Abstract: Modular shelving systems, magnetic electrical connectors, conductor assemblies, and mounting inserts are disclosed. A modular shelving system includes at least one shelving module, a power module coupled to the at least one shelving module, and a conductor assembly coupled to the at least one shelving module and electrically connected to the power module. The conductor assembly includes a board including a first column of apertures and a second column of apertures, a back plate formed from a ferromagnetic material or from a magnetic material, a first conductor electrically coupled to the power module and positioned between the back plate and the board, and a second conductor electrically coupled to the power module and positioned between the back plate and the board. The first conductor is aligned with the first column of apertures of the board. The second conductor is aligned with the second column of apertures of the board.

Abstract: Systems herein relate to acquiring shopper insights from home product use and influencing shoppers to make additional future purchases of products. Further, the invention relates to electronically communicating with the shopper at the second moment of truth to provide the shopper with one or more influential messages including, but not limited to product information, e-coupons, discounts, surveys, ingredients, ingredient suggestions, recipe suggestions, entertaining, consumer reports, shopping list suggestions, wish list suggestions, and inventory list suggestions.

Abstract: Modular shelving systems and display shelves for modular shelving systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a modular shelving system includes a shelf support frame comprising a back plane portion and a base portion. At least one display shelf module is removably coupled to the back plane portion of the shelf support frame such that the display shelf module is vertically and horizontally positionable on the back plane portion of the shelf support frame. The display shelf module may include a top and bottom panels, and side panels that define an interior volume. A display panel may be affixed to a front of the display shelf module. A projector may be disposed in the interior volume of the display shelf module. The projector projects an optical signal onto a rear surface of the display panel such that image data is visible on a front surface of the display panel.

Abstract: Modular shelving systems, magnetic electrical connectors, conductor assemblies, and mounting inserts are disclosed. A modular shelving system includes at least one shelving module, a power module coupled to the at least one shelving module, and a conductor assembly coupled to the at least one shelving module and electrically connected to the power module. The conductor assembly includes a board including a first column of apertures and a second column of apertures, a back plate formed from a ferromagnetic material or from a magnetic material, a first conductor electrically coupled to the power module and positioned between the back plate and the board, and a second conductor electrically coupled to the power module and positioned between the back plate and the board. The first conductor is aligned with the first column of apertures of the board. The second conductor is aligned with the second column of apertures of the board.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling shelf display units and for graphically presenting information on shelf display units are disclosed. A system includes one or more display units configured to be coupled to shelves of a modular shelving system, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more display units, one or more memory components communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory components. When executed by the one or more processors, the machine readable instructions cause the system to determine a product identifier corresponding to a product, identify one or more display units to update in response to determining the product identifier corresponding to the product, and update a graphical output of the one or more display units identified to be updated in response to identifying the one or more display units to update.

Abstract: A system and method for scanning items for purchase in a retail environment is provided that has the ability to scan multiple items within its scan field of view simultaneously or nearly simultaneously in a multi-scanning type of configuration. In addition to the simultaneous scanning, the identity of each scanned item is discovered and then added to a running tally of items to be later purchased in a point of sale terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying an object includes a plurality of object sensors, each object sensor configured and arranged to determine at least one parameter describing objects as they are relatively moved with respect to a sensing volume and having a known position and attitude with respect to the sensing volume. A location sensor is configured and arranged to produce position information relating to the relative movement. Outputs from the object and location sensors are passed to a processor and the parameters are associated with respective ones of the objects on the basis of the position information and on the basis of the known positions and attitudes of the sensors. For each object having associated parameters, the processor compares the parameters to known item parameters to assign item identification to the object.

Abstract: A method of managing discard items in a retail environment includes using a mobile device, positionable proximate a region of the retail environment in which the discard items are present, to scan machine readable item identifying information from an item to be discarded, determining, based on the identifying information, whether the item is priced per unit weight or per item, wherein for items priced per item, a number of items is requested from a user and for items priced per unit weight, performing a weighing of the item, wherein the weighing comprises weighing the item using a scale mounted on a cart in the region of the retail environment, and transmitting, to a store network the item identifying information and the number of items or weight of the item.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of acquiring actual real-time shopper behavior data during product selection of purchasable items by a shopper in a store. More specifically, disclosed herein are methods of using a communications multi-network, a First Moment of Truth device and a data collection device to track actual real-time shopper behavior data relating to the presumed locations of shoppers in a store, the time spent and location of time spent by a shopper while considering a purchasable item and products chosen for purchase.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying an object includes a plurality of object sensors, each object sensor configured and arranged to determine at least one parameter describing objects as they are relatively moved with respect to a sensing volume and having a known position and attitude with respect to the sensing volume. A location sensor is configured and arranged to produce position information relating to the relative movement. Outputs from the object and location sensors are passed to a processor and the parameters are associated with respective ones of the objects on the basis of the position information and on the basis of the known positions and attitudes of the sensors. For each object having associated parameters, the processor compares the parameters to known item parameters to assign item identification to the object.

Abstract: Modular shelving systems and display shelves for modular shelving systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a modular shelving system includes a shelf support frame comprising a back plane portion and a base portion. At least one display shelf module is removably coupled to the back plane portion of the shelf support frame such that the display shelf module is vertically and horizontally positionable on the back plane portion of the shelf support frame. The display shelf module may include a top and bottom panels, and side panels that define an interior volume. A display panel may be affixed to a front of the display shelf module. A projector may be disposed in the interior volume of the display shelf module. The projector projects an optical signal onto a rear surface of the display panel such that image data is visible on a front surface of the display panel.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying an object includes a plurality of object sensors, each object sensor configured and arranged to determine at least one parameter describing objects as they are relatively moved with respect to a sensing volume and having a known position and attitude with respect to the sensing volume. A location sensor is configured and arranged to produce position information relating to the relative movement. Outputs from the object and location sensors are passed to a processor and the parameters are associated with respective ones of the objects on the basis of the position information and on the basis of the known positions and attitudes of the sensors. For each object having associated parameters, the processor compares the parameters to known item parameters to assign item identification to the object.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming products from a retail store includes passing a plurality of products through an object identification system, capturing images of the plurality of products with object sensors as the products pass through the object identification system, processing the images to identify an indicium for each product, transmitting the indicium for each product through a wireless communication network to a logic engine, sorting the plurality of products based on the indicia to produce a bundled lot of products, producing a unique identifier for the bundled lot, the unique identifier having a machine readable code, and communicating the unique identifier of the bundled lot and the indicia of the products in the bundled lot to an auctioneer for initiation of a direct-to-consumer auction for auctioning of the bundled lot directly to a group of bidders.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of acquiring actual real-time shopper behavior data during product selection of purchasable items by a shopper in a store. More specifically, disclosed herein are methods of using a communications multi-network, a First Moment of Truth device and a data collection device to track actual real-time shopper behavior data relating to the presumed locations of shoppers in a store, the time spent and location of time spent by a shopper while considering a purchasable item and products chosen for purchase.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming products from a retail store includes passing a plurality of products through an object identification system, capturing images of the plurality of products with object sensors as the products pass through the object identification system, processing the images to identify an indicium for each product, transmitting the indicium for each product through a wireless communication network to a logic engine, sorting the plurality of products based on the indicia to produce a bundled lot of products, producing a unique identifier for the bundled lot, the unique identifier having a machine readable code, and communicating the unique identifier of the bundled lot and the indicia of the products in the bundled lot to an auctioneer for initiation of a direct-to-consumer auction for auctioning of the bundled lot directly to a group of bidders.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and computer program products for the display of product information in or about a store. In particular, systems and methods are provided that use information from an in-store communication network to display product information on a rewritable paper at designated points within or about a store including product displays. A system and method for communicating through the in-store communication network printing and erasing instructions from a system controller to a printer located on a product display for printing and erasing the product information on the rewritable paper positioned about a display surface of the product display.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of acquiring actual real-time shopper behavior data during product selection of purchasable items by a shopper in a store. More specifically, disclosed herein are methods of using a communications multi-network, a First Moment of Truth device and a data collection device to track actual real-time shopper behavior data relating to the presumed locations of shoppers in a store, the time spent and location of time spent by a shopper while considering a purchasable item and products chosen for purchase.

Abstract: A method of reverse logistics using an auction to sell products directly to consumers from a store instead of using a third party reclamation company. One or more methods of auctioning one or more typically unsalable items directly to purchasers from a retail store including the steps of providing a communications multi-network having at least one logic engine, at least one star communication network through which non-location data is transferred to said logic engine, and at least one mesh communication network through which location data is transferred to said logic engine.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system or systems for influencing shoppers while they consider making purchasing decisions in a retail establishment. Specifically, the method identifies the first moment of truth and attempts to influence shoppers during a shopper's first moment of truth based on the shopper's location within the retail establishment. The method transmits an acceptable influential message and transmits the message through a communication network to a shopper tracking device, which is in close proximity to a shopper during a shopping trip throughout a retail establishment.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying an object includes a plurality of object sensors, each object sensor configured and arranged to determine at least one parameter describing objects as they are relatively moved with respect to a sensing volume and having a known position and attitude with respect to the sensing volume. A location sensor is configured and arranged to produce position information relating to the relative movement. Outputs from the object and location sensors are passed to a processor and the parameters are associated with respective ones of the objects on the basis of the position information and on the basis of the known positions and attitudes of the sensors. For each object having associated parameters, the processor compares the parameters to known item parameters to assign item identification to the object.