410
may more generically be referred to as a locomotion system). Generally
speaking, this motorized
wheel system 410 will include at least one drive wheel (i.e., a wheel that
rotates (around a
horizontal axis) under power to thereby cause the motorized transport unit 102
to move through
interaction with, for example, the floor of the shopping facility 101). The
motorized wheel
-- system 410 can include any number of rotating wheels and/or other floor-
contacting mechanisms
as may be desired and/or appropriate to the application setting.
The motorized wheel system 410 also includes a steering mechanism of choice.
One
simple example in these regards comprises one or more of the aforementioned
wheels that can
swivel about a vertical axis to thereby cause the moving motorized transport
unit 102 to turn as
well.
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Numerous examples of motorized wheel systems are known in the art.
Accordingly,
further elaboration in these regards is not provided here for the sake of
brevity save to note that
the aforementioned control circuit 406 is configured to control the various
operating states of the
motorized wheel system 410 to thereby control when and how the motorized wheel
system 410
operates.
In this illustrative example, the control circuit 406 also operably couples to
at least one
wireless transceiver 412 that operates according to any known wireless
protocol. This wireless
transceiver 412 can comprise, for example, a Wi-Fi-compatible and/or Bluetooth-
compatible
transceiver that can communicate with the aforementioned central computer
system 106 via the
aforementioned wireless network 124 of the shopping facility 101. So
configured the control
circuit 406 of the motorized transport unit 102 can provide infoimation to the
central computer
system 106 and can receive information and/or instructions from the central
computer system
106. As one simple example in these regards, the control circuit 406 can
receive instructions
from the central computer system 106 regarding movement of the motorized
transport unit 102.
These teachings will accommodate using any of a wide variety of wireless
technologies
as desired and/or as may be appropriate in a given application setting. These
teachings will also
accommodate employing two or more different wireless transceivers 412 if
desired.
The control circuit 406 also couples to one or more on-board sensors 414.
These
teachings will accommodate a wide variety of sensor technologies and form
factors. By one
approach at least one such sensor 414 can comprise a light sensor or light
receiver. When the
aforementioned location detection system 116 comprises a plurality of light
emitters disposed at
particular locations within the shopping facility 101, such a light sensor can
provide information
that the control circuit 406 and/or the central computer system 106 employs to
determine a
present location and/or orientation of the motorized transport unit 102.
As another example, such a sensor 414 can comprise a distance measurement unit
configured to detect a distance between the motorized transport unit 102 and
one or more objects
or surfaces around the motorized transport unit 102 (such as an object that
lies in a projected path
of movement for the motorized transport unit 102 through the shopping facility
101). These
teachings will accommodate any of a variety of distance measurement units
including optical
units and sound/ultrasound units. In one example, a sensor 414 comprises a
laser distance sensor
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device capable of determining a distance to objects in proximity to the
sensor. In some
embodiments, a sensor 414 comprises an optical based scanning device to sense
and read optical
patterns in proximity to the sensor, such as bar codes variously located on
structures in the
shopping facility 101. In some embodiments, a sensor 414 comprises a radio
frequency
identification (RFID) tag reader capable of reading RFID tags in proximity to
the sensor. Such
sensors may be useful to determine proximity to nearby objects, avoid
collisions, orient the
motorized transport unit at a proper alignment orientation to engage a movable
item container,
and so on.
The foregoing examples are intended to be illustrative and are not intended to
convey an
exhaustive listing of all possible sensors. Instead, it will be understood
that these teachings will
accommodate sensing any of a wide variety of circumstances or phenomena to
support the
operating functionality of the motorized transport unit 102 in a given
application setting.
By one optional approach an audio input 416 (such as a microphone) and/or an
audio
output 418 (such as a speaker) can also operably couple to the control circuit
406. So configured
the control circuit 406 can provide a variety of audible sounds to thereby
communicate with a
user of the motorized transport unit 102, other persons in the vicinity of the
motorized transport
unit 102, or even other motorized transport units 102 in the area. These
audible sounds can
include any of a variety of tones and other non-verbal sounds. These audible
sounds can also
include, in lieu of the foregoing or in combination therewith, pre-recorded or
synthesized speech.
The audio input 416, in turn, provides a mechanism whereby, for example, a
user
provides verbal input to the control circuit 406. That verbal input can
comprise, for example,
instructions, inquiries, or information. So configured, a user can provide,
for example, a question
to the motorized transport unit 102 (such as, "Where are the towels?"). The
control circuit 406
can cause that verbalized question to be transmitted to the central computer
system 106 via the
motorized transport unit's wireless transceiver 412. The central computer
system 106 can
process that verbal input to recognize the speech content and to then
determine an appropriate
response. That response might comprise, for example, transmitting back to the
motorized
transport unit 102 specific instructions regarding how to move the motorized
transport unit 102
(via the aforementioned motorized wheel system 410) to the location in the
shopping facility 101
where the towels are displayed.
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In this example the motorized transport unit 102 includes a rechargeable power
source
420 such as one or more batteries. The power provided by the rechargeable
power source 420
can be made available to whichever components of the motorized transport unit
102 require
electrical energy. By one approach the motorized transport unit 102 includes a
plug or other
electrically conductive interface that the control circuit 406 can utilize to
automatically connect
to an external source of electrical energy to thereby recharge the
rechargeable power source 420.
By one approach the motorized transport unit 102 comprises an integral part of
a movable
item container 104 such as a grocery cart. As used herein, this reference to
"integral" will be
understood to refer to a non-temporary combination and joinder that is
sufficiently complete so
as to consider the combined elements to be as one. Such a joinder can be
facilitated in a number
of ways including by securing the motorized transport unit housing 402 to the
item container
using bolts or other threaded fasteners as versus, for example, a clip.
These teachings will also accommodate selectively and temporarily attaching
the
motorized transport unit 102 to an item container 104. In such a case the
motorized transport unit
102 can include a movable item container coupling structure 422. By one
approach this movable
item container coupling structure 422 operably couples to a control circuit
202 to thereby permit
the latter to control, for example, the latched and unlatched states of the
movable item container
coupling structure 422. So configured, by one approach the control circuit 406
can automatically
and selectively move the motorized transport unit 102 (via the motorized wheel
system 410)
towards a particular item container until the movable item container coupling
structure 422 can
engage the item container to thereby temporarily physically couple the
motorized transport unit
102 to the item container. So latched, the motorized transport unit 102 can
then cause the item
container to move with the motorized transport unit 102. In embodiments such
as illustrated in
FIGS. 2A-3B, the movable item container coupling structure 422 includes a
lifting system (e.g.,
including an electric drive or motor) to cause a portion of the body or
housing 402 to engage and
lift a portion of the item container off of the ground such that the motorized
transport unit 102
can carry a portion of the item container. In other embodiments, the movable
transport unit
latches to a portion of the movable item container without lifting a portion
thereof off of the
ground.
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In either case, by combining the motorized transport unit 102 with an item
container, and
by controlling movement of the motorized transport unit 102 via the
aforementioned central
computer system 106, these teachings will facilitate a wide variety of useful
ways to assist both
customers and associates in a shopping facility setting. For example, the
motorized transport unit
102 can be configured to follow a particular customer as they shop within the
shopping facility
101. The customer can then place items they intend to purchase into the item
container that is
associated with the motorized transport unit 102.
In some embodiments, the motorized transport unit 102 includes an input/output
(I/0)
device 424 that is coupled to the control circuit 406. The I/0 device 424
allows an external
device to couple to the control unit 404. The function and purpose of
connecting devices will
depend on the application. In some examples, devices connecting to the I/0
device 424 may add
functionality to the control unit 404, allow the exporting of data from the
control unit 404, allow
the diagnosing of the motorized transport unit 102, and so on.
In some embodiments, the motorized transport unit 102 includes a user
interface 426
including for example, user inputs and/or user outputs or displays depending
on the intended
interaction with the user. For example, user inputs could include any input
device such as
buttons, knobs, switches, touch sensitive surfaces or display screens, and so
on. Example user
outputs include lights, display screens, and so on. The user interface 426 may
work together
with or separate from any user interface implemented at a user interface unit
114 (such as a smart
phone or tablet device).
The control unit 404 includes a memory 408 coupled to the control circuit 406
and that
stores, for example, operating instructions and/or useful data. The control
circuit 406 can
comprise a fixed-purpose hard-wired platform or can comprise a partially or
wholly
programmable platform. These architectural options are well known and
understood in the art
and require no further description here. This control circuit 406 is
configured (for example, by
using corresponding programming stored in the memory 408 as will be well
understood by those
skilled in the art) to carry out one or more of the steps, actions, and/or
functions described herein.
The memory 408 may be integral to the control circuit 406 or can be physically
discrete (in
whole or in part) from the control circuit 406 as desired. This memory 408 can
also be local with
respect to the control circuit 406 (where, for example, both share a common
circuit board,
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chassis, power supply, and/or housing) or can be partially or wholly remote
with respect to the
control circuit 406. This memory 408 can serve, for example, to non-
transitorily store the
computer instructions that, when executed by the control circuit 406, cause
the control circuit
406 to behave as described herein. (As used herein, this reference to "non-
transitorily" will be
understood to refer to a non-ephemeral state for the stored contents (and
hence excludes when
the stored contents merely constitute signals or waves) rather than volatility
of the storage media
itself and hence includes both non-volatile memory (such as read-only memory
(ROM) as well
as volatile memory (such as an erasable programmable read-only memory
(EPROM).)
It is noted that not all components illustrated in FIG. 4 are included in all
embodiments of
the motorized transport unit 102. That is, some components may be optional
depending on the
implementation.
FIG. 5 illustrates a functional block diagram that may generally represent any
number of
various electronic components of the system 100 that are computer type
devices. The computer
device 500 includes a control circuit 502, a memory 504, a user interface 506
and an input/output
(I/0) interface 508 providing any type of wired and/or wireless connectivity
to the computer
device 500, all coupled to a communication bus 510 to allow data and signaling
to pass
therebetween. Generally, the control circuit 502 and the memory 504 may be
referred to as a
control unit. The control circuit 502, the memory 504, the user interface 506
and the I/0
interface 508 may be any of the devices described herein or as understood in
the art. The
functionality of the computer device 500 will depend on the programming stored
in the memory
504. The computer device 500 may represent a high level diagram for one or
more of the central
computer system 106, the motorized transport unit 102, the user interface unit
114, the location
detection system 116, the user interface computer 128, the MTU docking station
122 and the
MTU dispenser 120, or any other device or component in the system that is
implemented as a
computer device.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES OVERVIEW
Referring generally to FIGS. 1-5, the shopping assistance system 100 may
implement one
or more of several different features depending on the configuration of the
system and its
components. The following provides a brief description of several additional
features that could
be implemented by the system. One or more of these features could also be
implemented in
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other systems separate from embodiments of the system. This is not meant to be
an exhaustive
description of all features and not meant to be an exhaustive description of
the details any one of
the features. Further details with regards to one or more features beyond this
overview may be
provided herein.
Tagalong Steering: This feature allows a given motorized transport unit 102 to
lead or
follow a user (e.g., a customer and/or a worker) throughout the shopping
facility 101. For
example, the central computer system 106 uses the location detection system
116 to determine
the location of the motorized transport unit 102. For example, LED smart
lights (e.g., the
ByteLight system) of the location detection system 116 transmit a location
number to smart
devices which are with the customer (e.g., user interface units 114), and/or
on the item container
104/motorized transport unit 102. The central computer system 106 receives the
LED location
numbers received by the smart devices through the wireless network 124. Using
this information,
in some embodiments, the central computer system 106 uses a grid placed upon a
2D CAD map
and 3D point cloud model (e.g., from the databases 126) to direct, track, and
plot paths for the
other devices. Using the grid, the motorized transport unit 102 can drive a
movable item
container 104 in a straight path rather than zigzagging around the facility.
As the user moves
from one grid to another, the motorized transport unit 102 drives the
container 104 from one grid
to the other. In some embodiments, as the user moves towards the motorized
transport unit, it
stays still until the customer moves beyond an adjoining grid.
Detecting Objects: In some embodiments, motorized transport units 102 detect
objects
through several sensors mounted on motorized transport unit 102, through
independent cameras
(e.g., video cameras 118), through sensors of a corresponding movable item
container 104, and
through communications with the central computer system 106. In some
embodiments, with
semi-autonomous capabilities, the motorized transport unit 102 will attempt to
avoid obstacles,
and if unable to avoid, it will notify the central computer system 106 of an
exception condition.
In some embodiments, using sensors 414 (such as distance measurement units,
e.g., laser or other
optical-based distance measurement sensors), the motorized transport unit 102
detects obstacles
in its path, and will move to avoid, or stop until the obstacle is clear.
Visual Remote Steering: This feature enables movement and/or operation of a
motorized
transport unit 102 to be controlled by a user on-site, off-site, or anywhere
in the world. This is
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due to the architecture of some embodiments where the central computer system
106 outputs the
control signals to the motorized transport unit 102. These controls signals
could have originated
at any device in communication with the central computer system 106. For
example, the
movement signals sent to the motorized transport unit 102 may be movement
instructions
determined by the central computer system 106; commands received at a user
interface unit 114
from a user; and commands received at the central computer system 106 from a
remote user not
located at the shopping facility space.
Determining Location: Similar to that described above, this feature enables
the central
computer system 106 to determine the location of devices in the shopping
facility 101. For
example, the central computer system 106 maps received LED light
transmissions, Bluetooth
low energy radio signals or audio signals (or other received signals encoded
with location data)
to a 2D map of the shopping facility. Objects within the area of the shopping
facility are also
mapped and associated with those transmissions. Using this information, the
central computer
system 106 can determine the location of devices such as motorized transport
units.
Digital Physical Map Integration: In some embodiments, the system 100 is
capable of
integrating 2D and 3D maps of the shopping facility with physical locations of
objects and
workers. Once the central computer system 106 maps all objects to specific
locations using
algorithms, measurements and LED geo-location, for example, grids are applied
which sections
off the maps into access ways and blocked sections. Motorized transport units
102 use these
grids for navigation and recognition. In some cases, grids are applied to 2D
horizontal maps
along with 3D models. In some cases, grids start at a higher unit level and
then can be broken
down into smaller units of measure by the central computer system 106 when
needed to provide
more accuracy.
Calling a Motorized Transport Unit: This feature provides multiple methods to
request
and schedule a motorized transport unit 102 for assistance in the shopping
facility. In some
embodiments, users can request use of a motorized transport unit 102 through
the user interface
unit 114. The central computer system 106 can check to see if there is an
available motorized
transport unit. Once assigned to a given user, other users will not be able to
control the already
assigned transport unit. Workers, such as store associates, may also reserve
multiple motorized
transport units in order to accomplish a coordinated large job.
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Locker Delivery: In some embodiments, one or more motorized transport units
102 may
be used to pick, pack, and deliver items to a particular storage locker 132.
The motorized
transport units 102 can couple to and move the storage locker to a desired
location. In some
embodiments, once delivered, the requestor will be notified that the items are
ready to be picked
up, and will be provided the locker location and locker security code key.
Route Optimization: In some embodiments, the central computer system
automatically
generates a travel route for one or more motorized transport units through the
shopping facility
space. In some embodiments, this route is based on one or more of a user
provided list of items
entered by the user via a user interface unit 114; user selected route
preferences entered by the
user via the user interface unit 114; user profile data received from a user
information database
(e.g., from one of databases 126); and product availability information from a
retail inventory
database (e.g., from one of databases 126). In some cases, the route intends
to minimize the time
it takes to get through the facility, and in some cases, may route the shopper
to the least busy
checkout area. Frequently, there will be multiple possible optimum routes. The
route chosen
may take the user by things the user is more likely to purchase (in case they
forgot something),
and away from things they are not likely to buy (to avoid embarrassment). That
is, routing a
customer through sporting goods, women's lingerie, baby food, or feminine
products, who has
never purchased such products based on past customer behavior would be non-
productive, and
potentially embarrassing to the customer. In some cases, a route may be
determined from
multiple possible routes based on past shopping behavior, e.g., if the
customer typically buys a
cold Diet Coke product, children's shoes or power tools, this information
would be used to add
weight to the best alternative routes, and determine the route accordingly.
Store Facing Features: In some embodiments, these features enable functions to
support
workers in performing store functions. For example, the system can assist
workers to know what
products and items are on the shelves and which ones need attention. For
example, using 3D
scanning and point cloud measurements, the central computer system can
determine where
products are supposed to be, enabling workers to be alerted to facing or
zoning of issues along
with potential inventory issues.
Phone Home: This feature allows users in a shopping facility 101 to be able to
contact
remote users who are not at the shopping facility 101 and include them in the
shopping
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experience. For example, the user interface unit 114 may allow the user to
place a voice call, a
video call, or send a text message. With video call capabilities, a remote
person can virtually
accompany an in-store shopper, visually sharing the shopping experience while
seeing and
talking with the shopper. One or more remote shoppers may join the experience.
Returns: In some embodiments, the central computer system 106 can task a
motorized
transport unit 102 to keep the returns area clear of returned merchandise. For
example, the
transport unit may be instructed to move a cart from the returns area to a
different department or
area. Such commands may be initiated from video analytics (the central
computer system
analyzing camera footage showing a cart full), from an associate command
(digital or verbal), or
on a schedule, as other priority tasks allow. The motorized transport unit 102
can first bring an
empty cart to the returns area, prior to removing a full one.
Bring a Container: One or more motorized transport units can retrieve a
movable item
container 104 (such as a shopping cart) to use. For example, upon a customer
or worker request,
the motorized transport unit 102 can re-position one or more item containers
104 from one
location to another. In some cases, the system instructs the motorized
transport unit where to
obtain an empty item container for use. For example, the system can recognize
an empty and
idle item container that has been abandoned or instruct that one be retrieved
from a cart storage
area. In some cases, the call to retrieve an item container may be initiated
through a call button
placed throughout the facility, or through the interface of a user interface
unit 114.
Respond to Voice Commands: In some cases, control of a given motorized
transport unit
is implemented through the acceptance of voice commands. For example, the user
may speak
voice commands to the motorized transport unit 102 itself and/or to the user
interface unit 114.
In some embodiments, a voice print is used to authorize to use of a motorized
transport unit 102
to allow voice commands from single user at a time.
Retrieve Abandoned Item Containers: This feature allows the central computer
system to
track movement of movable item containers in and around the area of the
shopping facility 101,
including both the sale floor areas and the back-room areas. For example,
using visual
recognition through store cameras 118 or through user interface units 114, the
central computer
system 106 can identify abandoned and out-of-place movable item containers. In
some cases,
each movable item container has a transmitter or smart device which will send
a unique identifier
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to facilitate tracking or other tasks and its position using LED geo-location
identification. Using
LED geo-location identification with the Determining Location feature through
smart devices on
each cart, the central computer system 106 can determine the length of time a
movable item
container 104 is stationary.
Stocker Assistance: This feature allows the central computer system to track
movement
of merchandise flow into and around the back-room areas. For example, using
visual recognition
and captured images, the central computer system 106 can determine if carts
are loaded or not
for moving merchandise between the back room areas and the sale floor areas.
Tasks or alerts
may be sent to workers to assign tasks.
Self-Docking: Motorized transport units 102 will run low or out of power when
used.
Before this happens, the motorized transport units 102 need to recharge to
stay in service.
According to this feature, motorized transport units 102 will self-dock and
recharge (e.g., at a
MTU docking station 122) to stay at maximum efficiency, when not in use. When
use is
completed, the motorized transport unit 102 will return to a docking station
122. In some cases,
if the power is running low during use, a replacement motorized transport unit
can be assigned to
move into position and replace the motorized transport unit with low power.
The transition from
one unit to the next can be seamless to the user.
Item Container Retrieval: With this feature, the central computer system 106
can cause
multiple motorized transport units 102 to retrieve abandoned item containers
from exterior areas
such as parking lots. For example, multiple motorized transport units are
loaded into a movable
dispenser, e.g., the motorized transport units are vertically stacked in the
dispenser. The
dispenser is moved to the exterior area and the transport units are dispensed.
Based on video
analytics, it is determined which item containers 104 are abandoned and for
how long. A
transport unit will attach to an abandoned cart and return it to a storage
bay.
Motorized Transport Unit Dispenser: This feature provides the movable
dispenser that
contains and moves a group of motorized transport units to a given area (e.g.,
an exterior area
such as a parking lot) to be dispensed for use. For example, motorized
transport units can be
moved to the parking lot to retrieve abandoned item containers 104. In some
cases, the interior of
the dispenser includes helically wound guide rails that mate with the guide
member 208 to allow
the motorized transport units to be guided to a position to be dispensed.
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Specialized Module Retrieval: This feature allows the system 100 to track
movement of
merchandise flow into and around the sales floor areas and the back-room areas
including special
modules that may be needed to move to the sales floor. For example, using
video analytics, the
system can determine if a modular unit it loaded or empty. Such modular units
may house items
that are of seasonal or temporary use on the sales floor. For example, when it
is raining, it is
useful to move a module unit displaying umbrellas from a back room area (or a
lesser accessed
area of the sales floor) to a desired area of the sales floor area.
Authentication: This feature uses a voice imprint with an attention code/word
to
authenticate a user to a given motorized transport unit. One motorized
transport unit can be
swapped for another using this authentication. For example, a token is used
during the session
with the user. The token is a unique identifier for the session which is
dropped once the session
is ended. A logical token may be a session id used by the application of the
user interface unit
114 to establish the session id when user logs on and when deciding to do use
the system 100. In
some embodiments, communications throughout the session are encrypted using
SSL or other
methods at transport level.
FURTHER DETAILS OF SOME EMBODIMENTS
In accordance with some embodiments, further details are now provided for one
or more
of these and other features, in particular, a shopping facility assistance
system and method to
retrieve in-store abandoned mobile item containers
By one approach the aforementioned central computer system is configured to
identify a
mobile item container physically inside a retail shopping facility as being
abandoned. The central
computer system then directs a particular one of the aforementioned plurality
of motorized
transport units through the retail shopping facility to the abandoned mobile
item container and
causes that motorized transport unit to physically attach to the abandoned
mobile item container.
The central computer system then directs that motorized transport unit through
the retail
shopping facility with the attached abandoned mobile item container to a
specified destination
within the retail shopping facility.
By one approach the central computer system identifies a mobile item container
as being
a candidate abandoned mobile item container, at least in part, based on video
information of the
retail shopping facility. The central computer system can determine that a
candidate mobile item
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container is abandoned as a function, at least in part, of determining that
the mobile item
container is both stationary and unattended for at least a predetermined
amount of time.
By one approach the central computer system can use different predetermined
amounts of
time when assessing abandonment depending upon where in the retail shopping
facility the
mobile item containers are located. For example, the central computer system
can use shorter
predetermined amounts of time when assessing abandonment of mobile item
containers located
in a low traffic area as compared to mobile item containers that are located
in a high traffic area
such as a shopping aisle.
These teachings are highly flexible in practice and will accommodate a wide
variety of
modifications and embellishments. As one example of flexibility, by one
approach the central
computer system is configured to detei mine the aforementioned specified
destination to which an
abandoned mobile item container shall be returned as a function, at least in
part, of whether the
abandoned mobile item container contains any items. For example, when the
abandoned mobile
item container is empty of any items the central computer system can specify
an empty cart
deployment area as the specified destination. Conversely, when the abandoned
mobile item
container contains one or more items, the central computer system can specify
a cart processing
area (such as but not limited to a customer service area of the retail
shopping facility) as the
specified destination to which the abandoned mobile item container shall be
taken.
So configured, abandoned in-store mobile item containers can be readily and
quickly
identified and returned safely to an appropriate deployment and/or processing
area. Suitably
employed, these teachings can greatly mitigate the problems associated with
abandoned mobile
item containers without necessitating a concurrent undue dedication of human
resources.
FIG. 6 presents an illustrative process 600 that accords with many of these
teachings. This
process 600 can be carried out by the central computer system 106 described
above. For the sake
of an illustrative example this description will presume the mobile item
container to be a
standard wheeled shopping cart. It will be understood, however, that the
specifics corresponding
to such an example are not intended to suggest any particular limitations with
respect to the
scope of these teachings.
At block 601 the central computer system 106 identifies a mobile item
container 104 in a
retail shopping facility 101 as being abandoned. FIG. 7 provides further
details as to how the
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central computer system 106 carries out this identification. No particular
limitations are intended
by way of the specificity of this example.
With continued reference to FIG. 7 and with reference as well to FIG. 8, at
block 701 the
central computer system 106 processes data to identify mobile item containers
104 in the retail
shopping facility 101. By one optional approach the central computer system
106 identifies
mobile item containers 104 in the retail shopping facility 101, at least in
part, based on video
information. That video information can be provided, for example, by video
cameras 118 that are
positioned such that at least a part of the captured field of views include at
least some parts of the
retail shopping facility 101. In such a case the central computer system 106
can have access to
image processing and/or pattern-matching programs that facilitate identifying
a particular object
in a field of view as comprising a mobile item container 104, a customer 801,
an item in a mobile
item container 104, and so forth. Such image processing and pattern-matching
comprises a
known area of prior art endeavor. As the present teachings are not
particularly sensitive to any
particular selections in these regards, further elaboration is not provided
here regarding such
techniques.
By another approach, used in combination with the foregoing or in lieu
thereof, the
central computer system 106 identifies mobile item containers 104 in the
retail shopping facility
101, at least in part, based on external-environment sensor information
provided by the
aforementioned location detection system 116 or one or more of the plurality
of motorized
transport units 102. Such external-environment sensor information can be
developed, for
example, by an on-board sensor 414 as described above that specifically serves
in these regards.
As one simple example in these regards, the mobile item containers 104 may be
equipped with
RFID tags or other close-range transponders or transmitters that the
aforementioned on-board
sensor 414 can detect and provide to the central computer system 106 as the
aforementioned
external-environment sensor information.
At decision block 702, the central computer system 106 determines whether a
mobile
item container 104 identified when processing the data as described above
constitutes a
candidate abandoned mobile item container 104. By one approach, this
determination can be
based upon determining both that the mobile item container 104 is stationary
and that no one is
presently sufficiently proximal to that mobile item container 104.
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These teachings will accommodate various approaches as to what constitutes
that
sufficient proximity. By one approach, for example, the central computer
system 106 may
consider any stationary mobile item container 104 to be a candidate unless
someone is presently
touching that mobile item container 104. By another approach, the central
computer system 106
may consider an untouched stationary mobile item container 104 to not yet be a
candidate so
long as someone is at least within some predetermined distance of the mobile
item container 104
(such as, for example, 1 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 1 m, or some other suitable distance
of choice).
When not true (i.e., the mobile item container 104 does not meet the central
computer
system's 106 criteria for potentially being considered abandoned), the central
computer system
106 can continue with the aforementioned data processing activity to thereby
continue to identify
mobile item containers 104 in the retail shopping facility 101. By way of an
illustrative example,
and referring to FIG. 8, the central computer system 106 so considers the
mobile item container
104 denoted by the alphabetic character A and determines that a person 801 is
sufficiently close
to this mobile item container A to preclude characterizing this otherwise-
stationary mobile item
container A as being a candidate abandoned movable item container.
When true, however, the central computer system 106, at block 703, sets a time
flag for
each candidate abandoned mobile item container 104. This permits the central
computer system
106 to track how long a particular stationary mobile item container 104
remains stationary.
Skipping ahead in FIG. 7, at decision block 706 the central computer system
106 can determine
from time to time whether some corresponding time threshold has expired. If
the time threshold
is five minutes, for example, this activity comprises determining whether five
minutes or more
have elapsed since the aforementioned time flag was set for a particular
stationary movable item
container 104.
If the time threshold has not yet expired the central computer system 106 then
determines, at block 707, whether the movable item container 104 has been
moved. When the
movable item container 104 has remained stationary, the central computer
system 106 continues
to monitor for the passing of time and movement of the movable item container
104 as just
described. If, however, the central computer system 106 determines that the
monitored movable
item container 104 has been moved, the central computer system clears the
previously set time
flag at block 708 and continues with this process 601.
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By way of an illustrative example, and referring to FIG. 8, the central
computer system
106 so monitors the mobile item container 104 denoted by the alphabetic
character B for
movement after having identified this mobile item container B as being a
candidate abandoned
mobile item container and prior to determining that a corresponding time
threshold has expired.
Upon detecting that this mobile item container B moves (as represented by the
phantom
representation of this mobile item container B) during this monitoring
interval, and as per the
process 601 illustrated in FIG. 7, the central computer system 106 clears the
previously set time
flag for this mobile item container B and effectively clears this mobile item
container B from the
pool of candidates. If the mobile item container B again meets the criteria
described above, the
central computer system 106 will again treat the mobile item container B as a
candidate and
begin anew the aforementioned monitoring activity.
When the candidate mobile item container 104 remains stationary for the
requisite period
of time, at block 709 the central computer system 106 identifies the candidate
mobile item
container 104 as being abandoned. By way of an illustrative example, and
referring again to FIG.
8, the central computer system 106 so monitors the mobile item container 104
denoted by the
alphabetic character C and detects that this mobile item container C has
remained stationary for
the requisite period of time and therefore now identifies this mobile item
container C as being
abandoned.
As noted above, the central computer system 106 can identify a candidate
mobile item
container 104 as being abandoned as a function of how long the candidate
mobile item container
104 has remained stationary. By one approach this can comprise, for example,
using shorter
predetermined amounts of time when assessing abandonment for mobile item
containers 104
located in a low traffic area for mobile item containers 104 and/or customers
than when
assessing abandonment of mobile item containers 104 located in higher traffic
areas such as, for
example, shopping aisles.
By way of an illustrative example, and referring again to FIG. 8, the central
computer
system 106 might employ a time threshold of, say, 15 minutes when assessing
abandonment of
mobile item container C which happens to be located in a low traffic area of
the retail shopping
facility 101 and a time threshold of, say, five minutes when assessing
abandonment of mobile
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item container D which happens to be located in a high traffic area of the
retail shopping facility
101.
Accordingly, and referring again to FIG. 7, this process 601 can include the
optional
activity shown at block 704 where the central computer system 106 determines
the location of a
candidate mobile item container 104 (at least to the extent of determining
whether the candidate
mobile item container 104 is in a low traffic or high traffic area) followed
by optional block 705
where the central computer system 106 selects a location-based time threshold
as a function of
the previously-determine the location of the candidate mobile item container
104. The central
computer system 106 can then carry out the other steps of this process 601 as
described above
albeit with a particularly-chosen time threshold that has been selected as a
function of the
location of the candidate mobile item container 104.
Referring again to FIG. 6 and with continued reference to FIG. 8, upon having
identified
a mobile item container 104 in a retail shopping facility 101 as being
abandoned at block 601 as
described above, the central computer system 106 can, at block 602, direct a
motorized transport
unit 102 through the retail shopping facility 101 to the abandoned mobile item
container. In the
example of FIG. 8, the central computer system 106 has determined that the
mobile item
container D is abandoned and has directed a motorized transport unit 102 to
travel to the mobile
item container D as represented by the arrow denoted by reference numeral 802.
As described
above, the central computer system 106 can communicate with the motorized
transport unit 102
to communicate such an instruction via an available wireless network
connection.
By one approach the central computer system 106 simply provides a destination
to this
motorized transport unit 102. By another approach the central computer system
106 provides
step-by-step movement instructions to the motorized transport unit 102 to
thereby guide the
motorized transport unit 102 to the location of the abandoned mobile item
container D.
At block 603 the central computer system 106 also causes the motorized
transport unit
102 to physically attach to the abandoned mobile item container D as described
above.
At block 604 the central computer system 106 directs (again via an available
wireless
network connection as described above) the motorized transport unit 102
through the retail
shopping facility 101 with the attached abandoned mobile item container D to a
specified
destination within the retail shopping facility 101. By one approach the
central computer system
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106 determines this specified destination as a function, at least in part, of
whether the abandoned
mobile item container contains any items. When the abandoned mobile item
container is empty
of items, for example, the central computer system 106 may specify that the
motorized transport
unit 102 bring the mobile item container to an empty cart deployment area as
the specified
destination. An empty cart deployment area can comprise, for example, a
shopping cart bay
where shopping carts are organized and otherwise made available to customers
arriving at the
retail shopping facility 101.
When, however, the mobile item container contains one or more items (such as
un-
purchased items that were removed from their respective displays and into the
mobile item
container by a customer and/or personal items that might belong to a customer
that has now left
the premises) the central computer system 106 can instead direct the motorized
transport unit 102
to take the abandoned mobile item container to a cart processing area such as
a customer service
area 804 of the retail shopping facility 101. FIG. 8 illustrates such an
action by the arrow denoted
by reference numeral 803 which represents that the motorized transport unit
102 is taking the
mobile item container D to the aforementioned customer service area 804.
A customer service area can comprise, for example, an area of a retail
shopping facility
101 that provides one or more services to a customer other than serving
primarily as a point of
sale. Customer service areas often serve as one of their primary functions to
process the return of
previously-purchased goods by customers, gift recipients, and so forth.
Accordingly, customer
service areas often gather items that need to be returned back into inventory,
which items are
often temporarily stored in one or more mobile item containers 104. This being
so, a customer
service area can serve as a useful, efficient, and helpful area to receive an
abandoned mobile item
container 104 that includes one or more items contained therein.
So configured, a shopping facility assistance system can help to prevent
abandoned
shopping carts from impeding customer and/or associate movement for an undue
length of time.
These same teachings can also help to minimize or at least reduce the amount
of time that an
item removed from its display is otherwise unavailable to be purchased by an
interested
customer.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications,
alterations,
and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments
without
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departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications,
alterations, and
combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive
concept.
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