Two-way communication system for tracking locations and statuses of wheeled vehicles

• US 20060244588A1
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hannah, Stephen E., Carter, Scott J., James, Jesse M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/04 for storing or handling self-service hand-carts or baskets
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/08 from a ground wheel, e.g. engaging the wheel tread or rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/14 characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys collapsible shopping trolleys B62B3/027
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1404 Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements B62B5/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1412 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1492 Wheel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0003 Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0423 braking or blocking when leaving a particular area
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0438 hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/048 Hub brakes; drum brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 : Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 : Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 : Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 : EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 : structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel may also include a brake mechanism. In one embodiment, the wheels are placed on shopping carts and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. The collected data may be used for various purposes, such as locking the wheel of an exiting cart if the customer has not paid, estimating numbers of queued carts, stopping wheel skid events that occur during mechanized cart retrieval, store planning, and providing location-based messaging to customers.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the usage of vehicles, the system comprising:

a control unit coupled to a radio frequency (RF) communication system; and

a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle including a wheel assembly with sensor circuitry for sensing at least one type of condition, and including an RF transceiver system coupled to the sensor circuitry, said RF transceiver system configured to communicate bi-directionally with the RF communication system as the vehicle moves in a vehicle monitoring area, and configured to report events detected via the sensor circuitry;

wherein the control unit receives and aggregates vehicle status data collected via bi-directional RF communications with the RF transceiver systems of the vehicles, said status data including vehicle location data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the RF communication system includes a plurality of access points mounted at selected locations in the vehicle monitoring area, said access points configured to communicate with the control unit and with the RF transceiver systems of the vehicles.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least some of the access points include directional antennas that are mounted so as to create respective zones within the monitoring area, and wherein the system monitors the locations of the vehicles, at least in part, by detecting entry of particular vehicles into particular zones.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the access points uses a directional antenna to create a lock zone in an area in which vehicles are not permitted, and wherein the RF transceiver systems of the vehicles are responsive to entry into the lock zone by engaging a vehicle brake mechanism.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the access points communicate with the RF transceiver systems of the vehicles using a protocol in which an access point issues a command to one or more of the RF transceiver systems by sending a plurality of wakeup messages, each of which includes the command and specifies a timing of a response window for responding to the command.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system additionally includes at least one magnetic marker that is encoded with a unique code and positioned at a selected location in the monitoring area, said magnetic code being readable by the sensor circuitry when a corresponding wheel assembly passes over the magnetic marker, and wherein the RF transceiver systems of the vehicles are configured to report detection of the magnetic marker via the RF communication system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the magnetic marker is positioned in a checkout lane of a store, and the unique code identifies the checkout lane.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes at least one VLF signal line that generates a VLF signal that is detectable via said sensor circuitry, and wherein the RF transceiver systems of the vehicles are configured to report detection of the VLF signal line to the RF communications system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry includes an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) receiver capable of detecting an EAS signal.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each vehicle'"'"'s RF transceiver system and sensor circuitry in fully contained in a wheel of the respective vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each wheel assembly includes a brake mechanism capable of being activated by the wheel assembly'"'"'s RF transceiver system, and wherein the system additionally includes a component that programmatically analyzes reported events associated with a vehicle to determine whether to engage the vehicle'"'"'s brake mechanism.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said component determines whether to engage the vehicle'"'"'s brake mechanism, at least in part, by assessing whether the vehicle has passed through a checkout lane.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the vehicles include display units, and the system in capable of using the monitored location of a vehicle to select messaging to display on the vehicle'"'"'s display unit.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the RF transceiver systems run software that is upgradeable via the RF communication system.

15. A system for tracking and controlling a wheeled vehicle, the system comprising:

a wheel adapted to be attached to the vehicle, the wheel including a brake mechanism, and including sensor circuitry capable of detecting at least one type of condition; and

an RF transceiver system connected to the sensor circuitry and to the brake mechanism, said RF transceiver system configured to communicate bi-directionally over a wireless link to report events detected via the sensor circuitry and to receive commands;

wherein the RF transceiver system is responsive to commands received over the wireless link by activating and deactivating the brake mechanism to control movement of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a node programmed to communicate with the RF transceiver system over the wireless link, and to analyze event data reported by the RF transceiver system substantially in real time to determine whether to cause the brake mechanism to be activated.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a rotation sensor that senses rotation of the wheel.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor circuitry further comprises a magnetic field sensor, and the RF transceiver system is configured to use outputs of the magnetic field sensor and rotation sensor in combination to capture, and report via the wireless link, data representative of unique magnetic codes of magnetic markers that the wheel passes over.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) receiver capable of detecting an EAS signal.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a very low frequency (VLF) receiver capable of detecting a VLF transmission.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a vibration sensor capable of detecting wheel vibration, and wherein the RF transceiver system is configured to use the vibration sensor to detect, and report via the wireless link, wheel skid events.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor circuitry and the RF transceiver system are fully contained within the wheel.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the wheel has a diameter of approximately five inches.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the wheel is configured for use on a shopping cart.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor circuitry is contained within the wheel, and the RF transceiver system is part of a display unit that attaches to the vehicle.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the wheel contains a power generator that generates a voltage signal in response to rotation of the wheel, wherein the power generator is connected so as to supply power to at least the sensor circuitry and the RF transceiver system.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the RF transceiver system is configured to generate a plurality of RSSI values from one or more transmissions of a node, and to use the plurality of RSSI values to generate a filtered RSSI value.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the RF transceiver system is further programmed to do at least one of the following:

(1) use the filtered RSSI value to determine whether to respond to a transmission from the node, (2) report the filtered RSSI value via the wireless link.

29. A method of monitoring and controlling movement of shopping cart, the method comprising:

monitoring a location of a shopping cart via bi-directional radio frequency (RF) communications with a cart transceiver of the shopping cart, said cart transceiver electrically coupled to a brake mechanism of the shopping cart; and

automatically determining whether to activate the brake mechanism to inhibit the shopping cart from exiting a store based, at least in part, on a path taken by the shopping cart before proceeding to an exit of the store, as determined from said monitoring.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein automatically determining whether to activate the brake mechanism comprises assessing whether the shopping cart passed through a checkout lane prior to proceeding to the exit.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein automatically determining whether to activate the brake mechanism further comprises taking into consideration a speed at which the shopping cart passed through the checkout lane.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the method comprises monitoring said speed via a rotation sensor included in a wheel of the shopping cart.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein automatically determining whether to activate the brake mechanism further comprises identifying a checkout lane used by the shopping cart, and assessing whether a register in the checkout lane was active when the shopping cart passed through the checkout lane.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein assessing whether the register was active comprises using an acoustic,sensor to check for a beep sound generated by a merchandise scanner.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein assessing whether the register was active comprises using a sensor mounted at the checkout station to assess whether a cashier is present.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein automatically determining whether to activate the brake mechanism further comprises determining whether the shopping passed through a high-theft-risk merchandise area.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein monitoring the location of the shopping cart comprises monitoring signal detection events reported by the cart transceiver.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein monitoring the location of the shopping cart comprises communicating with the cart transceiver via each of a plurality of directional antennas mounted in the store.

39. A method of controlling a cart, comprising:

communicating bi-directionally with the cart over at least one wireless link to obtain event data, including event data reflective of a location of the cart, wherein the cart includes a brake mechanism that can be engaged to impair movement of the cart; and

programmatically analyzing the event data substantially in real time at a node that is separate from the cart to evaluate whether to cause the brake mechanism to be engaged.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the cart is a shopping cart, and the method comprises communicating bi-directionally with the shopping cart via a plurality of access points located in a store.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the event data includes data descriptive of location-based signals detected by sensor circuitry contained in a wheel of the shopping cart.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein programmatically analyzing the event data comprises assessing whether the shopping cart has passed through a checkout lane of the store.

43. A method of reducing wheel damage to carts retrieved by a mechanized cart retrieval unit, the method comprising:

detecting a wheel skid event via a vibration sensor included in a wheel assembly of a cart being retrieved by the mechanized cart retrieval unit; and

in response to detecting the wheel skid event, transmitting a message to the mechanized cart retrieval unit over a wireless communication link to cause the mechanized cart retrieval unit to take a corrective action.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the corrective action is the disablement of cart retrieval operations.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the corrective action comprises activation of an alarm.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein cart is a shopping cart, and the method comprises sensing wheel vibration via a vibration sensor included in the wheel of the shopping cart.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein method comprises receiving said message via a directional antenna of the mechanized cart retrieval unit.

48. The method of claim 43, further comprising transmitting a command from the cart retrieval unit during cart retrieval to cause wheel locking mechanisms of carts being retrieved to remain unlocked.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the command is transmitted via a directional antenna on the mechanized cart retrieval unit, said directional antenna positioned so as to focus transmissions on a cart retrieval area.

51. The system of claim 48, further comprising a mechanized cart retrieval unit that is responsive to the alert message by discontinuing a cart retrieval operation.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the vibration sensor is a piezoelectric vibration sensor.

53. The system of claim 48, wherein the communication circuit is included in the wheel.

50. A system for reducing wheel damage, comprising:

a wheel configured for use on a shopping cart;

a vibration sensor included in the wheel and capable of detecting vibration caused by skidding of the wheel during mechanized cart retrieval; and

a communication circuit connected to the vibration sensor and configured to respond to vibration detection by the vibration sensor by transmitting an alert message via an RF communication link.

54. A system for retrieving shopping carts, the system comprising:

a plurality of shopping carts, each of which includes RF communication circuitry coupled to a braking mechanism, said RF communication circuitry being capable of receiving RF transmissions of commands; and

a mechanized cart retrieval unit that pushes or pulls a group of nested carts to facilitate retrieval, the mechanized cart retrieval unit configured to communicate with the RF communication circuitry of the nested carts to cause the braking mechanisms of the nested carts to remain unlocked during mechanized cart retrieval.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the shopping carts are ordinarily responsive to detection of a VLF (very low frequency) signal by locking their respective braking mechanisms, and wherein the mechanized cart retrieval unit is capable, via communication with the RF communication circuitry of the nested carts, of causing the nested carts to disregard the VLF signal.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the mechanized cart retrieval unit includes a directional antenna positioned so as to focus RF transmissions of commands on the nest of carts.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein the communication circuitry of each shopping cart is coupled to a vibration sensor capable of detecting a wheel skid event, and is capable of reporting a detected wheel skid event to the mechanized cart retrieval unit.

58. The system of claim 54, wherein the mechanized cart retrieval unit is a mechanized cart pusher, and is configured to command at least one shopping cart at the front of the nest to apply partial braking during mechanized cart retrieval so that the group of carts does not become un-nested.

59. The system of claim 54, wherein the RF communication circuitry includes an RF transceiver.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the RF transceiver is fully contained within a wheel of the respective shopping cart.

61. A method of estimating a number of carts clustered together in an area that comprises a plurality of carts, the method comprising:

causing each of the plurality of carts to generate an RF transmission via a respective RF transceiver;

at each respective cart, generating RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) values for the transmissions received from the other carts; and

collectively analyzing the RSSI values generated at the carts to estimate how many of the carts are clustered together.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the method is performed at a checkout area to estimate a number of shopping carts queued at a register.

63. The method of claim 62, farther comprising generating an alert message when said number of queued shopping carts exceeds a threshold.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the method is performed to determine an approximate number of carts being retrieved by a mechanized cart retrieval unit.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising automatically doing at least one of the following if the approximate number of carts being retrieved exceeds a selected threshold:

(1) disabling the mechanized cart retrieval unit, (2) activating an alarm.

66. The method of claim 61, further comprising using RSSI values generated by a receiver at a front of a cart queuing area to identify a first cart in an identified queue of carts, said receiver not being attached to any one of the carts.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein the RF transceivers are located in wheels of the carts.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein collectively analyzing the RSSI values comprising converting a group of RSSI values into a filtered RSSI values.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein collectively analyzing the RSSI values comprising calculating distance metrics for specific pairs of carts, and using a clustering algorithm to analyze the distance metrics.

70. A system for detecting clusters of carts, comprising:

a plurality of wheels that are adapted to be attached to respective carts, each wheel including an RF transceiver; and

a node configured to communicate bi-directionally with the plurality of wheels;

wherein the wheels are configured to measure signal strengths of transmissions from other wheels and to report said signal strengths to said node, and the node is programmed to collectively analyze the reported signal strengths to identify carts that are clustered together.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the node is programmed to identify a set of carts that form a queue.

72. A system for controlling shopping carts usage in the vicinity of a parking lot, the system comprising:

a device that repeatedly transmits a lock command from a directional antenna, said directional antenna mounted above ground and angled downward to create a lock zone in which shopping cart use is restricted, said lock zone encompassing an exit area associated with the parking lot; and

a plurality of shopping carts, each shopping cart comprising a brake mechanism, and comprising an RF communication circuit that is responsive to the lock command by activating the brake mechanism.

73. The system of claim 72, further comprising a second directional antenna from which an unlock command is repeatedly transmitted, said second directional antenna mounted and angled downward to create an unlock zone adjacent to the lock zone such that a user of a cart that enters the lock zone can move the cart a short distance to cause the cart'"'"'s wheel to become unlocked.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the unlock command is transmitted from the second directional antenna by said device.

75. The system of claim 73, wherein the RF communication circuits include RF transceivers.

76. A system for controlling vehicle usage, comprising:

a device that repeatedly transmits a lock command from a directional antenna, said directional antenna mounted above ground and angled downward to create a lock zone in which vehicle use is restricted; and

a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle comprising a brake mechanism, and comprising an RF communication circuit that is responsive to the lock command by activating the brake mechanism.

77. A shopping cart system, comprising:

a shopping cart having an RF transceiver and a display unit, said RF transceiver configured to communicate bi-directionally with one or more nodes of a wireless network to enable a location of the shopping cart to be monitored; and

a content selection module that selects content to display on the display unit based, at least in part, on a current location of the shopping cart.

78. The shopping cart system of claim 77, wherein the content selection module selects content for display based, at least in part, on a store department in which the shopping cart is currently located.

79. The shopping cart system of claim 77, wherein the content selection module selects content for display based further on a purchase history of the current user of the shopping cart.

80. The shopping cart system of claim 77, wherein the shopping cart includes a wheel braking mechanism that is responsive to a signal, and the content selection module causes the display unit to display a warning message when the shopping cart is approaching an area in which the braking mechanism will become locked.

81. A method of analyzing shopping cart usage, comprising:

generating shopping cart event data via two-way RF communications with each of a plurality of shopping carts associated with a store, said event data including information about paths followed by the shopping carts during shopping sessions of customers;

aggregating the shopping cart event data in a data repository; and

programmatically analyzing the aggregated shopping cart event data to generate information about shopping patterns of customers.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein programmatically analyzing the aggregated shopping cart event data comprises associating particular shopping cart paths followed by customers with particular transaction records generated by a point-of-sale system.