POS Beacon Positioning for Customer Tracking Without Wired Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart merchant environments require costly infrastructure deployment, such as wired sensors, to track customer positions, necessitating store closures for installation.

Innovation Solution

Utilize mobile merchant devices, like POS devices, to determine the positions of mobile customer devices within a merchant environment using existing infrastructure, leveraging technologies like GNSS, UWB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for relative positioning without additional fixed sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If wired sensors are deployed to track customer positions, then positioning accuracy is improved, but infrastructure cost and installation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing mobile merchant devices (POS terminals, employee devices) serve dual purposes: their primary function for transactions and their secondary function as positioning beacons. These devices independently broadcast their location data without requiring external infrastructure, enabling the system to leverage already-deployed resources for positioning purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Mobile merchant devices perform multiple functions simultaneously: they serve as both transaction processing terminals and as positioning beacons. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated positioning infrastructure, as the same devices used for commerce operations also provide location tracking capabilities through wireless signal broadcasting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If wired sensors are installed in the merchant environment, then customer positioning capability is improved, but store downtime and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning capabilityVSAvoidstore downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical installation of wired sensors with wireless communication technology. Mobile merchant devices use wireless protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular) to broadcast position data, eliminating the need for physical installation that would require store closures. The positioning capability is achieved through software configuration rather than hardware installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static wired sensor installations to dynamic wireless positioning using mobile devices. The positioning infrastructure becomes flexible and adaptable, allowing devices to move freely while continuously providing position data, thereby enabling positioning capability without fixed installations that would cause downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If a network of wired sensors is deployed, then customer position tracking is improved, but deployment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer position trackingVSAvoidinfrastructure cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Existing mobile merchant devices independently provide positioning functionality by broadcasting their location data through wireless interfaces. This self-service capability means no additional dedicated positioning infrastructure needs to be purchased or installed, as the positioning function is already embedded in the operational devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of installing physical sensor copies throughout the environment, the system uses digital signal broadcasting from existing devices. The position information is replicated and transmitted wirelessly to customer devices, creating a virtual positioning network without physical hardware multiplication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate customer positioning within merchant environments without the need for costly infrastructure, reducing downtime and installation costs.

Implementation Method 1

measurements on radio signals received at the mobile customer device from mobile merchant devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadio signal transmission: Electromagnetic Propulsion

Data Source

PatentUS12579551B2POS devices as beacons for customer location identification

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 SHOPIFY INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for positioning of a device of interest within a merchant environment. In this regard, embodiments of a computer implemented method for positioning of a device of interest within a merchant environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the computer implemented method comprises obtaining positions of a plurality of mobile merchant devices within a merchant environment, obtaining data indicative of a relative position of a device of interest relative to one or more of the plurality of mobile merchant devices, and computing a position of the device of interest within the merchant environment based on the data indicative of the relative position of the device of interest relative to the one or more of the plurality of mobile merchant devices and positions of the one or more of the plurality of mobile merchant devices.