Mobile retail systems and methods of distributing and stocking the mobile retail systems

• US 10,339,514 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Natarajan, Chandrashekar, High, Donald R., Unahalekhaka, Atikhun
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, Florian M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deligi, Vanessa
• Application Number:
  US15/335,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20170124547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 705 17, 700214, 700216, 700219, 700226, 700228, 700231, 700232, 700233, 700236, 700242
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4097 using mutual authentication between devices and transaction partners
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/35 for the management of goods or merchandise

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to enhance customer service through the distribution of mobile sales vehicles comprising: an engine and a drivetrain; a point of sales system; product storage storing pre-selected products selected in response to an evaluation of location demographic information, and in response to an evaluation of population demographic information, wherein the pre-selected products comprise a sub-set of potential products available from a retail entity operating the sales vehicle; and a product distribution system coupled with the point of sales system and comprising a control circuit configured to authorize access by a customer to one or more products stored in the product storage and purchased by the customer.

Claims

1. A mobile product sales vehicle, comprising:

an engine, a steering system, and a drivetrain enabling independent movement of the sales vehicle to different locations;

a driving control system comprising global positioning processing, sensors, and sensor processing, wherein the driving control system provides self-driving of the sales vehicle and couples with the engine and the steering system of the sales vehicle to automatically control the self-movement of the sales vehicle without human interaction;

a point of sales system;

product storage configured to store pre-selected products selected in response to an evaluation of location demographic information comprising information about multiple potential locations to which the sales vehicle could be directed and an assigned location of the potential locations to which the sales vehicle is assigned to be located, and in response to an evaluation of population demographic information comprising information about numerous potential customers that have a relationship with the assigned location, wherein the pre-selected products comprise a sub-set of potential products available from a retail entity operating the sales vehicle;

a vehicle product inventory system communicatively coupled with a remote sales system, wherein the vehicle product inventory system is configured to maintain vehicle product inventory information of inventory on the sales vehicle and further configured to receive a communication from the remote sales system that a first product on the sales vehicle has been pre-ordered, to reserve at the sales vehicle the first product, and to reduce an available inventory quantity in the sales vehicle for the first product in response to the communication of the pre-order and to maintain an accurate count of a total available number of the first product and other products in the sales vehicle; and

an automated product distribution system coupled with the point of sales system and comprising a control circuit configured to authorize access by a customer to one or more products stored in the product storage and purchased by the customer, wherein the product distribution system further comprises;

at least one automated robotic arm positioned to retrieve products from product inventory on the sales vehicle; and

at least one conveyor system to direct the retrieved products to an appropriate customer at the sales vehicle requesting the corresponding product;

wherein the point of sale system comprises a wireless transceiver and is configured to wirelessly communicate with an application executed on a portable first user interface unit exclusively associated with a first customer and receive from the application a confirmation confirming an identification of the first customer; and

wherein the point of sales system is configured to wirelessly communicate private information associated with the first customer to the portable first user interface unit exclusively associated with the first customer based on the confirmation to cause the portable user interface unit to display the private information associated with the first customer that is not to be displayed on a display of a first customer terminal of the sales vehicle.

2. The sales vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of customer terminals, comprising the first customer terminal, each configured to allow customers to interact with at least the point of sales system, wherein each of the plurality of customer terminals comprising a display and one or more cameras corresponding to the corresponding display; and

an image processing system coupled with the one or more cameras of the plurality of customer terminals and configured to recognize movements by the customer allowing the customer to interact with the point of sale system without having to touch the display or other inputs.

3. The sales vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

an audio processing system cooperated with the plurality of customer terminals and configured to receive audio voice input from a customer, recognize a first command from the audio voice input and cause the first command to be implemented; and

wherein the image processing system is further configured to detect one or more predefined movement gestures performed by the customer, identify a second command corresponding to the one or more predefined movement gestures and information displayed at the corresponding customer terminal when the one or more predefined movement gestures are performed by the customer, and cause the second command to be implemented.

4. The sales vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

an audio processing system cooperated with the plurality of customer terminals and configured to receive audio voice input from a customer; and

wherein the image processing system is further configured to perform facial recognition such that a customer is identified through voice recognition and facial recognition.

5. The sales vehicle of claim 1, wherein the product storage further comprises multiple self-service storage units configured to store pre-ordered products that have been pre-ordered by one or more customers with the intent to retrieve respective pre-ordered products from one of multiple sales vehicles to be assigned to the assigned location, wherein each of the storage units is directly accessible by customers from an exterior of the sales vehicle, and wherein each storage unit comprises a locking system that when locked prevents access to the respective storage unit from the exterior the sales vehicle;

and

wherein the point of sales system communicationally couples with each of the storage units and is configured to issue an unlock command to cause a respective one of the storage units to activate the locking system to unlock.

6. The sales vehicle of claim 1, wherein the product storage further comprises multiple storage units each configured to store one or more products, wherein the storage units further comprise a temperature control system configured to independently control a temperature within the corresponding storage unit based on a product stored within the storage unit.

7. The sales vehicle of claim 6, wherein the point of sale system is configured to wirelessly receive from the application executed on the portable first user interface unit a request that a first storage unit of the storage units that is temporarily associated with the customer be unlocked;

and

wherein the point of sale system is further configured to issue the unlock command in response to receiving the request to unlock the first storage unit and receiving the confirmation from the portable first user interface unit to activate the locking system of the first storage unit.

8. The sales vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

the vehicle product inventory system communicationally coupled with the point of sale system, wherein the vehicle product inventory system is provided with the vehicle product inventory information corresponding to each product carried by the sales vehicle, communicates with the point of sale system to allow customers at the point of sale system to access and review product information of the available products currently carried on the sales vehicle, and to update the vehicle product inventory information as products are acquired by customers from the sales vehicle such that product information provided to subsequent customers regarding product inventory on the sales vehicle is accurate; and

wherein the vehicle product inventory system further has access to product inventory available through the retail entity and not currently available at the sales vehicle, and to receive orders from one or more customers for one or more products not currently available at the sales vehicle and a designation of a method of receiving the ordered product from a set of methods of receiving the product, wherein the set of methods comprises picking up the ordered product at a later time from a sales vehicle, picking up the ordered product at a sales facility maintained by the sales entity, and delivery of the ordered product to a designated delivery location.

9. The sales vehicle of claim 1, wherein the driving control system is configured to receive a schedule and routing information to one or more pre-selected locations, including the assigned location, and automatically controls the self-movement of the sales vehicle without human interaction to move the sales vehicle to the one or more pre-selected locations.

10. A method of enabling mobile product sales, comprising:

storing, in product storage of a mobile products sales vehicle, pre-selected products selected in response to an evaluation of location demographic information comprising information about multiple potential locations to which the sales vehicle could be directed and an assigned location of the potential locations to which the sales vehicle is assigned to be located, and in response to an evaluation of population demographic information comprising information about numerous potential customers that have a relationship with the assigned location, wherein the pre-selected products comprise a sub-set of potential products available from a retail entity operating the sales vehicle;

receiving a schedule and routing information to one or more pre-selected locations, including the assigned location;

autonomously controlling, through a driving control system of the sales vehicle, an engine and a steering system of the sales vehicle and automatically controlling self-movement of the sales vehicle without human interaction to at least the assigned location;

allowing customers to access a point of sales system and to purchase one or more products currently available on the mobile sales vehicle while at the assigned location;

authorizing access, through a product distribution system of the sales vehicle and coupled with the point of sales system, by a customer to one or more products stored in the product storage and purchased by the customer;

activating at least one automated robotic arm positioned to retrieve products from product inventory on the sales vehicle and controlling the at least one automated robotic arm to retrieve the one or more products and to place the retrieved one or more products onto a conveyor system of the sales vehicle;

activating the conveyor system and directing the retrieved one or more products to an appropriate customer at the sales vehicle requesting the corresponding product;

wirelessly communicating with an application executed on a first user interface unit associated with a first customer;

receiving from the application executed on the first user interface unit a confirmation confirming an identification of the first customer;

wirelessly communicating, from the point of sales system, private information associated with the first customer to the first user interface unit exclusively associated with the customer based on the confirmation, and causing the first user interface unit to display private information of the customer that is not to be displayed on a display of a first customer terminal of the sales vehicle;

wirelessly communicating, through a vehicle product inventory system, with a remote sales system;

wirelessly receiving a communication from the remote sales system that a first product on the sales vehicle has been pre-ordered;

reserving at the sales vehicle the pre-ordered product; and

reducing, by the vehicle product inventory system, an available inventory quantity in the sales vehicle for the first product in response to the communication of the pre-order and maintaining an accurate count of a total available number of the first product and other products in the sales vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

enabling customers access to and to interact with a plurality of customer terminals, comprising the first customer terminal, wherein each of the plurality of customer terminals is fixed with the sales vehicle communicatively coupled with the point of sale systems; and

enabling the customers to interact with at least the point of sales system through one of the plurality of customer terminals, wherein each of the plurality of customer terminals comprising a display and one or more cameras corresponding to the corresponding display; and

recognizing, through an image processing system coupled with one or more cameras of the plurality of customer terminals, movements by the customer and allowing the customer to interact with the point of sale system without having to touch the display or other inputs.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving audio voice input from a customer, through an audio processing system cooperated with the plurality of customer terminals;

recognizing a first command from the audio voice input;

causing the first command to be implemented;

detecting, through the image processing system, one or more predefined movement gestures performed by the customer;

identifying a second command corresponding to the one or more predefined movement gestures and information displayed at the corresponding customer terminal when the one or more predefined movement gestures are performed by the customer; and

causing the second command to be implemented.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving audio voice input from a customer;

performing, through the image processing system, facial recognition; and

identifying a customer through voice recognition and facial recognition.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

enabling customers direct exterior access to multiple self-service storage units storing pre-ordered products that have been pre-ordered by one or more customers with the intent to retrieve respective pre-ordered products from one of multiple sales vehicles to be assigned to the assigned location; and

issuing an unlock command to a locking system of a respective one of the storage units to activate the locking system to unlock the respective one of the storage units.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving, from the first user interface unit, a request that a first storage unit of the storage units that is temporarily associated with the customer be unlocked; and

issuing the unlock command in response to receiving the request to unlock the first storage unit and the confirmation from the first user interface unit to activate the locking system of the first storage unit.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

independently controlling a temperature within each of multiple storage units, of the sales vehicle, based on a product stored within the respective storage units.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

maintaining, local at the sales vehicle, vehicle product inventory information corresponding to each product carried by the sales vehicle;

allowing customers, at the sales vehicle through the point of sale system, to access and review product information of the available products currently carried on the sales vehicle based on the vehicle product inventory information;

locally updating the vehicle product inventory information as products are acquired by customers from the sales vehicle such that product information provided to subsequent customers regarding product inventory on the sales vehicle is accurate;

accessing product inventory information of products available through the retail entity and not currently available at the sales vehicle; and

receiving, through the point of sale system of the sales vehicle, orders from one or more customers for one or more products not currently available at the sales vehicle and a designation of a method of receiving the ordered product from a set of methods of receiving the product, wherein the set of methods comprises picking up the ordered product at a later time from a sales vehicle, picking up the ordered product at a sales facility maintained by the sales entity, and delivery of the ordered product to a designated delivery location.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a schedule and routing information to one or more pre-selected locations, including the assigned location; and

automatically controlling, through a driving control system, the self-movement of the sales vehicle without human interaction to move the sales vehicle to the one or more pre-selected locations.