Recharging apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured to monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising:
- a transport unit central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, wherein each of the plurality of motorized transport units is self-propelled and wherein the transport unit central control system comprises;
a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units located at the shopping facility;
a control circuit coupled with the transceiver;
a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to;
identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units;
identify, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging;
identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and
cause the transceiver to wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station, wherein the control circuit in causing the communication of the one or more instructions causes a wireless communication of a first instruction to the first motorized transport unit directing the first motorized transport unit to implement one or more physical movements through at least a portion of the shopping facility such that the first motorized transport unit approaches the available recharge station.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.
614 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus configured to monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising:
a transport unit central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, wherein each of the plurality of motorized transport units is self-propelled and wherein the transport unit central control system comprises; a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units located at the shopping facility; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to; identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and cause the transceiver to wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station, wherein the control circuit in causing the communication of the one or more instructions causes a wireless communication of a first instruction to the first motorized transport unit directing the first motorized transport unit to implement one or more physical movements through at least a portion of the shopping facility such that the first motorized transport unit approaches the available recharge station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus configured to monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising:
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a transport unit central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, wherein each of the plurality of motorized transport units is self-propelled and wherein the transport unit central control system comprises; a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units located at the shopping facility; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to; identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and cause the transceiver to wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station; wherein the control circuit in causing the transceiver to wirelessly communicate the one or more instructions is configured to cause the transceiver to wirelessly communicate an instruction to the available recharge station directing the available recharge station to implement one or more physical movements through at least a portion of the shopping facility such that the available recharge station approaches the first motorized transport unit. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. An apparatus configured to monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising:
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a transport unit central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, wherein each of the plurality of motorized transport units is self-propelled and wherein the transport unit central control system comprises; a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units located at the shopping facility; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to; identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and cause the transceiver to wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station; wherein the control circuit in causing the transceiver to wirelessly communicate the one or more instructions is configured to wirelessly communicate an instruction to a second motorized transport unit cooperated with the available recharge station directing the second motorized transport unit to move the available recharge station through at least a portion of the shopping facility such that the available recharge station approaches the first motorized transport unit.
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7. An apparatus configured to monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising:
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a transport unit central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, wherein each of the plurality of motorized transport units is self-propelled and wherein the transport unit central control system comprises; a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units located at the shopping facility; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to; identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and cause the transceiver to wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station; wherein the control circuit is further configured to; identify a second motorized transport unit of the plurality of motorized transport units having a power level greater than a first power level threshold; and cause the transceiver to wirelessly communicate a replace instruction to cause the second motorized transport unit to move through at least a portion of the shopping facility and to removably couple with a movable item container in place of the first motorized transport unit to move the movable item container through one or more areas of the shopping facility.
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8. An apparatus configured to monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising:
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a transport unit central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, wherein each of the plurality of motorized transport units is self-propelled and wherein the transport unit central control system comprises; a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units located at the shopping facility; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to; identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; cause the transceiver to wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station; and determine a location at the shopping facility of the available recharge station, wherein the available recharge station is configured to move throughout at least a portion of the shopping facility; and
determine a route between the location of the available recharge station and the location of the first motorized transport unit, wherein the one or more instructions are configured to cause physical movement consistent with the determined route. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method of providing recharging of a motorized transport unit at a shopping facility, comprising:
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identifying available stored power levels for each of a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility; identifying, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identifying, through a control circuit, an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicating one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station; wherein the wirelessly communicating the one or more instructions comprises wirelessly communicating a first instruction to the first motorized transport unit directing the first motorized transport unit to implement one or more physical movements through at least a portion of the shopping facility such that the first motorized transport unit approaches the available recharge station. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of providing recharging of a motorized transport unit at a shopping facility, comprising:
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identifying available stored power levels for each of a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility; identifying, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identifying, through a control circuit, an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicating one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station; wherein the wirelessly communicating the one or more instructions comprises wirelessly communicate an instruction to the available recharge station directing the available recharge station to implement one or more physical movements through at least a portion of the shopping facility such that the available recharge station approaches the first motorized transport unit. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of providing recharging of a motorized transport unit at a shopping facility, comprising:
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identifying available stored power levels for each of a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility; identifying, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identifying, through a control circuit, an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; wirelessly communicating one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station; wherein the wirelessly communicating the one or more instructions comprises wirelessly communicating an instruction to a second motorized transport unit cooperated with the available recharge station directing the second motorized transport unit to move the available recharge station through at least a portion of the shopping facility such that the available recharge station approaches the first motorized transport unit.
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16. A method of providing recharging of a motorized transport unit at a shopping facility, comprising:
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identifying available stored power levels for each of a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility; identifying, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identifying, through a control circuit, an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; wirelessly communicating one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station; identifying a second motorized transport unit of the plurality of motorized transport units having a power level greater than a first power level threshold; and wirelessly communicating a replace instruction to cause the second motorized transport unit to move through at least a portion of the shopping facility and to removably couple with a movable item container in place of the first motorized transport unit to move the movable item container through one or more areas of the shopping facility.
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17. A method of providing recharging of a motorized transport unit at a shopping facility, comprising:
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identifying available stored power levels for each of a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility; identifying, based on the identified stored power levels, a first motorized transport unit to be subjected to recharging; identifying, through a control circuit, an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; wirelessly communicating one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to temporarily electrically couple with the available recharge station; determining a location at the shopping facility of the available recharge station, wherein the available recharge station is configured to move throughout at least a portion of the shopping facility; and determining a route between the location of the available recharge station and the location of the first motorized transport unit, wherein the one or more instructions are configured to cause physical movement consistent with the determined route. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification