Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to track objects at a retail store, comprising: multiple RFID tag readers to detect a set of different RFID tags each associated with a different item; and a tracking control circuit configured to: receive, from RFID tag readers, RFID tag information of each RFID tag of a subset of the RFID tags; obtain and use a first set of rules to evaluate, over time and for each of the subset of RFID tags, the RFID tag information and identify threshold changes from a set of base information, wherein the threshold change at each of the set of RFID tag readers is consistent with an object moving proximate the RFID tag reader and items corresponding to the RFID tags; and track the object along travel areas as a function of timing of the detected changes from the base information.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to track objects at a retail store, comprising: a mobile RFID transmitter system comprising an array of RFID tags; multiple RFID tag readers; a tracking control circuit communicatively coupled with the multiple RFID tag readers, and configured to: receive, from a sub-set of RFID tag readers, RFID tag information of each detected first set of RFID tags of the array of RFID tags; obtain a first set of rules and evaluate over time the received RFID tag information and identify over time threshold changes from a set of base information of received RFID signals from the array of RFID tags, wherein the threshold change is consistent with a first object traveling between the array of RFID tags and a corresponding one of the first sub-set of RFID tag readers; and track the first object.

Abstract: In some embodiments, provide apparatuses and methods to track item containers. Some of these embodiments include systems to track item containers, comprising: an audio detector positioned relative to a parking lot associated with a shopping facility and configured to capture audio signals generated at one or more predefined locations; an audio evaluation circuit to: receive the audio signals; and identify when one or more audio signatures correspond to one or more distinct predefined audio signatures that correspond to movements of a first item container relative to the one or more predefined locations; and a control circuit configured to estimate a quantity of item containers at the one or more predefined locations as a function of identifying that one or more of the audio signals include the one or more audio signatures corresponding to the one or more predefined audio signatures.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for customer interaction identification and analytics. A system can include a plurality of monitoring devices, a task management system and a customer interaction identification and analytics module. The plurality of monitoring devices can be configured for wear or handheld use and include a housing, a portable electronic computing device, and at least one sensor to sense activity data regarding a person wearing or holding the monitoring device. The task management system is communicatively coupled the plurality of monitoring devices to present at least one task to be completed in a retail environment, the at least one task associated with a temporal reference and a location in the retail environment. The customer interaction identification and analytics module, includes a gesture recognition database, communicatively coupled with the task management system and the plurality of monitoring devices.

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.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided to forecast expected sales and/or demand for one or more products at one or more retail shopping facilities. Some embodiments include systems to forecast retail sales, comprising: a network transceiver; a forecast control circuit; and a memory storing computer instructions executed by the control circuit that receives, via the network transceiver from at least one third party service unassociated with retail shopping facilities and accessed over a distributed computer network, reservation data corresponding with people traveling during a future period of time to a geographic region that is within a threshold distance from a first retail shopping facility; and forecasts expected sales, during the future period of time associated with the reservation data, of at least a first set of products at the first retail shopping facility as a function of the reservation data.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of locating overstock items at a retail sales facility include receiving an indication that a product at the retail sales facility is out of stock and determining whether the product is located on a sales floor or in the stock room at the retail sales facility; then, in response to a determination that the product is not located on the sales floor or in the stock room, tracking a location of the product based on at least one inventory management factor associated with the retail sales facility and at least one worker task event associated with the product; and outputting to a worker at the retail sales facility, based on the tracking of the location of the at least one product, an indication of a perceived location of the least one product.

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, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for a retail shopping facility to track products being shelved therein. In one example, this tracking is accomplished without the use of RFID tags and RFID readers, but instead, employs overhead electronic image capturing devices. By one approach, the images obtained are compared to a store planogram and alerts are sent to the associate or worker stocking the shelves to correct the stocking process. As the images may be captured and analyzed in real-time, the system may redirect the worker during the shelving process to prevent items from being stocked or shelved in an incorrect location for long. In one embodiment, the system includes a product database, overhead electronic image capturing devices, portable electronic devices, and a control circuit in communication with the product database, overhead electronic image capturing devices, and the portable electronic devices.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to identify and/or track items using accelerometer devices. In some embodiments, accelerometer devices are used to verify correct placement of items in a loading, unloading, transport, or picking operation in a supply chain facility.

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: Examples provide a system for pre-staging items for coordinated charitable aid. The system predicts aid opportunities associated with predicted future events in a selected geographic area. The system assembles a list of items predicted to be requested for relief aid if the predicted future event occurs. The identified items are pre-staged within the selected geographic area or within a predetermined distance of a location of the predicted event prior to occurrence of the event. If the event occurs, the list of pre-staged items is provided in response to verified aid request associated with a charitable aid opportunity using data gathered from a plurality of sources and aid request rules or made available on an aid request website for donation to the aid opportunity. The aid request generator updates the list of pre-staged items and generates notifications to the requesting charity when pre-staged items are ready for pick-up or delivery.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of managing products at a retail sales facility include scanning a product in a stocking cart at the retail sales facility using a hand-held electronic device including a processor. At least two of the following three functions may be performed based on the scanning of the product. First, the stocking cart may be audited by comparing scanned data to data contained in an inventory management database. Second, a determination of whether the item is on a pick list may be made, which may include determining a demand for the scanned product to arrive at a decision whether to store the product in the stock room or place it on a shelf on the sales floor. Third, if the item is to be stored in the stock room, a determination of whether identical items are stored in bins in the stock room may be made.

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: 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 with a curved configuration that sequentially flattens as additional weight is added thereto. An electronic imaging device can be mounted proximate to the assembly and oriented to capture an image of the product support member and a control circuit can be configured to receive the image and analyze the image to determine a current stock level.

Abstract: In some embodiments, shopping cart apparatuses are provided herein useful to enable a consumer to reach commercial products positioned above the consumer. In some embodiments, a cart frame having cart wheels coupled to the cart frame is provided. A slide mechanism is slidably cooperated with the cart frame. A weight-bearing platform is secured with the slide mechanism and sliding between stowed and deployed positions such that the weight-bearing platform is moved away from a rear portion of the cart frame when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position. A restricting element is positioned near a front cart wheel and restricts the rotation thereof when the slide mechanism is in the deployed position. A support element is affixed to the weight-bearing platform. An elevating element is secured to the slide mechanism and configured to elevate the cart frame when the threshold amount of pressure is applied upon the weight-bearing platform.

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: 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, methods and systems of sorting products at a retail sales facility include receiving identifying information associated with a product at the retail sales facility using an inventory management electronic device, obtaining a demand for the product from a time products identical to the product were delivered to the retail sales facility, calculating whether the demand for the product supports moving the product onto a sales floor of the retail sales facility or storing the product in a stock room of the retail sales facility, determining a characteristic for the product, and outputting, when the demand supports storing the product in the stock room, an indication to a worker at the retail sales facility that the product is to be stored in the stock room at a location selected based on the determined characteristic for the product.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided to forecast expected sales and/or demand for one or more products at one or more retail shopping facilities. Some embodiments include systems to forecast retail sales, comprising: a network transceiver; a forecast control circuit; and a memory storing computer instructions executed by the control circuit that receives, via the network transceiver from at least one third party service unassociated with retail shopping facilities and accessed over a distributed computer network, reservation data corresponding with people traveling during a future period of time to a geographic region that is within a threshold distance from a first retail shopping facility; and forecasts expected sales, during the future period of time associated with the reservation data, of at least a first set of products at the first retail shopping facility as a function of the reservation data.