Retail shelf supply monitoring system

• US 8,676,377 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siegel, Norman L., Bird, Gregory M., Rhineberger, Kenneth G., Bacnik, James, Mueller, Paul, Kump, Daniel, Walker, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/596,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20130024023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 700241-244, 700/236, 700/225, 340/5.92
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An inventory shelf monitoring system includes a plurality of track systems located on at least one shelf of a retail or warehouse establishment. Each track system includes a sensor and actuator that determines the position of a product pusher. The identity and location of the product pusher, for each track system on the shelf, is sent to a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that assembles, formats, and transmits pusher position data to a central receiver. The data is then transmitted to a central processing unit in a user device that maintains data corresponding to product count, availability, and activity associated with each track unit of each shelf employing the system. Inventory control, the prevention of out-of-stock situations, and the assessment of activity indicative of theft or accident is thus monitored in real time for prompt remedial action.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates monitoring inventory, comprising:

a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that is interconnected to each of a power bus, a ground bus, and a signal bus, wherein the data acquisition and transmitter circuit comprises;

a dedicated microprocessor chip that receives data input signals from a plurality of track units associated with the data acquisition and transmitter circuit over the signal bus; and

wherein the microprocessor formats data received from the plurality of track units for transmission, and passes a formatted output signal through transmitter circuitry for emission as an RF signal from an antenna; and

a receiver that receives the transmitted output signal and forwards the transmitted output signal through a router to a user device that generates at least one of an inventory report and a pilferage report;

wherein each track unit includes a pull-up resistor;

the system further comprising;

a sensor circuit coupled to each track unit; and

a sensor connected to the sensor circuit;

wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasonic transponder, sending and receiving ultrasonic waves, the actuator comprising a reflector attached to the pusher reflecting the ultrasonic waves from the transponder back to the transponder.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor circuit provides information to the data acquisition and transmitter circuit including a serial number or location of the track unit and a specific location of a pusher associated therewith.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor chip formats the data received from the plurality of track units to include one or more of shelf identity information for an associated shelf on which the plurality of track units is disposed, identity information for each track unit and its dedicated pusher, status of a battery supplying power to the data acquisition and transmitting circuit and the sensor circuit, and a messaging sequence number that prevents duplication of data.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein each track unit has a wiper contact of a potentiometer in contacting engagement with the power bus.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of track units includes a microprocessor, the microprocessor including:

a first port coupled to a potentiometer signal wiper;

a second port coupled to the ground bus and to an anode of a capacitor;

a third port coupled to a potentiometer ground wiper;

a fourth port coupled to the signal bus;

a fifth port coupled to a cathode of the capacitor; and

a sixth port coupled to the signal bus and to the fourth port; and

wherein the voltage supply bus is coupled to a potentiometer voltage wiper to provide a voltage thereto.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the power bus is mounted to a housing such that it is oriented vertically.

7. The system according to claim 1, the sensor being fixed in relation to one of the plurality of track units and an actuator attached to a pusher mounted to one of the plurality of track units, and wherein the sensor comprises a potentiometer and the actuator comprises a contact member on the pusher, the contact member defining the signal wiper of a potentiometer.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a light transponder having a light emitter and an array of light receivers, and the actuator comprises a reflector attached to the pusher reflecting light from the emitter back to the array of light receivers.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises a signal strength monitor, monitoring the strength of a signal taken from the group of optical, magnetic, radio frequency and acoustic signals, the signal strength being indicative of a position of the pusher.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a central processing unit in communication with the receiver.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the router and the user device are distinct components.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor circuit includes a microprocessor providing the information to the data acquisition and transmitter circuit.

13. , A system that facilitates monitoring inventory, comprising:

a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that is interconnected to each of a power bus, a ground bus, and a signal bus, wherein the data acquisition and transmitter circuit comprises;

a dedicated microprocessor chip that receives data input signals from a plurality of track units associated with the data acquisition and transmitter circuit over the signal bus; and

wherein the microprocessor formats data received from the plurality of track units for transmission, and passes a formatted output signal through transmitter circuitry for emission as an RF signal from an antenna; and

a receiver that receives the transmitted output signal and forwards the transmitted output signal through a router to a user device that generates at least one of an inventory report and a pilferage report;

wherein each track unit includes a pull-up resistor;

the system further comprising;

a sensor circuit coupled to each track unit; and

a sensor connected to the sensor circuit;

wherein the sensor comprises a radio transponder having a radar sender and receiver, and the actuator comprises a reflector attached to the pusher reflecting radar signals received from the sender to the receiver.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor circuit provides information to the data acquisition and transmitter circuit including a serial number or location of the track unit and a specific location of a pusher associated therewith.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the microprocessor chip formats the data received from the plurality of track units to include one or more of shelf identity information for an associated shelf on which the plurality of track units is disposed, identity information for each track unit and its dedicated pusher, status of a battery supplying power to the data acquisition and transmitting circuit and the sensor circuit, and a messaging sequence number that prevents duplication of data.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein each track unit has a wiper contact of a potentiometer in contacting engagement with the power bus.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of track units includes a microprocessor, the microprocessor including:

a first port coupled to a potentiometer signal wiper;

a second port coupled to the ground bus and to an anode of a capacitor;

a third port coupled to a potentiometer ground wiper;

a fourth port coupled to the signal bus;

a fifth port coupled to a cathode of the capacitor; and

a sixth port coupled to the signal bus and to the fourth port; and

wherein the voltage supply bus is coupled to a potentiometer voltage wiper to provide a voltage thereto.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the power bus is mounted to a housing such that it is oriented vertically.

19. The system according to claim 13, the sensor being fixed in relation to one of the plurality of track units and an actuator attached to a pusher mounted to one of the plurality of track units, and wherein the sensor comprises a potentiometer and the actuator comprises a contact member on the pusher, the contact member defining the signal wiper of a potentiometer.

20. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a light transponder having a light emitter and an array of light receivers, and the actuator comprises a reflector attached to the pusher reflecting light from the emitter back to the array of light receivers.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the actuator comprises a signal strength monitor, monitoring the strength of a signal taken from the group of optical, magnetic, radio frequency and acoustic signals, the signal strength being indicative of a position of the pusher.

22. The system of claim 13, further comprising a central processing unit in communication with the receiver.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the router and the user device are distinct components.

24. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor circuit includes a microprocessor providing the information to the data acquisition and transmitter circuit.