Task-indicating shelf

• US 10,325,532 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2018
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Nicholaus Adam, Jones, Matthew Allen, Vasgaard, Aaron James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie B
• Application Number:
  US16/168,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20190057628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/025 using stock management systems
• 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: A47F 5/0068 Shelf extensions, e.g. fixed on price rail
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs

Abstract

A task-indicating shelf that includes a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects and one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects is described. The task-indicating shelf includes a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device. Docking the handheld device within the docking station powers an electric circuit between the handheld device and the one or more visual indicators to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators.

Claims

1. A task-indicating shelf, comprising:

a shelf including a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects;

one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects, each of the one or more visual indicators corresponding to a particular type of physical object on the shelf; and

a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device;

wherein docking the handheld device within the docking station powers an electric circuit between the handheld device and the one or more visual indicators to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators.

2. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1, wherein the handheld device provides electrical power to the one or more visual indicators through the docking station.

3. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1, wherein the one or more visual indicators are spaced along a length of the shelf.

4. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1, wherein the one or more visual indicators are disposed along a front face of the shelf.

5. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is a light source including a light emitting diode.

6. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit a light having a single color.

7. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit a flashing light.

8. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit lights having different colors.

9. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1, wherein energizing a first visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates a task of placing a physical object on the supporting surface of the shelf at a location adjacent to the energized first visual indicator.

10. The task-indicating shelf of claim 1, wherein energizing a first visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates a task of removing a physical object from the supporting surface of the shelf at a location adjacent to the energized first visual indicator.

11. A task-indicating shelf system, comprising:

a shelf including;

a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects;

one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects, each of the one or more visual indicators corresponding to a particular type of physical object on the shelf; and

a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device; and

a server in communication with the handheld device;

wherein docking the handheld device within the docking station triggers the handheld device to communicate with the server and receive a specification of tasks to be performed at the shelf from the server; and

wherein docking the handheld device within the docking station powers an electric circuit between the handheld device and the one or more visual indicators to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators based on the task to be performed at the shelf.

12. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11, wherein the handheld device provides electrical power to the one or more visual indicators through the docking station.

13. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is a light source including a light emitting diode.

14. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit a light having a single color.

15. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit a flashing light.

16. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more visual indicators is configured to be selectively energized by the handheld device to emit lights having different colors.

17. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11, wherein energizing a first visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates a task of placing a physical object on the supporting surface of the shelf at a location adjacent to the energized first visual indicator.

18. The task-indicating shelf system of claim 11, wherein energizing a first visual indicator of the one or more visual indicators indicates a task of removing a physical objects from the supporting surface of the shelf at a location adjacent to the energized first visual indicator.

19. A method of indicating tasks to be performed on a shelf, comprising:

providing a shelf including;

a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects;

one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects, each of the one or more visual indicators corresponding to a particular type of physical object on the shelf; and

a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device;

docking the handheld device within the docking station of the shelf;

transmitting tasks to be performed at the shelf from a server to the handheld device; and

powering an electric circuit from the handheld device to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators based on the tasks to be performed at the shelf.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

selectively energizing the one or more visual indicators with the handheld device to emit a light having a single color.