Systems and methods for monitoring open stock merchandising

• US 20070035380A1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GOLIATH Solutions LLC (Osa Acquisition, LLC)
• Inventors: Overhultz, Gary, Pyne, John, Hardman, Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 7,535,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.900
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are described for monitoring the open stock merchandising. A product label may be used that includes an electronic identification device that outputs information identifying one or more products to be stocked on one or more retail display structures, such as a shelf. A wireless communication device may be used that communicates with a wireless communication system. The product label may also include one or more connectors for electrically coupling the electronic identification device to the wireless communication. The wireless communication device may be configured to receive the information identifying the one or more products via the one or more connectors and wirelessly communicate the information to the wireless communication system. The information may be used to determine if a first product is adjacent to a second product on one or more retail display structures.

Claims

1. A stock identification system, comprising:

a product label that includes an electronic identification device, the electronic identification device outputting information identifying one or more products to be stocked on one or more retail display structures; and

a wireless communication device that communicates with a wireless communication system;

the product label further including one or more connectors for electrically coupling the electronic identification device to the wireless communication device when the product label is coupled to the one or more retail display structures;

the wireless communication device receiving the information identifying the one or more products via the one or more connectors and wirelessly communicating the information to the wireless communication system.

2. The stock identification system of claim 1, wherein the one or more retail display structures include one or more shelves.

3. The stock identification system of claim 2, wherein the information is used to determine if a first product is adjacent to a second product on the one or more shelves.

4. The stock identification system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and the wireless communication system is an RFID system.

5. The stock identification system of claim 4, wherein the RFID system determines a location of the RFID tag within a retail environment.

6. The stock identification system of claim 5, wherein the information and the location of the RFID tag are used to determine if the one or more products on a first shelf are adjacent to one or more other products on a second shelf.

7. The stock identification system of claim 2, wherein the one or more shelves include a label bracket for receiving the product label.

8. The stock identification system of claim 1, wherein the one or more retail display structures include a sign holder for detachably mounting the product label to the retail display structure.

9. The stock identification system of claim 2, wherein the one or more shelves include a mounting brackets for detachably mounting the shelves to a shelving unit.

10. The stock identification system of claim 2, wherein:

the electronic identification device is electrically coupled to a second electronic identification device on an adjacent shelf;

the electronic identification device receiving adjacency information from the second identification device that identifies one or more products to be stocked on the adjacent shelf; and

the electronic identification device communicating the adjacency information to the wireless communication system via the wireless communication device.

11. The stock identification system of claim 10, wherein the product label includes one or more additional connectors for electrically coupling the electronic identification device to the second electronic identification device.

12. The stock identification system of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery attached to the one or more retail display structures, the battery being electrically coupled to the one or more connectors when the product label is coupled to the one or more retail display structures to provide power to the electronic identification device.

13. The stock identification system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device communicates the information to the wireless communication system at periodic intervals.

14. The stock identification system of claim 3, further comprising:

one or more processing devices that receive the information from the wireless communication system and use the information to determine if the first product is adjacent to the second product on the one or more shelves.

15. The stock identification system of claim 14, wherein the one or more shelves are located in a first retail environment and the one or more processing devices also receive stock adjacency information from one or more different retail environments.

16. The stock identification system of claim 2, wherein the product label is coupled to at least two shelves.

17. A method for monitoring stock adjacency in a retail environment, comprising:

programming an electronic identification device in a product label to identify one or more products to be stocked on one or more retail display structures in the retail environment;

attaching the product label to the one or more retail display structures;

transmitting information from the electronic identification device to a wireless communication device attached to the one or more retail display structures, the information identifying the one or more products; and

wirelessly communicating the information from the wireless device to one or more processors via a wireless communication system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the one or more processors using the information to determine if a first product is adjacent to a second product on the one or more retail display structures.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless communication device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and the wireless communication system is an RFID system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the RFID system determines a location of the RFID tag within a retail environment.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the information and the location of the RFID tag are used to determine if the one or more products on a first shelf are adjacent to one or more other products on a second shelf.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving adjacency information from an adjacent shelf; and

communicating the adjacency information to the one or more processors via the wireless communication system, wherein the information and the adjacency information is used to determine if the first product is adjacent to the second product.

23. A stock adjacency monitoring system, comprising:

a first product label including a first electronic identification device that outputs first information identifying a first product to be stocked on a first shelf;

a first wireless communication device attached to the first shelf that communicates with a wireless communication;

the first product label electrically coupling the first electronic identification device to the first wireless communication device when the first product label is attached to the first shelf;

the first wireless communication device receiving the first information from the first electronic identification device and wirelessly communicating the first information to a processing device via the wireless communication system;

a second product label including a second electronic identification device that outputs second information identifying a second product to be stocked on a second shelf;

a second wireless communication device attached to the second shelf that communicates with the wireless communication;

the second product label electrically coupling the second electronic identification device to the second wireless communication device when the second product label is attached to the second shelf;

the second wireless communication device receiving the second information from the second electronic identification device and wirelessly communicating the second information to the processing device via the wireless communication system;

the processing device determining from the first and second information that the first product is stocked adjacent the second product.