System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media related to re-stocking maps

• US 10,445,690 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Pellow, Benjamin, Poplawski, Emily, Aase, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Uber, Nathan C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz Roman, Denisse Y
• Application Number:
  US15/010,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20170220983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Techniques related to presentation of re-stocking maps are disclosed. The techniques involve accessing using a search engine module, from at least one database, map data relating to a layout of a retail facility, product data identifying products for sale at the retail facility, location data defining a location of products for sale at the retail facility, and inventory data providing an inventory level of the products for sale at the retail facility. A processor makes a determination about which products require re-stocking based on the inventory level. A map of the layout of the retail facility is then generated for presentation on a display of a computing device. The map indicates the location of the products requiring re-stocking with respect to the layout.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one database comprising;

map data relating to a layout of a retail facility;

product data identifying products for sale at the retail facility;

location data defining locations of the products for sale at the retail facility; and

inventory data providing an inventory level of the products for sale at the retail facility; and

a processor configured to;

access the map data, the product data, the location data, and the inventory data;

determine first products of the products that require re-stocking, based on the inventory level;

generate for presentation on a display of a computing device a graphical user interface comprising a map of the layout of the retail facility, wherein the map indicates at least one location of the first products requiring re-stocking with respect to the layout of the retail facility, and wherein the locations comprise the at least one location;

automatically rotate, based on an orientation of the computing device, the map of the layout of the retail facility displayed on the graphical user interface of the computing device;

dynamically track and display a device location of the computing device on the map of the graphical user interface as the computing device moves throughout the retail facility;

generate at least one location graphic indicating the at least one location of the first products requiring re-stocking and at least one quantity change graphic based on a change in at least one quantity of the first products available for sale at the retail facility over time; and

overlay the at least one location graphic at the at least one location of the first products requiring re-stocking on the map and the at least one quantity change graphic on the map.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface of the computing device further comprises:

a zoom interface that specifies a zoom level of the map of the layout of the retail facility.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one database further comprises economic data relating to at least one of profitability, turnover, or return on investment (ROI) of the products for sale at the retail facility.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a re-stocking priority based on at least one of the inventory data, the location data, or the economic data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate at least one priority graphic indicating the re-stocking priority of the first products requiring re-stocking; and

overlay the at least one priority graphic on the map.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide automated updates about the first products requiring re-stocking; and

update the map presented on the display of the computing device to indicate updated locations of the first products requiring re-stocking based on the automated updates.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to access at least one of the map data, the product data, the location data, or the inventory data using at least one application programming interface (API).

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the inventory level further comprises the at least one quantity of the first products available for sale at the retail facility in real-time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the change in the at least one quantity of the first products available for sale at the retail facility over time based on the inventory level.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the at least one quantity change graphic further comprises a chart, a graph, or a heat map.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a mobile device utilized by an individual who performs re-stocking at the retail facility.

12. A computer-implemented method comprising:

accessing from at least one database;

map data relating to a layout of a retail facility;

product data identifying products for sale at the retail facility;

location data defining locations of the products for sale at the retail facility; and

inventory data providing an inventory level of the products for sale at the retail facility;

determining, with a processor, first products of the products that require re-stocking, based on the inventory level;

generating, with the processor, for presentation on a display of a computing device a graphical user interface comprising a map of the layout of the retail facility, wherein the map indicates at least one location of the first products requiring re-stocking with respect to the layout of the retail facility, and wherein the locations comprise the at least one location;

automatically rotate, based on an orientation of the computing device, the map of the layout of the retail facility displayed on the graphical user interface of the computing device;

dynamically tracking and displaying a device location of the computing device on the map of the graphical user interface as the computing device moves throughout the retail facility;

generating at least one location graphic indicating the at least one location of the first products requiring re-stocking and at least one quantity change graphic based on a change in at least one quantity of the first products available for sale at the retail facility over time; and

overlaying the at least one location graphic at the at least one location of the first products requiring re-stocking on the map and the at least one quantity change graphic on the map.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface of the computing device further comprises:

a zoom interface that specifies a zoom level of the map of the layout of the retail facility.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

accessing-from the at least one database economic data relating to at least one of profitability, turnover, or return on investment (ROI) of the products for sale at the retail facility.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining, with the processor, a re-stocking priority based on at least one of the inventory data, the location data, or the economic data.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating, with the processor, at least one priority graphic indicating the re-stocking priority of the first products requiring re-stocking; and

overlaying, with the processor, the at least one priority graphic on the map.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing, with the processor, automated updates about the first products requiring re-stocking; and

updating, with the processor, the map presented on the display of the computing device to indicate updated locations of the first products requiring re-stocking based on the automated updates.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein accessing, with the processor, from the at least one database is further defined as accessing at least one of the map data, the product data, the location data, or the inventory data using at least one application programming interface (API).

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the inventory level comprises the at least one quantity of the first products available for sale at the retail facility in real-time and further comprising:

determining, with the processor, the change in the at least one quantity of the first products available for sale at the retail facility over time based on the inventory level; and

generating, with the processor, the at least one quantity change graphic further comprises a chart, a graph, or a heat map.

20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:

access from at least one database;

map data relating to a layout of a retail facility;

product data identifying products for sale at the retail facility;

location data defining locations of the products for sale at the retail facility; and

inventory data providing an inventory level of the products for sale at the retail facility;

determine first products of the products that require re-stocking, based on the inventory level;

generate for presentation on a display of a computing device a graphical user interface comprising a map of the layout of the retail facility, wherein the map indicates at least one location of the first products requiring re-stocking with respect to the layout of the retail facility, and wherein the locations comprise the at least one location;

automatically rotate, based on an orientation of the computing device, the map of the layout of the retail facility displayed on the graphical user interface of the computing device;

dynamically track and display a device location of the computing device on the map of the graphical user interface as the computing device moves throughout the retail facility;

generate at least one location graphic indicating the at least one location of the first products requiring re-stocking and at least one quantity change graphic based on a change in at least one quantity of the first products available for sale at the retail facility over time; and

overlay the at least one location graphic at the at least one location of the first products requiring re-stocking on the map and the at least one quantity change graphic on the map.