Cart monitoring system capable of authorizing cart exit events

• US 10,023,216 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2018
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hannah, Stephen E., Carter, Scott J., James, Jesse M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam D
• Application Number:
  US15/887,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20180154918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 165 Days
• Field of Search: 701 71
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/04 for storing or handling self-service hand-carts or baskets
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/08 from a ground wheel, e.g. engaging the wheel tread or rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/14 characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys collapsible shopping trolleys B62B3/027
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1404 Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements B62B5/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1412 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1492 Wheel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0003 Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0423 braking or blocking when leaving a particular area
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0438 hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/048 Hub brakes; drum brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 : Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 : Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 : Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 : EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 : structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system is capable of monitoring a path followed by a cart in a store or building, and using the path (optionally together with other criteria) to determine whether to authorize the cart to exit. For example, if a shopping cart fails to pass through a checkout lane of a store, the system may perform an action that blocks or inhibits the shipping cart from exiting the store.

Claims

1. A method of inhibiting theft, comprising:

monitoring a path followed by a human-propelled cart in a building, wherein monitoring the path comprises wirelessly communicating with a wheel assembly of the cart, the wheel assembly comprising a wheel, a brake unit, a wireless transceiver, and a controller, the controller capable of activating the brake unit to inhibit or lock rotation of the wheel;

programmatically determining, based at least partly on the path, whether the cart is authorized to exit the building; and

transmitting, on a wireless network, a message from an access point to the wheel assembly, said message uniquely addressed to the wheel assembly and including message content that is based on an outcome of the determination of whether the cart is authorized to exit the building;

by the controller, controlling a state of the brake unit between the activated state and a deactivated state based at least partly on the message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message authorizes the cart to exit the building.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message causes the wheel assembly to disregard a lock signal at a building exit.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the lock signal is a VLF (very low frequency) signal, and is received by the wheel assembly with a VLF receiver that is separate from the wireless transceiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling a state of the brake unit comprises activating the brake unit to lock or inhibit wheel rotation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein programmatically determining whether the cart is authorized to exit the building comprises determining whether the cart passed through a checkout lane.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein programmatically determining whether the cart is authorized to exit the building further comprises determining a speed at which the cart passed through the checkout lane.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein programmatically determining whether the cart is authorized to exit the building further comprises determining whether the checkout lane was active when the cart passed through the checkout lane.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein programmatically determining whether the cart is authorized to exit the building comprises determining whether the cart passed through a particular merchandise area of the building.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein programmatically determining whether the cart is authorized to exit the building comprises comparing transaction records generated by a store checkout system with the path followed by the cart to determine whether any of the transaction records matches the path.

11. A system, comprising:

a wheel assembly configured to attach to a human-propelled cart, the wheel assembly comprising a wheel and comprising a wireless transceiver connected to a programmed controller, the wheel assembly programmed to communicate on a wireless network, and being uniquely addressable on the wireless network, the wheel assembly further including a brake unit controlled by the programmed controller, the brake unit configured to lock or inhibit rotation of the wheel when the brake unit is activated, wherein the programmed controller is programmed to determine whether to activate the brake unit based at least partly on messages received over the wireless network by the wireless transceiver;

an access point device configured to communicate wirelessly with the wheel assembly; and

a network node comprising a processor, the network node programmed to track a path followed by the cart in a building based at least partly on wireless transmissions from the wheel assembly, and to determine, based at least partly on the path, whether to authorize the cart to exit the building;

wherein the network node is programmed to cause the access point device to send, on the wireless network to the wheel assembly, a message that is dependent upon an outcome of the determination of whether to authorize the cart to exit the building, the message addressed to the wheel assembly.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the message, when the network node determines to authorize the cart to exit the building, causes the wheel assembly to disregard a lock signal at a building exit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the lock signal is a VLF (very low frequency) signal, and is received by the wheel assembly with a VLF receiver that is separate from the wireless transceiver.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the message, when the network node determines not to authorize the cart to exit the building, includes a command that causes the wheel assembly to activate the brake unit to lock or inhibit wheel rotation.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the network node, in determining whether to authorize the cart to exit the building, is programmed to determine whether the cart passed through a checkout lane.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the network node, in determining whether to authorize the cart to exit the building, is further programmed to determine a speed at which the cart passed through the checkout lane.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the network node, in determining whether to authorize the cart to exit the building, is further programmed to determine whether the checkout lane was active when the cart passed through the checkout lane.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the network node, in determining whether to authorize the cart to exit the building, is programmed to determine whether the cart passed through a particular merchandise area of the building.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the network node, in determining whether to authorize the cart to exit the building, is programmed to compare transaction records generated by a store checkout system with the path followed by the cart to determine whether any of the transaction records matches the path.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the wheel assembly includes a VLF (Very Low Frequency) receiver that is separate from the wireless transceiver, and the controller is programmed to use the message to determine whether to respond to detection of a VLF signal by the VLF receiver by activating the brake unit.