Graphic Representations of Planograms

• US 20150088703A1
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Yan, Sui
• Granted Patent: US 9,886,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating and distributing graphic representations of planograms used for the configuration, maintenance, and compliance confirmation in the display of merchandise and advertisements, are disclosed. Based on predefined merchandizing agreements, planograms are designed to define specific configurations of products and advertising collateral in specific locations. By referencing an identifier associated with a location, a corresponding planogram can be retrieved and used to generate a graphic representation of the planogram. The graphic representation of the planogram can be adjusted and superimposed onto a live or captured image of the location to indicate where objects should be placed or rearranged. Each object specified in the planogram can be visually represented as a picture superimposed in a position over an image or live view of the location captured by a client computing device by a user. The user can reference the graphic representation to stock, rearrange, or maintain the location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer system, a location identifier associated with a physical location from a client computing device;

retrieving, by the computer system, a planogram associated with the location identifier, wherein the planogram defines an arrangement of objects in the physical location;

generating, by the computer system, a graphic representation of the planogram, wherein the graphic representation of the planogram comprises images of the objects positioned relative to an image of the physical location; and

transmitting the graphic representation of the planogram from the computer system to the client computing device, wherein the client computing device displays the graphic representation of the planogram superimposed onto the image of the physical location captured by the client computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the location identifier comprises:

receiving the image of the physical location from the client computing device; and

analyzing the image of the physical location to determine the location identifier.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein analyzing the image of the physical location comprises:

locating a visual representation of the location identifier in the image of the physical location; and

decoding the visual representation of the location identifier to generate the location identifier.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the graphic representation of the planogram comprises:

analyzing the image of the physical location to determine the section of the physical location captured in the image; and

generating a section of the graphic representation of the planogram corresponding to the section of the physical location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein analyzing the image of the physical location comprises analyzing sensor readings associated with image.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein retrieving the planogram comprises retrieving the images of the objects, and wherein generating the graphic representation of the planogram comprises adjusting the size of the images of the objects in response to the image of the physical location.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the graphic representation of the planogram comprises:

comparing the image of the physical location to the graphic representation of the planogram to determine discrepancies between image of the physical location and the planogram; and

generating visual indications of the discrepancies in the graphic representation of the planogram.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, that when executed by a computer processor cause the computer processor to be configured for:

receiving a location identifier associated with a physical location from a client computing device;

retrieving a planogram associated with the location identifier, wherein the planogram defines an arrangement of objects in the physical location;

generating a graphic representation of the planogram, wherein the graphic representation of the planogram comprises images of objects positioned relative to an image of the physical location; and

transmitting the graphic representation of the planogram to the client computing device, wherein the client computing device displays the graphic representation of the planogram superimposed onto the image of the physical location captured by the client computing device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein receiving the location identifier comprises:

receiving the image of the physical location from the client computing device; and

analyzing the image of the physical location to determine the location identifier.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9

wherein analyzing the image of the physical location comprises:

locating a visual representation of the location identifier in the image of the physical location; and

decoding the visual representation of the location identifier to generate the location identifier.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein generating the graphic representation of the planogram comprises:

analyzing the image of the physical location to determine the section of the physical location captured in the image; and

generating a section of the graphic representation of the planogram corresponding to the section of the physical location.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein analyzing the image of the physical location comprises analyzing sensor readings associated with image.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein retrieving the planogram comprises retrieving the images of the objects, and wherein generating the graphic representation of the planogram comprises adjusting the size of the images of the objects in response to the image of the physical location.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein generating the graphic representation of the planogram comprises:

comparing the image of the physical location to the graphic representation of the planogram to determine discrepancies between image of the physical location and the planogram; and

generating visual indications of the discrepancies in the graphic representation of the planogram.

15. A system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium coupled to the processor and comprising instructions, that when executed by the computer processor cause the computer processor to be configured to;

receive a location identifier associated with a physical location from a client computing device;

retrieve a planogram associated with the location identifier, wherein the planogram defines an arrangement of objects in the physical location;

generate a graphic representation of the planogram, wherein the graphic representation of the planogram comprises images of objects positioned relative to an image of the physical location; and

transmit the graphic representation of the planogram to the client computing device, wherein the client computing device displays the graphic representation of the planogram superimposed onto the image of the physical location captured by the client computing device.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the code that causes the computer processor to be configured to receive the location identifier further causes the computer processor to be configured to:

receive the image of the physical location from the client computing device; and

analyze the image of the physical location to determine the location identifier.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the code that causes the computer processor to be configured to analyze the image of the physical location further causes the computer processor to be configured to:

locate a visual representation of the location identifier in the image of the physical location; and

decode the visual representation of the location identifier to generate the location identifier.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the code that causes the computer processor to be configured to generate the graphic representation of the planogram further causes the computer processor to be configured to:

analyze the image of the physical location to determine the section of the physical location captured in the image; and

generate a section of the graphic representation of the planogram corresponding to the section of the physical location.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the code that causes the computer processor to be configured to analyze the image of the physical location further causes the computer processor to be configured to analyze sensor readings associated with image.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the code that causes the computer processor to be configured to generate the graphic representation of the planogram further causes the computer processor to be configured to:

compare the image of the physical location to the graphic representation of the planogram to determine discrepancies between image of the physical location and the planogram; and

generate visual indications of the discrepancies in the graphic representation of the planogram.