System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media related to concurrent presentation of retail facility maps

• US 10,467,720 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• 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): Li, Sun M
• Application Number:
  US15/010,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20170221170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 705 141, 705 144
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/20 Destination assistance within a business structure or complex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

Techniques related to concurrent presentation of retail facility maps are disclosed. The techniques involve acquiring tracking data relating to a location of a mobile device in a retail facility and acquiring, using for a search engine module, map data relating to a layout of the retail facility. A first map based on the map data is presented on a display of the mobile device. The first map comprises an entirety of the layout. A second map based on the map data and tracking data is concurrently presented on the display of the mobile device. The second map comprises a zoomed-in portion of the layout that is proximate to the location of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A server, comprising:

a tracking system being configured to receive tracking data relating to a location of a mobile device as the mobile device moves through a retail facility;

a database comprising map data relating to a layout of the retail facility; and

a processor configured to;

generate for presentation on a display of the mobile device a first map based on the map data, wherein the first map is static and comprises an entirety of the layout; and

generate for concurrent presentation on the display of the mobile device a second map based on the map data and the tracking data, wherein the second map comprises a zoomed-in portion of the layout of the first map that is proximate to the location of the mobile device, wherein the first map and the second map are displayed on the display of the mobile device at a same time, the zoomed-in portion of the second map changes to follow the location of the mobile device as the mobile device moves through the retail facility, a boundary graphic indicative of a perimeter of the second map is displayed as an overlay over the first map, the overlay changes over the first map as the second map changes, the boundary graphic moves on the first map as the location of the mobile device moves through the retail facility, and the overlay further comprises an indicator graphic that tracks the location of the mobile device within the boundary graphic.

2. The server of claim 1 wherein the tracking system is located at the retail facility.

3. The server of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the second map for full-screen presentation on the display of the mobile device and the first map within a window displayed over a part of the second map.

4. The server of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the first map such that the layout presented in the first map provides a user of the mobile device context as to where the user is located at the retail facility.

5. The server of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to change the zoomed-in portion of the layout presented in the second map by automatically centering the location of the mobile device on the second map based on an updated location of the mobile device.

6. The server of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the second map with a variable zoom, with a zoomed-in state for presenting the zoomed-in portion of the first map, and a zoomed-out state for presenting at least one of a zoomed-out portion of the layout of the first map or the entirety of the layout of the first map.

7. The server of claim 6 wherein the processor is further configured to generate the first map for presentation when the second map is in the zoomed-in state, and hide the first map when the second map is in the zoomed-out state.

8. The server of claim 7 wherein the processor is further configured to overlay a graphic on the second map when the second map is in the zoomed-out state, and hide the graphic on the second map and overlay the graphic on the first map when the second map is in the zoomed-in state.

9. The server of claim 8 wherein the graphic is indicative of at least one of an orientation of the mobile device in the retail facility, a location of at least one of an item for sale at the retail facility, an entrance or exit at the retail facility, a checkout station at the retail facility, a restroom at the retail facility, or a department at the retail facility, or advertising or promotional information relating to an item for sale at the retail facility.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising:

acquiring, with a tracking system, tracking data relating to a location of a mobile device as the mobile device moves through a retail facility and map data relating to a layout of the retail facility;

presenting, using a processor, a first map on a display of the mobile device wherein the first map is static based on the map data and comprises an entirety of the layout; and

concurrently presenting, using the processor, a second map on the display of the mobile device wherein the second map is based on the map data and the tracking data and comprises a zoomed-in portion of the layout of the first map that is proximate to the location of the mobile device, wherein the first map and the second map are displayed on the display of the mobile device at a same time, the zoomed-in portion of the second map changes to follow the location of the mobile device as the mobile device moves through the retail facility, a boundary graphic indicative of a perimeter of the second map is displayed as an overlay over the first map, the overlay changes as the second map changes, the boundary graphic moves on the first map as the location of the mobile device moves through the retail facility, and the overlay further comprises an indicator graphic that tracks the location of the mobile device within the boundary graphic.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein the tracking system is located at the retail facility.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein presenting the second map further is further defined as presenting, with the processor, the second map in full-screen on the display and wherein presenting the first map is further defined as presenting, using the processor, the first map within a window displayed over a part of the second map.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein presenting the first map is further defined as presenting, using the processor, the first map such that the layout presented in the first map provides a user of the mobile device context as to where the user is located at the retail facility.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein presenting the second map further is further defined as presenting, using the processor, the second map such that the zoomed-in portion of the layout changes by automatically centering the location of the mobile device on the second map based on an updated location of the mobile device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 further comprising providing, using the processor, the second map with a variable zoom, with a zoomed-in state for presenting the zoomed-in portion of the first map, and a zoomed-out state for presenting at least one of a zoomed-out portion of the layout of the first map or the entirety of the layout of the first map.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 wherein presenting the first map further occurs when the second map is in the zoomed-in state, and further comprising hiding, using the processor, the first map when the second map is in the zoomed-out state.

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

overlaying, using the processor, a graphic on the second map when the second map is in the zoomed-out state;

hiding, using the processor, the graphic on the second map; and

overlaying, using the processor, the graphic on the first map when the second map is in the zoomed-in state.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the graphic is indicative of at least one of an orientation of the mobile device in the retail facility, a location of at least one of an item for sale at the retail facility, an entrance or exit at the retail facility, a checkout station at the retail facility, a restroom at the retail facility, or a department at the retail facility, or advertising or promotional information relating to an item for sale at the retail facility.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein:

the indicator graphic that tracks the location of the mobile device inside the boundary graphic comprises an arrow.

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

process tracking data relating to a location of a mobile device as the mobile device moves through a retail facility;

process map data relating to a layout of the retail facility;

facilitate presentation on a display of the mobile device a first map based on the map data, wherein the first map is static and comprises an entirety of the layout; and

concurrently facilitate presentation on the display of the mobile device a second map based on the map data and the tracking data, wherein the second map comprises a zoomed-in portion of the layout of the first map that is proximate to the location of the mobile device, wherein the first map and the second map are displayed on the display of the mobile device at a same time, the zoomed-in portion of the second map changes to follow the location of the mobile device as the mobile device moves through the retail facility, a boundary graphic indicative of a perimeter of the second map is displayed as an overlay over the first map, the overlay changes as the second map changes, the boundary graphic moves on the first map as the location of the mobile device moves through the retail facility, and the overlay further comprises an indicator graphic that tracks the location of the mobile device within the boundary graphic.