System and method for determining physical location of electronic display devices in a retail establishment

• US 8,315,913 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NExT-e Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Automated Media Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Wolinsky, Robert I., Goldring, Peter, Amadio, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian, Mila
• Application Number:
  US13/052,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20110289184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services

Abstract

A system and method for determining physical location of an electronic display device located in a retail establishment of a retailer may include a support structure mechanically coupling the electronic display device to a fixture in the retail establishment. The fixture may be located at an identified location of the retail environment established by the retailer. An input device may be in communication with the electronic display device and configured to receive an entry of an identifier indicative of the identified location into the electronic display device. A transmitter may be coupled to the electronic display device and configured to transmit the identifier of the identified location to a remote location from the electronic display device for determining physical location of the electronic display device in the retail establishment.

Claims

1. A system for determining physical location of an electronic display device located in a retail establishment of a retailer, said system comprising:

a support structure mechanically coupling the electronic display device to a fixture in the retail establishment, the fixture located at an identified location at which a product is closely located of the retail establishment established by the retailer;

an input device in communication with the electronic display device and configured to receive an entry of an identifier indicative of the identified location into the electronic display device; and

a transmitter coupled to the electronic display device and configured to transmit the identifier of the identified location to a remote location from the electronic display device for determining that the electronic display device is closely located to the product in the retail establishment.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the identified location is specified on a map.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the map is a planogram.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a computing system remotely located from the electronic display device and configured to receive and manage the identifier in association with a data record associated with the electronic display device for generating reports for the user.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said computing system is further configured to manage content verification data generated in response to a content verification signal being displayed on the electronic display device, thereby enabling the user to verify that content associated with the content verification data was displayed timely, correctly, and in a correct location in the retail establishment.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said computing system is further configured to display the identifier on a map of the retail establishment.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic display device further includes an electronic display controller being configured to receive, store, and display the physical location of the electronic display for the user.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said input device is a touch screen.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said input device is an indicia scanner.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the electronic display device further includes a processing unit and a memory, said processing unit being configured to receive data represented by an indicia scanned by the indicia scanner, and store the data for later communication to a server remotely located from the electronic display for determining that the electronic display device in a network of electronic display devices is closely located to the product in the retail establishment.

11. A method for determining physical location of an electronic display device at a retail establishment of a retailer, said method comprising:

positioning the electronic display device at a location within the retail store, the location corresponding to an identified location at which a product is closely located established by the retailer;

entering an identifier indicative of the identified location into the electronic display device; and

transmitting the identifier of the identified location from the electronic display to a remote location from the electronic display device for determining that the electronic display is closely located to the product in the retail establishment.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the identified location is specified on a map.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the map is a planogram.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein transmitting the identifier of the identified location to a remote location includes transmitting the identifier to a computing system for associating the identifier with other information associated with the electronic display device for generating reports for the user.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said remote location is configured to manage content verification data displayed on the electronic display device and measured as displayed thereon, thereby enabling the user to verify that content associated with the content verification data was displayed timely, correctly, and in a correct location in the retail establishment.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving the identifier by the remote location;

storing the identifier by the remote location; and

displaying the physical location of the electronic display by the remote location.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein entering the identifier into the electronic display device includes entering the identifier via a touch screen.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein entering the identifier into the electronic display device includes entering the identifier via an indicia scanner.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein entering the identifier via an indicia scanner includes scanning the product at a location at which the electronic display device is positioned.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising storing the identifier of the identified location by the computing device, and wherein storing includes storing the identified location with other information associated with the electronic display device in a data record for use to provisioning the electronic display device in a network of electronic display devices in the retail establishment.

21. A system for determining physical location of an electronic display device at a retail establishment of a retailer, said system comprising:

means for positioning the electronic display device at a location at which a product is closely located within the retail establishment, the location corresponding to an identified location established by the retailer;

means for entering an identifier indicative of the identified location into the electronic display device; and

means for transmitting the identifier of the identified location from the electronic display device to a computing device remotely located from the electronic display device for determining that the electronic display device is closely located to the product in the retail establishment.

22. A system for determining physical location of an electronic display device in a retail store, said system comprising:

an input/output (I/O) unit configured to communicate over a communications network;

a storage unit configured to store data associated with the electronic display device; and

a processing unit in communication with said I/O unit and storage unit, and configured to;

receive, via said I/O unit, a first identifier associated with the electronic display device and a second identifier associated with a physical location at which the electronic display device is positioned;

store the first and second identifiers on said storage unit;

determine whether the second identifier is indicative of the electronic display device being positioned in the correct physical location in the retail store; and

in response to determining that the electronic display device is positioned in an incorrect location, notify a user that the electronic display device is not located in the correct location in the retail store, otherwise recording that the electronic display device is in the correct location.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the second identifier is indicative of a product at the physical location of the electronic display device.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein said processing unit is further configured to prevent content from being displayed on the electronic display device until a determination is made that the electronic display device is in the correct location.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein said processing unit is further configured to notify the user to move the electronic display device to the location in the retail store prior to a time that the electronic display device is scheduled to be moved to the location.

26. The system according to claim 22, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

verify that content associated with the content verification data was displayed timely, correctly, and in a correct location in the retail establishment; and

report that the content displayed on the electronic display device was displayed timely, correctly, and displayed in the correct location in the retail establishment.

27. A method for determining physical location of an electronic display device in a retail store, said method comprising:

receiving, by a computing system via a communications network, a first identifier associated with the electronic display device and a second identifier associated with a physical location at which the electronic display device is positioned;

storing, by the computing system, the first and second identifiers;

determining, by the computing system, whether the second identifier is indicative of the electronic display device being positioned in the correct physical location in the retail store; and

in response to the computing system determining that the electronic display device is positioned in an incorrect location, notifying, by the computing system, a user that the electronic display device is not located in the correct location in the retail store, otherwise recording that the electronic display device is in the correct location.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein receiving the second identifier includes receiving a UPC code of a product at the physical location of the electronic display device.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising preventing content from being displayed on the electronic display device until a determination is made that the electronic display device is in the correct location.

30. The method according to claim 27, further comprising notifying the user to move the electronic display device to the location in the retail store prior to a time that the electronic display device is scheduled to be moved to the location.

31. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

verifying that content associated with the content verification data was displayed timely, correctly, and in a correct location in the retail establishment; and

reporting that the content displayed on the electronic display device was displayed timely, correctly, and displayed in the correct location in the retail establishment.