MONITORING DEVICE AND MONITORING PROGRAM

• US 20200135003A1
• Filed: 07/18/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: SUZUKI, Kota
• Granted Patent: US 11,043,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/14 characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys collapsible shopping trolleys B62B3/027
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0618 by carts
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/00 Alarm indicators, e.g. bells
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A monitoring device according to an embodiment determines whether an information terminal, which moves together with a purchaser and receives data input regarding commodities for purchase by the purchaser, is present in a second place different from a set first place. The monitoring device detects that the information terminal is left unattended in the second place. The monitoring device activates an alarm in response to the information terminal being left unattended in the second place for a threshold period of time.

Claims

1. A monitoring device comprising:

a determining section configured to determine whether an information terminal is present in a second place different from a set first place, the information terminal moving together with a purchaser and receiving data input regarding commodities for purchase by the purchaser;

a detecting section configured to detect that the information terminal is left unattended in the second place; and

an alarm section configured to activate an alarm in response to the information terminal being left unattended in the second place for a threshold period of time.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a control section configured to prevent the information terminal from receiving the data input regarding a commodity if the threshold period of time elapses while the information terminal is left unattended in the second place.

3. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the information terminal receives an accounting instruction regarding the commodities for purchase by the purchaser, and wherein the detecting section changes, before and after the accounting instruction is received, the threshold period of time until the information terminal is regarded as being left unattended.

4. The monitoring device of claim 3, wherein the alarm section differentiates a form of the alarm before and after the accounting instruction is received.

5. The monitoring device of claim 4, wherein the alarm section provides the alarm to the purchaser before the accounting instruction is received and provides the alarm to a store clerk after the accounting instruction is received.

6. A monitoring method comprising:

determining whether an information terminal is present in a second place different from a set first place, the information terminal moving together with a purchaser and receiving data input regarding commodities for purchase by the purchaser;

detecting that the information terminal is left unattended in the second place; and

emitting an alarm in response to the information terminal being left unattended in the second place for a threshold period of time.

7. A cart comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame;

a storage area coupled to the frame, the storage area configured to store goods for purchase by a customer;

a receiver configured to detect a signal from a transmitter, wherein the receiver detects the signal when within a threshold distance from the transmitter; and

a processor configured to;

determine that the cart is not within the threshold distance based on the receiver not detecting the signal from the transmitter;

determine that the cart is unattended; and

activate an alarm in response to determining that the cart is not within the threshold distance and the cart being unattended.

8. The cart of claim 7, further comprising a sensor positioned to facilitate determining that the cart is unattended.

9. The cart of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes a pressure sensor positioned in or along a handle of the frame.

10. The cart of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor positioned in or along a handle of the frame.

11. The cart of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes a vibration sensor positioned to detect vibrations of the cart.

12. The cart of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes an axle sensor positioned to detect rotation of the plurality of wheels.

13. The cart of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to activate the alarm in response to the cart being unattended for longer than a threshold period of time.

14. The cart of claim 7, further comprising a lamp, wherein activating the alarm includes illuminating the lamp.

15. The cart of claim 7, further comprising a wireless unit, wherein activating the alarm include transmitting a notification to a server.

16. The cart of claim 15, wherein the server transmits a warning to a store terminal based on the notification.

17. The cart of claim 15, wherein the server transmits a warning to a mobile device of the customer associated with the cart based on the notification.

18. The cart of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to associate the cart with the customer.

19. The cart of claim 18, further comprising a user interface configured to facilitate the customer with entering credentials to associate the cart with the customer.

20. The cart of claim 18, further comprising a reader configured to read a member card of the customer to facilitate associating the cart with the customer.