PRODUCT-MONITORING DRONE

• US 20170178474A1
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Olson, Daniel James, Horgos, Eugene Joseph, West, George, Howe, II, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US15/041,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20170178474A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• 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 13/248 EAS system combined with another detection technology, e.g. dual EAS and video or other presence detection system
• 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

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention can be a system for monitoring a product, system including a transponder configured to attach to a product in a store; a drone comprising a camera, the drone configured to wirelessly communicate with the transponder; follow the transponder to maintain the wireless communication with the transponder; utilizing the camera, take a photograph or a video of the product to which the transponder is attached; and transmit a wireless alert signal upon an indication of an excessive separation between the drone and the transponder; and an employee device having a user interface, the user interface configured to display an alert when the drone sends the wireless alert signal.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a product, the system comprising:

a transponder configured to attach to a product in a store;

a drone comprising a camera, the drone configured to;

wirelessly communicate with the transponder;

follow the transponder to maintain the wireless communication with the transponder;

utilizing the camera, take a photograph or a video of the product to which the transponder is attached; and

transmit a wireless alert signal upon an indication of an excessive separation between the drone and the transponder; and

an employee device having a user interface, the user interface configured to display an alert when the drone sends the wireless alert signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the drone is further configured to receiver wireless communication signal from the transponder; and

the indication of the excessive separation between the drone and the transponder comprises the wireless communication signal from the transponder having a signal strength at or below a predetermined value.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the indication of the excessive separation between the drone and the transponder comprises the drone determining that a distance between the drone and the transponder is greater than a predetermined distance.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the drone is configured to activate a local alarm (a) upon the indication of the excessive separation between the drone and the transponder, or (b) when the drone is outside a predetermined area.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein a system alarm is activated (a) upon the indication of the excessive separation between the drone and the transponder, or (b) when the drone is outside a predetermined area.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the drone comprises a locationing device for determining a location of the drone; and

the user interface of the employee device is further configured to display an alert when the location of the drone is outside a predetermined area.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a server configured to:

receive the wireless alert signal from the drone; and

transmit a signal to the employee device instructing the user interface of the employee device to display the alert.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the employee device'"'"'is a mobile device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the drone further comprises a data communication device configured to wirelessly transmit the photograph or the video taken by the camera.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the data communication device uses cellular data communication.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the data communication device is configured to contact law enforcement.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the photograph or the video is taken when a location of the drone is outside a predetermined area.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the photograph or the video is taken at regular time intervals.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the alert displayed on the user interface of the employee device includes the photograph or video of the product or a person carrying the product.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the alert displayed on the user interface of the employee device includes a map of the store showing a location of the drone.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the alert displayed on the user interface of the employee device includes an identification of the product.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the transponder comprises an RFID tag;

the drone comprises an RFID reader configured to communicate with the RFID tag of the transponder; and

the identification of the product is based on the communication of the drone with the RFID tag.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the product forms part of a plurality of products;

each of the plurality of products has an RFID tag attached thereto to form a plurality of RFID tags;

the drone comprises an RFID reader configured to receive RFID data from the plurality of RFID tags; and

a server is configured to receive the RFID data from the drone and determine shopping trends based on the RFID data.

19. An apparatus comprising:

an antenna configured to facilitate wireless communication with a transponder attached to a product in a store;

a maneuvering device configured to cause the apparatus to follow the transponder and move the apparatus with the transponder to maintain the wireless communication with the transponder; and

a camera configured to take a photograph or a video of the product to which the transponder is attached;

wherein the antenna is further configured to transmit a wireless alert signal upon an indication of an excessive separation between the drone and the transponder.

20. A method for monitoring a product from a store, the method comprising:

associating a transponder with a drone;

attaching the transponder to a product in a store;

initiating wireless communication between the drone and the transponder;

hovering the drone above the transponder and moving the drone with the transponder to maintain the wireless communication between the drone and the transponder;

taking, from the drone, a photograph or a video of the product to which the transponder is attached;

transmitting a wireless alert signal upon an indication of an excessive separation between the drone and the transponder; and

in response to the wireless alert signal, displaying an alert at a user interface of an employee device.