Apparatus and method of monitoring product placement within a shopping facility

• US 10,633,231 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2019
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: High, Donald R., Chakrobartty, Shuvro, Taylor, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawley, Talia F
• Application Number:
  US16/269,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20190169005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/04 for storing or handling self-service hand-carts or baskets
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• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/005 using RFID elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/025 using stock management systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/08 with arrangements for continuously or intermittently moving the merchandise
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
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• CPC Class Codes: B07C 2501/0045 Return vending of articles, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 2501/0054 Sorting of waste or refuse
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 2501/0063 Using robots
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/28 using electrical control means
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• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
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• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0291 : Fleet control monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127
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• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 : specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
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• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
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• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 : Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 : Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 : Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/593 : from stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/74 : involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 : in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/40 : in video content extracting overlay text G06V20/62; video retrieval G06F16/70; processing of video elementary streams in video servers H04N21/234; processing of video elementary streams in video clients H04N21/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/44 : Event detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 : Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 : exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/647 : by matching two-dimensional images to three-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 : of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
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• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 : Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
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• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 : Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
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• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 : with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 : Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 : Visible light communication
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• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0846 : using time-dependent-passwords, e.g. periodically changing passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/143 : Termination or inactivation of sessions, e.g. event-controlled end of session
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/282 : for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 : between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 : Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 : for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 : Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/82 : Recycling of waste of electrical or electronic equipment [WEEE]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 : Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/10 : Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 : Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 : Mobile robot

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.

Claims

1. A retail system configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising:

a product monitoring control circuit associated with a shopping facility; and

a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to;

obtain a three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data;

obtain, based on the 3D scan mapping, multiple product depth distances defined between a reference proximate an edge of a product support structure and each of multiple items of a first product positioned on the product support structure; and

identify when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference proximate the edge of the product support structure.

2. The retail system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

identify when a first area across the product support structure, corresponding the first product and the identified one or more of the multiple product depth distances being greater than the predefined depth distance threshold, has a predefined relationship to an area threshold; and

cause a notification to be communicated requesting action be taken in response to identifying that the first area has the predefined relationship to the area threshold.

3. The retail system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

identify, from the 3D scan mapping and relative to each of multiple rows of items of the first product supported by the product support structure, whether a threshold number of items are present within each row, wherein each of the multiple rows of items comprises one or more of the items arranged extending away from the edge of the product support structure;

identify that a threshold number of rows within the select area do not have at least the threshold number of items; and

issuing a notification requesting action be taken in response to identifying that the threshold number of rows do not have at least the threshold number of items.

4. The retail system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

identify when one or more of the items detected through the 3D scan mapping and within the select area are different than the first product intended to be positioned within the select area; and

cause a notification to be communicated notifying a shopping facility associate that at least one item of at least a second product is incorrectly placed within the select area.

5. The retail system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

obtain an on-hand stock of the first product;

identify that the on-hand stock of the first product is less than a threshold quantity; and

determine, in response to identifying that the on-hand stock of the first product is less than the threshold quantity, whether additional items of the first product are pending delivery from a supplier.

6. The retail system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

identify, relative to each of multiple rows of items of the first product supported by the product support structure, whether a threshold number of items of the first product are present within each row, wherein each of the multiple rows of items comprises one or more of the items of the first product arranged extending away from the edge of the product support structure;

identify that a threshold number of the rows of items of the first product within the select area do not have at least the threshold number of items; and

issue a notification requesting action be taken in response to identifying that at least the threshold number of rows do not have at least the threshold number of items.

7. The retail system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

cause one or more movement commands to be communicated to a motorized transport unit coupled with a 3D scanner, wherein the one or more movement commands when implemented by the motorized transport unit are configured to cause physical movement of the motorized transport unit to move the 3D scanner consistent with the one or more movement commands through at least a portion of the shopping facility and proximate the select area of the product support structure.

8. The retail system of claim 7, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

identify, relative to a mapping of the shopping facility, a route between a determined location of the motorized transport unit within the shopping facility and a destination location within the shopping facility;

identify the one or more movement commands configured to control movement of the motorized transport unit to cause the motorized transport unit to move to the destination location in accordance with the route; and

cause the one or more movement commands to be transmitted to the motorized transport unit to cause the motorized transport unit to control its movements in accordance with the one or more movement commands and consistent with the route.

9. The retail system of claim 7, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

cause one or more 3D scan commands to be communicated to induce a change in orientation of the 3D scanner relative to the product support structure.

10. A method of determining product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising:

by a control circuit of a shopping facility product monitoring system;

obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data;

obtaining, based on the 3D scan mapping, multiple product depth distances defined between a reference proximate an edge of a product support structure and each of multiple items of a first product positioned on the product support structure; and

identifying when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the edge of the product support structure.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying when a first area across the product support structure, corresponding the first product and the identified one or more of the multiple product depth distances being greater than the predefined depth distance threshold, has a predefined relationship to an area threshold; and

causing a notification to be communicated requesting action be taken in response to identifying that the first area has the predefined relationship to the area threshold.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying, relative to each of multiple rows of items of the first product supported by the product support structure, whether a threshold number of items are present within each row, wherein each of the multiple rows of items comprises one or more of the items arranged extending away from the edge of the product support structure;

identifying that a threshold number of rows within the select area do not have at least the threshold number of items; and

issuing a notification requesting action be taken in response to identifying that the threshold number of rows do not have at least the threshold number of items.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying when one or more of the items detected through the 3D scan mapping and within the select area are different than the first product intended to be positioned within the select area; and

causing a notification to be communicated notifying a shopping facility associate that at least one item of at least a second product is incorrectly placed within the select area.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining an on-hand stock of the first product;

identifying that the on-hand stock of the first product is less than a threshold quantity; and

determining, in response to identifying that the on-hand stock of the first product is less than the threshold quantity, whether additional items of the first product are pending delivery from a supplier.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying, relative to each of multiple rows of items of the first product supported by the product support structure, whether a threshold number of items of the first product are present within each row, wherein each of the multiple rows of items comprises one or more of the items of the first product arranged extending away from the edge of the product support structure;

identifying that a threshold number of the rows of items of the first product within the select area do not have at least the threshold number of items; and

issuing a notification requesting action be taken in response to identifying that at least the threshold number of rows do not have at least the threshold number of items.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

causing one or more movement commands to be communicated to a motorized transport unit coupled with a 3D scanner, wherein the one or more movement commands when implemented by the motorized transport unit are configured to cause physical movement of the motorized transport unit to move the 3D scanner consistent with the one or more movement commands through at least a portion of the shopping facility and proximate the select area of the product support structure.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

identifying, relative to a mapping of the shopping facility, a route between a determined location of the motorized transport unit within the shopping facility and a destination location within the shopping facility; and

identifying the one or more movement commands configured to control movement of the motorized transport unit to cause the motorized transport unit to move to the destination location in accordance with the route;

wherein the causing the communication of the one or more movement commands comprises causing the communication of the one or more movement commands to the motorized transport unit to cause the motorized transport unit to control its movements in accordance with the one or more movement commands and consistent with the route.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

causing one or more 3D scan commands to be communicated to induce a change in orientation of the 3D scanner relative to the product support structure.

19. A shopping facility product monitoring system, comprising:

a plurality of motorized transport units each configured to temporarily and removable couple with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner;

a product monitoring control circuit associated with a shopping facility;

a memory coupled with the product monitoring control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to;

communicate one or more movement commands to a first motorized transport unit of the plurality of motorized transport units coupled with the 3D scanner to cause physical movement of the first motorized transport unit to move the 3D scanner consistent with the one or more movement commands through at least a portion of the shopping facility and proximate a select area of a product support structure;

obtain, based on 3D scan mapping captured by the 3D scanner, multiple product depth to each of one or more items of a first product positioned on the product support structure and relative to an edge of the product support structure; and

identify when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference proximate the edge of the product support structure.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the product monitoring control circuit is further configured to:

identify when a first area across the product support structure, corresponding the first product and the identified one or more of the multiple product depth distances being greater than the predefined depth distance threshold, has a predefined relationship to an area threshold; and

issue a notification requesting action be taken in response to identifying that the first area has the predefined relationship to the area threshold.