ULTRA-WIDEBAND LOCATION ENGINE FOR SELF-SHOPPING DEVICES

• US 20160178727A1
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Bottazzi, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 9,435,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques

Abstract

Real-time locating systems (RTLS) for self-shopping systems that utilize a dual technology approach. Self-shopping terminals are equipped with a passive or active ultra-wideband (UWB) tag that includes a UWB backscatter module or a UWB transmitter, respectively, as well as a standard wireless communication transceiver, such as a Wi-Fi® or UHF-RFID transceiver, that enables communication over the wireless communication channel. Readers fixed within a shopping environment activate the UWB tag of a selected one of the self-shopping terminals by addressing the self-shopping terminal using the standard wireless communication channel. Once activated, the UWB tag of the selected self-shopping terminal transmits UWB signals which are received by a plurality of the readers and used to determine the location of the UWB tag and hence the location of the self-shopping terminal. A messaging system may send messages to the self-shopping terminal for presentation to the customer on a display of the self-shopping terminal.

Claims

1. A method of operation in a self-shopping platform including a plurality of readers fixedly positioned within an environment, the method comprising:

selecting, by at least one processor, one of a plurality of self-shopping terminals associated with the self-shopping platform;

sending, by the at least one processor, an activation command to the selected self-shopping terminal over a first wireless communication channel, the first wireless communication channel utilizing wireless signals other than ultra-wideband signals;

in response to the sending of the activation command, receiving, by a plurality of reader processors of a respective plurality of readers, ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal;

determining, by each of the plurality of reader processors of the respective plurality of readers which receive the ultra-wideband signals, a ranging value indicative of a distance between the self-shopping terminal and the respective reader using the received ultra-wideband signals; and

sending, by each of the plurality of reader processors of the respective plurality of readers which receive the ultra-wideband signals, the determined ranging value to a processor-based locator system over at least one data communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting one of a plurality of self-shopping terminals associated with the self-shopping platform comprises selecting an internet protocol (IP) address of one of the plurality of self-shopping terminals.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein sending an activation command to the selected self-shopping terminal over a first wireless communication channel comprises sending an activation command to the selected self-shopping terminal over at least one of an IEEE 802.11 communication channel or an ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF-RFID) communication channel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal comprises receiving ultra-wideband signals from an active ultra-wideband transmitter of the ultra-wideband tag.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal comprises receiving ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband backscatter circuit of the ultra-wideband tag.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal comprises receiving code division multiple access (CDMA) ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving CDMA ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal comprises receiving CDMA ultra-wideband signals that use a balanced spreading code.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a ranging value indicative of a distance between the self-shopping terminal and the respective reader using the received ultra-wideband signals comprises performing at least one of a time difference of arrival (TDOA) calculation or a time of arrival (TOA) calculation.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the at least one processor of the self-shopping platform, at least a two-dimensional position of the self-shopping terminal based at least in part on the ranging values determined by each of the plurality of reader processors which received the ultra-wideband signals.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

selecting, by at least one processor, a message based at least in part on the determined position of the self-shopping terminal; and

sending, by the at least one processor, the selected message to the self-shopping terminal over at least one data communication channel.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein sending the selected message to the self-shopping terminal over at least one communication channel comprises sending the selected message to the self-shopping terminal over the first wireless communication channel.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the self-shopping platform further includes the selected self-shopping terminal, the selected self-shopping terminal being associated with a consumer and having one or more processors, at least one wireless communications transceiver communicatively coupled to the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal, at least one ultra-wideband tag communicatively coupled to the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal, and at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal and which stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, the method comprising:

receiving, by the at least one wireless communications transceiver of the selected self-shopping terminal, the activation command over s-the first wireless communication channel, the first wireless communication channel comprising at least one of an IEEE 802.11 communication channel or an ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF-RFID) communication channel; and

in response to the received activation command, causing, by the one or more processors of the selected self-shopping terminal, a transmission of ultra-wideband signals by an ultra-wideband backscatter circuit of the ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein receiving an activation command comprises receiving an activation command addressed to an internet protocol (IP) address of the selected self-shopping terminal.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein causing a transmission of ultra-wideband signals by the ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal comprises causing a transmission of ultra-wideband signals by an active ultra-wideband transmitter of the ultra-wideband tag.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein causing a transmission of ultra-wideband signals by the ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal comprises causing a transmission of code division multiple access (CDMA) ultra-wideband signals from the ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein causing a transmission of CDMA ultra-wideband signals by the ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal comprises causing a transmission of CDMA ultra-wideband signals that use a balanced spreading code.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one wireless communications transceiver of the selected self-shopping terminal, a marketing message from at least one of the plurality of readers over the first wireless communication channel.

40. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to the selecting of one of a plurality of self-shopping terminals associated with the self-shopping platform, selecting, by at least one processor, another self-shopping terminal of the plurality of self-shopping terminals associated with the self-shopping platform;

sending, by the at least one processor, an activation command to the selected other self-shopping terminal over the first wireless communication channel, the first wireless communication channel utilizing wireless signals other than ultra-wideband signals;

in response to the sending of the activation command to the selected other self-shopping terminal, receiving, by the plurality of reader processors of the respective plurality of readers, ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the selected other self-shopping terminal; and

determining, by each of the plurality of reader processors of the respective plurality of readers which receive the ultra-wideband signals from the ultra-wideband tag of the selected other self-shopping terminal, a ranging value indicative of a distance between the other self-shopping terminal and the respective reader using the received other ultra-wideband signals.

12. (canceled)

13. A self-shopping system, comprising:

a processor-based locator system;

a plurality of readers fixedly positioned within a shopping environment, each of the plurality of readers coupled to the processor-based locator system over at least one data communication channel and comprising;

at least one reader processor;

a first wireless communication transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one reader processor, the wireless communications transceiver including a first transmitter that sends data over a first wireless communication channel and a first receiver that receives data over the first wireless communication channel, the first communication channel utilizing signals other than ultra-wideband signals;

a second receiver communicatively coupled to the at least one reader processor, the second receiver receives ultra-wideband signals; and

at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least one reader processor and which stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data that when executed by the at least one reader processor, cause the at least one reader processor to;

send, by the first transmitter, an activation command to a selected one of a plurality of self-shopping terminals over the first wireless communication channel;

receive, by the second receiver, ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal;

determine a ranging value indicative of a distance between the self-shopping terminal and the respective reader using the received ultra-wideband signals; and

send the respective determined ranging value to the processor-based locator system over the at least one data communication channel.

14. The self-shopping system of claim 13 wherein the at least one reader processor:

selects an internet protocol (IP) address of one of the plurality of self-shopping terminals.

15. The self-shopping system of claim 13 wherein the at least one reader processor:

sends an activation command to the selected self-shopping terminal over at least one of an IEEE 802.11 communication channel or an ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF-RFID) communication channel.

16. The self-shopping system of claim 13 wherein the at least one reader processor:

receives, by the second receiver, ultra-wideband signals from an active ultra-wideband transmitter of the ultra-wideband tag.

17. The self-shopping system of claim 13 wherein the at least one reader processor:

receives, by the second receiver, ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband backscatter circuit of the ultra-wideband tag.

18. The self-shopping system of claim 13 wherein the at least one reader processor:

receives code division multiple access (CDMA) ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal.

19. The self-shopping system of claim 18 wherein the CDMA ultra-wideband signals received from an ultra-wideband tag comprise CDMA ultra-wideband signals that use a balanced spreading code.

20. The self-shopping system of claim 13 wherein the at least one reader processor:

performs at least one of a time difference of arrival (TDOA) calculation or a time of arrival (TOA) calculation.

22. The self-shopping system of claim 13 wherein the processor-based locator system determines at least a two-dimensional position of the self-shopping terminal based at least in part on the ranging values determined by each of the plurality of reader processors which received the ultra-wideband signals.

23. The self-shopping system of claim 22, further comprising:

a processor-based messaging system that select a message based at least in part on the determined position of the self-shopping terminal, and sends the selected message to the self-shopping terminal over at least one data communication channel.

24. The self-shopping system of claim 23 wherein the processor-based messaging system sends the selected message to the self-shopping terminal over the first wireless communication channel.

32. The self-shopping system of claim 13, further comprising:

the selected self-shopping terminal, comprising;

one or more processors;

one or more wireless communications transceivers communicatively coupled to the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal;

at least one ultra-wideband tag communicatively coupled to the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal, the ultra-wideband tag comprising an ultra-wideband backscatter circuit; and

one or more nontransitory processor-readable media communicatively coupled to the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal and which stores one or more of processor-executable instructions or data that when executed by the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal, cause the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal to;

receive, by the one or more wireless communications transceivers of the selected-self shopping terminal, the activation command over the first wireless communication channel, the first wireless communication channel comprising at least one of an IEEE 802.11 communication channel or an ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF-RFID) communication channel; and

in response to the received activation command, cause a transmission of ultra-wideband signals by the ultra-wideband backscatter circuit of the ultra-wideband tag of the selected self-shopping terminal.

33. The self-shopping system of claim 32 wherein the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal:

receives, by the one or more wireless communications transceivers of the selected-self shopping terminal, an activation command addressed to an internet protocol (IP) address of the selected self-shopping terminal.

34. The self-shopping system of claim 32 wherein the ultra-wideband tag comprises an active ultra-wideband transmitter that transmits the ultra-wideband signals.

36. The self-shopping system of claim 32 wherein the ultra-wideband tag transmits code division multiple access (CDMA) ultra-wideband signals.

37. The self-shopping system of claim 36 wherein the ultra-wideband tag transmits code division multiple access (CDMA) ultra-wideband signals that use a balanced spreading code.

38. The self-shopping system of claim 32 wherein the self-shopping terminal comprises one of a smartphone, a tablet computer or a notebook computer.

39. The self-shopping system of claim 32 wherein the one or more processors of the selected-self shopping terminal:

receives, by the one or more wireless communications transceivers of the selected-self shopping terminal, a marketing message from at least one of the plurality of readers over the first wireless communication channel.

41. The self-shopping system of claim 13 wherein the at least one reader processor, subsequent to sending an activation command to a selected one of a plurality of self-shopping terminals over the first wireless communication channel:

sends, by the first transmitter, an activation command to another selected self-shopping terminal of the plurality of self-shopping terminals over the first wireless communication channel;

receives, by the second receiver, ultra-wideband signals from an ultra-wideband tag of the other selected self-shopping terminal; and

determines a ranging value indicative of a distance between the other self-shopping terminal and the respective reader using the received ultra-wideband signals from the ultra-wideband tag of the other selected self-shopping terminal.

21. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

35. (canceled)