U.S. patent application number 13/422736 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-09 for on-shelf tracking system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Patrick Campbell. Invention is credited to Patrick Campbell.
Application Number | 20130117053 13/422736 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46018073 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130117053 |
Kind Code |
A2 |
Campbell; Patrick |
May 9, 2013 |
ON-SHELF TRACKING SYSTEM
Abstract
A system to be installed on a merchandising unit having one or
more inventory zones, one or more units of product, one or more
product sensors, a mounting structure, and an electromagnetic
signal processor. The one or more inventory zones can present the
one or more units of product in several different arrangements. The
one or more product sensors, each at least associated operatively
with one of the one or more inventory zones, converts a sensed
quantity of the one or more units of product into a respective
analog electromagnetic signal. The mounting structure secures the
one or more product sensors to the merchandising unit relative to
the one or more units of product so that the one or more product
sensors sense a quantity of the one or more units of product. The
electromagnetic signal processor in communication with the one or
more product sensors can sample output from the one or more product
sensors periodically and converts the analog signal into a digital
signal.
Inventors: |
Campbell; Patrick; (Raleigh,
NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Campbell; Patrick |
Raleigh |
NC |
US |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20120245969 A1 |
September 27, 2012 |
|
|
Family ID: |
46018073 |
Appl. No.: |
13/422736 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/7.11;
340/1.1; 340/6.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/087
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/7.11;
340/1.1; 340/6.1 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/38 20060101
G06F013/38; G06Q 30/00 20120101 G06Q030/00; G08B 5/22 20060101
G08B005/22; G06Q 10/00 20120101 G06Q010/00 |
Claims
1. A system to be installed on a merchandising unit comprising: One
or more inventory zones, where within the inventory zones, the
inventory zones present one or more units of product in one or more
of the following arrangements: the one or more units of product
arranged in a container in a geometric pattern of one or more
layers deep, the one or more units of product arranged loosely in a
container, or the one or more units of product each hanging from a
peg hook; One or more product sensors, each at least associated
operatively with one of the one or more inventory zones, that
convert a sensed quantity of the one or more units of product into
a respective analog electromagnetic signal; A mounting structure
that secures the one or more product sensors to the merchandising
unit relative to the one or more units of product so that the one
or more product sensors sense a quantity of the one or more units
of product; An electromagnetic signal processor in communication
with the one or more product sensors that samples output from the
one or more product sensors periodically and converts the analog
signal into a digital signal; self-calibration system in
communication with the electromagnetic signal processor that
detects background variability of the analog electromagnetic signal
and therefrom establishes an activity threshold for each of the one
or more product sensors, wherein the activity threshold is a
configurable multiple of the background variability, and wherein
the activity threshold represents sensitivity of the associated
product sensor; and A pickup-event detection system that determines
an initiation of an inventory event at one of the one or more
inventory zones when variability of the respective analog signal
exceeds the activity threshold, where the pickup-event detection
system suspends self-calibration during the inventory event, where
the pickup-event detection system identifies one or more other
product sensors contributing to signaling the inventory event prior
to completion of the inventory event, and where the pickup-event
detection system determines termination of the inventory event when
the variability of each of the respective analog electromagnetic
signals has returned below the activity threshold of each of the
contributing product sensors.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor
identification and event classification system, configured to:
determine one or more inventory event metrics from the analog
electromagnetic signal, digital signal, or a derivative thereof for
types of inventory events, including: start time, end time,
starting load, ending load, difference between the starting and
ending load, highest load, lowest load, difference between the
highest and lowest load, maximum variance, and cumulative variance
over an inventory event; determine a function for each of the one
or more product sensors involved in the inventory event with
respect to one or more of the one or more inventory event metrics;
identify each of the one or more product sensors signaling the
inventory event; and based on one or more of the one or more
inventory event metrics, assign a type of inventory event,
including: one or more pickups of the one or more units of product,
one or more returns of the one or more units of product, one or
more touches of the one or more units of product touch, a container
refill event, and a container removal event.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising: one or more proximity
zones next to the merchandising unit; one or more proximity sensors
associated operatively with each of the one or more proximity zones
measuring one or more of presence of a person, distance of a person
from the sensor, two dimensional coordinates of a person within the
one or more proximity zones, and, any motion within the one or more
proximity zones; a proximity sensor mounting system associated
operatively with the one or more proximity sensors, which secures
the one or more proximity sensors to or near the merchandising
unit, and which aligns a field of view of the one or more proximity
sensors; and a proximity event detection system that detects a
proximity zone event that occurs when an electromagnetic signal
outputted by the one or more proximity sensor exceeds a
configurable threshold.
4. The system of claim 3, further comprising: a data logging system
that records information derived from the digital signal pertaining
to one or more of the inventory event and the proximity zone event,
where the data logging system stores the information pertaining to
each of the one or more of the events to a database, including: a
unique identifier; a start time; duration of the event; initiation
of the event; the one or more sensors signaling the event; one or
more classifications of the event, including the type of inventory
event if applicable; and any one of the one or more inventory event
metrics; and a transmitter that transmits the information
pertaining to each of the one or more of the events to one or more
of a local display device, a remote display device, a local memory
device, and a remote memory device.
5. The system of claim 1, where the one or more product sensors
include one or more of piezoelectric sensors, pressure sensors, and
force sensing resistors, and where each of the one or more product
sensors has one or more raised actuators concentrating load of one
or more units of product onto a load sensitive part of the one or
more product sensors.
6. The system of claim 1, where the one or more product sensors are
mounted at a support point of the peg hook so that as load is
applied to the peg hook the load is transmitted to the one or more
product sensors.
7. The system of claim 1, where the one or more product sensors are
one or more of a sensor that relies on sound waves and a sensor
that relies on light waves, where the one or more sensors
identifies the inventory event by movement of a shopper's hand
reaching into a curtain of energy in front of the one or more
inventory zones, where two or more distance sensing sensors measure
a distance from the shopper's hand to each of the one or more
product sensors, and based on the measured distances, the system
locates coordinates of the shopper's hand and identifies associated
inventory zones and inventory events.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more peripheral
inventory zones in communication with the electromagnetic signal
processor through a network, where the one or more peripheral
inventory zones are not located at the merchandising unit.
9. The system of claim 1, where the mounting structure is modular,
where positioning of the one or more product sensors or
corresponding circuits includes arranging the one or more product
sensors or the corresponding circuits in parallel strips at or
abutting dividers, which are T or L dividers connected to the
mounting structure, where the one or more product sensors are
attached on an upward facing surface of the mounting structure or
the dividers, so as to align the one or more sensors to contact a
fixed and reproducible location on an underside of the one or more
units of product or a container holding the one or more units of
product, and where the mounting structure is adjustable to
accommodate any width of the one or more units of product.
10. The system of claim 9, where the mounting structure comprises a
sliding track that facilitates adjusting the position of the T or
the L dividers on the sliding track, where the sliding track is
readily fastened and unfastened from the mounting structure without
hardware tools, and where the adjusting the position of the T or L
dividers is readily done without hardware tools.
11. The system of claim 1, where the sliding track is configured to
form a channel, where the channel is manufacturable to fit any size
shelf, where wires associated with the one or more sensors run
within the channel so to conceal the wires, where the wires
terminate at a connector on one edge of the mounting structure from
where the wires are further wired to the electromagnetic signal
processor, and where the one or more product sensors are fixed to
respective parts of the sliding track that interlock so as to allow
for adjusting a respective position of the one or more product
sensors.
12. The system of claim 1, where the one or more sensors are
arranged to cover an entire area of a shelf of the merchandising
unit, and where a respective circuit of each of the one or more
sensors is one or more of the following circuit shapes: a honeycomb
circuit shape, a square circuit shape, and a round circuit
shape.
13. The system of claim 12, where the mounting structure is a
flexible printed circuit board that can be rolled out into place on
a display surface of the merchandising unit.
14. The system of claim 1, where the mounting system positions the
one or more product sensors on a display surface edge lip
perpendicular to a display surface, and where an angle of tilt of
the display surface exceeds a configurable display surface tilt
angle threshold.
15. The system of claim 1, where the one or more product sensors
are connected to a spring or are integrated with a spring to detect
removal or addition of a lightweight product.
16. The system of claim 3, where the one or more proximity sensors
are configurable to detect a basket, cart, bag or any other item
used for carrying units of product.
17. The system of claim 1, where the system can switch to a
power-save mode of operation when the one or more proximity sensors
have not detected motion for a predetermined amount of time.
18. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more video
cameras surveying one or more of: an individual shopper so to
identify biometric and demographic information, including
approximate age, gender, mood, and ethnicity; and the merchandising
unit to perform remote surveillance of the merchandising unit, and
a full set of items that a shopper is purchasing including items
from other parts of a store remote from the merchandising unit.
19. The system of claim 1, further comprising an anomaly detection
system that detects anomalies of the respective analog
electromagnetic signal, where the anomalies include unusually high
variability, deactivation, or a sudden large change, and where the
anomaly detection system, after detecting an anomaly provides a
notification of the anomaly via a local or remote alert.
20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a retail activation
system able to generate or execute one or more of: sensory stimuli
including visual, audio, tactile, and olfactory stimuli; product
sampling; coupon generation; and electronic signage.
21. The system of claim 4, where there are more than one
merchandising units for possibly executing multiple experiments in
parallel, further comprising: a program management system for
managing experiments administered on the more than one
merchandising units that are in communication with each of the
electronic components of the system of claim 4 and are configured
to: select one or more of the records or fields of the records from
the database; determine, from the one or more of the records or the
fields of the records from the database, whether a predetermined
number of shoppers have passed by the more than one merchandising
units to satisfy a statistical validity threshold, which represents
a minimum number of shoppers the system must observe to provide a
desired level of confidence in respective experimental data; manage
experiment configurations by one or more of: direct end users of
the system via electronic messages to implement the experiment
configurations locally or remotely; and progressively enhance
calibration of units by comparing data from the one or more of the
records or fields of the records from the database against manual
audit results and changing calibration parameters for detection of
an inventory event.
22. The system of claim 4, further comprising a changeover system
comprising one or more repetitions of the system of claim 4, where
the changeover system is configured according to a historical state
or current state of the system of claim 4, where the changeover
system is readily swappable with the system of claim 4, where the
components of the changeover system are readily swappable with the
corresponding components of the system of claim 4, where the
components of the changeover system and the system of claim 4 are
swapped manually or automatically via a moveable merchandising
apparatus, and where the program management system or an end user
can control the moveable merchandising apparatus remotely or
locally.
23. The system of claim 4, further comprising a sales analysis
system configured to perform one or more of the following:
determine traffic patterns of shoppers within a predetermined
distance from the merchandizing unit; quantify a ratio of a number
of shoppers performing an inventory event with respect to a total
number of shoppers entering a predetermined region surveyed by the
system; quantify the value of a specific area on a merchandising
unit (hotspot) after correcting for all other factors that could
affect rate of sale, including demand for specific items and impact
of facings; quantify additional sales created by adding additional
facings of a specific item at any location on the merchandising
unit; quantify an extent to which shoppers' purchase decisions are
impacted by changes in pricing for a specific item including both
an effect on an item itself and all other items on the
merchandising unit; quantify an extent to which sales performance
of an item is impacted by either where a store hosting the
merchandising unit is located or a specific location within the
store; quantify an extent to which sales of any item are increased
by placing literature, advertising or display materials (point of
sale materials) on or near to the merchandising unit; quantify an
extent to which sales of an item are impacted by a design of the
merchandising unit on which it is displayed; quantify an extent to
which different merchandising locations in store contribute toward
the overall sales of an item; quantify an extent to which sales of
an item or items are impacted by use of retail activation
techniques designed to stimulate shoppers' senses including audio
interruption (shelf talkers), audiovisual display, scenting
systems, and vibration devices (rumblers); quantify an extent to
which shopper interest in an item varies by time of day, time of
week, or any other cyclical basis, including likelihood of a
shopper to touch an item, and likelihood to purchase; quantify an
extent to which purchase likelihood can be increased by use of
retail activation techniques and point of sale materials; quantify
an extent to which new products contribute incrementally to overall
sales when introduced in a specific store or merchandising
location; determine a price point at which a product maximizes its
incremental contribution to overall sales, taking into account both
sales of the item itself and cannibalization of sales of other
items on the same display; determine an optimal location within a
store having the merchandising unit or location on the
merchandising unit, which maximizes sales performance of a new
product; quantify an overall incremental contribution of an item to
overall sales (incrementality), taking into account sales
performance of an item, decrease in sales of other items
(cannibalization), and increase in sales of other items (halo);
determine items within a product line that provide least overall
contribution to sales ("tail items") in order to eliminate them
from product line so as to create additional space for better
performing items; quantify an incrementality of direct and indirect
competitors' products when included in a mix of items for sale; and
quantify an extent to which increasing or decreasing total number
of items on display ("range") contributes to overall sales
performance.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/453,942, filed Mar. 17, 2011,
which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] This disclosure relates to systems for tracking consumer
interactions with retail products on merchandising fixtures in real
time.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Consumer packaged goods (CPG) retailers and manufacturers
are under continuous pressure to improve operational efficiencies,
given intense competition, smaller profit margins and
ever-increasing operational costs. Manufacturers and retailers work
with a fixed amount of retail space and seek to maximize the
productivity of that space in order to maximize revenues while
controlling costs. Retailers seek to maximize overall revenues
through optimal placement of top-performing existing store keeping
units (SKUs), proper placement of new SKUs and elimination of less
productive SKUs. This usually places a high demand on available
shelf space and creates significant competition for shelf space in
CPG retail stores. Both retailers and manufacturers commit
significant data gathering and analysis to optimizing the
productivity of that space.
[0006] Currently, CPG manufacturers and retailers use various
product tracking techniques, including collecting scanner data from
the systems of the retailers, and data consolidated by vendors such
as Nielsen.RTM. or Information Resources, Inc. (IRI.RTM.). There
are two limitations to using just scanner data, namely, (1)
aggregation and (2) time. In terms of aggregation, scanner data is
usually available at store level or at a national chain level
(e.g., Kroger.RTM., and Safeway.RTM.). In terms of time, data is
typically available daily, weekly, or monthly. Because of these two
limitations, testing of new products or merchandising arrangements
must be done across a large number of stores and over a long period
of time (e.g., weeks or months) to accurately detect the effect of
the change. These limitations incur significant costs (e.g.,
typically testing of a new product or new merchandising arrangement
requires 20+ stores over 2-3 months for any given "cell" in a test)
and limit the number of experimental cells that can be executed.
Hence, many valuable experiments that could be conducted are
precluded by cost considerations, slowing the overall learning
process by retailers and manufacturers and resulting in inefficient
use of space.
[0007] Therefore, a need exists to address the problems noted above
and other problems previously experienced.
SUMMARY
[0008] A system to be installed on a merchandising unit having one
or more inventory zones, one or more units of product, one or more
product sensors, a mounting structure, and an electromagnetic
signal processor. The one or more inventory zones can present the
one or more units of product in one or more of the following
arrangements: (i) the one or more units of product arranged in a
container in a geometric pattern of one or more layers deep, (ii)
the one or more units of product arranged loosely in a container,
or (iii) the one or more units of product each hanging from a peg
hook. The one or more product sensors, each at least associated
operatively with one of the one or more inventory zones, converts a
sensed quantity of the one or more units of product into a
respective analog electromagnetic signal. The mounting structure
secures the one or more product sensors to the merchandising unit
relative to the one or more units of product so that the one or
more product sensors sense a quantity of the one or more units of
product. The electromagnetic signal processor in communication with
the one or more product sensors can sample output from the one or
more product sensors periodically and converts the analog signal
into a digital signal.
[0009] In some embodiments, a self-calibration system, in
communication with the electromagnetic signal processor, detects
background variability of the analog electromagnetic signal and
therefrom establishes an activity threshold for each of the one or
more product sensors. The activity threshold is a configurable
multiple of the background variability and represents sensitivity
of the associated product sensor.
[0010] In addition, in some embodiments, a pickup-event detection
system, determines an initiation of an inventory event at one of
the one or more inventory zones when variability of the respective
analog signal exceeds the activity threshold. In such embodiments,
the pickup-event detection system suspends self-calibration during
the inventory event. Also, the pickup-event detection system
identifies one or more other product sensors contributing to
signaling the inventory event prior to completion of the inventory
event. Further, the pickup-event detection system determines
termination of the inventory event when the variability of each of
the respective analog electromagnetic signals has returned below
the activity threshold of each of the contributing product
sensors.
[0011] Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or
will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination
of the figures and detailed description. All such additional
systems, methods, features and advantages are included within this
description, are within the scope of the claimed subject matter,
and are protected by the following claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The system can be better understood with reference to the
following drawings and description. The elements in the figures are
not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
illustrating the principles of the system. In the figures,
like-referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout
the different views.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates example components of an on-shelf
tracking (OST) system.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates example components of another example OST
system.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates example sliding sensor mounts adjustable
to accommodate product containers of various sizes.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates the sliding sensor mounts of FIG. 3
adjusting to fit an example product container.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates the sliding sensor mounts of FIG. 3
adjusted to fit the example product container of FIG. 4.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates the sliding sensor mounts of FIG. 3
adjusted to fit multiple product containers, including the product
container of FIG. 4.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the sliding sensor mounts
of FIG. 3 adjusted to fit multiple product containers, including
the product containers of FIG. 6.
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the sliding sensor
mounts of FIG. 3.
[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates various examples of inventory zones
implemented with various sensor arrangements.
[0022] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an inventory zone with
sensor circuits positioned at the corners of each shelf tier.
[0023] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an inventory zone with a
sensor underneath a merchandising display fixture.
[0024] FIG. 12 illustrates a front perspective of an example
product sensor mount having display surface edge lips.
[0025] FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of an example spring-loaded
pickup sensor for flat and lightweight items.
[0026] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of an inventory zone with a
set of sensor circuits arranged on the inventory zone in a
hexagonal array.
[0027] FIG. 15 illustrates an example of an inventory zone with a
set of sensor circuits arranged in a square or rectangular
array.
[0028] FIG. 16 illustrates an example of an inventory zone with
sensor circuits positioned on a peg wall with a hook fixture.
[0029] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an inventory zone with
sensor circuits positioned below a mounting block.
[0030] FIG. 18 illustrates a block diagram of an example of an OST
system.
[0031] FIG. 19 illustrates a block diagram of an example of another
OST system.
[0032] FIG. 20 illustrates an example electromagnetic signal
processor of the OST system of FIG. 19.
[0033] FIG. 21 illustrates connections between an example pickup
sensor mounting system (also referred to as product sensor mounting
system) having pickup sensors (also referred to as product sensors)
and the electromagnetic signal processor of FIG. 13.
[0034] FIG. 22 illustrates, on the left, a front view of the pickup
sensor mounting system of FIG. 21; and on the right, a side view of
the pickup sensor mounting system of FIG. 21.
[0035] FIG. 23 illustrates example sensors that rely on sound or
light waves for event detection that can be combined with an
example OST system, such as one of the OST systems of FIGS. 1 and
2.
[0036] FIG. 24 illustrates operation of a program management system
directing transition of test cells.
[0037] FIG. 25 illustrates graphs depicting electromagnetic signals
generated by inventory events with respect to graphs depicting
signals generated by noise.
[0038] FIG. 26 illustrates an example method for determining when
an inventory zone event has occurred.
[0039] FIG. 27 illustrates an example method for assigning an
inventory zone.
[0040] FIG. 28 illustrates an example event log.
[0041] FIG. 29 illustrates example inventory zone events.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] An on-shelf tracking (OST) system tracks consumer activity
with respect to individual retail product units from a retail
carton, while the retail carton is positioned on an array of
sensors mounted on or in close proximity to a retail display shelf
of a merchandising fixture. The OST system's various product
sensors provide a way to determine when a consumer interacts with a
retail product unit positioned on a retail shelf, a description of
the interaction, and stores information about the interaction as an
event in an event log for later retrieval and analysis. The retail
product unit is the smallest increment of retail product offered by
a retailer for purchase (e.g., a single pack of Wrigley.RTM. Five
Rain gum, 15 sticks). The retail carton, also referred to as a
product container, contains retail product units in a standard
number and configuration (e.g., 10 ct box of Wrigley.RTM. Five Rain
gum). The merchandising fixture displays retail products to
consumers in an appealing fashion. Example merchandising fixtures
include a checkout shelf, a peg hook, an aisle shelf, and a
temporary cardboard display.
[0043] In some embodiments, product sensors convert an amount of
product in the retail carton into a proportionate electromagnetic
property. Example product sensors that can be implemented, alone or
in various combinations, include a force sensitive resistor (FSR)
sensor positioned underneath a retail carton, an ultrasonic probe
positioned over the top of a retail carton, a capacitive sensor
underneath a retail carton, an optical sensor, a charge-coupled
device (CCD) camera and image analyzer, or any other type of sensor
now known or later developed that can convert the amount of product
in a retail carton into a proportionate electromagnetic property or
digital signal. These sensors can be used individually and in
multiples or in combination with each other, and with other sensors
known in the art.
[0044] Also, in some embodiments, the OST system includes a
mounting system used to position physically the product sensors
securely on the merchandising fixture relative to the retail carton
and the merchandising fixture, in order to maximize repeatability
and reproducibility of product measurements by the OST system. The
mounting system can also include a spacer adhered to the top of the
FSRs, a peg hook pivot, and/or a flexible mat with a two
dimensional array of sensors or any other known now or developed in
the future physical arrangement of sensors that allows sensors to
be in contact with or proximity the product.
[0045] With respect to the grouping of the product sensors, an
inventory zone refers to a region including a group of the sensors
assigned to and in contact with or in proximity to a retail carton
or product (e.g., implemented as a tray containing one or more
sensors, or a flexible mat with a two dimensional array of
sensors). The OST system also includes at least one proximity
sensor that detects the presence of actual and potential customers
within a configurable proximity of a merchandising unit. The
proximity sensor can be implemented as one or more ultrasonic
distance sensors, infrared motion sensors, or any other set of
proximity sensors now known or developed in the future that detects
the presence of actual and potential customers within a
configurable proximity of the merchandising unit.
[0046] Regarding the inventory zones, in particular, the zones can
be configured with any number of sensor circuits arranged to
optimize accuracy of identifying inventory zone events, and to
accommodate various merchandising display formats (e.g., a level
display shelf, tilted shelf, pegged wall and hook, and hanger
display techniques). A display surface of a merchandising unit can
include a display surface length dimension along a front display
surface edge of the display surface in parallel to a rear display
surface edge. Also, the merchandising unit can include a display
surface depth dimension along a right and left side display surface
edges of the display surface. Further, the inventory zones include
an inventory zone length dimension measured parallel to the front
or rear display surface edge of the display surface, and an
inventory zone depth dimension parallel to the right or left
display surface edge of the display surface.
[0047] Also, in some embodiments, the inventory zone can be
configured with one load point, e.g., a rack display that includes
multiple shelves having one load point, so that the sensor circuit
senses activity for any product item on the rack. In addition to
the one inventory zone for tracking activity for an entire rack,
the rack can also be configured to include sensor circuits
positioned at each corner of each shelf in the rack so that the set
of sensor circuits positioned on a particular shelf of the rack
measure activity for that shelf. Further, other sensor
configurations can be implemented (e.g., strain gauges) depending
on the display requirements. Also, the OST system can implement a
load compensating mechanism that factors out the weight of a
display rack when measuring activity at the rack.
[0048] Further, in some embodiments, the mounting system can be
combined with a sheet of pliable material (e.g., flexible printed
circuit board--PCB) having sensor circuits, so that the mounting
system can be positioned on the display surface by unrolling the
pliable material into place. Further, the mounting system can
connect to a processor of the OST system through a multiplexed
arrangement. Such a mounting system can be configurable into
multiple inventory zones through software. The mounting system can
include an on-board processor or processors that control and/or
monitor all or a subset of the sensor circuits. Further, the
mounting system can connect via a communications adapter (e.g., a
wireless or hardwired communication interface) to a network,
allowing communications between the sensor array and the processor.
The OST system's processor can coordinate operations between
onboard processors of each inventory zone in the OST system. Given
this, a product manufacturer and retailer can in turn retrieve
activity data for each inventory zone in real time, or the OST
system can deliver the activity data to users (e.g., retailer,
stocking clerk, product manufacturer, and third party subscribers)
according to a delivery schedule configurable by individual users
and/or an OST system administrator.
[0049] With respect to interaction between the abovementioned
components, a sensor network communicates and/or transfers the
signals from the aforementioned sensors to an electromagnetic
signal processor that can include an analog-to-digital converter.
The sensor network can be implemented either with wiring or through
a wireless network, or any other network now known or developed in
the future. In some embodiments, the OST system can communicate
with its components and external systems, via a wireless or
hardwire adapter, through a network (e.g., Internet or LAN).
[0050] Also, the OST system can include one or more sensor signal
multiplexers/demultiplexers, e.g., the Texas Instruments.RTM.
CD74HC4051-EP analog multiplexer/demultiplexer, which facilitate
communication and/or transfer of signals from multiple sensors to
an electromagnetic signal processor through a minimum number of
wires and bandwidth. The electromagnetic signal processor can
convert the electromagnetic signal outputted by the sensors into a
digitizable property (e.g., voltage, current, or frequency). The
electromagnetic signal processor can be an analog to digital
converter, a frequency encoder/decoder, a digital signal processor,
any combination thereof, or any other technology now known or later
developed that is capable of converting an electromagnetic and/or
optical signal into another analog signal or digital signal.
[0051] The OST system can also include a data acquisition system, a
proximity signal processor, a data logging system, memory, a CPU,
and OST system instructions stored in the memory and executable by
the CPU (also referred to as the processor of the OST system). The
data acquisition system converts the digitizable properties or
signal outputted by the sensor into digital signal and then
eventually readable data. A microcontroller or computer can be used
to implement the data acquisition system. The proximity signal
processor converts a signal corresponding to proximity of an object
to the OST system (hereinafter referred to as a proximity signal)
into a digital signal, and such functionality can also be
implemented using a microcontroller or computer. Further, the data
logging system converts digital signals into activity logs and can
be implemented using a computer or microcontroller. With respect to
the CPU, it performs the data processing operations that produce
the activity log, and similarly, this processor of the OST system
can be implemented via a computer and/or microcontroller. The OST
system instructions specify operations that the processor can
execute. Further, the OST system instructions can include, as an
example, code segments found in C or any other programming
language, DAQFactory.RTM., LabView.RTM., MATLAB.RTM., or
microcontroller code. Also, the OST system can include configurable
parameters that include calibration data for each sensor, sensor
assignments, and product assignments to inventory zones. Further,
the OST system can generate activity logs that provide a permanent
record of both product and proximity events at a merchandising
fixture. The activity log can be stored on a removable SD card,
and/or stored in the memory of the data logging system, and can be
communicated and/or downloaded periodically via WiFi or a wired LAN
connection.
[0052] Furthermore, the OST system can include a consumer camera, a
checkout belt camera, an image analyzer, a retail activation
system, and/or a coupon printer, alone or in any combination. The
consumer camera (e.g., 10-megapixel CCD camera) produces
photographs of consumer interactions with the merchandising unit.
The checkout belt camera (e.g., 10-megapixel CCD camera) produces
photographs of a consumer's entire set of purchases. The Image
analyzer generates biometrics from consumer camera data, which can
include gender, age, height, and weight. The image analyzer can
also, from the checkout belt camera, automatically detect some or
all items in a shopper's purchase. The retail activation system can
activate the aforementioned sensors in response to consumer
presence or interaction with the display shelf of the merchandising
fixture. The coupon printer can print coupons on demand from a
coupon repository, such as a coupon database.
[0053] In some embodiments, some of the above-mentioned cameras,
with a frame grabber, can collect images that are either analyzed
immediately by an image analyzer or subsequently analyzed by a
backend process (e.g., an off-shore service center performing
visual inspection of each frame to identify biometric information,
such as, a consumer's physical characteristics, that in turn can be
used to derive demographic information about consumers in relation
to a particular product). The camera of the OST system can be
located above a checkout aisle conveyer belt, where the camera can
capture the product items placed on the belt and store such
information as an inventory zone event for processing by the OST
system. In real time, before and/or regardless of whether the
consumer completes a checkout transaction, the OST system can
trigger either an audio advertisement played through an audio
system coupled to the OST system or a multimedia advertisement
displayed on a graphical display coupled to the OST system. The OST
system can trigger the advertisements based on product items
captured by the camera or biometrics of the consumer in order to
test or improve productivity of a retail location. Further, when an
inventory zone event has occurred, the OST system can trigger
either an audio advertisement played through a speaker coupled to
the OST system or multimedia advertisement displayed on a graphical
display coupled to the OST system. This is done for the consumer at
the merchandising fixture, based on the product items identified by
the inventory zone event.
[0054] FIG. 1 illustrates example components of an example OST
system 100. The OST system tracks consumer activity in relation to
retail product units (e.g., unit 102a, and unit 102b) from a retail
carton 104, while the retail carton 104 is positioned on an
inventory zone of sensors (e.g., 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, and 106e)
mounted on a retail display shelf 108 of a merchandising fixture
110. The OST system includes a mounting system (including parts,
e.g., parts 112a, 112b, and 112c) used to physically position the
product sensors (e.g., 114a and 114b)securely to the merchandising
fixture 110 relative to the retail carton 104 and the merchandising
fixture 110, in order to maximize the repeatability and
reproducibility of product measurements by the OST system. The
mounting system can be implemented, for example, as a metal tray
that is custom fitted to the edges of the retail carton 104 with
FSRs with a spacer adhered to the top of the FSRs, a peg hook
pivot, and/or a flexible mat with hexagonal array of sensors. The
inventory zone (e.g., 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, and 106e) refers to a
group of product sensors assigned to one retail carton 104 (e.g.,
an inventory zone implemented as a flexible mat with a rectangular
array of sensors). The OST system uses product sensors to provide a
way to determine when a consumer interacts with a retail product
unit positioned on the retail shelf 108. From this interaction, a
description of the interaction is generated and stored as an event
in an event log for later retrieval and analysis. The retail
product unit is the smallest increment of retail product offered by
a retailer for purchase (e.g., a single pack of Wrigley.RTM. Five
Rain gum, 15 sticks). The retail carton 104, also referred to as a
product container, contains retail product units in a standard
number and configuration (e.g., 10 ct box of Wrigley.RTM. Five Rain
gum). The merchandising fixture 110 displays retail products to
consumers in an appealing fashion. Example merchandising fixtures
include a checkout shelf, a peg hook, an aisle shelf, a temporary
cardboard display and a drink bin. The product sensors convert the
amount of product in the retail carton 104 into a proportionate
electromagnetic property. Example product sensors that can be
implemented, alone or in various combinations, include a force
sensitive resistor (FSR) sensor positioned underneath a retail
carton, an ultrasonic probe positioned over the top of a retail
carton, a capacitance sensor underneath a retail carton, a CCD
camera and image analyzer, or any other type of sensor now known or
later developed that can convert a sensed amount of product in a
retail carton into a proportionate electromagnetic property.
[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates example components of another example OST
system 250 that can implement a sliding track for adjusting, for
example, dividers 251a and 251b for securing products 252a and 252b
and a product container 254. These components can be installed on a
merchandising unit, and can facilitate designing one or more
inventory zones, such as zones 256a, 256b, 256c, 256d, and 256e,
where within the inventory zones, the inventory zones present one
or more units of product in one or more of the following
arrangements: (i) the one or more units of product arranged in a
container in a geometric pattern of one or more layers deep, and/or
(ii) the one or more units of product arranged loosely in a
container. Also depicted, are product sensors, such as 258a and
258b, each at least associated operatively with one of the one or
more inventory zones that convert a sensed quantity of the one or
more units of product into a respective analog electromagnetic
signal. Generally depicted, is a mounting structure 260 that
secures the one or more product sensors to the merchandising unit
relative to the one or more units of product so that the one or
more product sensors sense a quantity of the one or more units of
product. Also depicted is a shelf 262 of the mounting structure
that supports the aforementioned components. Further, depicted are
actuators, or parts that focus the weight of products at
predetermined points of the product sensors, e.g., actuators 264a
and 264b.
[0056] With reference to FIGS. 3-7, and as suggested above, the
mounting structure can be modular, and positioning of the one or
more product sensors or corresponding circuits includes arranging
the one or more product sensors or the corresponding circuits in
parallel strips at or abutting dividers. The dividers significantly
increase the accuracy of measurement by maintaining load in a fixed
position relative to the product sensors. Without the dividers,
product would move laterally relative to the product sensors as a
result of normal consumer activity, and such would produce
significant numbers of false readings. Also, these dividers can be
T and/or L dividers, e.g., L divider 376a and T divider 376b,
connected to the mounting structure or a part of the mounting
structure, e.g., a part of a mounting system such as the mounting
structure 260, such as a shelf, frame, or track, e.g., a slide
track 377. The one or more product sensors (e.g., sensors 378a,
378b, and 378c) may include actuators (e.g., actuators 380a and
380b) and are attached on an upward facing surface of the mounting
structure or the dividers, so as to align the one or more sensors
to contact a fixed and reproducible location on an underside of the
one or more units of product, e.g., units of product 482 and 484,
or a container, e.g. container 486, holding the one or more units
of product.
[0057] Further, the mounting structure is adjustable to accommodate
any width of the one or more units of product or the container
holding such products. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates example
sliding sensor mounts/dividers adjustable to accommodate product
containers of various sizes (where the double arrows depict
direction in which the mounts/dividers can be adjusted). FIG. 4
illustrates the sliding sensor mount/divider 376b adjusting/sliding
(depicted by and arrow 488) to accommodate the product container
486. FIG. 5 illustrates the sliding sensor mounts of FIG. 3
adjusted to fit the example product container 486. FIG. 6
illustrates the sliding sensor mounts of FIG. 3 adjusted to fit
multiple product containers, including the product container 486
and containers 486a and 486b. FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the
sliding sensor mounts of FIG. 3 adjusted to fit multiple product
containers, including the product containers of FIG. 6.
[0058] Further, mounting structures can include a sliding track
that facilitates adjusting the position of the T or the L dividers
on the sliding track, where the sliding track is readily fastened
and unfastened from the mounting structure without hardware tools.
Also, the adjusting the position of the T or L dividers can be
readily done without hardware tools. Furthermore, the sliding track
can be configured to form a channel, where the channel is
manufacturable to fit any size shelf. Also, the wires associated
with the one or more sensors can run within the channel so to
conceal the wires. Further, the wires can terminate at a connector
on one edge of the mounting structure from where the wires are
further wired to the electromagnetic signal processor. Also, the
one or more product sensors can be fixed to respective parts of the
sliding track that allow for adjusting a respective position of the
one or more product sensors. Furthermore, to enhance the modularity
of the sliding track, the dividers can be readily attached and
detached from a corresponding part of the track (See FIG. 8). Also,
for example, sections of track can nest within each other so as to
provide a track that is adjustable to accommodate different facing
widths and is extensible in overall width.
[0059] Due to the modularity of the sliding track, and the OST
system in general, the inventory zones can be arranged in various
manners. For example, FIG. 9 illustrates various examples of
inventory zones implemented with various sensor arrangements in
floor and base active measurement areas. The sensor circuits can be
arranged on the inventory zone in a single strip parallel to the
left and right rear display surface edges (e.g., configurations
902, 904, 906). Alternatively, the sensor circuits can be arranged
on the inventory zone in multiple parallel strips in parallel to
the left and right display surface edges (e.g., configurations 912,
914), or can be arranged in a wide variety of two dimensional
arrangements of button cells (e.g., on of configurations 922).
Different arrangements can be selected to optimize measurement
accuracy for different types of product. These arrangements are not
limited to those shown in FIG. 9.
[0060] FIG. 9 depicts a top view of various example arrangements of
the inventory zones. With respect to FIGS. 10 and 11, a side
perspective of some example arrangements is depicted. Specifically,
FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an inventory zone 1000 with
sensor circuits positioned at the corners of each shelf tier 1002,
1004, and 1006, each comprising several inventory zones. As
mentioned above, a display rack with multiple display surface
shelves can be configured to include inventory zones each
corresponding to one display surface shelf, where sensor circuits
for each inventory zone are positioned at the corners of each
inventory zone so that the set of sensor circuits positioned on a
particular display surface shelf of the rack measure activity for
that display surface shelf.
[0061] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an inventory zone with a
sensor 1102 underneath a merchandising display rack 1104. A base
1106 of the rack can also be positioned on a sensor or set of
sensors so that the entire display is monitored as a whole. The
merchandising display rack 1104 can also include display bins or
shelves (e.g., 1108, 1110) positioned on mounting system 1112 or a
mounting system built into the bin so that the OST system logs an
event when an item is removed or returned to the display bin or
shelf. Sensors can also be positioned at each corner of each of the
shelves of the display rack 1104.
[0062] Also, as shown in FIG. 12, a mounting system 1293 of the
product sensors 1296a and 1296b can position the product sensors on
display surface edge lips 1295a and 1295b perpendicular to display
surfaces 1294a and 1294b, respectively. In such embodiments, an
angle of tilt of the display surface can exceed a configurable
display surface tilt angle threshold. This threshold can be an
amount of tilt that is required for the sensors 1296a and 1296b to
sense the weight of a product placed on the lips 1295a and
1295b.
[0063] Further, in some embodiments, the OST system can include one
or more product sensors connected to springs or integrated with
springs to detect removal or addition of a lightweight product.
Such lightweight products can include leaflets, business cards, or
any other lightweight products. See FIG. 13 for an implementation
of such spring-loaded product sensors.
[0064] Also, in some embodiments, the one or more product sensors
can include one or more of piezoelectric sensors, pressure sensors,
and force sensing resistors. Each of these types of sensors can be
enhanced by one or more raised actuators concentrating load of one
or more units of product onto a load sensitive part of the one or
more product sensors. Such actuators, for example, are depicted in
FIGS. 3-7 (e.g., actuators 380a and 380b).
[0065] Further, in some embodiments, the one or more sensors can be
arranged to cover an entire area of a shelf of the merchandising
unit, and a respective circuit of each of the one or more sensors
is one or more of the following circuit shapes: a honeycomb circuit
shape, a square circuit shape, and a round circuit shape. In such
embodiments, the mounting structure can be a flexible printed
circuit board that can be rolled out into place on a display
surface of the merchandising unit.
[0066] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a mounting system 1402
with a set of sensor circuits in a hexagonal configuration 1404,
which can be arranged on a flexible substrate. The sensor circuits
can be in a honeycomb configuration arranged on the shelf 1406 to
cover the entire area of shelf and configured into multiple
inventory zones.
[0067] FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a mounting system 1502
with a set of sensor circuits in a square configuration 1504, which
can be arranged on a flexible substrate. The sensor circuits can be
in a square configuration arranged on the shelf to cover the entire
area of shelf 1506 and can be configured into multiple inventory
zones.
[0068] Furthermore, besides utilizing shelving, the merchandising
fixture or unit can display retail products to consumers via peg
hooks or other known structures for displaying merchandise. For
example, FIG. 16 illustrates an example of an inventory zone 1600
with sensor circuit 1602 positioned on a peg wall 1604 with hook
fixture 1606. The sensor circuit 1602 measures a compression force
from the movement created by the product's weight, from the fixture
1606 to the peg wall 1604. FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an
inventory zone 2900 with a sensor circuit 2902 positioned below a
mounting block 1702. The mounting block 1702 can be configured to
move along vertical tracks 1704 with a peg 1706 for hanging
products. In some embodiments, the mounting block 1702 can rest on
top of the sensor 1708 at the bottom of the tracks 1704, where the
block 1702 is mounted horizontally. This configuration allows
downward force to be measured. The mounting block and peg wall
arrangements can be employed to display non-boxed product items
that are intended to be displayed by hanging the product items. In
such embodiments, the one or more product sensors can be mounted at
a support point of the peg hook so that as load is applied to the
peg hook the load is transmitted to the one or more product
sensors.
[0069] With respect to combining the other components of the OST
system with the product sensor arrangements and mounting systems,
FIG. 18 illustrates a block diagram an example of an OST system
1800. In addition to the OST system described in FIG. 1, the OST
system 1800 includes a proximity sensor 1802 and a product identity
system 1804. The proximity sensor 1802 detects the presence of
actual and potential customers within a configurable proximity of
the merchandising unit. The proximity sensor can be implemented as
an ultrasonic distance sensor, an infrared motion sensor or any
other proximity sensor now known or developed in the future that
detects the presence of actual and potential customers within a
configurable proximity of the merchandising unit. A sensor network
1806 communicates or transfers the signals from the sensors to a
sensor signal processor 1808. The sensor network 1806 can be
implemented either with wiring or through a wireless network, or
any other sensor network now known or developed in the future. A
sensor signal multiplexer and demultiplexer 1810 facilitates
communication or transfer of signals from multiple sensors (e.g.,
sensors 1812) through a minimum number of wires and bandwidth. A
Texas Instruments.RTM. CD74HC4051-EP analog
multiplexer/demultiplexer can be used as the sensor signal
multiplexer and demultiplexer 1810. The sensor signal processor
1808 converts the electromagnetic signal outputted by the sensor
into a digitizable property or signal. The sensor signal processor
1808 can be implemented as an operational amplifier, a frequency
encoder, or digital signal processor.
[0070] The OST system 1800, illustrated in FIG. 18, also includes a
data acquisition system 1811, a proximity signal processor 1812, a
data logging system 1814, memory 1816, a processor 1818 and OST
system instructions 1820 executable by the processor 1818. The data
acquisition system 1811 converts the digitizable properties or
signal into a digital signal. The data acquisition system 1811 can
be implemented using an analog-to-digital convertor,
microcontroller, or computer. The proximity signal processor 1812
converts a proximity signal (e.g., ultrasonic signal, infrared
signal) into a digitizable signal, and can be implemented using an
analog-to-digital convertor, microcontroller, or computer. The data
logging system 1814 converts the digital signal into activity logs
1824 and can be implemented using a computer or microcontroller.
The processor 1818 of the OST system 1800 performs the data
processing operations that produce the activity log 1826. The
processor 1818 of the OST system 1800 can be implemented using a
computer or microcontroller. The OST system instructions 1820
specify the operations that the processor 1818 can execute. The OST
system instructions 1820 can include, as an example, code segments
found in DAQDactory Express.RTM., LabView.RTM., MATLAB.RTM., or
Microcontroller code. The OST system 1800 includes configurable
parameters 1828 that include calibration data for each sensor,
sensor assignments, and product assignments to inventory zones. The
OST system 1800 generates the activity logs 1824 that provide a
permanent record of both product and proximity events at the
merchandising fixture shelf. The activity log 1826 can be stored on
a removable SD card, and/or stored in the memory of the data
logging system, and can be communicated and/or downloaded
periodically via WiFi.
[0071] Also, the OST system 1800 can include an on-shelf
interaction system 1830 that includes a consumer camera 1832,
checkout belt camera 1834, image analyzer 1836, a video display
1838, an audio system 1840, other multimedia components 1842, and a
coupon printer 1844. The consumer camera 1832 (e.g., 10 megapixel
CCD camera) produces photographs of consumer interactions with the
merchandising unit. The checkout belt camera 1834 (e.g., 10
megapixel CCD camera) produces photographs of the consumer's entire
set of purchases. The Image analyzer 1836 generates biometrics from
consumer camera data, including gender, age, height, weight, and
emotion, and can automatically detect certain items in the shoppers
purchase. The on-shelf interaction system 1830 provides interactive
advertising and promotions in response to consumer activity at a
display shelf of the merchandising fixture. The coupon printer
prints coupons on demand in response to electromagnetic signals
communicated from the OST system 1800.
[0072] FIG. 19 illustrates a block diagram of an example of another
OST system 1900, which can stand alone or be combined with the OST
of FIG. 1 or 2. Depicted is an electromagnetic signal processor
1951 in communication with the one or more product sensors 1952 of
a pickup sensor mounting system 1953, which samples output from the
one or more product sensors 1952 periodically and converts an
analog signal into a digital signal. Further, a self-calibration
system 1955 can be in communication with the electromagnetic signal
processor 1951, which detects background variability of the analog
electromagnetic signal and therefrom establishes an activity
threshold for each of the one or more product sensors 1952. The
activity threshold is a configurable multiple of the background
variability and represents sensitivity of an associated product
sensor. Also connected to the processor 1951, is a pickup-event
detection system 1956 that determines an initiation of an inventory
event at one of the one or more inventory zones when variability of
the respective analog signal exceeds the activity threshold. Also,
the pickup-event detection system 1956 can suspend self-calibration
during the inventory event, and can identify one or more other
product sensors contributing to signaling the inventory event prior
to completion of the inventory event. Furthermore, the pickup-event
detection system 1956 determines termination of the inventory event
when the variability of each of the respective analog
electromagnetic signals has returned below the activity threshold
of each of the contributing product sensors. Also connected to the
processor 1951, is one or more proximity sensors 1957 of a
proximity sensor mounting system 1958 associated operatively with
respective one or more proximity zones measuring one or more of
presence of a person, distance of a person from the sensor, two
dimensional coordinates of a person within the one or more
proximity zones, and any motion within the one or more proximity
zones. The proximity sensor mounting system 1958 associated
operatively with the one or more proximity sensors 1957, secures
the one or more proximity sensors to or near the merchandising
unit, and aligns a field of view of the one or more proximity
sensors. Associated with such sensors and also connected to the
processor 1951, is a proximity event detection system 1959 that
detects proximity zone events that occur when an electromagnetic
signal outputted by the one or more proximity sensors 1957 exceeds
a configurable threshold.
[0073] Connected to a processor of an OST system, or as depicted in
FIG. 19, connected to the pickup-event detection system 1956, is a
sensor identification and event classification system 1960
configured to perform the following processes. First, the sensor
identification and event classification system 1960 can determine
one or more inventory event metrics from the analog electromagnetic
signal, digital signal, or a derivative thereof for types of
inventory events, including: start time, end time, starting load,
ending load, difference between the starting and ending load,
highest load, lowest load, difference between the highest and
lowest load, maximum variance, and cumulative variance over an
inventory event. Second, the sensor identification and event
classification system 1960 can determine a function for each the
one or more product sensors involved in the inventory event with
respect to one or more of the one or more inventory event metrics.
Also, the sensor identification and event classification system
1960 can identify each of the one or more product sensors signaling
the inventory event, and based on one or more of the one or more
inventory event metrics, can assign a type of inventory event,
including: one or more pickups of the one or more units of product,
one or more returns of the one or more units of product, one or
more touches of the one or more units of product, a container
refill event, and a container removal event.
[0074] Also, connected to a processor of an OST system, or as
depicted in FIG. 19, connected to the sensor identification and
even classification system 1960, is a data logging system 1961 that
records information derived from a digital signal pertaining to one
or more of an inventory event and a proximity zone event. Also, the
data logging system 1961 can store information pertaining to each
of the one or more of the events to a database, including: a unique
identifier; a start time; duration of the event; initiation of the
event; the one or more sensors signaling the event; one or more
classifications of the event, including the type of inventory event
if applicable; and any one of the one or more inventory event
metrics. Further, a transmitter of the data logging system 1961 can
transmit the information pertaining to each of the one or more of
the events to a local display device, a remote display device, a
local memory device, and/or a remote memory device.
[0075] Also, connected to a processor of an OST system, or as
depicted in FIG. 19, connected to the data logging system 1961, is
an anomaly detection system 1962 that detects anomalies of the
respective analog electromagnetic signal. The anomaly detection
system 1962 can detect anomalies that include unusually high
variability, deactivation, or a sudden large change in a signal.
After detecting an anomaly, the anomaly detection system 1962
provides a notification of the anomaly via a local or remote alert,
such as audio, visual, vibration, and/or haptic alert. Further,
connected to a processor of an OST system, or as depicted in FIG.
19, connected to the data logging system 1961, is a retail
activation system 1963 that can generate or execute one or more of
sensory stimuli including visual, audio, tactile, and olfactory
stimuli; product sampling; coupon generation; and electronic
signage.
[0076] In some embodiments, especially where there are more than
one merchandising unit for possibly executing multiple experiments
in parallel, an OST system can include a program management system
for managing, executing, and administering the experiments. The
program management system 1964 can select one or more of the
records or fields of the records from the above-mentioned database.
Then the program management system 1964 can determine, from the one
or more of the records or the fields of the records from the
database, whether a predetermined number of shoppers have passed by
the more than one merchandising units to satisfy a statistical
validity threshold, e.g., a threshold that represents a minimum
number of shoppers the system must observe to provide a desired
level of confidence in respective experimental data. Also, the
program management system 1964 can manage: experiment
configurations by direct end users of the system via electronic
messages to implement the experiment configurations locally or
remotely; progressively enhance calibration of units by comparing
data from the one or more of the records or fields of the records
from the database against manual audit results; and/or changing
calibration parameters for detection of an inventory event.
[0077] Also, in some embodiments, an OST system can include a
changeover system having one or more repetitions of the OST system.
Such a changeover system 1965 can be configured according to a
historical state and/or a current state of the OST system. Also,
the changeover can be readily swappable with the OST system, and/or
the components of the changeover system 1965 are readily swappable
with the corresponding components of the OST system. Further, the
components of the changeover system 1965 and the OST system 1900
can be swapped manually and/or automatically via a moveable
merchandising apparatus, such as a rotating apparatus or an
apparatus having a conveyor belt, and the program management system
1964 or an end user can control the moveable merchandising
apparatus remotely or locally.
[0078] Furthermore, in some embodiments, an OST system can include
a sales analysis system (the SAS) 1966 configured to perform
various determinations and quantifications related to sales of
product units. For example, the SAS 1966 can determine traffic
patterns of shoppers within a predetermined distance from the
merchandizing unit. Also, the SAS 1966 can quantify: a ratio of a
number of shoppers performing an inventory event with respect to a
total number of shoppers entering a predetermined region surveyed
by the system; the value of a specific area on a merchandising unit
(hotspot) after correcting for all other factors that could affect
rate of sale, including demand for specific items and impact of
facings; and additional sales created by adding additional facings
of a specific item at any location on the merchandising unit. Also,
the SAS 1966 can quantify an extent to which: shoppers' purchase
decisions are impacted by changes in pricing for a specific item
including both an effect on an item itself and all other items on
the merchandising unit; sales performance of an item is impacted by
either where a store hosting the merchandising unit is located or a
specific location within the store; sales of any item are increased
by placing literature, advertising or display materials (point of
sale materials) on or near to the merchandising unit; sales of an
item are impacted by a design of the merchandising unit on which it
is displayed; different merchandising locations in store contribute
toward the overall sales of an item; sales of an item or items are
impacted by use of retail activation techniques designed to
stimulate shoppers' senses including audio interruption (shelf
talkers), audiovisual display, scenting systems, and vibration
devices(rumblers); shopper interest in an item varies by time of
day, including likelihood of a shopper to touch an item, and
likelihood to purchase; purchase likelihood can be increased by use
of retail activation techniques and point of sale materials; and
new products contribute incrementally to overall sales when
introduced in a specific store or merchandising location.
Furthermore, the SAS 1966 can determine: a price point at which a
product maximizes its incremental contribution to overall sales,
taking into account both sales of the item itself and
cannibalization of sales of other items on the same display; and an
optimal location within a store having the merchandising unit or
location on the merchandising unit which maximizes sales
performance of a new product. Also, the SAS 1966 can quantify an
overall incremental contribution of an item to overall sales
(incrementality), taking into account sales performance of an item,
decrease in sales of other items (cannibalization), and increase in
sales of other items (halo); and determine items within a product
line that provide least overall contribution to sales (tail items)
in order to eliminate them from product line so as to create
additional space for better performing items. Further, the SAS 1966
can quantify: an incrementality of direct and indirect competitors'
products when included in a mix of items for sale; and an extent to
which increasing or decreasing total number of items on display
(range) contributes to overall sales performance.
[0079] With respect to sensors, connections, multiplexers, and
input/outputs of the OST, FIG. 20 illustrates an example
electromagnetic signal processor of an OST system configuration,
such as the OST system configuration of FIG. 19. As depicted,
input/outputs of inventory zones 1, 2, and N (including inputs
2071a-2071c) are selected respectively via multiplexors 2072a,
2072b, and 2072c. The selected input finds its way to an
analog-to-digital converter 2073 and then digital input/outputs
2074 of the processor 1951 of FIG. 19. It is at the
analog-to-digital converter 2073, where the digital information
respective of sensed inventory events is converted from analog
signals. With respect to the proximity zone events, there need not
be an analog-to-digital conversion. As depicted, input/outputs of
proximity zones 1, 2, and L (including inputs 2075a-2075c) are
selected respectively via microcontrollers 2076a, 2076b, and 2076c.
The selected inputs of the proximity zones then find their way to
the sub-systems of the OST system via the processor 1951.
Eventually the digital information is communicated to the various
sub-systems of the OST system, such as the self-calibration system
1955, the pickup-event detection system 1956, and the proximity
event detection system 1959.
[0080] Regarding FIG. 21, illustrated are connections between an
example pickup sensor mounting system (also referred to as a
product sensor mounting system) having pickup sensors (also
referred to as product sensors) and the electromagnetic signal
processor of FIG. 20. Specifically, depicted are multiplexors
2102a, 2102b, 2102c that facilitate selecting analog signals
generated from a sensor mounting system, such as the mounting
system 260 of FIGS. 3-7. Also depicted is the actuator 380b and
connectors 2104a and 2104b that connect the respective product
sensor to wires and/or a control bus that eventually leads to the
electromagnetic signal processor 1951. From a couple other
perspectives, FIG. 22 illustrates, on the left, a front view of the
pickup sensor mounting system of FIG. 21, and on the right, a side
view of the pickup sensor mounting system of FIG. 21.
[0081] Further, FIG. 23 illustrates example proximity sensors 2302a
and 2302b that rely on sound or light waves for event detection
that can be combined with an example OST system, such as the OST
systems of FIGS. 1 and 2. As depicted, the proximity sensors 2302a
and 2302b identify an inventory event by movement of a shopper's
hand reaching into a curtain of energy 2304 in front of the one or
more inventory zones, where the proximity sensors or in other
embodiments, distance sensing sensors, measure a distance from the
shopper's hand to each of the one or more product sensors
associated with inventory zones. Then based on the measured
distances, the OST systems can locate coordinates of the shopper's
hand and identify associated inventory zones and inventory events.
Such sensors 2302a and 2302b can also detect items that are not
necessarily immediately over an inventory zone. For example, the
sensors 2302a and 2302b can detect a shopper or a basket, cart, bag
or any other item used for carrying units approaching the OST
system. Further, the OST system can switch to a power-save mode of
operation when the one or more proximity sensors have not detected
motion for a predetermined amount of time. In some embodiments, the
inventory zone and sensor circuits can be configured to cycle on
and off, in a polling fashion, according to a user configurable
frequency and/or an automatically configured frequency by the OST
system based on the power availability and power requirements
determination and the OST system at a particular implementation
location. This allows the maintenance of a sustainable power
consumption rate.
[0082] Also, in some embodiments, the OST system can further
include one or more video cameras surveying one or more of: an
individual shopper so to identify biometric and demographic
information, including approximate age, gender, mood, and
ethnicity; and the merchandising unit to perform remote
surveillance of the merchandising unit, including recording whether
the shopper makes a purchase. Furthermore, the OST system can
include one or more peripheral inventory zones in communication
with the electromagnetic signal processor through a network, where
the one or more peripheral inventory zones are not located at the
merchandising unit.
[0083] With respect to the program management system, FIG. 24
illustrates operation of a program management system directing
transition of test cells. In this figure, the test cells represent
collections of zones of multiple changeover systems.
[0084] FIG. 25 illustrates graphs depicting electromagnetic signals
generated by inventory events with respect to graphs depicting
noise.
[0085] From these outputs, the OST system can detect any number of
inventory zone events including a setup event, a touch event, a
single item pickup event, a multiple items pickup event, a single
return item event, multiple return items event, a restock event,
and an error event. For example, FIG. 26 illustrates an example
method 2600 that determines occurrences of an inventory zone event.
The method 2600 (e.g., represented by the OST instructions) can
include the use of a standard deviation calculation calculated over
multiple polling cycles in order to detect the start and the stop
of an inventory zone event, and then based on the size and
direction of change in signal from before the start of the event to
after the stop of the event, the type of inventory zone event is
determined.
[0086] Although the following example describes the use of voltage
values output by the sensor to determine when an inventory zone
event has occurred, various other electromagnetic properties
outputted by the sensor circuit can be used (e.g., current, and
frequency) to determine when an inventory zone event has occurred.
The start_volts value and end_volts value described below refer to
a first output value and a second output value outputted by the
sensor circuit during a first and second time. The OST system
identifies periods of activity on a given sensor circuit by
comparing a sensed or calculated value (e.g., the standard
deviation of the sensor circuit output over multiple time periods)
against a configurable threshold, e.g., at steps 2604, 2608, or
2610. In some embodiments, when that threshold is exceeded the OST
system determines that an inventory zone event has occurred and
assigns a start_volts value to the last period before the inventory
zone event began and an end_volts value to the period after the
inventory zone event concluded; and by examining the difference
between start_volts and end_volts, the OST system then determines
the type of inventory zone event that has occurred, e.g., at steps
2612 or 2614. After the OST system determines the type of inventory
zone event that has occurred, e.g., at the steps 2612 or 2614, the
system decrements or increments the inventory count according to
the load zone event detected, e.g., at a step 2616.
[0087] Specifically, the OST system can determine that a single
item pickup event has occurred, e.g., at the step 2612. This
determination can occur when the difference between start_volts and
end_volts exceeds a single item threshold value, e.g., determined
at the step 2608, but does not exceed a multiple items threshold
value equal to a configurable multiple of the sensor circuit item
value, e.g., determined at the step 2610. The OST system determines
that a multiple items pickup event has occurred when the difference
between the start_volts value and the end_volts value exceeds a
multiple items threshold value, e.g., at the step 2614.
[0088] Regarding a load zone event, such as restocking, the OST
system can determine that a restock event has occurred when the
difference between the start_volts value and end_volts value
exceeds a threshold equivalent the number of items used to fill a
container as identified by a container identifier, e.g., at a step
2622). For example, in FIG. 26, the method 2600 again determines
whether a multiple items load zone event has occurred at a step
2618, then determines whether the multiple items that were possibly
removed from a container equals the remaining items last left in
the container at a step 2620, and if both conditions are met then
the method detects that a restocking event has occurred at the step
2622.
[0089] Regarding product assignments to inventory zones, the OST
system can initially determine a subset of sensor circuits to
assign to a container based on the force applied to the subset of
sensor circuits when the container is placed on the subset of the
first sensor circuits. In this way, portions of an inventory zone
can be easily assigned to multiple different product
containers.
[0090] As found in some embodiments, FIG. 27 illustrates an example
method 2700 that includes assigning an inventory zone to one or
more portions of an inventory to multiple product containers. The
method 2700 begins 2702 with mounting a product load zone onto a
product display surface at a step 2704. Next, at a step 2708,
position a product container on the load zone, where then a subset
of sensor circuits register positioning of the product container at
a step 2710, and the OST system assigns the subset of sensor
circuits to monitor the container at a step 2712. Next, at steps
2714 and 2716, respectively, it is determined whether all sensor
circuits are assigned to the product container and whether the
inventory load zone is full; and if both conditions a true then the
load zone monitors activity for the product container at a step
2717. Also, as shown by FIG. 27, if no sensor circuits are assigned
to the product container, but the load zone is full, then the load
zone still monitors activity for the product container at the step
2717.
[0091] With regard to the events in particular, the inventory zone
can detect any number of inventory zone events including a setup
event, a touch event, a single item pickup event, a multiple items
pickup event, a single return item event, multiple return items
event, a restock event, and an error event based on a set of
configurable thresholds for each type of event.
[0092] FIG. 28 illustrates an example event log. The event log logs
multiple inventory zone event records and proximity event records.
Each record can include an event type indicator that indicates
whether the inventory zone event is a product event or proximity
event. Each inventory zone event log record can include an
inventory zone event log identifier, an inventory zone event
description, an inventory zone event physical location the time of
the event, and the inventory zone number. A proximity event log
record for a proximity type event can include data that indicates
the time and duration of the event, a photograph of consumer (e.g.,
filename), a video of a purchase event (filename), biometrics (age,
gender), and a photograph of the contents of a basket
(filename).
[0093] With respect to the OST system and external systems that
interact with the OST system, the logic, circuitry, and processing
described above can be encoded or stored in a machine-readable or
computer-readable medium such as a compact disc read only memory
(CDROM), magnetic or optical disk, flash memory, random access
memory (RAM) or read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read
only memory (EPROM) or other machine-readable medium as, for
example, instructions for execution by a processor, controller, or
other processing device. The medium can be implemented as any
device that contains, stores, communicates, propagates, or
transports executable instructions for use by or in connection with
an instruction executable system, apparatus, or device.
Alternatively or additionally, the logic can be implemented as
analog or digital logic using hardware, such as one or more
integrated circuits, or one or more processors executing
instructions; or in software in an application programming
interface (API) or in a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) functions
available in a shared memory or defined as local or remote
procedure calls; or as a combination of hardware and software.
[0094] In other implementations, the logic can be represented in a
signal or a propagated-signal medium. For example, the instructions
that implement the logic of any given program can take the form of
an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or
other type of signal. The systems described above can receive such
a signal at a communication interface, such as an optical fiber
interface, antenna, or other analog or digital signal interface,
recover the instructions from the signal, store them in a
machine-readable memory, and/or execute them with a processor.
[0095] The systems can include additional or different logic and
can be implemented in many different ways. A processor can be
implemented as a controller, microprocessor, microcontroller,
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete logic, or
a combination of other types of circuits or logic. Similarly,
memories can be DRAM, SRAM, Flash, or other types of memory.
Parameters (e.g., conditions and thresholds) and other data
structures can be separately stored and managed, can be
incorporated into a single memory or database, or can be logically
and physically organized in many different ways. Programs and
instructions can be parts of a single program, separate programs,
or distributed across several memories and processors.
[0096] With respect to the benefits of the OST system, few systems
have combined in one system, measurement of (i) real time shopper
interactions with product at a level of individual facings on a
merchandising unit, and (ii) real time measurement of shopper
traffic in proximity to a test area. By explicitly measuring the
abovementioned parameters, it is possible to explicitly breakdown
sales performance of a product to its underlying drivers, which
include: (i) shopper traffic in a location where product is
displayed; (ii) a position on a merchandising unit where a product
is placed relative to a hotspot); (iii) an extent to which multiple
facings of product drives greater visibility; and (iv) after
correcting for the preceding, an underlying performance of product
itself. Further, determination of these factors allows for far more
effective optimization of space and product line.
[0097] At the same time, challenges of measuring consumer activity
in retail impulse space are many, including: (i) small serving
sizes or very light weight product; (ii) variable sized product in
both weight and dimension; (iii) high levels of shopper traffic and
vibration; (iv) electrical noise from in store communications
systems; (v) limited space for measurement equipment; (vi) need to
minimize visibility of measurement equipment to shopper; (vii)
non-technical store labor that required simple and robust systems;
and (viii) most valuable locations for impulse products having
least sophisticated retail technology, e.g., few kiosks have bar
scanners. The benefit of the OST system is that it combines product
interaction and shopper traffic measurements so as to provide a
retailer with a powerful new tool for optimizing their space and
product lines, while overcoming the aforementioned challenges.
[0098] The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered
illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other
embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
description. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope
is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of
the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be
restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
* * * * *