Abstract: A method and a system for determining an amount of material remaining in a spool are provided herein. The system includes a radiofrequency identification (RFID) reader that is configured to read an RFID tag disposed at an end of a core of the spool. The RFID reader is provided on or in a vicinity of a support surface configured to hold at least a portion of the material. The system further includes a computer system in communication with the RFID reader, the computer system being configured to compute an amount of remaining material in the spool based on a thickness of the material and based on a number of revolutions of the spool. The number of revolutions is determined by a number of times the RFID tag on the spool comes in a reading vicinity of the RFID reader.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for generating energy with a shopping cart. A shopping cart apparatus comprises: a front wheel, a back wheel, a bottom frame, and a power generator assembly. The power generator assembly comprises: a generator coupled to the back wheel, the generator being configured to convert kinetic energy from a rotation of the back wheel to electrical energy, a capacitor element coupled to the generator and configured to store the electrical energy generated by the generator, the capacitor element comprising a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a dielectric material, wherein the first electrode comprises an elongated member of the bottom frame extending from the back wheel toward the front wheel, and a first contact member and a second contact member coupled to the capacitor element and configured to discharge the electrical energy stored in the capacitor element.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide an indication of stock level for products within a retail location. A marking material can be used on particular products to provide notification that the stock of the product is in or approaching a low stock situation. In some embodiments, a reader or sensor can be provided at or near a point of sale that is configured to detect the marking material and create a task.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for tracking cleaning devices in a shopping space. A system for tracking cleaning devices comprises: a sound sensor array, a cleaning device database storing location information and sound profiles associated with a plurality of cleaning device identifiers, and a control circuit configured to: identify a cleaning device sound made by a movement of a cleaning device, determine a current location of the cleaning device based on the cleaning device sound, match the cleaning device to a cleaning device identifier in the cleaning device database, update the location information associated the cleaning device identifier in the cleaning device database based on the current location of the cleaning device, update the sound profile of the cleaning device identifier based on the cleaning device sound captured by the sound sensor array, and determine that a component of the cleaning device needs to be replaced.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided herein useful to determining cart movement in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a system includes a collection device, wherein the collection device is configured to receive material from a cart that was collected throughout a shopping facility. The system can also include a measurement device, wherein the measurement device is configured to determine an amount of material that was received from the cart. The system can also include a control circuit communicatively coupled to the measurement device. The control circuit can be configured to receive, from the measurement device, an indication of the amount of material that was received from the cart.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided useful to monitoring conditions on shelves intended to hold merchandise. There is provided a system for monitoring conditions on shelves including: a shelf for holding merchandise, the shelf being moveable between a first position and a second position; a sound emitter configured to produce a sound in response to movement of the shelf from the first position to the second position; an image sensor configured to capture an image of the interior of the shelf when in the second position; an audio sensor configured to detect the sound indicating the shelf is being moved from the first position to the second position; and a control circuit configured to receive a signal from the audio sensor and to cooperate with the image sensor in response to the signal to capture the image of the shelf when in the second position.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for monitoring stock information in a shopping space. A system for monitoring stock information in a shopping space comprises: a support structure configured to hold a plurality of items in the shopping space, a sound emitter device configured to produce a sound in response to a movement of at least one of the support structure and an item placed on the support structure, and a sound sensor configured to capture a sound produced by the sound emitter device and transmit the sound produced by the sound emitter device to a stock tracking system.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for tracking carts in a shopping space. A system for tracking carts in a shopping space comprises: a sound sensor array, a cart location database storing location information and sound profiles associated with a plurality of shopping cart identifiers, and a control circuit configured to: identify a cart sound made by a movement of a shopping cart traveling in the shopping space, determine a current location of the shopping cart based on the cart sound, match the shopping cart to a shopping cart identifier in the cart location database, update the location information associated the shopping cart identifier in the cart location database based on the current location of the shopping cart; and update the sound profile of the shopping cart identifier based on the cart sound captured by the sound sensor array.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to locating containers with low inventory in a shopping facility. Some of these embodiments include systems for identifying and determining the location of containers in a low inventory condition in shopping facilities, the system comprising: a container configured to hold merchandise items in a shopping facility; a light sensor disposed in the container, the light sensor calibrated to detect an ambient light level and to respond when the detected ambient light level exceeds a predetermined ambient light threshold; and a control circuit operatively coupled to the light sensor and configured to transmit a signal indicating a low inventory condition when the light sensor determines the detected ambient light level exceeds the predetermined ambient light threshold.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for a retail shopping facility to maintain stocked shelves, in part, from obtaining images of the store shelves via cameras mounted onto shopping carts. By one approach, the images obtained from the shopping carts are compared with planogram images to determine where retail products are needed to restock the shelves. In some examples, the shopping cart has a control circuit that determines when to capture electronic images based, in part, upon a sensor mounted onto the shopping cart, instructs the camera to capture the electric image, and stores the captured electronic image in the memory.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitor a shopping facility. The shopping facility can include an array of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers distributed throughout the facility to thereby receive and read signals generated from RFID tags within the facility. RFID tags can advantageously be coupled to and associated with products within the facility so that readings of the tags can be used to monitor the status of the products. A control circuit can be coupled to the RFID readers to thereby analyze the readings and compile readings over time. With this, the control circuit can monitor the shopping facility to identify scenarios requiring follow up. Upon identification of one of the scenarios, the control circuit can instruct an automated ground vehicle (AGV) to inspect an identified product at a location within the facility. The AGV can operate a sensor thereof to determine a status of the identified product.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to mapping a space. In some embodiments, a system for mapping a space comprises a communication device configured to receive location data from a portable user device in a user space, a device location database configured to store location data, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to aggregate, over time, the location data in the user space from the portable user device and store the location data in the device location database, the location data comprising coordinates and timestamps associated with a plurality of locations, determine a plurality of dwell locations in the user space corresponding to locations where the portable user device rests based on the timestamps of the location data, and identify one or more objects in the user space based at least on the coordinates of the plurality of dwell locations.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of estimating whether additional space for a product being binned is available on a sales floor include an electronic inventory management device configured to: receive an indication that a product is being placed into a storage bin after a determination that no space for the product is available in a primary display location of the product on the sales floor; obtain a demand for the product on the sales floor during a predetermined interval of time; retrieve at least one inventory position estimation factor associated with the product when the demand for the product during the predetermined interval of time is greater than zero; estimate whether the inventory position estimation factor supports a likelihood that the product is in a feature display location on the sales floor; and output an indication of possible space availability for the product on the feature display location.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are described herein including a shelf assembly that utilizes the accumulated weight of products stocked thereon to compress a compression member disposed within the assembly. An electronic imaging device can be mounted proximate to the assembly and can be oriented to capture an image of the compression member to determine whether a particular shelf needs to be restocked and avoid having to manipulate or remove products from a shelf to determine a current stock level.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems for determining stocking locations of products having more than one stocking location on a sales floor of a retail facility include an electronic inventory management database that stores product identification data indicating an identify of one or more products at the retail facility and product location data indicating a stocking location of the products on the sales floor of the retail facility. An electronic inventory management device including a processor-based control circuit is configured to correlate the product identification data and the product location data stored in the electronic inventory management database, determine that one or more products are stocked in first and second stocking locations on the sales floor of the retail facility, track worker task events associated with the products, and determine whether the product is to be stocked or was stocked at the first or second stocking location.

Abstract: A control circuit automatically determines a number of unloaders to task with unloading a cargo container at a cargo-container unloading area as a function of (1) the weight of the cargo container including the plurality of physically-discrete shipping containers loaded therein and (2) how many of the physically-discrete shipping containers are loaded in the cargo container. By one approach this comprises calculating a ratio of the weight with respect to the number of physically-discrete shipping containers and correlating that ratio with a human-resource metric. By one approach the number representing how many physically-discrete shipping containers are loaded in a given cargo container is derived from a bill of lading and/or an advanced shipping notice as may correspond to a given shipment. The weight metric, in turn, can be provided by a scale. By one approach the scale is proximal to the cargo-container unloading area.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for securing merchandise. In one embodiment an apparatus for securing merchandise comprises a locking mechanism limiting access to one or more items, one or more optical sensors configured to detect a plurality of wavelengths and an intensity associated with each wavelength from at least one light beam emitted by an optical key, and a control device comprising a control circuit and a memory device. The control device being configured to store a lock code comprising a plurality of wavelength values and a plurality of intensity values each associated with a wavelength value on the memory device and determine whether to release the locking mechanism based on whether intensities of each of the plurality of wavelengths detected by the one or more optical sensors match the lock code.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of monitoring featured product displays at retail sales facilities are described. For one or more products received at a retail sales facility and designated as a product for a featured product display at the retail sales facility, a predetermined time interval is set from a delivery time of the one or more products to the retail sales facility to a time for generating an indication that the one or more products has been set on the featured product display at the retail sales facility. Then after the expiration of the predetermined time interval, electronic data is generated indicating that the one or more products delivered to the retail sales facility has been set on the featured product display at the retail sales facility.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to provide customer sensitivity retail store environment control system, comprising: a plurality of lighting systems of the store; a plurality of audio systems of the store; a mapping database; a sensitive customer database maintaining information registered customers requesting a sensitivity roaming environment zone; and a customer sensitivity environment control circuit configured to: identify a first customer in the retail store is registered as an environment sensitive customer; track movement of the first customer through the retail store; an cause some of the lighting systems and the audio systems corresponding in location to the movement of the first customer to reduce from normal lighting outputs and audio outputs, respectively, maintaining in real-time a roaming environment zone surrounding the first customer as the first customer travels through the retail store.

Abstract: A laser beam is transmitted from a laser system to a shelving system by pointing the laser beam towards at least one label attached to the shelving system, by a computer system, using angular information of the laser beam relative to a reference frame. An angle between the laser system on the ceiling of the store to the position of the shelving system is determined by the computer system using the position of the laser system and the position of the shelving system. The laser beam is then transmitted from the laser system to the shelving system and pointed using the determined angle between the laser system on the ceiling of the store to the position of the shelving system. The laser is aimed at the x, y location where a label should be displayed, for example, according to the planogram for the store layout. If the label is not detected at the specified location, the discrepancy may be noted, for example, with a visual or other notification.