Shopping facility assistance system and method having a motorized transport unit that selectively leads or follows a user within a shopping facility
First Claim
1. A shopping facility assistance system comprising:
- a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a retail store space;
a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit; and
a central computer system having a network interface configured for the central computer system to wirelessly communicate with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the retail store space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system instructs a given one of the plurality of motorized transport units to;
lead a user to a destination within the retail store;
orfollow the user within the retail store;
as determined by the central computer system; and
wherein the central computer system is further configured to automatically switch the given one of the plurality of motorized transport units from leading the user to following the user when the user diverts from following the given one of the plurality of motorized transport units.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shopping facility assistance system includes a plurality of motorized transport units, a plurality of user interface units, and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the motorized transport units and the user interface units. The central computer system is configured to control movement of the motorized transport units through a shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the user interface units. More particularly, the central computer system controls movement of the motorized transport units such that a given one of the plurality of motorized transport units selectively leads a user to a destination within the shopping facility or follows the user within the shopping facility as determined by the central computer system. By one approach, the motorized transport units move through the shopping facility via a plurality of preferred pre-determined path segments.
604 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A shopping facility assistance system comprising:
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a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a retail store space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface configured for the central computer system to wirelessly communicate with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the retail store space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system instructs a given one of the plurality of motorized transport units to; lead a user to a destination within the retail store;
orfollow the user within the retail store; as determined by the central computer system; and wherein the central computer system is further configured to automatically switch the given one of the plurality of motorized transport units from leading the user to following the user when the user diverts from following the given one of the plurality of motorized transport units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method employed by a shopping facility assistance system having:
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a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a retail store space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface configured for the central computer system to wirelessly communicate with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the retail store space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units; the method comprising; determining by the central computer system whether a given one of the plurality of motorized transport units will; lead a user to a destination within the retail store;
orfollow the user within the retail store; the central computer system automatically switching the given one of the plurality of motorized transport units from leading the user to following the user when the user diverts from following the given one of the plurality of motorized transport units. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification