Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems in which one or more infrared cameras or sensors are used to measure heat related to the wheels of carts, such as shopping carts. Wheels with bad bearings, that wobble, or that have other issues preventing normal operation tend to generate more heat than wheels that are in good working order, such that an infrared camera or sensor directed at wheel height (e.g., about 2-3 inches off the floor) can detect wheel issues by detecting heat emitted by the wheels.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to monitoring temperature or movement of merchandise during and after transport of the merchandise. Some of these embodiments include systems for monitoring the temperature of merchandise items comprising: a temperature sensor disposed at or near one or more merchandise items; a control circuit operatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the control circuit configured to: read temperature measurements from the temperature sensor at predetermined time intervals; generate and encode a barcode with data representing a first temperature measurement; and update and encode the barcode with data representing the first temperature measurement and one or more subsequent temperature measurements; and an interface operatively coupled to the control circuit and configured to display the updated barcode.

Abstract: An access control apparatus includes a selectively-lockable access portal for a facility, an order number entry terminal, and a control circuit operably coupled to the foregoing components and configured to control a lock state of the selectively-lockable access portal as a function of an order number entered via the order number entry terminal. By one approach the order number entry terminal includes a keypad and is disposed proximal to a corresponding selectively-lockable access portal. By one approach the aforementioned order number comprises an advanced shipping notice (ASN) number.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided herein to improve RFID tag reading. Some embodiments provide retail RFID tag exclusion systems that comprise: a set of RFID tag readers; and an RFID evaluation control circuit configured to: access a set of current tag read criteria associated with an RFID tag; access multiple sets of previous tag read criteria; access and apply a set of tag evaluation rules and identify when a threshold number of the set of current tag read criteria are each within corresponding criteria thresholds of a corresponding previous tag read criterion of a previous set of tag read criteria; and exclude the RFID tag when the threshold number of the current tag read criteria are within the corresponding criteria thresholds of the corresponding previous tag read criterion of the set of previous tag read criteria.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to presenting information on an DIPL. In some embodiments, a system for presenting information on an DIPL comprises the DIPL including a display device configured to present information related to an action to perform with a package, a wireless radio, and a securement mechanism configured to removably secure the DIPL to the package, and a control circuit configured to receive identification information for the DIPL and information for the package, associate, in a database, the identification information for the DIPL and the information for the package, determine the action to perform based on information associated with inventory levels in a retail facility, determine that the package is required for the action, and transmit, to the DIPL for presentation via the display device of the DIPL, an indication of the information related to the action to perform with the package.

Abstract: A price label is created, positioned, and dimensioned according to pricing information, regulatory information, location information, and dimensions of the screen. The price label is inserted into or over display content to form labeled pricing content. The labeled pricing content is transmitted to the electronic product such that the electronic product renders the labeled pricing content on the display screen.

Abstract: Retail product inventory tracking systems are provided. The systems, in some embodiments, comprise: multiple sets of RFID tags positioned relative to product support systems; multiple RFID tag readers; and an inventory estimation control circuit configured to: receive detected RFID tag information and an RFID tag identifier of each read RFID tag of a first set of non-product RFID tags; obtain and use a first set of rules to evaluate, for each read RFID tag, the RFID tag information relative to the RFID tag information of two or more of the other read RFID tags of the first set of RFID tags; obtain and use a second set of rules to determine, based on the evaluation of the RFID tag information, a quantity of items of a first product that continue to be supported by a first product support system.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide RFID tag reading systems comprising: multiple sets of RFID readers at a retail shopping facility; a tag evaluation control circuit communicatively coupled with the multiple sets of RFID readers and at least one memory, and configured to: receive RFID tag information from the RFID readers; obtain and apply a first set of rules and identify a transition area within the retail shopping facility based on the received RFID tag information; identify a first set of RFID readers configured to read RFID tags as they move through the identified transition area; obtain and apply a second set of rules and establish a first null area adjacent the transition area configured to enable RFID tags crossing through the first null area and prior to entering the transition area to be in a predefined state when entering the transition 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, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide a visual indication of a weight of products stocked on a display assembly, such as a shelf of a shelving unit. The visual indication is provided by virtue of the display assembly having a product support member that sequentially flattens as additional weight is added thereto. A laser device can be mounted proximate to the assembly and oriented to determine a distance to the product support member and a control circuit can be configured to receive the distance and analyze the distance to determine a deflection of the product support member to determine a current stock level.

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, methods and systems are provided that include a scanner for scanning products recycled by consumers at a retail facility and an electronic inventory management device to analyze the scan data obtained by this scanner in order to determine consumer trends with respect to the recycled products and to determine whether the consumer-recycled products are associated with a trends that warrants one or more adjustments to the inventory at the retail facility.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for detecting traffic in a shopping facility. A system for detecting traffic in a shopping facility comprises: a plurality of light emitters coupled to motion sensors configured to emit light when motion is detected by the motion sensor; a light detector having a field of view including at least one of the plurality of light emitters; a database; and a control circuit configured to obtain data from the light detector relating to light emitted from the light emitters, estimate a location of the light emitted from the light emitters based on location data associated with the light emitter stored in the database, and track a path of a customer based on successive light emissions from the light emitters.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided herein useful to determining qualities of a line at a POS terminal in a retail establishment. In some embodiments, a systems comprises one or more RFID tags, wherein the one or more RFID tags are located near the POS terminal, an RFID reader configured to read signals transmitted from the one or more RFID tags, and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the RFID reader, the control circuit configured to receive, from the RFID reader, an indication of the signals transmitted from the one or more RFID tags, determine, based on the indication of the signals from the one or more RFID tags, properties of the signals transmitted by the one or more RFID tags, and estimate, based on the properties of the signals transmitted from the one or more RFID tags, a number of people in line at the POS terminal.

Abstract: A demand tracking system in a retail environment including a retail store having a plurality of product displays is provided. The system includes at least one processor coupled to a memory storing information regarding a demand for each product of a plurality of products in the retail store, the demand for each product including a difference between a current quantity of each product on a respective product display and a maximum capacity of the respective product display, an interface configured to receive product sales information and user action information and to provide user action requests, and a demand tracking component. The demand tracking component is configured to adjust the demand for each of the plurality of products based on the product sales information and user action information.

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, systems and methods are provided herein to improve RFID tag reading. Some embodiments provide retail RFID tag exclusion systems that comprise: a set of RFID tag readers; and an RFID evaluation control circuit configured to: access a set of current tag read criteria associated with an RFID tag; access multiple sets of previous tag read criteria; access and apply a set of tag evaluation rules and identify when a threshold number of the set of current tag read criteria are each within corresponding criteria thresholds of a corresponding previous tag read criterion of a previous set of tag read criteria; and exclude the RFID tag when the threshold number of the current tag read criteria are within the corresponding criteria thresholds of the corresponding previous tag read criterion of the set of previous tag read criteria.

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 of managing bins audits in a stock room of a retail sales facility include generating at least one bin audit management factor for the bins at the retail sales facility. The bin audit management factor can include an amount of time a total number of products stored in the bin does not change; a number of times a one product is binned or picked from the bin, a number of products stored in the bin; and an accuracy percentage of a worker at the retail sales facility during a preceeding audit of the bin. Based on whether the value of one or more of the bin audit management factors meets a predetermined threshold value that supports the auditing of a bin, an indication to a worker at the retail sales facility is generated as to whether that bin is to be audited or not.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed that utilize label data to assist in performing a retail store function. For example, label data may be utilized to provide an image of a label to help a store associate perform a bin, pick, stock or price change request. In some forms, the label data comprises a print data file which may be used to display the image of the label to the store associate. In other forms, the label data may comprise a larger data set representing the label image itself such as bit map data. In yet other forms, a hybrid of both image data and print file data may be used. In addition, timestamp and location data may also be used to help assist in performing the requested store function more quickly and efficiently.