Methods and apparatus to monitor shoppers in a monitored environment

• US 9,269,093 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Morris, Ramaswamy, Arun
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, MATTHEW E
• Application Number:
  US13/475,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20120268252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.9, 340/10.1, 340/10.6, 235/376
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/52 of users

Abstract

An example disclosed method involves collecting first data with first sensors fixed at entrances or exits of aisles in a retail or commercial establishment, and collecting second data with second sensors fixed in the retail or commercial establishment. The first sensors to collect the first data by detecting a first signal type different from a second signal type detected by the second sensors. The example method also involves generating a path of travel of a person in the retail or commercial establishment using the second data, and correcting an error in the path of travel based on the first data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

collecting first data during a first time with a first sensor fixed at a location of entry or exit of an aisle in at least one of a retail or commercial establishment, the first sensor to collect the first data by detecting a first signal type;

collecting second data at a first rate of collection during the first time with a second sensor fixed in the at least one of the retail or commercial establishment, the second sensor to collect the second data by detecting a second signal type different than the first signal type;

collecting third data with the second sensor at a second rate of collection during a second time, the second rate being used during the second time based on the first data, the second rate being faster than the first rate, and the second sensor to collect the third data by detecting the second signal type;

generating, with a processor, a path of travel of a person in the at least one of the retail or commercial establishment using the first and the second data; and

correcting, with the processor, an error in the path of travel based on the third data.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the generating of the path of travel and the correcting of the error occur regardless of whether the person has a shopping cart.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second sensor is a Bluetooth sensor to be in communication with a mobile Bluetooth-capable device associated with the person.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first signal type is infrared, and the second signal type is radio frequency.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the correcting of the error in the path of travel is based on:

the first sensor indicating that the person entered a first aisle at a third time;

the second sensor indicating that the person is at a first location in the first aisle at a fourth time, and the second sensor indicating that the person is at a second location in a second aisle at a fifth time; and

determining that the second location is in error based on the first location being in the first aisle and the first sensor indicating that the person entered the first aisle.

17. The method as defined in claim 1, further including determining at least one of a product, an advertisement, or an informational display to which the person was exposed based on the path of travel.

18. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second data is collected based on the second sensor detecting the second signal type from a device that is at least one of mounted to a shopping cart, mounted to a shopping basket, carried by the person, or worn by the person.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a first sensor fixed at a location of entry or exit of an aisle in at least one of a retail or commercial establishment and configured to collect first data by detecting a first signal type;

a second sensor fixed in the at least one of the retail or commercial establishment and configured to;

collect second data at a first rate of collection during the first time, the second sensor to collect the second data by detecting a second signal type different than the first signal type; and

collect third data at a second rate of collection during a second time, the second sensor to collect the third data by detecting the second signal type, the second rate being faster than the first rate;

a processor configured to generate a path of travel of a person in the at least one of the retail or commercial establishment using the first and the second data; and

a data modifier configured to correct an error in the path of travel based on the third data.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the processor is to generate the path of travel and the data modifier is to correct the error regardless of whether the person has a shopping cart.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the second sensor is a Bluetooth sensor to be in communication with a mobile Bluetooth-capable device associated with the person.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the first signal type is infrared, and the second signal type is radio frequency.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the correcting of the error in the path of travel is based on:

the first sensor indicating that the person entered a first aisle at a third time;

the second sensor indicating that the person is at a first location in the first aisle at a fourth time, and the second sensor indicating that the person is at a second location in a second aisle at a fifth time; and

determining that the second location is in error based on the first location being in the first aisle and the first sensor indicating that the person entered the first aisle.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the processor is to determine at least one of a product, an advertisement, or an informational display to which the person was exposed based on the path of travel.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the second data is collected by the second sensor based on the second sensor detecting the second signal type from a device that is at least one of mounted to a shopping cart, mounted to a shopping basket, carried by the person, or worn by the person.

11. An article of manufacture comprising executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

collect first data during a first time via a first sensor fixed at a location of entry or exit of an aisle in at least one of a retail or commercial establishment, the first sensor to collect the first data by detecting a first signal type;

collect second data at a first rate of collection during the first time via a second sensor fixed in the at least one of the retail or commercial establishment, the second sensor to collect the second data by detecting a second signal type different than the first signal type;

collect third data via the second sensor at a second rate of collection during a second time, the second rate being used during the second time based on the first data, the second rate being faster than the first rate, and the second sensor to collect the third data by detecting the second signal type;

generate a path of travel of a person in the at least one of the retail or commercial establishment using the first and the second data; and

correct an error in the path of travel based on the third data.

12. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the processor to generate the path of travel and correct the error regardless of whether the person has a shopping cart.

13. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 11, wherein the second sensor is a Bluetooth sensor to communicate with a mobile Bluetooth-capable device associated with the person.

14. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 11, wherein the first signal type is infrared, and the second signal type is radio frequency.

15. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the processor to correct the error in the path of travel based on:

the first sensor indicating that the person entered a first aisle at a third time;

the second sensor indicating that the person is at a first location in the first aisle at a fourth time, and the second sensor indicating that the person is at a second location in a second aisle at a fifth time; and

determining that the second location is in error based on the first location being in the first aisle and the first sensor indicating that the person entered the first aisle.

16. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the processor to determine at least one of a product, an advertisement, or an informational display to which the person was exposed based on the path of travel.