SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING ITEM AVAILABILITY IN A SHOPPING SPACE
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for determining item availability in a shopping space comprising:
- receiving, at a control circuit, a request for an item for purchase from a customer;
querying, by the control circuit, an inventory database to determine whether the item for purchase is in stock;
in an event that the item for purchase is not in stock according to the inventory database;
determining, at the control circuit, an out of stock response to present to the customer;
in an event that the item for purchase is in stock according the inventory database;
instructing, by the control circuit, a motorized transport unit to travel to a display space in the shopping space corresponding to the item for the purchase;
determining, at the control circuit, whether the item is available in the display space based on information captured by one or more sensors of the motorized transport unit; and
in an event that the item for purchase is not available in the display space;
determining, at the control circuit, an item unavailable response to present to the customer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining item availability are provided. A computer implemented method for determining item availability in a shopping space comprising: receiving a request for an item for purchase from a customer, querying an inventory database to determine whether the item for purchase is in stock, in an event that the item for purchase is not in stock according to the inventory database: determining an out of stock response to present to the customer, in an event that the item for purchase is in stock according the inventory database: instructing a motorized transport unit to travel to a display space in the shopping space corresponding to the item for the purchase, determining whether the item is available in the display space based on information captured by one or more sensors of the motorized transport unit, and in an event that the item for purchase is not available in the display space: determining an item unavailable response to present to the customer.
61 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for determining item availability in a shopping space comprising:
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receiving, at a control circuit, a request for an item for purchase from a customer; querying, by the control circuit, an inventory database to determine whether the item for purchase is in stock; in an event that the item for purchase is not in stock according to the inventory database; determining, at the control circuit, an out of stock response to present to the customer; in an event that the item for purchase is in stock according the inventory database; instructing, by the control circuit, a motorized transport unit to travel to a display space in the shopping space corresponding to the item for the purchase; determining, at the control circuit, whether the item is available in the display space based on information captured by one or more sensors of the motorized transport unit; and in an event that the item for purchase is not available in the display space; determining, at the control circuit, an item unavailable response to present to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for determining item availability in a shopping space comprising:
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a communication device configured to communicate with a motorized transport unit; an inventory database storing inventory information of a plurality of items available for purchase in the shopping space; and a control circuit coupled to the communication device and the inventory database, the control circuit being configured to; receive a request for an item for purchase from a customer; query the inventory database to determine whether the item for purchase is in stock; in an event that the item for purchase is not in stock according to the inventory database; determine an out of stock response to present to the customer; in an event that the item for purchase is in stock according the inventory database; instruct the motorized transport unit to travel to a display space in the shopping space corresponding to the item; determine whether the item is available in the display space based on information captured by one or more sensors of the motorized transport unit; and in an event that the item is not available in the display space; determine an item unavailable response to present to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for determining item availability in a shopping space comprising:
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a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a central computer system; a motorized wheel system; a user interface device; a sensor; a control circuit coupled to the wireless transceiver, the motorized wheel system, the user interface device, and the sensor, the control circuit being configured to; receive a request for an item for purchase from a customer via the user interface device; forward the request for the item to the central computer system; in an event that the item for purchase is not in stock according to an inventory database coupled to the central computer system; present an out of stock response from the central computer system to the customer via the user interface device; in an event that the item for purchase is in stock according the inventory database; travel to a display space in the shopping space corresponding to the item in the shopping space using the motorized wheel system; collect information relating whether the item is available in the display space using the sensor; transmit the information to the central computer system; and present an item unavailable response to the customer via the user interface device in an event that the item is not available in the display space.
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Specification