METHOD FOR SETTING UP A BEACON NETWORK INSIDE A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20150054620A1
• Filed: 08/20/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm technologies international, ltd. (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Graube, Nicolas, Jarvis, Murray, Tarlow, Ben, Gibbs, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 9,245,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection

Abstract

A system having multiple short-range transmission devices, each of which is assigned a unique identity and is positioned at a respectively different location within a three dimensional space. The assignment of the identity is according to signals broadcast by short-range device(s) as sensed unambiguously by a listening device or devices proximate to the short-range transmission device(s) and further associating the identity with a reference point.

Claims

1. A method associated with a system including a plurality of transponders, a server and a listening device configured to communicate with the transponders and the server, the method comprising the listening device:

sensing a respective plurality of signals from the plurality of transponders;

determining a threshold level of proximity between the listening device and at least one of the transponders from the plurality of transponders based on unambiguously sensing the respective signal of the at least transponder;

assigning a unique identity (ID) to the least one transponder based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, further includes establishing communication with the at least one transponder prior to the step of assigning the unique identity to the at least one transponder when the listening device is within the threshold proximity level relative to the at least one transponder.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of unambiguously sensing the respective signal includes receiving an identification value of the at least one transponder and further includes associating the identification value with at least one of:

(a) a retailer ID or (b) a store ID.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the threshold level of proximity includes determining a respective distance of the listening device from the at least transponder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the unique ID further includes a step of identifying a location of the at least one transponder using a map in the listening device and further associating the identified location with the unique ID of the transponder.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the unique ID further includes a step of identifying a reference point of the at least transponder using a reference system in the listening device containing a reference to at least one of an aisle number, a shelf identification, a product name, or a product description, and further associating the reference point with the unique ID of the transponder.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the unique ID further includes a step of decoding a bar code of a product by using a bar code reader and further includes steps of scanning the bar code of the product nearby to the at least one transponder, and associating the decoded information with the unique ID of the transponder.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the unique ID further includes a step of identifying a product based on a digital image, captured by a camera, of the product nearby the transponder, and further associating the identified product with the unique ID of the transponder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the unambiguously sensed signal is an encrypted signal and the method further includes decrypting the signal from the at least one transponder, prior to the step of assigning the unique ID to the at least one transponder.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the unambiguously sensing the signal further includes sensing the signal of the least one transponder not related to another transponder of the plurality of transponders.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the unambiguously sensing the signal further includes sensing the signal of the least one transponder related to another transponder of the plurality of transponders and further includes establishing a connection with the other transponder.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to sense a respective plurality of signals from a plurality of transponders;

a processor configured to determine a threshold level of proximity between the apparatus and at least one of the transponders of the plurality of transponders based on an ambiguous sensing of the respective signal from the at least one transponder; and

the processor is further configured to assign a unique identity (ID) to the least one transponder based on the unambiguously sensed signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the processor is further configured to establish communication with the at least one transponder prior to the assignment of the unique identity to the at least one transponder when the processor determines that the apparatus is within the threshold proximity level relative to the at least one transponder.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further includes a memory containing a map, and wherein:

the processor is further configured to identify a location of the at least transponder using the map stored in the memory, and to associate the identified location with the unique ID of the transponder.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the processor is coupled to a reference system and is further configured to;

identify a reference point of the at least transponder using the reference system, the reference system including a reference to at least one of an aisle number, a shelf identification, a product name, or a product description, and associate the reference point with the unique ID of the transponder.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further includes a camera, and wherein:

the processor is further configured to identify a product based on a digital image, captured by the camera, of the product nearby the transponder, and to associate the identified product with the unique ID of the transponder.

17. A method associated with a system including a plurality of transponders, a server and a listening device configured to communicate with the transponders and the server, the method comprising the server:

receiving, from the listening device, information related to a product nearby at least one of the transponders from the plurality of transponders, and a unique identity of the at least one transponder;

processing the received information related to the product;

classifying the product into a product group and associating the product group with the at least transponder.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of associating the product group further includes decoding a bar code information of the product.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of classifying the product further includes a step of comparing a digital image of the product, to a plurality of images in a planogram stored in the server.

20. The method of claim 17, further includes mapping a location of the at least one transponder to a respective coordinate point based on a coordinate system, stored in the server.