SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING USE OF A SHOPPING CART

• US 20080315540A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jesse M. James, Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah
• Original Assignee: Jesse M. James, Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah
• Inventors: Hannah, Stephen E., Carter, Scott J., James, Jesse M.
• Application Number:
  US12/200,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20080315540A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/33.994
• 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 enhancing the use of a shopping cart, the system comprising:

a display unit and communication circuitry adapted to be mounted to the shopping cart, said communication circuitry 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;

a braking mechanism coupled to the communication circuitry and configured to inhibit motion of the shopping cart, wherein the communication circuitry is configured to activate the braking mechanism in response to commands received over the wireless network; and

a control module that causes the display unit to display a warning message when the shopping cart approaches an area in which the braking mechanism will become activated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry is housed in a shopping cart wheel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry is housed in the display unit.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a content selection module configured to select merchandise-related content to display on the display unit based, at least in part, on a current location of the shopping cart.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the braking mechanism is configured to inhibit motion of the shopping cart without placing a shopping cart wheel in a locked state.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the content selection module selects content for display based further on a purchase history of the current user of the shopping cart.

7. A system for enhancing the use of a shopping cart, the system comprising:

a display unit and communication circuitry adapted to be mounted to the shopping cart, said communication circuitry 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;

a content selection module configured to select content to display on the display unit based, at least in part, on a current location of the shopping cart; and

a braking mechanism coupled to the communication circuitry and configured to inhibit motion of the shopping cart, wherein the communication circuitry is configured to activate the braking mechanism in response to commands received over the wireless network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the content selection module is configured to select content for display based, at least in part, on a store department in which the shopping cart is currently located.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the content selection module selects content for display based further on a purchase history of the current user of the shopping cart.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein 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.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication circuitry is housed in a shopping cart wheel.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the communication circuitry is housed in the display unit.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the braking mechanism is configured to inhibit motion of the shopping cart without placing a shopping cart wheel in a locked state.