Patents by Inventor Jesse M. James
Jesse M. James has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10858024Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Various techniques utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Narayanan V. Ramanathan, Robert M. Harling, Jack Johnson
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Publication number: 20200372803Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Also disclosed are various techniques to utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources. Such systems and methods can be applied in both indoor and outdoor settings and in retail or warehouse settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Narayanan V. Ramanathan
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Patent number: 10745040Abstract: A motorized cart retriever, which may be a cart pusher or a cart puller, can apply a force to a nest of human-propelled, wheeled carts to facilitate retrieval of the carts. The cart retriever can include a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive cart status information from cart transmitters of the wheeled carts and wirelessly report event data to a control unit. The cart status information may include an identification of the cart transmitter, a location of the cart, a lock or unlock status of a cart wheel, a misuse condition, etc. The event data can include the cart status information, a number of wheeled carts being retrieved, etc. The cart wheel may include a brake. The transceiver may communicate a message to the cart wheel to keep the brake unactuated during retrieval. The control unit may analyze the event data to detect traffic patterns of the carts.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
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Patent number: 10730541Abstract: A navigation system uses a dead reckoning method to estimate an object's present position relative to one or more prior positions. In some embodiments, the dead reckoning method determines a change in position from the object's heading and speed during an elapsed time interval. In embodiments suitable for use with wheeled objects, the dead reckoning method determines the change in position by measuring the heading and the amount of wheel rotation. Some or all of the components of the navigation system may be disposed within a wheel, such as a wheel of a shopping cart.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James
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Publication number: 20200079412Abstract: A system for monitoring shopping baskets (e.g., baskets on human-propelled carts, motorized carts, or hand-carried baskets) can include a computer vision unit that can image a surveillance region (e.g., an exit to a store), determine whether a basket is empty or loaded with merchandise, and assess a potential for theft of the merchandise. The computer vision unit can include a camera and an image processor programmed to execute a computer vision algorithm to identify shopping baskets and determine a load status of the basket. The computer vision algorithm can comprise a neural network. The system can identify an at least partially loaded shopping basket that is exiting the store, without indicia of having paid for the merchandise, and execute an anti-theft action, e.g., actuating an alarm, notifying store personnel, activating a store surveillance system, activating an anti-theft device associated with the basket (e.g., a locking shopping cart wheel), etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Narayanan V. Ramanathan, Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Jack L. Johnson, Robert M. Harling
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Patent number: 10546502Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Also disclosed are various techniques to utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources. Such systems and methods can be applied in both indoor and outdoor settings and in retail or warehouse settings.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Narayanan V. Ramanathan
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Publication number: 20200017135Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Various techniques utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Narayanan V. Ramanathan, Robert M. Harling, Jack Johnson
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Publication number: 20190118845Abstract: A motorized cart retriever, which may be a cart pusher or a cart puller, can apply a force to a nest of human-propelled, wheeled carts to facilitate retrieval of the carts. The cart retriever can include a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive cart status information from cart transmitters of the wheeled carts and wirelessly report event data to a control unit. The cart status information may include an identification of the cart transmitter, a location of the cart, a lock or unlock status of a cart wheel, a misuse condition, etc. The event data can include the cart status information, a number of wheeled carts being retrieved, etc. The cart wheel may include a brake. The transceiver may communicate a message to the cart wheel to keep the brake unactuated during retrieval. The control unit may analyze the event data to detect traffic patterns of the carts.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
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Patent number: 10232869Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Various techniques utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Narayanan V. Ramanathan, Robert M. Harling, Jack Johnson
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Patent number: 10219136Abstract: Various systems for monitoring wheeled vehicles (such as shopping carts) are disclosed. The system can include an RF antenna unit that is buried and is configured for bi-directional communication with the electronics on the cart. In some embodiments, the antenna comprises a plurality of transmitters, which can emit synchronized signals. In some embodiments, the antenna comprises a radiating cable, which can emit a signal along some, substantially all, or all of its length.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, inc.Inventors: Stephen E Hannah, Jesse M James
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Patent number: 10189494Abstract: A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system is capable of monitoring a path followed by a cart in a store or building, and using the path (optionally together with other criteria) to determine whether to authorize the cart to exit. For example, if a shopping cart fails to pass through a checkout lane of a store, the system may perform an action that blocks or inhibits the shipping cart from exiting the store. The wheel assemblies may include LEDs or other visual indicators that alert store personnel when a wheel assembly is in a particular state.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2018Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
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Patent number: 10124821Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for controlling or monitoring a fleet of human-propelled, wheeled carts and cart retrievers are described. The carts can be shopping carts at a retail facility, and the cart retrievers can be used to collect and return the shopping carts from a parking lot near the facility to a cart collection area. The carts or cart retrievers can monitor various status or usage parameters (such as retriever battery charge, cart collection trip speed, cart collection path or duration, etc.) and transmit the parameters to a central control unit. The central control unit can analyze and process the status or usage parameters. The system can provide a user interface for access to the status or usage parameters of the cart and cart retriever fleet.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Chandrashekhar Ekbote
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Publication number: 20180257688Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Various techniques utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Narayanan V. Ramanathan, Robert M. Harling, Jack Johnson
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Patent number: 10023216Abstract: A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system is capable of monitoring a path followed by a cart in a store or building, and using the path (optionally together with other criteria) to determine whether to authorize the cart to exit. For example, if a shopping cart fails to pass through a checkout lane of a store, the system may perform an action that blocks or inhibits the shipping cart from exiting the store.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
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Publication number: 20180178822Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Also disclosed are various techniques to utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources. Such systems and methods can be applied in both indoor and outdoor settings and in retail or warehouse settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James, Narayanan V. Ramanathan
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Publication number: 20180154918Abstract: A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system is capable of monitoring a path followed by a cart in a store or building, and using the path (optionally together with other criteria) to determine whether to authorize the cart to exit. For example, if a shopping cart fails to pass through a checkout lane of a store, the system may perform an action that blocks or inhibits the shipping cart from exiting the store.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
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Publication number: 20180141577Abstract: A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system is capable of monitoring a path followed by a cart in a store or building, and using the path (optionally together with other criteria) to determine whether to authorize the cart to exit. For example, if a shopping cart fails to pass through a checkout lane of a store, the system may perform an action that blocks or inhibits the shipping cart from exiting the store. The wheel assemblies may include LEDs or other visual indicators that alert store personnel when a wheel assembly is in a particular state.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
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Patent number: 9963162Abstract: A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate bi-directionally on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system supports both unicast and multicast command transmissions from the access points to the wheel assemblies, including multicast transmissions in which the target wheel assemblies are specified in terms of their states. For example, an access point can transmit a command that is addressed to all wheel assemblies that are locked, or to all wheel assemblies that are moving.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
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Patent number: 9914470Abstract: A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel assembly containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing one or more types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The wheel assembly may also include a brake mechanism. The wheel assemblies may be mounted on shopping carts and used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. In one embodiment, the wheel assembly communicates via a wired or wireless connection with a handlebar mounted display unit of the cart.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
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Publication number: 20180037246Abstract: A navigation system uses a dead reckoning method to estimate an object's present position relative to one or more prior positions. In some embodiments, the dead reckoning method determines a change in position from the object's heading and speed during an elapsed time interval. In embodiments suitable for use with wheeled objects, the dead reckoning method determines the change in position by measuring the heading and the amount of wheel rotation. Some or all of the components of the navigation system may be disposed within a wheel, such as a wheel of a shopping cart.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2017Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: Scott J. Carter, Stephen E. Hannah, Jesse M. James