High value display case system

• US 8,941,467 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Next Level Security Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Next Level Security Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Jankowski, Peter A., Petkevich, Daniel T., Jacobs, Bill, Edulbehram, Jumbi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US13/154,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244, 340/5.91, 340/5.61, 340/5.7, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 235/381, 235/382, 235/383, 235/385, 705/14.27, 705/14.4, 705/14.41, 705/14.45, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/5.91
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

A display case system has a display case, a gateway, and a communication device. The display case houses a product. The gateway is coupled to the display case and communicates with a client device associated with the product in the display case. A communication device is coupled to the gateway and enables a communication session between the communication device and the client device associated with the product. The client device remotely locks and unlocks the display case to allow access to the product based on the communication session.

Claims

1. A display case system comprising:

a display case configured to house a plurality of products;

a gateway coupled to the display case, the gateway configured to communicate with a client device associated with the product in the display case; and

a communication device coupled to the gateway, the communication device configured to enable a communication session between the communication device and the client device associated with the plurality of products, the client device configured to remotely lock and unlock the display case to allow access to all products in the display case prior to a purchase of at least one of the products, the access based on the communication session, the client device configured to generate a graphical user interface comprising a video clip of a user approaching the display case, an image of the product, an image of a face of the user, and a history log of times when the display case has been opened and closed.

2. The display case system of claim 1 further comprising:

a service call button coupled to the communication device, the service call button configured to call the client device associated with the plurality of products in the display case; and

a switch coupled to the display case, the switch configured to lock and unlock the display case in response to the client device,

wherein the display case, the communication device, the service call button, and the switch are located in a retail store, the client device is located outside the retail store, and the communication session includes a video call conference.

3. The display case system of claim 1 further comprising:

a web server configured to identify the client device associated with the gateway and the plurality of products in the display case.

4. The display case system of claim 2 wherein the communication device comprises a video camera, a microphone, and a speaker.

5. A gateway comprising:

a service call button identifier module configured to identify a service call button in a store;

a display case identifier module configured to identify a display case associated with the service call button in the store;

a product identifier module configured to identify a product plurality of products associated with the display case;

a customer service client device locator module configured to identify a remote client device outside the store, the remote client device associated with the plurality of products inside the display case in the store, the remote client device configured to generate a graphical user interface comprising a video clip of a user approaching the display case, an image of one of the plurality of products, an image of a face of the user, and a history log of times when the display case has been opened and closed;

a communication module configured to enable a video communication session between a communication device at the display case and the remote client device; and

a display case switch module configured to control a lock of the display case in response to the remote client device to allow access to the plurality of products.

6. The gateway of claim 5 further comprising:

a customer service session recorder module configured to record the video communication session; and

a storage device configured to store the video communication session, the storage device comprising a directory of service call button identifiers, display case identifiers, product identifiers, store identifiers, and corresponding remote client devices.

7. The gateway of claim 5 wherein the customer service client device locator module is configured to communicate with a web server to identify the corresponding remote client device based on the plurality of products.

8. The gateway of claim 5 further comprising:

an application programming interface (API) to interface the gateway with the remote client device;

an application module to monitor or control a security device coupled to the gateway;

a device driver to enable interaction of the application module with the corresponding security device;

a web server communication module configured to enable communication with a web server, the client device, and other gateways, to receive additional APIs, respective application modules, and respective device drivers, and to copy a configuration of the gateway to other gateways;

a remote device management module configured to aggregate monitoring data from the security device and from other security devices respectively coupled to other gateways correlated with the gateway by the web server, and to enable the client device to monitor or control the security device coupled to the respective gateway,

wherein the application module comprises the service call button identifier module, the display case identifier module, the product identifier module, the customer service client device locator module, the communication module, and the display case switch module.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a call service from a service call button in a store;

identifying the service call button in the store;

identifying a display case associated with the service call button in the store;

identifying a plurality of products associated with the display case;

identifying a remote client device outside the store, the remote client device associated with the plurality of products inside the display case in the store, the remote client device configured to generate a graphical user interface comprising a video clip of a user approaching the display case, an image of the plurality of products, an image of a face of the user, and a history log of times when the display case has opened and closed;

establishing a video communication session between a communication device at the display case and the remote client device; and

controlling a lock of the display case in response to the remote client device to allow access to all products in the display case prior to a purchase of at least one of the products.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising:

recording the video communication session; and

storing the video communication session in a storage device, the storage device comprising a directory of service call button identifiers, display case identifiers, product identifiers, store identifiers, and corresponding remote client devices.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising:

communicating with a web server to identify the corresponding remote client device based on the plurality of products.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving a call service from a service call button in a store;

identifying the service call button in the store;

identifying a display case associated with the service call button in the store;

identifying a plurality of products associated with the display case;

identifying a remote client device outside the store, the remote client device associated with the plurality of products inside the display case in the store, the remote client device configured to generate a graphical user interface comprising a video clip of a user approaching the display case, an image of the plurality of products, an image of a face of the user, and a history log of times when the display case has opened and closed;

establishing a video communication session between a communication device at the display case and the remote client device; and

controlling a lock of the display case in response to the remote client device to allow access to all products in the display case prior to a purchase of at least one of the products.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 further comprising:

recording the video communication session; and

storing the video communication session in a storage device, the storage device comprising a directory of service call button identifiers, display case identifiers, product identifiers, store identifiers, and corresponding remote client devices.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 further comprising:

communicating with a web server to identify the corresponding remote client device based on the plurality of products.

15. A method comprising:

providing a display case for housing a plurality of products in a retail store;

associating the plurality of products in the display case with a client device, the client device located outside the store, the client device configured to generate a graphical user interface comprising a video clip of a user approaching the display case, an image of the plurality of products, an image of a face of the user, and a history log of times when the display case has been opened and closed;

enabling a two-way audio and video communication between a customer at the display case and a customer service representative at the client device, the customer service representative associated with the plurality of products; and

enabling the customer service representative at the client device to control a lock at the display case to allow the customer access to all products in the display case prior to a purchase of at least one of the products, the access based on the two-way audio and video communication.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

communicating a promotion for the plurality of products to the customer from the remote customer service representative via the two-way audio and video communication.

17. A method comprising:

activating a service call button of a display case at a retail store;

communicating via audio and video conference with a remote customer service representative associated with a plurality of products housed in the display case in response to the service call button being activated, the remote customer service representative operating a client device configured to generate a graphical user interface comprising a video clip of a user approaching the display case, an image of the plurality of products, an image of a face of the user, and a history log of times when the display case has been opened and closed; and

accessing the plurality of products from the display case in response to the remote customer service representative unlocking the display case and prior to a purchase of at least one of the products in the display case.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving a communication from the remote customer service representative of a promotion for the plurality of products.