Article identification and position specification device and system, and method for using the sames

Abstract

To provide a device for supporting clerk's or a customer's specification of the position of a specific product set aside by a company or an organization.SOLUTION: In a system 100, an article identification and position specification device 102 for supporting the position specification of an object product in a building or near the building includes an indicator and a body having a pair of pincers adapted so as to operate oppositely to grab the object product or to be arranged on or near the object product. The body stores an RF receiver for receiving an RF signal transmitted by a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, and a processor for communicating with the RF receiver and the indicator. The processor acquires information from the RF signal received by the RF receiver, and turns on the indicator in response to the information acquired from the RF signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims priority and the benefit thereof to co - pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 857,059, entitled "Article Identification Device," filed on June 4, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0002] (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to systems, methods, and devices for assisting store employees and customers in identifying the location of specific products placed within an enterprise or organization.

Background Art

[0003] E - commerce has continued to show significant year - over - year growth and is expected to continue to grow similarly in the near future. Many online retailers deliver purchased items to the customer's doorstep. However, as the number of "porch pirates," i.e., people who steal packages from a customer's porch or front - door area, increases, many customers prefer that online orders be delivered to or stored at a store, where the purchased items can await the customer's collection. This process also has the additional advantage of saving on shipping costs. Thus, retailers are leveraging physical stores to complete online sales. This increases the number of customer visits to the retailer's location, acquires more customers, and results in higher sales.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, retailers generally do not have a structure in place to efficiently process in-store pickups. Most buy-online-pickup-in store (BOPIS) solutions are expensive and require additional staff or significant changes to operations. A poorly designed pickup process can cause delays and frustrate customers. When customers experience an unpleasant pickup, it is unlikely that they will use in-store pickup again. Other self-pickup solutions, such as luggage lockers and parcel boxes, are expensive, limited, and fixed, take up space, and staffing the pickup counter would take staff away from sales or other more productive business activities.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] All examples and features described below can be combined in any technically possible way.

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus for assisting in locating a target product inside or near a building, the apparatus comprising an indicator and a body having a pair of pincers adapted to operate oppositely to grip the target product or to be disposed above or near the target product. The body houses an RF receiver configured to receive an RF signal transmitted by a radiofrequency (RF) transmitter, and a processor that communicates with the RF receiver and the indicator. The processor is configured to obtain information from the RF signal received by the RF receiver and to turn on the indicator in response to the information obtained from the RF signal. Embodiments of the indicator include a light-emitting diode (LED) and a speaker.

[0008] The body may further accommodate a memory for storing the unique identifier, and the processor may be further configured to compare the information obtained from the RF signal with the unique identifier stored in the memory and turn on the indicator if the information obtained from the RF signal matches the unique identifier stored in the memory. The body may further accommodate one or more sensors adapted to detect a change in the state experienced by the body of the device. The processor may be further configured to operate the indicator to indicate an alarm in response to one or more sensors that detect a change in state if the unique identifier stored in the memory does not match the information obtained from the RF signal.

[0009] Examples of the one or more sensors include, but are not limited to, an accelerometer, a contact sensor, an angular hall sensor, a humidity sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, and a temperature sensor.

[0010] The body may further accommodate an indicator, the indicator is an LED, and the body has a translucent surface that allows the LED to illuminate the body when the LED is turned on.

[0011] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for assisting a user in finding a product placed inside or near a building for his or her own use. The method includes the steps of storing a unique identifier in a memory of an article identification and location device; in response to a request from the user, arranging with the product on which the article identification and location device is placed or attaching the article identification and location device to the product on which it is placed; providing the unique identifier to the user who requested the product placed for self-pickup; receiving, by the article identification and location device, a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by a mobile device carried by the user inside or near the building; obtaining, by the article identification and location device, information from the received RF signal of the user present inside or near the building structure; comparing, by the article identification and location device, the information obtained from the RF signal with the unique identifier stored in the memory of the article identification and location device; and illuminating, by the article identification and location device, when the information obtained from the RF signal matches the unique identifier stored in the memory.

[0012] The method may further include the steps of detecting, by a sensor in the article identification and location device, a change in the state of the article identification and location device; and when the sensor detects a change in the state of the article identification and location device, and the information obtained from the RF signal does not match the unique identifier stored in the memory of the article identification and location device, and the article identification and location device does not receive approval of the change in state, causing an alarm to be issued by the article identification and location device.

[0013] In one embodiment, the method further includes the steps of transmitting, by the article identification and location device, an RF signal; and guiding, based on the RF signal transmitted by the article identification and location device, the user of the mobile device to the article identification and location device.

[0014] In one embodiment, the method further includes: transmitting, by an article identification and location device, an RF signal that conveys a unique identifier stored in the memory of the article identification and location device; receiving, by an RF transceiver that communicates with a private network, the RF signal transmitted by the article identification and location device; and associating, in response to receiving the RF signal transmitted by the article identification and location device, the unique identifier with a user.

[0015] The method may further include placing, in response to an order on a public network, a requested item for a user, or storing, in response to a request for an item by a user, a unique identifier in the memory of the article identification and location device.

[0016] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a system including an indicator and one or more article identification and location devices. Each article identification and location device includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver and a processor that communicates with the RF receiver and the indicator. The processor is configured to obtain information from an RF signal received by the RF receiver and turn on the indicator in response to the information obtained from the RF signal. A given one of the one or more article identification and location devices is disposed with an item placed for receipt by a user. The network includes one or more RF transceivers and a computing system. The computing system is configured to cause an RF signal including information to turn on the indicator in a processor of a given article identification and location device to be transmitted to the one or more RF transceivers in response to recognizing that a user has arrived to receive an item that has been placed.

[0017] Each of the one or more article identification and location devices may further include a sensor configured to detect a change in the state of the article identification and location device, and a memory for storing a unique identifier. When the sensor of a given article identification and location device detects a change in the state of the given article identification and location device, the processor of the given article identification and location device may be further configured to issue an alarm if information obtained from an RF signal transmitted by a mobile device carried by the user does not match the unique identifier stored in the memory of the given article identification and location device.

[0018] Each of the one or more article identification and location devices may further include an RF transmitter, and the computing system of the network may be further configured to guide the user to the location of a given article identification and location device based on RF signals transmitted by the RF transmitter of the given article identification and location device and by a mobile device carried by the user and received by one or more RF transceivers of the network.

[0019] The system may further include a user interface device that communicates with the network, and the network may recognize the presence of a user within a building in response to information provided via the user interface device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] The above and further advantages of the present invention can be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals in the drawings denote like structural elements and features in the various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and emphasis instead is placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] The computer control systems, methods, and article identification and location devices described herein assist store staff and customers in locating products placed at a business, such as a retail store, for the customer (also referred to herein as target merchandise or target products). For example, the business may have an online presence where customers can request placement of such products with the intention of the customer selecting the company's products and visiting the company directly to view, try on, or receive the products. When a customer selects a product, the system notifies an employee of the company who will affix, attach, or place an article identification and location device on or near the product (in some embodiments, the article identification and location device is incorporated into the product or its packaging). When either the customer or the store employee accesses the product, the article identification and location device activates an indicator, such as a light or a speaker, to guide the person looking for the product to its location.

[0022] As another example, the system, method, and article identification and location device can be used with target merchandise delivered to storage facilities, baggage rooms (e.g., residences), locker systems, and the like. A customer may be (e.g., electronically) notified that the baggage has arrived at the business and is placed in a baggage room awaiting self-pickup. A store employee can attach the article identification and location device to the baggage, or the baggage may already have the article identification and location device attached before being placed in the baggage room. When the customer arrives to pick up the baggage, the article identification and location device activates an indicator to assist the customer in identifying the location of a specific target merchandise within the baggage room.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a system 100 for assisting users, including customers, shoppers, and store employees, in identifying and retrieving merchandise ordered, e.g., online or by phone, within a building of a business, enterprise, store, or organization. System 100 includes an article identification and location device 102 directly or indirectly coupled to a target merchandise 104, a private network (i.e., an intranet) 106 that communicates with a public network (e.g., the Internet) 108, and optionally, a scanning station or kiosk 109 (commonly referred to as a user interface device) that wirelessly or wired communicates with the private network 106.

[0024] The customer preferably carries a mobile device 110 when arriving at the store for pickup of the target merchandise, but not necessarily. The customer computing device 112 may communicate with the public network 108 through which the customer places an order for the target merchandise.

[0025] Optionally, a computing device 114 (hereinafter referred to as the store employee device 114) used by a store employee communicates with the item identification and location device and the private network 106, programs the item identification and location device using a unique identification code (also referred to as a unique identifier or unique code) 118, and transmits the unique identifier to the private network.

[0026] An optional scanning station or kiosk 109 is a computer control system that provides a user interface where a customer can request receipt of a target item and perform scanning, input, or selection of information.

[0027] Embodiments of the system 100 may not have any of the customer mobile device 110, the store employee device 114, and the kiosk 109, may have one or more of these, or may have any combination of these.

[0028] The item identification and location device 102 includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver 116, a memory (not shown) that stores the unique identifier 118, and an indicator 120. The item identification and location device may be manufactured with circuitry that obtains information only from a specific frequency band. Thus, the circuitry is selective for a given item identification and location device. Since different item identification and location devices are manufactured to capture different frequencies, they can communicate individually without the need for verification of the unique identifier. Embodiments of the item identification and location device 102 can be any of the "add-on" or "built-in" features of the target item 104 or its packaging, or the container of the item assigned to be identified by the item identification and location device. Thus, embodiments of the item identification and location device can have various forms.

[0029] For example, the article identification and location device 102 can be designed to snap (like a snap-fastened bracelet) around the neck of a hanger from which an article of clothing (i.e., the target product) is suspended, or to slide (like a donut ring) above the neck of the hanger. Another exemplary embodiment of the article identification and location device can be adapted to snap around a plurality of hangers or to slide above a plurality of hangers (e.g., when a customer has identified a plurality of articles of clothing).

[0030] As another example, the article identification and location device 102 can be a clip for attaching to articles such as clothing, bags, shoes, etc. Further, the principles described herein can be extended to various other embodiments of the device, examples of which include, but are not limited to, tags, labels, rings, tickets, stickers, fasteners, and coasters.

[0031] Furthermore, the article identification and location device 102 need not be attached to the article itself, but is closely associated with the article. For example, the article identification and location device can be folded and placed on top of an unbundled stack of clothes that are placed on a table where the clothing is awaiting pickup by a particular customer, or the article identification and location device can be attached to or embodied in an article carrier or holder, examples of which include, but are not limited to, bags, boxes, plates, shipping containers, and carts. In such examples of being closely associated, the article identification and location device is considered to be indirectly coupled to the target article or target product.

[0032] The RF receiver 116 of the article identification and location determination device 102 receives a wireless signal in accordance with wireless communication technology, examples of which include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), 802.XX (where "XX" represents a family of wireless and mobile standards), wireless local area network (WLAN), and ultra-wideband (UWB). The RF receiver may be part of an RF transceiver having an RF signal receiving function and a transmitting function. In such an embodiment using an RF transceiver, the article identification and location determination device can periodically wirelessly broadcast a unique identifier 118, or can wirelessly transmit the unique identifier in response to an inquiry from another device, such as a store employee device 114 or another device on the private network 106. The RF transceiver can also transmit a message reporting a sensed change in state, or a message that the private network 106 can use to determine that the article identification and location determination device is still operating. The frequency of such broadcasts can vary depending on the situation, for example, an increase in the broadcast frequency in response to a detected change in state.

[0033] The unique identifier 118 is a unique value assigned to the article identification and location device 102. The value of the unique identifier 118 can be a network identifier (e.g., MAC address), or can be generated randomly or pseudo-randomly, or can be obtained from other information, such as product information, customer identification information, or customer information. Examples of product information include, but are not limited to, stock keeping unit (SKU) numbers, universal product code (UPC), and machine-readable codes, such as barcodes and QR codes (registered trademarks). Customer identification information is information specifically related to identifying a particular customer, such as the customer's name, address, membership number (or ID) in a store, IP address, mobile phone number, etc. Customer information can include any type of information related to the customer's requests, and examples include, but are not limited to, order numbers, any of the aforementioned product information, any of the aforementioned customer identification information, or any combination thereof.

[0034] The unique identifier 118 can be a preset value, that is, programmed into the article identification and location device during or immediately after manufacture (or at any time before use with a particular item). This preset unique identifier 118 can be immutable. That is, the value of the preset unique identifier 118 can be permanently associated with a given article identification and location device 102.

[0035] Alternatively, the unique identifier 118 may be a dynamically assigned value. That is, it may be programmed when the article identification and location device is used on site. The value of the unique identifier 118 dynamically assigned to a given article identification and location device 102 may be variable or invariant. That is, the value of the unique identifier 118 may be temporarily or permanently associated with a given article identification and location device 102. The store employee device 114, the private network 106 (e.g., the computing system 122 on the network), or both may maintain a record of the unique identifier programmed within each article identification and location device.

[0036] As described herein, the indicator 120 of the article identification and location device 102 is an output device that can draw attention to the article identification and location device itself and thus to the target product 104 to which the article identification and location device is attached when triggered to generate a notification. Exemplary embodiments of the indicator include a light emitting diode (LED) and a speaker. In another embodiment, the indicator 120 is not included in the article identification and location device but is present remotely (within the wireless communication range), and the article identification and location device further comprises an RF transmitter and is configured to transmit an RF signal to turn on the remotely present indicator 120 when triggered to generate a notification.

[0037] The target product 104 can be any article prepared by the enterprise so that the customer can receive or examine it himself or herself, examples of which include, but are not limited to, clothing, footwear, tools, bagged products such as foodstuffs, and takeout orders from a restaurant.

[0038] The private network 106 includes a computing system 122 (comprising a processor and a memory), and at least one RF transceiver (i.e., an RF receiver and an RF transmitter) 124 connected to the computing system 122. The program code executed on the computing system 122 uses these RF transceivers to manage item identification devices. The computing system 122 may be part of a server system (not shown) used to process customer orders and manage the association between the item identification and location device 102 and the target merchandise 104 ordered by the customer. Although the computing system 122 is shown as being within the store, alternatively, it may be located elsewhere, such as on a third-party computer network and servers widely referred to as the "cloud". One or more RF transceivers 124 transmit and receive wireless signals according to wireless communication technologies such as the aforementioned technology.

[0039] In some embodiments of the system 100, the computing system 122 transmits data to the RF receiver 116 of the item identification and location device 102 and instructs the RF transceiver 124 to activate the item identification location device in response to data from the customer mobile device 110 or the kiosk 109 received by the RF transceiver 124.

[0040] In one embodiment, each RF transceiver 124 is a beacon (e.g., a BLE beacon) that includes a low-energy RF transmitter and a microcontroller or processor that can be programmed to operate according to logic. To communicate with such an RF transceiver, the computing system 122 also has an RF transceiver, which enables the computing system to be the main manager of the item identification and location devices, facilitates cooperation with store employees and customers, and helps simplify the logic on the beacon.

[0041] Alternatively, the RF transceiver beacon 124 can function as a computer on a private network and manage item identification and location devices. In these embodiments, each of these RF transceiver beacons can control item identification and location devices via RF signal transmission and can receive RF signals from other RF-enabled devices, such as customer mobile device 110 and store employee device 114. In practice, the beacon functions similarly to computing system 122 (computing system 122 is not required) and can communicate directly with the server.

[0042] In yet another embodiment, radio frequency signal transmission is not used, and item identification and location devices are connected to system 100 by a private wireless Ethernet. In this embodiment, an Ethernet beacon is used instead of an RF transceiver.

[0043] The private network 106 provides a wireless Ethernet network that permits connection of other wireless device apparatuses, such as public devices like customer mobile device 110 or devices carried by members of the staff like store employee device 114.

[0044] The private network 106 communicates with the public network 108 mainly using the TCP / IP communication protocol. The public network 108 hosts innumerable websites where various companies publish their product assortments.

[0045] Customer mobile device 110 includes an RF transceiver 126 and runs an app 128 (i.e., application program) that can be downloaded to the customer mobile device 110 from an “app store” on a public network. When executed, this app provides a user interface that allows the customer to send customer information, such as the customer's name and address, order information, barcode information, etc., to an RF transceiver 124 on the private network 106. Alternatively, the customer mobile device can send a message containing customer information to a computer 122 on the private network via TCP / IP. When such information is received by the private network 106, it is used by the computing system 122 to activate one of the item identification and location devices 102, as will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 2. If the customer does not carry the customer mobile device 110 during a store visit, the customer can provide appropriate customer information to a store clerk, who can send the customer information to the private network 106, for example, through the store clerk device 114 or the kiosk 109. In one embodiment, as shown by the dashed line, the app 128 can broadcast a signal to the RF transceiver 126 of the customer mobile device 110 that can operate to activate one of the item identification and location devices 102, as will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 3. Embodiments of the customer mobile device 110 include, but are not limited to, smartphones (e.g., iPhone (registered trademark), Galaxy (registered trademark)), personal digital assistants (PDAs), and tablets.

[0046] The customer computing device 112 includes a browser (not shown) that accesses web pages such as the store's web page on the public network 108. The user can order one or more products of the store via the web page and arrange for in-store pickup. The customer computing device 112 may be the same or different from the customer mobile device 110. Alternatively, the customer can call a store employee by phone, place an order verbally, and then the employee can enter customer information related to the order into the private network 106. As another option, the customer can come to the store premises and place an order at a location within the store, such as an information desk or help desk, or at the kiosk 109, and the employee (or automated system) can enter the customer information into the private network 106.

[0047] The store employee device 114 has an RF transceiver 130 that can wirelessly communicate with the RF receiver (or transceiver) 116 of the article identification and location device 102, the RF transceiver 124 of the private network 106, and the RF transceiver 126 of the customer mobile device 110 using wireless communication technology, such as one of the aforementioned technologies. Embodiments of the store employee device 114 include, but are not limited to, tablets, laptops, and smartphones. The store staff can use the store employee device 114 to enter customer information into the system 100, program the article identification and location device 102 using a unique identifier, or transmit the unique identifier to the customer mobile device 110 as described herein.

[0048] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of process 200 for guiding a customer to merchandise in a store where the customer has shown interest and requested a hold for self-service pickup. In the description of process 200, reference is made to various elements of system 100 shown and described in FIG. 1. To illustrate process 200 by way of example, consider a business that sells clothing, and a potential customer who identifies a suit they wish to try on and requests that the business hold the suit for self-service pickup. In this example, the customer uses customer computing device 112 to instruct online via the business's website on public network 108 to hold the suit for pickup or consideration (step 202). Alternatively, the customer may request by phone or in person at the store.

[0049] Upon recognizing the customer's request, the store clerk locates the identified suit within the business (step 204). In one example, the business's private network 106 receives the customer's request from public network 108, and RF transceiver 124 on private network 106 transmits the request to RF transceiver 130 of store clerk device 114 (e.g., using RF or TCP / IP). The customer, store clerk, private network, or any combination thereof on the requesting side may generate or provide customer information related to the customer request, and these may be stored in computing system 122 on private network 106, store clerk device 114, or both.

[0050] The store clerk can then place the suit on hold. For example, the store clerk can hang the suit in a holding area or other specifically designated area for items awaiting customer pickup. Alternatively, the store staff can leave the suit in its current location. This area can be associated with item identification and location devices and can hold multiple items awaiting pickup by a specific customer.

[0051] In operation 206, the suit is associated with the item identification and location device 102. This association between the item identification and location device and the identified item (e.g., the suit) can be achieved in various ways. Some ways may use optical guidance or voice notifications to select a specific item identification and location device, and other ways enable a store employee to select any item identification and location device. The store employee can then make the association by attaching the item identification and location device to the merchandise, placing the device on or near the merchandise, or placing the merchandise on or near the device. In another example, the merchandise may already have an item identification and location device attached to it, near it, or incorporated into it, in which case the association is pre-established.

[0052] In another embodiment, the store employee is guided to the device by activation of the item identification and location device, and thus the decision of which item identification and location device to associate with the target merchandise is made without the store employee's involvement in the selection of the device. In this embodiment, the store employee's action of attaching the item identification and location device to the target merchandise serves to confirm the completion of the association. If the item identification and location device is configured with sensors that sense changes in state (movement, angle, contact), communication of this change can function as confirmation. If the item identification and location device has no such sensors at all, the store employee can use the barcode, optical character recognition, or text on the item identification and location device for confirmation.

[0053] In a situation where a store employee selects an item identification and location device, the association can be performed by barcoding, optical character recognition, or text scanning on the item identification and location device, regardless of whether the device has any sensors. If the item identification and location device has sensors, the private network can monitor the broadcasts from the item identification and location device to confirm which one of the devices has been closed. The information indicating the closed state depends on the type of sensor that collects the data. For example, a contact sensor indicates whether the clip state has changed from closed to open, and an angle sensor provides a value from 0 to a predetermined amount and sustains it. This calculation for detecting the state of the item identification and location device is performed by the computing system 122 on the private network 106 because when a state change is detected, the item identification and location device broadcasts data. Alternatively, the item identification and location device can be configured to perform these calculations and report the state change to the store employee device 114 or the computing system 122 on the private network.

[0054] In step 208, the unique identifier 118 of the item identification and location device 102 associated with the suit (in step 206) is further associated with the customer information of a given customer who requested the retrieval of the suit. The store employee device 114, the private network 106 (e.g., the computing system 122), or both can establish, maintain, and record this unique association between the item identification and location device located near or on the suit and the customer information. In practice, this step operates to uniquely associate this item identification and location device with a given customer who ordered the suit.

[0055] This unique association can be generated in various ways. For the purpose of explaining some of the ways such associations are made, two definitions are provided: a "decider" and an "associator". The decider is a device on a private network that determines whether an article identification and location device is in an "engaged state", i.e., a detectable state where it is placed with the item of interest. The associator is a device on a private network that associates the unique identifier of an article identification and location device with customer information. It should be understood that the decider and the associator can be the same device.

[0056] The decider can be a computing system 122 on a private network that listens via a store employee device 114, transceiver 124 if RF-enabled, or a transceiver beacon with a processor as an extension of the foregoing. The decider addresses the end of the article identification and location device. The decider listens for broadcasts from the article identification and location device and manages the article identification and location device. The decider analyzes and determines whether a given article identification and location is in an "engaged state", and reports the unprocessed perception data if so, or analyzes the collected unprocessed data and broadcasts regarding its "engaged state". The decider is aware of the article identification and location that has become "engaged" and is ready to communicate it to the associator.

[0057] The associator can be a server, a computing system 112 on a private network, or a store employee device. The associator has customer information when the decider transmits the unique identifier of a given article identification and location, and the associator then associates the unique identifier with the customer information.

[0058] In a first embodiment of making a unique association where the article identification and location device is already pre-programmed with the unique identifier 118, the store clerk (or system 100) obtains the value of this unique identifier from the article identification and location device before associating the value of this identifier with customer information. If the article identification and location device 102 is configured with an RF transmitter and can thus respond to queries, the store clerk can obtain the value of the unique identifier by querying the article identification and location device using his or her store clerk device 114. Otherwise, for an article identification and location device that is configured with an RF receiver but not an RF transmitter, the store clerk can determine the value of the unique identifier by other means such as engraving the unique identifier on the article identification and location device itself, or from a unique manufacturer serial number on the article identification and location device that may be related to the value of the unique identifier (in this case, the desider and the associator may be any of the aforementioned devices regardless of the device scanning the unique identifier). Another means is that the article identification and location device is permanently incorporated into the target product 104, and the information about the product stored on the private network 106 may include the value of the unique identifier. In another embodiment, the article identification and location device has a passive RFID that can be scanned to obtain the unique identifier of the article identification and location device. By using optical or voice guidance, or by scanning the device to read the passive RFID, it is possible to convey whether the correct article identification and location device has been correctly selected.

[0059] In a second embodiment where the unique identifier 118 is not a pre-set value, the store clerk can use their store clerk device 114 to dynamically determine that value and program it into the article identification and location device 102 via a wireless communication link. The value of this new unique identifier may be obtained from customer information related to a given customer who placed the suit order. The application program running on the store clerk device 114 can dynamically obtain the new unique identifier value while maintaining a record of the currently used unique identifier value. The store clerk device 114 can then communicate the new unique identifier value associated with both the article identification and location device and the customer information to the private network 106 via another wireless communication link. Alternatively, the private network 106 is the custodian of the currently used unique identifier value, can generate a new unique identifier in response to an order by a given customer, and provide that value in response to a request from the store clerk device 114 or the kiosk 109 (if the kiosk is used to process the order instead of the store clerk device).

[0060] Thus, in the first embodiment, the unique identifier 118 is first (and permanently) associated with the article identification and location device 102 and subsequently (and temporarily) associated with a given customer. In the second embodiment, the unique identifier can be first (and temporarily or permanently) associated with a given customer and subsequently (and temporarily) associated with the article identification and location device.

[0061] The following example shows a method of associating the unique identifier of an article identification and location device with customer information. Consider a customer who orders two items (a pair of shoes and a single sock) from a store. The server (e.g., computing system 122) receives this information and generates an order ID. The server can also generate item IDs, e.g., a first ID for the shoes and a second ID for the sock. The order ID and item IDs are referred to herein as customer information (or customer ID). Further, for this example, the article identification and location devices are placed with each item (i.e., there are two article identification and location devices, one placed with the shoes and the other with the sock).

[0062] The unique identifiers of these article identification and location devices and the customer ID (i.e., the order ID or item IDs) can be associated in at least the following two ways. 1) Each unique identifier of the article identification and location device is paired with a different one of the two item IDs (both item IDs are linked to the order ID at the server), and thus, one customer ID is associated with one unique identifier of the article identification and location device, referred to as a one-to-one relationship. 2) The unique identifiers of both of the two article identification and location devices are paired with the order ID, and thus, one customer ID is associated with multiple unique identifiers of the article identification and location device, referred to as a one-to-many relationship.

[0063] In the case of the one-to-one relationship, the customer can view the items the customer receives on a user interface (e.g., on the customer's mobile device or a kiosk). The user interface can indicate where the shoes are received and where the sock is received. That is, in addition to the location of the item, the user interface identifies the item received. In the case of the one-to-many relationship, the user interface indicates the location of the item but does not identify the item.

[0064] In operation 210, the private network recognizes customers within the store premises. This recognition can occur in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, when a customer carrying a customer mobile device 110 enters the communication range, the RF transceiver 124 on the private network 106 automatically establishes communication with the customer mobile device 110. From these communications, the private network 106 identifies the customer and recognizes the customer as being present on-site.

[0065] In other examples, a customer (with or without a customer mobile device 110) starts the product pickup process by approaching a store staff member (e.g., at a help desk, information desk, store record-keeping location) or an in-store station (or kiosk 109) configured to facilitate self-service receipt for the customer. In the former case, the store employee can notify the private network of the customer's physical presence by transmitting customer information to the private network 106 through the store employee device 114. In the latter case, the kiosk can notify the private network of the customer's arrival by transmitting customer information received from the interaction with the customer to the private network 106.

[0066] Since it is known that the customer is within the premises, the private network 106 receives customer information associated with the target product 104 to be received by a given customer (operation 212). For example, the customer can log in to an app 128 running on the customer mobile device 110 and select the pickup function provided by the app. The app then wirelessly communicates with the computing system 122 within the business premises and transmits the relevant customer information necessary to identify the target product 104 held for the customer. The customer information can be received from the customer mobile device 110 as part of the exact same communication that the private network uses to determine that the customer is within the store premises (i.e., operation 210), either the first (or subsequent) communication between the customer mobile device 110 and the private network 106.

[0067] As another example, during an interaction with a customer, a store employee can obtain customer information, for example, through communication with an app 128 running on the customer mobile device 110 or from in-person communication at the help desk, and input this customer information into the system 100 through a separate store employee device 114.

[0068] In yet another example, a customer can scan a QR code (registered trademark) (or other machine-readable code) at a scanning station or kiosk 109, and the scan obtains customer information and transmits this information to a computing system 122 on the private network 106. Thus, the scan serves to notify the private network 106 of the customer's physical presence (i.e., step 210) and supply customer information to the private network (i.e., step 212). As described in step 202, the customer may receive this QR code (registered trademark) (or other code) in response to placing an online order for the item of interest (i.e., the suit). The customer provides the QR code (registered trademark) to the app 128 on the customer mobile device 110 before arriving at the store.

[0069] The private network 106 uses the customer information to identify the specific item identification and location devices 102 associated with the received customer information (step 214). For this identification, the computing system 122 can maintain a database, spreadsheet, or other similar item that cross-references the item identification and location devices 102 and their unique identifiers 118 with the customer information. Alternatively, the computing system 122 can maintain a separate account for each enterprise customer, and each customer account includes the unique identifier 118 of each item identification and location device 102 used for the item of interest placed for that customer.

[0070] In operation 216, a private network 106, i.e., a computing system 122 that communicates via an RF transceiver 124, wirelessly connects to a particular article identification and location device 102 to activate the device. In this context, activation means operating the indicator 120 on the article identification and location device to draw attention to its location. When a given customer comes to the store to receive multiple target products, the private network wirelessly connects to each particular article identification and location device associated with the given customer and activates them.

[0071] For example, in one embodiment, the computing system 122 causes the RF transceiver to transmit an RF signal that includes a unique identifier 118 associated with a particular article identification and location device. Only the particular article identification and location device that stores a unique identifier that matches the unique identifier in the communication from the private network 106 activates itself among the numerous article identification and location devices that may be deployed within the store, while other article identification and location devices with non-matching unique identifiers do not activate. In the case of multiple target products, the private network activates each of these particular article identification and location devices associated with a given customer by transmitting an RF signal that includes the unique identifier associated with the particular article identification and location device.

[0072] In another embodiment, the computing system 122 establishes a one-to-one wireless connection with the particular article identification and location device 102. For example, consider a BLE embodiment where the article identification and location device 102 operates as a peripheral device that uses advertising to broadcast information about itself and the RF transceiver 124 on the private network 106 operates as a central device. After transmitting the advertisement, each article identification and location device 102 turns on its receiver 116 for a set time. The RF transceiver 124 scans for advertisements as a central device.

[0073] To attempt to establish a connection with a specific article identification and location device (determined in step 214), the central device analyzes the received advertisement and searches for one from the specific article identification and location devices. When such an advertisement is found, the central device transmits a wireless connection request to the specific article identification and location device within a set time after receiving the advertisement.

[0074] By receiving the connection request within the set time, the specific article identification and location device accepts a one-to-one connection with the RF transceiver 124 and receives a message from the computing system 122 instructing it to turn on its indicator. Different from the foregoing embodiments, the process of this embodiment does not require the specific article identification and location device to compare the unique identifier received from the RF transceiver 124 with the unique identifier stored in the specific article identification and location device.

[0075] The processor of the activated article identification and location device 102 turns on the indicator 120 (e.g., an LED if configured using an LED) for the purpose of notifying the customer of the location of the target product. The LED can, for example, blink green and may turn on after the customer arrives within a specific distance of the article identification and location device, and the distance is calculated by the processor of the article identification and location device 102 based on the RF signal (e.g., measured signal strength, angle of arrival, or arrival time) received from the customer mobile device 110.

[0076] In practice, multiple customers, store employees, or both may arrive at the designated pickup area simultaneously to receive the merchandise associated with the item identification and location device 102. To distinguish among multiple store employees, the computing system 122 on the private network 106 may assist in identifying which item identification and location device is designated for which customer or staff member by color-coding LEDs, emitting specific sounds with the item identification and location device, or both. The user interface of the employee device 114 used by each staff member or the user interface of the customer mobile device 110 used by each customer guides that person to look for a specific LED, voice pattern, or combination thereof.

[0077] The geofencing principle may further guide the customer to the item identification and location device 102. The app 128 running on the customer mobile device 110 obtains the unique identifier of the item identification and location device being sought (obtained from the private network via TCP / IP or RF), and the item identification and location device broadcasts this unique identifier (in embodiments where the item identification and location device includes an RF transmitter). The customer mobile device can use RSSI measurements, angle of arrival, or time of arrival measurements based on the RF signal determined to be transmitted by the item identification and location device 102. Alternatively, or in combination, the private network 106 uses signal strength or angle of arrival measurements based on the RF signal transmitted by the customer's mobile device 110 received by multiple RF transceivers 124 (when the item identification and location device 102 is transmitting) and communicates with the app 128 running on the customer mobile device 110 to navigate the customer to the item identification and location device 102. The customer may already be familiar with the location where such target merchandise is held within a given self-pickup store and may not require such guidance and may optionally disable this guidance feature with the app 128.

[0078] When a customer arrives at the location of the article identification and location device to obtain the target article, the article identification and location device 102 can use one or more mechanisms to avoid errors such as obtaining the wrong article. To avoid errors, it is necessary to correlate the sensed state change of the article identification and location device 102 with a legitimate customer. Examples of the sensed state change include, but are not limited to, temperature change (e.g., when held by a person, the article identification and location device gets warmer), angular change, contact change, and movement.

[0079] A legitimate customer is a person whose customer mobile device 110 wirelessly broadcasts an identifier that matches the identifier stored in the article identification and location device 102, provided that the legitimate customer has previously received the identifier (e.g., from the store employee device 114 or the private network 106) at the moment the state change is sensed. Customers can be verified using information other than this identifier, such as the aforementioned customer information or customer identification information. However, this is conditional on such information being stored in the article identification and location device 102 at a previous moment, so that the article identification and location device 102 can compare it with the customer information or customer identification information broadcast by the customer mobile device 110.

[0080] When each store employee or customer approaches a given item identification and location device 102, the employee's or customer's mobile device 110 wirelessly broadcasts a unique identifier. When the item identification and location device 102 receives (different) unique identifiers from a plurality of customers (or employees) within the communication range, the item identification and location device 102 selects the unique identifier received from the closer (e.g., maximum signal strength or shortest timing measurement value) devices 110, 114. Otherwise, when the item identification and location device 102 senses a change in state, it cannot determine whether the correct person has obtained the item (because it has received unique identifiers from multiple RF transmitters). By comparing the stored unique identifier by the item identification and location device 102 with the unique identifier received from the closest devices 110, 114, it is determined whether the correct person has received the item. Alternatively, a computing system 122 on the private network 106 can determine whether the correct person has received the item based on the broadcast received from the item identification and location device. Such a broadcast from the item identification and location device includes data related to the sensed change in state and the measurement of the signal strength or timing of the RF signals received from the plurality of mobile devices 110, 114.

[0081] In one embodiment, the system is programmed such that when the customer mobile device 110 taps the item identification and location device 102, it receives the full-strength RSSI signal when the item identification and location device performs the identifier comparison. The item identification and location device selects what the customer's mobile device has tapped. The tap can be recognized, for example, by RSSI strength or by using the accelerometer of the item identification and location device. In the latter example, when the item identification and location device detects a spike in the accelerometer, it searches for an RSSI signal that exceeds a threshold. If multiple RSSI signals exceed the threshold, the item identification and location device selects the RSSI signal with the highest energy signal. If the item identification and location device senses a change in state and receives RSSI signals from multiple customer mobile devices but there is no RSSI signal that exceeds a specific threshold (regardless of tap or proximity), the item identification and location device regards this as an incorrect reception.

[0082] When attempting to avoid errors, the item identification and location device can perform one or more of various actions. The item identification and location device can send the information collected from the customer mobile device to the private network 106, and the computing system 122 can determine whether the correct customer mobile device has received the item in question. Alternatively, or in addition, if an incorrect reception is detected, the associated item identification and location device can communicate directly with the nearest customer mobile device (the improper customer) and the correct customer mobile device (the proper customer) to notify that an error has occurred.

[0083] To sense a change in state, the article identification and location device 102 may be configured using one or more of a variety of sensors. For example, when configured using an accelerometer and a speaker, if the unique identifier received from the customer's mobile device 110 does not match the unique identifier programmed in the memory of the device 102, or if the accelerometer detects movement of the article identification and location device 102 and the article identification and location device 102 does not store any unique identifier at all, it is concluded that the wrong customer has taken the product. At that point, the processor of the article identification and location device may be configured to warn the customer that they are attempting to take the wrong item by causing the speaker to emit an alarm or causing an LED to blink red, depending on the type of indicator 120 that the article identification and location device is equipped with.

[0084] As another example, if the article identification and location device 102 is a clothes clip configured with a touch sensor, the article identification and location device can sense the opening and closing of the clip, and if configured with an angular hall sensor, the article identification and location device can detect the angular difference between two opposing arms of the clothes clip. When the article identification and location device senses the opening of the clip (when configured with a touch sensor) or detects the angular difference (when configured with an angular hall sensor), it verifies whether the correct person has received the item by comparing the stored unique identifier with the unique identifier received from the nearest customer mobile device 110 (or, the store employee device 114). The processor of the article identification and location device may be configured to audibly and / or visually warn the customer or the store employee immediately if the customer attempts to take an item that is not for themselves.

[0085] Additional examples for detecting a change in state involve the use of the geopencing principle to set up a section in which an article identification and location device is programmed to be in a particular state (or is instructed by a computing system 122 on a private network monitoring the article identification and location device to set the state of the device).

[0086] For example, consider an article identification and location device 102 that is in a "coupled state" while present within a given section (e.g., a particular room). The article identification and location device is determined (by device 102 or private network 106) to have left the section without going into a "display state". The "display state" corresponds when the article identification and location device is notified to activate its indicator. If the article identification and location device is not permitted to leave the section unless someone is about to come to pick up the item in question, the article identification and location device will enter an "alarm state" (whether by a remote command from the private network or by its own internal programming logic). The "alarm state" corresponds, for example, when the article identification and location device is programmed or instructed to sound an alarm to indicate a reception error. In this example, the detected change in state is the article identification and location device exceeding the section threshold. This detected change in state can be combined with other detected changes in state, such as detection of movement, to improve the confidence that the article identification and location device is currently involved in a reception event (whether an error or correct).

[0087] As another example, an article identification and location device may be programmed (or wirelessly instructed) to enter a "coupled state" when entering a section. Alternatively, entering the section can function to verify the coupling (i.e., association) between the article identification and location device and the item in question.

[0088] In some embodiments, the article identification and location device 102 stays with the article (i.e., the target product) after the customer brings the article into their home or destination. The article identification and location device can continue to operate, for example, performing functions such as assisting the customer in finding the article in its new location, sending reminder notifications for inspection of the target product or battery replacement (if the article has a battery, the battery of the article identification and location device or the battery of the target product).

[0089] FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of another process 300 in which a customer is guided to a target product placed within a store for the customer. In the description of process 300, reference is made to various elements of the system 100 shown and described in FIG. 1. To shorten the description, process 300 is performed after the article identification and location device 102 and its unique identifier 118 have been associated with the customer's order, i.e., the associated customer information and the ordered target product.

[0090] After the article identification and location device 102 has been associated with the customer, the customer mobile device receives the unique identifier 118 of the article identification and location device 102 (step 302). The app 128 on the customer's mobile device 110 can obtain the unique identifier in any of a variety of ways. One way is for the user computer device 112 to receive the unique identifier from a website in response to sending an online request asking for the placement of the target product 104. The customer is asked to enter this unique identifier into the app 128 running on the customer's mobile device.

[0091] In a second way, the store employee device 114 or the private network 106 can send electronic information, such as an email or text message, containing the unique identifier to the customer computing device 112, or the customer mobile device 110, and request that the customer enter the unique identifier into the app 128.

[0092] In a third method, the app 128 running on the customer's mobile device 110 receives a unique identifier when it is determined that the customer has entered the store (step 210 in FIG. 2). For example, when the customer is inside the store, an RF signal, TCP / IP, or UDP from the customer's mobile device 110 permits the connection of the customer mobile device to a wireless Ethernet network provided by a private network), thereby transmitting customer information to the private network 106. The app can search for this Ethernet network in a background process and automatically connect when the customer mobile device detects a strong enough signal, or the customer can manually initiate this process. The store associate device 114 or the private network 106 can use this customer information to obtain a unique identifier associated with the customer (specifically, the customer order) and can wirelessly transmit the unique identifier to the app 128 running on the customer mobile device 110.

[0093] As another example, a store staff member can verbally provide the unique identifier to the customer (e.g., when the customer visits the store's help desk or calls the store) and tell the customer to enter the value into the app.

[0094] In yet another example, the customer can receive a unique identifier in response to scanning a barcode at a scanning station. The customer then enters the value into the app 128 running on the customer mobile device 110.

[0095] While the customer is in the store, the app 128 operates to wirelessly broadcast the unique identifier to the RF transceiver 126 of the customer mobile device 110 (step 304). Each article identification and location device 102 within range of receiving the broadcast unique identifier determines whether this identifier matches its stored unique identifier (step 306). The article identification and location device 102 that finds that its stored identifier matches the broadcast identifier activates its indicator 120 to assist in guiding the customer to the merchandise in place (step 308). For example, the article identification and location device 102 can turn on an LED (if configured with an LED) or issue a sound or voice instruction (if equipped with a speaker). The LED can blink green to indicate, for example, the correct target merchandise for the customer. Additionally, the LED may turn on only after the article identification and location device 102 determines that the customer is within a specific distance based on the RF signal from the customer's mobile device 110. If the identifier does not match the identifier stored in the article identification and location device 102, the LED can light up or blink red, for example, to indicate that the related merchandise is not for a customer approaching.

[0096] By way of example, when a customer carries a hanger with a suit into the fitting room, one or more of the aforementioned sensors of the article identification and location device 102 can sense the movement, whether the article identification and location device is attached to the hanger or to the suit. If the article identification and location device is adapted to be fastened to the suit itself, like an anti-theft tag, the article identification and location device can detect further movement of the suit even if the customer removes the suit from the hanger and leaves the hanger behind, and the position of the suit can be tracked within the store based on the RF signal emitted by the article identification and location device (if the article identification and location device is configured using an RF transmitter).

[0097] To illustrate with another example, the item identification and location device 102 may be placed on a stack of clothing placed for a given customer, and when the customer comes to the store premises or the designated pickup area, the customer information is used to identify the customer, and the item identification and location device on the clothing lights up the LED (or emits an alarm). Also, the bag is used to hold the target product and can be suspended from a hook or peg, and the item identification and location device can be adapted to be suspended from the hook or peg on the bag. When the product identification and location device associated with a given bag suspended from a peg wirelessly receives a unique identifier that matches its stored unique identifier, the item identification and location device can light up its LED to indicate to the approaching customer which bag to pick up.

[0098] Similar to what was described in connection with process 200 of FIG. 2, the customer mobile device 110, the private network 106, or both can function as additional guides for the customer to reach the target product. The customer mobile device 110 can use RSSI measurements or timing measurements based on the RF signals transmitted by the item identification and location device 102 (when configured with an RF transmitter), and the private network 106 can use measurements of signal strength or angle of arrival based on the RF signals received by a plurality of RF transceivers 124 (at different locations) to navigate the customer to the item identification and location device 102. Further, the customer verification techniques described in connection with process 200 of FIG. 2 may be used with one or more sensors that detect changes in the state of the item identification and location device 102 to ensure that a given customer picks up the correct target product.

[0099] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a process 400 for guiding a customer to an activated item identification and location device 102. In this description of process 400, reference is made to various elements of the system 100 shown and described in FIG. 1. During process 400, the customer is within the store premises and is carrying the customer mobile device 110 and running the app 128. Also, the activated item identification and location device 102 includes an RF transmitter that transmits RF signals continuously (for activation of the item identification and location device) or periodically. In step 402, an RF transceiver 124 (e.g., a beacon) on the private network 106 communicates with the customer's mobile device 110 and receives from the device an RF signal generated by the app 128 running on the customer's mobile device 110. The RF transceiver 124 performs an angle of arrival (AoA) measurement based on the RF signal transmitted by the customer's mobile device 110 (step 404). In one embodiment, these AoA measurements are communicated to a computing system 122 on the private network 106 (step 406), and the computing system 122 calculates the location of the customer's mobile device 110 from these AoA measurements (step 408). The private network 106 transmits this location to the customer's mobile device 110 (step 410). Additionally, the network of RF transceivers 124 can determine the location of the item identification and location device 102 from the RF signals transmitted by the item identification and location device (step 412) and transmit this location of the item identification and location device to the customer's mobile device 110. Instead of using AoA measurements, the private network 106 can alternatively determine the locations of the customer's mobile device 110 and the item identification and location device 102 based on RSSI measurements or timing measurements.

[0100] Instead of calculating the location of the customer's mobile device 110, the RF transceiver 124 can send the AoA measurements to the customer mobile device 110 (step 414), and the customer mobile device calculates its own location based on the AoA measurements (step 416). Further, instead of the customer mobile device 110 relying on the private network 106 to provide the location of the item identification and location device 102 that was activated, the customer mobile device performs this location determination (step 418). The app 128 running on the customer mobile device uses the strength of the RF signal from the item identification location device 102 to direct the customer towards the item identification location and location device. Alternatively, the app 128 can use timing measurements (e.g., extracted from the ultra-wideband signal of the item identification and location device) to determine the proximity to the location of the item identification and location device and ultimately guide the customer towards the location of the item identification and location device.

[0101] The app 128 running on the customer mobile device can use the calculated location of the customer mobile device 110, whether received from the private network or calculated by itself, to navigate the customer towards the location of the item identification location device 102 (step 420). For example, the app 128 running on the customer mobile device 110 can display two points on the graphical floor plan of the store, one representing the customer's current location and the other representing the location of the item identification and location device. The motion indicator 120 on the item identification and location device, such as a lit LED or speaker, can assist and complete the navigation when the customer enters the visible or audible range.

[0102] In any or all of the cases of the processes 200, 300, 400 described in relation to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, there are specific situations where a store employee, rather than a customer, is looking for the item to be shelved 104. For example, a customer arrives at a store and the desired item is behind a counter that the customer cannot access. Such situations generally occur in full-service laundromats or cloakrooms. Therefore, the customer needs the assistance of a store employee to obtain the item.

[0103] Notifying a store employee to act on behalf of a customer can occur in various ways. For example, when a customer arrives at a store, an app 128 running on the customer mobile device 110 can communicate with the store's private network 106, and the private network can notify the store employee device 114 of the customer's arrival. As another example, the customer mobile device 110 can communicate with an article identification and location device 102 coupled to a desired target item, and this article identification and location device can notify the store employee (e.g., by lighting an LED, emitting a predefined sound).

[0104] Next, the store employee is responsible for searching for and obtaining the item for the customer. To do so, the app running on the employee device 114 may need to obtain the unique identifier that the item identification and location device 102 associated with the target item listens for. The employee can obtain this unique identifier in various ways. That is, the employee device 114 can be "paired" with the customer's mobile device 110, for example, by establishing a Bluetooth® connection between the two devices 110, 114. The customer mobile device 110 can send customer information to the store's private network 106, and the store's private network 106 can transfer the unique identifier associated with this customer information to the employee device 114. The employee device 114 may already own the unique identifier from the moment the employee associates the item identification and location device 102 with the customer (e.g., in response to a customer request for item retrieval), or the employee device 114 can obtain the unique identifier by communicating with the item identification and location device that has its LED lit or emits a predetermined sound because the item identification and location device has received the correct unique identifier from the customer mobile device 110. When having this unique identifier, the employee device 114 can wirelessly transmit it, and the item identification and location device 102 can turn on (or continue to turn on) its LED in response to receiving the unique identifier, and thus the employee can obtain the item for the customer. Alternatively, the employee device communicates with the private network 106 to transfer the request to a specific item identification and location device.

[0105] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of an article identification and location device 102 used to facilitate the location of an article or merchandise within a building of a business, enterprise, or organization. The article identification and location device 102 includes a processor or processing unit 500, a memory 502, an RF receiver 116 (or an RF transceiver in another embodiment), one or more indicators 120, and a power supply 504. The memory 502 stores the unique identifier 118 and the program code 506 (as described above), and when the program code 506 is executed, it controls the various functions of the article identification and location device 102 as described herein. The memory 502, as well as the information and program code stored by the memory 502, may be physically distributed among the various components of the article identification and location device 102. For example, the RF receiver (or RF transceiver) can store the unique identifier, and the memory storing the program code 506 can be part of the processor 500. Optionally, the article identification and location device 102 includes one or more sensors 508 (shown in phantom lines).

[0106] The processor or processing unit 500 is an electronic circuit adapted to execute instructions of the program code 506 that control the operation of the article identification and location device 102, such as processing an RF signal received by the RF receiver 116 to extract a unique identifier, comparing the received unique identifier with the unique identifier stored in the memory 502, and activating the indicator 120 when such unique identifiers match.

[0107] In one embodiment, the RF receiver 116 has an antenna 510 for receiving wireless signals. As described above, the RF receiver 116 operates according to wireless communication technologies, examples of which include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), 802.XX, WLAN, and ultra-wideband (UWB), and in one embodiment, may be part of an RF transceiver.

[0108] Examples of the one or more indicators 120 include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), speakers, or both. The one or more LEDs may be embodied as an LED strip. The speaker may be configured to emit continuous or periodic sounds at different volumes and frequencies, and each sound may be configured to convey cues such as alarms, warnings, or success, as well as various beeping sounds. The lighting sequence or series of sounds can vary from slow to fast depending on the desired effect.

[0109] Examples of the one or more sensors 508 include an accelerometer, a contact sensor, an angular Hall sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or any combination thereof. The accelerometer is a device adapted to detect movement of the article identification and location device 102. In some embodiments, the accelerometer can also determine the angle at which the article identification and location device 102 is tilted with respect to the Earth. In these embodiments of the article identification and location device 102 that are two-pronged clips, the contact sensor is a device adapted to determine the opening and closing of the clip (as used herein, the opening and closing of the clip is a type of detectable movement of the clip). The angular Hall sensor is a device adapted to measure the angular position of one clip prong with respect to the other clip prong and is used to determine the opening and closing of the clip or whether the clip is open when it should not be. The temperature sensor is a device adapted to generate a temperature measurement of the environment of the article identification and location device. The humidity sensor is a device adapted to measure the humidity within the environment of the article identification and location device. Generally, the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor serve to monitor the environment of the target product. The measurements provided by such sensors can contribute to the location identification of the target product (item if interest); for example, a low temperature measurement can suggest that the target product is refrigerated. Additionally, a sensor having a capacitance sensing function can be used to sense touch. This function can be applied to a specific area of the article identification and location device and, in effect, provides a means by which a user can interact with the device instead of using a button.

[0110] In one embodiment, the power source 504 is a battery. The battery may be non-removable or removable, wired or wirelessly rechargeable (regardless of non-removable or removable), replaceable (regardless of non-rechargeable or rechargeable), or non-replaceable or non-rechargeable, in which case the article identification and location device 102 is disposable when the battery discharges. In one embodiment, the article identification and location device 102 can operate mainly in the sleep mode to extend the battery life, and in the duty cycle for transmission and reception (when configured as such), it periodically wakes up to cause the article identification and location device 102 to perform an action and transmit its unique identifier, and (when configured as such) periodically listens for the unique identifier. Other techniques may be used to minimize battery consumption.

[0111] FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of a process 600 for verifying whether the correct customer has received a given target product. The process 600 assumes that the article identification and location device 102 causes a state change upon receipt of the product (e.g., the article identification and location device is permanently or temporarily attached to the target product and moves or is touched upon acquisition of the product).

[0112] In step 602, the unique information is stored in the article identification and location device 102. This unique information can be any unique information owned by both the article identification and location device 102 and the customer who receives the product associated with this article identification and location device. Examples of such unique information include, but are not limited to, a unique identifier, product information, customer information, or customer identification information.

[0113] The customer mobile device 110 broadcasts the unique information (step 604). The article identification and location device 102 wirelessly receives the unique information from one or more customer mobile devices 110 (step 606).

[0114] In operation 608, the article identification and location device 102 senses a change in state (e.g., movement, temperature change, angular change, release of a clip). In response to the sensed change in state, the article identification and location device 102 compares the unique information received from the customer mobile device 110 (operation 610). If the unique information is obtained from two or more customer mobile devices 110, the article identification and location device 102 determines the nearer (or nearest) customer device 110 and uses the unique information from that device 110 during the comparison.

[0115] When determining matching unique information (operation 612), the article identification and location device 102 may turn on an LED or emit a sound indicating success. When detecting a mismatch (operation 614), the article identification and location device 102 may blink an LED or emit an alarm indicating the occurrence of an error. Alternatively, the article identification and location device may broadcast other information related to the sensed change in state and the signal received from the consumer device 110, from which the computing system 122 on the private network 106 determines whether the article identification and location device should emit an alarm. If the article identification and location device does not receive an RF signal indicating approval of removal or movement (e.g., removal of a clip from the item of interest), the article identification and location device emits an alarm. Instead, if the article identification and location device has received approval for the change in state, the device does not emit an alarm.

[0116] In this alternative embodiment, the article identification and location device has a general "activated" state. This is, for example, to start the blinking of the white LED each time the article identification and location device moves around. When the article identification and location device is part of a current order, it is instructed to be set to a "display" state that enables identification by the customer. In response to the sensed change in state, the article identification and location device starts broadcasting that change. In computing system 122, the computing system 122 on the private network listens for the broadcast of the article identification and location device and, if it has no information regarding the customer's receipt, communicates with the server to inquire about any such receipt. If there is no receipt, or if the receipt is not associated with the unique identifier of the article identification and location device that is broadcasting, the computing system 122 on the private network instructs the article identification and location device to alarm and sets the article identification and location device to an "illegal" state.

[0117] Another way this can occur is when the article identification and location device is currently in a "coupled" state and transitions to the "activated" state without being set to the "display" state, the article identification and location device alarms. The article identification and location device further broadcasts its data to the computing system 122, and the computing system 122 can then determine what occurs next.

[0118] The item identification and location device 102 may be configured to send a message reporting success or an error to the private network 106. The private network 106 can record transactions including goods such as success or error, event time, etc., and in case of an error, can notify the store clerk (via the store clerk device 114). Then, the store clerk can search for the customer in the store and improve the situation. If the item identification and location device 102 is still attached to or is part of the item, the RF signal transmitted by the item identification and location device 102 may potentially serve to guide the store clerk to the customer.

[0119] FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of a process 700 for a customer to receive a target item from a store in a non-contact self-service manner. As used herein, non-contact means that there is no face-to-face interaction between the customer and the store clerk when the customer comes to the store to receive the item. In step 702, the customer communicates remotely with the store and requests the item for purchase.

[0120] In response to the request, the system 100 (FIG. 1) assigns (step 704) the item identification and location device 102 (having a unique identifier) to the target item and the customer. The assigned item identification and location device 102 coexists physically with the target item, and the customer owns a unique identifier (or other unique information) that enables the item identification and location device 102 to verify the customer at the moment of receiving the item.

[0121] A customer (or a person with a unique identifier) arrives at the store (step 706). In response to the presence of the customer within the store, the article identification and location device 102 activates its indicator (step 708), attracting the customer's attention to itself and thus to the target product. For example, the article identification and location device can emit light or generate a lighting pattern, or emit a sound or a sound pattern, to distinguish itself from other activated article identification and location devices. As described above, the presence of the customer can be detected in various ways. For example, the customer scans a barcode at a scanning station within the store, or the private network 106 communicates with an app 128 running on the customer mobile device 110 when the customer mobile enters the proximity range, or the customer presses a button on the customer mobile device.

[0122] The article identification and location device 102 senses that the customer has acquired the product (e.g., detection of movement, release of the clip) (step 710) and notifies the private network 106 and / or the store associate device 114 (step 712).

[0123] The customer leaves the store with the product (step 714). There is no need to interact face-to-face with a store associate to acquire the product. The system 100 knows and records that the customer has visited the store and left with the product, and no staff member needs to be aware of this event. Security measures may be taken to prevent the customer from taking the wrong product. From the customer's perspective, the customer has not interacted directly with anyone from the order to the acquisition of the product. Thus, the customer's receipt of the product is self-service.

[0124] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the article identification and location device 102 in the form of a clip 800, shown in the closed position in this figure. The size of the clip 800 can vary depending on its usage. For example, in one embodiment, the clip is approximately 1 3 / 4 inches wide, 2 3 / 4 inches long, and 1 1 / 4 inches thick.

[0125] In this embodiment, the clip 800 has a body consisting of two parts, an upper portion 802 and a base portion 804, i.e., pincers. Generally, a pair of pincers are joined at a pivot and operate oppositely to grip an article. A spring at the pivot (not shown) of the clip biases the two parts 802, 804 of the clip 800 to a closed position. Other embodiments may have other mechanisms, such as a hinge, for joining the pair of pincers at the pivot and may use other mechanisms, such as a mechanical latch or a magnetic latch, for holding the clip in the closed position.

[0126] The upper portion 802 of the clip houses various components of the article identification and location device 102 described in FIG. 5, such as an RF receiver (or transceiver), a processor, a memory, a power source, an indicator, and one or more sensors. The body of the upper portion 802 is slightly concave and is generally oval-shaped with a fishtail-shaped planar extension 808. The outer surface 806 of the upper portion 802 has a translucent logo or pattern 810 through which light from an internal LED can shine. The sides 812 of the upper portion 802 may also be translucent to allow light from the internal LED illumination to shine through. A plurality of arcuate ridges 814 on the outer surface of the planar extension 808 provide a tactile area for the user to place a finger when the user pinches and opens the clip. The lower side of the upper portion 802, i.e., the inner surface (i.e., inside the mouth of the clip), has a plurality of ribs 816 (only the ends are shown in FIG. 8). The ribs 816 extend across the width of the upper portion 802 of the clip 800.

[0127] The base 804 of the clip 800 has a generally elliptical shape similar to the shape of the upper portion 802, is spatially separated from the planar extension 808 of the upper portion 802, and includes a planar extension 818 that faces it. The planar extension 818 has a hole 820 sized, for example, to suspend the clip from a hook or peg. The inside of the base 804 (inside the mouth of the clip) has a plurality of ribs 822. The outside of the base 804 is planar, and thus the clip 800 can be placed flat on a flat surface. The ribs 822 are positioned offset from these ribs 816 of the upper portion 802 such that the sets of ribs 816, 822 alternate when the clip 800 is closed. The ribs 816, 822 provide a tactile area that improves surface contact with the material to which the clip 800 is attached. The ribs 822 extend across the width of the base 804 of the clip 800.

[0128] To open the clip 800, the user places their finger on the outer surfaces of the planar extensions 808, 818 and applies sufficient force to push the planar extensions towards each other to open the mouth of the clip. The upper portion 802 pivots about the spring axis 824. The described embodiment of the clip has an upper portion 802 and a base 804 joined at a pivot, but it should be understood that other clip embodiments can be constructed as a single piece or as separable pieces and have an upper portion 802 and a base 804 joined at a location other than the pivot point.

[0129] FIG. 9 shows the clip 800 of FIG. 8 in the open position with the extensions 808, 818 pushed into each other. The clip 800 has a spring 900 along a pivot axis 824. When in the open position as shown, the clip 800 is in a tensioned state and the spring 900 biases the upper part 802 and the base 804 to close. Inside the base 804, there are ribs 822 and an embedded contact pad area 902. This embodiment of the clip 800 includes a contact sensor system (accommodated therein), and the contact sensor system uses a pogo pin assembly 904 consisting of three pogo pins disposed inside the contact pad area 902 and the upper part 802. The position of the pogo pin assembly 904 of the upper part 802 is on the opposite side of the position of the contact pad area 902 of the base 804 such that the pogo pin assembly 904 mates with the contact pad area 902 when the clip is in the closed position.

[0130] FIG. 10 shows a detailed view of one embodiment of the contact sensor contact pad region 902 within the circle A shown in FIG. 9. The contact pad region 902 embedded inside the base 804 of the clip includes three circular openings 1000-1, 1000-2, 1000-3 (generally 1000) arranged in rows adjacent to each other. In one embodiment, the central opening 1000-2 has a diameter smaller than the diameters of the other two openings 1000-1, 1000-3, and the sizes of the other two openings 1000-1, 1000-3 are equal. The opening 1000-2 is not open all the way to the contact pad and is not used by the contact sensor system. The openings 1000-1, 1000-3 expose the same conductive contact pads at the bottom of the openings and are used by the contact sensor system to determine whether the clip is open, closed, or closed in contact with something (the clip may close in contact with some thin object that is too thin for the angular hall sensor to detect due to the resolution of the angular hall sensor (thus, for the angular hall sensor, the clip is closed), and the contact sensor detects the open clip because the thin object between the top and the base breaks the electrical connection. The combination of the results from the hall sensor and the contact sensor leads the processor receiving this data to conclude that the clip must be closed in contact with some thin or small object).

[0131] FIG. 11 shows the base 804 of the clip. The top of the clip is absent to more clearly show the spring 900 fixed to the base, and the rear plane extension 818 includes a hole 820 used to suspend the clip from a hook or peg, an inner rib 822, and the contact sensor contact pad region 902. Circle B surrounds the region of the spring 900.

[0132] Figure 12 shows a detailed view of the features within circle B of Figure 11, which features include spring 900 and magnet 1200. In one embodiment, magnet 1200 is generally cylindrical having an axial hole through its center and two flat portions on both outer sides of the cylinder. Magnet 1200 is part of a Hall sensor system that operates by sensing the rotation of a magnetic field. Magnet 1200 is press-fitted into base 804 of clip 800 (Figure 8).

[0133] Figure 13 shows a rear view of base 804 of the clip, including spring 900, magnet 1200, a pair of pivot bosses 1300-1, 1300-2 on both sides of base 804, a pair of spring bosses 1302-1, 1302-2 (generally 1302, one on each side of spring 900), and plastic bosses 1304-1, 1304-2 (generally 1304). There is one spring boss 1302 and one boss 1304 on each side surface of spring 900. Each spring boss 1302 enters a central hole of the spring (along the axis of the spring) from the opposite end of spring 900. The plastic snap hook of boss 1304-1 holds magnet 1200 in place. The two flat portions on both outer sides of the cylindrical magnet abut against the opposing side walls of boss 1304-1 to prevent the magnet from rotating when the clip is opened and closed. As upper portion 802 moves (with respect to base 804), the angular Hall sensor system on the circuit board within upper portion 802 senses the change in the magnetic field (magnet 1200 remains fixed to base 804). Hole 820 is located on the surface of spring 900. Detail circle C surrounds pivot boss 1300-2.

[0134] Figure 14 shows pivot boss 1300-2 within detail circle C of Figure 13. Pivot boss 1300-2 has a taper 1400 that allows upper portion 802 of the clip to be snap-fitted into a predetermined position relative to base 804 during assembly of clip 800.

[0135] FIG. 15 shows a side view of the clip 800 and depicts a circle D around the pogo pin assembly 904 which is part of the contact sensor. The contact sensor system determines whether the clip is open or closed based on whether the pogo pin assembly 904 is electrically connected to the contact pad area 902. Contact between the pogo pin assembly 904 and the contact pad area 902 indicates a closed clip. The contact pad area 902 and the pogo pin assembly 904 are disposed near the tip or rounded end of each respective part of the clip.

[0136] FIG. 16 shows a detailed view of three pogo pins 1600-1, 1600-2, 1600-3 (generally 1600) of the pogo pin assembly 904 within the circle D of FIG. 15. Each pogo pin 1600, when contacting its respective opening 1000, receives a spring load and is pushed inward (FIG. 10), with pin 1600-1 entering opening 1000-1, pin 1600-2 entering opening 1000-2, and pin 1600-3 entering opening 1000-3. The two outer pogo pins 1600-1, 1600-3 contact the same contact pad which is below their respective openings 1000-1, 1000-3. The contact sensor system (not shown in its entirety) determines that the clip is closed when the pogo pins 1600-1 and 1600-3 are electrically contacting the contact pads at the bottom of their respective openings 1000-1 and 1000-3 and the electrical connection is complete. The central pogo pin 1600-2 does not make electrical contact with this contact pad when the clip is closed but contacts a recess within the plastic of the central opening 1000-2. During battery charging, the central pogo pin 1600-2 is used as the positive (+) terminal and the pogo pin 1600-3 is used as ground. The central pogo pin 1600-2 can also be used to sense when the clip is closed on a conductive item (which is not normally the case) by establishing a connection with the other pogo pins 1600-1, 1600-3.

[0137] FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of an article identification and location device 102 adapted to slide above the hook and below the neck of a garment hanger 1700, and the article identification and location device 102 is located on the shoulder of the hanger. The article identification and location device 102 houses various components of the article identification and location device 102 described in FIG. 5, such as an RF receiver (or transceiver), a processor, a memory, a power source, an indicator, and one or more sensors. At least a part of the exterior of the body of the article identification and location device 102, i.e., the part facing outward, is translucent, and an internal LED can illuminate the article identification and location device 102 to generate a notification as described herein.

[0138] FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of an article identification and location device 102 coupled to the side of a shopping cart 1800. This embodiment has a rectangular body or frame and houses an RF receiver (or transceiver), a processor, a memory, a power source, an indicator, and optionally one or more sensors described in connection with FIG. 5. One side of the frame 1802 is a translucent window 1804 facing away from the cart (i.e., outward), allowing the internal LED to illuminate the article identification and location device 102 and attracting the attention of customers trying to locate this device. The opposite side of the frame 1802 is adapted to be attached or affixed to the shopping cart.

[0139] FIG. 19 shows the article identification and location device 102 of FIG. 18 attached or affixed to one side of a label 1900, FIG. 20 shows the article identification and location device 102 of FIG. 18 attached or affixed to the top of a box 2000, and FIG. 21 shows the article identification and location device 102 of FIG. 18 attached, affixed, or incorporated into the side of a bag 2100.

[0140] The positions of the article identification and location device 102 in FIGS. 18, 19, 20, and 21 are for illustrative purposes, and the article identification and location device 102 can be positioned at other suitable positions on the cart 1800, label 1900, box 2000, and bag 2100 without departing from the principles described herein. Such suitable positions are those where the notifications generated by the article identification and location device 102 are easily visible or audible.

[0141] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method, and apparatus. Accordingly, some aspects of the present invention may be embodied entirely in hardware, in software (firmware, program code, resident software, microcode), or in a combination of hardware and software.

[0142] Although some aspects of at least one embodiment have been described above, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, and improvements will readily occur. Such changes, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments of the methods and apparatuses discussed herein are not limited to the application to the details of the configurations and the arrangement of components described in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings. The methods and apparatuses can be implemented in other embodiments and can be practiced or executed in various ways. The examples of specific embodiments are provided herein for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be limiting. References to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "another embodiment" mean that the features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment described herein. References to one embodiment within this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Features exemplified or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments.

[0143] Also, the expressions and terms used in this specification are for the purpose of explanation and should not be regarded as limiting. "Including", "comprising", "having", "containing", "involving", and variations thereof mean including the items listed thereafter and their equivalents. References to "or" may be construed inclusively so that any term explained using "or" may indicate any one of a single, two or more, and all of the recited terms. Any reference to front and back, left and right, top and bottom, upper and lower, inside and outside, vertical and horizontal is for convenience of explanation and does not limit the described system and method or its components to any one positional or spatial direction. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention should be determined from the appropriate construction of the appended "claims" and their equivalents.

Claims

Claim 1 An apparatus for assisting in identifying the location of a target product inside or near a building, comprising: an indicator; a main body having a pair of pincers that operate opposite each other to grip the target product or are adapted to be disposed on or near the target product, the main body comprising: an RF receiver configured to receive an RF signal transmitted by an RF transmitter, and a processor communicating with the RF receiver and the indicator, the processor being configured to obtain information from the RF signal received by the RF receiver and turn on the indicator in response to the information obtained from the RF signal, the main body housing the processor.

Images