Electronically connected environment

• US 10,517,056 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobile Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Wylie, Hunter, Blaser, Robert Logan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Shawkat M
• Application Number:
  US15/367,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20170164314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 235380, 235383, 375220, 705 1, 705 10, 705 26, 705 39, 726 2, 726 6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0025 synchronizing potentially movable access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for an electronically connected environment, such as implemented in connection with one or more computing and/or communication networks, devices, and/or protocols, for example.

Claims

1. A method for operation within a network that comprises a plurality of nodes, the network including a wireless network, each node having a digital identity that identifies the node within the network, and wherein the nodes comprise (1) a plurality of post positions, (2) an aggregator, and (3) a computer system, wherein the aggregator includes a wireless interface, the method comprising:

displaying a product via one of the post positions at a physical slotting position in a product display area;

the post position with the displayed product receiving a product identifier for the displayed product;

the post position with the displayed product communicating data for dissemination via the network, wherein the communicated data links the product identifier for the displayed product with the digital identity for the post position that displays the displayed product;

repeating the displaying, receiving, and communicating steps for a plurality of the post positions;

the aggregator collecting the communicated data from the post positions via the network;

the aggregator wirelessly communicating the collected data to the computer system via the wireless interface and the wireless network; and

the computer system generating view data from (1) the collected data and (2) data that links the post position digital identities to their physical slotting positions such that the view data tracks which products are located at which physical slotting positions via linkages among the product identifiers, post position digital identities, and physical slotting positions within the view data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is part of a retail consumer electronics environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said retail consumer electronics environment comprises at least one of the following:

a retail consumer electronics store;

a retail consumer electronics display;

or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said communicating step is performed wirelessly with at least one wireless transceiver.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of said nodes communicating over the network regarding at least one of the following:

status of one or more of said nodes;

an instruction to one or more of said nodes;

or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said status comprises at least one of the following:

security-related status;

operation-related status;

access-related status;

activity-related status;

or any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said status is determined with respect to one or more levels.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said one or more levels comprises at least one of the following:

an employee-type level;

a manager-type level;

an administrator-type level;

a master-administrator-type level;

or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said instruction comprises an electronic instruction for at least one of the following:

changing an operation;

changing said status;

powering on;

powering off;

providing information;

an electronic communication;

or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the computer system maintaining a database comprising attributes for said nodes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said attributes comprise at least one of the following:

statistical attributes;

identifying attributes;

security attributes;

operational attributes;

or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said network further comprises at least one of the following:

a peer-to-peer-type network;

a cellular network;

a distributed network;

a wired communications network;

or any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said wireless network comprises a mesh-type network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said nodes further comprise at least one of the following:

a device node;

a hook node;

a shelf node;

a display node;

a power outlet node;

an audio-video (AV) controller node;

a camera node;

a sensor node;

a status indicator node;

a docking station node;

a goods node;

a security node;

or any combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said digital identities comprise or are represented via at least one of the following:

an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI);

an Integrated Circuit Card Identity (ICCID);

an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI);

a Mobile Station Integrated Services for Digital Network number (MSISDN);

a model;

a type;

a make;

a barcode;

a universal product code (UPC);

a serial number;

software parameters;

hardware parameters;

a location;

or any combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said digital identities are determined, at least in part, via at least one of the following:

an identification entity;

a dedicated node identifier (ID);

an imaging device capturing an image of a good;

or any combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicated data from the post positions further comprises lift statistics data regarding customer interactions with the corresponding post positions;

and

wherein the method further comprises the computer system including the lift statistics data in the view data such that the view data associates the customer interactions with the physical slotting positions that are linked to the post position digital identities.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the computer system providing reports to users regarding the lift statistics data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of a plurality of the post positions comprises a liftable mounting puck on which a product is displayed;

wherein the lift statistics data includes data regarding customer lifts of the mounting pucks; and

wherein the lift statistics data associates customer lifts of the mounting pucks with the physical slotting positions that are linked to the post position digital identities corresponding to the post positions for which customers lifted the mounting pucks.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the lift statistics data further includes data the identifies the products displayed on the lifted mounting pucks.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the reports show a breakdown of lift statistics by the physical slotting positions for the post positions.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the lift statistics data further includes data that identifies times of day for the customer lifts of the mounting pucks.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the reports show a breakdown of lift statistics by time of day.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the lift statistics data further includes data that identifies a duration for the customer lifts of the mounting pucks.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the reports show a breakdown of lift statistics by durations for the customer lifts.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the providing step comprises the computer system providing the reports to users via a graphical user interface.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a local computer that serves as an access control entity.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the computer system further comprises a server linked to the local computer via the network, wherein the server serves as a global view entity.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of the post positions comprises a liftable mounting puck on which a product is displayed.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the post positions serve as wireless nodes in the wireless network, and wherein the post position communicating step comprises the post positions wirelessly communicating the data that links the product identifiers for the displayed products with the digital identities for the post positions to the aggregator via the wireless network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein each of a plurality of the liftable mounting pucks comprises a wireless interface such that the liftable mounting pucks with wireless interfaces are addressable on the wireless network, and wherein the post position communicating step comprises the liftable mounting pucks with the wireless interfaces wirelessly communicating the data that links the product identifiers for the displayed products with the digital identities for the post positions to the aggregator via the wireless network and the liftable mounting pucks'"'"' wireless interfaces.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the post position digital identities comprise digital identities for the wirelessly addressable liftable mounting pucks.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the wireless network comprises a wireless mesh network that wirelessly meshes the wireless interfaces of the liftable mounting pucks.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

the computer system providing a view of the view data for display to a user via a user interface, wherein the view of the view data relates product identifiers for the displayed products to physical slotting positions in the display area.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the physical slotting positions comprise position numbers at a display table.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the product identifier comprises at least one of a model, type, and make for the product.

37. A system comprising:

a plurality of nodes that are connectable to a network, the network including a wireless network, each node having a digital identity that identifies the node within the network, and wherein the nodes comprise;

a plurality of post positions, each post position for displaying a product at a physical slotting position in a product display area, wherein each post position is configured to (1) receive a product identifier for the displayed product and (2) communicate data for dissemination via the network, wherein the communicated data links the product identifier for the displayed product with the digital identity for the post position;

an aggregator that includes a wireless interface, wherein the aggregator is configured to collect the communicated data from the post positions via the network; and

a computer system;

wherein the aggregator is further configured to wirelessly communicate the collected data to the computer system via the wireless interface and the wireless network; and

wherein the computer system is configured to generate view data from (1) the collected data and (2) data that links the post position digital identities to their physical slotting positions such that the view data tracks which products are located at which physical slotting positions via linkages among the product identifiers, post position digital identities, and physical slotting positions within the view data.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said nodes are further configured to communicate at least one of the following over the network:

status of one or more of said nodes;

an instruction to one or more of said nodes;

or any combination thereof.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the communicated data from the post positions further comprises lift statistics data regarding customer interactions with the corresponding post positions;

and

wherein the computer system is further configured to include the lift statistics data in the view data such that the view data associates the customer interactions with the physical slotting positions that are linked to the post position digital identities.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the computer system is further configured to provide reports to users regarding the lift statistics data.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein each of a plurality of the post positions comprises a liftable mounting puck for displaying a product;

wherein the lift statistics data includes data about customer lifts of the mounting pucks; and

wherein the lift statistics data associates customer lifts of the mounting pucks with the physical slotting positions that are linked to the post position digital identities corresponding to the post positions for which customers lifted the mounting pucks.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the lift statistics data further includes data the identifies the products displayed on the lifted mounting pucks.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the reports show a breakdown of lift statistics by the physical slotting positions for the post positions.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the lift statistics data further includes data that identifies times of day for the customer lifts of the mounting pucks.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the reports show a breakdown of lift statistics by time of day.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein the lift statistics data further includes data that identifies a duration for the customer lifts of the mounting pucks.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the reports show a breakdown of lift statistics by durations for the customer lifts.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein the computer system is further configured to provide the reports to users via a graphical user interface.

49. The system of claim 37, wherein the computer system comprises a local computer that serves as an access control entity.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the computer system further comprises a server linked to the local computer via the network, wherein the server serves as a global view entity.

51. The system of claim 37, wherein each of a plurality of the post positions comprises a liftable mounting puck for displaying a product.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the post positions are arranged to serve as wireless nodes in the wireless network, the post positions configured to wirelessly communicate the data that links the product identifiers for the displayed products with the digital identities for the post positions to the aggregator via the wireless network.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein each of a plurality of the liftable mounting pucks comprises a wireless interface such that the liftable mounting pucks with wireless interfaces are addressable on the wireless network, and wherein the liftable mounting pucks with the wireless interfaces are configured to wirelessly communicate the data that links the product identifiers for the displayed products with the digital identities for the post positions to the aggregator via the wireless network and the liftable mounting pucks'"'"' wireless interfaces.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the post position digital identities comprise digital identities for the wirelessly addressable liftable mounting pucks.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the wireless network comprises a wireless mesh network that wirelessly meshes the wireless interfaces of the liftable mounting pucks.

56. The system of claim 51, wherein the computer system is further configured to provide a view of the view data for display to a user via a user interface, wherein the view of the view data relates product identifiers for the displayed products to physical slotting positions in the display area.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the physical slotting positions comprise position numbers at a display table.

58. The system of claim 37, wherein the product identifier comprises at least one of a model, type, and make for the product.