DIRECTIONAL WAYFINDING

• US 20130191246A1
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: CALMAN, MATTHEW A., ROSS, ERIK STEPHEN, THOMAS, SUSAN SMITH, LEE, JOOYONG, FANG, ZHENSHUO, MULHOLLAND, JAMES, KIU, BRENDAN, TAN, NASTASHA
• Granted Patent: US 9,582,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer-program products that provide for a unique directional wayfinding system. In one embodiment of the invention, products are received from the user, such as a shopping list or wish list. The system determines the location of the user, determines the location of the product in the business, determines a route from the user to the product, and provides instructions to the user along the route. In an embodiment, the system identifies and/or confirms the product when the user reaches the product. In at least one embodiment, the systems, methods, and computer-program products provide functionality for the visually-impaired to assist in everyday shopping for products in businesses.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of directing a user to a product in a facility, the method comprising:

receiving information associated with at least one product, wherein the product is available in a facility;

determining, via a computing device processor, a location of a user;

determining, via a computing device processor, a location of the product in the facility;

determining, via a computing device processor, a route within the facility that would lead the user to the product; and

providing instructions to the user associated with the route for locating the product in the facility.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the instructions are audible instructions.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the audible instructions are provided to the user in stereo.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining a location of the user is determined by communications with a mobile device associated with the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the location of the user is determined by triangulation from a wireless signal in the facility to the mobile device associated with the user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the location of the user is determined by proximity to at least one marker in the facility, where the marker communicates with the mobile device associated with the user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the location of the user is determined by:

identifying an initial location of the user; and

tracking movement of the mobile device associated with the user from the initial location of the user.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the location of the product is determined by accessing a database containing information associated with the product and a location of the product in the facility.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein determining the location of the product in the facility comprises accessing a database containing information on a planogram of the facility.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein determining the location of the product in the facility comprises accessing a database containing information provided by a crowdsourcing system, wherein the crowdsourcing system receives information on the location of products.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining a location of the product in the facility comprises accessing a database containing information associated with the product and a location of the product in the facility, and wherein said determining a route within the facility comprises analyzing a map associated with the facility indicating location of objects in the facility.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the map of the facility comprises a layout of paths in the facility defined by objects in the facility.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the map of the facility further comprises congestion data in the paths of the facility.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing an offer to the user along the route, wherein the offer is associated with the at least one product.

15. A system for directing a user to a product in a facility, the system comprising:

a computing platform including a processor and a memory;

a user location routine stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to determine the location of the user;

a product location routine stored in the memory and configured to determine the location of a product;

a route determination routine stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to determine the route from the location of the user to the location of the product; and

a presentation routine stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to present the route to the user.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a mobile device configured to communicate the route from the processor to the user.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a positioning system device, wherein the positioning system device is configured to determine the location of the user.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the positioning system device operates in a region blocked from satellite coverage.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising stereo headphones, wherein the stereo headphones are configured to present the route to the user.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising an offer routine store in the memory and configured to present an offer to the user.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the offer is presented to the user when the user is within a predetermined distance of a product associated with the offer.

22. The system of claim 15, further comprising a product identification routine stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to identify the product.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a scanning device, wherein the scanning device is selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a still camera, and a bar code scanner.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the scanning device is configured to identify the product based on a scan of the product.

25. A computer program product for directing a user to a product in a facility, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to determine a location of a user;

a second set of codes for causing a computer to determine a location of a product;

a third set of codes for causing a computer to determine a route from the user to the product; and

a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to present the route to the user.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the route is determined based on a planogram received from a facility.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the route is determined based on mobility information.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the mobility information is selected from the group consisting of mobility information on the user and mobility information for at least one individual that has traversed the route.

29. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the route is presented to the user through a mobile device.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the mobile device audibly presents the route.

31. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the mobile device physically presents the route.

32. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising a fifth set of codes for causing a computer to present an offer to the user.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the offer is presented along the route of the user.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the offer is presented based on the products provided by the user.