U.S. patent application number 15/157862 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-01 for system and method for inventory management.
The applicant listed for this patent is Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.. Invention is credited to Matthew Allen Jones, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor, Aaron James Vasgaard.
Application Number | 20160350709 15/157862 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56234255 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160350709 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taylor; Robert James ; et
al. |
December 1, 2016 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Abstract
Disclosed is a system and method for inventory management of a
retail store. The system includes a means to communicate with
mobile computing devices of customers. When the system for managing
inventory receives a data capture, such as a product barcode scan,
from a customer's mobile computing device, a request for an
informational data capture is formulated and sent to the mobile
computing device. The request for informational data capture will
use the product barcode scan already received, and an inventory
database, to formulate a request for informational data capture
from the customer that will provide the system of inventory
management useful inventory information. The request can ask for a
barcode scan of another product for example, or other types of data
capture. The inventory management system updates an inventory
database once a response from the customer that includes the
informational data capture is received.
Inventors: |
Taylor; Robert James;
(Rogers, AR) ; Jones; Matthew Allen; (Bentonville,
AR) ; Jones; Nicholaus Adam; (Fayetteville, AR)
; Vasgaard; Aaron James; (Rogers, AR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. |
Bentonville |
AR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56234255 |
Appl. No.: |
15/157862 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62167363 |
May 28, 2015 |
|
|
|
62167370 |
May 28, 2015 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/087 20130101;
G06Q 30/0223 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/08 20060101
G06Q010/08; G06Q 30/02 20060101 G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. An inventory management system for a retail store comprising: a
communication module, wherein the communication module receives a
data capture from a mobile computing device of a customer of the
retail store; and a customer information request module coupled to
the communication module, wherein the customer information request
module sends an informational data capture request to the
communication module in response to receiving the data capture from
the communication module.
2. The inventory management system of claim 1, wherein the
communication module transmits the informational data capture
request to the mobile computing device in response to receiving the
informational data capture request from the customer information
request module.
3. The inventory management system of claim 2, wherein the
communication module sends a customer response to the customer
information request module in response to receiving the customer
response from the mobile computing device.
4. The inventory management system of claim 3, further comprising
an inventory module coupled to the customer information request
module, wherein the inventory module updates an inventory database
in response to receiving an informational data capture from the
customer information request module.
5. The inventory management system of claim 4, further comprising a
reward module coupled to the communication module and the customer
information request module, wherein the reward module sends a
customer reward to the communication module in response to
receiving a reward request from the customer information request
module.
6. The inventory management system of claim 5, wherein the
inventory module transmits an inventory action request in response
to receiving the informational data capture from the customer
information request module.
7. The inventory management system of claim 4, further comprising a
photo analysis module coupled to the customer information request
module and the inventory module, wherein the photo analysis module
provides photo inventory information to the inventory module in
response to receiving a photo of the interior of the retail
store.
8. The inventory management system of claim 7, further comprising a
photo gather module coupled to the photo analysis module, wherein
the photo gather module obtains photos of the interior of the
retail store from the internet.
9. An inventory management system comprising: means for obtaining
an informational data capture from a customer of a store; and an
inventory module, wherein the inventory module updates an inventory
database in response to receiving the informational data
capture.
10. The inventory management system of claim 9, wherein the
inventory module checks a first item and a second item against a
planogram in response to receiving the informational data
capture.
11. The inventory management system of claim 9, wherein the
inventory module verifies the street date of a product in response
to receiving the informational data capture.
12. The inventory management system of claim 9, wherein the
inventory module checks whether a product shelf location matches a
product location indicator in response to receiving the
informational data capture.
13. A method of updating an inventory database comprising:
receiving a store product barcode scan from a mobile computing
device of a customer; sending the mobile computing device an
informational data capture request; and updating the inventory
database in response to receiving an informational data capture
from the mobile computing device.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving a response
from the mobile computing device.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the response from the mobile
computing device is one of: a null response; the informational data
capture; or a response that the request cannot be fulfilled.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the informational data capture
comprises a photo of the interior of a store.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising extracting inventory
data from the photo.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the informational data capture
is one of: a scan of a location identifier barcode; a scan of a
second store product barcode; or a scan of a store feature
barcode.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein updating an inventory database
in response to receiving the informational data capture from the
customer comprises flagging a product as being on feature in
response to receiving the scan of the location identifier
barcode.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein updating an inventory database
in response to receiving the informational data capture from the
customer comprises flagging a product as out of stock in response
to receiving the response that the request cannot be fulfilled.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/167,363 to Walmart Stores Inc., filed May
28, 2015 and entitled "System and Method For Inventory Management",
which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference. This
application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/167,370 to Walmart Stores Inc., filed May
28, 2015 and entitled "System and Method For Inventory Management",
which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to inventory management of
retail establishments, and specifically to a system and method for
managing inventory for a retail store.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Within a retail store, much employee time and effort is
expended to determine the relative location of products and their
quantity. Some inventory data is captured automatically, such as
the inventory information that is received as products are scanned
for check out. However, most inventory information is gathered by
an employee visually inspecting available inventory and recording
the results. The result is that retail store employees spend a
considerable amount of time conducting physical inventories. It is
desirable to be able to request, and receive, specific inventory
information from a customer. Every piece of inventory information
that can be obtained from a customer means an employee does not
have to spend time gathering that piece of information. Customers
who provide requested inventory information can be provided with a
reward such as a coupon, a product information guide, or a recipe,
for example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The above and further advantages of this invention may be
better understood by referring to the following description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals
indicate like structural elements and features in various figures.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
[0005] FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of an embodiment of an
inventory system for a retail store.
[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates the inventory system of FIG. 1, with an
inventory management system gathering a product barcode scan.
[0007] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an
inventory management system.
[0008] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a further embodiment
of an inventory management system.
[0009] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of updating an inventory
database.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Disclosed herein is a system and method for managing
inventory for a retail store or other similar establishment,
including a method of updating an inventory database. The system
includes a means to communicate with the mobile computing devices
of customers. Customers often use their mobile computing devices to
obtain data from store products and store features. For example,
some customers use a mobile computing device to scan product
barcodes as they place the products in their shopping cart. This
allows the mobile computing device to keep track of products and
prices for the customer. When the disclosed system for managing
inventory receives a data capture from a mobile computing device of
a customer, a request for an informational data capture is
formulated and sent to the mobile computing device. The request for
informational data capture will be formulated based on the original
data capture received, and the type of inventory information that
may be needed to update the inventory database. The request for
informational data capture can include a request for the customer
to perform one of many different forms of data capture, such as an
additional product barcode scan, a scan of a location identifier, a
quick response (QR) code scan, a scan of a store feature barcode,
an image capture, a near field communication (NFC) tag data
capture, a Microsoft.TM. tag data capture, or any other type of
informational data capture that can provide useful inventory
information to the system for managing inventory. The inventory
management system analyzes the informational data capture received,
and extracts inventory information from the informational data
capture. The inventory management system uses the inventory
information from the informational data capture to update an
inventory database. Inventory information obtained from a customer
relieves employees from having to spend time and energy to gather
the inventory information.
[0011] Inventory management is a perpetual task for establishments
that sell products. It is a constant struggle to know what items
exist in a store, which items are selling, which items are not
selling, and where the items are. Automated checkout systems have
helped by keeping track of items that are sold. However, store
employees are still needed to gather missing inventory data by
monitoring and recording the status of inventory on store shelves.
Having store employees gather inventory data costs the retail
establishment in employee salaries. Additionally, the employee is
not available to perform tasks other than gathering inventory data.
It is desirable to obtain as much inventory information as possible
from customers. Customers are often more prevalent in stores than
employees, and the store does not have to pay customers a salary
for providing inventory data. Every bit of inventory data that can
be obtained from a customer frees up an employee to complete a
different task rather than gathering the inventory data.
[0012] Mobile computing devices such as tablets, cell phones, and
portable scanners are often used by customers as they move about a
store. Customers are often provided with mobile computing devices
to use while they are in a store for the purpose of scanning
products for information or remote check-out, for example. Retail
stores also provide applications to reside on the personal mobile
computing devices of customers for use in remote check out,
obtaining coupons, or tracking products. These mobile computing
devices are capable of, or already are, providing wireless data
pertaining to what products are around them at any particular point
in time. Thus, customers may already interact wirelessly with one
or more store servers using their portable scanners or tablets.
Organizing the means to collect scanned barcode and other captured
data from customers and employees as they move about the store,
requesting specific data captures from customers, and using the
specific data captures obtained from customers can result in an
enhanced understanding of the inventory status of a retail store.
The disclosed system and method of inventory management collects
data captures from mobile computing devices, sends requests for
additional data captures in response to receiving an initial data
capture, and collects and analyzes the customer responses. The
customer responses are used to obtain inventory data and to update
the inventory database.
[0013] The disclosed inventory management system includes a means
for obtaining an information data capture from a customer of a
retail store, and an inventory module that updates an inventory
database in response to receiving the informational data capture
from the customer.
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 101 for managing inventory of a
retail store. System 101 in this embodiment includes a server 102
that includes an inventory management system 110, and an inventory
database 120. System 101 in this embodiment also includes a mobile
computing device 106 that is carried by a customer 104. Server 102
receives communication 134 from mobile computing device 106.
Customer 104 can be any customer or other individual within or
around the retail store.
[0015] Server 102, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, is a retail
store server resident in the retail store, but this is not meant to
be limiting. Server 102 may be available via the internet, cloud
computing services, or other local or remote, hardwired or wireless
server services. Server 102 can be any type of electronic or
computing equipment capable of containing system 110 and inventory
database 120.
[0016] In this embodiment, inventory management system 110 is a
computer program, but it is to be understood that inventory
management system 110 can take many forms and implementations,
including hardware, software, or both. Inventory management system
110 is resident on server 102 in this embodiment, but it is to be
understood that system 110 can be a part of any computational
equipment. In a particular embodiment, system 110 is implemented in
hardware processors. The hardware processors can be application
specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or hardware accelerators, for
example. The hardware processors can be part of one or more special
purpose computers that execute computer program instructions which
implement one or more functions and operations of inventory
management system 110. In a specific embodiment, system 110
comprises a set of hardware accelerators that each perform
inventory management tasks and computations.
[0017] Inventory database 120 is any type of database useful for
the purpose of storing inventory data. Database 120 can be
electronic and/or computerized. In this embodiment database 120 is
a database stored on memory on server 102, in electrical
communication with inventory management system 110. In some
embodiments, inventory database 120 can be on paper or other
storage medium.
[0018] Communication 134 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is
wireless communication 134 between mobile computing device 106 and
inventory management system 110 of server 102, but this is not
meant to be limiting. Wireless communication 134 can be a Bluetooth
communication, a wireless local area network communication,
wireless cellular telephone communication, or any other form or
type of wireless communication. In some embodiments, communication
134 is wired or optical communication. Communication 134 can be
implemented by any type of transmitter/receiver elements known in
the art now or in the future for data transfer between a mobile
computing device and an electronic or computer system.
[0019] Communication 134 can include many different types of
communication between mobile computing device 106 and server 102.
In this embodiment, communication 134 includes a data capture 122,
an informational data capture request 124, a customer response 126
to the informational data capture request 124, and a reward 132, as
shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 shows a simplified illustration
of system 101 of FIG. 1, with mobile computing device 106 sending
communication 134 to inventory management system 110 on server 102,
with the individual elements included in communication 134
illustrated in the figure. In some embodiments, communication 134
includes additional types of communication between mobile computing
device 106 and inventory management system 110. The different
elements of communication 134 are discussed in more detail below.
FIG. 3 shows a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of
inventory management system 110.
[0020] Data capture 122 can be any type of data captured by mobile
computing device 106 and provided to inventory management system
110. Customer 104 can capture many different types of data in a
retail store using mobile computing device 106. Mobile computing
device 106 can be used to scan product barcodes, quick response
(QR) codes, or Microsoft.TM. Tags as customer 104 is putting a
product in their cart to purchase the product, for example.
Customer 104 can capture data from NFC tags to obtain information
on a product or a location, for example. Customer 104 can scan a
location barcode to determine information about where they are in
the retail store or where certain products are located. In some
embodiments, customer 104 will enter data manually into mobile
computing device 106, such as entering a barcode number manually
when the barcode has been damaged. Customer 104 can use a camera or
mobile computing device 106 to capture an image of a barcode, a QR
code, a product, or a location in the store, for example. Each time
mobile computing device 106 captures data from a store product,
location, or other apparatus, mobile computing device 106 sends
this data to system 110 of server 102 as data capture 122. In some
embodiments, data capture 122 is a product barcode scan. In some
embodiments, data capture 122 is a QR code scan. In some
embodiments, data capture 122 is a Microsoft.TM. Tag scan. In some
embodiments, data capture 122 is a data capture from a near field
communication (NFC) tag. An NFC tag can be any type of tag that can
receive or provide data to a nearby mobile computing device. In
some embodiments, data capture 122 is an image capture. In some
embodiments, data capture 122 can be a different type of data
capture from a store product or device. Thus, data capture 122 can
be any type of communication where data is captured by mobile
computing device 106 from a product, location, device, structure,
or other apparatus in the retail store, and the information is
transmitted to system 110.
[0021] Mobile computing device 106 can be one of many different
types of devices suited for customer 104 to communicate with server
102 and inventory management system 110. In this embodiment, mobile
computing device 106 is a smartphone device, but this is not meant
to be limiting. Mobile computing device 106 can be a mobile phone,
a tablet, a handheld computer, a portable scanner, or any other
mobile computing device with the ability to capture data from
barcodes or other data devices in a retail store, and communicate
with server 102 and/or inventory management system 110.
[0022] Mobile computing device 106 is carried by customer 104 while
shopping in or around the retail store. Communication 134 between
mobile computing device 106 and system 110 is initiated by mobile
computing device 106 capturing data in the retail store, and
transmitting this data capture 122 to system 110. For example,
mobile computing device 106 can be used by customer 104 to scan a
product barcode 154 on a product 180, as shown in FIG. 2. In this
example, mobile computing device 106 sends data capture 122 to
inventory management system 110 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3,
where data capture 122 is a barcode scan of barcode 154 on product
180. FIG. 2 shows system 101 with mobile computing device 106
sending communication 134 to inventory management system 110 on
server 102, where communication 134 includes data capture 122, and
data capture 122 is a scan of barcode 154 on product 180. FIG. 3
shows a block diagram of an embodiment of inventory management
system 110 receiving communication 134 as shown in FIG. 2.
[0023] Mobile computing device 106 can be used by customer 104 to
scan barcode 154 as shown in FIG. 2 for many different reasons. For
example, customer 104 can scan product barcode 154 as they put
product 180 with barcode 154 in their cart. In this example, mobile
computing device 106 can keep track of the products and the total
cost of the products in the shopping cart of customer 104. In some
embodiments, mobile computing device 106 can execute remote
checkout of customer 104. In another example, customer 104 may scan
product barcode 154 to get information or a price of product 180
with barcode 154. Customer 104 has many different reasons for
scanning barcode 154 with mobile computing device 106. Inventory
management system 110 does not take note of why customer 104 scans
barcode 154. Inventory management system takes note that customer
104 has scanned barcode 154, and begins the process of obtaining
additional inventory information from customer 104, as explained
below.
[0024] Inventory management system 110 includes a reward module
112, a communication module 114, a customer information request
module 116, and an inventory module 118, as shown in FIG. 3. A
"module", as used in this document, can be a circuit, a software
program, a hardware apparatus, an application specific integrated
circuit, a special purpose computer, or a combination of hardware
and software circuits, systems, or implementations. A module can be
any element, thing, or program that accepts one or more input and
provides one or more output. Inventory management system 110 in
this embodiment is a computer implemented system, but this is not
meant to be limiting. System 110 can be implemented in hardware,
firmware, software, or any combination of these. In a particular
embodiment, reward module 112, communication module 114, customer
information request module 116, and inventory module 118 are each
implemented as an application specific integrated circuit. In
another specific embodiment, reward module 112, communication
module 114, customer information request module 116, and inventory
module 118 are each implemented as a hardware processor. In some
embodiments, each hardware processor is a hardware accelerator that
interfaces with a computer program. In some embodiments, each
hardware processor is a part of one or more special purpose
computer that executes computer program instructions. In some
embodiments, each hardware processor is a hardware accelerator that
performs specific inventory related tasks and executes inventory
related instructions.
[0025] Communication module 114 accepts as input communication 134
from mobile computing device 106. Communication module 114 in this
embodiment is the means to obtain an informational data capture
from customer 104. Communication 134 includes data capture 122.
Customer information request module 116 is coupled to communication
module 114, and receives data capture 122 from communication module
114. Customer information request module 116 sends an informational
data capture request 124 to communication module 114 in response to
receiving data capture 122 from communication module 114. Customer
information request module 116 formulates informational data
capture request 124 based on data capture 122. Customer information
request module 116 uses data capture 122 and inventory module 118
to determine what other products or apparatus may be around
customer 104, and what inventory or location information would be
helpful to inventory management system 110. Informational data
capture request 124 is formulated to request an additional data
capture from customer 104 that will provide useful inventory
information to inventory management system 110. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, data capture 122 is a barcode scan of
barcode 154 of product 180. Informational data capture request 124,
in an example embodiment, is a request for a barcode scan of a
second store product that inventory management system 110 thinks
should be nearby product 180.
[0026] Communication module 114 transmits informational data
capture request 124 to mobile computing device 106 in response to
receiving informational data capture request 124 from customer
information request module 116. Communication module 114 transmits
informational data capture request 124 to mobile computing device
106, and waits for a customer response 126. Customer response 126
can take a number of forms, including a null response, the
requested informational data capture 128, or a response that
informational data capture request 124 cannot be fulfilled.
Customer response 126 is a null response if no further data is
received from mobile computing device 106. In other words, a null
response is when customer 104 does not respond to informational
data capture request 124. Communication module 114 will consider
customer response 126 to be a null response after a predetermined
period of time passes without receiving customer response 126.
[0027] Customer response 126 can include an informational data
capture 128. Customer response 126 will include informational data
capture 128 when customer 104 responds to informational data
capture request 124 by capturing the requested data. In the example
embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, customer response 126
includes informational data capture 128, where informational data
capture 128 is a barcode scan of the requested second store product
that was nearby product 180. Customer 104 received informational
data capture request 124 with mobile computing device 106, looked
for, and found, the second store product that a barcode scan was
requested for in informational data capture request 124, and
scanned the second store product barcode with mobile computing
device 106. Mobile computing device 106 transmits customer response
126 to communication module 114, where customer response 126 is or
includes informational data capture 128. Informational data capture
128 in this example embodiment is the barcode scan of the second
store product.
[0028] Communication module 114 sends customer response 126 to
customer information request module 116. Customer information
request module 116 receives customer response 126 and determines,
in this example, that customer response 126 comprises informational
data capture 128. Customer information request module 116 performs
at least two actions in response to receiving customer response 126
that comprises informational data capture 128. First of all,
customer information request module 116 transmits informational
data capture 128 to inventory module 118 in response to customer
information request module 116 receiving customer response 126 that
comprises informational data capture 128. And, customer information
request module 116 transmits a reward request 130 to reward module
112.
[0029] Inventory module 118 is coupled to customer information
request module 116, and receives informational data capture 128
from customer information request module 116. Inventory module 118
uses informational data capture 128 to update an inventory database
120. There are many different actions that inventory module 118 can
take in response to receiving informational data capture 128.
Inventory module 118 will save informational data capture 128, and
analyze and take appropriate inventory actions according to the
information received in informational data capture 128. For
example, when inventory module 118 receives informational data
capture 128 that is the scan of the second store product barcode,
inventory module 118 will, in some embodiments, update inventory
database 120 knowing that first product 180 and the second product
are still both present and near each other on the shelves.
[0030] It is to be understood that informational data capture 128
can take many different forms. Informational data capture 128 can
take different forms depending on the specific informational data
capture request 124 that was transmitted, which depends on the
information received from data capture 122. And, informational data
capture request 124 depends on the specific type of inventory
information needed by inventory module 118. Informational data
capture 128 can be a scan of a store product barcode, a scan of a
store feature barcode, a scan of a location identifier barcode, a
picture of the interior of the store, a scan of a QR code or a
Microsoft.TM. Tag, data captured by a bump of an NFC tag, or any
other type of data that can be captured by mobile computing device
106 and transmitted to inventory management system 110.
[0031] Updating inventory database 120 can take many forms,
depending on the information received in informational data capture
128 of customer response 126. In some embodiments, updating
inventory database 120 in response to receiving customer response
126 from customer 104 includes flagging a product as being on
feature in response to receiving an informational data capture 128
that includes a scan of a location identifier barcode. By way of
another example, once receiving data capture 122 that is the scan
of barcode 154 of product 180, communication module 114 transmits
an informational data capture request 124 that requests a scan of a
location barcode near product 180. Customer 104 transmits a
customer response 126 that includes a scan of a location barcode.
Inventory module 118 is able to tell that product 180 is on feature
by the location barcode scan. Inventory module 118 will flag
product 180 as being on feature in response to receiving customer
response 126 that includes informational data capture 128 of the
location barcode scan.
[0032] In some embodiments, updating inventory database 120 in
response to receiving customer response 126 from customer 104
includes flagging a product as mis-placed in response to receiving
an informational data capture 128 that includes a scan of a
location identifier barcode. In some embodiments, updating
inventory database 120 in response to receiving customer response
126 from customer 104 includes flagging a product as in stock in
response to receiving a scan of a second store product barcode. In
some embodiments, inventory module 118 checks a first item and a
second item against a planogram in response to receiving
informational data capture 128. In some embodiments, inventory
module 118 verifies the street date of a product in response to
receiving informational data capture 128. In some embodiments,
inventory module 118 checks whether a product shelf location
matches a product location indicator in response to receiving
informational data capture 128. In some embodiments, inventory
module 118 updates a product location indicator in response to
determining from informational data capture 128 that a product
location indicator does not match the product shelf location for
that product in inventory. In some embodiments, inventory module
118 generates an inventory action request 150 to move a product to
a new product shelf location in response to determining from
informational data capture 128 that a product location indicator
does not match the product shelf location in inventory for that
product. Inventory action request 150 is transmitted by inventory
module 118, and is a request that an inventory action be performed,
often by a store employee. An inventory action request can be a
request for products to be moved or re-stocked, for example.
Updating inventory database 120 can take these or many other forms,
depending on the particular inventory information received from
informational data capture 128 of customer response 126.
[0033] In some embodiments, customer response 126 includes a
response that the request cannot be fulfilled. This type of
customer response 126 can be received, for example, when
informational data capture request 124 requests a scan of a second
product barcode, and the second product is out of stock, so
customer 104 cannot make the required barcode scan. In this
example, updating inventory database 120 takes the form of flagging
a product as out of stock. In another example, informational data
capture request 124 requests that a location identifier be scanned
by customer 104. Customer response 126 is that the request cannot
be fulfilled, because customer 104 cannot find the location
identifier. This suggests a product may be out of place, and
inventory module 118 may transmit an inventory action request 150
that the location of a product be established, changed in database
120, or moved on the shelves.
[0034] As can be understood from the above examples, informational
data capture request 124 and customer response 126 can take many
forms, depending on the type of inventory information determined to
be needed by inventory module 118 and customer information request
module 116, and the ability of customer 104 to supply inventory
information using mobile computing device 106. Inventory management
system 110 is designed to gather as much inventory information as
possible from customer 104, which maximizes the accuracy of
inventory database 120 and minimizes the amount of employee time
and effort spent on gathering inventory data.
[0035] When customer information request module 116 receives
customer response 126 from communication module 114 that includes
informational data capture 128 from customer 104, customer
information request module 116 transmits a reward request 130 to
reward module 112. Providing customer 104 with a reward for
providing informational data capture 128 incentivizes customer 104
to participate in gathering inventory data. Reward module 112 is
coupled to customer information request module 116 and
communication module 114. Reward module 112 receives reward request
130 from customer information request module 116, and transmits a
customer reward 132 to communication module 114 in response.
Communication module 114 transmits customer reward 132 to mobile
computing device 106 in response to receiving customer reward 132
from reward module 112.
[0036] Reward 132 can take many forms. Reward 132 can be a coupon,
a product information guide, a website, a recipe, for example, but
not by way of limitation. In some embodiments, customer 104 gets a
choice of what reward they would like. In some embodiments, reward
132 is related to data capture 122 initially provided by customer
104 via mobile computing device 106. For example, when mobile
computing device 106 sends barcode scan of barcode 154 on product
180, customer reward 132 might be a recipe that uses product 180.
Or reward 132 might be a coupon for product 180, or an information
guide on product 180. Customer reward 132 can be any type of reward
that works to obtain inventory information from customer 104 and
mobile computing device 106.
[0037] Reward module 112 sends customer reward 132 to communication
module 114. Communication module 114 transmits customer reward 132
to mobile computing device 106 of customer 104 for customer 104's
use. Inventory management system 110 then waits for another data
capture 122 to arrive, and the inventory data gathering process
begins again.
[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an inventory management
system 210. Inventory management system 210 is similar to inventory
management system 110, with like numbers indicating like elements
as explained above. Inventory management system 210 has an
additional feature in that inventory management system 210 can
handle receiving and processing photos from mobile computing device
106. Inventory management system 210 can be used in place of
inventory management system 110 of system 101 as shown in FIG. 1
and FIG. 2, with communication 234 replacing communication 134 in
this embodiment.
[0039] Inventory management system 210 is a computer program in
this embodiment, but it is to be understood that inventory
management system 210 can take many forms and implementations,
including hardware, software, or both. Inventory management system
210 is resident on server 102 in the embodiment where system 210
replaces system 110 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, but it is to be
understood that system 210 can be a part of any computational or
electronic equipment. In a particular embodiment, system 210 is
implemented in hardware processors. The hardware processors can be
application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or hardware
accelerators, for example. The hardware processors can be part of
one or more special purpose computers that execute computer program
instructions which implement one or more functions and operations
of computer system for inventory management system 210.
[0040] Communication 234 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is
wireless communication 234 between mobile computing device 106 and
computer system 210, but this is not meant to be limiting. Wireless
communication 234 can be Bluetooth communication, wireless local
area network communication, wireless cellular telephone
communication, or any other form or type of wireless communication.
In some embodiments, communication 234 is wired or optical
communication.
[0041] Communication 234 includes data capture 122, an
informational data capture request 224, a customer response 226 to
the informational data capture request 224, and reward 132, as
shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, communication 234 includes
additional types of communication between mobile computing device
106 and inventory management system 210. Informational data capture
request 224 is similar to informational data capture request 124 as
explained above, except that informational data capture request 224
includes a request that customer 104 capture a photo of the inside
of the retail store using mobile computing device 106. Similarly,
customer response 226 is similar to customer response 126 explained
above, except that customer response 226 in this embodiment
includes a photo 140 of the inside of the retail store, which is
the photo capture requested by informational data capture request
224. Photo 140 of the inside of the retail store can contain useful
photo inventory information 148. Inventory management system 210
will extract and use photo inventory information 148 from photo 140
to update inventory database 120 as explained below.
[0042] Inventory management system 210 includes reward module 112,
communication module 114, a customer information request module
216, and inventory module 118. Inventory management system 210 also
includes a photo analysis module 136 and a photo gather module 138,
which are explained below.
[0043] Communication module 114 transmits informational data
capture request 224 to mobile computing device 106, and waits for
customer response 226. In this embodiment, informational data
capture request 224 includes a request for a photo 140 of the
inside of the retail store, and customer response 226 includes
photo 140 of the inside of the retail store. Informational data
capture request 224 and customer response 226 in some embodiments
can include any of the other forms discussed above for
informational data capture request 124 and customer response 126,
but this example description will explain the request, receipt, and
use of photo 140.
[0044] Communication module 114 sends customer response 226 to
customer information request module 216. Customer information
request module 216 receives customer response 226 and determines
that customer response 226 comprises photo 140. Customer
information request module 216 performs at least two actions in
response to receiving customer response 226 that comprises photo
140. First of all, customer information request module 216
transmits photo 140 to photo analysis module 136 in response to
customer information request module 216 receiving customer response
226 that comprises photo 140. And, customer information request
module 216 transmits a reward request 130 to reward module 112 as
discussed above for inventory management system 110. In some
embodiments, customer response 226 also includes an informational
data capture 128 as described above, in which case customer
information request module 216 sends photo 140 to photo analysis
module 136, and customer information request module 216 sends
informational data capture 128 to inventory module 118. Processing
and response to informational data capture 128 will proceed as
described above regarding inventory management system 110.
[0045] Photo analysis module 136 is coupled to customer information
request module 216 and inventory module 118. Photo analysis module
receives photo 140 from customer information request module 216,
and send photo inventory information 148 to inventory module 118 in
response. Photo analysis module 136 is designed and configured to
recognize photo 140, analyze photo 140, and extract photo inventory
information 148 from photo 140. Photo inventory information 148 can
be any type of information that is useful to inventory module 118
and can be identified from photo 140, such as products that are
recognizable in photo 140, where products are located, how many
products are present, empty shelves where products should be, etc.
In some embodiments, photo analysis module 136 identifies a product
location in photo 140. In some embodiments, photo analysis module
136 identifies a product missing from photo 140. In some
embodiments, photo analysis module 136 identifies one of an aisle,
a section, or a category in photo 140. In some embodiments, photo
analysis module 136 identifies one or more product barcode in photo
140. In some embodiments, photo analysis module 136 identifies a QR
code in photo 140. If a location identifier barcode is readable in
photo 140, the information in the location identifier barcode can
be included in photo inventory data 148. In some embodiments, photo
analysis module 136 can identify a location in photo 140 by
recognizing features other than location barcodes, such as aisle
signs or other identifying features in photo 140.
[0046] It should be evident that photo analysis module 136 can
obtain a large amount of photo inventory information 148 from any
particular photo 140, limited only by the amount of the interior of
the retail store that is visible in photo 140, and the information
extraction and analysis capabilities of photo analysis module
136.
[0047] Inventory module 118 is coupled to photo analysis module
136, and receives photo inventory information 148 from photo
analysis module 136. Inventory module 118 uses photo inventory
information 148 to update inventory database 120. There are many
different actions that inventory module 118 can take in response to
receiving photo inventory information 148. Inventory module 118
will save photo inventory information 148, and analyze and take
appropriate inventory actions according to the information received
in photo inventory information 148. For example, when inventory
module 118 receives photo inventory information 148 that is a photo
of two products on a store shelf, inventory module 118 will, in
some embodiments, update inventory database 120 knowing that the
first and the second product are still both present on the shelf
and near each other as shown in photo 140.
[0048] Updating inventory database 120 can take many forms,
depending on the information received in photo inventory
information 148 of customer response 226. In some embodiments,
updating inventory database 120 104 includes flagging a product or
products as being on feature For example, once receiving data
capture 122 that is the scan of barcode 154 of product 180,
communication module 114 may transmit an informational data capture
request 224 that requests a photo of the location of product 180.
Customer 104 transmits a customer response 226 that includes photo
140 of the location of product 180. Inventory module 118 is able to
tell that product 180 is on feature by photo 140. Inventory module
118 will flag product 180 as being on feature in response to
receiving customer response 226 that includes photo 140.
[0049] In some embodiments, updating inventory database 120 in
response to receiving photo 140 from customer 104 includes flagging
a product as mis-placed in response to receiving a photo 140 that
shows a product out of place on the store shelves. In some
embodiments, updating inventory database 120 in response to
receiving photo 140 from customer 104 includes flagging a product
as in stock in response to receiving a photo of the product on the
shelves. In some embodiments, inventory module 118 checks one or
more items against a planogram in response to receiving photo 140.
In some embodiments, inventory module 118 checks whether a product
shelf location matches a product location indicator in response to
receiving photo 140. In some embodiments, inventory module 118
updates a product location indicator in response to determining
from photo 140 that a product location indicator does not match the
product shelf location for that product in inventory. In some
embodiments, inventory module 118 generates an inventory action
request 150 to move a product to a new product shelf location in
response to determining from photo 140 and/or photo inventory
information 148 that a product location indicator does not match
the product shelf location in inventory for that product.
[0050] It is to be understood that updating inventory database 120
can take many different forms, depending on the particular
inventory information received from photo 140 and photo inventory
information 148.
[0051] As can be understood from the above examples, informational
data capture request 224 and customer response 226 can take many
forms, depending on the type of inventory information determined to
be needed by inventory module 118 and customer information request
module 116, and the ability of customer 104 to supply inventory
information using mobile computing device 106. Inventory management
system 210 is designed to gather as much inventory information as
possible from customer 104. Photos 140 captured by customer 104
maximize the accuracy of inventory database 120 and minimizes the
amount of employee time and effort spent on gathering inventory
data.
[0052] Inventory management system 210 in the embodiment shown in
FIG. 4 also includes photo gather module 138. Photo gather module
138 is coupled to photo analysis module 136, and internet 146.
Photo gather module 138 is configured to find photos 140 of the
interior of the retail store from internet 146, and use the photos
140 from the internet the same as photos 140 captured by customer
104. If photo gather module 138 can find photos that it can
identify as the interior of the retail store, and can identify the
time they were taken, these photos 140 can be analyzed and used
just as if the photos 140 were captured by a customer. In some
embodiments, photo gather module 138 is coupled to other possible
sources of photos 140, such as security cameras, for example.
Inventory management system 210 is designed to glean and use
information from any number of sources to obtain inventory
data.
[0053] When customer information request module 216 receives
customer response 226 from communication module 114 that includes
photo 140 from customer 104, customer information request module
216 transmits a reward request 130 to reward module 112. Providing
customer 104 with a reward for providing photo 140 incentivizes
customer 104 to participate in gathering inventory data. Reward
module 112 is coupled to customer information request module 216
and communication module 114. Reward module 112 receives reward
request 130 from customer information request module 216, and
outputs a customer reward 132 in response.
[0054] Reward module 112 sends customer reward 132 to communication
module 114. Communication module 114 transmits customer reward 132
to mobile computing device 106 of customer 104 for customer 104's
use. Inventory management system 210 then waits for another data
capture 122 to arrive, and the inventory data gathering process
begins again.
[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 300 of updating an inventory
database. Method 300 of updating an inventory database 300 includes
element 310 of receiving a store product barcode scan from a mobile
computing device of a customer. Method 300 also includes element
320 of sending the mobile computing device an informational data
capture request. Method 300 of inventory management also includes
element 330 of updating an inventory database in response to
receiving an informational data capture from the mobile computing
device.
[0056] Method 300 can include many other elements. In some
embodiments, method 300 of updating an inventory database includes
sending the mobile computing device a customer reward in response
to receiving the informational data capture from the mobile
computing device. In some embodiments, the customer reward is one
of a coupon; a product information guide; a website; or a
recipe.
[0057] In some embodiments, method 300 of updating an inventory
database includes saving the response from the customer. In some
embodiments, the response from the customer is one of a null
response; the informational data capture; or a response that the
request cannot be fulfilled. In some embodiments, the informational
data capture includes a photo of the interior of a store. In some
embodiments, method 300 also includes extracting inventory data
from the photo. In some embodiments, the informational data capture
is one of a scan of a location identifier barcode; a scan of a
second store product barcode; or a scan of a store feature
barcode.
[0058] Step 330 of updating an inventory database in response to
receiving an informational data capture from the mobile computing
device can contain many additional elements. In some embodiments,
updating an inventory database includes flagging a product as being
on feature in response to receiving the scan of the location
identifier barcode. In some embodiments, updating an inventory
database includes flagging a product as out of stock in response to
receiving the response that the request cannot be fulfilled. In
some embodiments, updating an inventory database includes flagging
a product as mis-placed in response to receiving the scan of the
location identifier barcode. In some embodiments, updating an
inventory database in response to receiving the response from the
customer includes flagging a product as in stock in response to
receiving the scan of the second store product barcode. In some
embodiments, updating an inventory database includes checking a
first item and a second item against a planogram in response to
receiving the informational data capture. In some embodiments,
updating an inventory database includes verifying the street date
of a product in response to receiving the informational data
capture. In some embodiments, updating an inventory database
includes checking whether a product shelf location matches a
product location indicator in response to receiving the
informational data capture. In some embodiments, updating an
inventory database includes updating a product location indicator
in response to determining from the informational data capture that
the product location indicator does not match the product shelf
location. In some embodiments, updating an inventory database
includes generating an inventory action request to move a product
to a new product shelf location in response to determining from the
informational data capture that the product location indicator does
not match the product shelf location.
[0059] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of
the disclosed inventory management system in a retail store may be
embodied as an electronic system, a method, or a computer program
product. Accordingly, aspects may take the form of an entirely
hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including
firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment
combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be
referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system."
Furthermore, aspects may take the form of a computer program
product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having
computer readable program code embodied thereon.
[0060] Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s)
may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer
readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A
computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not
limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,
infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any
suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a
non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would
include the following: an electrical connection having one or more
wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access
memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a
portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage
device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of
the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable
storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or
store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0061] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products
according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood
that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations
and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program
instructions or by special purpose processors, or by hardware
accelerators or application specific circuits.
[0062] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
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