Retail behavioral tracking using microsystems

• US 20080221943A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Ahmed, Osman, Rozsnaki, Joseph James, Porter, Michael Ramey
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/208 Electronic labels, Labels integrating electronic displays

Abstract

An arrangement includes a plurality of containers and a processing circuit. Each of the plurality of containers has a microsystem disposed thereon. Each microsystem is configured to sense at least one environmental condition and to sense movement of the corresponding container. The microsystem is configured to communicate information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement wirelessly. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive the information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement from each of the microsystems.

Claims

1. An arrangement, comprising:

a plurality of containers, each having a microsystem disposed thereon, each microsystem configured to sense at least one environmental condition and to sense movement of the corresponding container, the microsystem configured to communicate information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement wirelessly.

a processing circuit operably coupled to receive the information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement from each of the microsystems.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a wireless base station configured to communicate wirelessly with the plurality of microsystems, the wireless base station further configured to communicate with the processing circuit.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a data store coupled to the processing circuit, the data store containing a database, the database containing environmental and movement information associated with each of the plurality of containers.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, further comprising a point of sale terminal, the point of sale terminal configured to identify a transaction involving one or more of the plurality of containers, the point of sale terminal further configured to communicate information regarding any identified transaction involving one or more of the plurality of containers to the processing circuit.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the database stores information regarding any transactions involving one or more of the plurality of containers.

6. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein:

the processing circuit is configured to store timing information in the database such that the timing information is associated with at least the information regarding the environmental conditions.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the environmental conditions include lighting information.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the environmental conditions include temperature information.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the microsystem includes a microelectromechanical sensor configured to detect orientation information regarding the product, and wherein the orientation information comprises the information regarding movement.

10. An arrangement comprising:

a plurality of wireless microsystems disposed in a facility, each wireless microsystem configured to measure at least one environmental condition;

a plurality of products having RF circuit devices attached thereto, the RF circuit devices configured to communicate with the plurality of wireless microsystems;

a processing circuit configured to store information correlating the plurality of products to environmental conditions detected by the wireless microsystems.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein

at least a first wireless microsystem of the plurality of wireless microsystems is located at a first distance from a first product, and a second wireless microsystem of the plurality of wireless microsystems is located at a second distance form the first product, the first distance smaller than the second distance;

and

the processing circuit is configured to store information correlating the first product to environmental conditions detected by the first wireless microsystem.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the environmental conditions include lighting information.

13. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the environmental conditions include temperature information.

14. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the environmental conditions include lighting information.

15. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the environmental conditions include temperature information.

16. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the at least a first of the plurality of wireless microsystems is configured to write data to at least a first of the RF circuit devices on a first of the products.

17. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine a time from display to purchase for the plurality of products.