System for the visually impaired to navigate a route through a facility

• US 6,895,330 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cato, Robert Thomas, Sluchak, Thomas John, Ortega, Kerry A
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US10/336,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/200, 701/211, 701/1, 701/24, 701/33, 701/36, 731/78.R, 340/825.36, 340/825.52, 705/1, 705/14, 705/21, 705/27, 705/28, 235/375, 235/383
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method of the type for aiding a user in navigating a route through a facility so as too efficiently locate specific items within a facility is provided. The system includes a facility processor having a database and software stored thereon for mapping an interactive route from selected location to selected location within a facility, a label located proximate individual items, the label electronically communicating information specific to the item it is associated with, and a digital device having the interactive route electronically stored thereon, the digital device electronically communicating with the facility processor and the labels for tracking movement of the digital device along the route via communication with the labels and communicating a direction to move to follow the route.

Claims

1. A system for aiding a user to navigate a route through a facility having a plurality of selected locations comprising:

a facility processor having a database and software stored thereon for mapping an interactive route from a first selected location to a second selected location within said facility;

a plurality of labels placed in proximity to individual items located within said facility, each of said labels electronically communicating information specific to one of said items; and

a digital device having said interactive route electronically stored thereon, said digital device communicating to said user and electronically communicating with said facility processor and said labels for tracking movement of said digital device along said interactive route via communication with said labels and communicating a direction to move to follow said route, wherein said digital device polls at least one label of said plurality of labels for information associated with said labels,

wherein said communication to user results in a vibration to a shopping cart.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein said digital device communication to said user is at least via one of visual signals or audible signals.

3. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein said digital device communication to said user is at least via audible signals.

4. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein said digital device tabulates a price of items selected and communicates said tabulated price to said user.

5. The navigation system of claim 2, wherein said digital device tabulates a price of items selected and communicates said tabulated price to said user.

6. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein said digital device tabulates a price of items selected and communicates said tabulated price to said user.

7. The navigation system of claim 3, wherein said digital device tabulates a price of items selected and communicates said tabulated price to said user.

8. A customer assistance system for a store that provides information to a shopper within said store by communicating signals to said shopper via a digital device, comprising:

a facility processor having a database and software stored thereon for tracking an interactive route of shopper from a first selected location to a second selected location within said facility;

a plurality of labels placed in proximity to individual items located within said facility, each of said labels electronically communicating information specific to one of said items; and

a digital device in proximity to the shopper and in wireless communication with said processor and said shopper to

provide tracking information of interactive route of shopper to said processor, store tracking information of interactive route of shopper thereon,

communicate assistive information to said shopper in response to interactive route of shopper, and

electronically communicate polling data to said processor by

polling at least one label for item information associated with said label,

wherein said assistive information is generated by processor in response to provided tracking information of interactive route of shopper and communicated polling data of at least one label, and said assistive information is transmitted by said processor to said digital device at a predetermined time for communication to said shopper;

and wherein said communication to shopper results in a vibration to a shopping cart.

9. The navigation system of claim 8, wherein said communication to shopper is also by visual display on said device.

10. The navigation system of claim 8, wherein said communication to shopper is also by audible signal.

11. The navigation system of claim 8, wherein said digital device tabulates a price of items selected and communicates said tabulated price to said shopper.

12. The navigation system of claim 8, wherein said assistive information is a signal suggesting a purchase option for said shopper in relation to the interactive route of said shopper and polling data at a predetermined time.

13. The navigation system of claim 12, wherein said signal is also an audible signal.

14. The navigation system of claim 8, wherein said digital device is operable with a shopping cart and said assistive information is initiated by physical stimulation to shopper via said shopping cart and a visual or audible purchase option for said shopper in relation to the interactive route of said shopper and polling data at a predetermined time.

15. The navigation system of claim 8, wherein said assistive information is a visual display suggesting a route for the shopper to follow in relation to the interactive route of said shopper and polling data at a predetermined time.