Product tracking system
First Claim
1. A method for tracking merchandise comprising the steps of:
- placing a sensor device into a proximity near merchandise being displayed, the sensor device including an air displacement sensor device;
calibrating the sensor device to a baseline measurement of a displacement of air in the presence of the merchandise, comprising;
measuring, by the sensor device, a first change in air displacement proximal a location where the merchandise is displayed;
incrementally removing a first portion of the merchandise so that a second portion of the merchandise remains at the location; and
measuring, by the sensor device, a second change in air displacement proximal the location;
establishing, by the sensor device in response to the first and second changes in air displacement, a threshold for a permissible change in the baseline measurement of the displacement of air;
detecting, by the sensor device, the change in the displacement of air that is greater than the threshold, wherein the change in the displacement of air occurs as a function of a removal of the merchandise from the proximity of the sensor device; and
transmitting, by the sensor device, an alert indicating a removal of the merchandise from the proximity of the sensor device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods and tools for tracking the amounts of merchandise being displayed or available for sale in a retail environment using measurements of air displacement caused by the movement of customers, employees and shopping carts throughout a retail environment. The disclosed embodiments may position air displacement sensors throughout a store and near the products being offered for sale. As the merchandise is removed by customers, a greater amount of air may be measured. Embodiments of each sensor device may be calibrated with a maximum threshold measurement of air displacement corresponding to the amount of merchandise surrounding the sensor. After enough of the products have been removed from the surrounding proximity of the sensor, the maximum threshold of air displacement may be reached, wherein upon exceeding the maximum threshold of air displacement a signal may be sent alerting employees to restock the specified merchandise proximate to the sensor'"'"'s location.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for tracking merchandise comprising the steps of:
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placing a sensor device into a proximity near merchandise being displayed, the sensor device including an air displacement sensor device; calibrating the sensor device to a baseline measurement of a displacement of air in the presence of the merchandise, comprising; measuring, by the sensor device, a first change in air displacement proximal a location where the merchandise is displayed; incrementally removing a first portion of the merchandise so that a second portion of the merchandise remains at the location; and measuring, by the sensor device, a second change in air displacement proximal the location; establishing, by the sensor device in response to the first and second changes in air displacement, a threshold for a permissible change in the baseline measurement of the displacement of air; detecting, by the sensor device, the change in the displacement of air that is greater than the threshold, wherein the change in the displacement of air occurs as a function of a removal of the merchandise from the proximity of the sensor device; and transmitting, by the sensor device, an alert indicating a removal of the merchandise from the proximity of the sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system comprising:
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a processor; a memory device coupled to the processor; a sensor device coupled to the processor; and a computer readable storage device coupled to the processor, wherein the computer readable storage device contains program code executable by the processor via the memory device to implement a method for tracking merchandise comprising the steps of; placing the sensor device into a proximity near merchandise being displayed; calibrating the sensor device to a baseline measurement of a displacement of air in the presence of the merchandise, comprising; measuring, by the sensor device, a first change in air displacement proximal a location where the merchandise is displayed; incrementally removing a first portion of the merchandise so that a second portion of the merchandise remains at the location; and measuring, by the sensor device, a second change in air displacement proximal the location; establishing, by the sensor device in response to the first and second changes in air displacement, a threshold for a permissible change in the baseline measurement of the displacement of air; detecting, by the sensor device, the change in the displacement of air that is greater than the threshold, wherein the change in the displacement of air occurs as a function of a removal of the merchandise from the proximity of the sensor device; and transmitting, by the sensor device, an alert indicating a removal of the merchandise from the proximity of the sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification