Retail product tracking system, method, and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for tracking an article in a commercial environment, the system comprising:
- a network entity comprising a server and a router, the router being configured to maintain a communications connection with the server;
a ping node configured to transmit a ping signal comprising ping node location data including an identifier of the ping node; and
a monitoring device configured for attachment to the article, the monitoring device configured to;
detect motion of the monitoring device as indicated by a motion sensor of the monitoring device;
responsive only to the detection of motion or an expiration of a timer, awaken to an active state;
while in the active state;
receive the ping signal from the ping node; and
transmit the ping node location data and a monitoring device identifier to the server via the router;
wherein the server of the network entity is configured to;
receive the ping node location data and the monitoring device identifier; and
store the ping node location data in association with the monitoring device identifier;
wherein the system further comprises;
a commissioning node configured to transmit a commissioning ping signal including commissioning node location data, the commissioning node location data including a commissioning node identifier; and
a decommissioning node configured to transmit a decommissioning ping signal including decommissioning node location data, the decommissioning node location data including a decommissioning node identifier;
wherein the monitoring device is further configured to;
detect an output signal from a locking mechanism sensor of the monitoring device indicating that a locking mechanism of the monitoring device has been triggered;
begin monitoring wireless signals in response to detecting the output signal from the locking mechanism sensor;
receive the commissioning ping signal; and
transmit the commissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier to the network entity;
wherein the network entity is further configured to commission the monitoring device, wherein being configured to commission the monitoring device comprises being configured to;
receive the commissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier from the monitoring device;
receive product information associated with the article to which the monitoring device is attached, the product information being provided by a commissioning product data input device; and
store the product information in association with the monitoring device identifier;
wherein the monitoring device is further configured to;
receive the decommissioning ping signal;
transmit the decommissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier to the network entity; and
wherein the network entity is further configured to decommission the monitoring device, wherein being configured to decommission the monitoring device includes being configured to;
receive the decommissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier from the monitoring device;
disassociate the product information from the monitoring device identifier;
transmit a decommission signal to the monitoring device; and
store a decommissioned state event, such that the decommissioned state event is associated with the monitoring device identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for monitoring articles, such as in a commercial environment.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for tracking an article in a commercial environment, the system comprising:
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a network entity comprising a server and a router, the router being configured to maintain a communications connection with the server; a ping node configured to transmit a ping signal comprising ping node location data including an identifier of the ping node; and a monitoring device configured for attachment to the article, the monitoring device configured to; detect motion of the monitoring device as indicated by a motion sensor of the monitoring device; responsive only to the detection of motion or an expiration of a timer, awaken to an active state; while in the active state; receive the ping signal from the ping node; and transmit the ping node location data and a monitoring device identifier to the server via the router; wherein the server of the network entity is configured to; receive the ping node location data and the monitoring device identifier; and store the ping node location data in association with the monitoring device identifier; wherein the system further comprises; a commissioning node configured to transmit a commissioning ping signal including commissioning node location data, the commissioning node location data including a commissioning node identifier; and a decommissioning node configured to transmit a decommissioning ping signal including decommissioning node location data, the decommissioning node location data including a decommissioning node identifier; wherein the monitoring device is further configured to; detect an output signal from a locking mechanism sensor of the monitoring device indicating that a locking mechanism of the monitoring device has been triggered; begin monitoring wireless signals in response to detecting the output signal from the locking mechanism sensor; receive the commissioning ping signal; and transmit the commissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier to the network entity; wherein the network entity is further configured to commission the monitoring device, wherein being configured to commission the monitoring device comprises being configured to; receive the commissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier from the monitoring device; receive product information associated with the article to which the monitoring device is attached, the product information being provided by a commissioning product data input device; and store the product information in association with the monitoring device identifier; wherein the monitoring device is further configured to; receive the decommissioning ping signal; transmit the decommissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier to the network entity; and wherein the network entity is further configured to decommission the monitoring device, wherein being configured to decommission the monitoring device includes being configured to; receive the decommissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier from the monitoring device; disassociate the product information from the monitoring device identifier; transmit a decommission signal to the monitoring device; and store a decommissioned state event, such that the decommissioned state event is associated with the monitoring device identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for tracking an article in a commercial environment, the method comprising:
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detecting, at a monitoring device, motion of the monitoring device as indicated by a motion sensor of the monitoring device; responsive only to the detection of motion or an expiration of a timer, awaken the monitoring device to an active state; while the monitoring device is in the active state; receiving, at the monitoring device, a ping signal from a ping node; and transmitting, from the monitoring device, the ping node location data and a monitoring device identifier to a server via a router, the server and the router being included in a network entity; wherein the method further comprises; receiving, at the network entity, the ping node location data and the monitoring device identifier from the monitoring device; and storing, at the network entity, the ping node location data in association with the monitoring device identifier to track events of the monitoring device within a commercial environment; wherein the method further comprises; detecting, at the monitoring device, an output signal from a locking mechanism sensor of the monitoring device indicating that a locking mechanism of the monitoring device has been triggered; beginning to monitor wireless signals at the monitoring device in response to detecting the output signal from the locking mechanism sensor; receiving, at the monitoring device, a commissioning ping signal, the commissioning ping signal being transmitted by a commissioning node, the commissioning ping signal including commissioning node location data, the commissioning node location data including a commissioning node identifier; transmitting, from the monitoring device to the network entity, the commissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier; commissioning the monitoring device, wherein commissioning the monitoring device comprises; receiving, from the monitoring device at the network entity, the commissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier; receiving, from a commissioning product data input device at the network entity, product information associated with the article to which the monitoring device is attached; and storing, at the network entity, the product information in association with the monitoring device identifier; wherein the method further comprises; receiving, at the monitoring device, a decommissioning ping signal, the decommissioning ping signal being transmitted by a decommissioning node, the decommissioning ping signal including decommissioning node location data, the decommissioning node location data including a decommissioning node identifier; transmitting, from the monitoring device to the network entity, the decommissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier; and decommissioning the monitoring device, wherein decommissioning the monitoring device comprises; receiving, from the monitoring device at the network entity, the decommissioning node location data and the monitoring device identifier; disassociating, at the network entity, the product information from the monitoring device identifier; transmitting a decommission signal from the network entity to the monitoring device; and storing a decommissioned state event at the network entity, such that the decommissioned state event is associated with the monitoring device identifier. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification