System for controlling usage of shopping carts or other human-propelled vehicles

• US 9,091,551 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hannah, Stephen E., Carter, Scott J., James, Jesse M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Application Number:
  US12/552,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/408
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/04 for storing or handling self-service hand-carts or baskets
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/08 from a ground wheel, e.g. engaging the wheel tread or rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/14 characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys collapsible shopping trolleys B62B3/027
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1404 Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements B62B5/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1412 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1492 Wheel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0003 Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0423 braking or blocking when leaving a particular area
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0438 hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/048 Hub brakes; drum brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 : Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 : Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 : Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 : EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 : structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system is disclosed for tracking and controlling shopping carts or other types of human-propelled vehicles. In one embodiment, the system includes a wheel or wheel assembly with a braking mechanism that is activated in response to signals received by multiple receivers. The receivers may, for example, include a VLF (Very Low Frequency) receiver for detecting a VLF signal transmitted by a buried cable, and an RF transceiver for communicating over a wireless network. The receivers may, but need not, be included in the wheel. The multiple receivers may be used in combination to control a shopping cart; for example, a command received by a shopping cart'"'"'s RF transceiver may cause the cart to ignore (not activate the brake in response to) a detected VLF signal.

Claims

1. A locking system for disabling a vehicle to prevent its removal from a defined area, the locking system comprising:

a braking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to inhibit movement of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is activated;

a first receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a first signal;

a second receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a second signal; and

a controller connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism, said controller configured to receive the first and second signals and to selectively activate the braking mechanism in response thereto;

wherein the first receiver is configured to detect an encoded Very Low Frequency (VLF) signal that is capable of causing the braking mechanism to become activated, and the second receiver is a transceiver that is configured to receive commands, including lock commands, transmitted over a wireless network.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first antenna mounted on the vehicle and connected to the first receiver for receiving the first signal, wherein the first signal is a Very Low Frequency (VLF) signal transmitted via a VLF signal line, and wherein the first receiver is configured to detect the first signal when the vehicle passes over said VLF signal line.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a second antenna mounted on the vehicle and connected to the second receiver for receiving the second signal, wherein the second signal has a frequency of approximately 2.4 GHz or 5.7-5.8 GHz.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transceiver transmits a unique identifier.

16. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the braking mechanism in response to the first signal received by the first receiver, and is additionally configured to selectively activate the braking mechanism in response to the second signal received by the second receiver.

22. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second receivers operate in different respective radio frequency ranges.

23. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second receivers are mounted within a wheel of the vehicle.

5. A locking system for disabling a vehicle to prevent its removal from a defined area, the locking system comprising:

a braking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to inhibit movement of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is activated;

a first receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a first signal;

a second receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a second signal; and

a controller connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism, said controller configured to receive the first and second signals and to selectively activate the braking mechanism in response thereto;

wherein the controller is programmed to determine, based on a command received over a wireless data link with the second receiver, whether to respond to a VLF signal detected by the first receiver by activating the braking mechanism.

6. A locking system for disabling a vehicle to prevent its removal from a defined area, the locking system comprising:

a braking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to prevent movement of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is activated;

a first receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a first signal;

a second receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a second signal; and

a controller respectively connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism, said controller configured to receive the first and second signals and to selectively activate the braking mechanism in response thereto;

wherein the first receiver is a Very Low Frequency (VLF) receiver configured to detect a VLF signal, and the second receiver is part of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that communicates over a wireless data link.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a first decoder connected between the first receiver and the controller for identifying a lock command in the first signal; and

a second decoder connected between the second receiver and the controller for identifying a lock command in the second signal.

8. A system as recited in claim 6, further comprising a second antenna mounted on the vehicle and connected to the second receiver for receiving the second signal, wherein the second signal has a frequency of approximately 2.4 GHz.

9. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the transceiver transmits an identification signal.

10. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to determine, based on information received over the wireless data link via the radio frequency transceiver, whether to respond to a VLF signal received with the VLF receiver by activating the braking mechanism.

11. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to activate the braking mechanism in response to a VLF signal received with the VLF receiver, and is additionally configured to activate the braking mechanism in response to commands received by the RF transceiver over the wireless data link.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller, via the RF transceiver, is configured to transmit data over the wireless data link regarding a status of the braking mechanism.

14. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the first and second receivers operate in different respective radio frequency ranges.

15. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the first and second receivers are mounted within a wheel of the vehicle.

13. A locking system for disabling a vehicle to prevent its removal from a defined area, the locking system comprising:

a braking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to prevent movement of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is activated;

a first receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a first signal;

a second receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a second signal; and

a controller respectively connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism, said controller configured to receive the first and second signals and to selectively activate the braking mechanism in response thereto;

wherein the controller is configured to determine, based on information received over a wireless data link by the second receiver, whether to respond to a lock signal received by the first receiver by activating the braking mechanism.

17. A locking system for disabling a vehicle to prevent its removal from a defined area, the locking system comprising:

a braking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to inhibit movement of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is activated;

a first receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a first signal;

a second receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a second signal; and

a controller connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism, said controller configured to receive the first and second signals and to selectively activate the braking mechanism in response thereto;

wherein the first receiver is a Very Low Frequency (VLF) receiver configured to detect a VLF signal, and the second receiver is a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that communicates over a wireless data link.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to determine, based on information received over the wireless data link via the radio frequency transceiver, whether to respond to detection of a VLF signal received with the VLF receiver by activating the braking mechanism.

19. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to activate the braking mechanism in response to a VLF signal received with the VLF receiver, and is additionally configured to activate the braking mechanism in response to commands received by the RF transceiver over the wireless data link.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller, via the RF transceiver, is configured to transmit data over the wireless data link regarding a status of the braking mechanism.

21. A locking system for disabling a vehicle to prevent its removal from a defined area, the locking system comprising:

a braking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to inhibit movement of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is activated;

a first receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a first signal;

a second receiver mounted on the vehicle for receiving a second signal; and

a controller connected to the first receiver, to the second receiver and to the braking mechanism, said controller configured to receive the first and second signals and to selectively activate the braking mechanism in response thereto;

wherein the controller is configured to determine, based on information received over a wireless data link by the second receiver, whether to respond to a signal received by the first receiver by activating the braking mechanism.