System with wheel assembly that communicates with display unit of human propelled cart

• US 9,914,470 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• 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): Dager, Jonathan M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Evans, Garrett F
• Application Number:
  US15/191,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 vehicle tracking system includes a wheel assembly containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing one or more types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The wheel assembly may also include a brake mechanism. The wheel assemblies may be mounted on shopping carts and used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. In one embodiment, the wheel assembly communicates via a wired or wireless connection with a handlebar mounted display unit of the cart.

Claims

1. A system for tracking use of a human-propelled cart, comprising:

a display unit that attaches to the human-propelled cart, the display unit comprising a display, a controller and a wireless transceiver, the display unit configured to communicate bi-directionally on a wireless network via the wireless transceiver; and

a wheel assembly that attaches to a frame of the human-propelled cart, the wheel assembly comprising a wheel, a controller, and communication circuitry, the controller of the wheel assembly configured to detect at least one type of event in which the wheel assembly detects a signal from a device that is external to the human-propelled cart and the wheel assembly, the controller of the wheel assembly additionally configured to report occurrences of the at least one type of event to the display unit via the communications circuitry;

wherein the controller of the display unit and the controller of the wheel assembly are programmed to communicate bi-directionally with each other over a connection that is separate from the wireless network;

wherein the controller of the display unit is configured as a master controller in a master-slave arrangement, and the controller of the wheel assembly is configured as a slave controller in the master-slave arrangement;

wherein the display unit is programmed to report over the wireless network occurrences of at least some of the events detected by the wheel assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wheel assembly further comprises a brake unit that is capable of being activated by the controller of the wheel assembly to inhibit movement of the human-propelled cart, and the display unit is configured to display a warning message associated with activation of the brake unit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wheel assembly comprises a Very Low Frequency (VLF) receiver, and the controller of the wheel assembly is configured to report to the display unit occurrences of events in which the VLF receiver detects a VLF signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit includes an audio signal generator capable of outputting an audible alert signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wheel assembly comprises a vibration sensor that senses wheel vibration events, and the controller of the wheel assembly is configured to report to the display unit events in which wheel vibration is detected by the vibration sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wheel assembly comprises a magnetic field sensor, and the controller of the wheel assembly is configured to report to the display unit occurrences of events in which the magnetic field sensor detects a magnetic field from a magnetic marker that is external to the wheel assembly.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller of the wheel assembly and the controller of the display unit are configured to communicate bi-directionally with each other over a set of wires.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wheel assembly and display unit are configured to communicate with each other wirelessly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises an RFID reader capable of reading RFID data of items placed in the human-propelled cart, and the display unit is configured to display information regarding the items placed in the human-propelled cart.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the display unit is configured to report over the wireless network information regarding the items placed in the human-propelled cart.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the display unit is configured to output recommendations of items related to the items placed in the human-propelled cart.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a reader capable of reading a user ID from a device of a user of the human-propelled cart, and is configured to report the user ID on the wireless network.

10. A system for tracking use of a human-propelled cart, comprising:

a display unit that attaches to the human-propelled cart, the display unit comprising a display and a wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver configured to communicate bi-directionally on a wireless network; and

a wheel assembly that attaches to a frame of the human-propelled cart, the wheel assembly comprising a wheel, a controller, and communication circuitry, the controller configured to detect at least one type of event in which the wheel assembly detects a signal from a device that is external to the human-propelled cart and the wheel assembly, the controller additionally configured to report occurrences of the at least one type of event to the display unit via the communications circuitry;

wherein the display unit is programmed to report over the wireless network occurrences of at least some of the events detected by the wheel assembly;

wherein the display unit comprises an RFID reader capable of reading RFID data of items placed in the human-propelled cart, and the display unit is configured to display information regarding the items placed in the human-propelled cart;

wherein the display unit is configured to use an output of the RFID reader, in combination with data regarding movement of the human-propelled cart, to determine whether an item detected by the RFID reader is in the human-propelled cart.

14. A human-propelled cart, comprising:

a cart frame having a handle;

a display unit attached to the cart frame, the display unit comprising a display, a controller and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, the display unit configured to communicate bi-directionally over a wireless network; and

a wheel unit coupled to the frame, the wheel unit comprising a wheel and a controller, and comprising circuitry configured to detect at least one type of event in which the wheel unit receives a signal from an external source, wherein the controller of the wheel unit is configured to report, to the controller of the display unit, at least some occurrences of the at least one type of event;

wherein the controller of the display unit and the controller of the wheel assembly are configured to communicate bi-directionally with each other over a connection that is separate from the wireless network;

wherein the controller of the display unit is configured as a master controller in a master-slave arrangement, and the controller of the wheel assembly is configured as a slave controller in the master-slave arrangement;

wherein the display unit is configured to report on the wireless network occurrences of at least some of the events detected by the wheel assembly.

15. The human-propelled cart of claim 14, wherein the wheel unit further comprises a brake unit that is capable of being activated by the controller of the wheel unit to inhibit movement of the human-propelled cart, and the display unit is configured to display a warning message associated with activation of the brake unit.

16. The human-propelled cart of claim 15, wherein the wheel unit comprises a Very Low Frequency (VLF) receiver, and is configured to report to the display unit occurrences of events in which the VLF receiver detects a VLF signal.

17. The human-propelled cart of claim 14, wherein the display unit includes an audio signal generator capable of outputting an audible alert signal.

18. The human-propelled cart of claim 14, wherein the wheel unit comprises a vibration sensor that senses wheel vibration events, and the wheel unit is configured to report the wheel vibration events to the display unit.

19. The human-propelled cart of claim 14, wherein the wheel unit comprises a magnetic field sensor, and is configured to report to the display unit events in which the magnetic field sensor senses a magnetic marker that is external to the wheel unit.

20. The human-propelled cart of claim 14, wherein the wheel assembly and display unit are configured to communicate with each other over a set of wires that passes through a portion of the cart frame.

21. The human-propelled cart of claim 14, wherein the wheel assembly and display unit are configured to communicate with each other wirelessly.

22. The human-propelled cart of claim 14, wherein the display unit comprises an RFID reader capable of reading RFID data of items placed in the human-propelled cart, and the display unit is configured to display information regarding the items placed in the human-propelled cart.

24. The human-propelled cart of claim 22, wherein the display unit is configured to report over the wireless network information regarding the items placed in the human-propelled cart.

25. The human-propelled cart of claim 22, wherein the display unit is configured to output recommendations of items related to the items placed in the human-propelled cart.

26. The human-propelled cart of claim 14, wherein the display unit includes a reader capable of reading a user ID from a device of a user of the human-propelled cart, and is configured to report the user ID on the wireless network.

28. The human propelled cart of claim 14, A human-propelled cart, comprising:

a cart frame having a handle;

a display unit attached to the cart frame, the display unit comprising a display, a controller and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, the display unit configured to communicate bi-directionally over a wireless network; and

a wheel unit coupled to the frame, the wheel unit comprising a wheel and a controller, and comprising circuitry configured to detect at least one type of event in which the wheel unit receives a signal from an external source, wherein the controller of the wheel unit is configured to report, to the controller of the display unit, at least some occurrences of the at least one type of event;

wherein the controller of the display unit and the controller of the wheel assembly are configured to communicate bi-directionally with each other over a connection that is separate from the wireless network;

wherein the display unit is configured to report on the wireless network occurrences of at least some of the events detected by the wheel assembly;

wherein the controller of the display unit and the controller of the wheel assembly are configured to communicate with each other using a one-wire protocol.

23. A human-propelled cart, comprising:

a cart frame having a handle;

a display unit attached to the cart frame, the display unit comprising a display, and comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to communicate bi-directionally over a wireless network; and

a wheel unit coupled to the frame, the wheel unit comprising a wheel, and comprising circuitry configured to detect at least one type of event in which the wheel unit detects a signal from an external source, the wheel unit additionally comprising communication circuitry configured to report, to the display unit, at least some occurrences of the at least one type of event;

wherein the display unit is configured to report on the wireless network occurrences of at least some of the events detected by the wheel assembly;

wherein the display unit comprises an RFID reader capable of reading RFID data of items placed in the human-propelled cart, and the display unit is configured to display information regarding the items placed in the human-propelled cart;

wherein the display unit is configured to use an output of the RFID reader, in combination with data regarding movement of the human-propelled cart, to determine whether an item detected by the RFID reader is in the human-propelled cart.

27. A system for tracking use of a human-propelled cart, comprising:

a display unit that attaches to the human-propelled cart, the display unit comprising a display, a controller and a wireless transceiver, the display unit configured to communicate bi-directionally on a wireless network via the wireless transceiver; and

a wheel assembly that attaches to a frame of the human-propelled cart, the wheel assembly comprising a wheel, a controller, and communication circuitry, the controller of the wheel assembly configured to detect at least one type of event in which the wheel assembly detects a signal from a device that is external to the human-propelled cart and the wheel assembly, the controller of the wheel assembly additionally configured to report occurrences of the at least one type of event to the display unit via the communications circuitry;

wherein the controller of the display unit and the controller of the wheel assembly are programmed to communicate bi-directionally with each other over a connection that is separate from the wireless network;

wherein the display unit is programmed to report over the wireless network occurrences of at least some of the events detected by the wheel assembly;

wherein the controller of the display unit and the controller of the wheel assembly are configured to communicate with each other using a one-wire protocol.