U.S. patent application number 15/980354 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-27 for pressure-sensitive device for product tracking on product shelves.
The applicant listed for this patent is Shelfbucks, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert Frankel.
Application Number | 20180374069 15/980354 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64693341 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180374069 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Frankel; Robert |
December 27, 2018 |
PRESSURE-SENSITIVE DEVICE FOR PRODUCT TRACKING ON PRODUCT
SHELVES
Abstract
A mat with a pressure-sensitive surface may be placed on a
product shelf. The product shelf may be used for supporting retail
products at a retail location. A wireless beacon may be coupled to
the mat. The wireless beacon may include a processor that assesses
a resistance of the pressure-sensitive surface to assess an
inventory status of retail products on the pressure-sensitive
surface. The wireless beacon may broadcast a wireless signal that
includes a data packet with a unique identifier for the wireless
beacon and the inventory status of the retail products.
Inventors: |
Frankel; Robert; (Goleta,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shelfbucks, Inc. |
Austin |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
64693341 |
Appl. No.: |
15/980354 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62508567 |
May 19, 2017 |
|
|
|
62539795 |
Aug 1, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 43/067 20130101;
B65D 25/205 20130101; H04W 4/35 20180201; G06Q 10/0833 20130101;
G06Q 30/0267 20130101; G01G 19/4144 20130101; A47F 2010/025
20130101; G06Q 10/087 20130101; G06Q 10/0875 20130101; A47F 9/048
20130101; B65D 2203/10 20130101; G06Q 30/0242 20130101; H04W 4/02
20130101; G06Q 20/203 20130101; G06F 16/24 20190101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 20/20 20060101
G06Q020/20; A47F 9/04 20060101 A47F009/04; H04W 4/35 20060101
H04W004/35; G06Q 10/08 20060101 G06Q010/08; G01G 19/414 20060101
G01G019/414 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A system, comprising: a pressure-sensitive surface configured
to be placed on at least one product shelf, wherein the at least
one product shelf is used for supporting retail products at a
retail location; and a wireless beacon coupled to the
pressure-sensitive surface, the wireless beacon comprising a
processor and a memory, the processor being configured to assess a
resistance of the pressure-sensitive surface to assess an inventory
status of retail products on the pressure-sensitive surface,
wherein the wireless beacon is configured to broadcast a wireless
signal, the wireless signal including a data packet, and wherein
the data packet comprises a unique identifier for the wireless
beacon and the inventory status of the retail products.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein the resistance of the
pressure-sensitive surface changes when a retail product is added
or removed from the pressure-sensitive surface.
23. The system of claim 21, wherein the resistance of the
pressure-sensitive surface increases as retail products are removed
from the surface and decreases as retail products are added to the
surface.
24. The system of claim 21, wherein the pressure-sensitive surface
comprises a piezoresistive film.
25. The system of claim 21, wherein the pressure-sensitive surface
comprises a piezoresistive film positioned between two conductive
layers.
26. The system of claim 21, wherein the pressure-sensitive surface
supports the retail products placed on the at least one product
shelf.
27. The system of claim 21, wherein the wireless beacon is coupled
to the pressure-sensitive surface.
28. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to
assess changes in resistance of the pressure-sensitive surface to
determine the inventory status of retail products on the
pressure-sensitive surface.
29. The system of claim 21, wherein the wireless beacon is
configured to immediately broadcast the wireless signal when the
inventory status is assessed to be below a selected level.
30. The system of claim 21, wherein the wireless signal with the
inventory status is configured to be received by a wireless device
located at the retail location of the POP display.
31. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one product shelf
is located on a point of purchase (POP) display.
32. The system of claim 21, wherein the pressure-sensitive surface
is a surface of a mat configured to be placed on a surface of the
at least one product shelf.
33. A method, comprising: assessing a resistance of a
pressure-sensitive surface, the pressure-sensitive surface being
positioned on a product shelf used to support a plurality of retail
products at a retail location, wherein the resistance of the
pressure-sensitive surface changes when at least one retail product
is added or removed from the pressure-sensitive surface, and
wherein a circuit board is coupled to the pressure-sensitive
surface, the circuit board comprising a processor and a memory;
assessing, using the processor on the circuit board, an inventory
status of the retail products on the pressure-sensitive surface
based on the resistance of the pressure-sensitive surface; and
broadcasting a wireless signal from a wireless beacon, the wireless
beacon being located on the circuit board and coupled to the
processor, wherein the wireless signal includes a data packet with
a unique identifier for the wireless beacon, and wherein the data
packet comprises the assessed inventory status of the products on
the pressure-sensitive surface.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the pressure-sensitive surface
comprises a piezoresistive film.
35. The method of claim 33, wherein the pressure-sensitive surface
comprises a piezoresistive film positioned between two conductive
layers.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the resistance of the
pressure-sensitive surface is assessed by measuring a voltage
signal produced by applying voltage to a resistor matched to the
piezoresistive film.
37. The method of claim 33, wherein the wireless beacon is coupled
to the pressure-sensitive surface.
38. The method of claim 33, wherein the assessed resistance of the
pressure-sensitive surface increases when at least one retail
product is removed from the surface, and wherein the assessed
resistance of the pressure-sensitive surface decreases when at
least one retail product is added to the surface.
39. The method of claim 33, wherein the wireless beacon immediately
broadcasts the wireless signal in response to the inventory value
being assessed to be below a selected level.
40. The method of claim 33, further comprising receiving the
wireless signal with the assessed inventory value in a wireless
device located at the retail location.
41-60. (canceled)
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/508,567 to Walden et al., entitled "WIRELESS
BEACON BASED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONSUMER PRODUCT TRACKING AND
MARKETING", filed May 19, 2017; and U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/539,795 to Walden et al., entitled "WIRELESS
BEACON BASED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONSUMER PRODUCT TRACKING AND
MARKETING", filed Aug. 1, 2017, each of which is incorporated by
reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.
RELATED PATENTS
[0002] This patent application incorporates by reference in their
entirety U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/153,135 to Walden and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/433,334 to Walden et al.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to the use of wireless
beacons in point of purchase ("POP") displays to facilitate the
delivery of consumer oriented content to mobile devices. Certain
embodiments relate to systems and methods for assessing inventory
of products on product shelves using pressure-sensitive
devices.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
[0004] POP ("point of purchase") displays are often used in retail
environments to display content for particular products associated
with the POP displays. POP displays typically include signs,
graphics, or other marketing materials that communicate information
about associated products and are intended to draw a shopper's
(e.g., customer's) attention to the products associated with the
displays. POP displays may be used as integral components for
marketing or promotional campaigns. POP displays often contribute
to the success of these campaigns.
[0005] Traditional POP display signage, which runs the gamut from a
simple plastic holder for a card with product information to
illuminated translucent graphic films in an atmospheric light box,
are static in nature and are unable to customize the information
conveyed to a potential customer based upon the customer's interest
level. Other conventional POP display signage may include video
displays that offer limited interactive options. Thus, there is a
need for POP displays that are capable of dynamically interacting
with potential customers. The manufacture, distribution, and/or
deployment in retail settings of multiple POP displays, however,
poses unique challenges, especially when the ability to dynamically
interact with potential customers is included with the POP
displays. Developments in mobile device technology and mobile
communication technology allows for dynamic interaction with
potential customers in retail environment.
[0006] Beyond POP display material, it is also common for
manufacturers and retailers to be interested in tracking and
insuring the presence of high-value products. Such instances
include, but are not limited to new or experimental products, very
high value items such as designer purses, or test market concepts.
In such cases, these individual items may be worth tracking in a
manner similar to POP display materials.
[0007] Beacons are among the most important new mobile technologies
helping merchants engage with consumers via mobile communication
while the consumers are in brick and mortar stores. For many years,
near field communication (NFC) was considered to be the technology
that would deliver such data to retailers and help them track how
customers behave in-store. NFC, however, has reached certain limits
and beacons (and beacon technology) provides increased potential
for providing customer engagement to shoppers in store
environments.
[0008] Beacons may be low-cost devices that communicate with mobile
device (e.g., smartphone) apps through a Bluetooth signal. Beacons
are expected to directly influence over $4 billion worth of US
retail sales this year at top retailers (0.1% of the total), and
that number may climb tenfold in 2016. Current beacon
implementations are relatively crude and typically broadcast the
same, static content (e.g., a coupon, regardless of circumstances
or a potential customer's demonstrated intent). Beacon technology
has enormous potential to enhance the shopping experience. For
example, beacon technology may make it quicker and easier for
customers to access the information and products they are looking
for or provide special offers or discounts to loyal shoppers.
Beacon technology can also provide retailers with invaluable data
about their customers' shopping habits as well as the activity of
their staff. Thus, retailers may make improvements to the store
layout by identifying store flow, maintaining service standards,
and maintaining operations that will benefit both customer and
retailer. Current implementations of beacon technology, however,
have failed to develop a more dynamic set of interactions with
potential customers, particularly those which are based on and
distinguish between various location-based actions.
[0009] There has been some development in the use of beacon
technology in store (customer) environments, however, the
implementation of beacon technology remains limited.
[0010] United States Patent Application Publication No.
2015/0287045, filed Apr. 6, 2015 by Brown et al., which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes a
"system for monitoring compliance with a retail display program
includes a beacon coupled to a promotional display structure." The
system includes a "computing device [that] is configured to compare
the location-specific data and time stamp to the specified retail
facility and time period to determine whether the promotional
display structure is displayed in the specified retail facility
during the specified time period." The system in Brown, however,
requires that "Each promotional display structure 20 is intended to
be displayed at a specified retail facility 50. Moreover, in the
example embodiment, each promotional display structure 20 is
intended to be displayed at a specified location 60 within
specified retail facility 50." Thus, the system of Brown requires
that the intended location of each "promotional display structure"
be known before the display structures are sent to their locations
so that compliance of the structure (e.g., is it displayed in the
correct location) may be determined. However, as is known in the
art of promotional displays, it can often be very difficult and
cumbersome to ensure and know the intended locations of promotional
displays. For example, a large set of identical promotional
displays are often sent to a warehouse for storage before being
randomly sent out to retail locations without any thought being
given as to the intended location for each specific promotional
display. Further, multiple locations within a retail location may
be intended for a given display once it reaches the retail
location.
[0011] United States Patent Application Publication No.
2014/0282620, filed Mar. 15, 2013 by Nuovo et al., which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, states:
"detecting an advertised device identifier and comparing the
detected device identifier with device identifiers stored on the
mobile device. If there is a match, the match can trigger an event.
The event can be requesting content associated with the matched
device identifier, receiving the requested content, and rendering
the received content. The requested content can be selected to have
additional, corresponding content downloaded and rendered." This
identification is done by "an application that operates on a mobile
device. When executed, the application can cause the mobile device
to search for device identifiers, e.g., media access controller
addresses and/or broadcast identifiers (IDs), which are advertised
by wireless beacon units, such as WiFi beacon units and Bluetooth
beacon units."
[0012] United States Patent Application Publication No.
2002/0176388 filed Mar. 19, 2002, by Rankin and Simons, which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes a
centralized system for updating beacons. The system includes "a
modification to the Bluetooth system to enable the connectionless
broadcast of short messages from Bluetooth beacons. This can be
achieved by exploiting the Bluetooth Inquiry phase by extending the
very short ID packet sent out during this mode and using the extra
space thus gained to carry a small amount of information. This
information can be Bluetooth system related data or one-way
application data. This scheme has the potentially useful feature of
being backwards-compatible with legacy Bluetooth devices that are
not able to understand this extra field."
[0013] United States Patent Application Publication No.
2002/0183004 filed Mar. 15, 2002, by Fulton et al., which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, describes
specialized beacons that are dedicated to either inquiries or
transmitting information to a client.
[0014] United States Patent Application Publication No.
2007/0254670, filed May 1, 2006, "System and method for optimizing
throughput in a wireless network," by Kawaguchi and Le, which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, discusses
throttling bandwidth within a mesh network. For example, "When the
switch 10 determines that a selected mesh node is utilizing a
portion of the bandwidth outside of the predetermined threshold
range, the switch 10 executes a predetermined action (e.g.,
throttling) on transmissions from the selected node to provide
increased bandwidth to mesh nodes further from the switch 10 than
the selected node."
[0015] WIPO Patent Application WO/2013/054144, "Method of
Estimating the Position of a User Device Using Radio Beacons and
Radio Beacons Adapted to Facilitate the Methods of the Invention"
by Usman, et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully
set forth herein, discloses methods for "calculating an estimate of
the position of the user device taking into account transmit power
data concerning the transmit power level of the one or more said
radio beacons . . . " Page 2, lines 16-18.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,279, issued to Herz et al., which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, discloses
location based services, but more from the perspective of a
cellular network. It states, "The operation of the location
enhanced information delivery system as described herein makes use
of the fact that each user has a `beacon`, which generally serves
as a user identification instrumentality. The beacons emit
identifiers which can be used to associate users with the detected
devices. The beacon can be correlated with location, such as by use
of a wireless subscriber station or other systems with known
technology."
[0017] United States Patent Application Publication No.
2014/0358666, "Cross-Channel Personalized Promotion Platform," by
Baghaie and Dempski, which is incorporated by reference as if fully
set forth herein, describes a platform for allowing advertisers to
purchase promotional opportunities on user's mobile devices.
[0018] United States Patent Application Publication No.
2012/0315839, "Analyzing Audiences at Public Venues," by Mumcuoglu
and Engel, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth
herein, discusses the use of wireless signals to physically locate
a user but does not discuss the utilization of that information in
real time to transmit pertinent information to that user.
[0019] Despite the previous disclosures described above, there
remains many needs related to the concepts of adjusting or
"throttling" a connection (or a transmission), determination of
bumping, or the notions of pushing or pulling content beyond
generic downloading of specific content from a centralized server
as discussed herein. In addition, there is still a need for
monitoring surrounding activity and assessing user locations and/or
display locations. In certain applications, transmissions (or
connections) may need to be throttled with respect to a specific
location (e.g., a point of sale). In some applications, there is a
need for the content transmitted over that connection to be varied
in relation to either the throttling or determined range. Thus,
there are still improvements needed in the application of beacon
technology to engage with customers during their in-store shopping
experience and for supporting customers' in-store shopping
experiences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] In certain embodiments, context aware solutions are provided
for delivering content to potential customers in an efficient
manner in association with POP ("point of purchase") displays that
are used in retail environments. Embodiments disclosed herein
include wireless beacon technology associated with the POP displays
that can vary the content delivered based upon the relative
distance of the potential customer and whether the potential
customer has indicated any product interest. This allows for
content to be "throttled" to potential customers based on a
software configuration that exempts customers who have not signaled
interest from being included in messages that might overload and/or
annoy the customers and/or trigger privacy concerns due to
unrequested content. Potential customers that have signaled
interest, however, may receive content without any throttling.
Furthermore, embodiments disclosed herein may distinguish between
"push"--use cases where content is provided without an intentional
request by the customer--and "pull"--use cases where content has
been intentionally requested by the customer through a physical
interaction between the POP display and a customer device (e.g.,
the customer device being "bumped", i.e., intentionally placed in
close proximity to an area on the POP display). The exact
information that is pushed or pulled may be located on a remote
server that may be configured for each potential use case.
Embodiments disclosed herein may provide implementations that
conserve power by allowing devices (e.g., wireless beacons) to be
configured to activate at a later date, namely after they have
arrived at a certain destination (e.g., a display location).
Embodiments disclosed herein may provide for utilizing context
awareness to reduce power consumption when it is unlikely for a
potential customer to be around (e.g., when a retail area is dark
or no activity is detected). Furthermore, this context awareness
may enable manufacturing and distributions methods to be suited to
large-scale production and distribution of POP displays across many
locations. Improved logistical schemes for manufacturing and
distributing the embodiments disclosed herein may also be provided
since one need not determine beforehand the exact final location of
the POP display and its beacon before distribution to individual
retail or advertising venues.
[0021] In certain embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods
include a variety of sensors to aid in assessing a proximity of
potential customers to the POP display and measuring the
surrounding environment. This information may be recorded and
analyzed to gain additional insights about consumer behavior and to
gauge the device's performance. Additionally, information may be
inferred from the signal strength of user devices (e.g., mobile
devices) carried by potential customers. This information may also
be retained and analyzed. In some embodiments, the system may
transmit data to a server through various means. For example, a
traditional permanent gateway may be utilized, or user devices with
network connectivity that are carried by employees or potential
customers may be utilized to relay the stored information to the
server.
[0022] Embodiments disclosed herein may provide efficient means for
communicating with individuals, either to inform or to advertise,
and to record information about the disclosed embodiments'
performance and its environment. In some embodiments, the recorded
information is harnessed to enable improved logistical schemes to
be provided for manufacturing and distributing the disclosed
embodiments even when it is unknown where and/or when the disclosed
device will be delivered and/or begin operation.
[0023] In certain embodiments, a pressure-sensitive surface is
configured to be placed on at least one product shelf. The at least
one product shelf may be used for supporting retail products at a
retail location. A wireless beacon may be coupled to the
pressure-sensitive surface. The wireless beacon may include a
processor and a memory. The processor may be configured to assess a
resistance of the pressure-sensitive surface to assess an inventory
status of retail products on the pressure-sensitive surface. The
wireless beacon may be configured to broadcast a wireless signal.
The wireless signal may include a data packet where the data packet
includes a unique identifier for the wireless beacon and the
inventory status of the retail products.
[0024] In certain embodiments, a method includes assessing a
resistance of a pressure-sensitive surface positioned on a product
shelf. The product shelf may be used to support a plurality of
retail products at a retail location. The resistance of the
pressure-sensitive surface may change when at least one retail
product is added or removed from the pressure-sensitive surface. A
circuit board may be coupled to the pressure-sensitive surface. The
circuit board may include a processor and a memory. Using the
processor on the circuit board, an inventory status of the retail
products on the pressure-sensitive surface may be assessed based on
the resistance of the pressure-sensitive surface. A wireless signal
may be broadcast from a wireless beacon. The wireless beacon may be
located on the circuit board and coupled to the processor. The
wireless signal may include a data packet with a unique identifier
for the wireless beacon where the data packet includes the assessed
inventory status of the products on the pressure-sensitive
surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Features and advantages of the methods and apparatus
described herein will be more fully appreciated by reference to the
following detailed description of presently preferred but
nonetheless illustrative embodiments when taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a point
of purchase display system.
[0027] FIG. 1A depicts an example of an embodiment of a POP
display.
[0028] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a retail
location with a data collection device.
[0029] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram representation of an
embodiment of an interaction between a customer device, wireless
beacons, and a server.
[0030] FIGS. 4A-4K depict examples of content being displayed on a
display of a mobile device.
[0031] FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of a method to
assess a location of a wireless beacon and its POP display.
[0032] FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of a method used
to assess a location of a POP display.
[0033] FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of a second embodiment of a
method used to assess a location of a POP display.
[0034] FIG. 8 depicts a flowchart of a third embodiment of a method
used to assess a location of a POP display.
[0035] FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram representation of an
embodiment of an interaction between a customer device, wireless
beacons, and multiple network gateways at a retail location.
[0036] FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart of a fourth embodiment of a
method used to assess a location of a POP display.
[0037] FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart of a manufacturing supply chain
associated with POP displays.
[0038] FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment of a supply/distribution chain
for POP displays.
[0039] FIG. 13 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a
plurality of point of purchase displays at a retail location.
[0040] FIG. 14 depicts a top view representation of an embodiment
of a wireless beacon in an enclosure on a POP display.
[0041] FIG. 15 depicts a side view representation of the embodiment
depicted in FIG. 14.
[0042] FIG. 16A illustrates an example of a campaign calendar.
[0043] FIG. 16B illustrates an example of an interface displaying
various statistics related to POP display deployment and sales.
[0044] FIG. 16C illustrates an information screen related to the
product associated with the POP display.
[0045] FIG. 16D illustrates an interface displaying national
deployment information for POP displays.
[0046] FIG. 16E illustrates an interface displaying state
deployment information for POP displays.
[0047] FIG. 16F illustrates an interface displaying supply chain
information.
[0048] FIG. 16G illustrates an interface displaying a sales
analysis associated with the POP display.
[0049] FIG. 17 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of a geofence
protocol process.
[0050] FIG. 18 depicts a representation of an embodiment of a POP
display system utilizing printable circuits.
[0051] FIG. 19 depicts a representation of an embodiment of a
system with a wireless beacon properly attached to a POP
display.
[0052] FIG. 20 depicts a representation of an embodiment of
reel/tray based system for attaching wireless beacons to printable
circuits on POP displays.
[0053] FIG. 21 depicts a top view representation of an embodiment
of a product shelf with a device used for assessing product stock
on the product shelf.
[0054] FIG. 22 depicts a front view representation of an embodiment
of the product shelf and device of FIG. 21.
[0055] FIG. 23 depicts a side view representation of an embodiment
of a device.
[0056] FIG. 24 depicts an embodiment of a product tote.
[0057] FIG. 25 depicts a representation of an embodiment of a
workstation for loading/unloading a tote.
[0058] FIG. 26 depicts a block diagram of one embodiment of an
exemplary computer system.
[0059] FIG. 27 depicts a block diagram of one embodiment of a
computer accessible storage medium.
[0060] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by
way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and
detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the
disclosure to the particular form illustrated, but on the contrary,
the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The headings used
herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be
used to limit the scope of the description. As used throughout this
application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e.,
meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense
(i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including,"
and "includes" mean including, but not limited to. Additionally, as
used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular
forms "a", "an", and "the" include singular and plural referents
unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, the
word "may" is used throughout this application in a permissive
sense (i.e., having the potential to, being able to), not in a
mandatory sense (i.e., must). The term "include," and derivations
thereof, mean "including, but not limited to." The term "coupled"
means directly or indirectly connected.
[0061] The term "automatically" refers to an action or operation
performed by a computer system (e.g., software executed by the
computer system) or device (e.g., circuitry, programmable hardware
elements, ASICs, etc.), without user input directly specifying or
performing the action or operation. Thus, the term "automatically"
is in contrast to an operation being manually performed or
specified by the user, where the user provides input to directly
perform the operation. An automatic procedure may be initiated by
input provided by the user, but the subsequent actions that are
performed "automatically" are not specified by the user, i.e., are
not performed "manually", where the user specifies each action to
perform. For example, a user filling out an electronic form by
selecting each field and providing input specifying information
(e.g., by typing information, selecting check boxes, radio
selections, etc.) is filling out the form manually, even though the
computer system must update the form in response to the user
actions. The form may be automatically filled out by the computer
system where the computer system (e.g., software executing on the
computer system) analyzes the fields of the form and fills in the
form without any user input specifying the answers to the fields.
As indicated above, the user may invoke the automatic filling of
the form, but is not involved in the actual filling of the form
(e.g., the user is not manually specifying answers to fields but
rather they are being automatically completed). The present
specification provides various examples of operations being
automatically performed in response to actions the user has
taken.
[0062] Various units, circuits, or other components may be
described as "configured to" perform a task or tasks. In such
contexts, "configured to" is a broad recitation of structure
generally meaning "having circuitry that" performs the task or
tasks during operation. As such, the unit/circuit/component can be
configured to perform the task even when the unit/circuit/component
is not currently on. In general, the circuitry that forms the
structure corresponding to "configured to" may include hardware
circuits and/or memory storing program instructions executable to
implement the operation. The memory can include volatile memory
such as static or dynamic random access memory and/or nonvolatile
memory such as optical or magnetic disk storage, flash memory,
programmable read-only memories, etc. The hardware circuits may
include any combination of combinatorial logic circuitry, clocked
storage devices such as flops, registers, latches, etc., finite
state machines, memory such as static random access memory or
embedded dynamic random access memory, custom designed circuitry,
programmable logic arrays, etc. Similarly, various
units/circuits/components may be described as performing a task or
tasks, for convenience in the description. Such descriptions should
be interpreted as including the phrase "configured to." Reciting a
unit/circuit/component that is configured to perform one or more
tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112(f)
interpretation for that unit/circuit/component.
[0063] In an embodiment, hardware circuits in accordance with this
disclosure may be implemented by coding the description of the
circuit in a hardware description language (HDL) such as Verilog or
VHDL. The HDL description may be synthesized against a library of
cells designed for a given integrated circuit fabrication
technology, and may be modified for timing, power, and other
reasons to result in a final design database that may be
transmitted to a foundry to generate masks and ultimately produce
the integrated circuit. Some hardware circuits or portions thereof
may also be custom-designed in a schematic editor and captured into
the integrated circuit design along with synthesized circuitry. The
integrated circuits may include transistors and may further include
other circuit elements (e.g. passive elements such as capacitors,
resistors, inductors, etc.) and interconnect between the
transistors and circuit elements. Some embodiments may implement
multiple integrated circuits coupled together to implement the
hardware circuits, and/or discrete elements may be used in some
embodiments.
[0064] The scope of the present disclosure includes any feature or
combination of features disclosed herein (either explicitly or
implicitly), or any generalization thereof, whether or not it
mitigates any or all of the problems addressed herein. Accordingly,
new claims may be formulated during prosecution of this application
(or an application claiming priority thereto) to any such
combination of features. In particular, with reference to the
appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined
with those of the independent claims and features from respective
independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and
not merely in the specific combinations enumerated in the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0065] The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred
embodiments. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art
that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow
represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in
the practice of the disclosed embodiments, and thus can be
considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However,
those of skill in the art should, in light of the present
disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the
specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or
similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the
disclosed embodiments.
[0066] In this patent, certain U.S. patents, U.S. patent
applications, and other materials (e.g., articles) have been
incorporated by reference. The text of such U.S. patents, U.S.
patent applications, and other materials is, however, only
incorporated by reference to the extent that no conflict exists
between such text and the other statements and drawings set forth
herein. In the event of such conflict, then any such conflicting
text in such incorporated by reference U.S. patents, U.S. patent
applications, and other materials is specifically not incorporated
by reference in this patent.
[0067] Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various
aspects of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those
skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this
description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the
purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of
carrying out the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that
the forms of the disclosed embodiments shown and described herein
are to be taken as examples of embodiments. Elements and materials
may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein,
parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the
disclosed embodiments may be utilized independently, all as would
be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of
this description of the disclosed embodiments. Changes may be made
in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the disclosed embodiments as described in the
following claims.
[0068] This specification includes references to "one embodiment"
or "an embodiment." The appearances of the phrases "in one
embodiment" or "in an embodiment" do not necessarily refer to the
same embodiment, although embodiments that include any combination
of the features are generally contemplated, unless expressly
disclaimed herein. Particular features, structures, or
characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner consistent
with this disclosure.
[0069] As used herein, the word "display" is intended to include an
array of merchandising materials and store-based assets such as,
but not limited to, signs, test product or samples, high-value or
high-interest products, permanent or semi-permanent fixtures,
coupon dispensers, aisle-based video screens, mobile coolers, or
other movable assets within a retail outlet.
[0070] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of point of
purchase ("POP") display system 100. In certain embodiments, system
100 includes POP display 102. In certain embodiments, circuit board
104 is located on POP display 102. Circuit board 104 may be, for
example, a printed circuit board or any other suitable circuit
board for connecting and operating multiple electronic components
including, but not limited to, integrated circuits. Circuit board
104 may be placed (installed) on, or coupled to, POP display 102
during or after manufacturing of the POP display.
[0071] In certain embodiments, circuit board 104 includes battery
106, switch 108, memory 110, controller 112, wireless beacon 114,
and sensors 116. In certain embodiments, controller 112 includes
circuitry, an integrated circuit, or a processor operable to
control operation of wireless beacon 114 and/or other components of
circuit board 104 and/or POP display 102. Memory 110 may include
many different types of memory known in the art for use on a
circuit board. For example, memory 110 may be flash memory, RAM,
EEROM, EEPROM, and/or one-time programmable memory.
[0072] In some embodiments, controller 112 is coupled to clock 113.
Clock 113 may be capable of tracking both date and time. Clock 113
may be associated with wireless beacon 114 to provide time
information (e.g., date and time) to the wireless beacon. In some
embodiments, clock 113 is located in a chip on circuit board 104.
In some embodiments, clock 113 is located in a microprocessor in
wireless beacon 114.
[0073] In some embodiments, circuit board 104 includes unique label
117. Unique label 117 may be added during or after manufacturing of
circuit board 104. Unique label 117 may be, for example, a printed
label, such as a QR label or barcode, that can be viewed or
electronically scanned for identifying information. Unique label
117 may include a unique identification for circuit board 104 that
differentiates the circuit board from other circuit boards that may
be used on other POP displays. For example, each circuit board 104
may have its own identification number that specifically identifies
the circuit board.
[0074] POP display 102, as described herein, may be any display
that holds products and/or advertises products. For example, POP
display 102 may include signs, graphics, or other marketing
materials that communicate information about a product to a
consumer. FIG. 1A depicts an example of an embodiment of POP
display 102. In some embodiments, POP display 102 includes the
product itself. For example, products such as, but not limited to,
demo units of electronic items, appliances, and/or rugs may be a
POP display. POP display 102 is typically placed next to or near
the merchandise the display is promoting and/or included as part of
the merchandise. In some embodiments, POP display 102 is utilized
to hold, support, or display products associated with the POP
display. In certain embodiments, POP display 102 is a corrugated
cardboard display. POP display 102 may also include displays made
from materials such as, but not limited to, paper, paperboard,
bristol board, foam cored board, plastic, metal, or any other
material suitable for holding and/or advertising products.
[0075] POP display 102 may be a component of a marketing or
promotional campaign. In certain embodiments, POP display 102 is
generally located in a retail environment (e.g., a retail store) or
any other location where a customer purchases product or a decision
to purchase product is made. In some embodiments, POP display 102
is placed in other display locations in order to drive potential
customers to a specific area. For example, POP display 102 may be
placed in a window display and used to provide (e.g., "beam")
promotional information to people as they pass by outside a retail
store. Regardless of the location of POP display 102, the POP
display may be intended to draw the customer's attention to
products associated with the display. These products may, in some
embodiments, be new products, products on sale, and/or products
associated with a special offer. POP display 102 may also be used
to promote special events (e.g., seasonal or holiday-time
sales).
[0076] In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, POP system 100
includes the use of customer device 118. Customer device 118 may
be, for example, a mobile device. Customer device 118 may be a
small computing device, typically small enough to be handheld (and
hence also commonly known as a handheld computer or simply
handheld). Mobile devices may be any of various types of computer
systems devices which are mobile or portable and which perform
wireless communications using WLAN communication. Examples of
mobile devices include mobile telephones or smart phones (e.g.,
iPhone.TM., Android.TM.-based phones), and tablet computers such as
iPad.TM., Samsung Galaxy.TM., etc. Various other types of devices
would fall into this category if they include Wi-Fi or both
cellular and Wi-Fi communication capabilities, such as laptop
computers (e.g., MacBook.TM.), portable gaming devices (e.g.,
Nintendo DS.TM., PlayStation Portable.TM., Gameboy Advance.TM.,
iPhone.TM.), portable Internet devices, and other handheld devices,
as well as wearable devices such as smart watches, smart glasses,
headphones, pendants, earpieces, etc. In general, the term "mobile
device" can be broadly defined to encompass any electronic,
computing, and/or telecommunications device (or combination of
devices) which is easily transported by a user and capable of
wireless communication using WLAN or Wi-Fi. In certain embodiments,
customer device 118 includes any device used by a customer with
display 119 (e.g., an LCD screen or touchscreen), one or more
wireless transceivers (e.g., wireless transceivers 120A, 120B,
shown in FIG. 1), software package 122, and memory cache 124.
Display 119, in some embodiments, includes a user interface for
customer device 118 (e.g., the display allows interactive input for
the user).
[0077] In certain embodiments, wireless beacon 114 on POP display
102 interacts with customer devices 118 carried by potential
customers. Wireless beacon 114 may be configured to interact with
customer devices 118 through wireless transceiver 120A. In certain
embodiments, wireless transceiver 120A is a Bluetooth Low Energy
("BLE") transceiver.
[0078] In certain embodiments, wireless beacon 114 includes a
unique identifier associated with the wireless beacon. The unique
identifier may be broadcast by wireless beacon 114, received
through wireless transceiver 120A, and used to identify the
wireless beacon (e.g., the unique identifier may be used by a
server to identify the wireless beacon as described herein). Thus,
in embodiments with multiple wireless beacons 114, the wireless
beacons broadcast their respective unique identifiers and the
unique identifiers may be used to identify and/or differentiate the
wireless beacons and, by extension, the circuit board and POP
display associated with each wireless beacon.
[0079] Wireless beacon 114 may be a transponder sending data via
radio signals. In certain embodiments, wireless beacon 114 is a
Bluetooth Low Energy ("BLE") beacon. A Bluetooth LE beacon may
operate in either peripheral or central mode, depending on the
circumstances, though in certain embodiments, the beacon may
default to peripheral mode. Chipsets implementing beacon
functionality may be commercially available. Two non-limiting
examples are the Texas Instruments CC2541 and CC2600. The disclosed
embodiments, however, do not depend on the particular choice of
Bluetooth chipset.
[0080] Bluetooth low energy (Bluetooth LE, BLE, also marketed as
Bluetooth Smart) is a wireless personal area network technology
designed and marketed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group aimed
at applications in the healthcare, fitness, beacons, security, and
home entertainment industries. Compared to Classic Bluetooth,
Bluetooth Smart is intended to provide considerably reduced power
consumption and cost while maintaining a similar communication
range.
[0081] Bluetooth Smart was originally introduced under the name
Wibree by Nokia in 2006. It was merged into the main Bluetooth
standard in 2010 with the adoption of the Bluetooth Core
Specification Version 4.0. In certain embodiments, wireless beacons
114 are Bluetooth LE beacons. Bluetooth LE beacons may be used, at
least in part, because Bluetooth LE has been widely adopted in
customer devices 118 (e.g., mobile devices). Thus, a potential
consumer may likely already have the requisite hardware to interact
with circuit board 104 and POP display 102. For example, Bluetooth
LE has been built into iPhones and iPads since 2010, and many
Android devices since 2013. Bluetooth LE wireless beacons are also,
as the name implies, energy efficient, which may be an important
consideration for technology deployed on mobile devices. In certain
embodiments, the positioning and data transmission capabilities of
Bluetooth LE are also of use, though the embodiments disclosed
herein may also be implemented using other wireless standards,
including the various versions of IEEE 802.11.
[0082] In certain embodiments, POP display system 100 includes
server 126. Server 126 may communicate with customer device 118
through wireless transceiver 120B on the customer device. In
certain embodiments, wireless transceiver 120B is a WiFi-enabled or
cellular transceiver. Server 126 may include content 128. In
certain embodiments, content 128 is uploaded to server 126 via an
exposed API (Application Programming Interface). Content 128 may be
included as part of a storage structure or storage management
system (e.g., a database) accessible by server 126. For example,
content 128 may be stored in a database in an accessible memory of
server 126. In certain embodiments, content 128 includes
information that corresponds to advertising, marketing, and/or
promotional campaigns associated with POP displays 102. For
example, content 128 may include, but not be limited, campaign
start times, campaign time periods, campaign locations, coupons
associated with the campaign, advertising and/or marketing
associated with the campaign, and promotions associated with the
campaign.
[0083] As server 126 includes content 128, the server may be
referred to as a "content server", though the phrase "content
server" as used in this disclosure should not be considered
strictly limiting. In some embodiments, the physical server(s)
(e.g., server 126) that stores content 128 may perform other
functionality and/or work in conjunction with other servers to
enable some or all of its functionality. For example, server 126
may work with a load balancing server to optimize its
communications load over a network or authentication servers to
validate the entities requesting a download of content. In some
embodiments, server 126 may operate in a distributed nature such
that content 128 is distributed over more than one physical storage
device or logical drive partitions. The term "content server" is
intended to encompass all of these scenarios and any other that one
of ordinary skill in the art would contemplate in implementing the
disclosed functionality.
[0084] In certain embodiments, server 126 includes information 130.
Information 130 may be included as part of a storage structure or
storage management system (e.g., a database) accessible by server
126. Information 130 may include information regarding POP display
102 and wireless beacon 114 such as, but not limited to, the unique
identifier, location information (if known), and retail location
information for the POP display (e.g., store location information
for a specific retailer associated with the POP display). In some
embodiments, information 130 includes information recorded from
sensors 116 and/or other components on POP displays 102 as well as
information recorded on customer devices 118 that is transmitted to
server 126.
[0085] In certain embodiments, SDK ("Software Developer Kit") 125
is located in software package 122 on customer device 118, as shown
in FIG. 1. SDK 125 may allow programmers to develop applications
(e.g., mobile application 127) for customer device 118 that
interface the customer device with server 126 and circuit board
104. SDK 125 may abstract low level implementation details of POP
display system 100 and simplify the development of software
applications compatible with the disclosed embodiments. In certain
embodiments, SDK 125 includes functionality to facilitate accessing
APIs exposed by server 126 (e.g., the content server) as well as
wireless (e.g., Bluetooth) mediated interactions with wireless
beacons 114.
[0086] In certain embodiments, mobile application 127 is located in
software package 122 on customer device 118. Mobile application 127
may be coupled to SDK to allow the mobile application to interface
and utilize functions of the SDK. In some embodiments, SDK 125 may
be embedded in mobile application 127 (e.g., the SDK is a software
code element of the mobile application). Mobile application 127 may
be, in some embodiments, a retailer "app" or other mobile
application written for interaction between a customer and a
specific retailer (e.g., the mobile application may be a customer
loyalty app specific for a selected retailer). In certain
embodiments, mobile application 127 provides an interactive
interface for the customer through customer device 118. For
example, mobile application 127 may use display 119 as a user
interface (the display is a touchscreen) to allow interactive
customer input or the mobile application may use the display in
combination with another input system (e.g., a keyboard or voice
input) to allow interactive customer input. In certain embodiments,
mobile application 127 utilizes SDK 125, when run on customer
device 118, to detect that the customer device is in proximity to a
compatible Bluetooth LE beacon (e.g., wireless beacon 114), as
described herein.
[0087] In certain embodiments, SDK 125 is configured to receive
measurements from customer device 118 through built-in features of
the customer device. For example, SDK 125 may receive measurements
from accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, audio, light, or Near Field
Communication measurements on customer device 118. These
measurements may be utilized to increase the accuracy of calculated
location information or used to infer additional information about
either a user or an environment of POP display 102. For example,
information from an accelerometer on customer device 118 may be
combined with other information to increase the accuracy of
detection of "bumps" or recognition of gestures as described
below.
[0088] In some embodiments, the measurements received by SDK 125
are sent to server 126 and stored in information 130. Server 126
may integrate the measurement information from customer device 118
to increase accuracy of location information and/or infer
additional information, as described below. In some embodiments,
server 126 may integrate the measurement information with
information from external data sources, which may be located in
information 130 on the server. For example, server 126 may
integrate store specific information from nearby beacons,
geolocation information provided by a retail loyalty application on
connected mobile devices, or other information received from third
party sources.
[0089] In certain embodiments, POP display system 100 utilizes
wireless signal strength to infer distance between customer device
118 and POP display 102. POP display system 100 may utilize this
distance information to modulate and/or control the particular
information conveyed to the customer through customer device 118.
In certain embodiments, SDK 125 in software 122 on customer device
118 receives information, based on distance, indicating the
detection of "bumps" or "pulls" (e.g., when a user physically
touches (or very nearly so) the customer device against a
designated area of POP display 102 (e.g., at or near a "tap device
here for more information" designated area)). In the disclosed
embodiments, the concept of bumping is applied as a way for a user
to express interest in POP display 102 independent of any technical
requirements of the underlying wireless communication protocol
being used.
[0090] Various techniques may be utilized to estimate distance
between customer device 118 and POP display 102. For example, in
certain embodiments, Received Signal Strength Indication ("RSSI")
values of Bluetooth signals are measured and analyzed to infer
distance. The distance inferred may be relative or absolute in
nature (e.g., the technique may only specify a distance from POP
display 102 as opposed to exact position). By means of
illustration, the general relationship between RSSI value and
distance is approximately RS SI[dbm]=-(10.times.Iog.sub.10(d)-A),
where d is the distance and A is the offset which is the measured
RSSI value 1 meter point away from the Bluetooth LE device. Again,
this is provided simply for illustrative purposes and other
relationships and formulas may be utilized by the disclosed
embodiments to infer location information about the customer device
and, by extension the customer. Other examples of values that may
be utilized to determine signal strength include, but are not
limited to, packet loss ratio or rate, header error check, cyclic
redundancy check, and forward error correction. Furthermore, the
measurement of these various values, including RSSI, may be
implemented in numerous ways in hardware. For example, one may
utilize Goertzel algorithms to derive signal strength values from a
series of transceiver power measurements. As shown above, the
precise implementation details of the measurement to calculate
location information can vary and the embodiments disclosed herein
may be suited to the usage of any measurement to calculate location
information. Furthermore, location related information (e.g.,
signal strength measurements, values derived from signal strength
measurements, identifiers associated with a particular mobile
device, timestamps associated with a signal strength reading) may
be saved to a memory (e.g., memory 110 or memory cache 124) for
future review and/or analysis. In some embodiments, the location
related information includes information about customer device 118.
For example, the information may include information about
chipsets, antennas, and/or an operating system of customer device
118. The information about customer device 118 may be part of the
future review and/or analysis to increase accuracy in assessing
relative location information of the customer device and POP
display 102.
[0091] In certain embodiments, signal strength (e.g., Bluetooth
signal strength as measured, for example, via RSSI) between POP
display 102's wireless beacon 114 and wireless transceiver 120A on
customer device 118 is monitored and, if it surpasses a predefined
threshold or "trigger" level, it is inferred that the customer has
"bumped" the customer device against the POP display and has made a
"pull" delivery request (e.g., the user has indicated his/her
intention to receive or "pull" content associated with the POP
display). In certain embodiments, the predefined threshold is set
at a signal strength level that indicates that the user has clearly
intended to initiate a "bump" or "pull" with POP display 102. For
example, the predefined threshold may be set at a signal strength
level that clearly defines customer device 118 has intentionally
been placed on or near to the designated area of POP display 102 by
the customer. In some embodiments, the predefined threshold is
combined with other information (e.g., information from an
accelerometer on customer device 118) to define intent of the
customer in "pulling" for content. For example, accelerometer data
may be combined with the predefined threshold (measured via RSSI)
to recognize a gesture (e.g., movement of customer device 118 in an
intentional way) made by the user that indicates intent of the
customer to receive information.
[0092] In certain embodiments, the predefined threshold improves
the reliability of bump detection and the threshold may be dynamic
in nature. For example, the threshold may be specified by a formula
that accounts for certain variables rather than a set static
number. In some embodiments, the algorithm may not allow a new bump
to be registered until the signal is outside of a separate
threshold, usually higher in value than the entrance threshold.
This restriction may help to prevent spurious bumps. Additional
techniques may be utilized to improve bump detection between
customer device 118 and wireless beacon 114 (such as a filter to
smooth RSSI values). In some embodiments, signal profiles for
setting the predefined threshold are associated with a t ype of
customer device 118 (e.g., a type of mobile device, an operating
system used on the mobile device, and/or a type of antenna used in
the mobile device). Server 126 may receive type data for customer
device 118 when the customer device is in contact with the server
(e.g., the receiver receives mobile device type information and/or
operating system information). Server 126 then may send signal
profiles (e.g., RSSI signal profiles) associated with the type data
to SDK 125 on customer device 118 based on the received type data
for the customer device. The signal profiles may be sent to SDK 125
on customer device 118 along with content for engagement of the
customer device with POP display 102 (e.g., the content and the
signal profiles are sent in the same data packet to the SDK or
"substantially simultaneously" to the SDK). SDK 125 may store the
signal profiles in memory cache 124 for accessing in assessment of
bump indications using customer device 118. SDK 125 may use the
signal profiles to define a predefined threshold level in the
signal strength for engagement between customer device 118 and POP
display 102.
[0093] In certain embodiments, the signal profiles sent to SDK 125
by server 126 are specific to customer device 118. For example, the
signal profiles may be specifically characterized based on customer
device 118 being a specific type of mobile device, having a
specific operating system, and/or having a specific antenna. In
some embodiments, the signal profiles include RSSI signal profiles
specific to customer device 118. Providing signal profiles specific
to different customer devices 118 allows different customers using
the different customer devices to be provided with substantially
consistent customer engagement experiences.
[0094] In some embodiments, the signal profiles sent to SDK 125 on
customer device 118 are updated as the operating system on the
customer device changes. For example, signal profiles associated
with a specific customer device may be modified or updated when a
new or updated operating system is released for the specific
customer device. Thus, if server 126 determines that the operating
system on customer device 118 has changed to a new or updated
operating system that requires updated signal profiles, the server
may provide the updated profiles to the customer device when a
request for up-to-date content is received from the customer
device. The signal profiles for the specific customer device may
also be updated for other changes that may affect the signal
profiles (e.g., hardware changes or network changes). Updating the
signal profiles associated with customer devices 118 may be used to
continually refine and/or provide consistency in customer
engagement experiences associated with POP display 102.
[0095] Some embodiments may utilize different methods for gauging
distance. For example, other performance measures associated with a
Bluetooth signal, RSSI values associated with a 802.11 WiFi signal,
information from a Near Field Communication signal, etc. may be
used. Regardless of the origin and type of information used, the
associated algorithms may utilize the information to detect bumps.
In some embodiments, the detection of bumps is performed in circuit
board 104 rather than on customer device 118.
[0096] Bumping may be used to signal that the customer is
explicitly requesting digital content (e.g., requesting content to
be display on display 119 of customer device 118). In the event
that a bump is detected, the SDK may provide content to the
customer on customer device 118 (this may be referred to as "pull"
delivery). For example, content may be display on display 119
through mobile application 127. The content may include content
stored in memory cache 124, which includes content 128 previously
received from server 126 as described herein. Conversely, "push"
delivery may occur in the absence of a bump, where content 128 may
be delivered by server 126 to customers that have not explicitly
requested content. In certain embodiments, unsolicited push content
is throttled to prevent from overloading the customer with
unrequested content, while pull content (e.g., requested content)
is not throttled. In some embodiments, the exact throttling scheme
used is configurable by software and may be specified by various
entities. For example, the exact throttling scheme may be specified
by a POP display owner, a retailer, an advertising company, a
manufacturer of goods or services associated with the POP display,
etc.
[0097] In some embodiments, a throttling scheme is personalized for
a particular user. For example, the throttling scheme may include
personalized data based on a persona of the user. The personalized
data may be uploaded to and/or stored in memory cache 124 on
customer device 118. The persona of the user may include categories
based on one or more user preferences. The preferences may be for
categories that include non-specific information about the user
(e.g., anonymous information based only on the behavior of the
user). Using non-specific information may protect privacy and
security of the user of customer device 118. In some embodiments,
the persona of the user is defined by preferences specified by a
retailer (e.g., through a retailer app in SDK 125 on customer
device 118).
[0098] Information relevant to the throttling scheme may be
incorporated in several aspects of the disclosed embodiments.
First, content 128 may be uploaded to server 126 via an exposed API
(Application Program Interface) designed to work with the overall
device ecosystem. This API requires that the uploaded content be
associated with information that allows server 126 to associate
content 128 with specific beacons (e.g., wireless beacon 114). The
API may also require information associated with the uploaded
content that will allow customer device 118, via an API call, to
determine if the content should be served up based on push or
pull.
[0099] In certain embodiments, as described above, there are
various ways for a user to indicate or provide an indication that
the user has interest in information (e.g., content) regarding POP
display 102. The user may indicate or provide an indication of the
user's interest in content through interaction of customer device
118 with wireless beacon 114 and POP display 102. In some
embodiments, "bump" interaction is used to indicate that the user
has interest in content for POP display 102. Bump interaction may
include the user placing customer device 118 within a selected
distance of wireless beacon 114 to indicate a desire to pull
content related to POP display 102. The selected distance may be
determined based on a predefined threshold level in signal strength
as described herein.
[0100] In some embodiments, "dwell" interaction is used to indicate
that the user has interest in content for POP display 102. Dwell
interaction may include the user (and their customer device 118)
dwelling within a selected distance of POP display 102 for a
selected time period. Content may be displayed on customer device
118 after the selected time period is reached with the user within
the selected distance of POP display 102. The selected distance
and/or the selected time period may be predetermined for customer
device 118. For example, customer device 118 may include settings
determined by the user (e.g., user-configurable settings in a
retailer app).
[0101] In some embodiments, "push" interaction is used to indicate
that the user has interest in content for POP display 102. Push
interaction may include customer device 118 receiving data packets
from wireless beacons 114 and displaying content in response to
receiving the data packets. As described above, push interaction
may be controlled or throttled to prevent the user from being
overloaded with content. Additionally, SDK 125 may allow the user
to determine whether they accept or reject content from push
interactions (e.g., the user may be allowed to select to receive or
not receive push interaction content in mobile application
127).
[0102] In certain embodiments, settings for the interactions
described above are tuned and provided to customer device 118 by
server 126. The setting for the interactions may define thresholds
for when content is displayed to the user on customer device 118 in
response to an interaction between the customer device and POP
display 102. Settings for the interactions may include distances
for detection of the interactions (e.g., predetermined signal
strengths), predetermined time periods for the interactions, and/or
other characteristics that control interactions described herein.
In some embodiments, the settings for the interactions are provided
to customer device 118 along with content associated with POP
display 102. As the content associated with POP display 102 is
typically received (e.g., updated) after data packets from wireless
beacon 114 are received, the settings for the interactions may be
provided to customer device 118 at a time just after the
interaction between the customer device and POP display 102 occurs
and just before content is displayed to the user.
[0103] In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, POP display 102
includes sensors 116. Sensors 116 may provide monitoring of
activity in and/or around the POP display. In certain embodiments,
sensors 116 include proximity sensors that detect activity in the
vicinity of POP display 102. Proximity sensor may detect activity
based on, for example, heat, light (reflected infrared and/or
visible light), sound, and/or images. Examples of sensors 116
include, but are not limited to, ambient light sensors, passive
infrared sensors, active infrared sensors, and image based
detection sensors. Other examples include accelerometers,
temperature sensors, weight sensors, cameras, and sensors that
detect when a product has been dispensed or when a display needs to
be restocked.
[0104] Sensors 116 may be used to measure and record (and, in some
embodiments, timestamp in combination with clock 113) activity
around the display and save these measurements in memory 110. These
measurements and recordings may provide information that can be
used for detailed analysis of the level of traffic around POP
display 102 by time. The analysis may include determining
information such as, but not limited to, how many people walk past
the display, how many people stop to look at the display, when a
door is opened, how long the door is opened, and whether products
are removed. Such analysis may include measuring the timing of the
activity, such as how long a potential customer stood in front of
the display, commonly referred to as dwell time. Other potential
analyses include, but are not limited to, how many shoppers passed
by (divided into buckets of time), the average dwell time per
shopper, and/or counts of shoppers that had smartphones (customer
devices 118) equipped with software package 122. Measurement data
from sensors 116 stored in memory 110 may be transmitted
(broadcast) in data packets sent out by wireless beacon 114. The
data packets with the measurement data may be received by, for
example, customer devices 118, network gateway 710, and/or data
collection device 711 to then be transmitted to a remote server
(e.g., server 126).
[0105] In certain embodiments, sensors 116 include a proximity
sensor that monitors activity only within a defined range (e.g., a
defined distance) from POP display 102. Sensor data may also be
used in a transmission throttling scheme as described herein (e.g.,
a particularly crowded store might dictate the use of a different
transmission). Additionally, as described herein, the connection
between wireless beacons 114 and/or customer devices 118 may be
utilized to share information between POP displays 102.
[0106] In some embodiments, a data packet broadcast by wireless
beacon 114 includes information regarding assessment of the state
of one or more components on POP display 102. Server 126 may
receive the data packet to monitor the status of POP display 102
and its components. For example, the data packet may include
information regarding an amount of battery power remaining in
battery 106. Battery power remaining information may be used by
server 126 to estimate a remaining operation lifetime of POP
display 102. The battery information may also be used to alert the
retail location that POP display 102 is nearing an end of its
useful operation. Examples of other component states that may be
assessed and provided in the data packet include the state of
circuit board 112 or memory 110 (e.g., errors in operation of the
circuit board and/or memory), the state of an electronic display on
POP display 102, state of clock 113, and operation or status of
sensors 116. Assessment of the states of the components may also
include assessment of whether a component is active, inactive, in a
lower power mode, etc.
[0107] In some embodiments, a data packet broadcast by wireless
beacon 114 includes information regarding assessment of one or more
conditions and/or a status of POP display 102. For example, the
data packet may include information regarding one or more
conditions and/or a status assessed using image processing of
captured images of POP display 102, as described herein. In some
embodiments, the data packet includes information about the
presence of one or more components on POP display 102. For example,
as described herein, the data packet may include information
regarding assessment of the presence (or lack of presence) of
additional merchandising materials and/or products on POP display
102. The data packet may also include information regarding whether
components coupled to and shipped with POP display 102 have been
removed from POP display 102. For example, the data packet may
include assessment if sensors or cameras have been removed from POP
display 102, which can affect the effectiveness of the POP
display.
[0108] In certain embodiments, information recorded from sensors
116 and/or other components on POP displays 102 as well as
information recorded on customer devices 118 is transmitted and
stored in server 126 as information 130. Information recorded on
customer devices 118 may include any information or data relating
to interactions between the customer devices and wireless beacons
114, interactions between the customer devices and server 126,
other interactions involving the customer devices, and data
obtained by the customer devices such as device sensor data (e.g.,
position and/or movement measurement data) and/or application data
from the software package. In some embodiments, recorded
information may be stored in memory cache 124 on customer device
118 before being transmitted to server 126. The recorded
information stored in memory cache 124 may include information
recorded on customer device and/or information recorded from
sensors 116 on POP displays 102 (after the data is transmitted to
the customer device via wireless beacon 114). In some embodiments,
proximity sensor data is used by server 126 along with position
information obtained through wireless transceiver 120B on customer
device 118 to improve the accuracy of determining location
information (e.g., location information related to location of
wireless beacons and POP displays).
[0109] In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to only allow
wireless beacons to broadcast when there is activity near the
wireless beacon. Allowing wireless beacons to only broadcast with
nearby activity may allow a large number (e.g., high density) of
wireless beacons to be located in a single retail location as not
all of the wireless beacons will be actively broadcasting at the
same time. In certain embodiments, one or more sensors 116 are used
in combination with wireless beacon 114 to allow the wireless
beacon to operate in a low power (non-broadcasting) mode while
located in a retail location and only actively broadcast when
nearby activity is detected. For example, sensor 116 may be a
proximity sensor that detects activity within a selected distance
from wireless beacon 114. When no activity is detected by sensor
116 (e.g., there is an absence of activity), wireless beacon 114
may enter a low power (sleep or non-broadcasting) mode. In the low
power mode, wireless beacon 114 does not respond or provide
pusb/pull events, described herein, as the wireless beacon is not
broadcasting any data packets. If sensor 116 detects any activity
(e.g., via proximity detection of a customer/user), wireless beacon
114 may be switched to an active (broadcasting) mode substantially
instantaneously. Wireless beacon 114 may then be active for any
pusb/pull events or content requests associated with customer
device 118.
[0110] In certain embodiments, wireless beacon 114 is programmed to
actively broadcast a wireless signal when the wireless beacon first
arrives at retail location 200 (e.g., operate in an active
broadcasting mode). Actively broadcasting the wireless signal may
include broadcasting data packets at a high rate or repetitively
broadcasting data packets at high rate. Actively broadcasting the
wireless signal allows receiving devices (e.g., customer devices
118 and/or network gateways 710) to readily receive the data
packets and to identify that wireless beacon 114 is at retail
location 200.
[0111] After a selected period of time, wireless beacon 114 may
enter a lower power mode to reduce power consumption and save
battery power. The lower power mode may include broadcasting the
wireless signal less frequently. Broadcasting the wireless signal
less frequently, however, may decrease the accuracy in analyzing
interactions or other characteristics of wireless beacon 114 as
less information may be received about the wireless beacon by a
remote server (e.g., server 126). In certain embodiments, as
described herein, sensors 116 located on POP display 102 include an
accelerometer. The accelerometer may be used to detect or assess
movement of POP display 102.
[0112] If wireless beacon 114 is in the lower power mode, movement
of POP display 102 may indicate that the POP display is being moved
to a new location (e.g., being moved from the back of the store to
the front of the store or to a more desirable location in the store
for customer interaction). When movement is detected or assessed by
the accelerometer, the accelerometer may add information regarding
the movement of POP display 102 to data packets in the wireless
signal broadcast by wireless beacon 114. In certain embodiments,
wireless beacon 114 stores the information regarding the movement
of POP display 102 and later adds the information to data packets
that are broadcast by the wireless beacon. For example, the
information may be added to data packets sent during normal
operation of wireless beacon 114 (e.g., regular broadcasts by the
wireless beacon in the low power mode or in the active broadcasting
mode). In some embodiments, wireless beacon 114 may broadcast data
packets with the information regarding the movement of POP display
102 in response to movement being detected by the accelerometer.
The data packets with the movement information may be received by
the remote server. Having the movement information may increase the
accuracy in analyzing interactions or other characteristics of
wireless beacon 114. In some embodiments, wireless beacon 114 may
enter the active broadcasting mode (e.g., begin actively
broadcasting the wireless signal) when movement is detected by the
accelerometer in addition to broadcasting data packets with the
additional information.
[0113] In some embodiments, POP display 102 includes other sensors
116 that provide additional measurements. For example, sensors 116
may include an accelerometer that is used to detect when product is
added or removed from POP display 102. As another example, POP
display 102 may be mounted on a door such as a freezer case door
found in a grocery store. The accelerometer on POP display 102 may
be used to detect when the door is opened and closed. This
information may be correlated with other information to determine,
for example, how many people walk past the display, how many people
stop to look at the display, how long a person looks at items
displayed in the freezer before opening the door, how long the door
is opened, and whether products are removed from the freezer. Yet
another example is a light sensor may be used to determine when the
display was unpacked and when the store is opened or closed (as
described below, this may be used to determine the actual
deployment rate for a set of POP displays). Many POP displays are
never deployed and the use of sensors 116 may allow tracking of POP
display deployment and addressing such deployment issues based on
the deployment information collected.
[0114] At some retail locations, products may be displayed and/or
be able to be removed from multiple locations inside the retail
location. For example, products may be displayed on both POP
display 102 and a product shelf near the POP display or elsewhere
in the store. Customers may be able to remove products from either
POP display 102 or the product shelf and purchase the product at
the retail location (e.g., at a register in the retail location).
SKU (stock keeping unit) numbers may be readily used to track how
many products are sold in the given retail location (e.g., how many
products with a given SKU are sold at a given retail location).
This SKU information, however, does not discern between where the
product was picked up from by the customer (e.g., either POP
display 102 or the product shelf).
[0115] As described herein, POP display 102 may include sensors 116
that detect when products are added to and/or removed from the POP
display. For example, sensors 116 may include accelerometers,
weight sensors, proximity sensors, image sensors, and/or other
sensors that allow tracking of the activity of product being added
to and/or removed from POP display 102. In certain embodiments,
additional sensors are placed on the product shelf. The sensors on
the product shelf may include sensors substantially similar to
sensors 116 on POP display 102 and/or other sensors suitable for
tracking the activity of addition and/or removal of product from
the product shelf. In some embodiments, the sensors on the product
shelf are coupled to the processor or circuit board on POP display
102 (e.g., the sensors on the product shelf may wirelessly transmit
activity data to the processor on the POP display).
[0116] Product add/removal data from sensors 116 on POP display 102
may be combined with product add/removal data from the sensors on
the product shelf for assessment of the data. The product
add/removal data from POP display 102 and product add/removal data
from the product shelf may be combined with SKU purchase data to
determine the relative amounts of product being purchased from POP
display 102 versus the product shelf. The determination of the
relative amounts of product being purchased from the POP display
versus the product shelf may be used to assess an effectiveness of
the POP display in selling the product.
[0117] In some embodiments, the products displayed on and purchased
from POP display 102 and/or the product shelf include multiple SKUs
on the products. Multiple SKUs may be used to allow additional data
to be collected at the point of purchase (e.g., using a
point-of-sale system). Data collected at the point of purchase may
be used in combination with product add/removal data from POP
display 102 and product add/removal data from the product shelf to
assess when other sensor data from the POP display is missed. For
example, sensor data from POP display 102 that indicates the POP
display is put up or taken down, or moved from the front of the
store to the back of the store or vice versa, may be missed and
thus it may not be clear from where certain products were removed
(as product may be moved from displays that are no longer used back
to the shelf). The data collected from the multiple SKUs collected
at the point of purchase may then be used in combination with
product add/removal data from POP display 102 and product
add/removal data from the product shelf to determine relative
amounts of product sold using the POP display versus the product
shelf.
[0118] In some embodiments, as described herein, a device (e.g., a
device with a sensor) may be used to detect when products are added
to and/or removed from a product shelf. In some embodiments, the
product shelf is associated with a POP display. Such a device may
be used to track stock of the product and, in some cases, provide
low stock or out-of-stock notifications to employees or other
personnel associated with the retail location of the product
shelf.
[0119] FIG. 21 depicts a top view representation of an embodiment
of a product shelf with a device used for assessing product stock
on the product shelf. FIG. 22 depicts a front view representation
of an embodiment of the product shelf and device of FIG. 21.
Product shelf 1050 may be used to support one or more retail
products. For example, product shelf 1050 may be used to display
retail products in customer area of a retail location or used to
store retail products in a storage area of the retail location. In
some embodiments, product shelf 1050 is associated with a POP
display (e.g., POP display 102 described herein).
[0120] In certain embodiments, device 1052 is placed on product
shelf 1050 (e.g., the device is placed on the surface of the
product shelf). Device 1052 may be, for example, a mat, a covering,
or another structure placed on product shelf 1050 with a surface
that supports retail products being placed on the device. Retail
products 1054 may be placed on top of device 1052 on product shelf
1050. In some embodiments, device 1052 includes retail product
photos and/or description on the top surface of the device. Such
photos and/or description may be used to specify information about
the retail product that is to be placed on device 1052. In some
embodiments, the photos/description on device 1052 include
identifying information for the device including, for example,
identifying information such as the unique identifier for a
wireless beacon (described below) inside the device. Identifying
information may be used to locate device 1052 when inventory status
updates are provided by the wireless beacon.
[0121] In certain embodiments, device 1052 includes
pressure-sensitive surface 1056. Surface 1056 may be used to assess
an inventory status of retail products 1054. For example, the
inventory status of retail products 1054 may change as products are
added/removed from device 1052 and product shelf 1050.
[0122] FIG. 23 depicts a side view representation of an embodiment
of device 1052. In certain embodiments, surface 1056 includes
resistive film 1058 positioned between conductive layers 1060A,
1060B. Resistive film 1058 may be, for example, a piezoresistive
film. Resistive film 1058 may change resistance as different
downward force (e.g., weight or pressure) is applied to the film.
Conductive layers 1060A, 1060B may include varying patterns of
conductors. The patterns may include, for example, grid,
cross-hatched, and/or solid-sheet conductors. These conductors may
be attached to resistive film 1058 using an adhesive film.
Conductive layers 1060A, 1060B and resistive film 1058 may then be
sealed inside the material for device 1052. The material for device
1052 may be an insulating material or protective material such as a
rubber, plastic, and/or cardboard material. Most of the materials
may diffuse the pressure from grit or small particles that might
otherwise puncture resistive film 1058 or create false readings by
creating "dimples" in the resistive film (which may cause
unrepresentatively-low resistance readings). Conductive layers
1060A, 1060B and resistive film 1058 may be sealed inside device
material to protect the conductive layers and the resistive film
from the external environment. Device 1052 may be formed, for
example, by layering sheets of material (including conductive
layers 1060A, 1060B and resistive film 1058) or screen-printing one
or more of the layers of material. In certain embodiments, device
1052 has a thickness of at most about 1'', at most about 0.5'', or
at most about 0.25''.
[0123] In certain embodiments, resistor 1062 is positioned (e.g.,
embedded) between conductive layers 1060A, 1060B. Resistor 1062 may
be, for example, a ceramic or printed resistor. Resistor 1062 may
be matched to resistive film 1058. Electrical connections to
resistor 1062 may include ground, power, and signal connections.
Changes in resistance of resistive film 1058 due to changes in
weight applied to surface 1056 may be measured by applying a
voltage between ground and power and measuring the voltage produced
on the signal lead. In certain embodiments, the resistance of
resistive film 1058 increases as retail product 1054 is removed
from surface 1056 and decreases as retail products are added to the
surface. In some embodiments, the changes in resistance are
assessed based on a specific retail product configured to be placed
on device 1052 (e.g., resistance measurements are specific to
specific types of products (laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper
towels, beverages, etc.)).
[0124] In certain embodiments, wireless beacon 114 is positioned
inside device 1052, as shown in FIG. 23. In some embodiments,
wireless beacon 114 is located at or near a front edge of device
1052. Locating wireless beacon 114 at or near the front edge of
device 1052 may increase the wireless signal transmission range of
the wireless beacon. In some embodiments, device 1052 may include a
lip or other protrusion that has a thickness that allows wireless
beacon 114 to be placed inside the protrusion, which may increase
the transmission range of the wireless beacon.
[0125] Wireless beacon 114 may include a processor, a memory, and
wireless transmitter along with a battery to provide power to the
wireless beacon. In some embodiments, the battery is a printed
battery. Wireless beacon 114 may be coupled to resistor 1062. For
example, wireless beacon 114 may be coupled to the ground, power,
and signal connections of resistor 1062. In some embodiments, such
electrical connections are made with printable circuit components
as described herein. The processor in wireless beacon 114 may
assess resistance changes in resistive film 1058. The changes in
resistance assessed by the processor in wireless beacon 114 may be
used to assess the inventory status of retail product 1054 on
device 1052. The inventory status assessed by wireless beacon 114
may be added to a data packet broadcast in a wireless signal by the
wireless beacon transmitter. The data packet may also include the
unique identifier for the wireless beacon. The unique identifier
may also be associated with device 1052 and/or specific retail
product selected for the device.
[0126] In some embodiments, the inventory status provided by
wireless beacon 114 is an inventory level value. For example,
wireless beacon 114 may provide the inventory status as "empty",
"full", "one-quarter", "one-half", or other fractional inventory
level values as desired. In some embodiments, wireless beacon 114
may immediately broadcast the data packet with the inventory status
if the inventory status (e.g., inventory level value) is assessed
to be below a selected value. For example, if the inventory status
of retail product 1054 falls below one-quarter full, wireless
beacon 114 may immediately broadcast the inventory status such that
a recipient of the inventory status can restock or resupply the
retail product to the product shelf.
[0127] The inventory status data packet may be received by a
wireless device located at the retail location. For example, the
inventory status data packet may be received by a wireless network
gateway and/or a data collection device located at the retail
location. Typically, the wireless device is located within a
transmission range of wireless beacon 114 (e.g., about 500 feet or
less from the wireless beacon). In some embodiments, the wireless
device is used to notify store personnel of the inventory status of
retail products (e.g., when stock is low). In some embodiments, the
wireless device may provide notification to another entity via the
Internet, a WAN, or other communication network. Such notification
may be, for example, to a local distributor that more retail
product is needed at the retail location.
[0128] In some embodiments, wireless beacon 114 is programmed to
begin actively broadcasting at a certain time. For example,
wireless beacon 114 may begin actively broadcasting at a time
device 1052 is scheduled to arrive at the retail location. In some
embodiments, signal strength between wireless beacon 114 and the
wireless device receiving the broadcast from the wireless beacon
(e.g., the wireless network gateway and/or data collection device)
may be used to assess a relative position of device 1052 within the
retail location. For example, the signal strength may be used to
assess if device 1052 is in the front (consumer portion) or back
(storage portion) of the retail location. Additionally, signal
strength (or lack of signal) may be used to assess when device 1052
has been disposed in the trash or is no longer in use.
[0129] In certain embodiments, POP display 102 includes one or more
cameras 140. In some embodiments, cameras 140 are included in or
associated with sensors 116. Cameras 140 may include, for example,
a camera chip such as, but not limited to, a CCD camera or CMOS
sensor. In certain embodiments, cameras 140 are embedded in POP
display 102. For example, cameras 140 may be embedded in cardboard
used for POP display 102. In certain embodiments, cameras 140 are
used to capture images of the surroundings of POP display 102. In
some embodiments, cameras 140 are used to capture images of the
surroundings of POP display 102 when the POP display is placed at a
retail location. For example, cameras 140 may capture images when
POP display 102 is turned on at the retail location (e.g., when
wireless beacon 114 is activated). In some embodiments, cameras 140
include cameras directed in multiple directions. For example,
cameras 140 may be directed to capture 360.degree. images of POP
display 102's surroundings.
[0130] Images captured using cameras 140 may be stored in memory
110 on POP display 102. In certain embodiments, the captured images
are transferred to server 126. For example, the captured images may
be transferred along with information transferred from POP display
102 to server 126 as described herein. In some embodiments, the
captured images stored in memory 110 are transmitted (broadcast) in
data packets sent out by wireless beacon 114. The data packets with
the captured images may be received by, for example, customer
devices 118, network gateway 710, and/or data collection device 711
to then be transmitted to server 126.
[0131] In certain embodiments, server 126 associates the captured
images with POP display 102 and assesses a location of the POP
display based on the captured images. For example, the captured
images may be compared to images captured from POP displays with
known locations to assess the location of POP display 102. The
captured images may also include other information (e.g., a
landmark or other specific indicator of location) and/or other
image details that are used to determine a location of POP display
102. For example, OCR (optical character recognition) may be used
on the images to determine words and/or numbers in the images and
then a keyword search may be used to determine the location of POP
display 102. The determined location of POP display 102 may be
stored in information 130 on server 126. The determined location of
POP display 102 may include a specific retail location and/or an
area inside a retail location (e.g., an area of a store such as the
back or the front of the store).
[0132] In some embodiments, cameras 140 are used to retake or
capture additional images when POP display 102 is moved. Sensors
116 located on POP display 102 may include an accelerometer that
detects that POP display 102 has been moved (and is now
stationary). The detected movement may indicate or trigger that
additional images are to be captured by cameras 140. In some
embodiments, the additional images are used by server 126 to
determine a new location of POP display 102. In some embodiments,
the additional images are used to determine if POP display 102 has
been moved between different areas inside the retail location
(e.g., the POP display has been moved from the front to back of the
store or vice versa).
[0133] In some embodiments, cameras 140 are used to capture images
of activity in and/or around POP display 102 when the POP display
is placed at a retail location. In certain embodiments, a processor
on circuit board 104 (e.g., controller 112) assesses activity
information in and/or around the POP display based on the captured
images. For example, image processing of the captured images may be
used to assess activity such as, but not limited to, customer
traffic counts, selected aspects of customer traffic, customer
gesture recognition, and customer eye tracking. Selected aspects of
customer traffic may include, but not be limited to, dwell time,
estimated age, gender, or race as well as relationships between
different aspects. Eye tracking may include, for example, whether a
customer looked at POP display 102 or not and/or for how long the
customer looked at the POP display. The assessed activity from the
captured images may be stored in memory 110 on POP display 102. In
certain embodiments, the assessed activity is timestamped and/or
location coded when stored in memory 110.
[0134] In certain embodiments, signals from wireless beacons 114
placed in POP displays 102 and/or merchandising materials are used
to trigger activation of one or more functions on customer device
118. For example, a signal from wireless beacons 114 may trigger
activation of a camera function on customer device 118 (such as a
camera function on a smartphone). When the camera function is
engaged on customer device 118, image recognition capabilities
using artificial intelligence (for example, neural networks and/or
learning algorithms on the customer device) may be used to
determine aspects of the environment surrounding the consumer
(e.g., surrounding customer device 118). Aspects of the environment
may include, but not be limited to, the direction a consumer is
facing, which products and/or category the consumer is looking at,
product stocking conditions, product pricing, the presence of other
promotional material, and/or a shelf layout. In some embodiments,
virtual or augmented reality functionality on customer device 118
may overlay additional virtual information over the captured
images. The additional virtual information may include, but not be
limited to, promotional messages, additional product or category
information or benefits, dosage or usage information/restrictions,
in-store navigation diagrams, special pricing, and/or recipes.
[0135] In certain embodiments, the assessed activity from the
images captured by cameras 140 is transferred to server 126. In
some embodiments, the assessed activity from the images captured by
cameras 140 is transferred to server 126 along with other data from
sensors 116. In some embodiments, data for the assessed activity
stored in memory 110 is transmitted (broadcast) in data packets
sent out by wireless beacon 114 along with the unique identifier
for the wireless beacon. The data packets with the assessed
activity data may be received by, for example, customer devices
118, network gateway 710, and/or data collection device 711 to then
be transmitted to server 126. Server 126 may associate the assessed
activity with a particular POP display 102 based on identifying
information received along with the assessed activity data (e.g.,
the unique identifier for wireless beacon 114 and/or image
information used to assess location of the POP display).
[0136] In some embodiments, cameras 140 (and/or other cameras
positioned in or around POP display 102) are used to capture images
of the POP display itself. For example, images of POP display 102
may include images of shelves (or other product display areas) of
the POP display and/or advertisement or informational areas of the
POP display. Image processing of the captured images may be used to
assess one or more conditions and/or a status of POP display 102.
For example, image processing of the captured images may be used to
determine a presence (or lack of presence) of merchandising
materials on POP display 102. In some embodiments, image processing
of the captured images may be used to determine a presence (or lack
of presence) of components (e.g., sensors or other components
coupled to and/or shipped with the display) on POP display 102
and/or sections of the POP display (e.g., particular parts of the
POP display). Additionally, image processing of the captured images
may be used to determine an inventory of products on POP display
102. Image processing of images captured of POP display 102 may
occur on the POP display itself or on server 126 (after images are
transferred to the server as described above).
[0137] As described herein, POP display 102 may include one or more
sensors 116 that collect data about an environment surrounding the
POP display (e.g., monitor activity in and/or around the POP
display). In certain embodiments, one or more of sensors 116 are
capable of transmitting (e.g., broadcasting) collected sensor data
and/or data packets indicating the presence of the sensors. In some
embodiments, the data packet indicating the presence of sensor 116
includes unique identifiers for the sensors. In certain
embodiments, a data collection device is located at a retail
location to receive and collect data transmitted by sensors
116.
[0138] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of retail
location 200 with data collection device 142 along with POP display
102 with sensor 116. In some embodiments, data collection device
142 is a wireless network gateway (e.g., similar to network gateway
710 described herein). In some embodiments, data collection device
142 is a data collection device similar to data collection device
711 described herein. Data collection device 142 may, however, be
any data collection device suitable for receiving transmissions
broadcast by sensors 116. In some embodiments, data collection
device 142 is capable of rebroadcasting transmissions received by
the data collection device.
[0139] In certain embodiments, data collection device 142 is
permanently (or substantially permanently) positioned at a retail
location. For example, data collection device 142 may be installed
at the retail location and used to collect sensor data over many
cycles of POP displays 102 being introduced at retail location 200.
As many POP displays 102 may be introduced and then removed over
time as compared to data collection device 142, the POP displays
may be "substantially temporary" while the data collection device
is "substantially permanent" at retail location 200.
[0140] In certain embodiments, data collection device 142 is used
to detect the presence, absence, and/or signal strength of sensors
116 on POP displays 102 as the POP displays are introduced and/or
removed from retail location 200. Detecting presence, absence,
and/or signal strength of sensors 116 allows data collection device
142 to assess the execution of POP displays 102 (e.g., assess the
activity of adding/removing POP displays from the retail location
and where the POP displays are positioned at the retail location).
In addition, data collection device 142 may collect sensor data
from sensors 116. The sensor data may be stored on data collection
device 142 for later access and/or transmitted to a remote server
for data analysis (e.g., transmitted to server 126).
[0141] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram representation of an
embodiment of an interaction between customer device 118, wireless
beacons 114, and server 126. In certain embodiments, customer
device 118 receives first Bluetooth LE packet 700 from first
wireless beacon 114A. First wireless beacon 114A may be, for
example, a wireless beacon located at or near a retail entrance
(e.g., a store entrance). In certain embodiments, first wireless
beacon 114A is located in an area where customer device 118 is able
to communicate with server 126 (e.g., the customer device has
wireless connectivity (either through WiFi or cellular transmission
with the server). Upon receipt of first Bluetooth LE packet 700,
SDK 125 may inspect memory cache 124 and determine if the memory
cache contains up-to-date data (content) for first wireless beacon
114A. If the content is not up-to-date in memory cache 124, then
SDK may contact 702 server 126 (e.g., the content server) and
retrieve 704 the latest content (e.g., content 128) associated with
first wireless beacon 114A. The retrieved content may be stored in
memory cache 124.
[0142] In some embodiments, server 126 may be aware of the location
of first wireless beacon 114A and/or other wireless beacons
(identifiable by their unique identifiers) associated with the
first wireless beacon. The other wireless beacons (e.g., second
wireless beacons 114B, shown in FIG. 3) may be other wireless
beacons that are nearby first wireless beacon 114A. In certain
embodiments, second wireless beacons 114B are wireless beacons that
are located in the same store as, or in proximity to, first
wireless beacon 114A. In some embodiments, second wireless beacons
114B are wireless beacons in other stores at other locations that
are associated with the particular venue of first wireless beacon
114A (e.g., the beacons are associated with a single retail
chain).
[0143] Knowing the association between first wireless beacon 114A
and second wireless beacons 114B, server 126 may, therefore,
transmit the latest content for the second wireless beacons in
addition to transmitting the latest content for the first wireless
beacon. The content for both first wireless beacon 114A and second
wireless beacons 114B may be stored in memory cache 124.
Transmitting the latest data for second wireless beacons 114B may
improve customer device 118 user's experience as information for
each subsequent wireless beacon encountered may already be on the
customer device and accessed immediately as the subsequent beacons
are encountered (e.g., when SDK 125 receives second Bluetooth LE
packet 706 from the second wireless beacons). This may be
particularly advantageous in areas where there is limited or no
data connectivity (e.g., where it would otherwise be impossible to
download the content associated with a newly encountered wireless
beacon). For example, when customer device 118 enters a store and
detects first wireless beacon 114A, the customer device may
automatically download the latest content associated with all
second wireless beacons 114B in the store and store the content in
memory cache 124 rather than incrementally downloading content as
the customer device encounters each second wireless beacon.
Incremental downloading may be slower and/or may not be possible as
one wanders deeper into a physical structure and customer device
118 loses wireless network connectivity (e.g., enters cellular dead
spots within the structure). Again, SDK 125 manages this
functionality and, from the perspective of mobile application 127,
the SDK notifies the mobile application of push and pull events
(described herein) as well as delivering any associated content
from memory cache 124 to the mobile application. Mobile application
127 may then display content from memory cache 124 to the customer
on display 119. FIGS. 4A-4K depict examples of content being
displayed on display 119. In some embodiments, display 119 allows
the customer to interact with content displayed by mobile
application 127 (e.g., the content may include a menu of options
for selection by the customer).
[0144] An additional advantage of SDK 125 is that the SDK may
transmit to server 126 location information available from customer
device 118 about the customer device's location along with the
unique identifier received from wireless beacon 114. In some
embodiments, the location information is sent to server 126 when a
request for content is made from the server. In certain
embodiments, location information about the location of customer
device 118 includes GPS data (such as latitude/longitude data) from
the customer device (e.g., using built-in GPS on the customer
device). In some embodiments, location information about the
location of customer device 118 includes detected WiFi networks
(e.g., WiFi networks accessed by the customer device). In some
embodiments, mobile application 127 provides SDK 125 with the
location of customer device 118 (e.g., the mobile application may
tell the SDK which store associated with the mobile application at
which the customer device is located). The location information of
customer device 118 along with the unique identifier from wireless
beacon 114 may allow server 126 to identify the physical or retail
location (e.g., a specific store number for a retail chain) of the
wireless beacon having the unique identifier.
[0145] FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of method 800.
Method 800 may be used to assess a location of wireless beacon 114
and POP display 102. In 802, a plurality of POP displays 102 and
their wireless beacons 114 may be associated with a selected
campaign. As described herein, a "campaign" refers to an
advertising, a marketing, or a promotional campaign associated with
a particular retail product or a grouping of products associated
with one campaign. For example, the campaign may be a special sale
for a limited time for the particular retail product. In some
embodiments, the campaign is associated with specific retailers,
specific stores within a retail chain, and/or specific geographic
locations. In some embodiments, the campaign has a selected time
period associated with the campaign (e.g., the campaign is active
for a selected amount of time).
[0146] In some embodiments, associating wireless beacons 114 with
the selected campaign in 802 includes associating the wireless
beacons with a selected campaign associated with a specific
retailer. For example, wireless beacons 114 may be designated for a
specific advertising campaign intended for a specific retailer. In
804, the wireless beacons may be randomly distributed to a
plurality of retail locations. Even though the selected campaign
may be known for wireless beacons 114, the exact final location of
POP displays 102 with the wireless beacons is typically unknown (as
described below for step 314 in FIG. 11). Thus, each of the retail
locations that receive the randomly distributed POP displays 102
may be associated with the same selected campaign.
[0147] After POP displays 102, along with wireless beacons 114, are
placed at their intended locations and the wireless beacons are
activated (e.g., activated at either their final display location
or a temporary storage location such as a store back (or storage)
area), one or more different methods may be used to assess a retail
location of each of the POP displays (e.g., the store at which each
POP display is located). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, method
806A, method 806B, method 806C, and method 806D may each be used,
either alone or in combination, to, in 808, assess the retail
location of a selected POP display 102 and wireless beacon 114.
Methods 806A, 806B, 806C, 806D may be used to assess the retail
location of multiple POP displays 102. In some embodiments, one
method may be used to assess the retail location of all the POP
displays associated with the selected campaign. In some
embodiments, one method may be used to assess the retail location
of a first POP display while another method is used to assess the
retail location of a second POP display, a third POP display, a
fourth POP display, etc.
[0148] FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of method 806A
used to assess a location of a POP display. Once POP display 102 is
placed at a retail location (e.g., in 804, shown in FIG. 5), method
806A may be used to assess the retail location of the POP display
using interaction with customer device 118 and SDK 125 on the
customer device. In 900, customer device 118 may receive a packet
(e.g., a data packet such as packet 700, shown in FIG. 3) from
wireless beacon 114. The packet may include the unique identifier
for wireless beacon 114.
[0149] In 902, SDK 125 may combine the received unique identifier
along with geographic information on the location of customer
device 118. For example, the geographic information may include the
geographic location of customer device 118 such as, but not limited
to, latitude and longitude location or GPS location of the customer
device. In 904, SDK 125 may then provide the geographic location of
customer device 118 along with the unique identifier to a remote
server (e.g., server 126, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3). In some
embodiments, a time stamp from customer device 118 is also provided
to the remote server. In certain embodiments, SDK 125 provides
unique identifiers for a plurality of wireless beacons along with
the geographic location of customer device 118.
[0150] In 906, the remote server may then assess or determine the
retail location of wireless beacon 114 with the unique identifier
using the geographic location information provided along with the
unique identifier. If multiple unique identifiers are sent to the
remote server, the remote server may determine the retail location
of each of the wireless beacons with the unique identifiers
associated with the geographic location information. The determined
retail location may be, for example, a retail store number
associated with a retail chain associated with the selected
campaign. In some embodiments, the retail location is determined
using the geographic location in combination with other information
available to the remote server, including, but not limited to,
information from other customer devices and/or information about
retail locations associated with the selected campaign. In some
embodiments, the remote server assesses the time stamp received
from SDK 125 in combination with the geographic location of
customer device 118, the unique identifier, and the retail
locations associated with the selected campaign. Assessing the time
stamp may allow the remote server to assess if the POP display is
active during a selected time period associated with the selected
campaign for the POP display.
[0151] Information from other customer devices may include, but not
be limited to, geographic location information from interaction of
other customer devices with the wireless beacon. Thus, in some
embodiments, the remote server may use information from multiple
customer devices to determine the retail location of a wireless
beacon. The information about retail locations associated with the
selected campaign may be provided to the remote server or
obtainable by the remote server using information input earlier
about the selected campaign. In some embodiments, the remote server
stores the retail location information along with the unique
identifier in a database (e.g., information 130 on server 126,
shown in FIG. 1).
[0152] The retail location determined in 906 may be provided to
method 800, shown in FIG. 5, to either be used as the assessed
retail location in 808 or used in other methods (e.g., 806B or
806C) to determine the retail locations of other POP displays. In
some embodiments, the retail location determined in 906 may be used
to assess if the location of the POP display and the wireless
beacon has changed. For example, the remote server may look up the
unique identifier and assess if a previous location for the unique
identifier was recorded to assess if any change in location has
occurred.
[0153] FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of method 806B
used to assess a location of a POP display. Method 806B may include
assessing the retail location of POP display 102 and wireless
beacon 114 using the presence of other detected wireless beacons
(POP displays) with known retail locations in proximity to the
wireless beacon and interaction with one or more customer devices
118. In some embodiments, multiple wireless beacons are interacting
with a single customer device 118 (e.g., the single customer device
receives packets from multiple wireless beacons at or around the
same time). In some embodiments, the wireless beacons are
interacting with multiple customer devices 118 at or around the
same time with a remote server receiving information from the
multiple customer devices (with knowledge of the customer devices
being at the same location).
[0154] As shown in FIG. 7, method 806B includes determining, at the
remote server, a retail location of a first POP display in 910. The
retail location of the first POP display may be determined, for
example, using method 806A, shown in FIG. 6, method 806C, shown in
FIG. 8, or method 806D, shown in FIG. 10. Determining the retail
location of the first POP display in 910, as shown in FIG. 7,
allows the remote server to know the retail location of the first
POP display. In some embodiments, the retail location of the first
POP display may be known and provided to the remote server in 910
(e.g., a separate entity or application provides the retail
location of the first POP display or the retail location the first
POP display is to be sent to is known before being sent to the
location). In some embodiments, the same retail location is
determined (and then known) for multiple POP displays in 910 (e.g.,
the same retail location may be determined (and then known) for two
or more POP displays). The remote server may associate together the
multiple POP displays at the same retail location.
[0155] After the location of the first POP display(s) is determined
(or known) in 910, customer device 118 may receive a first data
packet (or a set of first data packets for multiple POP displays)
with the unique identifier for the first POP display(s) in 912. At
or around the same time, customer device 118 may receive a second
data packet from a second POP display in 914. The second POP
display may have a retail location that is unknown to the remote
server. The second data packet may include the unique identifier
for the second POP display.
[0156] In 916, SDK 125 on customer device 118 may provide the
unique identifier for the first POP display(s) and the unique
identifier for the second POP display to the remote server (e.g.,
server 126, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3). In 918, the remote server may
determine, based on the remote server receiving both the unique
identifier for the first POP display(s) and the unique identifier
for the second POP display at the same time, that the second POP
display is at the same retail location as the first POP display(s).
Put another way, the remote server determines that the second POP
display is at the same retail location as the first POP display(s)
because the remote server receives both unique identifiers from the
same customer device, which is at the retail location. The retail
location of the second POP display determined in 918 may be
provided to method 800, shown in FIG. 5, to be used as the assessed
retail location in 808.
[0157] In some embodiments, the remote server may receive the
unique identifier for the first POP display(s) and the unique
identifier for the second POP display from different customer
devices in 916 (e.g., two or more different mobile devices). In
such embodiments, however, the remote server may receive other
identifying information (e.g., geographic location information or
specific content related information) that allows the remote server
to associate the unique identifier for the first POP display(s)
with the unique identifier for the second POP display and determine
that the POP displays are at the same retail location in 918.
[0158] FIG. 8 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of method 806C
used to assess a location of a POP display. Method 806C may include
assessing the retail location of POP display 102 and wireless
beacon 114 using communication with a network gateway or data
collection device located at the retail location. In certain
embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, network gateway 710 and/or
data collection device 711 are located at retail location 200. One
or more network gateways 710 and/or data collection devices 711 may
be installed at known retail locations for interfacing with POP
displays after the POP displays are distributed and reach the
retail location. Network gateways 710 may be, for example,
permanent network gateways installed at each retail location in a
retail chain or supply chain with the location of each network
gateway being known. Thus, for POP display distribution, the retail
locations of multiple network gateways 710 are known by the remote
server. Data collection devices 711 may also be permanent data
collection devices with the locations of the data collection
devices being known by the remote server.
[0159] In certain embodiments, network gateway 710 is a wireless
network gateway. For example, network gateway 710 may be any
hardware (e.g., a processor and one or more wireless antenna)
capable of networked communication over one or more wireless
communication networks and/or interfacing between wireless
communication networks (e.g., interfacing between a local area
network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN)). Communication
networks for network gateway 710 may include, but not be limited
to, WANs cellular networks, wireless networks, and the Internet. In
certain embodiments, network gateway 710 is connected to the
Internet and is capable of interfacing and communicating using
Bluetooth LE, WiFi, sub-gigahertz radio, cellular, and other
longer-range radio bands.
[0160] In certain embodiments, data collection device 711 is a
wireless data collection device that includes hardware (e.g., a
processor and one or more wireless antenna) capable of networked
communication over one or more wireless communication networks. In
certain embodiments, data collection device 711 is used for
communication over a local area network (LAN). Data collection
device 711 may, however, also be capable of communicating over a
wide area network (WAN)). Data collection device 711 may be capable
of interfacing and communicating using Bluetooth LE, WiFi,
sub-gigahertz radio, cellular, and other radio bands.
[0161] In some embodiments, data collection device 711 is used to
relay data between wireless beacons 114 and network gateway 710.
For example, broadcasts from wireless beacons 114 may be received
by data collection device 711 and then rebroadcast from the data
collection device to network gateway 710 (e.g., data collection
device 711 and network gateway 710 may communicate over a LAN).
Network gateway 710 may then transmit data received from data
collection device to server 126 (e.g., over a WAN). In such
embodiments, data collection device 711 may be used as a repeater
at retail location 200 for wireless beacon 114 broadcasts to ensure
data broadcast by the wireless beacon reaches network gateway 710.
Repeating the broadcasting of data from wireless beacons 114 may be
useful, for example, in larger retail locations where network
gateway 710 (which is used to transmit data to remote server 126)
may not reliably receive information from all the wireless beacons
at the retail location. For example, if a wireless beacon is out of
signal range of network gateway 710, data collection device 711 may
be located closer to the wireless beacon to receive and rebroadcast
the wireless signal to the network gateway. For relatively large
retail locations, multiple data collection devices 711 may be used
to communicate with network gateway 710. Using one or more data
collection devices 711 to broadcast wireless beacon data to network
gateway 710, which then transmits data to remote server 126, allows
the network gateway to be used as the primary communication device
with the remote server.
[0162] In some embodiments, data collection device 711 includes
hardware capable of communicating over a wide area network (WAN).
In such embodiments, data collection device 711 may transmit
wireless signal data directly from wireless beacons 114 to remote
server 126 over the WAN. Using data collection devices 711 to
transmit data to remote server 126 may be useful in situations
where communication through a single network gateway is not
suitable. It is to be understood that network gateway 710 and data
collection device 711 may be interchangeable in one or more
embodiments as used herein. For example, in embodiments describing
the use of network gateway 710, data collection device 711 may be
used in place of the network gateway, or vice versa. Additionally,
in some embodiments described herein, network gateway 710 and data
collection device 711 may be substantially equivalent devices
(e.g., devices capable of communicating over both LANs and
WANs).
[0163] In some embodiments, wireless beacons 114 include multiple
wireless communication network transmission capabilities. For
example, wireless beacons 114 may be capable of broadcasting data
packets over two or more different wireless communication networks
substantially simultaneously. In some embodiments, wireless beacons
114 are capable of broadcasting over sub-gigahertz radio (or
another longer-range radio band) in addition to (or substantially
simultaneously with) broadcasting over Bluetooth LE. Sub-gigahertz
broadcasting may provide increased range of data transmission as
compared to Bluetooth LE (e.g., sub-gigahertz may have a
transmission range of up to about a mile). Sub-gigahertz
broadcasting may include, for example, broadcasting over the ISM
band (UHF). In some embodiments, sub-gigahertz radio includes radio
signals (e.g., wireless signals) with a frequency between 100 MHz
and 1 GHz. Examples of sub-gigahertz radio bands include, but are
not limited to, 315 MHz, 333 MHz, 902 MHz, and 928 MHz. In certain
embodiments, sub-gigahertz radio signals are tuned to a set
frequency without frequency hopping (unlike Bluetooth LE). In some
embodiments, other longer broadcast range (and detection range)
radio bands may be used instead of, or in addition to,
sub-gigahertz radio bands. For example, broadcast radio bands such
as, but not limited to, WiFi, LORA, or ZigBee may be used in
wireless beacons 114, network gateway 710, and/or data collection
device 711. In some embodiments, wireless beacons 114 may be
equipped with a communication chip capable of broadcasting over
even larger distances and directly to the remote server. In such
embodiments, wireless beacons 114 may provide data directly to the
remote server.
[0164] In certain embodiments, wireless beacons 114 are equipped
with a communication chip (e.g., wireless transceiver 120A) capable
of both Bluetooth LE and sub-gigahertz broadcasting (or another
longer-range radio band). While Bluetooth LE may be used for
broadcasting to mobile devices (or other Bluetooth LE capable
devices), a larger LAN may be provided between wireless beacons 114
and network gateway 710 or data collection device 711 by using the
longer broadcast range provided by sub-gigahertz radio (or another
longer-range radio band). In some embodiments, network gateway 710
and/or data collection device 711 may provide a data collection
network (e.g., a LAN for data collection) for collecting data
broadcast 712 by wireless beacons 114 (e.g., unique identifiers,
sensor data, etc.) and transmitting the data over a communication
network 714 (e.g., a WAN connected to the remote server).
[0165] In certain embodiments, network gateway 710 and/or data
collection device 711, shown in FIG. 3, are capable of receiving
data packets from wireless beacons 114 over the LAN network. In
certain embodiments, the data packets include data collected from
sensors 116. In some embodiments, sensors 116 are capable of
broadcasting data over sub-gigahertz radio (or another longer-range
radio band). The data broadcast by sensors 116 may be collected by
network gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711, as described
herein. The use of sub-gigahertz radio (or another longer-range
radio band) in network gateway 710, data collection device 711, and
wireless beacons 114 may allow a larger LAN to be provided at the
retail location. In some embodiments, using sub-gigahertz radio (or
another longer-range radio band) communication allows a single
network gateway (e.g., network gateway 710) to receive (and/or
send) communications from multiple wireless beacons 114 at a single
retail location, even a large retail location such as a
warehouse-type retail location.
[0166] In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, method 806C
includes a network gateway (e.g., network gateway 710 and/or data
collection device 711) at a known retail location (e.g., retail
location 200) receiving a data packet (e.g., data broadcast 712)
from wireless beacon 114 on POP display 102 in 920. The data packet
may include the unique identifier of the wireless beacon and the
POP display. The network gateway may provide the unique identifier
to the remote server in response to receiving the data packet in
922. In some embodiments, the network gateway provides the unique
identifier to the remote server over communication network 714
(e.g., cellular network, WiFi network, or the Internet). In some
embodiments, the network gateway provides the unique identifier to
the remote server using customer device 118. For example, the
network gateway provides the unique identifier along with
identifying/location information about the network gateway to SDK
125 on customer device 118. SDK 125 may then provide this
information to the remote server when customer device 118
communicates with the remote server.
[0167] In certain embodiments, a network gateway (or a data
collection device) may be placed in a storage location ("depot")
convenient to Direct Store Delivery (DSD) personnel. Such depots
are common for DSD products; however, the inventory of
merchandising materials available is difficult to monitor. In such
cases, beacons may be attached to merchandising material--either
individual materials or cases of materials--stored in the storage
location. Inventory of the merchandising materials may be monitored
by a network gateway with, for example, a cellular modem for
communication to a remote server. Monitoring the inventory of
merchandising material with the network gateway may greatly improve
the timeliness and accuracy regarding availability of materials in
depots.
[0168] In 924, the remote server may associate the POP display
having the unique identifier with the network gateway providing the
unique identifier and the retail location of the network gateway.
Using this association, the remote server may determine the retail
location of the POP display with the unique identifier because the
retail location of the associated network gateway is known (e.g.,
the installation location of the network gateway is known as
described above). In some embodiments, the network gateway
associates the POP display having the unique identifier with the
retail location of the network gateway and provides data about the
association to the remote server, which then stores information
about the retail location of the POP display. The retail location
of the POP display having the unique identifier determined in 924
may be provided to method 800, shown in FIG. 5, to be used as the
assessed retail location in 808.
[0169] In some embodiments, method 806C includes assessing a signal
strength between the POP display with the unique identifier and the
network gateway in 926. The assessed signal strength may be
provided to the remote server along with the unique identifier in
922. The remote server may use the assessed signal strength to
determine a specific (or relatively specific) location of the POP
display within the retail location in 928. For example, the exact
location of the network gateway at the retail location may be known
(e.g., in a server room at the retail location). The assessed
signal strength may provide information that is used to estimate
the distance between the POP display with the unique identifier and
the network gateway. From the estimated distance, the specific
location of the POP display within the retail location may be
determined (e.g., estimated or approximated).
[0170] In certain embodiments, in 926, signal strengths for
sub-gigahertz radio (or another longer-range radio band) signals
(e.g., data packets) received in network gateway 710 from wireless
beacons 114 (on POP displays 102) are used to assess locations of
the wireless beacons (and the POP displays). In certain
embodiments, as described above, network gateway 710 provides
(e.g., transmits) the signal strength data to another processor
(e.g., server 126 in 922) that assesses the locations of the
wireless beacons from the transmitted signal data. In some
embodiments, network gateway 710 includes a processor to assess
locations of wireless beacons 114 based on the received signals in
928 and the assessed location is then provided to the server in
922.
[0171] In certain embodiments, RSSI values of the sub-gigahertz
radio (or another longer-range radio band) signals received in
network gateway 710 are used to assess the locations of wireless
beacons 114 in 928. For example, the RSSI values may be used to
assess the locations of wireless beacons 114 within (or inside) the
retail location associated with network gateway 710. In some
embodiments, a distance of wireless beacon 114 from network gateway
710 is assessed using the RSSI value. The sub-gigahertz radio (or
another longer-range radio band) signals received in network
gateway 710 are not frequency hopping signals like Bluetooth LE
signals. Thus, using RSSI values of the sub-gigahertz radio (or
another longer-range radio band) signals received in network
gateway 710 may provide more accurate RSSI values for wireless
beacons 114 than using Bluetooth LE. The more accurate RSSI values
may provide more accurate assessment of the locations of wireless
beacons 114 using evaluation or triangulation of the RSSI values.
Providing a more accurate location of wireless beacon 114 within
the retail location may allow a processor (e.g., a processor on
network gateway 710 or on server 126) to more accurately determine
a specific location of the wireless beacon inside the retail
location.
[0172] In some embodiments, assessing a specific location of
wireless beacon 114 and POP display 102 within the retail location
in 928 is accomplished using multiple wireless network gateways
and/or wireless data collection devices. In some embodiments, two
or more network gateways (or data collection devices) may be used
to provide triangulation of the specific location of wireless
beacon 114 and its associated POP display 102 within the retail
location in 928. FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram representation of
an embodiment of an interaction between customer device 118,
wireless beacons 114, and multiple network gateways 710 at retail
location 200. In certain embodiments, multiple network gateways
710A, 710B, 710C may be distributed throughout retail location 200.
The locations of network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C may be known
(e.g., known by a remote server or known by the network gateways).
In some embodiments, network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C may be
distributed in a certain section of retail location 200. For
example, network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C may be distributed in a
back area of retail location 200, a storage area, or other
non-customer area of the retail location where POP displays 102 are
placed when not being used to interact with customers.
[0173] In certain embodiments, triangulation of the location of
wireless beacon 114B includes assessing signal strengths of two or
more data broadcasts 712A, 712B, 712C between the wireless beacon
and network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C. Data broadcasts 712A, 712B,
712C may include, for example, Bluetooth radio data broadcasts
and/or sub-gigahertz radio data broadcasts. In some embodiments,
the assessed signal strengths are provided to server 126 (e.g., the
remote server) along with the unique identifier for wireless beacon
114B by network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C. Server 126 may use the
assessed signal strengths to triangulate a position of wireless
beacon 114B relative to the network gateways. In some embodiments,
the assessed signal strengths are provided or collected by one of
the network gateways (e.g., network gateway 710A) and the network
gateway uses the assessed signal strengths to triangulate a
position of wireless beacon 114B. The triangulation information may
be used to assess the specific location (or an estimate of the
specific location) of wireless beacon 114B within retail location
200.
[0174] In embodiments with network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C
located in the back area of retail location 200, the spacing
between the network gateways and wireless beacon 114B may be
smaller as storage areas tend to be smaller areas than customer
areas of retail locations (e.g., shopping areas in retail stores).
The smaller spacing may provide a more accurate assessment of the
location of wireless beacon 114B relative to network gateways 710A,
710B, 710C. For example, triangulation with typical Bluetooth
radios may be difficult at distances over about 30 feet. Thus,
having both network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C and wireless beacon
114B in the same area may provide more accurate assessment of the
location of the wireless beacon when the wireless beacon is in the
back area of retail location 200. Additionally, in some
embodiments, network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C may be placed in a
specific pattern that provides more accurate assessment of the
location of wireless beacons in the area of the network gateways
(e.g., a small or tight pattern for the network gateways). In some
embodiments, using network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C in the back
area of retail location 20 to assess the location of wireless
beacon 114B may be used to deduce that if the wireless beacon is
detected by the network gateways as not being in the back area of
the retail location but in the retail location, the wireless beacon
is in the customer area (e.g., front) of the retail location. In
some embodiments, sensors (e.g., sensors 116) on POP displays 102
and/or network gateways 710A, 710B, 710C may be used to increase
the accuracy of assessing the specific location of wireless beacon
114 within retail location 200. For example, light and/or motion
sensors may be used on either POP displays 102 and/or network
gateways 710A, 710B, 710C to increase the accuracy of location
assessment.
[0175] In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, network
gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711 includes sensor 713.
In certain embodiments, sensor 713 is an accelerometer. Network
gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711 may be powered either
by battery power or AC power (e.g., plugged into a wall outlet).
The accelerometer may be used to assess or detect movement of
network gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711. Network
gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711may be moved, for
example, to provide a better location for receiving signals from
wireless beacons 114 and/or during store reorganization. Moving
network gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711may change
their position relative to the remote server, wireless beacons 114,
other network gateways (or data collection devices), and/or a
network access point.
[0176] In certain embodiments, network gateway 710 and/or data
collection device 711 are retrained or reprogrammed based on its
new absolute position and/or the changes in its relative positions.
Network gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711 may provide a
transmission (e.g., a signal) to the remote server (e.g., server
126) that the network gateway and/or the data collection device has
been moved. For example, network gateway 710 may add a data packet
to its transmission to the remote server indicating movement of the
network gateway. In response to receiving the transmission that
network gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711 have been
moved, the remote server may send information to the network
gateway and/or the data collection device to retrain or reprogram
the device based on its new position. For example, the remote
server may modify one or more operating parameters of network
gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711 based on the received
movement data. Retraining or reprogramming of network gateway 710
and/or data collection device 711 may include updating or
reconfiguring signal data for the network gateway and/or the data
collection device. In some embodiments, the remote server may send
retraining or reprogramming information to additional network
gateways or additional data collection devices based on the
movement of network gateway 710 and/or data collection device 711
as such movement may affect the entire LAN of network gateways and
data collection devices.
[0177] FIG. 10 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of method 806D
used to assess a location of a POP display. Method 806D may be used
to assess the retail location of the POP display using interaction
with customer device 118 and SDK 125 on the customer device. In
930, customer device 118 may receive a packet (e.g., a data packet
such as packet 700, shown in FIG. 3) from wireless beacon 114. The
packet may include the unique identifier for wireless beacon 114.
In some embodiments, customer device 118 may receive multiple
packets from multiple wireless beacons, each packet having the
unique identifier for the originating wireless beacon.
[0178] In 932, SDK 125 may combine the received unique identifier
along with information about the retail location of customer device
118 from 933. In certain embodiments, the retail location of
customer device 118 in 933 is provided by another application (or
entity) located on the customer device. For example, mobile
application 127 (located in software package 122 on customer device
118, as shown in FIG. 1) may provide the retail location of the
customer device. The manner in which mobile application 127
determines the retail location of customer device 118 may be
unknown to SDK 125. For example, mobile application 127 may be a
retailer "app" that determines the retail location (e.g., store
number) of customer device 118 through an unknown or proprietary
algorithm. Regardless of the manner in which mobile application 127
determines the retail location of customer device 118, SDK 125 may
receive the retail location known by the mobile application in 933
and combine this information with the unique identifiers for the
wireless beacons.
[0179] In 934, SDK 125 may then provide the retail location of
customer device 118 along with the unique identifier to the remote
server. In some embodiments, a time stamp from customer device 118
is also provided to the remote server. In certain embodiments, SDK
125 provides unique identifiers for a plurality of wireless beacons
along with the retail location of customer device 118.
[0180] In 936, the remote server may assess or determine the
(selected) retail location of wireless beacon 114 with the unique
identifier by associating the wireless beacon with the provided
retail location of customer device 118. If multiple unique
identifiers are sent to the remote server, the remote server may
determine the retail location of each of the wireless beacons with
the unique identifiers by associating the retail location of
customer device 118 with each wireless beacon. The retail location
of the POP display determined in 936 (the POP display having the
wireless beacon with the unique identifier) may be provided to
method 800, shown in FIG. 5, to be used as the assessed retail
location in 808.
[0181] Identification of the retail location of wireless beacon 114
by server 126 through the interaction of the wireless beacon with
customer device 118 allows the wireless beacon's location to be
dynamically cataloged by the server and potentially other portions
of the overall system, including the wireless beacon itself.
Identification of the retail location by server 126 may be
advantageous in that it does not require that the final destination
of wireless beacon 114 and circuit board 104 be known at the time
of manufacture or distribution since its location may be determined
without any external intervention after POP display 102 containing
the circuit board has been set up in its intended final
location.
[0182] The above disclosed embodiments may be utilized to optimize
embodiments of a manufacturing supply chain associated with POP
displays 102 and circuit board 104. As noted above, the location of
a given wireless beacon and the other wireless beacons that it may
connect to need not be known before the wireless beacon, or circuit
board, is installed in its final location. Current commercially
available products, however, treat the installation of wireless
beacons as a network infrastructure project and do not contemplate
integrating wireless beacons into other systems (e.g., POP
displays). Thus, for a given store, technicians typically install
hard points to supply power and network connectivity for each
wireless beacon, which severely limits a store manager's
flexibility in placing the beacons. Additionally, once a wireless
beacon is deployed in a location, moving the wireless beacon may
require bringing in a technician to disconnect and then rewire each
wireless beacon in its new location. Location changes must also be
accompanied by revisions to the database that describes the
placement of each wireless beacon. This mode of deployment is
fundamentally incompatible with conventional POP displays (e.g.,
non-connected POP displays), which typically can be moved around at
will. If wireless beacons and their attendant power and networking
requirements are installed in POP displays, then the POP displays
may become inflexible infrastructure points without a system that
allows for flexible movement and locating of the POP displays as
described herein.
[0183] As described herein, the embodiments of POP display system
100 and POP display 102 with wireless beacon 114 may provide
increased flexibility for the placement and movement of the POP
displays because of the modular, ad hoc nature of the disclosed
embodiments. POP display system 100 may provide a flexible and easy
to deploy system that does not require specialized technicians
and/or expensive wiring. In certain embodiments, a store manager is
able to simply assemble POP display 102 and place the POP display
in the store anywhere desired as if it was a conventional
display.
[0184] Additionally, the disclosed modular POP display system 100
and methods associated with the system simplify the overall supply
chain for POP displays. Traditionally, POP displays are
manufactured in bulk at a factory and then sent to a distribution
center where the displays may remain in storage for months at a
time before distribution to a final location. When incorporating
wireless beacons, this creates a logistical problem as one would
ideally like to know where a given wireless beacon will end up
(e.g., so the display can be programmed based on the final
location). Current manufacturing supply chains, however, are not
structured to accommodate that level of granularity. Typically,
large pallets of displays are manufactured, stored, and bulk
distributed to stores en masse without regard to a specific
display's journey. This method is not a problem when a display
simply contains a static display and perhaps a coupon and/or a
product holder. For POP displays that interact (e.g., dynamically
interact), via wireless beacons, with a customer device so that
location, content, and customer specific information may be
communicated between the customer device and a remote server,
however, such distribution methods are problematic as they require
experienced and expensive technicians to install wireless beacon
enabled displays at their known final location. Once installed, a
human may manually configure each wireless beacon enabled display
with its location and identification information, as well as record
such information for use in a database. The manual installation,
however, may be tedious, time consuming, and difficult to implement
on a consistent basis.
[0185] FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart of a manufacturing supply chain
associated with POP displays 102. Supply chain 300 utilizes
embodiments of POP display system 100, POP display 102, and circuit
board 104 disclosed herein that via their ad hoc nature, may be
flexible and readily compatible with existing manufacturing
practices. In certain embodiments, large quantities of POP displays
102 may end up at a final display location without advanced
planning and interaction between the POP displays with circuit
boards 104, customer devices (e.g., customer devices 118), and a
server (e.g., server 126) may provide a configuration to POP system
100 as needed.
[0186] In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, circuit board
104 includes battery 106. In some embodiments, battery 106 is a
non-removable battery or a permanently affixed battery. Battery 106
being a non-removable battery may provide power savings in the
context of the supply chain 300, shown in FIG. 11. Non-removable
batteries may be desirable in supply chain 300 because they are
cheaper and are more reliable. For example, it may be more
difficult for a permanently affixed battery to be jarred out of its
connection as compared to a normal (removable) battery mounted in a
typical holder. Additionally, another downside to removable
batteries is that they may have to be installed on site by the
personnel who set up POP display 102 with circuit board 104 in its
final location. Such personnel may fail to install the batteries
correctly or even install the batteries at all, rendering POP
display 102 useless for its intended purpose.
[0187] A consideration in using a non-removable (e.g., permanent)
battery as battery 106, as shown in FIG. 1, is that, due to the
fact that the battery cannot be replaced, it is important to
preserve battery life to maximize the service life of circuit board
104. To increase battery life, in certain embodiments, as shown in
FIG. 1, circuit board 104 includes switch 108. Switch 108 may be a
switch such as a power jumper or functional equivalent (e.g., a dip
switch). Switch 108 may provide a removable connection between
battery 106 and the rest of the circuitry in circuit board 104
(e.g., wireless beacon 114). Thus, no power is drained from battery
106 when switch 108 is not installed or turned on. Not installing
switch 108 allows circuit board 104 to be stored for extended
lengths of time (e.g., approximately one year or greater) without
reducing any useable power storage in battery 106.
[0188] As shown in FIG. 11, POP display 102 (shown in FIG. 1) is
manufactured in factory 302. After manufacture in factory 302, POP
display 102 may be moved from the factory to distribution center
304. In certain embodiments, POP display 102 moves from factory 302
to distribution center 304 along with circuit board 104. Circuit
board 104 may have battery 106 disconnected from any power draining
circuitry (e.g., controller 112 and/or wireless beacon 114). For
example, switch 108 may disconnect power to power draining
circuitry. At distribution center 304, circuit board 104 (with
deactivated circuitry) and POP display 102 are received in 306. At
308, switch 108 is installed or turned on to provide power from
battery 106 to the rest of the circuitry in circuit board 104 and
wireless beacon 114 is activated. In certain embodiments, wireless
beacon 114 is configured such that, upon its first activation, the
wireless beacon scans for specific connections that are associated
with its configuration mode.
[0189] The use of a power switch (e.g., switch 108) in circuit
board 104 and supply chain 300 provides several advantages. One
advantage is that switch 108 ensures that battery 106 is
disconnected at the time of manufacture of POP display 102 to
extend the life of the battery. Another advantage is that the
wireless beacon 114 is deactivated until switch 108 is connected.
Deactivating wireless beacon 114 allows distribution center 304 to
activate a small number of POP displays at a time in a
configuration procedure discussed below. If, for example, the
thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of POP displays in a
warehouse (e.g., distribution center 304) were active at the same
time and their wireless beacons were actively broadcasting and/or
scanning, the resulting electronic cacophony could render all
communication and configuration difficult or even impossible.
Empirical testing has shown that having more than 50 active beacons
in close proximity may cause severe wireless interference problems.
Thus, a distribution center full of active beacons could be
rendered completely useless. Furthermore, transportation rules and
requirements often restrict the transmission of electromagnetic
signals by shipped items. Thus, the ability to disable wireless
broadcasts by the included beacons both after initial manufacture
and during distribution has the additional benefit of facilitating
the transport of embodiments of POP displays 102 with wireless
beacons 114.
[0190] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to physically
activate a battery at the time a circuit board is removed from its
shipping container. In such embodiments, an insulator may be placed
between battery terminals to turn the controller off. Such an
insulator may be tethered to the external shipping enclosure in
such a way that the battery insulator is pulled from between the
terminals as the circuit board is removed from the shipping
enclosure. Removing the battery insulator may then activate the
controller and the wireless beacon.
[0191] In certain embodiments, after wireless beacon 114
establishes a connection in 308, variations of the wireless
beacon's parameters are configured in controller 112 via software
in 310. Controller 112 may be configured, for example, via the BLE
connection made between wireless beacon 114 and a programmer device
(e.g., a wireless programming device). In certain embodiments,
wireless beacons 114 are associated with a selected campaign in 310
(e.g., as part of step 802, shown in FIG. 5). During configuration
in 310, time parameters may be set in controller 112 such that
wireless beacon 114 is able to determine and act upon a target
start date of a (selected) campaign. For example, controller 112
and clock 113 may be configured with the current date and time as
well as the target date and time for the selected campaign to
begin. In certain embodiments, this process is simplified to
absolute amount of time between the time of configuration and the
beginning of the selected campaign. Various other parameters may be
set during the configuration in 310 as well.
[0192] In certain embodiments, during configuration 310, unique
label 117, shown in FIG. 1, is scanned or otherwise identified. In
some embodiments, unique label 117 is added to circuit board 104
before arriving at distribution center 304. In some embodiments,
unique label 117 is added at distribution center 304. Scanning
unique label 117 may allow the unique label to be associated with
wireless beacon 114 and its unique identifier. For example, unique
label 117 may be scanned and the unique label may be programmed
(via the BLE connection) to be associated with the unique
identifier for wireless beacon 114 and/or other associated data
such as, but not limited to, an activation date or campaign
associated with circuit board 104 and the wireless beacon.
Associating unique label 117 with wireless beacon 114 (and its
associated data) allows information about the wireless beacon to be
accessed while the wireless beacon is asleep by scanning the unique
label. Unique label 117 may be scanned while wireless beacon 114 is
asleep to obtain programmed information (e.g., campaign information
or activation time) and place circuit board 104 into a proper POP
display (as described below) before the POP display is shipped to a
final display location.
[0193] After configuration is complete in 310, the configuration
application disconnects from controller 112 and wireless beacon 114
(and circuit board 104) may enter sleep mode 312. In sleep mode
312, wireless beacon 114 may shut down its Bluetooth radio, and the
circuitry in circuit board 104 may enter a low power mode to
conserve the batteries before the circuit board is installed onto
POP display 102 and also while the POP display is stored in advance
of being shipped to a final location (e.g., a retail location).
Thus, even though switch 108 has been activated in distribution
center 304, the problem of having too many active Bluetooth radios
(e.g., wireless beacons) in close proximity in the distribution
center is inhibited as each activated radio only remains active for
a short period of time as configuration of the wireless beacon is
conducted. Also, it is worth noting that the low power mode
referred to above includes any control circuitry, such as a
microcontroller, not just the Bluetooth beacon itself. It will also
be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that such circuitry
may be implemented in various layouts, such as in several discrete
chips or one integrated chip.
[0194] While circuit board 104 and wireless beacon 114 are in sleep
mode 312 or a low power mode, the circuit board may be installed in
POP display 102 in 313. After circuit board 104 is installed, POP
display 102 may be moved (e.g., shipped or transported) in 314. POP
display 102 may be moved to final display location 316, as shown in
FIG. 11. Final display location 316 may be, for example, a retail
or shopping location for POP display 102 to be located in front of
customers to provide an interactive customer experience. At final
display location 316, POP display 102 may be assembled in 318 and
placed in an operating location in 320. After being placed at the
operating location in 320, when the configuration circuitry
(programmed in 310) determines that the target date and time for
the campaign has been reached, the circuitry awakens from its sleep
state at the configured time in 322. In 322, wireless beacon 114
activates its wireless (e.g., Bluetooth) radio and campaign related
operations begin in 324.
[0195] In some embodiments, when POP display 102 is located at
distribution center 304 (or another storage warehouse before the
POP display is sent to the retail location), wireless beacons 114
may be programmed to broadcast their signals (turn on their
Bluetooth radios) for at least some time (e.g., while the wireless
beacons are in low power mode and/or in sleep mode 312). At
distribution center 304, the exact location of wireless beacons 114
and POP displays 102 is not necessary to be known but it is useful
to have a knowledge whether the wireless beacons and the POP
displays are, or are not, at the distribution center. In such
embodiments, wireless beacons 114 may broadcast their signals for
at least some time so that the signals can be received to determine
if the wireless beacons (and their associated POP displays 102) are
in distribution center 304. The signals may be received, for
example, by a wireless network gateway or other data collection
device located at distribution center 304.
[0196] As described above, however, if every wireless beacon 114 at
distribution center 304 broadcasts at the same time, it can create
various problems with receiving the signals and/or other
electronics in the distribution center. As described herein,
wireless beacon 114 may be programmed with information about the
target date and/or time for a campaign associated with the wireless
beacon and its associated POP display 102. In certain embodiments,
wireless beacon 114 intermittently broadcasts its wireless signal
with the target date and/or time for the campaign while in its low
power mode. With multiple (e.g., hundreds or thousands) of wireless
beacons 114 at distribution center 304 associated with the same
campaign, each wireless beacon (or a small group of wireless
beacons) may be programmed to broadcast its wireless signal during
a different time period. For example, each wireless beacon 114 (or
a small group of wireless beacons) may broadcast its wireless
signal once a day during a selected time slot during the day. The
selected time slot may have a predetermined broadcast duration
(e.g., the duration of the broadcast is predetermined) of at most
about 10 minutes, at most about 15 minutes, or at most about 20
minutes. In some embodiments, beacons may be assigned to specific
frequencies to further reduce the chance of collisions or airway
saturation (e.g., two or more beacons may be assigned different
frequencies for broadcasting their wireless signals).
[0197] In certain embodiments, each wireless beacon 114 is assigned
a time slot for broadcasting based on its unique identifier. As the
unique identifier is typically randomly assigned, assigning each
wireless beacon 114 a time slot based on the unique identifier for
the wireless beacon may distribute wireless beacon broadcasts
throughout the day. Distributing wireless beacon 114 broadcasts
throughout the day at distribution center 304 may reduce the
probability of signal collisions in the distribution center as the
number of wireless beacons broadcasting at any given time is
reduced. In certain embodiments, after the target date and/or time
of the campaign is reached, wireless beacons 114 begin broadcasting
more frequently (e.g., every hour or so) as POP displays are
expected to be active and at the retail location by the target date
and/or time.
[0198] As described above, the embodiment of supply chain 300 may
provide a solution to the problem of how to build POP displays with
wireless beacons in advance while not running down the batteries
while the displays are being stored. Using supply chain 300 may
also ensure that the associated radios are inactive while the POP
display is being stored and transported. These aspects may be
important when considering the overall supply chain.
[0199] In certain embodiments, wireless network gateways and/or
wireless data collection devices (e.g., network gateway 710 or
another data collection device such as data collection device 711)
are used at one or more locations in a supply/distribution chain
for POP displays 102 to monitor movement of the POP displays
through the supply/distribution chain. FIG. 12 depicts an
embodiment of supply/distribution chain 720 for POP displays 102.
In certain embodiments, supply/distribution chain 720 includes
factory 722. Factory 722 may be, for example, a factory for
manufacturing and/or assembly of POP displays 102. In some
embodiments, circuit board 104 with wireless beacon 114 is
installed on POP displays 102 at factory 722.
[0200] In some embodiments, POP displays 102 are moved to pack-out
724. At pack-out 724, products, product information, and/or other
product materials may be added to POP displays 102. After the
pack-out of POP displays 102, the POP displays may be moved to
distribution center 726. Distribution center 726 may be, for
example, a distribution center associated with a specific retailer
(e.g., a distribution center for a specific retail store). At
distribution center 726, wireless beacons 114 may be programmed to
be associated with a selected campaign for the specific retailer as
described herein. For example, the unique identifiers for wireless
beacons 114 may be associated with the selected campaign.
[0201] In certain embodiments, POP displays 102 are moved to retail
location 728 at a designated time associated with the selected
campaign for the specific retailer. As described herein, the
location of a specific retail location 728 for each POP display 102
may not be known and the POP displays are distributed randomly to
several retail locations associated with the specific retailer. At
retail location 728, POP displays 102 may be located in a front or
back of the retail location at one or more times during their use.
Additionally, methods described herein may be used to determine if
POP displays 102 are located in the front or back of retail
location 728.
[0202] POP displays 102 may be moved through supply/distribution
chain 720 using a variety of shipping/freight transit methods. For
example, as shown in FIG. 12, POP displays 102 may be moved through
supply/distribution chain 720 using trucks 730. Other shipping
methods may be used including, but not limited to, train, ship
(boat), or air transport.
[0203] In certain embodiments, network gateways 710 are located at
factory 722, pack-out 724, distribution center 726, and/or retail
location 728. In some embodiments, network gateways 710 are located
on trucks 730. Network gateways 710 may be used, as described
herein, to receive data packets from wireless beacons 114 on POP
displays 102 and transmit data received in the data packets to a
remote server (e.g., server 126). Network gateways 710 on trucks
730 may transmit information to a remote server over a wireless
data network (e.g., a cellular network).
[0204] As described above, wireless beacons 114 may not be
programmed to broadcast information for the selected campaign until
they are located at distribution center 726. Wireless beacons 114
may, however, include initial programming that configures the
wireless beacons 114 to broadcast identifying information for the
wireless beacons (e.g., the unique identifiers) once the wireless
beacons are activated in some manner Thus, wireless beacons 114 may
be activated at factory 722 to begin broadcast identifying
information. The identifying information may be received by network
gateway 710 at factory 722. Server 126 may then identify that
specific wireless beacons are at factory 722 based on the
identifying information received from network gateway 710 with the
location of the network gateway being known by the server. Network
gateways 710 with known locations at each of the other locations in
supply/distribution chain 720 may be used similarly to identify the
locations (and time at the locations) of wireless beacons 114 (and
their associated POP displays 102) as the POP displays move through
the supply/distribution chain.
[0205] In certain embodiments, wireless beacons 114 intermittently
broadcast their wireless signals (e.g., data packets with
identifying information) while the wireless beacons are in a low
power mode. For example, as described above, each wireless beacon
114 may broadcast its wireless signal during a different time
period (e.g., once a day during a selected time slot during the
day). Intermittently broadcasting the wireless signals from
wireless beacons 114 may prevent interference between wireless
signals and/or overloading network gateways 710 with wireless
signals. As described herein, wireless beacons 114 may become
active (e.g., broadcast continuously or substantially continuously)
when the wireless beacons arrive at retail location 728 and/or when
the designated time for the selected campaign begins.
[0206] In certain embodiments, POP displays 102 that move through
supply/distribution chain 720 include one or more sensors on the
display (e.g., sensor 116 as described herein). The sensors may be
used to track one or more properties of POP displays 102 as the POP
displays move through supply/distribution chain 720. Data from the
sensors may be stored in memory on POP displays 102 (e.g., memory
110). In some embodiments, the data from the sensors is stored and
then sent to server 126 after POP displays 102 reach their final
location (e.g., retail location 728). In some embodiments, the
sensor data is sent to server 126 as POP displays 102 move through
supply/distribution chain 720. For example, the sensor data may be
provided in data packets broadcast by wireless beacons 114 and
received by network gateways 710. Network gateways 710 may then
provide the sensor data to server 126.
[0207] Examples of properties of POP displays 102 that may be
tracked by the sensors include, but are not limited to, temperature
and motion of the POP displays. Tracking temperature of POP
displays 102 may be useful for perishable products that are
temperature sensitive. For example, if the temperature of POP
displays 102 exceeds minimum and/or maximum temperatures allowable
for a selected product, an alert may be sent that the product may
be spoiled or unsafe for consumer use. Tracking motion of POP
displays 102 may be useful for determining how the POP displays are
handled through supply/distribution chain 720.
[0208] In some embodiments, POP display 102 includes a light sensor
(e.g., one of sensors 116, shown in FIG. 1, is a light sensor). In
such embodiments, the light sensor may be used to trigger
activation of the radio only after the light sensor detects visible
light level above a threshold and the campaign date has started.
Using the light sensor to trigger activation may further conserve
power by not turning the radio on if POP display 102 has not been
unpacked or the store is closed and the lights are off. The radio
and some sensors, however, may not need to operate under the same
schedule or conditions. For example, certain sensors may be active
even when POP display 102 is in low power mode. These sensors may
be used to allow POP display 102 to determine whether the display
is being transported or being set up at a final location. One
skilled in the art will recognize that this permits one to select
what a skilled artisan deems to be the optimal tradeoff between
battery consumption and situational awareness. Some embodiments may
utilize other sensors to determine whether the store is open or
whether potential customers are nearby (e.g., proximity sensors may
be used to determine if customers are nearby). Information from
these sensors may also be combined with the campaign start date to
determine whether the radio should be activated. In some
embodiments, one of sensors 116 is an accelerometer. The
accelerometer may be active when POP display 102 is in low power
mode and may trigger activation of the radio when any movement is
registered by the accelerometer. If, however, a light sensor does
not detect a visible light level above the threshold and/or the
campaign date has not started, the activation of the radio may be
temporary (e.g., only for a short, selected amount of time).
[0209] In some embodiments, POP display 102 (and POP display system
100) allows for the tracking of the deployment rate of POP displays
at a retail location. FIG. 13 depicts a block diagram of an
embodiment of a plurality of POP displays 102 at retail location
200. POP displays 102 at retail location 200 are capable of
communicating with each other and/or with server 126. In certain
embodiments, POP displays 102 communicate with each other and
provide information to a single POP display (e.g., POP display
102'). POP display 102' may then communicate with server 126 to
provide the information to the server, as shown in FIG. 13.
[0210] In some embodiments, server 126 detects information about
the relative locations of wireless beacons 114. For example, since
each wireless beacon 114 is equipped with a unique identifier,
server 126, upon detecting and determining the identity of one
wireless beacon 114 in communication range with another wireless
beacon, may determine that the beacons are associated with a
specific store. In some embodiments, depending on the configured
broadcast mode of wireless beacons 114, server 126 may communicate
with wireless beacon 114' to relay information to the wireless
beacon and other wireless beacons 114 within communication range of
wireless beacon 114'. In this way, a group of beacons may operate
as an ad hoc distributed communication network, which is
advantageous as this does not require that the network be set up
and configured beforehand by a technician.
[0211] As shown in FIG. 3, network gateway 710 may be located at
retail location 200. Network gateway 710 may be capable of
receiving data packets broadcast from wireless beacons 114 located
at retail location 200. Wireless beacons 114 may be located on POP
displays 102 that are associated with a selected campaign where the
selected campaign is based on retail location 200. Network gateway
710 may provide information from the received data packets to a
remote server. The information provided may include unique
identifiers for wireless beacons 114. Based on receiving the unique
identifiers for wireless beacons 114 from network gateway 710, the
remote server may assess that the wireless beacons are associated
with the selected campaign (based on their unique identifiers), the
wireless beacons are working, and the wireless beacons (and their
associated POP displays 102) are located at retail location
200.
[0212] In some embodiments, network gateway 710 is capable of
receiving data packets broadcast from additional wireless beacons
located at retail location 200. These additional wireless beacons
may be "rogue" wireless beacons that are not associated with the
selected campaign for retail location 200. These additional
wireless beacons may include, but not be limited to, wireless
beacons associated with other campaigns and/or wireless beacons
used for other functions. Network gateway 710 may provide
information regarding these additional wireless beacons to the
remote server. In some embodiments, the remote server may catalogue
or attempt to identify the additional wireless beacons for
reporting purposes. For example, a report may be provided to retail
location 200 (or an entity associated with the retail location)
identifying the additional wireless beacons at the retail location
that are not associated with the selected campaign.
[0213] In some embodiments, the presence of a display may be
detected on the selling area of a store (e.g., the customer area or
front of the store) and when present, trigger a message to
consumers whether they are present in the store or not (e.g., does
not matter if the consumer is physically present in the store or
not). In such embodiments, detection of the presence of the display
may be used to announce temporary "deals" or other offers that may
be an attraction for consumers to make a special or unplanned trip
to the store.
[0214] While marketing materials (such as product displays or POP
displays) are intended for use at a retail location (e.g., retail
location 200), often, and sometimes in large percentages, these
marketing materials are not put up at all, are put up at the wrong
time, or are discarded prematurely. Thus, there is an interest in
monitoring retail location compliance with marketing (e.g.,
selected campaign) plans using small electronic devices embedded or
coupled to the marketing materials. A challenge presented with the
use of electronic devices, however, is disposal of
potentially-hazardous batteries or circuit boards with hazardous
materials. Many current options for disposal of
potentially-hazardous batteries or circuit boards with hazardous
materials are expensive or not available for many retail
locations.
[0215] Additionally, disposal standards are evolving at different
paces by state and by country. Consumer product manufacturers and
retailers are facing a combination of regulatory challenges and
fear that some aspect of their long-standing disposal programs will
be subject to steep fines or closure. Further, in addition to
financial penalties, public trust and consumer loyalty, which
typically takes years or decades to build, may deteriorate rapidly
with public disclosure of disposal infractions.
[0216] Wireless beacons 114 and circuit boards 112 on POP displays
102, as described herein, may pose new and different disposal
issues. In particular, embodiments described herein of wireless
beacons 114 and/or circuit boards 112 include electronics and
batteries designed to be embedded in large volumes of
cardboard-based disposable displays, signs, and other marketing
materials (e.g., POP displays 102). Retailers may not even be aware
of the presence of wireless beacons 114 and/or circuit boards 112
due to their being embedded in POP displays 102. Typically, any
items embedded in POP displays 102 are discarded along with the
paper-based materials to which they are attached. Proper disposal
of these electronic items may, however, be critical as new
technologies and/or future regulations are developed. It may also
be desirable to provide affordable and/or creative solutions for
proper disposal of these electronic items.
[0217] As described herein, wireless beacons 114 (located on
circuit boards 112) may be manufactured and sent to a factory for
assembly of POP display 102 (e.g., factory 722, shown in FIG. 12).
Assembly of POP display 102 may include adding marketing materials
and/or special signage to the POP display in addition to coupling
or embedding circuit boards 112 and wireless beacons 114 on the POP
display. In certain embodiments, wireless beacon 114 is placed in
an enclosure when coupled to POP displays 102. The enclosure may be
provided to enable proper disposal and/or recycling of wireless
beacon 114.
[0218] FIG. 14 depicts a top view representation of an embodiment
of wireless beacon 114 in enclosure 740 on POP display 102. FIG. 15
depicts a side view representation of the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 14. Enclosure 740 may include pliable materials that are
durable or sturdy. Enclosure 740 may be, for example, a plastic bag
with a particular shape. In some embodiments, enclosure 740 is a
plastic bag with a rectangular shape similar to a mailing
envelope.
[0219] In certain embodiments, enclosure 740 is coupled to POP
display 102 using an adhesive material (e.g., an adhesive strip of
material), or another attachment means, that allows a person (e.g.,
a retailer employee) to remove the enclosure from the POP display
by applying a small amount of force. In certain embodiments, as
shown in FIG. 15, sensor 742 is positioned between enclosure 740
and POP display 202. In some embodiments, sensor 742 may include,
or be part of, the attachment means for attaching enclosure 740 to
POP display 202. Sensor 742 may be used to detect when enclosure
740 is attached to POP display 102 and/or when the enclosure is
removed from the POP display. For example, in some embodiments,
sensor 742 may be a light sensor or a magnetic sensor used to
assess a condition of the attachment between enclosure 740 and POP
display 102 (e.g., assess whether or not the enclosure is attached
to the POP display). When sensor 742 detects that enclosure 740 and
POP display 102 are attached, wireless beacon 114 may be allowed to
actively operate as described herein (e.g., broadcast its wireless
signal).
[0220] When sensor 742 detects that enclosure 740 and POP display
102 are not attached, an operating state of wireless beacon 114 may
be changed. The change in operating state may be executed by a
program on wireless beacon 114. In certain embodiments, wireless
beacon 114 may change to an operating state where the wireless
beacon is placed in an "alert" state. In the alert state, wireless
beacon 114 may broadcast a wireless signal with one or more data
packets that indicate a "removal" status of the wireless beacon
(e.g., indicate that the wireless beacon has been removed from POP
display 102). The wireless signal may be received by customer
devices 118, network gateway 710, and/or data collection device 711
and transmitted to server 126, as described herein. After a
suitable period for broadcasting its "removal" status, wireless
beacon 114 may execute a shutdown program to turn the wireless
beacon off substantially permanently.
[0221] In some embodiments, sensor 742 includes, or is, a piece of
conductive tape. The conductive tape may be used to attach (couple)
enclosure 740 to POP display 102. Enclosure 740 may include a small
hole that allows the conductive tape to couple wireless beacon 114
to POP display 102. In some embodiments, the conductive tape is
used in addition to the adhesive material coupling enclosure 740 to
POP display 102. The conductive tape may form an electrical
connection to electronics in wireless beacon 114 that is detected
by circuitry in the wireless beacon. With the electrical connection
detected, wireless beacon 114 is allowed to actively operate as
described herein (e.g., broadcast its wireless signal).
[0222] In certain embodiments, when enclosure 740 is removed from
POP display 102 (e.g., at the end of its use or for any other
reason), the conductive tape remains attached to POP display 102
and the conductive tape disconnects from electronics in wireless
beacon 114. When the conductive tape disconnects from the
electronics in wireless beacon 114, the circuitry in the wireless
beacon 114 may detect the change in physical state of the wireless
beacon and change an operating state of the wireless beacon. For
example, the operating state may be change to an operating state
with enclosure 740 not attached to POP display 102 as described
herein.
[0223] In certain embodiments, enclosure 740 includes instructions
for returning wireless beacon 114 to a proper disposal location
(e.g., the manufacturer or programmer of the wireless beacon
responsible for disposal or recycling of the electronics in the
wireless beacon). The instructions may include a shipping address
and prepayment information for shipping enclosure 740 and wireless
beacon 114. For example, enclosure 740 may be a prepaid shipping
enclosure with a preprinted address and postage paid information
for scanning by a shipping company.
[0224] Enclosure 740 may include a barcode label or QR label (e.g.,
unique label 117) that is scannable to indicate the unique
identifier for wireless beacon 114. When enclosure 740 is received
at the shipping destination (e.g., the shipping address on the
enclosure), the barcode label may be scanned to enter the unique
identifier into a database indicating wireless beacon 114 has been
returned. The database may associate the unique identifier with the
retail location (e.g., store) that returned wireless beacon 114
based on location information determined for the wireless beacon.
The database may also include the selected campaign associated with
the returned wireless beacon 114.
[0225] Information regarding the return of multiple wireless
beacons in the database may be used to assess one or more
characteristics of a disposal/recycling program associated with the
wireless beacons. For example, statistics such as, but not limited
to, which stores are most proactively returning (e.g., recycling)
the wireless beacons for a selected campaign, which stores are
removing and discarding the wireless beacons (shown by indicate of
the wireless beacon turning off but not being returned), the number
of beacons being redeployed (e.g., returned and then sent back into
service), and which beacon placement practices are suitable for
better recycling. These statistics may be used to assess ratings
for manufacturers, retailers, and/or display providers.
[0226] The disposal/recycle program using enclosure 740 described
above may provide a simple, low effort and inexpensive program for
recycling and/or reusing wireless beacons 114. In addition,
enclosure 740 and sensor 742 in combination with circuitry on
wireless beacon 114 may be used to provide automatic indication of
removal of the wireless beacon from POP display 102, provide
automatic shutdown of broadcasting for the wireless beacon as well
as other electronic functions, and provide a simple return method
for a retailer. Returning wireless beacons 114 to the shipping
destination (e.g., a proper disposal/recycling site) may allow the
wireless beacons to be refurbished, reused, or disposed of properly
rather than simply being thrown in landfills or other locations not
suitable for electronic disposal.
[0227] It is known in the industry that, on average, only a
fraction of POP displays delivered to a store are actually
deployed. In certain embodiments, however, wireless beacon 114 is
capable of communicating, whether directly or indirectly, with
server 126, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 13. Thus, wireless beacon 114
may relay information gathered by sensors 116 indicating that its
POP display has been deployed. For example, if POP display 102
reaches its campaign start time but its light sensor indicates
darkness for a prolonged period of time, it may be inferred that
the POP display was not deployed on a timely basis.
[0228] In some embodiments, data collected from sensors 116 and/or
customer device 118 (and/or other sources) that is stored in
information 130 on server 126, shown in FIG. 1, may be used for
historical analysis of the performance of POP display 102. In some
embodiments, the historical analysis data is correlated with saved
data from wireless beacon 114 to further gauge customer engagement.
For example, combining information about dwell time with the fact
of whether the potential customer made a pull request may be used
to gauge customer engagement. In some embodiments, the historical
data is correlated with third party data (e.g., retailer data such
as purchase history, etc.). Correlating the historical data with
third party data may provide further information useful to the
retailer to enhance a customer's experience.
[0229] In some embodiments, various statistical analyses are
utilized on historical data collected from POP display 102.
Statistical analyses that may be used include, but are not limited
to, machine learning and data mining techniques, set theory,
multivariate statistics, and time series analyses. Examples of
machine learning include deep learning, neural networks, support
vector machines, random forests, decision tree learning,
association rule learning, inductive logic, clustering, Bayesian
networks, reinforcement learning, representation learning,
similarity and metric learning, sparse dictionary learning, and
genetic algorithms. Examples of data mining, which is often
coextensive with machine learning, include spatial data mining,
temporal data mining, senor data mining, pattern mining, and
subject-based data mining. In some embodiments, these techniques
are used for aspects besides historical analysis. For example,
smoothing techniques associated with some types of temporal data
mining may be used to filter a series of RSSI signal strength
values used in bump detection disclosed herein.
[0230] Examples of different types of data that may be collected
and analyzed for POP displays 102 are illustrated in FIGS. 16A-16G.
FIG. 11A illustrates an example of a campaign calendar. FIG. 16B
illustrates an example of an interface displaying various
statistics related to POP display deployment and sales. FIG. 16C
illustrates an information screen related to the product associated
with the POP display. FIG. 16D illustrates an interface displaying
national deployment information for POP displays. FIG. 16E
illustrates an interface displaying state deployment information
for POP displays. FIG. 16F illustrates an interface displaying
supply chain information. FIG. 16G illustrates an interface
displaying a sales analysis associated with the POP display.
[0231] In some embodiments, POP display 102 includes components or
devices that reduce the surrounding infrastructure requirements for
supporting the POP display. Specifically, POP display 102 may be
equipped with wireless transmission functionality to transmit any
recorded measurements or information derived therein as described
above. This information may be transmitted to a network gateway
and/or a data collection device (e.g., network gateway 710 and/or
data collection device 711, shown in FIG. 3) located within or near
the store (e.g., retail location 200, shown in FIG. 3). In certain
embodiments, instead of a network gateway, an employee of the
retailer or a POP display service provider may be equipped with a
mobile device that contains an application adapted to connect to
POP display 102 and retrieve data from the point of purchase
display to be relayed to a server. This connection may be
accomplished utilizing the same wireless connection that is used
for beacon functionality, or may be conducted by other standard
wireless transmission protocols as described herein, e.g., IEEE
802.11. This minimizes the need for wireless transmission
infrastructure to support the retrieval of information collected by
the point of purchase displays.
[0232] In some embodiments, POP display system 100 utilizes the
application already installed on a potential customer's mobile
device (e.g., software package 122 on customer device 118) to relay
the collected information to a server (e.g., server 126). As shown
in FIG. 1, POP display 102 may connect with customer device 118 via
the same wireless connection that enables beacon functionality
(e.g., Bluetooth connection between wireless beacon 114 and
wireless transceiver 120A) and deliver the data to the customer
device. Customer device 118 may then transmit the data to server
126 via wireless transceiver 120B or another wireless transceiver.
Since transmission through customer device 118 may incur a data
charge on the customer, the application may be configured to prompt
the user for permission to do so. In some embodiments, the
application may offer the user some form of compensation for the
use of their data connection. For example, a discount on some good
or service in the store. In this way, data can be moved to server
126 by users who are normally just walking around the store and
requires no special infrastructure. Additionally, the data to be
transmitted may be compressed using standard techniques to minimize
the amount of bandwidth consumed, and the application (e.g., the
SDK) may be configured to, under certain cases, delay the transfer
of data over the mobile device's wireless network connection to the
server if the network connection is not over WiFi and/or the mobile
device is not connected to an external power source. In other
words, the mobile device may be directed to save the data and wait
until the customer is connected to a wireless network where
transmission of the data will not adversely impact the customer's
wireless data plan or the mobile device's battery life.
[0233] In some embodiments, wireless beacon 114 may be attached to
a high-value or high-interest product. In such cases, wireless
beacon 114 may be used to know/track when the product has been
moved or removed within or beyond the store. Tracking movement of
the product may be useful for inventory control or theft
monitoring. For example, if movement is detected, the server could
note the date and time of movement in order to review security
camera video of the event.
[0234] In certain embodiments, POP display system 100, shown in
FIG. 1, includes one or more security protocols. The security
protocols may be used to provide secure customer interaction and/or
customer engagement with POP display system 100, and/or to control
access to customer interactions and/or customer engagement with the
POP display system. The security protocols may be used to provide
security for a retailer associated with POP display system 100.
[0235] In certain embodiments, the security protocols are included
in SDK 125 located in software package 122 on customer device 118,
as shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the security protocols are
included in software or hardware on network gateway 710. The
security protocols may include protocols for providing a geofence
around one or more retail locations. For example, a list of
acceptable locations for interaction between customer device 118
and POP display system 100 may be stored in memory cache 124 on the
customer device. In some embodiments, SDK 125 provides the list of
acceptable locations into memory cache 124. Acceptable locations
may include, but not be limited to, geographic zones around retail
locations associated with a selected campaign for a selected
retailer (e.g., a perimeter around a retail location).
[0236] FIG. 17 depicts a flowchart of an embodiment of a geofence
protocol process. In certain embodiments, geofence protocol process
750 begins when customer device 118 receives packet 700 from POP
display 102 in 752. In 754, SDK 125 may assess a geographic
location of the customer device (e.g., a GPS location of the
customer device) and/or location information about the customer
device. In 756, SDK 125 may determine if the geographic location
(or a location determined from the location information) of
customer device 118 is in the list of acceptable locations. SDK 125
may access the list of acceptable locations from memory cache 124
in order to determine if the geographic location of the customer
device is in the list of acceptable locations. If SDK 125
determines that customer device 118 is at a geographic location in
the list of acceptable locations ("Y"), then interaction between
the customer device and POP display system 100 may be allowed in
758 (e.g., customer interaction and/or customer engagement with the
POP display system is allowed). If SDK 125 determines that customer
device 118 is at a geographic location that is not in the list of
acceptable locations ("N"), then interaction between the customer
device and POP display system 100 would be prevented in 760. In
some embodiments, interaction between customer device 118 and POP
display system 100 may be throttled or limited (e.g., only limited
interaction for selected content is allowed) in 760.
[0237] In some embodiments, a list of locations where interaction
between customer device 118 and POP display system 100 is not
acceptable may be stored in memory cache 124 on the customer
device. For example, a list of countries that are not acceptable
for customer interaction and/or customer engagement may be stored
in memory cache 124. Such countries may include, for example,
countries where a retailer associated with POP display system 100
does not do business.
[0238] Mobile application 127, as described herein, may be located
in software package 122 on customer device 118, as shown in FIG. 1.
Mobile application 127 may be, for example, a retailer "app" such
as a customer loyalty app specific for a selected retailer. In
certain embodiments, mobile application 127 includes security
protocols for customer interaction and/or customer engagement with
POP display system 100.
[0239] Mobile application 127 may include one or more protocols for
signing (logging) in a user of the mobile application (e.g., for
signing in the customer to the mobile application). In certain
embodiments, when customer device 118 receives packet 700 from POP
display 102, SDK 125 directs mobile application 127 to request a
digitally signed payload from the retail server (e.g., the remote
server for the mobile application or loyalty app) that is logged
into the mobile application. The signed payload may be based on the
user that is logged into mobile application 127. If the user is
logged into mobile application 127, the signed payload may be
received by customer device 118 and utilized by SDK 125.
[0240] In certain embodiments, SDK 125 sends the signed payload
along with a request for up-to-date data (e.g., content) from
server 126. The signed payload may be used by server 126 to
authenticate and/or validate the request for the up-to-date data.
Using the signed payload to authenticate and/or validate the
request may provide security for interactions between customer
device 118 and POP display system 100 involving mobile application
127. Additionally, the retail server may assess the number of
requests being made for a selected signed payload (e.g., requests
are being made by a user with the selected signed payload). The
retail server may direct server 126 to throttle or limit content
requests for the user with the selected signed payload if it is
determined that the user is abusing or overusing POP display system
100 for a specific retailer.
[0241] Merchandise displays (e.g., POP displays) and/or other
product merchandising materials may often be designed and/or
created to be assembled and placed in a consolidated space in a
retail location. An example of displays and products in the
consolidated space may be a box containing a number of beauty
products designed to sit on a retailer's end cap. A header card may
be used to highlight that the product represents the latest
seasonal shade of colors. A separate side panel may highlight a mix
of products available for each shade. Another separate adjoining
panel may highlight that a coupon is available for items contained
on the display. Retailers may, however, often omit one or more of
these elements (e.g., panels) due to the lack of space, lack of
time, or lack of awareness of their criticality to sales of the
product. Thus, it may be useful to assess the proximal presence of
one or more of the elements used for promotion associated with a
selected campaign, where the selected campaign includes two or more
elements as described above.
[0242] As described herein, wireless beacons 114 may be used in POP
displays 102 to interact with customers and provide content to the
customers on customer devices 118. The content provided may be
particular to the selected campaign as determined by the product
manufacturer and/or the retailer. Additionally, wireless beacons
114 in POP displays 102, along with other components associated
with the wireless beacons on the POP displays, provides data
collection, activity and/or environment assessment using sensors,
simplified portable battery supply, and intermittent broadcasting
to extend battery life.
[0243] In certain embodiments, product merchandising materials
associated with POP display 102 (e.g., the elements used for
promotion described above) include additional identification tags.
For example, the product merchandising materials may include
passive EPC (Electronic Product Code) tags. POP display 102 may
include an EPC radio capable of assessing the EPC tags in proximity
to POP display 102. The EPC radio may, for example, broadcast a
wireless signal that reflects from the tags and is received by the
radio, indicating the presence of the tags (and product
merchandising materials) near the radio. In some embodiments, the
EPC radio is intermittently used to assess the EPC tags in
proximity to POP display 102. Intermittent use of the EPC radio may
reduce battery usage with the EPC radio and thus, increase
efficiency in using the EPC radio. Additionally, the product
merchandising materials are likely to not move frequently relative
to POP display 102, so intermittent assessment (e.g., 1-3 times per
day) of the EPC tags may be suitable for certain embodiments.
[0244] In some locations, it may be possible for EPC tags not
associated with POP display 102 to be within a range of the EPC
radio (a typical range being about 25 feet). Thus, in some
embodiments, power for the EPC radio may be throttled from high to
medium to low to further assess which EPC tags are proximal or on
POP display 102 compared to other EPC tags that are randomly in the
vicinity of the POP display. In some embodiments, additional EPC
tags may be placed on products that are placed on POP display 102.
EPC tags on the products may be used, for example, to assess
inventory of products on POP display 102.
[0245] In certain embodiments, the EPC radio broadcasts a signal in
a range of 902 MHz to 928 MHz. In some embodiments, the EPC radio
is included in a single chip or a chip set associated with wireless
beacon 114. For example, the EPC radio may be part of a sub-gig
radio, as described herein. In some embodiments, the sub-gig radio
may be used as the EPC radio (depending on the frequencies
required).
[0246] In certain embodiments, two or more POP displays 102 (and
their wireless beacons 114) are used for testing (e.g., assessing)
the usefulness of different customer interaction experiences. For
example, multiple POP displays 102 may be used to conduct A/B (or
split) testing of different customer interactions. In such
embodiments, a first POP display 102 (or a first set of POP
displays) is configured to provide a first customer (consumer)
interaction experience to one or more customers. The first customer
interaction experience may include, for example, displaying certain
content on display 119 of customer device 118 in response to the
customer device receiving data packets from wireless beacons 114 on
the first POP display 102. The content displayed may be controlled
based on, for example, the unique identifier of wireless beacon 114
on the first POP display 102. In embodiments using a first set of
POP displays, the content displayed may be controlled based on
unique identifiers for wireless beacons associated with the first
set of POP displays.
[0247] For comparative testing (e.g., A/B or split testing), a
second POP display 102 (or a second set of POP displays) may be
configured to provide a second customer interaction experience to
the customers. The second customer interaction experience may
include displaying different content on display 119 of customer
device 118 than the first customer interaction experience. Similar
to the first POP displays 102, the content displayed for
interaction with the second POP displays 102 may be controlled
using the unique identifiers for the second POP displays.
[0248] In certain embodiments, the customers' or users'
interactions with the content displayed in both the first customer
interaction experience and the second customer interaction
experience are assessed as the interactions take place. Assessing
the customers' interactions with the content displayed may include,
for example, assessing the customers' responses to questions, the
customers' clicking of hyperlinks, the customers' access of coupons
or other promotions related to the product displayed, and/or the
customers' interface with other on-screen prompts. Assessing the
customers' interactions may also include, but not be limited to,
assessing movement of customers in response to receiving content,
dwell times of customers after receiving content, removal of
products from the POP display by the customer, and purchase of
products associated with the POP display.
[0249] Comparison of the customers' interactions with the content
displayed in the first customer interaction experience with the
customers' interactions with the content displayed in the second
customer interaction experience may provide an assessment of the
comparative effectiveness of the different customer interaction
experiences. In some embodiments, one or more of the customer
interaction experiences may be dynamically altered during testing.
For example, a customer interaction experience (e.g., the content
displayed) may be altered during testing if the currently displayed
content is proving to be ineffective in generating interest in the
product. Dynamically altering the interaction experience may
provide additional information relating to the effectiveness of
different interaction experiences on a single POP display or a
single set of POP displays.
[0250] In some embodiments, customer devices 118 (e.g., mobile
devices such as smartphones) can act as wireless beacons. Each
smartphone may have a unique identifier that is included in its BLE
advertising packet. The unique identifier is most often used for
pairing the device with another BLE device. The smartphone's
properties as a beacon, however, may be exploited without the
smartphone being paired or connected with BLE listening
devices.
[0251] In one embodiment, a BLE listening device is installed in
one or more locations throughout a retail store or public location,
such as a mall, store window, or a lobby. This BLE listening
capability (or device) may be embedded within a network gateway or
data collection device, or it could be independent of those
devices. A video screen or other media messaging device may be
placed in one or more locations. There may be multiple messages
intended to be conveyed through the media device that may vary
depending on the presence, number, and/or proximity of smartphones
nearby. When people "opt in" to use their personal information or
preferences to tailor information content, additional message
options may be served through the media device.
[0252] The advantages of using a non-phone video screen or media
messaging device may revolve around consumer reach and ease of use.
With a messaging device, consumers don't need to have their
smartphones handy to receive content. A specific phone app or SDK
may not be necessary for customers to trigger and receive
information. A larger screen can convey more information and/or
clearer graphics than a smartphone screen. "After-hours", such
devices may also be used to provide store personnel with a task
list or section stocking instructions.
[0253] Examples of uses of a non-phone video screen or media
messaging device include, but are not limited to, the
following:
[0254] The media device could indicate that specific deli orders,
photo printing, or prescriptions are available for pickup when a
customer is proximal to the media device.
[0255] The media device's message may be triggered and tailored
when X or more people are proximal. The message content may further
be tailored through a server when Y people of a specific age group,
sex, or interest set are present, provided they opt-in to utilizing
their smartphone ID's to be associated with such messages (e.g.,
information about blood pressure monitoring for seniors, baby
products for new parents, gluten-free products for people with food
sensitivities).
[0256] The media device may display an introductory message of
interest to a number of people, then "hand-off" specific offers or
additional interactive messages to specific smartphones to ensure
customer privacy or responsiveness to unique interests.
[0257] The media device could simultaneously collect data regarding
traffic counts, proximity, and dwell time.
[0258] As described herein, large sets of POP displays are often
sent from the display manufacturers to distribution centers or
warehouses (e.g., "co-packers") for storage before being sent to
their intended retail locations. At one or more of these
distribution centers, the POP displays may be combined with retail
products before being sent out for use at the retail locations. In
certain embodiments, as described herein, wireless beacons may be
attached to the POP displays while the displays are located at the
distribution center or at a co-packer. In some embodiments, the
wireless beacons are attached to the POP displays just prior to the
displays being sent out to their intended retail locations. For
example, the wireless beacons may be attached to the POP displays
just before or during the pack-out process for the displays and
retail products.
[0259] In embodiments where the wireless beacons are attached to
the POP displays at the distribution center (or another
intermediate location between the manufacturer and the final retail
location), it may be important that each wireless beacon's unique
identifier is properly associated with the selected campaign for
the POP displays. In some embodiments, wireless beacons are
programmed (including programming of unique identifier) and the
unique identifier is paired with the selected campaign just before
the wireless beacons are sent to the distribution center (e.g.,
co-packer) to be attached to the POP displays.
[0260] Such a programming and attachment process for the wireless
beacons may, however, incur certain problems. For example, the
wireless beacons may be applied to the wrong marketing materials
(e.g., attached to the wrong POP displays). Additionally, it can be
costly to pair each unique identifier to the selected campaign
before the wireless beacon is attached to the POP display and/or it
can be difficult to timely ship the wireless beacons prior to
pack-out dates, which are often uncertain dates. Battery life may
also be limited, and prematurely turning on the wireless beacons
shortens the economic life of the wireless beacons. To overcome
some of these problems, techniques for ensuring wireless beacons
are properly associated with the selected campaign and attached to
POP displays for the selected campaign may be utilized.
Additionally, some techniques that reduce costs associated with
shipping and last-minute preparation of wireless beacons may be
used.
[0261] In certain embodiments, printable circuits are used in
combination with POP displays and wireless beacons to improve the
process for properly associating wireless beacons with POP displays
and marketing campaigns. "Printable circuits", as described herein,
may include electronics that are printed on a surface (e.g.,
components printed using a printer) that are coupled together to
form an electronic circuit. Printable circuits and/or components
may be printed using techniques known in the art (e.g., inkjet
printing or screen printing). Examples of printable components in
printable circuits include, but are not limited to, passive
components (e.g., resistors and capacitors) and active components
(e.g., field effect transistors). In some embodiments, printed
batteries are used in combination with or in addition to printable
circuits. Printed batteries may be printed using more complex
techniques than other printable components.
[0262] In some embodiments, some portion of a printable wireless
beacon circuit is printed at the time the corrugate cardboard (or
other display material) is printed with a marketing message. For
example, a brand-specific logo and/or promotional message
associated with a specific "campaign" may be printed. The
identification (e.g., identification number) of the campaign may be
encoded in a circuit printed at the same time as the brand-specific
logo and/or promotional message. The circuit encoded with the
campaign identification may subsequently be mated with a circuit
containing an identification that is unique to each display
associated with the campaign. In some embodiments, an activation
date may also be encoded in the printable circuit at that time. In
some embodiments, the additional identification information is
contained in the form of an adhesive "patch" that may be attached
to the display manually, or placed in a precise location through
machine application.
[0263] FIG. 18 depicts a representation of an embodiment of a POP
display system utilizing printable circuits. System 1000 includes
POP display 102 and wireless beacon 114. In certain embodiments,
system 1000 includes printable circuit 1002 on POP display 102. In
some embodiments, printable circuit 1002 is attached (or otherwise
coupled) to POP display 102. In other embodiments, printable
circuit 1002 is formed as a part of POP display 102. For example,
printable circuit 1002 may be printed directly on material used for
POP display 102 along with signs, graphics, or other marketing
materials printed on the POP display.
[0264] Printable circuit 1002 may be used in combination with or
instead of microchips or other electronic circuit components
normally mounted on a conductive board (e.g., a circuit board). In
certain embodiments, printable circuit 1002 is printed using
conductive or electronic inks. Inks used for printable circuit 1002
may include, but not be limited to, functional inks based on
organic substances, polymers, nanoparticles, or thin-film
semiconductors. Such functional inks have been developed for
manufacturing flexible electronics that have contributed to the
development of antennas, transistors, solar cells, radio frequency
identification (RFID), flexible displays, electronic clothes,
sensors, etc. In some embodiments, printable circuit 1002 is made
of flexible substrate materials. For example, paper may be used as
the substrate material. Paper may be used as the substrate material
due to its accessibility, low cost, foldability, disposability,
retrievability, and low or negligible pollution. In some
embodiments, printable circuit 1002 includes organic printable
components. For example, printable circuit 1002 may include an
organic field effect transistor. Inorganic printable components may
also be used for one or more printable components.
[0265] In certain embodiments, printable circuit 1002 includes
printed data 1004. Printed data 1004 may be, for example, data
printed on the surface used for printable circuit 1002. Printed
data 1004 may include data or information associated with a
selected campaign (e.g., a selected retail campaign) for POP
display 102. In some embodiments, printed data 1004 includes one or
more parameters for the selected campaign. The parameters for the
selected campaign in printed data 1004 may include configuration
parameters or other information relevant to the selected
campaign.
[0266] In certain embodiments, at least one parameter included in
printed data 1004 is a unique identifier for wireless beacon 114.
Thus, as disclosed herein, wireless beacon 114 may receive and be
assigned the unique identifier from printed data 1004 when the
wireless beacon is attached to POP display 102. The unique
identifier for wireless beacon 114 included in printed data 1004
may be associated with or assigned to the selected campaign for POP
display 102. For example, server 126, shown in FIG. 1, may
associate the unique identifier in printed data 1004 with the
selected campaign for POP display 102. In certain embodiments, the
unique identifier in printed data 1004 is associated/assigned to
the selected campaign before printing the printed data on POP
display 102. Examples of other parameters that may be included in
printed data 1004 include, but are not limited to, activation date
of the selected campaign, campaign identification information, and
retailer information.
[0267] In certain embodiments, wireless beacon 114 in system 1000
does not include any programming or configuration information
associated with the selected campaign before being attached to POP
display 102. For example, wireless beacon 114 may include
pre-flashed chips with code for operation as a wireless beacon
without any additional programming or configuration information. In
certain embodiments, the pre-flashed code for wireless beacon 114
includes instructions for receiving printed data 1004 when the
wireless beacon is attached to POP display 102. The instructions
may, for example, be stored in a memory of wireless beacon 114.
[0268] In certain embodiments, wireless beacon 114 is attached to
POP display 102 at or near the location of printable circuit 1002.
For example, wireless beacon 114 may be attached to POP display 102
along dashed lines 1006 surrounding printable circuit 1002, shown
in FIG. 18. Dashed lines 1006 may represent a location for proper
attachment of wireless beacon 114 to POP display 102. FIG. 19
depicts a representation of an embodiment of system 1000 with
wireless beacon 114 properly attached to POP display 102 along
dashed lines 1006. When wireless beacon 114 is properly attached to
printable circuit 1002 on POP display 102, as shown in FIG. 19, the
wireless beacon is able to access and receive printed data 1004 in
the printable circuit.
[0269] In some embodiments, illumination indicator 1008 provides
indication that wireless beacon 114 has been properly attached to
printable circuit 1002. Illumination indicator 1008 may be, for
example, an LED or other illuminator that is triggered on when
proper connection is made between wireless beacon 114 and printable
circuit 1002. In some embodiments, illumination indicator 1008 is
located on wireless beacon 114. In some embodiments, illumination
indicator 1008 is included in printable circuit 1002 (e.g., is a
component of the printable circuit), as shown in FIG. 18.
[0270] Once wireless beacon 114 is properly attached to printable
circuit 1002 on POP display 102, as shown in FIG. 19, the wireless
beacon may receive printed data 1004 from the printable circuit.
Printed data 1004 may include configuration parameters for the
wireless beacon such as the unique identifier for wireless beacon
114 and an activation date for the selected campaign. After
receiving printed data 1004, wireless beacon 114 may enter a low
power mode (e.g., a sleep or non-broadcasting mode) until the
activation date for the selected campaign or another active mode is
begun as described herein.
[0271] In some embodiments, wireless beacon 114 is powered on
before being attached to printable circuit 1002 on POP display 102.
Wireless beacon 114 may be powered on before being attached if the
wireless beacon includes a battery on the wireless beacon. In some
embodiments, wireless beacon 114 is powered on when the wireless
beacon is attached to printable circuit 1002 on POP display 102.
For example, a switch or other trigger device on POP display 102
may turn on wireless beacon 114 as the wireless beacon is attached
to the POP display. In some embodiments, wireless beacon 114 does
not include a battery (e.g., the wireless beacon is unpowered
before being attached to POP display 102). In such embodiments,
power for wireless beacon 114 may be provided by a battery located
on POP display 102. The battery may be coupled to wireless beacon
114 through printable circuit 1002. In certain embodiments,
printable circuit 1002 includes printed battery 1010. Printed
battery 1010 may provide power to wireless beacon 114 when the
wireless beacon is attached to printable circuit 1002. In some
embodiments, printed battery 1010 may include two or more printed
batteries.
[0272] As described above, pre-flashed wireless beacon 114 may be
attached to POP display 102 at a distribution center (e.g., a
co-packer) with the wireless beacon 114 receiving parameters
associated with the selected campaign from printed data 1004 on the
POP display. As wireless beacon 114 is sent to the distribution
center in the pre-flashed state, the wireless beacon does not need
to be pre-programmed or configured for the selected campaign before
it is sent to the distribution center. Thus, a plurality of
wireless beacons 114, all having the same pre-flashed code without
specific configuration parameters, may be sent to multiple
distribution centers without logistical concerns about exactly
which wireless beacon is sent where because the wireless beacons
will receive their configuration parameters (e.g., "obtain their
identity) when attached to printable circuits 1002 on POP displays
102.
[0273] In some embodiments, a reel and tray/tape based system is
used to attach wireless beacons 114 to printable circuits 1002 on
POP displays 102. FIG. 20 depicts a representation of an embodiment
of reel/tray based system 1012 for attaching wireless beacons 114
to printable circuits 1002 on POP displays 102. Wireless beacons
114 may be placed on trays 1014. Trays 1014 may be similar to trays
and/or tape used for surface mount integrated circuit components.
In some embodiments, trays 1014 are fed onto reels 1016. Reels
1016, with trays 1014 and wireless beacons 114 wound onto the
reels, may be transported to a distribution center (e.g., a
co-packer).
[0274] At the distribution center (or other location for attaching
wireless beacons 114 to POP displays 102), reels 1016 may be placed
into apparatus 1018. Apparatus 1018 may be used to attach wireless
beacons 114 to POP displays 102 with printable circuits 1002.
Apparatus 1018 may be designed similar to apparatus for surface
mounting integrated circuit components such that wireless beacons
114 are properly located on printable circuits 1002 on POP displays
102 (e.g., the wireless beacons are properly attached to the
printable circuits to receive printed data).
[0275] Tracking and accountability of shipments of prescription
pharmaceuticals is important for both economic and regulatory
considerations. From an economical perspective, it is important to
prevent theft and/or unintended loss of prescription pharmaceutical
products, many of which are relatively expensive. Regulations,
meanwhile, typically require that all reasonable efforts be made to
ensure that the number of loss incidents be minimized and that
maximum effort be made to recover and/or determine the source of
any product losses. This may be especially true for controlled
substances such as narcotics, sleeping pills, or pseudoephedrine.
It is also desirable to consider additional accountability measures
when losses become problematic.
[0276] Prescription pharmaceutical products and/or other
high-value, tightly-controlled products are often shipped in
reusable totes or similar shipping containers. An embodiment of a
tote is shown in FIG. 24. Tote 1100 may be a plastic tote or a tote
made from another suitable reusable material. In certain
embodiments, tote 1100 is a shipping container for prescription
pharmaceutical products. Tote 1100 may also be a shipping container
for other products such as other high-value, tightly-controlled
products. For example, tote 1100 may be a shipping container for
products that need to be grouped in some way for shipment. Tote
1100 may be used to ship prescription pharmaceutical products from
one location to another (e.g., from a warehouse to a pharmacy).
[0277] In certain embodiments, tote 1100 includes cover 1102 that
can be repeatedly opened and closed. Cover 1102 may be, for
example, a lid or other structure that opens and closes to provide
access to the inside of tote 1100. When contents (e.g.,
prescription pharmaceutical products) are placed in tote 1100,
cover 1102 is sealed using, for example, tamper evident tape, zip
ties, crimped bands, or another sealing material that provides
notice that the tote has been unsealed or tampered with during
transportation. Tote 1100 is supposed to only be opened at its
final location (e.g., a pharmacy) by authorized personnel.
[0278] Some retailers require that totes be opened in specific
areas under surveillance cameras. A typical problem in pharmacies
or stock rooms, however, is that security cameras are often only
located in consumer areas of the stores (e.g., where consumer
shopping takes place) to, for example, prevent shoplifting. Even in
pharmacies, cameras are typically dedicated to monitoring purchase
transactions. Thus, unpacking of tote 1100 often goes unrecorded.
To record unpacking of tote 1100 would require significant
infrastructure investment in surveillance cameras and/or additional
equipment. The use of wireless beacons and network gateways (and/or
data collection devices) may provide a simple, cost effective
solution for tracking tote 1100 and the loading/unloading of the
tote to provide accountability of products.
[0279] In certain embodiments, tote 1100 includes wireless beacon
114 and switch 1104. Wireless beacon 114 may transmit a data packet
with the unique identifier for the wireless beacon in a wireless
signal. The unique identifier may be associated with tote 1100
and/or the products (e.g., the prescription pharmaceutical
products) associated with the tote. Switch 1104 may be a
microswitch or another switch that can detect opening/closing of
cover 1102. When cover 1102 is opened/closed, switch 1104 may
provide a signal to wireless beacon 114 that the cover has been
opened/closed.
[0280] Wireless beacon 114 normally transmits its wireless signal
at a standard (normal) transmittal rate. In certain embodiments,
when cover 1102 is closed, wireless beacon 114 increases its
transmittal rate to a more rapid transmission rate for a selected
amount of time (e.g., the wireless beacon goes from the first
(standard) transmittal rate to a second (higher) transmittal rate
for the selected amount of time). After the selected amount of time
expires, the transmittal rate of wireless beacon 114 goes back to
its standard (slower) transmittal rate. Similarly, when cover 1102
is opened, wireless beacon 114 may increase its transmittal rate to
the more rapid transmission rate for a selected amount of time. The
amount of time for either rapid transmission mode when tote 1100 is
opened or closed may be, for example, a selected number of minutes
suitable for a network gateway (e.g., network gateway 710) to
receive and recognize the unique identifier for wireless beacon
114.
[0281] Tote 1100 may be opened or closed in a selected area either
at the warehouse or the pharmacy. In certain embodiments, the
selected area where the contents of tote 1100 are loaded or
unloaded (e.g., the tote is opened or closed) is a workstation
provided for a use to load/unload the tote. In certain embodiments,
at least one workstation is installed at both loading (e.g.,
warehouse) and unloading (e.g., pharmacy) locations for the
products. Using a workstation at both ends of the transport process
may provide a system for confirming both loading and unloading
processes of the products and ensuring the loading and unloading
processes have minimal exposure to fraud or theft.
[0282] FIG. 25 depicts a representation of an embodiment of
workstation 1106 for loading/unloading tote 1100. Workstation 1106
may include shelf 1108 to place tote 1100 on for loading/unloading.
In certain embodiments, workstation 1106 includes camera 1110.
Camera 1110 may be a video camera but may also be capable of
providing multiple still images over a short time frame. Camera
1110 may be a wide-angle camera to enable a large field of view of
area around tote 1100. Camera 1110 may be a small, inexpensive
camera (e.g., a camera similar in cost and size to a smartphone
camera). Camera 1110 may be positioned to simultaneously capture
video of tote 1100, the contents of the tote, and a user
loading/unloading the tote. In some embodiments, camera 1110 may
include two or more cameras positioned around workstation 1106 that
simultaneously capture video of the workstation.
[0283] Camera 1110 may be coupled to network gateway 710 to provide
its video feed to the network gateway. In certain embodiments,
network gateway 710 is a wireless network gateway. Network gateway
710 may receive video from camera 1110 either through a wireless
connection or a wired connection. In certain embodiments, camera
1110 is always on and providing video feed to network gateway 710.
For example, camera 1110 may provide substantially continuous video
of workstation 1106 to network gateway 710. Video received by
network gateway 710 from camera 1110 may be temporarily stored in a
memory of the network gateway. For example, video received by
network gateway 710 may be stored in a short-term reusable memory
in the network gateway.
[0284] In some embodiments, images from camera 1110 are processed
through one or more artificial intelligence algorithms to detect
and report on the contents of tote 1100. Detecting and reporting on
contents of tote 1100 may be used to certify correct or incorrect
loading of a tote. Additionally, detecting and reporting on
contents of tote 1100 may be used to compare products in the tote
at receipt versus products in the tote at the time of pack-out.
Such comparisons may aid in the assessment of loss prevention
opportunities and/or issues.
[0285] In some embodiments, special instructions or notes
associated with the shipment are included in a data record
associated with images and/or packing/unpacking of tote 1100. These
instructions or notes may be generated and/or included from either
the pack-out facility or the receiving pharmacy. Additional
information associated with a particular shipment record may be
generated by automated collectors and/or gateways (e.g., network
gateway 710) installed at the originating warehouse, delivery
trucks, and/or store entrances or stocking areas.
[0286] In certain embodiments, network gateway 710 receives
wireless signals from wireless beacon 114 on tote 1100. In some
embodiments, network gateway 710 cycles between two different
detection modes for receiving wireless signals from wireless beacon
114. In a first mode, network gateway 710 may be relatively
insensitive to detecting (e.g., reading) wireless signals from
wireless beacon 114. In the first mode, network gateway 710 may
only be able to detect (read) wireless beacon 114 when tote 1100
(and thus the wireless beacon) is at or immediately adjacent
workstation 1106. In a second mode, network gateway 710 may be a
higher sensitivity mode where the network gateway can detect (read)
signals from wireless beacon 114 over a greater area (e.g., over an
entire store or pharmacy). Through long-distance reads (e.g.,
detecting signals over a greater area in the second mode), the
arrival at the store of a given tote may be noted. Through reads
only proximal to the workstation, the arrival of the tote to the
pharmacy area may be noted. Through reads immediate to the
workstation, the unpacking event may be identified. In some
embodiments, network gateway 710 uses only a single detection
capability for receiving wireless signals from wireless beacon 114.
For example, network gateway 710 may only use a detuned antenna
that receives wireless signals from throughout the
store/pharmacy.
[0287] During normal operation (e.g., when wireless beacon 114 is
transmitting at its normal transmittal rate), network gateway 710
receives the substantially continuous video from camera 1110 and
temporarily stores a selected amount of video in the network
gateway memory. At a loading workstation 1106 (e.g., a workstation
at the warehouse), when cover 1102 of tote 1100 is closed after the
tote's contents (e.g., prescription pharmaceutical products) are
loaded into the tote, wireless beacon 114 begins transmitting at
the second (higher) transmittal rate, as described above. Network
gateway 710 may recognize the higher transmittal rate as a signal
that tote 1100 has been loaded with contents and, in response, the
network gateway may associate wireless beacon 114's unique
identifier with an order number assigned to the tote's
contents.
[0288] Additionally, in response to receiving the higher
transmittal rate signal from wireless beacon 114, network gateway
710 may transfer a selected amount of video from its temporary
memory storage to an event registry in its memory. The selected
amount of video may include a selected amount of video (e.g., a
selected number of minutes of video) from before the higher
transmittal rate signal is received and a selected amount of video
subsequent to receiving the higher transmittal rate signal. The
event registry may also include time and date information as well
as any other relevant information regarding the loading transaction
deemed necessary. After the selected amount of video subsequent to
receiving the higher transmittal rate signal is recorded into the
event registry, network gateway 710 may transmit the data of the
event registry to remote server 126. For example, network gateway
710 may transmit the data of the event registry to remote server
126 over a cellular communication network.
[0289] Remote server 126 may store the transmitted data in a
database. The database may store the transmitted data with
reference to any of the information provided in the event registry.
For example, the data may be registered according to the assigned
order number, the unique identifier for wireless beacon 114,
identification information for the user loading the contents,
time/date information (e.g., time/date of video recording in event
registry), description information of the shipped products, and/or
description information for subsets of the shipped products.
[0290] At an unloading workstation 1106 (e.g., a workstation at the
pharmacy), when cover 1102 of tote 1100 is opened after the tote
has been received at the pharmacy and a user begins to unload the
contents (e.g., prescription pharmaceutical products), wireless
beacon 114 begins to again transmit at the second (higher)
transmittal rate, as described above. As wireless beacon 114's
unique identifier has already been associated with the order number
assigned during loading of the contents, network gateway 710 at the
pharmacy may already associate tote 1100 with the assigned order
number and the expected contents of the order. In some embodiments,
the content information may be provided to the user at the
unloading workstation 1106.
[0291] In response to receiving the higher transmittal rate signal
from wireless beacon 114, network gateway 710 at the pharmacy may
transfer a selected amount of video from its temporary memory
storage to an event registry in its memory. The selected amount of
video may include a selected amount of video (e.g., a selected
number of minutes of video) from before opening of tote 1100 and a
selected amount of video subsequent to opening the tote. The event
registry may also include time and date information as well as any
other relevant information regarding the unloading transaction
deemed necessary. After the selected amount of video subsequent to
opening tote 1100 is recorded into the event registry, network
gateway 710 may transmit the data of the event registry to remote
server 126.
[0292] Remote server 126 may store the transmitted data in its
database and associate the transmitted data with the previously
stored loading data for the order number. Similar to the loading
event storage, the data may be registered according to the assigned
order number, the unique identifier for wireless beacon 114,
identification information for the user unloading the contents,
time/date information, description information of the received
products, and/or description information for subsets of the
received products. The database now includes data for both
loading/unloading of the products for the specific order number. A
user may then retrieve video (and other information) associated
with the specific order number as needed and be able to review the
video to see what went into the tote, who loaded the tote, what
came out of the tote, and who unloaded the tote as well as any
other relevant information stored in database relevant to the
events surrounding loading/unloading of the tote. After information
for multiple loading/unloading events is stored in the database, a
user may be able to retrieve, sort, and/or process the information
for the multiple loading/unloading events as needed to determine,
for example, where products are lost, misplaced, or stolen.
[0293] In some embodiments, wireless beacon 114 includes a counter.
The counter may count the number of times wireless beacon 114
transmits at the second (higher or non-standard) transmittal rate.
Thus, the counter may track the number of times tote 1100 is opened
and closed. The counter may also store information about the
date/time of when wireless beacon 114 transmits at the second
transmittal rate. Information from the counter may be transmitted
to network gateway 710 (and remote server 126) along with other
data regarding the loading/unloading processes. The counter
information may be used to compare the number of times tote 1100 is
opened/closed versus the number of times the tote is received at
workstations 1106 and opened/closed at the workstations. Thus, the
counter information may be used to ensure that tote 1100 has not
been opened or closed at a location besides workstations 1106.
[0294] In certain embodiments, one or more process steps described
herein may be performed by one or more processors (e.g., a computer
processor) executing instructions stored on a non-transitory
computer-readable medium. For example, communication between POP
display 102, customer device 118, server 126, and/or network
gateway 710, shown in FIG. 1, may have one or more steps performed
by one or more processors executing instructions stored as program
instructions in a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a
non-transitory computer readable storage medium). In certain
embodiments, controller 112, on POP display 102, software package
125, on customer device 118, server 126, and/or network gateway 710
include program instructions in the computer readable storage
medium.
[0295] FIG. 26 depicts a block diagram of one embodiment of
exemplary computer system 410. Exemplary computer system 410 may be
used to implement one or more embodiments described herein. In some
embodiments, computer system 410 is operable by a user to implement
one or more embodiments described herein such as communication
between POP display 102, customer device 118, server 126, and/or
network gateway 710, shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 26,
computer system 410 includes processor 412, memory 414, and various
peripheral devices 416. Processor 412 is coupled to memory 414 and
peripheral devices 416. Processor 412 is configured to execute
instructions, including the instructions for communication between
POP display 102, customer device 118, server 126, and/or network
gateway 710, which may be in software. In various embodiments,
processor 412 may implement any desired instruction set (e.g. Intel
Architecture-32 (IA-32, also known as x86), IA-32 with 64-bit
extensions, x86-64, PowerPC, Sparc, MIPS, ARM, IA-64, etc.). In
some embodiments, computer system 410 may include more than one
processor. Moreover, processor 412 may include one or more
processors or one or more processor cores.
[0296] Processor 412 may be coupled to memory 414 and peripheral
devices 416 in any desired fashion. For example, in some
embodiments, processor 412 may be coupled to memory 414 and/or
peripheral devices 416 via various interconnect. Alternatively or
in addition, one or more bridge chips may be used to coupled
processor 412, memory 414, and peripheral devices 416.
[0297] Memory 414 may comprise any type of memory system. For
example, memory 414 may comprise DRAM, and more particularly double
data rate (DDR) SDRAM, RDRAM, etc. A memory controller may be
included to interface to memory 414, and/or processor 412 may
include a memory controller. Memory 414 may store the instructions
to be executed by processor 412 during use, data to be operated
upon by the processor during use, etc.
[0298] Peripheral devices 416 may represent any sort of hardware
devices that may be included in computer system 410 or coupled
thereto (e.g., storage devices, optionally including computer
accessible storage medium 500, shown in FIG. 27, other input/output
(I/O) devices such as video hardware, audio hardware, user
interface devices, networking hardware, etc.).
[0299] Turning now to FIG. 27, a block diagram of one embodiment of
computer accessible storage medium 500 including one or more data
structures representative of POP display 102 (depicted in FIG. 1)
and/or memory cache 124 (depicted in FIG. 1) included in an
integrated circuit design and one or more code sequences
representative of communication between POP display 102, customer
device 118, server 126, and/or network gateway 710 (shown in FIGS.
1 and 3). Each code sequence may include one or more instructions,
which when executed by a processor in a computer, implement the
operations described for the corresponding code sequence. Generally
speaking, a computer accessible storage medium may include any
storage media accessible by a computer during use to provide
instructions and/or data to the computer. For example, a computer
accessible storage medium may include non-transitory storage media
such as magnetic or optical media, e.g., disk (fixed or removable),
tape, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, or Blu-Ray.
Storage media may further include volatile or non-volatile memory
media such as RAM (e.g. synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), Rambus
DRAM (RDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), etc.), ROM, or Flash memory. The
storage media may be physically included within the computer to
which the storage media provides instructions/data. Alternatively,
the storage media may be connected to the computer. For example,
the storage media may be connected to the computer over a network
or wireless link, such as network attached storage. The storage
media may be connected through a peripheral interface such as the
Universal Serial Bus (USB). Generally, computer accessible storage
medium 500 may store data in a non-transitory manner, where
non-transitory in this context may refer to not transmitting the
instructions/data on a signal. For example, non-transitory storage
may be volatile (and may lose the stored instructions/data in
response to a power down) or non-volatile.
[0300] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be realized in any
of various forms. For example, some embodiments may be realized as
a computer-implemented method, a computer-readable memory medium,
or a computer system. Other embodiments may be realized using one
or more custom-designed hardware devices such as ASICs. Other
embodiments may be realized using one or more programmable hardware
elements such as FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays).
[0301] In some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable
memory medium may be configured so that it stores program
instructions and/or data, where the program instructions, if
executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform
a method, e.g., any method embodiments described herein, or, any
combination of the method embodiments described herein, or, any
subset of any of the method embodiments described herein, or, any
combination of such subsets.
[0302] In some embodiments, a wireless device (or wireless station)
may be configured to include a processor (or a set of processors)
and a memory medium, where the memory medium stores program
instructions, where the processor is configured to read and execute
the program instructions from the memory medium, where the program
instructions are executable to cause the wireless device to
implement any of the various method embodiments described herein
(or, any combination of the method embodiments described herein,
or, any subset of any of the method embodiments described herein,
or, any combination of such subsets). The device may be realized in
any of various forms.
[0303] Although specific embodiments have been described above,
these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the
present disclosure, even where only a single embodiment is
described with respect to a particular feature. Examples of
features provided in the disclosure are intended to be illustrative
rather than restrictive unless stated otherwise. The above
description is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications,
and equivalents as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art
having the benefit of this disclosure.
[0304] The scope of the present disclosure includes any feature or
combination of features disclosed herein (either explicitly or
implicitly), or any generalization thereof, whether or not it
mitigates any or all of the problems addressed herein. Accordingly,
new claims may be formulated during prosecution of this application
(or an application claiming priority thereto) to any such
combination of features. In particular, with reference to the
appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined
with those of the independent claims and features from respective
independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and
not merely in the specific combinations enumerated in the appended
claims.
[0305] Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various
aspects of the embodiments described in this disclosure will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description.
Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative
only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art
the general manner of carrying out the embodiments. It is to be
understood that the forms of the embodiments shown and described
herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments.
Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and
described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain
features of the embodiments may be utilized independently, all as
would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the
benefit of this description. Changes may be made in the elements
described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *