PROJECTED IMAGE PLANOGRAM SYSTEM

• US 20130119138A1
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stevnacy, LLC
• Original Assignee: James T. Winkel
• Inventors: Winkel, James T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,033,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An automated projected image display planning and implementation system used in planogramming. Embodiments include a camera, projector, bar code reader, and software to store planograms as designed, communicate these planograms to retail locations, and provide an easy-to-use system insuring that the planograms are recreated as originally conceived. Embodiments create a unique QR code for storing and communicating fixture and merchandise data information as well as the relative placement location within the planogram. Embodiments are configured to project the image of the finished planogram on the display, and further, to illuminating the exact location within the planogram of merchandise and fixtures displayed on the planogram.

Claims

1. A system for planning a retail display, the system comprising:

a plurality of merchandise fixtures operably coupleable to the retail display, each of the plurality of fixtures having a fixture code;

a plurality of merchandise items operably coupleable, each of the plurality of merchandise items coupleable to a merchandise fixture and having a merchandise code;

a digital camera configured to capture image data of the retail display;

a code reader configured to read the fixture code and the merchandise code;

memory configured to store data; and

a programmable circuit in electrical communication with the digital camera, the code reader, and the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to;

receive code input from the code reader,

receive image input from the digital camera,

generate at least one combined code based on the received code input, the at least one combined code including the fixture code data and the merchandise code data, and

store a planogram output file in memory, the planogram output file including the location and identity of the plurality of merchandise fixtures and the plurality of merchandise items.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a projector in electrical communication with the programmable circuit and configured to illuminate on the retail display, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to illuminate the retail display with the at least one combined code via the projector, the at least one combined code being projected at a location proximate the location of the respective corresponding merchandise fixture when operably coupled to the retail display.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to adjust the projected location of the combined code.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to illuminate the finalized retail display with an image of the retail display having the plurality of merchandise fixtures coupled to the retail display and the plurality of merchandise items coupled to the plurality of merchandise fixtures, and the planogram output file further comprises the image of the retail display.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one database of fixture data and merchandise data corresponding to the plurality of merchandise fixtures and the plurality of merchandise items.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a QR code printer in electrical communication with the programmable circuit, wherein the programmable circuit programmed to generate the combined code includes printing a QR code label via the QR code printer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to identify the QR code label on the retail display from an image taken by the digital camera.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to read the identified QR code label and parse out the fixture code and the merchandise code.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to receive a planogram output file, the planogram output file including the location and identity of the plurality of merchandise fixtures and the plurality of merchandise items.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to virtually create a planogram output file.

11. A method of generating a planogram for a retail display, the method comprising:

creating a retail display, the retail display having a plurality of merchandise fixtures and a plurality of merchandise items operably coupleable to the plurality of merchandise fixtures, each of the merchandise fixtures having a fixture code and each of the merchandise items having a merchandise code;

generating at least one combined code, the at least one combined code including fixture code data and merchandise code data;

applying the at least one combined code at a location proximate the location of a merchandise fixture;

capturing the display, including the at least one combined code;

retrieving data related to the plurality of merchandise fixtures and the plurality of merchandise items; and

generating an output, the output including the location and the retrieved data of the plurality of merchandise fixtures and the plurality of merchandise items.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising manually aligning the at least one combined code if the captured display does not match the created retail display.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing the plurality of merchandise fixtures and the plurality of merchandise items from the retail display after generating the at least one combined code.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the captured display at a second, empty, retail display.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying a highlighted location and shape of a merchandise fixture or a merchandise item.

16. A method of installing a retail display at a retail location by recreating a planogram with an illuminable display, the method comprising:

calibrating a display where the planogram is to be recreated;

scanning a fixture code;

illuminating the display with the location and shape of a fixture identified by the fixture code;

scanning a retail item code; and

illuminating the display with the location and shape of a retail item identified by the retail item code.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising illuminating the display with an image of the finalized retail display.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the display is a projector configured to project an image and calibrating the display comprises calibrating the projector, and illuminating the display comprises lighting portions of the projected image.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a plurality of pixels and calibrating the display comprises calibrating the liquid crystal display, and illuminating the display comprises lighting portions of the plurality of pixels.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising installing the fixture on the retail display after illuminating the display with the location and shape of the fixture identified by the fixture code, and installing the retail item on the fixture after illuminating the display with the location and shape of the retail item identified by the retail item code.