System and method for smart retail display

• US 10,130,195 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Phillips, Percy D., Sebastian, Andries D., Hernandez, Ercilia
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, William J
• Application Number:
  US14/947,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20170148077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/00 Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0018 Display racks with shelves or receptables racks per se A47B; storage devices for warehouses B65G1/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0219 to keep record of the use of a product
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

The present system relates to methods and apparatus for displaying retail information. Specially, the present system provides a system for displaying retail information specified by a retailer or a consumer and real-time monitoring of retail product for the retailer. For example, this allows a retailer to send promotional offers to a consumer operated external device, the retailer to keep real-time inventory of products, and the consumer to request the location of a product in a retail outlet. Additionally, the described system provides methods and apparatus for theft detection of a retail product.

Claims

1. A smart retail display system, comprising:

at least one near field communication retail shelf;

at least one near field communication shelf display connected to the near field communication retail shelf by at least one communication link;

at least one product package location on the near field communication retail shelf;

a near field communication shelf control system having a memory, a processor, and at least one communication link, wherein the near field communication shelf control system transmits display information to the near field communication shelf display; and

at least one product package having a product package display with a communication link;

wherein the near field communication shelf control system is in communication with the product package display through the communication link;

wherein the at least one product package includes a at least one sensor operable to collect environmental data associated with the at least product package, the at least one sensor in communication with a processor having associated memory operable to;

store the collected environmental data communicated from the at least one sensor in a database of unique product identifiers; and

,

store a sales verification for each of the at least one product package in the database of unique product identifiers.

2. The smart retail display system of claim 1, wherein the at least one product package includes at least one unique product identifier related to a conductive ink tag, a near field communication tag, or a radio-frequency identification tag.

3. The smart retail display system of claim 1, wherein the product package display and the near field communication shelf display is a liquid crystal display, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display, or a light-emitting diode display.

4. The smart retail display system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor include at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a timing sensor.

5. The smart retail display system of claim 1, wherein the database of unique product identifiers is located on a personal computer, a laptop, and/or a tablet.

6. The smart retail display system of claim 1, wherein the product package includes at least package open sensor, the at least one package open sensor operably in communication with the shelf control system.

7. The smart retail display system of claim 1, wherein the near field communication retail shelf includes a plurality of sensors.

8. The smart retail display system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of a motion detector or a pressure detector.

9. The smart retail display system of claim 7, wherein the retail shelf is operable to transmit a command to the near field communication control system.

10. A smart retail display system, comprising:

at least one near field communication retail shelf including a plurality of sensors and at least one near field communication shelf display operably connected to the at least one near field communication retail shelf, both the retail shelf and the shelf display having a communication link;

at least one product package including a plurality of sensors operably in communication with a product package display by a communication link;

wherein the plurality of sensors are also operatively in communication with a memory and operable to collect environmental data associated with the at least product package, the memory operable to;

store the collected product-related environmental data communicated from the plurality of sensors in a database of unique product identifiers; and

,

store, in the database of unique product identifiers, a sales verification for each of the at least one smart product package;

a near field communication shelf control system having a memory, a processor, and at least one communication link, wherein the near field communication shelf control system is operable to transmit display information to the shelf display and the product package display;

wherein, the near field communication shelf control system is operable to dynamically update the shelf display and the product package display through the at least one communication link.

11. The smart retail display system of claim 10 wherein the near field communication shelf display and the product package display include one of a liquid crystal display, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display, or a light-emitting diode display.

12. The smart retail display system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of sensors of the near field communication shelf include at least one of a motion detector or a pressure detector.

13. The smart retail display system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of sensors of the product package include at least a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a timing sensor to provide the near field communication shelf control system with product-related environmental data and time data.

14. The smart retail display system of claim 10 wherein the near field communication shelf display is configured to be dynamically updated in response to data received by the near field communication shelf control system from the plurality of sensors as product-related environmental data updates and time data updates through the at least one communication link.

15. The smart retail display system of claim 10 wherein the product package display is configured to be dynamically updated by the near field communication shelf control system in response to data received regarding product-related environmental data updates and as time data updates from the plurality of sensors through the at least one communication link.

16. The smart retail display system of claim 10 wherein the product package display is configured to display product-related environmental data collected by the plurality of sensors of the product package display.

17. The smart retail display system of claim 10 wherein the shelf control system is operably in communication with a user display device to receive a location request information command, the shelf control system operable to send a command to the shelf display to illuminate.

18. A smart retail display system, comprising:

at least one near field communication retail shelf including a plurality of sensors;

at least one near field communication shelf display connected to the near field communication retail shelf, both the retail shelf and the shelf display having at least one communication link;

a plurality of product package locations on the near field communication retail shelf, each product package location configured to receive a product package having a product package display and an associated communication link;

a near field communication shelf control system having a memory, a processor, and at least one communication link, wherein the near field communication shelf control system transmits display information to the near field communication shelf display;

wherein the near field communication shelf control system is operable to receive data from the plurality of sensors;

wherein the near field communication shelf control system is operable to;

receive a product location request from a consumer, and in response to receiving the product location request, identify the location related to the location request;

detect, through at least one of the plurality of sensors, that a product package has been removed from the product package location; and

,

responsive to the detection;

transmit, to the removed product package a unique display message for display on the display of the removed product package; and

register the removal of the removed product package in a database of unique product identifiers,

wherein the near field communication shelf control system if further operable to register, in the database of unique product identifiers, a sales verification.