Methods and apparatus for inventory determinations using portable devices

• US 9,367,831 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Besehanic, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Seung
• Application Number:
  US14/658,964
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for inventory determinations using portable devices are disclosed. One disclosed example apparatus includes a detector of a portable device to determine one or more of an orientation or a position of a portable device relative to a product or a shelf storing the product, where the portable device is independent of the shelf. The disclosed example also includes a transmitter of the portable device, where the transmitter is to transmit a signal towards a rear surface of the shelf, and where the rear surface faces toward the product. The disclosed example also includes a receiver of the portable device to receive a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, where the reflected signal reflected from the rear surface of the shelf. The disclosed example also includes a processor of the portable device to enable the transmitter based on the detected orientation or position of the portable device, and to determine inventory information about the product on the shelf based on the reflected signal.

Claims

1. A portable device comprising:

a detector to determine one or more of an orientation or a position of the portable device relative to at least one of a product or a shelf to store the product, the portable device independent of the shelf, the detector including a camera;

a transmitter to transmit a signal towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing toward a position where the product is to sit on the shelf;

a receiver to receive a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from the at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

a processor to enable the transmitter based on the determined one or more of the orientation or the position of the portable device, and to determine inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal.

2. The portable device as defined in claim 1, wherein the inventory information is further based on a baseline signal corresponding to a baseline inventory condition of the product.

3. The portable device as defined in claim 2, wherein the baseline inventory condition includes a desired amount of product to be stored on the shelf.

4. The portable device as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is to cause the transmitter to transmit the signal based on an output of the detector.

5. The portable device as defined in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is located on a module coupled to the portable device.

6. The portable device as defined in claim 1, wherein the processor is to associate a stock keeping unit (SKU) with the product.

7. The portable device as defined in claim 6, wherein the processor is to associate the stock keeping unit (SKU) with the product based on the camera detecting one or more of a bar code or a QR code on or proximate the product.

8. A portable device comprising:

a detector to determine one or more of an orientation or a position of the portable device relative to at least one of a product or a shelf to store the product, the portable device independent of the shelf,

a transmitter to transmit a signal towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing toward a position where the product is to sit on the shelf, the transmitter including a speaker;

a receiver to receive a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from the at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

a processor to enable the transmitter based on the determined one or more of the orientation or the position of the portable device, and to determine inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal.

9. A portable device comprising:

a detector to determine one or more of an orientation or a position of the portable device relative to at least one of a product or a shelf to store the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

a transmitter to transmit a signal towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing toward a position where the product is to sit on the shelf, the signal including a sound signal;

a receiver to receive a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from the at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

a processor to enable the transmitter based on the determined one or more of the orientation or the position of the portable device, and to determine inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal.

10. A method comprising:

determining, with a processor of a portable device, at least one of a position or orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of a shelf to hold a product or the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

displaying a message or prompt to move or re-orient the portable device when at least one of the position or the orientation of the portable device is not within an acceptable range;

transmitting, from the portable device and based on the determined position or the orientation of the portable device, a signal to travel towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing towards a position on which the product is to be located;

detecting, with the processor, a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

determining, with the processor, inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the determining of the inventory information is further based on a baseline signal corresponding to a baseline inventory condition.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, further including determining the baseline signal.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the determining of the baseline signal includes determining a reflected signal when a threshold amount of the product is on the shelf.

14. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the transmitting of the signal automatically occurs when the at least one of the position or the orientation of the portable device is within an acceptable range.

15. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the displaying of the at least one of the message or the prompt to move or re-orient the portable device includes showing a reticle on a display of the portable device.

16. A method comprising:

determining, with a processor of a portable device, at least one of a position or orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of a shelf to hold a product or the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

transmitting, from the portable device and based on the determined position or the orientation of the portable device, a signal to travel towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing towards a position on which the product is to be located;

detecting, with the processor, a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

determining, with the processor, inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal, wherein the determining of the inventory information is based on attenuation of the reflected signal relative to the baseline signal.

17. A tangible machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause a processor of a portable device to at least:

detect one or more of a position or an orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of a shelf to support a product or relative to the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

transmit, based on the detected position or orientation of the portable device, an acoustic signal to travel towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing towards a position on which the product is to be located;

detect a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from at least one of the rear surface or the product; and

determine inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal.

18. The machine readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions cause the processor to determine the inventory information based on a baseline signal corresponding to a baseline inventory condition.

19. The machine readable medium as defined in claim 18, wherein the instructions cause the machine to determine the baseline signal when a threshold amount of product is on the shelf.

20. The machine readable medium as defined in claim 19, wherein the instructions cause the processor to transmit the signal when one or more of the position or the orientation of the portable device is within an acceptable range.

21. A portable device comprising:

a detector to determine one or more of an orientation or a position of the portable device relative to at least one of a product or a shelf to store the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

a display to provide at least one of a message or a prompt to move or re-orient the portable device when at least one of the position or the orientation of the portable device is not within an acceptable range;

a transmitter to transmit a signal towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing toward a position where the product is to sit on the shelf;

a receiver to receive a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from the at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

a processor to enable the transmitter based on the determined one or more of the orientation or the position of the portable device, and to determine inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal.

22. The portable device as defined in claim 21, wherein a reticle is shown on the display to facilitate re-orienting the portable device.

23. A portable device comprising:

a detector to determine one or more of an orientation or a position of the portable device relative to at least one of a product or a shelf to store the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

a transmitter to transmit a signal towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing toward a position where the product is to sit on the shelf wherein the transmitter is to transmit an acoustic signal;

a receiver to receive a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from the at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

a processor to enable the transmitter based on the determined one or more of the orientation or the position of the portable device, and to determine inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal.

24. The portable device as defined in claim 23, further including an attachment to direct the acoustic signal from the transmitter.

25. A method comprising:

determining, with a processor of a portable device, at least one of a position or orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of a shelf to hold a product or the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

transmitting, from the portable device and based on the determined position or the orientation of the portable device, a signal to travel towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing towards a position on which the product is to be located;

detecting, with the processor, a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

determining, with the processor, inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal, wherein the determining of at least one of the position or the orientation of the portable device occurs via a camera of the portable device.

26. A method comprising:

determining, with a processor of a portable device, at least one of a position or orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of a shelf to hold a product or the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

transmitting, from the portable device and based on the determined position or the orientation of the portable device, a signal to travel towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing towards a position on which the product is to be located;

detecting, with the processor, a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

determining, with the processor, inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal, wherein the determining of the at least one of the position or orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of the shelf to hold the product or the product includes detecting markings on at least one of the shelf or the product.

27. A method comprising:

determining, with a processor of a portable device, at least one of a position or orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of a shelf to hold a product or the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

transmitting, from the portable device and based on the determined position or the orientation of the portable device, a signal to travel towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing towards a position on which the product is to be located;

detecting, with the processor, a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

determining, with the processor, inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal; and

associating the product with a stock keeping unit (SKU).

28. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the associating of the product with the stock keeping unit (SKU) is based on scanning at least one of a bar code or a QR code on or proximate the product.

29. A method comprising:

determining, with a processor of a portable device, at least one of a position or orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of a shelf to hold a product or the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

transmitting, from the portable device and based on the determined position or the orientation of the portable device, a signal to travel towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing towards a position on which the product is to be located, wherein the signal includes an acoustic signal;

detecting, with the processor, a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from at least one of the rear surface of the shelf or the product; and

determining, with the processor, inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal.

30. A tangible machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause a processor of a portable device to at least:

detect one or more of a position or an orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of a shelf to support a product or relative to the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

cause a display of the portable device to show at least one of a message or a prompt to move or re-orient the portable device;

transmit, based on the detected position or orientation of the portable device, a signal to travel towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing towards a position on which the product is to be located;

detect a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from at least one of the rear surface or the product; and

determine inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal.

31. The machine readable medium as defined in claim 30, wherein the display is to show a reticle to facilitate re-orienting the portable device.

32. A tangible machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause a processor of a portable device to at least:

detect one or more of a position or an orientation of the portable device relative to at least one of a shelf to support a product or relative to the product, the portable device independent of the shelf;

transmit, based on the detected position or orientation of the portable device, a signal to travel towards at least one of the product or a rear surface of the shelf, the rear surface facing towards a position on which the product is to be located;

detect a reflected signal corresponding to the transmitted signal, the reflected signal reflected from at least one of the rear surface or the product;

determine inventory information about the product based on the reflected signal; and

associate the product with a stock keeping unit (SKU) based on an image sensed by the portable device.