Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in providing a multi-shopper cooperative shopping experience. Some embodiments provide a multiple customer shopping apparatus, comprising: a control circuit and a memory storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: associate both a local customer and a remote customer with a single motorized transport unit that removably couples with a movable item container such that the local and remote customers are simultaneously associated with the motorized transport unit; and provide a cooperative shopping experience between both the local customer and the remote customer while both the local customer and the remote customer are simultaneously associated with the motorized transport unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided, some apparatuses comprise: a location controller separate from a motorized transport unit, comprising: a transceiver configured to receive communications from the motorized transport unit; a control circuit; a memory storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of: obtain, from the communications, a unique light source identifier of a light source detected by the motorized transport unit, and relative distance information determined by the motorized transport unit through an optical measurement; process the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information relative to a mapping of the shopping facility; and determine, in response to the processing, a location of the motorized transport unit within the shopping facility as a function of the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide systems and methods to assist product stocking on a sales floor of a retail shopping facility. In some implementations, a system comprises a plurality of motorized transport units that are each configured to perform multiple different types of tasks at a retail shopping facility; and a central computer system configured to coordinate the plurality of motorized transport units in performing the multiple different tasks comprising instruct a motorized transport unit to retrieve a specified stocking cart that is carrying a plurality of products that are to be restocked onto product supports that are positioned on the sales floor where customers travel in shopping for products, and further instruct the motorized transport unit to autonomously transport the stocking cart to a specified stocking location on the sales floor corresponding to at least one of the plurality of products carried by the stocking cart.

Abstract: Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system witlessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

Abstract: System, apparatuses, and methods for bringing a shopping container to a customer in a shopping space are provided. A system for bringing a shopping container to a customer in a shopping space comprises a plurality of sensors, a plurality of motorized transport units, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to: receive a shopping container request from a user interface device associated with the customer, determine at least one available shopping container based on data collected by the plurality of sensors, the at least one available shopping container being empty and not used by another customer, select an available shopping container based at least on a location information of the user interface device, select a motorized transport unit to transport the available shopping container, and provide instructions to the motorized transport unit to bring the available shopping container to the customer.

Abstract: A motorized transport unit is configured to temporarily attach to a mobile retail product display and a central computer system is configured to task that motorized transport unit to move such a mobile retail product display. This movement can be from a customer-inaccessible area to a customer-accessible area and/or vice versa. The mobile retail product displays can include refrigerated-product displays and heated-product displays. By one approach such tasking is based, at least in part, upon detecting one or more predetermined states such as a predetermined temporal state, a detected customer demographic, local weather conditions, and/or a societal observation.

Abstract: A central computer system receive a voice input comprising a motorized transport unit command from a system user via a particular user interface unit that is associated with a particular motorized transport unit at a shopping facility. In response the central computer system transmits to the user interface unit a motorized transport unit instruction that corresponds to the motorized transport unit command, such that the user interface unit can then provide that motorized transport unit instruction to the motorized transport unit for execution by the motorized transport unit. By one approach these components can interact with one another to facilitate a verbally-based authentication procedure by which the system user is associated with the motorized transport unit.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a motorized transport unit providing customer assistance at a shopping facility, comprises: a transceiver; a control circuit; a motorized wheel system; a lift system; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: activate a motorized wheel system, while continuing to monitor location information, to position the motorized transport unit under the item container and aligned, based on the location information, relative to a frame of the item container; and activate the lift system to lift on the frame of the item container lifting a first portion of the item container such one or more wheels of the item container are lifted off of a floor while two or more other wheels of the item container remain in contact with the floor.

Abstract: A shopping facility assistance system comprises a plurality of motorized transport units and a plurality of corresponding user interface units. The central computer system wirelessly communicates with those user interface units via a network interface and controls movement of those motorized transport units through a retail shopping facility while also receiving a voice input from a user via a particular one of the user interface units that is associated with a particular one of the motorized transport units. The central computer system then determines, using voice recognition, that the voice input comprises, at least in part, an inquiry regarding product pricing. The central computer system then responsively provides a voiced output via the corresponding user interface that is responsive to the inquiry.

Abstract: A retail gift card system with integrated account and electronic receipt tracking is disclosed. The retail gift card system comprises an internet-accessible customer account and a customer account linked gift card. The gift card is used to purchase merchandize from a retailer-operated store, whereupon transaction data, monetary value data, and/or electronic receipt data is contemporaneously captured and stored on a retailer-operated computer network in association with the customer account. To promote customer convenience, the gift card is provided with a machine-readable link to the customer account, thereby enabling “on-the-spot” access using, for example, a smartphone. Particular embodiments of the system include a balance depositing function and/or electronic coupon and warranty coupling.