CN107864679B

CN107864679B - System and method for commercializing electronic displays

Info

Publication number: CN107864679B
Application number: CN201680041389.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: J.斯瓦福德
Original assignee: RTC Industries Inc
Current assignee: RTC Industries Inc
Priority date: 2015-05-15
Filing date: 2016-05-13
Publication date: 2022-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-13
Also published as: KR102369205B1; AU2016263105A1; AU2022202222A1; AU2019271906B2; CN107864679A; AU2019271906A1; KR20180008678A; WO2016187001A1; KR20200058603A; BR112017024494A2; EP3295410A1; KR102115612B1

Abstract

Systems and methods for merchandising displays in connection with a continuous display formed by an electronic display embedded along a product shelf and packaging stored on the product shelf. The electronic label device may detect the presence of a customer and send a trigger to the packaging on its product shelf. The electronic label device may also send a trigger to surrounding electronic label devices. The streaming video may then be distributed between the electronic label device and a display on the package. Each of the displays may simultaneously output different portions of the streaming video.

Description

System and method for commercializing electronic displays

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority to U.S. application No.14/713,809 filed 5/15/2015, which is a continuation-in-part application to U.S. application No.14/591,421 filed 1/7/2015, and U.S. application No.14/591,421 claims priority to U.S. application No.62/078,809 filed 11/12/2014. This application is related to U.S. application No.14/308,989 filed on 19/6/2014, U.S. application No.14/308,989 is a divisional application of U.S. application No.13/194,649 filed on 29/7/2011, U.S. application No.13/194,649 claims priority to U.S. provisional application No.61/371,417 filed on 6/8/2010 and is a continuation of U.S. application No.12/876,919 filed on 7/9/2010, and U.S. application No.12/876,919 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application No.10/772,010 (now U.S. patent No.7,792,711) filed on 3/2/2004. This application also relates to U.S. application No.13/836,680 filed on 3/15/2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application No.13/194,649 filed on 7/29/2011, U.S. application No.13/194,649 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application No.12/876,919 filed on 7/9/2010, and U.S. application No.12/876,919 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application No.10/772,010 (now U.S. patent No.7,792,711) filed on 3/2/2004. U.S. application No.13/836,680 also claims priority to U.S. provisional application No.61/371,417 filed on 6.8.2010 and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application No.13/785,082 filed on 5.3.3.2013. The contents of each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a store intelligence system that may be configured to provide, for example, one or more of: interactive electronic price displays, providing marketing messaging, and providing continuous displays across electronic price displays, packaging, and/or products.

Background

The major cost of retail store operation is related to inventory management, which includes tracking and storage of inventory. A significant portion of this cost is associated with product inventory management in the sales area of the store. A significant portion of the inventory management cost is the periodic counting of products on the store shelves. Such counting is necessary to determine the number of products on the shelf and to help ensure that the shelf is completely stocked.

Historically, inventory counts on store shelves were done manually, with the results recorded on paper. More recently, however, inventory has been counted manually using a small handheld computer that may be configured to communicate the entered data to a central computer that compiles the data and may be programmed to make decisions regarding purchasing products for restocking the shelves. These recent advances help to reduce inventory management costs; however, counting inventory still requires a significant amount of manual labor. Reducing the amount of manual labor required for inventory counting can be beneficial.

Another significant cost associated with inventory management is product theft. Some items are relatively small but of high value to potential thieves who may either resell the items or use them for other illicit purposes, as is the case with certain pharmaceutical products. The losses resulting from such theft negatively impact the profitability of the retail store.

Theft can be the result of customer and employee activity and is difficult to eliminate. Attempts to deter and prevent theft have proven to be only partially effective. For example, in-store cameras often do not see a theft incident clearly enough to catch or prosecute a thief. In addition, in-store security personnel are rarely in the correct location to actually observe an active thief. As a result, theft remains a significant problem and cost in inventory management. Thus, it may be beneficial to provide assistance in monitoring theft.

Currently, retail stores can track the amount of products sold based on a number of items scanned at a check-out counter. While this capability has proven useful, the use of such systems has certain inherent disadvantages. One inherent disadvantage is that the scanner only counts the number of products that are legally purchased. Thus, if a product is removed from the shelf without being purchased, the store cannot determine the fact that the product was misplaced or stolen without visual inspection or detection. It would be useful to compare the change in product level on the shelf with the amount of product sold.

A second inherent disadvantage relates to product promotions in store operations. A typical promotional program would place the product at the end of a channel or some type of promotional location that improves the customer's awareness of the product. Often, products are also placed on shelves in their traditional locations so that customers familiar with store product layouts can find the products without over-searching. Thus, a customer may obtain a product being promoted in multiple places and it may be difficult to determine the effectiveness of a particular promotional display, i.e., the effect of a promotional discount offered on the product versus a normal purchase of the product. Thus, it may be beneficial to more accurately determine the effectiveness of in-store promotions.

Another major cost of inventory management is associated with having to maintain more inventory in the store than is actually needed to meet customer needs. Because current inventory systems do not automatically indicate that a shelf is empty, retail stores tend to rely on the output measured by checkout, or alternatively by visually inspecting the measured output, to determine whether additional products need to be placed on the shelf. To ensure that shelves are kept with product, more product is often placed on the shelf than is normally needed in a given period of time, sometimes in multiple facings (facing) on each shelf. The use of multiple facings tends to take up valuable shelf space that might otherwise be allocated to additional product choices to maximize customer satisfaction. Thus, it may be beneficial to reduce the inventory of a particular product in a retail store.

Methods of reducing the amount of shelf space required are known. For example, U.S. patent No.6,041,720 to Hardy and U.S. patent No.4,830,201 to Breslow, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, teach a system for organizing and displaying items on a shelf using a pusher assembly.

In addition, retail businesses often have to account for rapid changes in customer product interests and implement internal changes to account for rapid changes in customer product interests. As new products become more popular among customers, retailers are responsible for changing the shelf edge labels of products in order to attract customers to other products, sell specific products, or update product information such as pricing as soon as possible.

Electronic shelf edge label devices allow retailers to manually replace one device representing one individual product with another device representing another individual product, or even change devices to provide different information about an individual product, or change from output data about one individual product to data about another individual product. However, further technical improvements and innovations in retail space are desired.

Disclosure of Invention

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Drawings

Several embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1a shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention including a pusher assembly and a sensor assembly.

FIG. 1b shows another isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention including a pusher assembly and a sensor assembly.

FIG. 2a shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a sensor assembly for use with the present invention.

FIG. 2b shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a sensor assembly for use with the present invention.

Figure 2c shows a schematic view of another alternative embodiment of a sensor assembly for use with the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the invention comprising an antenna, an access point and a shop computer.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the invention comprising an access point, a shop computer and a security camera.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating a method of providing data from a tag band to a store computer.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart illustrating a method of determining the amount of product on a shelf via a query from a store computer.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart showing a method of updating an association of a particular product with a particular shelf location.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart showing an alternative method of updating the association of a particular product with a particular shelf location.

Fig. 9 shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 shows a partially exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 shows an isometric view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 shows an isometric view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 shows an isometric view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15A shows an isometric view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15B shows a schematic diagram of the pusher assembly, the light beam, and the fixed mirror according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 15A.

Fig. 16A shows an isometric view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16B shows a schematic diagram of the pusher assembly, the light beam, and the fixed mirror according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 16A.

Fig. 17A shows an isometric view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17B shows a schematic diagram of the pusher assembly, the light beam, and the fixed mirror according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 17A.

18A-18C depict alternative embodiments of a display management system.

19A and 19B schematically depict plan views of alternative embodiments of display management systems.

Fig. 20A schematically depicts a capacitive sensor.

Fig. 20B schematically depicts a control circuit.

Fig. 21A and 21B depict an alternative embodiment of a display management system.

Fig. 22A schematically depicts an integrated accelerometer device.

Figure 22B schematically depicts an integrated accelerometer device in communication with a control circuit.

FIG. 23 depicts an alternative embodiment of a display management system.

Fig. 24 schematically depicts a sensor network configured to implement one or more inventory management, security, and/or identification functions in conjunction with one or more display management systems.

Figure 25 schematically depicts a flow diagram of a process that may be performed by the display management system controller device to determine the amount of product removed from the sensor-equipped display management system.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart of a process for calculating the number of products removed from the display management system.

Fig. 27 illustrates an example block diagram of an apparatus for transmitting and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

28A-28B illustrate example block diagrams of systems for delivering and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the invention.

Fig. 29 illustrates an example block diagram of an apparatus for transmitting and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 30A-30B illustrate an example of changing a continuous display, according to one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 31A-31C illustrate an example sequential display with a locking mechanism according to one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure.

31D-31F illustrate examples of changing a continuous display with a locking mechanism user interface according to one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 32A-32B show an example of changing the size of a user interface according to one or more illustrative aspects of the invention.

33A-33B show an example of changing the shape of a user interface according to one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure.

34A-34B illustrate examples of changing a location of a user interface according to one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 35 illustrates an example method of distributing content according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 36 shows another example method of distributing content according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 37 illustrates an example block diagram of a system for communicating and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 38 depicts an illustrative computer system architecture that may be used in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects described herein.

FIG. 39 depicts an example schematic of a facility intelligence system.

Fig. 40 depicts an example schematic of an example computing device that may be configured as a hub.

41-44d depict example interactive displays.

Detailed Description

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including" and "comprising" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.

The present invention may be used with the rack and pusher assembly systems described in U.S. patent No.6,041,720 to Hardy or U.S. patent No.4,830,201 to Breslow. The present disclosure may also be used with other pusher assemblies and shelf configurations known in the art.

Fig. 1a illustrates an embodiment of the present disclosure. The shelf wall 1 is configured to support a shelf 5. The shelf 5 has a front side 6 and a back side 7, the front side 6 generally facing the path of a customer walking while shopping. Mounted on the shelf is a pusher assembly 15. As depicted, the pusher assembly 15 includes a biasing mechanism, such as a leaf coil spring 20 containing an indicia band 21. The pusher assembly 15 further includes an integral dividing wall 22 and floor portion 23 on one side of the dividing wall 22 and a floor portion 24 on the other side of the dividing wall 22. The leaf coil spring 20 is operatively connected to the pusher 25 and may be used to push the pusher 25 and associated product towards the front side 6 of the shelf 5. The pusher assembly 15 may be modular and may include a divider wall or additional floor sections that fit or fit into place.

As shown in fig. 1a, the sensor assembly 30 may be mounted to the underside of the floor 24 or to the shelf 5 and configured to read the marker band 21, with the pusher 25 traveling over the underside of the floor 24. The sensor assembly 30 may be located anywhere along the floor 24 and is preferably proximate to the coil spring 20. The marker band 21 is configured to provide a pattern including a representation associated with the position of the pusher 25. Thus, when the pusher 25 is moved as far as possible toward the rear side 7 (i.e., full of the product finish), the sensor assembly 30 may scan the indication on the indicia band 21 that the pusher 25 is in that position.

The marker strip 21 is depicted in fig. 1a as a strip mounted on the leaf-like helical spring 20. The marker band 21 may be printed on paper that may be attached to the coil spring 20, and may be white paper black, black paper white, or some other color in a known manner. Alternatively, the marker band 21 may be printed or acid or laser etched in a known manner, depending on the sensor assembly 30 used to read the marker band 21. Also, the marker band 21 may be separated from the coil spring 20. In this embodiment, the marker band 21 may be mounted beside or near the coil spring 20.

The representations contained in the pattern on the marker band 21 may be optically readable or may be read based on other methods including, but not limited to, passive variable capacitance, inductance, resistance, or magnetic, or active signal detection.

FIG. 1b depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein a sensor assembly 30 is mounted on the front side of the pusher 25, the sensor assembly 30 being configured to read the marker band 21. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor assembly 30 may be mounted behind the pusher 25. The sensor assembly 30 may be installed at various places depending on the position of the coil spring 20. Preferably, the sensor assembly 30 will be mounted in such a way as to avoid direct contact with the product on the shelf, thereby minimizing damage to the sensor assembly 30.

In another alternative embodiment, the sensor assembly 30 may be mounted in or on the pusher 25 and configured to read the marker band 21. In this embodiment, the marker band 21 is not mounted to the coil spring or a part of the coil spring; instead, the marker band 21 may be positioned along the top of the floor 24 or along the underside of the floor 24 and read by the sensor assembly 30. In one aspect of this embodiment, the marker bands 21 are of a type that may have variable magnetic or capacitive properties. The sensor assembly 30 may include an analog oscillator whose frequency is determined by the magnetic or capacitance of the marker band 21 at a particular location of the pusher 25. The oscillator may directly modulate the radio frequency signal and transmit the signal to a central access point, as described below. The central access point may then demodulate the signal and use the signal to determine the location of pusher 25.

For the black/white printed marker strip 21, an array of optical infrared or visible LED retro-reflective sensors may be used. In one embodiment, the marker band 21 pattern containing the various representations may be 6 bits wide. In alternative embodiments, the pattern on the marker band may be greater than 6 bits wide, depending on the width of the shelf and the desired precision.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the marker band 21 may be less than 6 bits wide. Reducing the number of bits on the marker band 21 reduces the accuracy related to the position of the pusher 25, but has the advantage of possibly avoiding the need to determine the size of the product. Embodiments with a reduced number of bits are discussed below. The marker band will preferably include at least two representations such that the two representations can be used to reflect at least two positions of the pusher.

Depending on the marker band 21 and the sensor assembly 30, the number of measurable positions of the pusher 25 may vary. For example, a configuration of a 6-bit wide pattern on the marker band 21 with a sensor assembly 30 that can scan 6 bits can scan at least 64 representations associated with 64 positions of the pusher 25. The representation in the pattern on the marker band 21 may be a variety of symbols, but Gray Code provides that only one bit will change in each increment of movement, thereby reducing potential errors. The sensor assembly 30 and the marker band 21 may be configured depending on the travel distance of the pusher 25 and the desired size of the product.

In one embodiment, the coil spring 20 has a width of about 1 inch, and the indicia band 21 covers about 80% of the width of the coil spring 20. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other widths for the coil spring 20 and other dimensions for the indicia band 21 are possible with the present invention.

In one embodiment, the number of products on the shelf may be measured by the number of measurable positions of pusher 25. In such embodiments, the position of pusher 25 may be used to determine the amount of product on the shelf without the need to manually count the product. In alternative embodiments, the number of measurable locations may exceed the number of products that may be placed in the veneer. In this alternative embodiment, to facilitate the calculation of the amount of product on the shelves, the number of measurable locations is preferably an integer multiple of the number of products. Thus, increasing the number of measurable locations may improve the ability of the system to accurately calculate the amount of product in the veneer. This may become even more important when the product packages are very thin, so that the incremental movement of pusher 25 from one code to the next becomes a large percentage of the thickness of each product package that it pushes.

Thus, the configuration of the sensor assembly 30 and the marker band 21 may require an increased number of measurable positions due to the different sizes of different products. For example, a 256 position configuration of the measurement pusher 25 may be desired. This configuration can be used to determine the actual number of products on the shelf for various product sizes.

In alternative embodiments, the sensor assembly 30 and the marker band 21 may be configured to provide a reduced number of measurable positions. In one embodiment, four positions of pusher 25 are measurable. Under such a configuration, the shelf would provide information about how full the shelf is, but not the actual number of items on the shelf (assuming that 4 products would not be filled with a finish). Such an arrangement may be useful in providing automatic notification that the shelf will be empty of product and needs restocking, without the need to size the product.

Fig. 2a depicts a schematic view of an embodiment of a sensor assembly 30. A printed circuit board ("PCB") 35 is configured to support the sensor 50, the sensor 50 being compatible with a selected type of marker band 21. Controller 55 is mounted to PCB 35 and is configured to control sensor 50 and transmit a signal via antenna 65 regarding the position of pusher 25. Controller 55 may be configured to actuate sensor 50 based on input from timing device 70. The timing device 70 may include, but is not limited to, a low power interval timer or a real time clock and is configured to provide information related to the passage of time.

For black/white printed marker strip 21, sensor 50 may include, but is not limited to, an optical infrared or visible light LED retroreflective sensor. Preferably, for a 6-bit wide pattern, a linear array of 6 emitters/sensors would be used, with one emitter/sensor aligned with each bit position printed on the marker band 21. In one embodiment, the sensor 50 is positioned about 0.1 inches from the surface of the print ribbon mounted on the marker band 21. As each emitter/sensor pair illuminates its bit position, a binary code may be compiled by the controller 55 that corresponds to a representation on the marker band 21 that is associated with the position of the pusher 25.

Regardless of how the position of pusher 25 is determined, controller 55 generates a pusher code that represents the position of pusher 25. The pusher code may be in digital or analog form and reflects the position of pusher 25. Additionally, the pusher code may be processed data or unprocessed data. Thus, the pusher code may be, but is not limited to, a representation of the scan or a representation of the controller processing. Alternatively, the pusher code may be some other data reflecting the relative position of pusher 25.

The controller 55 is powered by a power supply 75. The power source 75 may be, but is not limited to, a long-life battery, a wired power source, or a solar panel. It will be appreciated that the type of power source will have an effect on the functionality of the sensor assembly 30. If the power source 75 is a long-life battery, a system configuration designed to utilize less energy would be preferable to avoid the need for frequent battery replacement. If the power supply 75 is a wired power supply, the sensor 50 may be used more frequently without requiring supplemental power, and the sensor assembly 30 may even be configured to provide real-time information.

The controller 55 may be manufactured with a unique serial number. In this embodiment, each pusher 25 would be associated with a unique serial number or identity code. Alternatively, each marker band 21 may include a unique identity code and a representation associated with the position of pusher 25. Encoding the marker bands 21 with a unique identity code may reduce the complexity of the controller 55, but generally results in increased complexity of the sensor 50. Regardless, as information is communicated from sensor assembly 30, the information may include an identity code and a pusher code indicating the position of pusher 25. In addition, information such as the transmission time and the circuit state or the power state may also be transmitted.

Fig. 2b shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the sensor assembly 130. The PCB 135 has power management circuitry 148 configured to minimize power usage. The power management circuit 148 provides power to the sensor 150, the controller 155, and the associated memory 156. The memory 156 may be a volatile type memory such as dynamic random access memory, but preferably the memory is a non-volatile type memory such as flash memory to minimize power consumption. As depicted, the power management circuit 148 also provides power to the communication controller 157. The power management circuit 148 may also provide power to the timing device 170. As depicted, the power management circuit 148 is powered by a power supply 175.

In this embodiment, the input signal is provided to the controller 155. The input signal may be a signal generated by the timing device 170, or may come from some other source. In response, the controller 155 activates the sensor 150 by sending a signal to the power management circuit 148. Controller 155 receives data from sensor 150 that forms a pusher code that represents the position of pusher 25. The controller 155 compares the data scanned by the sensor 150 with previous data scanned by the sensor 150 as data residing in the memory 156. Depending on the configuration of the system, if the data scanned by the sensor 150 is the same as the previously scanned data, the controller 155 may be configured to wait until the end of the next interval of the timer. If the data scanned by sensor 150 is different, controller 155 may then activate communication controller 157 and provide the pusher code to communication controller 157 for transmission. Communication controller 157 may then transmit the pusher code for further processing. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "communicate," "transfer," and "transmission" include the transmission of information by wire or via a wireless system, and may be direct or indirect (i.e., over a network). However, if the power supply 175 is not a wired power supply, it is preferable to use a communication method that consumes relatively less power.

Fig. 2c shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the sensor assembly 230. The PCB 235 is configured to support a sensor 250 and a controller 255. The controller 255 is powered by the power supply 275 and is configured to control the sensor 250 and has integrated functionality including, but not limited to, timing, power management, and communication control. In an alternative embodiment, the controller 255 transmits the data scanned by the sensor 250 without any processing of the data. Thus, in this embodiment, the pusher code is the data scanned by the sensor 250. In another alternative embodiment, the sensor and controller may be integrated together.

Fig. 3 shows a possible configuration for providing data regarding the position of pusher 25 to a processing device, such as a store computer 90. As depicted, the access point 80 is configured to communicate information to the central access point 85. The central access point 85 connects to the store computer 90 and provides data received from the access point 80 to the store computer 90. Data transmitted from access point 80 is received from antenna 165, antenna 265, and antenna 365. Antenna 165 is typically associated with a particular pusher 25 and sensor assembly 30 through the use of a unique serial number that may be associated with the controller. Antenna 265 and antenna 365 are also associated with different pushers 25 and sensor assemblies 30, each pusher 25 and sensor assembly 30 having a unique serial number. Alternatively, one or more antennas may be associated with more than one pusher 25.

Generally, the power required to transmit a wireless signal increases with the transmission distance. Thus, especially for battery-powered controllers, the preferred wireless communication configuration will transmit low-power signals over short distances. As shown in fig. 3,

various antennas

165, 265, and 365 transmit wireless signals to access point 80 located nearby, so low power transmission is appropriate. The access point 80 then retransmits the signal to the central access point 85 using higher power during the secondary transmission. In this manner, power supply 75, which may be comprised of a long-life battery, may be more readily utilized by power supplies for the various controllers connected to

antennas

165, 265, and 365. Although the method of communication between the access points 80 and the central access point 85 is depicted as wireless, the access points 80 and the central access point 85 may also communicate over wires.

In an alternative embodiment, controller 55 corresponding to each pusher 25 may be hardwired to access point 80 such that controller 55 transmits data to access point 80 via one or more wires. The access point 80 may then transmit the data to the store computer 90. In another alternative embodiment, the data is transmitted directly from the sensor assembly 30 to the store computer 90. In this embodiment, the transmission may be wireless, such as infrared, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic wave transmission, or may be hardwired. Depending on the method of delivery, it may be desirable to transmit data from the sensor assembly 30 to the store computer 90 via a network protocol that can compensate for or minimize communication errors.

The use of a wired connection may provide a useful source of power and may reduce the likelihood of communication collisions, particularly if the signal is directed to the store computer 90. Further, by providing additional power, the controller 55 may be configured to provide real-time updates regarding the product levels on the shelves or in the store so that more accurate decisions can be made regarding the need to order additional products. This configuration also allows for identification and sending of alerts regarding potential theft based on real-time movement of pusher 25. Real-time product information may make it feasible to provide a more responsive inventory system, thereby reducing inventory in the store and thereby reducing inventory costs.

On the other hand, wireless systems provide increased flexibility in installation and can be easily installed on existing shelves without the need to install wires for power or communication. Furthermore, the use of a wireless system allows for the gradual installation of inventory systems. For example, high value items (and thus subject to increased likelihood of theft) or items that are prone to have significantly varying customer needs may be monitored first.

In an embodiment, sensor assemblies 30 may be networked together via a series of wireless access points 80, with each access point 80 accepting transmissions from any sensor assembly 30 in the vicinity of the access point 80. Thus, in one embodiment, there are multiple wireless access points 80 and the access points 80 are connected via a network, where the network transmits data to the store computer 90. In an alternative embodiment, each wireless access point 80 transmits data directly to the store computer 90.

Naturally, some combination of network and direct transfer is possible and considered within the scope of the invention. For example, the battery powered sensor assembly 30 may communicate with the access point 80 via low power wireless transmission, with the access point 80 being powered by a wired power source. The access point will transmit a wireless signal to a central access point 85 powered by a wired power supply. The central access point 85 may be connected to the store computer 90 by a wire.

Referring back to fig. 2a, if timing device 70 includes a low power timer, controller 55 may sleep until the signal from timing device 70 indicates that it is time to send an update regarding the position of pusher 25. An example of a low power timer includes a low power, low cost interval timer. The low power, low cost interval timer may not be very accurate and therefore multiple pusher devices in a store will likely randomize their delivery times to reduce delivery collisions. The period of data transfer is typically on the order of a few milliseconds, so it is unlikely that signals from different controllers will be sent simultaneously. This possibility is further reduced if the controllers are not simultaneously activated. The likelihood of communication collisions is further reduced if the transfer occurs only a few times per day (i.e., to provide periodic updates of the amount of product on the shelf). In addition, the reduced transmission frequency and the short transmission period contribute to a reduction in the amount of power consumption.

In an alternative embodiment, the sensor 50 continuously monitors the marker band 21. When product is removed from the shelf, the pusher 25 will move and the sensor 50 can scan for a new representation on the marker band 21 corresponding to the new position of the pusher 25. Controller 55 may then send a transmission to store computer 90 that includes the new location of pusher 25 (i.e., controller 55 may send a new pusher code). In this alternative embodiment, the store computer 90 may monitor the amount of product on the shelves in real time.

As shown in fig. 3, the signal transmission from the antenna 165 to the store computer 90 is, for example, one-way transmission. In an alternative embodiment, the system may be configured to handle the bi-directional transmission of signals between the sensor assembly 30 and the store computer 90. In a two-way wireless system, additional hardware, such as a receiver, is included in the sensor assembly 30. Bidirectional systems allow information to be transmitted in both directions.

For example, store computer 90 may query for a particular controller 55 regarding the location of an associated pusher 25. Controller 55 may activate sensor 50 in response to the query and determine a pusher code reflecting the position of pusher 25. The controller 55 may then transmit the pusher code to the store computer 90 along with the identity code of the controller 55. Based on the pusher code, the store computer 90 may determine an inventory level of the product. To avoid activating the wrong controller 55, the store computer 90 may include an identification code in the transmission. The store computer 90 may store, access, and perform functions using the identification codes of all or a subset of the controllers or pusher systems in the store.

In one embodiment, all controllers 55 associated with products purchased from the same supplier may be queried before placing an order to the corresponding supplier. The order for the supplier may then be updated with the latest product inventory information. In this way, orders placed to suppliers may be more accurate without the need for laborious product counting on the shelves.

Some suppliers, rather than store personnel, are responsible for stocking shelves in retail stores. Where the supplier is responsible for stocking the shelves, embodiments of the invention may provide updates to the supplier in response to queries from the supplier's computer. In one embodiment, the supplier can track the amount of product available on the shelf as needed from time to time, even in real time.

For example, the vendor may send a query to the controller 55 via a wide area network ("WAN"). Controller 55 may determine the location of pusher 25 and transmit a signal back to the vendor via the WAN. In an alternative embodiment, the supplier may communicate with the store computer 90 to obtain information regarding the inventory level of the products on the shelves.

In one embodiment, the supplier may control the manufacturing process of the product in response to the inventory level on the shelf. It will be appreciated that if multiple stores are networked with a supplier's computer, the supplier will have an increasingly efficient inventory system so that the aggregate amount of product on all store shelves can be determined. If the supplier is connected to only a single store, this information, while not sufficient to indicate total inventory, may provide valuable details about the customer's behavioral patterns.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention that includes the use of a security camera 195. As depicted, access point 180 receives a signal from controller 155 indicating that pusher 25 (not shown) has moved. The access point 180 transmits the signal to a central access point 185 connected to a store computer 190. The store computer 190 determines that the rate of change of the product level of the product associated with the controller 155 is indicative of a potential theft. The store computer 190 then transmits the signal, either wired or wirelessly, to an antenna 196 mounted to the security camera 195. Which instructs security camera 195 to monitor a position associated with the position of controller 155. It will be appreciated that security personnel may sometimes provide a more detailed response, and thus it may be advantageous to notify security personnel. Thus, the store computer 190 may also monitor the area by displaying a warning on the store computer screen, or by sending a signal to the security computer, or by activating an audible sound or flashing light in the vicinity of the potential theft, or by notifying security personnel through other known notification methods, such as a signal to a pager or buzzer carried by the security personnel.

Information from the security camera may be transmitted to a television or other visual display device located near the location where the potential theft occurred. The visual display means may display an image of a potential thief so that the potential thief can be made aware of the fact that the thief is being viewed.

It will be appreciated that controller 155 preferably monitors the position of pusher 25 frequently or even in real time to provide a more timely response. If a power supply 75 comprised of a long-life battery is utilized, it may be beneficial to utilize a controller that can determine a potential theft without the need to transmit data to the store computer 190. In such embodiments, the controller may be configured to communicate data to provide inventory level updates and also to provide security notifications.

It will be appreciated that the location of the potential theft relative to the security camera 195 will facilitate providing instructions to the security camera 195 to focus on a particular location. This location information may be generated by a variety of methods, including providing the store computer 190 with the security camera coordinate system of the security camera 195. The position of controller 155 relative to security camera 195 may be determined during setup and during a potential theft event; the position of controller 155 may be used to direct the focus of security camera 195. Alternatively, the security camera 195 may be configured to focus on several locations, such as three points along the aisle, and the store computer 190 may indicate which location is most appropriate for a particular situation. The described method is illustrative as there are a variety of ways to control the security camera 195.

In embodiments with two-way communication between the store computer 190 and the controller 155, the store computer 190 can signal the controller 155 to activate a device capable of providing an audible warning sound.

In another embodiment, the controller 155 may determine that a potential theft has occurred and may provide a notification, including sounding of an audible warning sound. In addition, the controller 155 may transmit a signal to the store computer 190. In this alternative embodiment, sensor assembly 30 will preferably include a timing device 70 to allow controller 155 to more easily determine whether the rate of movement of pusher 25 exceeds a preset level.

In another embodiment, a two-layer response may be implemented. If the change in position of pusher 25 is greater than normal, a signal may be transmitted to security camera 195. In addition, the security personnel may be provided with inaudible notifications directly. An audible alarm and flashing light may also be activated if a change in the position of the pusher 25 more clearly indicates a potential theft. Thus, the response can be configured to more carefully match the situation.

Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a method for determining the amount of a particular product available in a finish on a shelf. In this embodiment, the sensor assembly 30 uses a timing device 70 consisting of a low power interval timer. The controller 55 is initially in a sleep state and only the timing device 70 is running. In step 400, the timing device 70 provides a time interval complete signal to the controller 55. In step 405, the controller 55 becomes activated in response to a signal from the timing device 70, and the controller 55 then activates the sensor 50.

In step 410, the sensor 50 scans the representation contained in the pattern on the marker band 21 so that the controller 55 can generate a pusher code representing the position of the pusher 25. In step 415, controller 55 generates a pusher code in response to the pattern scanned by sensor 50. In step 420, the controller 55 transmits a signal to the store computer 90 that may include the unique serial number and pusher code of the controller 55.

Next, in step 430, the store computer 90 receives data from the controller 55. In one embodiment, the data transfer from the controller 55 to the store computer 90 is direct. In another embodiment, the controller 55 transmits data to the store computer 90 indirectly through an access point or network.

Store computer 90 then calculates the amount of product on the shelves based on the position of pusher 25 in step 440. The store computer 90 also updates the inventory at this time. In embodiments where multiple facings have the same product, the total amount of product on all facings having that product may be calculated. In one embodiment, the calculation of the products in the finish may be accomplished by using a database of products and the relative sizes of the products and the location of the pushers. In another embodiment, the number of products placed in the veneer may be provided during setup of the controller 55 for that product. The position of pusher 25 and the number of products corresponding to that position of pusher 25 may be used to calculate the number of remaining products based on the later position of pusher 25 by using well-known extrapolation techniques.

In another embodiment, the position of pusher 25 may be one of four positions representing X >3/4, 3/4 ≧ X >1/2, 1/2 ≧ X >1/4, and X ≦ 1/4. The latter embodiment provides less accurate information but also requires less computational effort to provide an approximate inventory level. Additionally, this embodiment may be used to manage inventory without the need to determine and track product sizes. In one embodiment, the amount of product on the shelf may be roughly determined based on the number of finishes containing the product and whether for each finish pusher 25 is in a position representing a full, nearly full, low, or nearly empty finish.

In step 450, the store computer 90 determines whether any action is required. In one embodiment, potential theft, a reduction in inventory below a predetermined level, or an empty product facing while sufficient product remains on the shelf in other facings would indicate that some action needs to be taken. For example, the store computer 90 may determine that the current inventory level is low based on historical usage and average delivery times and cost per delivery. In an alternative embodiment, a minimum inventory level may be preset, and once the inventory level falls below the preset level, the store computer 90 may determine that the product level is low.

In step 460, the store computer 90 will determine whether a potential theft has occurred. In one embodiment, store computer 90 may compare the current inventory level to a previous inventory level based on the location of pusher 25. If the rate of change of the inventory level exceeds a preset level, the store computer 90 will determine that a potential theft is occurring. In step 465, the store computer 90 will notify the security. The notification may include a signal to call security or to security camera 195 to focus in a particular direction.

Next, in step 470, the store computer 90 will determine if the existing order needs to be modified. The store computer 90 may compare the current product demand with the current order. If the store computer 90 determines that the amount of product ordered is insufficient, the store computer 90 will proceed to step 475. In step 475, the store computer 90 will update the current stock order so that the stock order matches the current product demand.

Next, in step 480, the store computer 90 will determine whether the finish on the shelf is empty. If there are empty facings, the store computer 90 will then notify the store administrator of the existence of an undesirable empty facing in step 485. Store management may then decide the appropriate action to take depending on the product type and availability of the replacement goods. If the finish is not empty, the store computer 90 will wait until the next product update.

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of a method for determining the amount of inventory on racks in a bi-directional system. In step 510, the store computer 90 sends a query to the sensor assembly 30. The sensor assembly 30 contains a controller 55 identified by a unique serial number or identification code.

In step 520, the sensor assembly 30 receives a query from the store computer 90. In response to the query, controller 55 activates sensor 50 and prepares to receive data reflecting the position of pusher 25. In step 530, the sensor 50 scans the marker band 21 and the controller 55 generates a pusher code indicating the position of the pusher 25.

In step 540, sensor assembly 30 transmits a pusher code representing the position of pusher 25 to store computer 90 along with the unique serial number of controller 55.

Next, the store computer 90 receives the transmission in step 550. The transmission may be sent directly from the sensor assembly 30 to the store computer 90, or preferably, it may be sent indirectly through a network. The transmission may be sent wirelessly, over a wire, or some combination of wireless and wired transmission.

The store computer 90 then determines the inventory level on the shelves at step 560. In one embodiment, this determination may be based on the product size and the position of pusher 25. In an alternative embodiment, the determination may be based solely on the position of pusher 25.

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of a method for setting a controller for a particular product. In step 610, the product may be placed on shelves in the appropriate veneer. Optionally, step 610 may be skipped and the setup may begin at step 620.

In step 620, a setup button on the handheld device is pressed. The handheld device is configured to transmit a signal to the store computer 90 indicating that the user of the handheld device is to associate the product with the serial number or identification code of the controller 55. Preferably, the signaling between the handheld device and the store computer 90 is done wirelessly. In one embodiment, the store computer 90 provides feedback to the user indicating that the store computer 90 is ready to proceed. In an alternative embodiment, no feedback is provided.

Next, in step 630, the UPC code of the product is scanned and transmitted to the store computer 90. Then, in step 640, the store computer 90 looks up the product size based on the UPC code. If the UPC code does not have the listed dimensions, the store computer 90 checks if the user can enter the desired dimensions in step 642. If the user is unable, the setup is over and the user may attempt to set up a new product. If the user can determine the size, the user enters the size at step 644.

Next, in step 646, a size is associated with the UPC code. Then, in step 650, the store computer 90 sends a signal to the handheld device to indicate that the user should proceed with the setup.

Next, in step 660, the user activates the controller 55 with the hand-held device. In one embodiment, an optical setup sensor is mounted on the pusher assembly and connected to the controller 55. Preferably, the sensor is provided recessed into the pusher 25, but may be mounted in other locations, such as on the top or sides of the pusher 25. The handheld device will be configured to transmit a signal to the setting sensor. The act of transmitting a setting signal to the setting sensor will cause the controller 55 to wake up from the sleep state.

Then, in step 670, in response to the setting signal, the controller 55 will send data to the store computer 90 indicating that the controller 55 is being set. The data will include a unique serial number for the controller 55. The data may also include a generic setup code or setup code corresponding to the handheld scanner and may include a pusher code indicating the position of pusher 25. In the case of simultaneous use of multiple handheld devices, it may be beneficial to provide a setup code associated with a particular handheld device.

Next, in step 680, the store computer 90 will receive data from the controller 55. If the data includes a pusher code, the store computer 90 can then calculate the amount of product in the veneer. In step 685, the store computer 90 sends a signal to the handheld device indicating that the controller 55 has been set and associated with the UPC code for the particular product. Additionally, if the location of pusher 25 is initially included, store computer 90 may also provide a calculation of the current number of products in the veneer just set. In addition, the shop computer 90 requests the user to verify that the setting information is correct.

Finally, in step 690, the user indicates that the information is correct. In the case of the verification, the setting of the controller 55 is completed. This process may be repeated in order to change the product associated with the controller 55.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative method of associating a controller with a product. In step 710, the handset is activated to indicate to the user that the controller 55 is about to be set. Activation includes transmitting a signal to the store computer 90.

In step 720, the handheld device is used to scan the UPC code of the product and transmit this information to the store computer 90. Next, in step 730, the store computer 90 checks to see if the product size of the scanned UPC code is listed. In the event that no size is associated with the UPC code, the computer sends a signal to the handheld device requesting the user to enter the appropriate product size in step 732.

If the user does not know the product size or cannot measure the size, the user can cancel the setup and restart the setup for the new product in step 734.

If the user does know the dimensions or is able to measure the dimensions, the user then enters the dimensions and transmits the information to the store computer 90 in step 736. After the product size is determined, the store computer 90 sends a signal to the handheld device indicating that the user should proceed in step 740.

Next, in step 750, the user scans the serial number of the controller 55. Preferably, the serial number of the controller 55 is printed in a black/white code on a sticker mounted to the sensor assembly 30. After scanning the serial number, the handheld device transmits the serial number to the store computer 90.

Then, in step 760, the store computer 90 associates the UPC code of the product with the serial number of the controller 55. The store computer 90 then signals the handheld device that the setup of the device is complete. To avoid potential communication problems during setup, all communications between the handheld device and the store computer 90 may include a code representing the handheld device.

In an alternative embodiment, the method of associating the product with the controller 55 may be accomplished without sending a signal to the store computer 90. In this embodiment, once the user associates various controllers with various products, data will be uploaded from the handheld device.

As can be appreciated, many methods of associating the product with the controller 55 are possible, and thus the above methods are illustrative.

A system having an indicia band and a sensor for determining the position of the pusher has been described. There are many additional methods for measuring the distance between the front or rear of the shelf and the pusher or the last product in the product finish. Based on this distance, and knowing the dimensions of the products in the veneer, a simple calculation can be performed to determine the number of products in the veneer. This calculation may be performed by a microprocessor, store computer, controller or other processing device that has received information about the distance between the front of the shelf and the last product in the veneer. Further, the pusher assembly has been described as including a spring. However, some other biasing methods, such as gravity or magnetic forces, also cause the pusher and product to move forward.

In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in fig. 9, the use of transmitted light or other signals (such as radio frequency signals) passing between a position near the back of the product finish and a rest position can be used to measure the distance between the front of the shelf and the pusher. In one embodiment, the

transmitter

700 or 702 is incorporated into the pusher 725. The transmitter periodically or continuously generates a light or other signal that may be transmitted upon command. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), radio frequency or ultrasonic generators, or other signal generating devices may be used to generate the light or signal.

The corresponding receiver is incorporated into a stationary position relative to the pusher 725. The receiver 712 may be incorporated into the front rail or another location at or near the front of the shelf, the receiver 730 may be incorporated into the rear rail or other location at or near the rear of the shelf, which may also be incorporated into the floor of the shelf, the track of the pusher, the top of the shelf, or the dividing wall. The receiver detects the signal transmitted from the transmitter. For example, an LED may radiate light having a particular intensity. A phototransistor serving as a receiver detects the light signal emitted from the LED. The sensitivity of the phototransistor and the intensity of the LED can be adjusted by the microprocessor to adjust the overall sensitivity of the optical component. In one embodiment, the adjustment may be done remotely. Thus, the transmitter may communicate with the receiver wirelessly through RF, IR, or other known means (such as magnetic fields, electric fields, acoustic waves, etc.).

The transmitter and receiver may be in communication with a controller that tracks the time of transmission and reception. This data may be provided to a processing device such as a microprocessor or store computer, so in this embodiment the pusher code will include the time interval between transmission and reception. The information about the time at which the signal was transmitted and the time at which the signal was received may be used by the processing means to determine the time between transmission and reception of the signal. Based on this length of time, the processing device may calculate the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. Knowing the dimensions of the shelf, the pusher system, and its components, this distance can then be converted to the distance between the front side 6 of the shelf and the face of the pusher 25 that is offset against the back of the product veneer. Such conversions are well known and within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skill. If the relative dimensions of the product in the veneer are known, the processing device may then calculate the number of products in the veneer based on the known dimensions of the product.

In an alternative embodiment, the transmitter and receiver switch positions. The transmitter may be placed at the front, or at the rear, or near the front, or near the rear, or other relatively stationary location of the shelf, and the receiver may be placed on or near the pusher. In an alternative embodiment, the transmitter and receiver may be incorporated into the same device that merely reflects the signal from the rest position. For example, a reflector may be placed on the pusher, and a transmitter/receiver using a laser or other light source may determine the distance between the reflector and the transmitter/receiver based on the travel time. Examples of possible transmitters/receivers include, but are not limited to, optical displacement measurement sensors and reflected laser sensors. It will be appreciated that if a transmitter and receiver are used to determine the distance, it is preferable that the position of the stationary part is located near the front or rear side of the shelf in order to make the distance calculation simpler and avoid the problem of symmetrical distances on both sides of the stationary unit mounted to the shelf. For example, mounting the transmitter midway between the front and rear of the rack would make determining the position of the pusher more complicated, as there would be two possible positions for a given distance.

In the embodiment depicted in fig. 9, the emitters (700, 702) are incorporated into the pusher 725. The emitters are light emitting diodes and are located anywhere on the pusher 725 that allows the emitters to function. The emitter may be located at 700 at the top of the pusher 725 or at 702 at the base of the pusher 725 or at other locations on the pusher 725.

The receiver is located at a fixed position relative to the movement of the pusher 725. The receiver may be a phototransistor and may be located on the front of the shelf 705 (such as receiver 710) or on a front rail 708 connected to the front of the shelf (such as receiver 712). The receiver may further be located at any number of locations on the floor of the rack as shown at 714, at 716 on the floor of the pusher track, or at a location above the rack 705, such as on another rack (not shown) mounted above the rack 705. The receiver may be located on the dividing

wall

720 or 722 or elsewhere on the dividing wall. The receiver may also be located at 730 or 732 near the rear side 707. Preferably, the receiver will be mounted near the front side 706 or the back side 707 to make the distance calculation simpler.

The receiver and transmitter may also be switched in position. The pusher may incorporate a receiver and the emitter may be incorporated at any of

locations

710 and 732 and at any other location that is fixed relative to the movement of the pusher. Preferably, however, the location of the emitter will be near the front side 706 or the back side 707 in order to make the distance calculation simpler.

In one embodiment, the transmitter is located at 700 and the receiver is located at 710. The transmitter 700 mounted on the pusher 725 moves with the pusher 725 as the pusher moves back or forth on the shelf. When the pusher 725 is located near the back of the shelf, the signal will require a certain amount of time to propagate from the transmitter 700 to the receiver 710. When the pusher 725 is located closer to the front of the shelf, it will take less time for the signal to travel from the transmitter 700 to the receiver 710. Data regarding the transmission and reception of the signal (i.e., the pusher code) is sent to a microprocessor or other processing device. The processing device determines the amount of time it takes for the signal to travel from the transmitter to the receiver. Knowing the signal propagation speed, the processing means determines the distance between the transmitter and the receiver.

By understanding the position of the transmitter relative to the product and the position of the receiver relative to the front or back of the shelf, the processing device will be able to determine the distance between the pusher and the front of the shelf. Using the size of the product, the processing device can then determine the number of products in the veneer. The light emitting diodes or other emitters may be arranged to function periodically, continuously or upon command from a remote location.

Alternatively, the processing means may control both the LED and the phototransistor. The processing device may record the time T1 at which the microprocessor issues a command to generate a pulse from the LED and the time T2 at which the phototransistor detects a light signal. Both of these times T1 and T2 may be stored in memory and used to determine the number of products in the veneer using the relationship described above.

In an alternative sensing environment, capacitive proximity sensors may be used to measure the distance between the front of the shelf and the pusher or the last product in the product finish. The capacitive proximity sensor detects a pusher that is a target of the capacitive proximity sensor. Capacitive proximity sensors generate an electrostatic field directed at a target. The capacitive proximity sensor reacts to changes in capacitance caused by movement of the pusher relative to the sensor as the distance of the pusher relative to the position of the capacitive proximity sensor changes.

Additional sensing of the environment may also include the use of magnetic or inductive proximity sensors. In both sensing environments, a proximity sensor may be used to measure the distance between the front of the shelf and the pusher or the last product in the product facing.

Inductive proximity sensors are useful in detecting metal targets because they use an inductive field to sense the target object. In embodiments having an inductive proximity sensor, the proximity of the pusher relative to the inductive proximity sensor may be detected when the distance of the pusher relative to the position of the inductive proximity sensor changes. Similarly, magnetic proximity sensors based on the Hall effect principle can also be utilized to sense the position of the pusher.

In an embodiment, a proximity sensor may be mounted near the rear side 707, the proximity sensor configured to sense a distance of the pusher 25. A processing device, such as a store computer or microprocessor, can determine the distance between the pusher 725 and the front side 706 and use that distance to determine how much product is left on the shelf.

In an alternative embodiment, a radio frequency identification transponder ("RFIT") having a unique identity code is mounted to the pusher 725. A sensor assembly including a transmitter/receiver may be mounted on the rear side 707 of the shelf 705. The transmitter/receiver, when activated, transmits an activation signal that activates RFIT. Upon activation, the RFIT transmits a response signal that includes a unique identification code. The transmitter/receiver receives a response signal from the RFIT. The sensor assembly is equipped with a timing device and measures the time between the initial transmission of a signal from the transmitter/receiver until the receipt of a response signal from the RFIT. In one embodiment, the controller may initiate transmission of the signal and record receipt of the response signal in the memory. The controller is also equipped with a timing device to measure the delay. The time delay may be used to calculate the distance between the transmitter/receiver and the RFIT. In one embodiment, the controller may calculate the distance and provide a pusher code that includes the distance. Alternatively, the pusher code will include data regarding the delay, and the pusher code will be forwarded to the processing device for distance calculation. As described above, the distance between pusher 25 and the transmitter/receiver may be used to calculate the amount of product remaining in the shelf.

The advantage of using RFIT in conjunction with a transmitter/receiver is that it can be easily retrofitted to existing systems. This embodiment eliminates the need to provide powered devices on the pusher 725 because RFITs do not require internal power. However, the transmitter/receiver is powered. Preferably, the transmitter/receiver transmits a focused or low power signal such that only RFIT associated with the transmitter/receiver is activated. Alternatively, the transmitter/receiver ignores response signals from the RFIT that do not include the appropriate unique identification code.

In another alternative embodiment, a low power, single chip radar sensor may be used to determine the distance between the radar sensor and the pusher 725. Preferably, a radar sensor may be mounted near the rear side 707 in order to make the distance determination simpler.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a device for measuring the tension of a spring used to push the product may be used. The tension on the spring will depend at least in part on the amount of product in front of the pusher. As more product is placed in front of the pusher, the spring compresses or expands further. In the case of a coil spring, as more product is placed in front of the pusher, the two ends of the spring move further apart and the spring uncoils further. As the spring unwinds, the amount of tension or pressure within the remaining coil of spring increases. By measuring the tension of the spring, the length of the deployed spring can be determined.

The spring tension measuring device may contain a processing device or may communicate information it measures to a microprocessor or other processing device. With the previous understanding of how the tension on the spring is related to the length of the spring, the processing device can determine the amount or length of the deployed spring. For example, if the coil spring has a fixed spring constant "k", the length of the uncoiled spring can be calculated using the formula F ═ -kX. This information can be used to determine the distance between the front of the rack and the pusher. By knowing the dimensions of the product, the computing device can then determine the number of products in the veneer.

The spring tension measurement device may include a force measurement unit including, but not limited to, a strain gauge, a tensiometer, a torque transducer, or some other force measurement device to determine the tension exerted on the coil spring. The force measuring unit is preferably connected to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to convert data from the force measuring unit into force values. The controller may then communicate the force value to the processing device. In this embodiment, the pusher code will include a force value. Many other methods of measuring spring tension will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of the present invention.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the number of products remaining in a particular veneer is determined in part by using one or more transmitters and one or more receivers placed on opposite lateral sides of the products. In one embodiment, the transmitter or receiver may be placed on a dividing wall that separates the product facings. In one embodiment, a series of emitters are incorporated into or onto the base of the dividing wall. A series of receptacles are incorporated into or on the other side of the dividing wall. In this way, when products are on the shelf, those products that are pushed are between the emitter on one partition wall and the receiver on the other partition wall.

The transmitter sends a signal periodically (when initiated) or continuously. If there is no product between the transmitter and receiver, the receiver will receive the signal. If there is product between the transmitter and receiver, the product will block the signal and the receiver will not receive the signal.

The microprocessor receives information as to whether the respective receiver received the signal. From this information, the microprocessor can determine the approximate distance between the front of the veneer and the final product in the veneer. By knowing the size of the product, information about the receipt and non-receipt of signals can be translated into an understanding of the approximate quantity of product in a particular veneer. In one embodiment, one transmitter and one receiver are used to indicate that the associated product on a particular shelf is becoming insufficient. In this embodiment, the location of the transmitter/receiver is preferably closer to the front side 706 than the back side 707. Preferably, a controller having a unique identification code is associated with the transmitter and receiver such that the unique identification code can be associated with the product.

The transmitter and receiver may be incorporated into the same device that seeks to bounce a signal off a predetermined target fixed to a particular location. If the signal bounces as expected, it indicates that there is no product between the transmitter and the target location. If the signal does not bounce as expected, then there is product between the transmitter and the target location.

Fig. 10 depicts a partially exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a shelf having a dividing wall and a pusher assembly. As shown in fig. 10, a plurality of emitters 750 are disposed on the left side of the partition wall near the bottom. The emitter may also be placed higher on the partition wall as shown at 752. A corresponding receiver 760 is placed on the right side of the partition wall near the bottom. These receptacles may also be placed higher up on the dividing wall as shown at 762. The receivers and transmitters are positioned such that an unobstructed signal can be sent from the transmitter and received by the corresponding receiver. When a product (such as product P) is positioned in front of the pusher, the product may obstruct the signal sent from the transmitter. As shown in fig. 10, the product P (shown in phantom) will prevent the signal from reaching the receiver 760 nearest the front side 6 of the shelf. Receivers located further back than the product P will receive the signals sent to them. The microprocessor receives information as to whether each receiver 760 received a signal. Based on this information, the microprocessor can determine the distance between the front of the shelf and the last product in a particular veneer. By knowing the width of each product, the microprocessor can determine the number of products in a particular veneer.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pusher contacts various sensing devices as the pusher moves back or forth on the shelf. The sensing device is placed on a surface below, above, or to the side of the pusher. These sensing devices include mechanical, electrical and electromechanical, optical and magnetic devices, and may include spring-loaded latches, electrical contacts, light emitting diodes or metal wires or other sensors such as linear position sensors.

The pusher interacts with the sensing device as it moves back or forth on the shelf. The pusher may interact with the device by mechanical contact of the pusher and the device. The pusher may also be equipped with a separate sensing device that interacts with the stationary sensing device when the pusher is moved backwards or forwards.

Information about the interaction between the pusher and the sensing device (i.e., the pusher code) is sent to the processing device. Based on the determination of the means for interacting with the pusher, the processing means may determine an approximate position of the pusher relative to the front of the rack. By knowing product data (such as the size of the product), the processing device can then determine the approximate quantity of product in a particular facing associated with the pusher and sensing device.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11,

sensing devices

810, 811, and 812 are incorporated into the base of the track on which the product rests. When the product rests directly on the switch, the sensing means is switched off. As the product is removed and pusher 825 travels forward, the sensing device located at the rear of pusher 825 is released and opens. The controller determines which sensing devices are on or off. Based on this information, the processing device may determine an approximate distance between pusher 825 and front side 806 of the rack. Knowing the size of the product, the processing device can determine the number of products in a particular veneer.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in fig. 12,

sensing devices

814, 815, 816, 817, and 818 are placed on the pusher track 802. Individual contacts (not shown) are placed on the bottom of pusher 825. The contacts on pusher 825 are configured such that when the contacts on pusher 825 are adjacent to sensing devices mounted on pusher track 802, the sensing devices on pusher track 802 are activated. When a sensing device is activated, a signal is sent to the processing device that provides information about which sensing device has been activated. Based on this information, the processing device may determine an approximate distance of the pusher from the front of the rack. Knowing additional data about the product, such as product size, the processing device can determine the number of products in a particular facing.

For example, while the contacts 816 are activated, the processing device may determine that the amount of product is equal to the amount of product that may be disposed in the space between the contacts 816 and the front side 806 of the shelf 801. In the event that contact 816 is activated and then deactivated, the processing device may determine that pusher 825 is between

contacts

815 and 817. This therefore provides an approximate location of the pusher 825, and this approximate location can be used to determine an approximate amount of product remaining on the shelf. In an embodiment, the contacts may be spaced closer together near the front side 806 of the rack 801 so that more accurate measurements may be made as the amount of product on the rack decreases. Alternatively, sufficient contacts may be used to provide a relatively precise location of pusher 825.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in fig. 13,

contacts

819, 820, 821, and 822 can be mounted to partition wall 803. As with

contacts

814 and 818, activation of one of

contacts

819 and 822 indicates the position or approximate position of the pusher 825. Locating the contacts along the partition wall 803 can help prevent the problem of products on the shelf accidentally activating the contacts. As with the contacts mounted in the pusher track 802, the distance between the

contacts

819 and 822 may be non-uniform, providing greater accuracy as the rack becomes less full.

In an alternative embodiment similar to the one described above, a rack management system 900 for detecting and communicating the location of pusher components on a rack is depicted in FIG. 14. The shelf management system 900 may include a pusher component 915, a light component, and a control module 940. The pusher assembly 915, the light assembly, and the control module 940 may all be secured to the display stand wall 905 or similar structure that holds the products 910. The products 910 may be aligned or arranged along the pusher assembly 915. Additionally, as shown in fig. 14, the products 910 may be contained in a separate product container box 912.

As shown, the pusher assembly 915 may include a biasing mechanism such as a coil spring. The pusher assembly 915 may include an integral dividing wall 922 and floor portion 920 on one or both sides of the dividing wall 922. A coil spring may be operatively connected or associated with pusher 925 and may be used to urge pusher 925 and associated product 910 toward the front of the shelf. The pusher assembly 915 may be modular and may include a dividing wall or additional floor sections that fit or fit into place. Additionally, since the present invention is not connected to the pusher assembly 915, the present invention can work with any product shelving system.

The lamp assembly may include a light channel 930 and a light transceiver 932. The optical transceiver 932 may be one of many optical transceivers located on the optical channel 930. The light transceiver 932 may be located behind the product 910 being measured on the shelf. The optical transceiver 932 may be comprised of an optical emitter 934 and an optical sensor 936. The optical emitter 934 is configured to transmit an optical signal 935 toward the pusher 925, and the optical sensor 936 is configured to receive the optical signal 935 from the pusher 925. In an alternative embodiment, the light emitter 934 and the light sensor 936 may be the same component as part of the light transceiver 932. The spacing of the phototransmitters 934 and photosensors 936 on the optical channel 930 can ensure that at least one phototransmitter 934 and one photosensor 936 are focused on each pusher 925 or each pusher 925 is seen. Additionally, optical channel 930 may include an electrical connection 938.

The lamp assembly may utilize one of many different types of light without departing from the invention, with the one type of light utilized being in the "infrared spectrum". For example, the lamp assembly may include an Infrared (IR) transceiver, where the IR transceiver may consist of an IR transmitter and an IR sensor.

As shown in fig. 14, the shelf management system 900 may also include a control module 940. The control module 940 may be aligned with and locked into place with the electrical connection 938 on the optical channel 930. The control module 940 may include a microcomputer. Additionally, the control module 930 may have internal wireless capabilities without departing from this invention.

As shown in fig. 14, product 910 may be pushed forward by a spring-push pusher 925 or pusher plate in shelf management system 900. As product 910 is pushed forward, optical signals 935 are transmitted from optical emitters 934 on optical channel 930. Light signal 935 may then reflect off pusher plate 925 or the back of product 910 and return to light sensor 936. This information may then be forwarded to control module 940 to measure the distance to pusher 925 or product 910. The optical transceiver 932 may be controlled by a microcomputer and a control module 940 connected to the optical transceiver 932. The process of sending optical signal 935 to pusher plate 925 or product 910 and sending optical signal 935 from pusher plate 925 or product 910 may be continuous or near continuous, such as a fraction of a second, or may be periodic, such as a second, or 5 seconds.

In an aspect of the present invention, the microcomputer in the control module 940 may compare the latest position of the pusher 925 with the previous position of the pusher. The difference in the location of the pusher 925 may cause the microcomputer to determine the status of the shelf management system 900. First, the microcomputer may determine that no activity has occurred since the last read. Second, the microcomputer can determine that a normal shopping instance has occurred and, if so, how many more product packages are still being pushed by the pusher 925. Third, if more than a predetermined number of product packages have been removed in less than a predetermined amount of time, the microcomputer may determine that a potential theft is in progress. Another condition that may be communicated is a low product condition. For example, if there are no product packages at any of the pusher positions, or less than a predetermined number of product packages are still being pushed by the pusher 925, the microcomputer can determine a low product condition.

As shown in fig. 14, the shelf management system may include a local audio box 950 without departing from the invention. Any of the above can be remotely communicated by the microcomputer to the local audio box 950 via wired or wireless communication means to a remote computer, store announcement system, cell phone, pager, or remote annunciator. Additionally, the shelf management system may include a light notifier 960 without departing from the invention. Any of the above may be communicated remotely by the microcomputer to the light notifier 960 to a remote computer, store announcement system, cell phone, pager, or remote notifier via wired or wireless means. The internal wireless capability of the control module 940 may wirelessly transmit signals to or from a remote location to indicate the status of the shelf management system.

In addition, for the shelving system 900 shown in FIG. 14, the number of products arranged on the shelves may be measured. In such embodiments, the position of the pusher 925 may be used to determine the amount of product 910 on the shelf without having to manually count the products. For example, the optical transceiver 932 transmits the optical signal 935 to the pusher 925 or the product 910. The optical signal 935 may then be reflected back to the optical transceiver 932 to determine the position of the pusher 925 by measuring and calculating the time at which the optical signal 935 is received at the optical transceiver 932. When a product is removed, for example by a purchaser, the time to receive the returned optical signal 935 at the optical transceiver 932 increases by a certain amount. Based on the size of the product 910, and in particular the thickness of the product, the control module can calculate how much product has been removed from the shelf by an algorithm of how quickly the optical signal propagates back to the optical transceiver 932. The control module may also use, in part, information about the size of the rack (including the depth of the rack) to calculate the amount of product remaining on the rack in front of the pusher. In addition, the system may be used in an inventory management mode to help retailers determine the quantity of products for inventory purposes and restock in low or no inventory. Without departing from the invention, a user may enter the thickness of the product 910 as a setting into the control module 940 during setup or loading of the product 910 on the shelf. Additionally, the thickness of product 910 may be determined by control module 940 after taking a plurality of different readings from a system (such as an intelligent system or learning system for determining the thickness of product 910) without departing from the invention.

The thickness of the product may also be determined by the system when the product is initially stocked in the system. When there is no product on the shelf, the optical transceiver 932 transmits the optical signal 935 to the pusher 925. The optical signal 935 may then be reflected back to the optical transceiver 932 to determine the position of the pusher 925 by measuring and calculating the time at which the optical signal 935 is received at the optical transceiver 932. When a product is added to the shelf, for example by an employee, the time to receive the returned optical signal 935 at the optical transceiver 932 is reduced by a certain amount. Based on this reduction in amount of time, the control module may calculate the thickness of the product.

In an alternative embodiment similar to the one described above, fig. 15A and 15B illustrate another shelf management system 1000 for detecting and communicating the location of a pusher assembly on a shelf similar to the shelf management system 900 described above and shown in fig. 14. The shelf management system 1000 may include a pusher component 1015, a laser component, and a control module 1040. The pusher assembly 1015, laser assembly, and control module 1040 may all be secured to the display stand wall 1005 or similar structure that holds the product 1010. The products 1010 may be aligned or arranged along the pusher assembly 1015. Additionally, as shown in fig. 15, the products 1010 may be contained in separate product containers 1012.

Pusher assembly 1015 may include a biasing mechanism such as a leaf coil spring. The pusher assembly 1015 may include an integral dividing wall 1022 and floor portion 920 on one or both sides of the dividing wall 1022. A leaf coil spring may be operatively connected to the pusher 1025 and may be used to push the pusher 1025 and associated products 1010 toward the front side of the shelf. The pusher assembly 1015 may be modular and may include a dividing wall or additional floor sections that fit or mate thereto.

The laser assembly may include a rear reflector band 1030 and a single optical transceiver or laser scanner 1032. Laser scanner 1032 can emit or transmit a laser or output beam 1035. Laser scanner 1032 can include a moving or rotating mirror (not shown) located within laser scanner 1032 or associated with laser scanner 1032. Laser scanner 1032 may include integrated circuit mirror technology, such as micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors used in the Digital Light Projector (DLP) field, where a tiny array of micro-mirrors is used to direct and alter output beam 1035, instead of or in addition to moving mirrors, without departing from the invention. The moving mirror can be rotated within the laser scanner to change the output beam 1035 emitted from the laser scanner 1032. The transmission and angle of output beam 1035 may also be changed in various other ways. The moving mirror may be controlled by a microcomputer within the control module 1040. The moving mirror can direct an output beam 1035 from the laser scanner 1032 at various angles, producing a swept beam 1037. The swept beam 1037 may be directed along a back reflector band. An example of a portion of the sweeping beam 1037 is shown in fig. 15B. The process of transferring sweep beam 1037 from laser scanner 1032 to pusher plate 1025 or product 1010 and the process of transferring sweep beam 1037 from pusher plate 1025 or product 1010 may be continuous or near continuous, such as fractions of a second, one second, or five seconds.

As further shown in fig. 15A and 15B, the rear reflector strip 1030 may comprise a piecewise linear mirror or a smooth fixed mirror 1034. A fixed mirror 1034 may be positioned along the rear reflector strip 1030. Fixed mirror 1034 may follow, be parallel to, or be nearly parallel to the path of swept beam 1037 such that each individual fixed mirror 1034 intercepts output beam 1035 along its swept path (as shown in fig. 15B). The fixed mirror 1034 may also be positioned along the rear reflector strip 1034 and positioned behind the pusher 1025 in the rack management system 1000 and substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the pusher 1025. Additionally, the rear reflector tape 1030 may include an electrical connection 1038.

As shown in fig. 15A, the shelf management system 1000 may also include a control module 1040. The control module 1040 can be aligned with and locked into place with the electronic connections 1038 on the rear reflector strip 1030. The control module 1040 may include a microcomputer. Additionally, the control module 1040 may have internal wireless capabilities without departing from this invention.

As shown in fig. 15A and 15B, products 1010 may be pushed forward by a spring-push pusher 1025 or pusher plate in the shelf management system 1000. As the product 1010 is pushed forward, the laser scanner 1032 directs the swept beam 1037 along the rear reflector band 1030 at one of the fixed mirrors 1034. The fixed mirror 1034 may then redirect the output beam 1035 at a preferred angle (such as a right angle) to the changing path of the output beam 1035 such that the fixed mirror 1034 substantially directs the output beam 1035 to the rear of the pusher 1025. Output beam 1035 may then be reflected off the back of pusher 1025, where output beam 1035 is then returned to laser scanner 1032 for analysis. This information may then be forwarded to the control module 1040. The laser scanner 1032 may be configured to measure a distance to the pusher 1025. The laser scanner 1032 can be controlled by a control module 1040 and a microcomputer.

A microcomputer in the control module 1040 may compare the latest position of the pusher 1025 with a previous position. The difference in the position of the pusher 1025 may cause the microcomputer to determine the status of the rack management system 1000. First, the microcomputer may determine that no activity has occurred since the last read. Second, the microcomputer can determine that a normal shopping event has occurred and, if so, how many more product packages are still being pushed by the pusher 1025. Third, if more than a predetermined number of product packages have been removed in less than a predetermined amount of time, the microcomputer can determine that a potential theft is in progress. Another condition that may be communicated is a low product condition. For example, if there are no product packages at any of the pusher positions, or fewer than a predetermined number of product packages are still being pushed by the pusher 1025, the microcomputer can determine a low product condition.

As shown in fig. 15A and 15B, the shelf management system 1000 may include a local audio notifier 1050 without departing from the invention. Any of the above may be communicated by the microcomputer to various communication modules via wired or wireless means, such as: a local or remote audio annunciator 1050, a local or remote light annunciator 1060, a remote computer, a store announcement system, a cell phone, a pager, or other remote annunciator. The internal wireless capability of the control module 1040 may wirelessly transmit signals to or from a remote location to indicate the status of the shelf management system.

In another embodiment similar to the embodiments described above, as shown in fig. 16A and 16B, the shelf management system 1100 may include one fixed mirror 1134 positioned along the length of the rear reflector strip 1130. In this embodiment, as shown in fig. 16A and 16B, the shape of the fixed mirror 1134 may be curved and may approximate a parabolic shape. Since laser scanner 1132, moving mirror, and ultimately swept beam 1137 are controlled by microcomputer or control module 1140, the microcomputer is able to determine the location of each pusher 1125 on the shelf by knowing and using the position of the moving mirror at any point in time during the sweeping motion and analyzing output beam 1135. Additionally, the process of transferring sweep beam 1137 from laser scanner 1132 to and from pusher plate 1125 may be performed continuously or near continuously (such as a fraction of a second) or periodically (such as one second, or once every 5 seconds).

In addition, the microcomputer can execute an algorithm that determines that multiple readings represent only one wide pusher 1125. This may be the case if readings are taken every 1 inch along the length of a shelf, for example, 48 inches long. Product location 1110 in front of on-shelf pusher 1125 can be six inches wide. Thus, in this example, five or six readings may be taken across the back of impeller 1125 and product as the mirrors sweep and direct sweep beam 1137. If one of the six inch wide products is removed from pusher 1125, the microcomputer detects that at least five or six sensing locations have changed by an equal amount substantially simultaneously. The microcomputer can then determine that all five or six readings represent a product width. This may be a learning aspect of the shelf management system 1100 that changes over time as different products on the shelf are sold.

In another embodiment similar to the above embodiment, a parabolic piecewise linear mirror 1234 having a piecewise linear approximation of a parabola may be utilized as shown in fig. 17A and 17B. As shown in fig. 17A and 17B, the shelf management system 1200 may include a segmented parabolic mirror 1234 that may be positioned along the rear reflector band 1230. The segmented parabolic reflector 1234 may include a plurality of linear portions 1233 having a plurality of leading edges 1236. The linear portion 1233 may be wide enough to be easily manufactured. Further, the linear sections 1233 may be sufficiently narrow such that a shelf filled with the narrowest pushers 1225 will have at least one linear mirror section 1233 reflecting an output beam 1235 to/from it. As shown in fig. 17A and 17B, the leading edge 1236 of each linear mirror portion 1233 can include a small flat portion 1239 and an angled leading edge 1236. The small flat portion 1239 can retroreflect the swept beam 1237 directly back to the laser scanner 1232 without first allowing it to reflect off the back of the pusher 1225. The process of transferring sweep beam 1137 from laser scanner 1132 to and from pusher plate 1125, may be performed continuously or near continuously (such as a fraction of a second) or periodically (such as one second, or 5 seconds).

For example, as specifically shown in fig. 17B, as the beam 1237 is swept, the laser scanner 1232 will see a series of short bright bursts (bursts) directed back to the laser scanner 1232, then reflected from the angled leading edge 1236. The reflection from the angled leading edge 1236 indicates the position of the pusher 1225. As the mirror is moved to sweep the beam beyond the edge of the first straight portion, the mirror will again encounter a small flat portion 1239 before the second angled leading edge 1236. These small flat portions 1239 may represent cue points on the segmented parabolic mirror 1234. These cue points 1239 can be interpreted by the microcomputer as "cue" signals 1242. Additionally, these small flat sections 1239 can divide the shelf into designated sections that can be analyzed by the microcomputer for movement. Based on the distance and location of the small flat portion 1239, the laser scanner 1232 can alert the control module 1240 that an angled leading edge 1236 is about to be encountered and should be read. In this manner, the control module 1240 need not have an accurate level of measurement of the position of the moving mirror. Additionally, the length of the segmented parabolic reflector 1234 may be any length. The control module 1240 may determine the number of pusher positions to read based on the number of cue signals 1244 it receives between the "origin" and "end" positions of the swept beam 1237.

In addition, for the shelving system shown in FIGS. 15A-17B, the number of products arrayed on the shelves can be measured. In such embodiments, the position of the pusher can be used to determine the amount of product on the shelf without the need to manually count the product. For example, a laser scanner sends an output beam to a pusher or product. The output beam may then be reflected back to the laser scanner to determine the position of the pusher by measuring and calculating the time at which the output beam is received at the laser scanner. When a product is removed, for example by a purchaser, the time to receive the returned output beam at the laser scanner is increased by a set amount. Based on the size of the product, and in particular on the thickness of the product, the control module can calculate how much product has been removed from the shelf by an algorithm that outputs how quickly the beam propagates back to the laser scanner. The thickness of the product may be a setting or input that may be entered into the control module during the setup of the product on the shelf without departing from the invention. Additionally, the thickness of the product may be determined by the control module after taking a plurality of different readings from a system (such as an intelligent system or learning system for determining the thickness of the product) without departing from the invention.

The advantages of the present invention illustrated in fig. 14-17B are evident in several respects. First, the present invention is not connected to a spring-pusher system and therefore can work with almost any system currently in use. Second, the present invention has no physical moving connection to the pusher system or product, which prevents the system from becoming worn or dirty over time or with the number of products sold, and reduces its effectiveness. Third, the present invention can operate for an extended period of time by using a battery. RFID inventory systems require relatively high power radio frequency transmitters to scan products on shelves and cannot be operated by using batteries. Fourth, the cost of the system can be amortized over the years by the number of products sold from the shelf. The cost of this system is in contrast to having to justify the cost of a single RFID tag on each product package and amortize the expensive reader system and infrastructure in the price of each product. Finally, the present invention can be programmed to ignore changing products back to the shelf, as is the case when the shelf is being restocked.

The sensors of the various sensing configurations discussed in the embodiments above may output signals representative of the sensed parameters in analog or digital format. The analog output may be in the form of a voltage or current signal. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, an analog-to-digital converter may be utilized to convert an analog signal to a digital signal for use by a controller or processing device.

Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.

18A-18C depict an alternative embodiment of a display management system 1800. In particular, the display management system 1800 includes a front rail 1802 configured to be removably coupled to a display surface (not shown). In one example, the display surface may include a shelf structure or the like. As such, in one example, the front rail 1802 may be configured to be removably coupled at a front edge of a display surface (not shown). However, those skilled in the art will recognize that front rail 1802 may be removably coupled to a display surface, or the like, at a location other than the edge of the display surface. In one embodiment, the front track 1802 has a front track length 1808. In one example, the front rail 1802 may be configured such that the front rail length 1808 is parallel to a front edge of a display surface (not shown). Thus, the front rail length 1808 may be implemented in any size without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein. As such, the front rail length 1808 may be configured to fit one or more physical dimensions of a given display surface (not shown). In one example, the display management system 1800 may include a pusher 1804. In one embodiment, the pusher 1804 may be generally referred to as a movable mechanism of a display management system (such as the display management system 1800). As such, and as shown in fig. 18B, the pusher 1804 can be configured to push one or more display products (not shown) along the floor structure 1810 from the second end 1814 of the floor structure toward the first end 1812 of the floor structure. Additionally or alternatively, the display management system 1800 may include one or more dividers 1806. As such, divider 1806, and particularly divider wall 1803, may be configured to separate a first set of displayed products (not shown) associated with first pusher 1804 from a second set of displayed products associated with a second pusher on a display surface (not shown). In one example, the divider 1806, including the dividing wall 1803, the floor structure 1810, and/or the barrier 1818, can have a divider length 1816. As such, in one embodiment, the divider 1806 may be configured to be removably coupled to the front rail 1802 such that the front rail length 1808 is substantially perpendicular to the divider length 1816. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the display management system 1800 may be implemented such that the front rail length 1808 may be configured to be positioned at any angle relative to the divider length 1816, and such that the angle between the front rail length 1808 and the divider length 1816 may be other than substantially 90 °, and without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein.

In one embodiment, and as shown in fig. 18B and 18C, the pusher 1804 can be urged toward the first end of the floor structure 1812 by a coil spring 1820. As such, the barrier 1818 may be configured to retain one or more displayed products (not shown in fig. 18A-18C) within the display management system 1800 when the pusher 1804, urged by the coil spring 1820, exerts a force on the one or more displayed products to slide them toward the barrier 1818. Further, in one embodiment, the pusher 1804 can be configured to slide along the floor structure 1810 without being guided by one or more rail structures. In particular, one or more elements of the display management system 1800, and in particular including the front rail 1802, pusher 1804, divider 1806, divider wall 1803, floor structure 1810, coil spring 1820, and barrier 1818, may provide similar functionality as the front rail 580, pusher 520, divider 550, divider wall 552, floor 554, coil spring 534, and barrier 556 described in U.S. patent application No.14/444357 filed on 28/7/2014 (which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for any and all non-limiting purposes).

In one embodiment, and as shown in fig. 18B and 18C, the display management system 1800 may include a capacitive sensor 1822. As such, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be configured to output a signal that may be processed to determine the position of one or more elements of the display management system 1800. In one example, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be configured to output a signal that may be processed to determine the position of the pusher 1804. As such, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be used to determine the quantity of display product held within the display management system 1800. In the following description, one or more aspects of capacitive sensor 1822 are discussed. As such, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the capacitive sensor 1822 may be utilized to determine the position of the pusher 1804 within the display management system 1800 independent of the particular geometry of the display management system 1800. As such, the systems and methods described herein in connection with capacitive sensor 1822 may be practiced with the alternative display management system described throughout this document, as well as with U.S. patent application No.14/444357, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be configured to be positioned on the floor structure 1810 along the spacer length 1816 and such that the expanded length 1823 of the coil spring 1820 is in contact with a portion of the capacitive sensor 1822 extending along the spacer length 1816. Accordingly, the capacitive sensor 1822 is described in more detail with respect to fig. 20.

Fig. 19A and 19B schematically depict plan views of the display management system 1800. Thus, fig. 19A schematically depicts the display management system 1800 in a first configuration having a first plurality of displayed products 1902a-1902f sandwiched between a barrier 1818 and a pusher 1804. As such, in the depicted first configuration of the display management system 1800, the coil spring 1820 has a first extended length 1904. Turning to FIG. 19B, the display management system 1800 is depicted in a second configuration having a reduced number of displayed products 1902a-1902c contained within the system 1800. Thus, the coil spring 1820 has a reduced deployed length or second deployed length 1906.

In one example, a conductive material (in one example, a metal or alloy) configured as a coil spring 1820 is in contact with the capacitive sensor 1822. In one embodiment, the degree to which the coil spring 1820 is in contact with the capacitive sensor 1822 is proportional to the unexpanded length (such as the

unexpanded length

1904 or 1906 in one example). Further, the output signal from the capacitive sensor 1822 may vary based on the length of the coil spring 1820 that is in contact with the capacitive sensor 1822. Accordingly, the output signal from the capacitive sensor 1822 may vary based on the position of the pusher 1804 and, accordingly, the number of displayed products (1902a-1902f) held within the display management system 1800.

Fig. 20A schematically depicts a detailed view of the capacitive sensor 1822. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensor 1822 includes a circuit board 2002, the circuit board 2002 having a longitudinal length 2016. As schematically depicted in fig. 18A-18C, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be coupled to the floor structure 1812 of the divider 1806, and such that the longitudinal length 2016 of the capacitive sensor 1822 is substantially parallel to the divider length 1816. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be configured to be retrofitted into the display management system 1800 such that all of the electronic components associated with the capacitive sensor 1822 may be contained independently on the circuit board 2002. In one example, the capacitive sensor 1822 may include a plurality of capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004 f. As such, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f depicted in fig. 20A represent only one example implementation of the capacitive sensor 1822, and that various alternative implementations of the capacitive sensor 1822 may be implemented having a different number of capacitive sensor elements than those capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f depicted in fig. 20A.

In one example, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be configured to output a signal proportional to a capacitance value, and to base the capacitance value on the deployed length of the coil spring 1820 (e.g., deployed lengths 1904 and 1906). In one example, the control circuitry 2006 includes electronics configured to calculate one or more capacitance values associated with the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004 f. In another embodiment, the control circuit 2006 may be referred to as a transmitter circuit and configured to transmit one or more data points received from the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f to a remote processor, such as the display management system controller device 2400 from fig. 24. In another example, one or more calculated capacitance values may vary based on the length of the conductor in contact with the circuit board 2002. As such, the one or more calculated capacitance values may vary based on the developed length of coil spring 1820 (such as those developed

lengths

1904 and 1906 depicted as examples in fig. 19A and 19B). In one particular example, the control circuitry 2006 can be configured to calculate a capacitance value between one or more successive pairs of capacitive sensor elements selected from the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004 f. Thus, if one or more of a pair of capacitive sensor elements selected from capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f is in contact with a portion of the deployed length of coil spring 1820, the calculated capacitance value between the pair of capacitive sensor elements may change. As such, the change in capacitance between successive pairs of capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f may be used to indicate the position of the pusher 1804. As such, one or more of the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f may include an exposed conductive structure configured to contact a portion of the conductive unfolded length of the coil spring 1820.

In one embodiment, the circuit board 2002 may include a substantially insulating material configured to electrically insulate the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f from one another. Further, the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f may be connected to the control circuit 2006 by electrical conductors (not depicted in FIG. 20A). In one example, a pair of capacitive sensor elements selected from capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f may be separated by a separation distance 2018. Thus, in one embodiment, the separation distance 2018 may be uniform between each pair of capacitive sensor elements selected from the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f, or may be non-uniform such that the first separation distance 2018 may be different than the second separation distance 2020. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that separation distances 2018 and 2020 may be implemented in any size without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein. For example,

separation distances

2018 and 2020 may range from one millimeter or less to several hundred millimeters or more, and so on.

In one example, a separation distance (such as separation distance 2018 and/or 2020) between a pair of capacitive sensor elements selected from capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f may determine a resolution of capacitive sensor 1822. As such, the resolution of the capacitive sensor 1822 may be proportional to the accuracy with which the capacitive sensor 1822 may determine the position of the pusher (such as the pusher 1804). In particular, as the number of capacitive sensor elements, such as capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f, increases, the accuracy with which the capacitive sensor 1822 can determine the position of the pusher on the floor structure 1810 may also increase.

In one embodiment, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be used to calculate an absolute position of the pusher 1804 on the floor structure 1810. In this way, the position of the pusher 1804 may not be calibrated based on the zeroing position on the floor structure 1810. Thus, the position of the pusher 1804 may not be determined relative to another position on the capacitive sensor 1822, or the like.

In yet another embodiment, the control circuitry 2006 can be utilized to calculate the position of the pusher 1804 on the capacitive sensor 1822 using an interpolation method. Specifically, the control circuit 2006 can receive signals (otherwise referred to as sensor data) from a plurality of capacitive sensor elements from the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f and, by processing the received signals, determine that the position of the pusher 1804 is located between a pair of capacitive sensor elements selected from the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004 f. In particular, the control circuit 2006 can be used to interpolate the proximity of the pusher 1804 to a first capacitive sensor element to a second, adjacent capacitive sensor element. In this manner, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that, in one example, capacitive sensor 1822 may be implemented using a single pair of capacitive sensor element pairs 2004 spaced between first end 1812 and second end 1814 of floor structure 1810.

Fig. 20B schematically depicts a more detailed view of the control circuit 2006. Specifically, in one example, the control circuit 2006 includes a power supply 2008, a memory 2010, an interface 2012, and a processor 2014. In one embodiment, the memory 2010, the interface 2012, and the processor 2014 may be implemented as a single microcontroller circuit or may be implemented as discrete electronic components. In one example, power source 2008 may represent a source of electrical energy provided by one or more electrochemical cells (cells) (otherwise referred to simply as cells or batteries). In one specific example, the power supply 2008 may be implemented as a single "button cell" or "coin cell" having a battery life of many years. In another example, power source 2008 may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. In another example, power source 2008 may represent electronic hardware configured to receive and possibly regulate (correct AC to DC, and/or step up/down voltage, smooth, etc.) a wired power supply. In yet another example, the power source 2008 may represent electronic hardware configured to wirelessly receive and possibly regulate a power supply received from an external source, such as through electromagnetic induction (electrodynamic induction, electrostatic induction, etc.). In another embodiment, the power source 2008 may include one or more photovoltaics (solar cells). Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that power source 2008 may represent any technique or combination of techniques configured to provide electrical power to control circuitry 2006 without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein. Similarly, power source 2008 may be configured to store any amount of energy (J), and/or provide a potential (voltage (V)) or current (a) having any value, without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein. Additionally, these power supply examples may be used in conjunction with any of the devices discussed herein.

The memory 2010 may be in a persistent form, a volatile memory form, or a combination thereof. As such, memory 2010 may include a form of Random Access Memory (RAM) that is cleared by power cycling or other restart operations of control circuitry 2006. In other embodiments, memory 2010 may be non-volatile such that it does not require power from power supply 2008 to maintain information. As such, memory 2010 may include a form of Read Only Memory (ROM) or flash memory. In general, the memory 2010 may be referred to in the form of a non-transitory computer readable medium and used for storing instructions that may be executed by the processor 2014.

The interface 2012 may include hardware and/or firmware configured to facilitate communication between the control circuitry 2006 and one or more external devices. For example, the interface 2012 may be utilized to facilitate communications between the processor 2014 and external computer devices via a network. In this manner, interface 2012 may be configured to communicate via a wired connection, such as with an ethernet connection, or a wireless connection, such as with a bluetooth connection, Wi-Fi connection, or one or more of the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio bands. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that interface 2012 may be configured to facilitate communication between control circuitry 2006 and any wired or wireless link or network.

In one embodiment, the processor 2014 includes a microprocessor having one or more processing cores. As such, the processor 2014 may be configured to execute instructions stored within the memory 2010. Further, one or more processes executed by the processor 2014 may be utilized to drive one or more circuits associated with the circuit board 2002 and the plurality of capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004 f. Additionally, the processor 2014 may be configured to receive and process one or more sensor readings from the plurality of capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f via the interface 2012. In one particular example, capacitive sensor elements from the plurality of capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f may be configured to output an analog signal (voltage, current, etc.) or a digital signal (e.g., a binary signal, etc.).

In one example, the processor 2014 may receive one or more signals communicated from a plurality of capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004 f. In turn, the processor 2014 may perform one or more processes on the received signals prior to communicating the received signals to a remote processor (such as the processor 2404 associated with the display management system controller device 2400 depicted in fig. 24) via the interface 2012. The one or more processes may include determining that the received signal is above a threshold, compressing the received signal for communication, or filtering the received signal, among others. Thus, in this example, the processor 2404 of the display management system controller device 2400 may calculate one or more capacitance values as previously described with respect to fig. 20A, and also calculate the location of the pusher 1804 on the display management system 1800. In another example, one or more signals communicated from the plurality of capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f may be processed by the processor 2014 to calculate one or more capacitance values as previously described with respect to fig. 20A. In turn, the calculated capacitance value may be used to calculate the position of the pusher 1804 on the display management system 1800. In yet another example, the location of the pusher 1804 may be determined using a combination of the processor 2014 and the processor 2404, and the like.

In one embodiment, the control circuitry 2006 can be configured to communicate directly with a mobile device. As such, in one particular example, the control circuitry 2006 can be configured to establish a bluetooth connection with a smartphone or tablet of a shopper in a store in order to receive one or more biographical information associated with the shopper. In this manner, when the pusher 1804 is activated as one or more displayed products, such as the displayed products 1902a-1902f, are removed from the display management system 1800, the control circuitry 2006 can be configured to query the mobile device of the user removing the one or more displayed products to receive one or more biographical information associated with the user. In another embodiment, the control circuitry 2006 may be configured to communicate with the display management system controller device 2400 when the pusher 1804 is activated as one or more displayed products are removed from the display management system. In turn, display management system controller device 2400 may attempt to establish a connection (via bluetooth or the like) to a mobile device associated with a user that removed one or more displayed products.

In one example, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be configured to operate in a low power mode until the pusher 1804 is moved due to removal of one or more displayed products, such as the displayed products 1902a-1902f, from the display management system 1800. In particular, the low power mode can include the processor 2014 operating in a low power configuration that continuously monitors sensor outputs from the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004 f. Accordingly, in this example, the processor 2014 may perform one or more processes to enter the high power configuration upon receiving one or more sensor signals indicative of the movement of the pusher 1804. In particular, the high power configuration may include performing one or more processes to deliver additional electrical power to memory 2010, interface 2012, and/or processor 2014 in order to perform additional processing on received sensor data and/or communicate received sensor data to a remote processor. In this manner, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be configured to consume a reduced amount of electrical energy while the pusher 1804 remains stationary. As such, this low power configuration may be utilized to extend battery life associated with power supply 2008. In another example, the capacitive sensor 1822 may be configured to operate within a low power configuration while the pusher 1804 remains stationary, and such that the low power configuration delivers electrical energy to one or more of the plurality of capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004 f. Thus, in response to movement of the pusher 1804, one or more of the capacitive sensor elements 2004a-2004f may be configured to communicate a wake-up signal to the control circuitry 2006 to enter a high-power configuration. As such, the wake up signal may be received by the control circuit 2006 and, in response, additional power may be delivered to one or more of the memory 2010, the interface 2012, and/or the processor 2014. In this manner, maintaining the capacitive sensor 1822, and in particular the control circuit 2006, in a low power configuration for periods of time during which the pusher is stationary may allow for a reduction in overall energy consumption and, in one example, an increase in battery life of the capacitive sensor 1822.

Fig. 21A and 21B depict an alternative embodiment of a display management system 2100. In particular, fig. 21A depicts an isometric view of a display management system 2100 configured as a box shelf. In particular, the box shelf display management system 2100 includes a top 2102 and two sides 2104 that can be coupled together to form a portion of an enclosure 2106. The recessed portion 2108 is provided such that in the event the box shelf display management system 2100 is mounted under a shelf (not shown), the recessed portion 2108 will help ensure that it does not interfere with the brackets supporting the shelf or other structures (not shown) that may extend downward. One or more shelf supports 2110 are mounted to the box shelf display management system 2100 such that the box shelf display management system 2100 is mounted to vertical supports (not shown) in a conventional manner.

The slidable shelf 2112 is mounted to one or more rails 2114, and the one or more rails 2114 may be at least partially supported by the side 2104. As depicted, the slidable shelf 2112 can include a support surface 2116 that supports a divider 2118. In one example, the support surface 2116 may support one or more display management systems, such as the system 1800 previously described. In one embodiment, the support surface 2116 includes rails 2120 mounted to the front of the shelf 2112. The track in turn supports the holder 2122. As depicted, a door 2124 having one or more handles 2126 may be mounted to the top 2102 via a hinge system 2128. In another embodiment, the door 2124 may be referred to as a flip window 2124 and such that the flip window 2124 may be partially or fully transparent to visible light. In this manner, the flip window 2124 may facilitate viewing of one or more display products within the box shelf display management system 2100. In one particular example, the box shelf display management system 2100 may be similar to box shelf 3405 described in U.S. application No.14/046385 filed on 2013, 10, month 4, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all non-limiting purposes.

In one embodiment, the box shelf display management system 2100 may be configured to hold one or more display products, such as the display products 1902a-1902f schematically depicted in fig. 19A. Thus, in one configuration, the box shelf display management system 2100 positions the slidable shelf 2112 within the housing 2106. As such, to remove one or more display products (not shown in fig. 21A) from the box shelf display management system 2100, a user may rotate the flip window 2124 (to the substantially horizontal position depicted in fig. 21A) from the substantially vertical position (depicted in fig. 21B).

In one embodiment, the box shelf display management system 2100 may be configured with a sensor 2130. In particular, sensor 2130 may be an accelerometer. Further, the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be sensitive to acceleration along a single axis (due to gravity or otherwise) (single axis accelerometer), to acceleration along two mutually perpendicular axes (2 axis accelerometer), or to acceleration along three mutually perpendicular axes (3 axis accelerometer). One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize various embodiments of single, dual, and tri-axis accelerometer electronic circuits that may be used with the box shelf display management system 2100 or other display management systems, such as

systems

1800 and 2300, without departing from the disclosure described herein. Also, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be utilized to determine the orientation of the structure to which it is secured. As such, the accelerometer sensor 2130 from fig. 21A can be used to determine the orientation of the flip window 2124. Advantageously, the accelerometer sensor 2130 may provide improved accuracy in determining the orientation of the flip window 2124, where the range of motion of the hinge 2128 may be relatively more limited, as compared to one or more alternative sensor technologies positioned as the hinge 2128.

In one embodiment, an accelerometer sensor (such as accelerometer sensor 2130) may be used to determine the orientation of the flip window 2124. As such, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be located at any position on the flip window 2124 that is configured to move with movement of the flip window 2124 without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein. Additionally, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be used generally to determine the orientation of a flip window (similar to flip window 2124) that is part of any display management system. As such, the display management system 2100 with the inverted window 2124 is merely one example of a display management system that may be used with the accelerometer sensor 2130. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize various additional or alternative implementations of a display management structure similar to the housing 2106 having a movable feature similar to the flip window 2124, the movable feature being configured to move to remove one or more products from the display management structure. Further, the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be coupled to movable features of various additional or alternative embodiments of display management structures as may be contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In one example, the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be implemented as part of an integrated accelerometer device, as schematically depicted in fig. 22A. As such, integrated accelerometer device 2130 may include accelerometer circuit board 2200, power source 2202, and interface 2203. Accordingly, as previously described, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of specific accelerometer circuits that may be implemented as accelerometer circuit board 2200 without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein. In one example, power source 2202 may be configured to provide power to accelerometer circuit board 2200 and interface 2203. As such, the power source 2202 may be similar to the power source 2008 and may be implemented as a wired power source, one or more batteries, hardware configured to accommodate wireless transmission of electrical energy, or a combination thereof. In another example, interface 2203 may be similar to interface 2012 and such that interface 2203 may be configured to communicate one or more acceleration signals from accelerometer sensor 2130 via a wired or wireless network.

In one embodiment, the integrated accelerometer device 2130 may be configured to output one or more sensor signals (otherwise referred to as motion data) indicative of the orientation of the flip window 2124. In one example, the one or more sensor signals may include analog or digital signals indicative of acceleration along one or more of the axes to which the integrated accelerometer device 2130 is sensitive. Thus, in one example, the sensor signals output from the integrated accelerometer device 2130 may be the result of acceleration caused by gravity resolved along one, two, or three mutually perpendicular axes (x-, y-, and/or z-axes), to which the integrated accelerometer device 2330 is sensitive. In one example, the integrated accelerometer device 2130 is configured to communicate sensor signals (otherwise referred to as motion data) to control circuitry, such as the control circuitry 2006 depicted in fig. 22B, via the interface 2203. As such, in one embodiment, communication between the control circuit 2006 and the integrated accelerometer device 2130 may be via a hardware (wired) connection. However, communication between the control circuit 2006 and the integrated accelerometer device 2130 may additionally or alternatively be via a wireless connection. As such, the output signal from the integrated accelerometer device 2130 can be processed and used in a manner similar to the sensor output from the capacitive sensor 1822 described previously. In another embodiment, the sensor output from integrated accelerometer device 2130 may be communicated directly to display management system controller device 2400, which is described in further detail with respect to fig. 24.

In one example, the accelerometer sensor (otherwise referred to as an integrated accelerometer device) 2130 can be configured to operate in a low power configuration while a movable structure coupled with the accelerometer sensor 2130 remains stationary. As such, the accelerometer sensor 2130 can be configured to operate in this low power configuration while the output from the accelerometer circuit board 2200 is unchanged (in one example, indicating that the flip window 2124 remains in a fixed orientation). Accordingly, upon detection of movement of the flip window 2124, one or more of the accelerometer circuit board 2200, control circuit 2006, and/or display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to implement a high power configuration. As such, the high power configuration may be configured to perform one or more processes in response to movement of the flip window 2124, where movement of the flip window 2124 may indicate that one or more display products (such as display products 1902a-1902f) are being removed from a display management system, such as

systems

2100, 1800, and/or 2300.

Fig. 23 depicts an alternative embodiment of a display management system 2300. Specifically, fig. 23 depicts a spiral hook security device 2301. As such, the spiral hook security device 2301 may include a front structure 2314 rigidly coupled to a rear structure 2306 by a support rail 2308. Further, rear structure 2306 may include one or more coupling elements (not shown) configured to removably couple spiral hook security device 2301 to surface 2312. In one example, surface 2312 may be similar to display stand wall 905 described with respect to fig. 14. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that surface 2312 may comprise any support structure configured to receive one or more coupling elements (not shown) of spiral hook security device 2301. In one embodiment, the helical hook security device 2301 includes a knob 2304, the knob 2304 rotatably coupled to the front structure 2314 and configured to rotate about a central axis of a bearing 2316. Additionally, the front structure 2340 may be configured to receive one or more labels associated with one or more displayed products supported by the spiral hook security apparatus 2301.

In one example, upon application of a manual rotational force to knob 2304 in a first direction (e.g., the direction indicated by arrow 2318), helical track 2302 can be configured to rotate about a central axis of bearing 2316. Further, based on the rotation of the helical track 2302, one or more display products supported by (suspended from) the support track 2310 may be urged by the helical track 2302 towards the front structure 2314. Conversely, upon application of a manual rotational force to the knob 2304 in a second direction (e.g., opposite the direction of arrow 2318), the helical track 2302 can be configured to urge one or more display products suspended from the support track 2310 toward the rear structure 2306.

In one example, the spiral hook security apparatus 2301 may be configured to display one or more products within a store. As such, in one embodiment, the spiral hook security device 2301 may be used to prevent multiple products supported by the support track 2310 from being quickly removed from the spiral hook security device 2301. In this manner, the helical hook security apparatus 2301 may be utilized to deter theft of one or more products suspended from the support track 2310 due to the extended time required to rotate the knob 2304 and the helical track 2302 in order to remove the one or more products from the apparatus 2301.

In one embodiment, accelerometer sensor 2130 may be used with display management system 2300 to detect movement of knob 2304 and/or helical track 2302. As previously described, spiral track 2302 may be rotated to insert and/or remove one or more display products from display management system 2300. In this manner, the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be coupled to a structure configured to rotate upon application of manual force to the handle 2304. In one particular example, the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be coupled within the structure of the knob 2304, as schematically depicted in fig. 23. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional or alternative placement options for the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein. In one example, changes in sensor output from the accelerometer sensor 2130 as the spiral track 2302 is being rotated may be used by one or more of the accelerometer circuit board 2200, the control circuit 2006, and/or the display management system controller device 2400 to track the rotation of the spiral track 2302 and thus determine the number of display products inserted onto/removed from the display management system 2300.

Similar to the display management system 2100, the display management system 2300 may utilize the accelerometer sensor 2130 to detect motion and, in response, perform one or more processes. In one example, the movement of the helical track 2302 can perform one or more processes to transition the accelerometer sensor 2130 from a low power configuration to a high power configuration as previously described.

Fig. 24 schematically depicts a sensor network 2401, the sensor network 2401 being configured to implement one or more inventory management, security and/or identification functions in conjunction with one or more display management systems (such as

systems

1800, 2100 and 2300, etc.). Specifically, the sensor network 2401 includes a display management system controller device 2400. Accordingly, the display management system controller device 2400 may include a memory 2402. As such, the memory 2402 may be in the form of permanent or volatile memory, or a combination thereof. In this manner, memory 2402 may comprise a form of Random Access Memory (RAM) that is cleared by power cycling or other restart operations of device 2400. In other embodiments, memory 2402 may be non-volatile such that it does not require power to maintain information. As such, the memory 2402 may include a form of Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, or the like. In general, the memory 2402 may be referred to in the form of non-transitory computer readable media and is used to store instructions that may be executed by the processor 2404. Additionally, device 2400 may include an interface 2406, where interface 2406 is configured with hardware and supporting firmware that allow device 2400 to connect to a network 2408. Further, device 2400 may include processor 2404, where processor 2404 may include a microprocessor having one or more processing cores. As such, processor 2404 may be configured to execute instructions stored within memory 2402.

In general, the display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to perform one or more processes in response to receiving sensor information from one or more of the capacitive sensor 1822 (via the control circuitry 2006), or from the accelerometer sensor 2130 (either directly or via the control circuitry 2006). In one example, communication between one or more of the control circuitry 2006, accelerometer sensor 2130, and display management system controller device 2400 may be unidirectional, or may be bidirectional. In one embodiment, the display management system controller apparatus 2400 may be referred to as a remote processor and may be remotely located from one or more display management systems (1800, 2100 and/or 2300) to which one or more sensors (1822, 2130) are attached for detecting motion indicative of one or more display products being removed. As such, the distance between display management system controller device 2400 and the one or more sensors with which it may communicate may be any given distance without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein. For example, display management system controller device 2400 may be located within the same geographic location (in one example, the same store) as one or more sensor devices with which display management system controller device 2400 is in communication. In another example, the display management system controller apparatus 2400 may be located at a different geographic location than one or more display management systems (e.g., 1800, 2100, and/or 2300) with which the apparatus 2400 communicates via the network 2408.

In one embodiment, display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to calculate the position of pusher 1804, flip window 2124, and/or spiral track 2302. Accordingly, the display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to calculate the number of display products removed from one or more display management systems (e.g., 1800, 2100, and/or 2300) based on the detected movement of one or more pushers 1804, flip windows 2124, and/or helical track 2302.

In one particular example, the display management system controller apparatus 2400 may be configured to determine the amount of display product removed from the display management system 1800 based on a comparison of a first position of the pusher 1804 with a second position of the pusher 1804. In particular, the processor 2404 may calculate the distance moved by the pusher 1804 and perform one or more processes to consult a lookup table (e.g., stored in the memory 2402) of depth dimensions associated with a plurality of products held within the display manager system 1800. As such, the processor 2404 may determine the type of product held within the display management system 1800 based on information input by the user or information sensed by the one or more sensors 2410 (e.g., by scanning a barcode on one or more products or detecting an RFID signal associated with one or more products within the display management system 1800, etc.). In this manner, the processor 2404 may determine the number of products removed from the display management system 1800 upon receiving the depth dimension of the products held within the display management system 1800 from the lookup table within the memory 2402 and having calculated the distance moved by the pusher 1804. Similarly, the processor 2404 may be used to determine the number of products inserted into the display management system 1800 (e.g., during a restocking process, etc.).

In another example, the display management system controller device 2400 may infer a depth dimension for a product type stored within the display management system 1800. In particular, the processor 2404 may determine the depth dimension of the product based on one or more discrete movements of the pusher 1804 where no information is available within a lookup table stored in the memory 2402. In particular, after removing duplicate instances of products from the display management system 1800, the processor 2404 may perform one or more processes to identify consistent distances moved by the pusher 1804, and infer from the identified distances the depth dimensions of the products to be used in determining the quantity of products to be removed from the display management system 1800 in response to future movement of the pusher 1804.

Thus, the display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to perform one or more processes based on information received from one or more control circuits, such as the control circuit 2006, or an accelerometer sensor, such as the accelerometer sensor 2130. In addition, the display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to communicate with the device 2410. In one example, the devices 2410 may include cameras, speakers, microphones, proximity sensors, motion sensors, ambient light sensors, electronic displays, or the like. In one particular example, the display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to display messages associated with one or more products stored within a display management system (e.g.,

systems

1800, 2100, or 2300) on the electronic display device 2410.

The display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to communicate with one or more mobile devices, such as mobile device 2412. As such, communication between the display management system controller device 2400 and one or more of the control circuitry 2006, accelerometer sensor 2130, device 2410, and/or mobile device 2412 may be via the network 2408. Further, the network 2408 may be a wired or wireless network that may utilize any communication protocol. As such, network 2408 may be the internet, a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), or a bluetooth connection, among others. In one particular example, the network 2408 may utilize one or more of the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio bands.

In one embodiment, display management system controller device 2400 may perform one or more processes to receive and store one or more biographical information associated with a user, such as a user removing one or more display products from one or more display management systems (e.g., 1800, 2100, and/or 2300) in communication with device 2400. In one example, the display management system controller device 2400 may receive one or more biographical information associated with a user and received from a mobile device 2412 carried by the user. In particular, the mobile device 2412 may include a smartphone or tablet computer carried by the user and configured to communicate with the display management system controller device 2400 via one or more of a bluetooth connection, an NFC connection, or a Wi-Fi connection, among others.

In one embodiment, the display management system controller device 2400 may perform one or more processes to receive data from the additional sensors 2410 in response to motion data received from one or more sensors (e.g., one or more sensors 1822 and/or 2130) associated with one or more display management systems (e.g., 1800, 2100, and/or 2300). In one particular example, the display management system controller device 2400 may communicate with the camera device 2410 and perform one or more facial recognition processes to determine one or more pieces of demographic information (demographic information) associated with a user moving one or more products from the display management system from which the athletic data is received. In this manner, display management system controller device 2400 may be used to collect shopper behavior information, etc., that may be used to plan product displays within a store.

In yet another embodiment, the display management system controller device 2400 may perform one or more processes to identify one or more patterns from data received from sensors associated with movement of one or more display management systems (e.g.,

systems

1800, 2100 and/or system 2300). As such, processor 2404 may receive motion data from a plurality of sensors (e.g., one or more sensors 1822 and/or 2130) and determine, based on the received motion data, whether the sensor data represents an identified pattern (stored in memory 2402) resulting from removal of a product from one or more display management systems (e.g.,

systems

1800, 2100, and/or 2300).

In one particular example, the display management system controller device 2400 may receive movement data from a single display management system (e.g.,

system

1800, 2100, or 2300) and determine that the received movement data represents removal of multiple identical products from the display management system. Further, the display management system controller device 2400 may calculate a rate of product removal from the display management system. In one example, if the rate at which product is removed from the display management system is above a threshold level, display management system controller device 2400 may determine that removal of the product may be representative of an attempted theft. For example, in the case where 10 or more products are removed within 30 seconds, the system controller device 2400 may identify that an attempted theft is occurring. In response, display management system controller device 2400 may perform one or more processes to communicate a warning message to security personnel. In one example, the warning message may be communicated as an electronic message conveyed via network 2408. Additionally or alternatively, the display management system controller device 2400 may communicate with the camera device 2410 to capture one or more images of the user of the display management system from which the motion data was received in response to determining that the motion data represents a pattern associated with an attempted theft. In this way, one or more images of suspected thieves may be recorded. Further, the display management system controller device 2400 may perform one or more processes to cause an audible message and/or siren to sound in response to determining that the received motion data may indicate an attempted theft.

In another example, the display management system controller device 2400 may receive sensor data, also referred to as motion data, from a plurality of sensors (e.g., one or more sensors 1822 and/or 2130, etc.) associated with a plurality of display management systems (e.g., 1800, 2100, and/or 2300). Accordingly, the display management system controller device 2400 may perform one or more processes to identify one or more patterns from the data received from the sensors. In this manner, the display management system controller device 2400 may determine that the received sensor data may be indicative of an attempted theft in response to the rate at which products are being removed from display management systems within the store that are in close proximity to one another being above a threshold rate level. In response, the display management system controller device 2400 may communicate with the camera 2410, or communicate a message to security personnel, or the like.

In one embodiment, the display management system controller device 2400 may receive sensor data from an accelerometer sensor 2130 coupled to a flip window 2124. As such, data received from the accelerometer sensor 2130 may be indicative of the orientation of the flip window 2124. In one embodiment, the display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to recalibrate a detent position (also referred to as a return-to-zero position) associated with the accelerometer sensor 2130. In particular, the processor 2404 may perform one or more processes to identify that the flip window 2124 is positioned at a particular angle when the flip window 2124 is not moved. As such, the particular angle may not be equal to an angle of 0 ° from the vertical orientation. In response, processor 2404 may determine that a particular angle represents a detent position from which movement of accelerometer sensor 2130 is to be calculated.

In one embodiment, the display management system controller device 2400 may be configured to defer one or more processes associated with identifying an attempted theft. As such, processor 2404 may perform one or more processes to allow replenishment of one or more display management systems in communication with display management system controller device 2400, and so forth. In one example, a physical key may be utilized to un-communicate between the display management system (1800, 2100, and/or 2300) and the display management system controller device 2400. In another example, an electronic communication device (not shown) may be carried by a user who is replenishment of one or more of the display management systems in communication with display management system controller device 2400. In this way, the electronic drug devices may communicate over the network 2408 to identify the user as a person participating in restocking the display management system. In yet another example, one or more security features associated with display management system controller device 2400 that are configured to identify a potential theft attempt may be temporarily suspended based on instructions received by display management system controller device 2400 from a user. In one particular example, the user may be a store manager or the like. As such, the temporary suspension may be applied to a subset of the display management systems (e.g., one or more of the

display management systems

1800, 2100, and/or 2300) in communication with the display management system controller apparatus 2400.

In yet another example, display management system controller device 2400 may be connected to an inventory control system (not shown). In this way, information collected by display management system controller device 2400 regarding the number of products removed from one or more display management systems (e.g., one or more of

display management systems

1800, 2100, and/or 2300) may be communicated to an inventory control system, such that information related to inventory maintained within the store may be updated in real-time, and so forth.

In another example, the display management system controller device 2400 may be in communication with one or more devices configured to provide data associated with one or more display management systems (e.g., one or more of the

display management systems

1800, 2100, and/or 2300), one or more individuals within a store (e.g., customers who remove one or more products from the display management system), and/or one or more communication devices (e.g., cameras, electronic displays, microphones, ambient light sensors, motion sensors, mobile devices, etc.), among others. As such, display management system controller device 2400 may communicate with one or more of

devices

2006, 2330, 2410, and/or 2412. However, in one embodiment, communication between one or more of the

devices

2006, 2130, 2410, and/or 2412 may not use a direct network connection. As such, in one example, communications between one or more of the depicted

devices

2006, 2130, 2410, and/or 2412 may utilize a mesh network approach without departing from the scope of the disclosure described herein.

Fig. 25 schematically depicts a flowchart of a process 2500 that may be performed by the display management system controller device 2400, and in particular by the processor 2404. In particular, processor 2404 may receive sensor data from one or more sensors (e.g., one or more sensors 1822 and/or 2130, etc.). In one example, at block 2502, sensor data may be received. In response to receiving the sensor data, processor 2404 may perform one or more processes to determine the source of the received sensor data. In one embodiment, at block 2504 of process 2500, processor 2404 may determine the source of the sensor data. As such, processor 2404 may determine the display management system source of the received sensor data, such as one or more of

display management systems

1800, 2100, and/or 2300.

After determining the source of the received sensor data, processor 2404 may perform one or more processes to calculate the motion of the mechanisms of the display management system. In particular, processor 2404 may calculate the position of one or more of pusher 1804, flip window 2124, and/or helical track 2302. From this location information, processor 2404 may calculate the distance moved by one or more of the respective mechanisms (1804, 2124, and/or 2302). As such, at block 2506, the one or more processes for calculating motion of the mechanisms of the display management system may be performed according to the motion calculation methods previously described herein.

Further, process 2500 may calculate the number of products removed from the display management system. In particular, processor 2404 may perform one or more processes to infer or look up the depth of a product from a look-up table stored within memory 2402. Using this information, the processor 2404 can compare the depth of the product to the distance moved by the pusher 1804 in one example. In turn, the processor 2404 may calculate the number of products removed from the display management system 1800. Similarly, the processor 2404 may utilize a substantially similar process to determine the number of products inserted into the display management system 1800. Accordingly, at block 2508 of process 2500, such a determination of the number of products removed from the display management system may be performed.

In one example, in calculating the number of products removed from the display management system, processor 2404 may perform one or more processes to attempt to identify patterns from the received sensor data. As such, processor 2404 may perform one or more processes to attempt to identify a product removal pattern from one or more display management systems, such as

systems

1800, 2100, and/or 2300. In particular, processor 2404 may identify one or more product removal patterns indicative of potential attempted theft based on one or more product removal rates being above one or more threshold rate levels, and/or products being removed from the same display management system and/or display management systems within a predetermined physical radius of each other. In one example, processor 2404 may attempt to identify one or more patterns from the received sensor data at block 2510. Accordingly, decision block 2512 represents one or more processes performed by processor 2404 to check whether one or more product removal patterns are found from the received sensor data. In one example, if processor 2404 identifies a product removal mode, process 2500 may continue to block 2516 where processor 2404 may communicate an alert message. As such, the alert message may be an audible message and/or a siren sounded by a local audio box, such as local audio box 950. In another example, the alert message may be an electronic message or the like that is communicated to security personnel within the store. In another example, if the product removal mode is not recognized by processor 2404, process 2500 may proceed to block 2514 and allow display management system controller device 2400 to communicate with external devices (such as devices 2410 and/or 2412).

FIG. 26 is a flow diagram of a process 2600 for calculating the number of products removed from the display management system. In particular, process 2600 is described based on sensor data received from sensors (e.g., sensors 1822 and/or 2130) configured to output signals in response to movement of a movable mechanism (pusher 1804, flip window 2124, and/or spiral track 2302, etc.) within a display management system, such as

display management systems

1800, 2100 and/or 2300. In one example, at block 2602 of the process 2600, the sensor data may be received by the processor 2014. In response, the processor 2014 may perform one or more processes to determine changes in the received output data. In particular, processor 2014 may perform one or more processes to query memory 2010 for stored sensor values indicative of previous outputs from the same sensor from which data was received at block 2602. Accordingly, the processor 2014 may compare the stored sensor values to the new sensor values received from the display management system and calculate a change in output from the sensors.

In one embodiment, and at decision block 2606, the processor 2014 may compare the calculated change in the output signal from the sensor to one or more predetermined thresholds. As such, the one or more predetermined thresholds may represent motion thresholds below which the processor 2014 may discard the sensor data received at block 2602. In particular, if the received sensor data is below the one or more predetermined thresholds, it may not be the result of removing product from the display management system, and may be due to random movement/vibration of store shelves, etc. As such, in one example, block 2606 may have the behavior of an electronic filter, and so on.

In one example, the processor 2014 may perform those processes associated with

blocks

2602 and 2604 while operating in a low power configuration. In this manner, evaluation of the received sensor data may be performed while consuming reduced amounts of electrical energy, and in one example, thereby extending the battery life of sensors 1822 and/or 2130. Thus, at decision block 2606, if it is determined that the received sensor data does not represent movement of a mechanism of the display management system beyond one or more thresholds, the process 2600 proceeds to block 2608 and the processor 2014 remains in the low power consumption configuration. However, if it is determined that the received sensor data represents movement of a mechanism of the display management system above one or more thresholds, the process 2600 proceeds to block 2610 and the processor 2014 may enter a high power configuration. In one example, the high power configuration may include communication of sensor data to a remote processor, such as processor 2404. In another example, the high-power configuration can include one or more additional processes being performed by the same processor 2014, where the additional processes can consume power at a higher rate than the power consumed by the processor 2014 in the low-power configuration.

In one example, process 2600 includes calculating a position of a moveable mechanism (e.g., pusher 1804, flip window 2124, and/or spiral track 2302, etc.) of the display management system. In particular, this position calculation of the moveable mechanism of the display management system may be performed at block 2612. As such, the calculation of the position of the moveable mechanism of the display management system may include performing one or more sub-processes to convert the received sensor data into an indication of the position of the moveable mechanism. In particular, block 2612 may include performing one or more processes to convert a value proportional to the capacitance of the sensor 1822 into the position of the pusher 1804. Additionally or alternatively, block 2612 may include performing one or more processes to convert a value proportional to the acceleration sensed by accelerometer 2130 into the position of flip window 2124 or spiral track 2302.

In calculating the position of the moveable mechanism of the display management system, processor 2014 and/or processor 2404 may query a lookup table stored in memories 2010 and/or 2402 to obtain information associated with one or more products stored within the display management system. The information may include a depth dimension of the product stored within the display management system. Accordingly, using this information, the processors 2014 and/or 2404 may calculate the number of products removed from the display management system. In particular, the processors 2014 and/or 2404 may compare the distance moved by the moveable mechanisms of the display management system to a particular product size. In one particular example, the distance moved by the pusher 1804 may be divided by the depth dimension of the product stored within the display management system 1800. In one example, at block 2616, such a calculation of the number of products removed from the display management system may be performed.

The various embodiments described herein may be implemented by general purpose or special purpose computer hardware. In one example, computer hardware may include one or more processors, otherwise known as microprocessors, having one or more processing cores configured to allow parallel processing/execution of instructions. As such, the various disclosures described herein may be implemented as software code, wherein one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of coding languages that may be used with the disclosures described herein. Furthermore, the disclosures described herein may be used in the implementation of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or in the implementation of various electronic components including conventional electronic circuits (otherwise known as off-the-shelf components). In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various descriptions included in this disclosure may be implemented as data signals communicated using a variety of different technologies and processes. For example, the descriptions of the various disclosures described herein may be understood as including one or more streams of data signals, data instructions or requests and physically conveyed as bits or symbols represented by different voltage levels, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields, optical fields, or combinations thereof.

One or more of the disclosures described herein may include a computer program product having a computer-readable medium with instructions stored thereon/therein, which when executed by a processor, is configured to perform one or more of the methods, techniques, systems, or embodiments described herein. As such, the instructions stored on the computer-readable medium may comprise acts to be performed to perform various steps of a method, technique, system, or embodiment described herein. Further, the computer-readable medium may include a storage medium having instructions configured to be processed by a computing device, and in particular to a processor associated with the computing device. As such, the computer-readable medium may comprise persistent or volatile memory, such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a Solid State Drive (SSD), a compact disc (CD-ROM, DVD), a tape drive, a floppy disk, a ROM, a RAM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a DRAM, a VRAM, a flash memory, a RAID device, remote data storage (cloud storage, etc.), or any other media type or storage device suitable for storing data thereon/therein. In addition, a combination of different storage media types may be implemented as a hybrid storage device. In one embodiment, the first storage medium may be prioritized over the second storage medium such that different workloads may be implemented by storage media having different priorities.

Further, a computer-readable medium may store software code/instructions configured to control one or more of a general purpose or special purpose computer. The software may be used to facilitate an interface between a human user and a computing device, and wherein the software may include a device driver, an operating system, and an application program. As such, a computer-readable medium may store software code/instructions configured to perform one or more embodiments described herein.

Those of skill in the art would understand that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, techniques, or method steps of those embodiments described herein may be implemented as electronic hardware devices, computer software, or combinations of both. Thus, various illustrative modules/components have been described throughout this disclosure as generally functional, wherein one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the described disclosure may be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of both.

One or more embodiments described throughout this disclosure may utilize logic blocks, modules, and circuits, which may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP, or any other such configuration.

The steps of a technique or method described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in software executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. In some embodiments, any software module, software layer, or thread described herein may include an engine comprising firmware or software and hardware configured to perform embodiments described herein. The functions of the software modules or software layers described herein may be implemented directly in hardware, as software executed by a processor, or as a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An example storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read data from, and write data to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user device. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user device.

Fig. 27 illustrates an example block diagram of an apparatus for communicating and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure. The network 27110 may include a network having one or more access points, an internet appliance, a telephone network, a cellular telephone network, a fiber optic network, a local wireless network (e.g., WiMAX), a satellite network, and any other desired network. The network 27110 may include and/or serve as a cloud computing infrastructure that includes various processing and/or memory devices (e.g., servers, databases, application providers, etc.).

Detailed Description

The various devices described herein (such as a continuous display shelf edge label device, a server, a scanner, a database, a computer, etc.) can be computing devices, and fig. 27 illustrates general hardware elements that can be used to implement any of the various computing devices discussed herein. The computing device 27100 may include one or more processors 27101, which may execute instructions of a computer program to perform any of the features described herein. Processor 27101 may comprise a custom digital integrated circuit, such as an ASIC. However, in some applications, a commercially available processor may be used. The instructions may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer readable medium or memory to configure the operation of processor 27101. For example, the instructions may be stored in Read Only Memory (ROM)27102, Random Access Memory (RAM)27103, hard disk drive 27105, removable media 27104 such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, Compact Disk (CD) or Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), floppy disk drive or any other desired electronic storage medium. Instructions may also be stored on an attached (or internal) hard disk drive 27105. One or more of

memories

27102, 27103, 27104, and/or 27105 may include a higher-level operating environment, such as an operating system for higher-level functionality and adaptability.

One or more of

memories

27102, 27103, 27104, and/or 27105 may include stored address location and display data location data. The address location may include an address that identifies computing device 27100. The address can uniquely identify the computing device 27100. Display data location data can be used by processor 27101 to format data to be displayed on display 27111. This may include textual data, graphics, dynamic content, and combinations. According to at least one embodiment, the display data location data in memory may conform to a markup language such as HTML, XML, or the like. Although the display 27111 is shown external to the computing device 27100 in fig. 27, the display 27111 may also be integrated into the same physical housing and/or structure as the computing device 27100. One or more components shown within the computing device 27100 can similarly be housed separately in another device than the computing device 27100 and/or in another location.

The computing device 27100 may include one or more output devices, such as a display 27111 and a printer 27112, and may include one or more output device controllers 27107, such as a video processor. There may also be one or more user input devices (not shown), such as a remote control, keyboard, mouse, touch screen, microphone, etc. In another embodiment, user input/output functions may occur through the display 27111, where the display 27111 may be configured to allow touch screen input to see additional output on the display 27111. As shown in the example of fig. 29-34B, the display 27111 may be configured to be oriented along the entire edge of the shelf of the retailer. This area of the shelf typically includes: a paper label identifying a product for sale thereon; and possibly additional information such as price, cost/ounces, etc. Electronic shelf labels allow a similar concept to paper labels, but have a separate computing device with a display screen for each product. Such electronic shelf label devices provide information about the individual products sold thereon, as well as possibly additional information such as price, cost/ounces, etc., and may include additional output such as video. The video may contain promotional content, seasonal greetings, and/or general messages directed to the consumer. However, the display 27111 of fig. 27 is configured to output at least two user interfaces relating to two different products that a retailer may provide for sale.

The display 27111, which operates in conjunction with the device controller 27107 and/or the processor 27101, may be configured to receive a swipe of an individual's finger across its surface. The swipe of the finger may be associated with a list of actions to be taken with respect to the output user interface data. The display 27111, operating in conjunction with the device controller 27107 and/or the processor 27101, may be configured to translate one or more finger swipes across its surface into one or more specific actions to be taken as described herein. Illustrative examples may include interpreting movement of two fingers away from each other on a surface as a zoom-out instruction, e.g., an input used by an individual to zoom out on the size of something, such as the text size of a user interface, the boundary design size of a user interface, the frame size of a user interface, and so forth. Other examples include interpreting an "X" created by two finger movements over the top of the user interface as a delete instruction, such as an input by a person to delete the user interface. Still other examples include interpreting a press and hold and movement of a finger from one area of the display to another area of the display as a movement instruction, such as an input by an individual to move a user interface from a current location on the display to another location on the display. Further illustrative examples include interpreting a double tap on the display surface by a two finger tap as an add instruction, such as an input used by an individual to add a user interface to an area of the display being tapped. Still further illustrative examples include interpreting movement of two fingers on a surface toward each other as a zoom-out instruction, e.g., an input by an individual to zoom out on the size of something, such as the text size of a user interface, the border design size of a user interface, the frame size of a user interface, and so forth. The examples described herein are merely illustrative and any of a number of additional input movements/taps across the surface of display 27111, any of a variety of other types of instruction requests for a person to change parameters of the user interface on display 27111 may be included herein.

In other embodiments, the display 27111 may be configured to recognize movement of a stylus or other pointing device against its surface in a manner similar to that described herein with respect to an individual's finger. The user and display 27111 may interact with a stylus that is the source of input by the user. In terms of potential authorization of the individual, some manner of identification/authorization may be established in the stylus, such that if the stylus contacts display 27111, the stylus may act as a mechanism for authorizing the individual to make changes to one or more parameters of the continuously displaying shelf edge tag device as described herein. In still further embodiments, display 27111 may be configured to recognize movement of an individual's finger against its surface for direct input of user interface information. The user can use her finger to hand write pricing information and/or other information about a particular product on display 27111. Software may be included in the memory of the computing device to convert a received finger swipe to correspond to pricing information, product name information, and/or other product data information. In such an example, the staff can only write the current pricing for the product.

Similarly, the display 27111 may be configured to activate an on-screen electronic keyboard and/or electronic keypad. An alphanumeric user interface may be displayed on the display 27111 to allow an authorized individual to enter product information data in some other manner and/or to modify the user interface on the display 27111. For example, a worker may enter pricing for a particular product by entering a sequence of numbers on a displayed numeric keypad. Inputs having the "$" character, followed by "1", "4", "9" may be converted by software within a memory of a computing device associated with display 27111 to a $1.49 pricing label for a user interface for a particular product. In other cases, a worker may use alphanumeric characters to type in text for display in a user interface for a product, such as "sell now cheaply! ". In other cases, special numeric entry options are available to authorized individuals for quick entry. The favorites list may prompt the worker to select from a list in which one input may be "sell now cheap", a second input may be "end of tomorrow cheap sell", and another input may be "buy 1 send 1! ".

In other embodiments, an authorized individual may access display 27111 to access data of the user interface from a remote location. In the example of fig. 28A, where data about a product may be maintained in database 28223, a worker may access display 27111 in relation to a particular user interface for the product. A worker may access the database through a visual file/folder system. Each component implementing the disclosed network system described herein may be accessible through a continuous display shelf edge tag device and may appear as some type of visual indicator on display 27111. The worker may search for and find an applicable component of the requested data (such as finding an icon corresponding to database 28223) and access the component (launch the icon) to obtain the desired data. Any of a number of additional input mechanisms may be used, and the examples described herein are merely illustrative.

In further embodiments, the display 27111 may be configured to include gesture-based interface capabilities as a way of allowing authorized individuals to edit/manipulate the user interface on the display 27111. Display 27111 may include appropriate hardware and/or software components to interpret the pose of an individual (whether a pose of a finger, hand, and/or some other location) via a mathematical algorithm. These gestures may include one or more of the examples of finger-to-surface described herein. In some of these embodiments, one or more cameras may be associated with the display 27111 and/or included with the display 27111 for capturing imaging and recognition of gestures. Although most of the examples herein are for individuals using their finger-to-display interface (interfacing with), it should be understood that such examples may be similarly implemented by the gesture-based techniques described herein.

The computing device 27100 can also include one or more network interfaces, such as input/output circuits 27109 (such as network interface circuits, scanner interface circuits, etc.) that communicate with an external network 27110. The input/output circuit 27109 may be a wired interface, a wireless interface, or a combination of both. Input/output circuitry 27109 allows communication between two computing devices, such as a continuous display shelf edge label device and scanner (e.g., 28200 and 28221 in fig. 28 described herein), a continuous display shelf edge label device and remote user terminal (e.g., 28200 and 28227 in fig. 28 described herein), and/or a continuous display shelf edge label device and database (e.g., 28200 and 28223 in fig. 28 described herein), and/or a continuous display shelf edge label device and products on a shelf (e.g., 28200A, 28200B, and 28200C in fig. 28B described herein).

The computing device 27100 can also include a power supply 27113. The power supply 27113 allows the computing device to operate the processor 27101 and various other components. For example, the power drawn from power source 113 may be used to power products on a shelf, such as 28200A, 28200B, and 28200C in fig. 28B described herein. The power drawn from the power source 113 may also be used to provide power to the packaging that encloses the product on the shelf. The power supply 27113 may include a dedicated battery power source or an external power source, such as an AC power connection. In other embodiments, the power supply 27113 may be configured to operate by harvesting energy for operation from ambient light in a store in which the computing device is located. Light energy can be captured by various conversion means, such as by photosensors, solar photovoltaic panels, and photodiodes. Because the computing device 27100 can operate without an external source connection, movement of the computing device from one physical location to another can be accomplished without requiring reconnection to another external source. Furthermore, because the computing device 27100 can operate without an internal battery, the computing device need not be checked to ensure operation, nor do technicians need to replace internal batteries.

28A-28B illustrate example block diagrams of systems for communicating and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the invention. In the example of fig. 28A, a plurality of computing devices are shown as being operatively connected to network 28210. Network 28210 may include network 27110. Three sequential display shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C and products 28201A-28201C are shown connected to network 28210. Additionally, packaging that encapsulates products 28201A-28201C may also be connected to network 28210. The continuous display shelf edge tag devices 28200A-28200C may be computing devices 27100 and/or may include one or more of the components described therein. Three consecutive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C may be along the aisles of a retailer's store. As shown in fig. 28B, three successive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C may be positioned above each other. Products 28201A-201C may be positioned over each of successive display shelf-edge label devices 28200A-200C, respectively. Products 28201A-201C may communicate with each other and with successive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C. Although illustratively shown as wireless communication, the transmission path between successive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-200C and products 28201A-201C may be a wired communication path through network 28210 and/or in some other manner.

The continuous display shelf edge label device 28200A is shown in communication with a scanner 28221. Although illustratively shown as wireless communication, the transmission path between the continuous display shelf edge label device 28200A and the scanner 28221 may be a wired communication path through the network 28210 and/or in some other manner. Scanner 28221 may interact with continuous display shelf edge label device 28200A through a communication interface such as input/output circuit 27109. Continuously displaying shelf edge label device 28200A may be configured to receive data representing information about such products on a shelf at which continuously displaying shelf edge label device 28200A is located. An authorized individual (such as a retailer's staff member) may desire to update pricing data currently being displayed for products on the shelves. Through interface with scanner 28221, price data for a particular product may be electronically received by continuous display shelf edge label device 28200A. Exemplary ways to transmit such data include encoding the data for wireless transmission and wirelessly forwarding the data to the continuous display shelf edge label device 28200A. In one example, an individual may type a price at the scanner 28221 and data representing the price may be wirelessly transmitted to the continuously displaying shelf edge label device 28200A. The continuous display shelf edge label device 28200A may then update the user interface for the product corresponding to the price data described herein.

Successive display shelf

edge label devices

28200B and 28200C are shown in communication with each other. Although illustratively shown as wireless communication, the transmission path between successive display shelf

edge label devices

28200B and 28200C may be a wired communication path through network 28210 and/or in some other manner. Continuous display shelf edge tag device 28200B may interact with continuous display shelf edge tag device 28200C through a communication interface, such as input/output circuit 27109. Continuous display shelf edge label device 28200B may be configured to receive data representing information about products on shelves at which continuous display shelf edge label device 28200B is located. An authorized individual (such as a retailer's staff member) may desire to update pricing data currently being displayed for products on the shelves. By interacting with continuous display shelf edge label device 28200C, price data for a particular product may be electronically received by continuous display shelf edge label device 28200B. Such an interface may be a worker swiping his finger across the display surface of continuous display shelf edge label device 28200C to initiate a movement instruction to transfer the user interface from continuous display shelf edge label device 28200C to continuous display shelf edge label device 28200B. In one example, a worker may press and hold a user interface on the continuously displaying shelf edge label device 28200C and quickly move her finger in a flick action. Such an action may be interpreted by the system as transferring the flicked user interface to the next shelf edge. In this way, a flicked user interface may be added to continuously displayed shelf edge label device 28200B because continuously displayed shelf edge label device 28200B is on the next shelf edge above continuously displayed shelf edge label device 28200C. Illustrative means for transmitting such data include encoding the data for wired transmission and forwarding the data to the continuous display shelf edge label device 28200B.

Aspects of the interaction between workers located near a shelf and the scanner 28221 may be similarly implemented between workers located remotely from such a shelf. User terminal device 28227 is shown operatively connected to successive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C and products 28201A-201C through network 28210 and main hub 28225. The primary hub 28225 may be some type of central processing server configured to accommodate the transmission of communications between various back-end components of a retailer's network, such as user terminals 28227 and databases 28223, as well as from the back-end to the storefront-end (such as to the continuous display shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C) over the network 28210, and to products 28201A-201C over the network 28210. The master hub 28225, user terminal 28227, and/or database 28223 can include one or more components of the computing device 27100 shown in fig. 27.

A worker at user terminal 28227 may update pricing data and/or other data regarding a particular product on a particular shelf by accessing a continuously displaying shelf edge label device associated with the product. The user terminal 28227 may access the database 28223 to obtain current product information for potential displays and/or predetermined displays. Instructions regarding such product information may be sent from user terminal 28227 to the appropriate continuous display shelf edge label device. In other embodiments, database 28223, master hub 28225, and/or user terminal 28227 may push current product information data to the successive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-200C, either globally or exclusively. The continuously displaying shelf edge label devices 28200A-200C may receive such data and change the user interface being displayed as desired.

Alternatively, the continuous display shelf edge label devices 28200A-200C may be configured to automatically initiate price updates. For example, successive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C may access database 28223 to obtain current product information data for the corresponding user interfaces on successive display shelf edge label devices. The continuously displaying shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C may periodically poll the database 28223 for current product information data and change the user interface being displayed as needed.

In one such example, database 28223 may periodically update pricing changes, such as by a worker through user terminal 28227. In a second such example, database 28223 may obtain current product information from an external source when accessed by a continuous display shelf edge label device. These sources may include competing physical retailers and/or competing online retailers, and this allows database 28223 to obtain real-time current product information. Such current product information may be communicated from database 28223 to successive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-200C. In one example, database 28223 may also communicate an indication, e.g., using a flag (flag), whether the continuous display shelf edge label device should update the user interface to reflect current product information. Alternatively, the successive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-200C may be configured to independently determine whether the user interface should be updated to reflect current product information. For example, successive display shelf edge label devices 28200A-200C may be configured with thresholds. The continuously displaying shelf edge label device may update the user interface with the current product information if the price in the current product information falls above or below a threshold or within a threshold range. If the price in the current product information exceeds a threshold, the continuously displaying shelf edge label device may determine that the user interface should not be updated. Alternatively, in this case, the continuous display shelf edge label device may query database 28223 for exceptions. If the database 28223 allows exceptions, the continuous display shelf edge label device may update the user interface with current product information; otherwise, the continuous display shelf edge label device may not modify the user interface.

Fig. 29 illustrates an example block diagram of an apparatus for communicating and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure. Fig. 29 illustrates a continuous display shelf edge label device 29300, such as continuous display shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C. In this example, the continuous display shelf edge label device 29300 includes a single display area 29301 oriented along the entire edge of shelf 29350. In one example, shelf 29350 is made of plastic. Plastic shelving offers several advantages from a marketing perspective because plastic is lightweight. Lightweight plastic pallets are less expensive to transport and can be pulled out for purposes such as cleaning, retrieving dropped products, and inventory. This makes it easier and faster to change stock and stock shelves. Plastic pallets may be manufactured using a molding process, wherein the pallet may include a chassis into which a continuous display pallet edge label arrangement may be integrated. The plastic pallet may have repeaters embedded within the pallet. In addition, blade signs (blade signs) may be mounted on plastic pallets.

In addition, plastic pallets provide advantages over traditional metal pallets, as power (and other signals) can penetrate plastic pallets with little or no interference. The electronics and other components may be embedded directly into the plastic pallet. The passage of signals through the plastic shelf allows for power to be supplied to, for example, the printer 27112, the product on the shelf, and the packaging of the product to be enclosed on the shelf. For example, power may be transmitted over the air (over air) from a plastic shelf to a receiver in the product or its packaging. The passage of signals through the plastic shelves allows for better communication between components throughout the network, including communication from the back end computer to the shelves, pushers, and products. Plastic shelves may also be used to interact with the product-the display on the shelf may extend into the product or packaging package.

As mentioned above, electrical and other signals penetrate plastic shelves with less interference than metal shelves. Thus, it is easier to mount and power additional user devices to the plastic shelf 29350 (such as the printer 27112). This allows more user interaction and may encourage customers to make purchases they would not otherwise make. For example, if the customer selects a first product, the continuous display shelf edge tag device 29300 may display the component instructions for the first product and an option to allow the customer to print the component instructions via the printer 27112. In a second example, if the customer selects the first food item, the continuous display shelf edge label device 29300 may provide a recipe containing the first food item. The continuous display shelf edge tag device 29300 may present options to the user to print a list of recipes and/or other ingredients used in recipes via the printer 27112.

Continuous display shelf edge label device 29300 is also shown to include a locking mechanism 29303 that allows an individual to change the mode of operation of continuous display shelf edge label device 29300 as described herein. In one mode, authorized individuals may edit one or more of

user interfaces

29311, 29313, and 29315, while in a second mode,

user interfaces

29311, 29313, and 29315 may not be edited.

A single continuous display 29301 provides continuous labeling across shelf 29350 on the product itself (e.g., 29321, 29323, and 29325), on the packaging enclosing the product, or any combination thereof. A single continuous display 29301 allows dynamic and static messages, including streaming video/audio, to be sent to the customer. Dynamic messages may include pricing, advertising, images, and good greetings (e.g., happy holidays). As discussed above with reference to FIG. 28, changes in pricing can be quickly and efficiently reflected on the user interface. Price updates may be provided hourly, daily, weekly, yearly, etc., and may also fluctuate based on current and projected inventory. In addition, the user interface on the single continuous display 29301 is valuable real estate that retailers may utilize to recoup investment costs. For example, a retailer may lease display space on a user interface to manufacturers and other businesses for advertising. The data collected by the single continuous display 29301 via the interactive user interface may also be sold to various manufacturers and to numerous enterprises that are interested in collecting, analyzing, and monetizing the data.

A single continuous display 29301 is shown to include three separate user interfaces that provide information about three separate products for sale on shelves 29350. In this example, shelf 29350 holds first product 29321, second product 29323, and third product 29325. The single continuous display 29301 includes three digital user interfaces, one for each respective product for sale. The user interface 29311 provides information about the first product 29321 that is directly above the user interface 29311. Similarly,

user interfaces

29313 and 29315 provide information about second product 29323 and third product 29325 over

respective user interfaces

29313, 29315, respectively. Any of a variety of types of information about the product may be displayed on the single continuous display 29301, including graphics, text, animations, videos, and/or combinations.

Because the single continuous display 29301 is designed to be dynamic, the displayed messages are not limited to any particular size or configuration. Rather, the message may change dynamically and continuously, and may include any number of single continuous displays, user interfaces, products, and packaging enclosing the products in any combination. In one example, separate user interfaces in a single continuous display 29301 may be utilized such that each user interface displays a portion of a larger message. For example, if a single continuous display 29301 were to display "limited only time," user interface 29311 may be configured to display "limited," user interface 29313 may be used to display "time," and user interface 29315 may be configured to display "only. In another example, messages may be first distributed among a plurality of consecutive displays stacked vertically, and then further subdivided among individual user interfaces and/or packages corresponding to the user interfaces on each of the consecutive displays. The message may include graphics, text, animation, streaming video, or any combination thereof. Each of the vertically stacked plurality of sequential displays, user interfaces, and packages may then output a different portion of the message simultaneously.

FIGS. 30A-30B illustrate an example of changing a continuous display, according to one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure. The transition from fig. 30A to fig. 30B shows one possibility before and after the operation of changing the user interface of a single continuous display. In fig. 30A, a continuous display shelf edge label device 30400 for a shelf 29350 is shown. Continuous shelf label device 30400 may be one of continuous display shelf edge label devices 28200A-28200C and 29300. The continuous display shelf edge label device 30400 includes a single display area 30401 oriented along the entire edge of a shelf 29350. A single continuous display 30401 is shown to include three separate user interfaces that provide information about three separate products for sale on shelves 29350.

For this illustrative example, the digital separation line 30441 creates three separate visual boxes for three

separate user interfaces

30411A, 30413A, and 30415. The digital separation lines are not physical lines separating two displays, but rather digital lines creating the appearance of separating a single continuous display 30401 into multiple display regions. In this example, a shelf 29350 holds a first product 30421, a second product 30423, and a third product 30425. The single continuous display 30401 includes three digital user interfaces, one for each respective product for sale. The user interface 30411A provides information about a first product 30421 directly above the user interface 30411. The user interface 30413A provides information about a second product 30423 directly above the user interface 30413A, and the user interface 30415 provides information about a third product 30425 directly above the user interface 30415.

Turning to fig. 30B, a worker may want to change the product layout of shelf 29350, and in this example has removed third product 30425 from shelf 29350, and created a larger area on shelf 29350 for first product 30421 to reside on. Thus, as described herein, in response, the staff member changes the user interface of the single continuous display 30401. In this example, because the position of the user interface has changed, the user interface 30411B is now shown as having moved toward the right side of the continuous display 30401, because the first product 30421 has been moved to the right side of the shelf 29350. Similarly, since the second product 30423 has moved to the left of the shelf 29350, the user interface 30413B is shown as having moved toward the left side of the continuous display 30401. Because the third product 30425 is no longer being offered for sale on the shelf 29350, the user interface 30415 for the third product 30425 has been deleted from the continuous display 30401. In this example of FIG. 30B, because only two

user interfaces

30411B and 30413B are shown on the continuous display 30401, only one numeric dividing line 30441 is shown to frame out two

separate user interfaces

30411B and 30413B.

Fig. 31A-31C illustrate an example sequential display with a locking mechanism according to one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure. As described herein, a locking mechanism may be included on the continuously displaying shelf edge label device to prevent an unauthorized individual from changing one or more parameters of a user interface, such as displayed information, displayed on the continuously displaying shelf edge label device. Any of a variety of preventative approaches may be included herein, with the following being just some illustrative examples. In fig. 31A, a manual means input 31503A, such as for a physical key, may be included in the continuous display shelf edge label means 31500A. By inserting the appropriate key, the authorized individual can change the mode of operation of the continuous display shelf edge tag device from the display mode to the change mode.

The display mode may be an operating mode in which the continuous display shelf edge label device displays one or more interfaces on a single continuous display, and may even allow a user, such as a customer, to access the single continuous display to obtain additional information. Such access may be through touch access. However, in the display mode, such a customer cannot change the parameters of the user interface being displayed, such as the size of the user interface, the shape of the user interface, or the location of the user interface on a single continuous display. The customer may view and interact in the manner permitted without the ability to change the parameters of the display area of the user interface. The change mode may be an operating mode in which the continuous display shelf edge label device displays one or more interfaces on a single continuous display and allows an authorized user (such as a worker) to change one or more parameters of the single continuous display. Such access may be through touch access as described herein. In the change mode, the worker may change a parameter of the user interface being displayed on the single continuous display, such as the size of the user interface, the shape of the user interface, or the position of the user interface. In this way, a worker can easily modify any aspect of the user interface corresponding to a product at a point-of-sale.

31B and 31C illustrate two other types of locking mechanisms. In fig. 31B, a biometric scanner 31503B, such as one used to scan fingerprints, may be included in the continuous display shelf edge label device 31500B. By pressing a finger against the biometric scanner 31503B, the authorized individual can change the mode of operation of the continuously displayed shelf edge label device from the display mode to the change mode. In fig. 31C, a Near Field Communication (NFC) reader 31503C, such as an NFC enabled access card to scan a worker, may be included in the continuous display shelf edge label device 31500C. By pressing the NFC enabled access card against NFC reader 31503C, an authorized individual may change the operating mode of the continuous display shelf edge label device from display mode to change mode.

31D-31F illustrate examples of changing a continuous display of a user interface with a locking mechanism according to one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure. In the example of fig. 31D-31F, a locking mechanism is built into the continuous display shelf edge label device 31500D. In this example, the staff member will enter a code to change the mode of operation of the continuous display shelf edge label device 31500D. As shown in fig. 31D, a single continuous display 31501D includes two

user interfaces

31511 and 31513 for respective products. Also shown in fig. 31D is a lock icon 31503D. Accessing lock icon 31503D allows an authorized individual to change the mode of operation of the continuously displayed shelf edge label apparatus 31500D. By clicking on lock icon 31503D, the worker can be shown what is seen in fig. 31E. In fig. 31E, a new user interface 31503E appears that prompts the individual to enter a code to authorize a change in the mode of operation. By inserting the appropriate code in fig. 31E, an authorized individual may change the mode of operation of the continuous display shelf edge label device 31500D from display mode to change mode.

If the individual does not enter the correct code, the continuous display shelf edge label device 31500D may transition back to the appearance shown in FIG. 31D. However, if the individual does enter the correct code, the continuous display shelf edge label device 31500D may change the mode of operation to a change mode that allows the individual to change one or more parameters of one or more user interfaces for the product. After any change, the individual does not enter the correct code and the continuous display shelf edge label device 31500D may transition back to the display mode as shown in fig. 31F. As shown, the individual has changed the position of user interface 31511 and user interface 31513 relative to each other on a single continuous display 31501D. A lock icon 31503D is also shown.

FIGS. 32A-32B illustrate examples of changing a size of a user interface according to one or more illustrative aspects of the invention. In this illustrative example, an authorized individual has access to a mode change request in the continuous display shelf edge label device 32600. In this example, continuous display shelf edge label device 32600 includes a single continuous display 32601 oriented along the entire edge of the shelf. Fig. 32A may show two user interfaces 32611 and 32613a prior to changing the parameters of user interface 32613 a. In this example, the shape of the boundary of each user interface 32611 and 32613a is different, and the size of the text within the boundary is also different. Through one or more of the operations described herein, fig. 32B illustrates what a successive display shelf edge label device 32600 may look like after a change operation to change the size of the user interface 32613 a. As shown in fig. 32B, the user interface 32613B causes the text within it to shrink in size. From the transition of FIG. 32A to FIG. 32B, the authorized individual has changed the parameters of user interface 32613A (the large size of the text) to the parameters of user interface 32613B (the smaller size of the text).

33A-33B illustrate examples of changing a shape of a user interface according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure. In this illustrative example, an authorized individual has access to a mode change request in the continuous display shelf edge tag device 33700. In this example, the continuous display shelf edge label device 33700 includes a single continuous display 33701 oriented along the entire edge of the shelf. Fig. 33A may show two user interfaces 33711 and 33713A before changing the parameters of the user interface 33713A. In this example, the shape of the boundary of each of the user interfaces 33711 and 33713A is different, and the size of the text within the boundary is also different. Through one or more of the operations described herein, fig. 33B illustrates what the shelf edge label device 33700 may look like after a change operation to change the shape of the boundary of the user interface 33713A. As shown in fig. 33B, the user interface 33713B has the shape of a boundary of the user interface that is different in appearance. From the transition of fig. 33A to fig. 33B, the authorized individual has changed the parameters of the boundary of the user interface 33713A (rectangular shape) to the parameters of the boundary of the user interface 33713B (rounded corner rectangle with tip shape).

34A-34B show an example of changing the position of a user interface according to one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure. In this illustrative example, an authorized individual has access to a mode change request in the continuously displayed shelf edge tag device 34800. In this example, the continuous display shelf edge labeling apparatus 34800 includes a single continuous display 34801 oriented along the entire edge of the shelf. Fig. 34A may show two user interfaces 34811A and 34813a before changing the parameters of the user interfaces 34811A and 34813 a. In this example, the position of each user interface 34811A and 34813a within a single continuous display 34801 is changed. Through one or more operations described herein, fig. 34B illustrates what shelf edge label apparatus 34800 may look like after a change operation to change the position of two user interfaces 34811A and 34813 a. As shown in fig. 34B, within a single contiguous display 34801, the user interface 34813B changes positional orientation relative to the user interface 34811B. From the transition of FIG. 34A to FIG. 34B, the authorized person has changed the two parameters of the location of each

user interface

34811A and 34813A to the two parameters of the location of each

user interface

34811B and 34813B.

FIG. 35 illustrates an example method of distributing content according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure. In one example, one or more of the steps of fig. 35 can be implemented by the computing device 27100 of fig. 27 and/or the devices shown in fig. 28A-28B. The process begins and at step 35901, the continuous display shelf edge label device outputs two or more user interfaces via a single continuous display, each user interface corresponding to a product for sale. An example of this is shown in fig. 29. Proceeding to step 35903, a determination is made as to whether a change in mode of the continuous display shelf edge label device is authorized. An example of this would be a worker inserting her finger at the biometric scanner 31503B in fig. 31B and making the system aware that she is authorized to change the mode of operation of the continuous display shelf edge label device.

If the change in operating mode is not authorized in step 35903, the process moves to step 35905 where there are no instructions to change operating mode, and the process returns to step 35901 to output two or more user interfaces, each corresponding to a product for sale, via a single continuous display. If a change in operating mode is authorized in step 35903, the process passes to step 35907, where an additional determination is made at step 35907. At step 35907, a determination is made as to whether a parameter change input has been received. Illustrative examples of parameter changes are shown with reference to fig. 32A and 32B, fig. 33A and 33B, and/or fig. 34A and 34B. If no parameter change input is received, the process goes to step 35909. If a parameter change input is received in step 35907, the process moves to step 35911, where a change in the parameter is implemented on the requested user interface, such as increasing the size of the text of the user interface, in step 35911. The process then proceeds to step 35913.

Returning to step 35909, a further determination is made as to whether an input has been received to remove and/or add a user interface for a product. An illustrative example is shown in which the user interface 30415 is removed from fig. 30A through 30B. If no input is received in step 35909, the process can return to step 35905 and can further exit from the change mode of operation to the display mode of operation before returning to step 35901. If an input is received in step 35909, the process moves to step 35915 where the user interface to which the input applies is added or removed based on the input at step 35915. The process then proceeds to step 35913.

In step 35913, a determination is made as to whether additional changes in the change mode of operation are requested. If there are additional changes requested, the process may return to step 35907. If no additional changes are requested, the process proceeds to step 35917. In step 35917, prior to returning to step 35901, operation of the continuous display shelf edge label device from the changed mode of operation to the displayed mode of operation occurs to output two or more user interfaces via a single continuous display, each user interface corresponding to a product for sale and consistent with any changes that may have been made.

FIG. 36 shows another example method of distributing content according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure. In one example, one or more of the steps of fig. 36 can be implemented by the computing device 27100 of fig. 27 and/or the devices shown in fig. 28A-28B. The process begins and at step 271001, two successive display shelf edge tag devices each output two or more user interfaces via a single successive display, each user interface corresponding to a product for sale. Fig. 28B shows such an example. Proceeding to step 271003, a determination is made as to whether data is being received by one of the successive display shelf edge tag devices. If not, the process can return to step 271001. If data is being received in step 271003, the process moves to step 271005.

In step 271005, the shelf edge label device is continuously displayed confirming authorization of the data. For example, the system may confirm that the data being received is for a continuous display of shelf edge label devices. If the data is a global transmission from a database, such as database 28223 in FIG. 28A, the continuous display shelf edge tag device may determine that the data being received in step 271003 is not intended for a continuous display shelf edge tag device. With authorization for the data confirmed in step 271005, the process moves to step 271007, where the origin of the data can be determined 271007. For example, the continuous display shelf edge label device may determine that data is being received locally via wireless communication received from a scanner, such as scanner 27221 in fig. 28A. In another example, the continuous display shelf edge tag device may determine that data is being received remotely through wired communications received from a user terminal (such as user terminal 28227) via main hub 28225 and network 28210 in fig. 28A.

Turning to step 271009, a determination may be made as to whether it is desirable to change the user interface or interfaces currently being output via a single continuous display by a continuous display shelf edge label device. For example, if the data received in step 271003 and identified as being applied to the successive display shelf edge tag devices in step 271005 may include a price change for the product associated with the user interface being output. If no change is required in step 271009, the process may return to step 271001. If at step 271009 it is desired to change the user interface or interfaces currently being output via the single continuous display by the continuously displaying shelf edge label device, then the process moves to step 271011 where the change or changes to the user interface or interfaces currently being output are implemented via the single continuous display by the continuously displaying shelf edge label device at step 271011. Thereafter, the process may return to step 271001 where the two continuously displaying shelf edge tag devices each output two or more user interfaces, each corresponding to a product for sale, via a single continuous display at step 271001, where each user interface of the continuously displaying shelf edge tag devices that received the data at step 271003 outputs one or more user interfaces according to any changes that may have been implemented at step 271011.

Fig. 37 illustrates an example block diagram of a system for communicating and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure. In one example, one or more of the components of fig. 37 can be implemented by the computing device 27100 of fig. 27 and/or one or more of the devices shown in fig. 28A-36. In this example, a system 371100 is shown having multiple consecutive display shelf edge label devices operating together. In this example, there are four successive display shelf edge label devices. Each successive display shelf edge label device includes a single display area 371101A-371101D oriented along the entire edge of shelf 371150A-371150D. Further in this example, shelves 371150A-D each hold first product 371121A-371121D, second product 371123A-D, and third product 371125A-D, respectively. The single continuous displays 371101A-D each include three digital user interfaces, one for each product for sale. The user interfaces 371111A-D provide information about the first products 371121A-D, respectively, that are directly above the user interfaces 371111A-D. Similarly, user interfaces 371113A-D and 371115A-D provide information about second product 371123A-D and third product 371125A-D, respectively, over respective user interfaces 371113A-D, 371115A-D.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, various continuous display shelf edge label devices may operate in unison to provide additional information to customers. An array of continuous display shelf edge label devices may be configured by arranging them in a side-by-side (371101a and 371101B or 371101C and 371101D) orientation and stacking them on top of each other like shelves (371101a and 371101C or 371101B and 371101D). In the illustrative example of fig. 37, there are four consecutive display shelf edge label devices arranged as an array of 2x2, two rows and two columns of consecutive display shelf edge label devices. Any of a variety of additional arrangements may be implemented, including but not limited to 4 x 1, 3 x 4, 3 x 3, and 4 x 4 configurations.

By configuring the various successive display shelf edge label devices to operate together, the retailer can utilize the display to attract customers in any of a variety of desired ways. Such a configuration may be used to promote a single product, a single type of product, a single brand, and so forth. Animation and/or graphics may be implemented across multiple successive display shelf edge label devices. The different outputs on the display of the successive display shelf edge label devices may be implemented based on detecting the presence of a customer at the aisle, near a particular successive display shelf edge label device, and/or at some other location in the retail store. As described herein, different display modes may be implemented depending on the desired result and/or effect.

In one such example, every 10-15 seconds, the display on one or more of the successive display shelf edge label devices may change what is output in some manner. In other examples, one or more of the continuously displaying shelf edge label devices may remain unchanged in the display output acting as a very active (vibrant) billboard. The continuous display shelf edge label device may operate together whether the displayed output is moving or used as a more constant billboard.

In one embodiment, the customer may see further away and be attracted to the output of such a changed display or the output of a stationary display. The output of the changed display or the output of the stationary display may be the first display mode of operation. As a result, she may be near the shelf. As she approaches the shelf, one or more of the continuously displayed shelf edge tag devices may sense her presence, such as by a proximity sensor, and may switch to another display mode. In such an example, a particular advertisement for a product may appear, such as for a product associated with a continuous display shelf edge label device. Such an advertisement may be a notification that the product is being sold inexpensively. Once the customer is in front of a particular continuously displaying shelf edge label device for a given period of time (such as 3-5 seconds), the continuously displaying shelf edge label device may switch to another display mode in which SKU-specific pricing and packaging information may appear under each product.

In another embodiment, the continuous display shelf edge label device may be preconfigured to switch between different display modes at selected times. For example, the continuous display shelf edge label device may display a first price for a first product during 8 am and 10 am, and then may automatically display a second price for a second product during 10 am and 12 pm. This allows the retailer to adapt the price to the type of shopper shopping during each time interval, or to easily convert from a particular inexpensive price, such as the early-bird price, to a normal price.

In still other illustrative embodiments, the continuous display shelf edge label device may operate with a pusher assembly included within a shelf on which the continuous display shelf edge label device is oriented. The pusher assembly may include a pusher configured to place pressure behind the stack of products and push the stack forward toward the front of the shelf as the products are removed from the stack. Such a pusher assembly may include one or more components to determine the position of the pusher relative to some portion of the assembly. For example, a product stack may be able to fit 10 products. Integrated in the pusher assembly may be a floor that includes a tracker component at each of 10 locations, and the pusher may be configured to operate with the product at these 10 locations. When the pusher reaches the tracker component, data regarding the position of the pusher may be known and such data may be communicated to the continuous display shelf edge tag device.

Similarly, other data may also be determined and transmitted as needed. For example, movement of the pusher relative to the rack and/or the pusher assembly may be determined. Such a determination may be based on location and may include a timer component for determining movement. Additionally, in other examples, a rate of change of a product level of a product associated with a continuously displaying shelf edge label device may be determined. In such an example, a shelf originally stocked with 50 products is determined to have only 15 products left after a period of time (such as one hour), and a notification may be sent to the retailer's staff to restock the products on the shelf. Similarly, such data may be sent to a continuous display shelf edge label device for changing a user interface associated with the product. For the same example, where data has been received for only 15 products remaining, the user interface that continuously displays the shelf edge label device may be configured to change the information. In some examples, a display may show "last 15 remaining in stock! "or the display output may automatically reduce the price on the user interface by 10%, or the display may flash/blink if it is determined that there are staff members in the area that continuously displays the shelf edge label device. The continuous display shelf edge label device may sense the presence of a worker, such as by sensing that the worker's NFC-enabled access card is within a sensing range of a sensor associated with and/or included within the continuous display shelf edge label device.

Other data may be communicated from the pusher and/or pusher assembly to and/or determined by the continuously displayed shelf edge label device. For example, the continuous display shelf edge label device may be programmed with data about the product with which the continuous display shelf edge label device is associated, and/or the continuous display shelf edge label device may access such data from a local or remote source (such as database 28223 in fig. 23). In one example, a product may have expiration data. For example, the product may be milk and the particular products on the shelves for sale may have the same expiration date. A threshold may be established to track the number of remaining milk items for an expiration date in order to move the milk items out of the shelf, whether for a customer or for a newer milk item having a later expiration date. In one case, the system may decrease the price of milk as the time until the expiration date is met decreases to a threshold. If the expiration date is one week later, the continuous display shelf edge label device may output a price of $2 for milk. When the expiration date is 4 days later, the price may be decreased by 10%, or by $ 0.25. If some milk remains after 2 days of expiration, the price may be reduced by 50%, or by $ 1. In other cases, a notification may be provided to the retailer's staff in some manner as the expiration date approaches the threshold. The staff member may receive a notification that the milk needs to be replaced or may soon need to be replaced, either by text or email, on a handheld scanner, and/or otherwise.

Other descriptive information about the product may also be communicated from the pusher and/or pusher assembly to and/or determined by the continuous display shelf edge label device. Such examples include determining a remaining product amount of another product and, in response, changing a user interface of a continuously displayed shelf edge label device. For example, a continuously displaying shelf edge label device may determine or receive data from another continuously displaying shelf edge label device regarding competing and/or related products (such as toothpaste to toothbrush). With such data, the continuously displaying shelf edge label device may change the user interface of the product associated therewith accordingly, such as the price of the product. In this way, an algorithm can be established for handling when and under what conditions a price change occurs automatically at the shelf edge label device. The continuous display shelf edge label device may access a remote source to be authorized to do so, and/or determine itself that the user interface of the product should be changed. Thus, if it is determined that competitor's products are removed from the shelf in a much faster manner than moving products, a price reduction may occur for the products.

The features of the computing device described herein (which may be one of the devices shown in fig. 27) may be subdivided among multiple processors and computing devices.

38-40 illustrate one or more aspects of a wireless store intelligence system that can be configured for use in conjunction with the various apparatuses discussed herein, for example, to integrate theft prevention, manage inventory, process electronic price displays, provide marketing messages, provide interactive displays, and provide shopping tools. FIG. 38 depicts an exemplary environment for implementing one or more aspects of a wireless store intelligence system. Computer software, hardware, and networks may be used in a number of different system environments, including stand-alone, networked, remote-access (aka remote desktop), virtualized, and/or cloud-based environments, among other examples. FIG. 38 illustrates an example of a system architecture and data processing system that may be used to implement one or more exemplary aspects described herein in stand-alone and/or networked environments. A plurality of

network nodes

38103, 38105, 38107, and 38109 may be interconnected via a Wide Area Network (WAN)38101, such as the internet. Other networks and configurations may also or alternatively be utilized, including private intranets, corporate networks, Local Area Networks (LANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), wireless networks, personal networks (PANs), and so forth. Network 38101 is for illustrative purposes and fewer or more computer networks may be substituted. For example, the LAN may comprise one or more of any known LAN topology and may use one or more of a number of different protocols, such as ethernet or WiFi. The

devices

38103, 38105, 38107, 38109 and other devices (not shown) may be configured to connect to one or more of the networks through twisted pair wires, coaxial cable, optical fiber, radio waves, or other communication media.

The term "network" as used herein and shown in the accompanying drawings refers not only to systems in which remote storage devices are connected together by one or more communication links, but also refers to individual devices that may occasionally be connected to such systems having storage capacity. Thus, the term "network" includes not only "physical networks," but also "content networks," which are comprised of data residing across all physical networks, including that may be attributed to a single entity.

The components may include a data server 38103, a web server (web server) 38105, and

client computers

38107, 38109. The data server 38103 provides general access, control and management of databases and control software for handling one or more illustrative aspects described herein. Data server 38103 may be linked to web server 38105 through which users may interact and obtain data as needed via web server 38105. In the alternative, the data server 38103 may itself act as a web server and connect directly to the Internet. The data server 38103 may be linked to the network server 38105 by a network 38101 (e.g., the internet) through a direct or indirect connection, or through some other network. Users may work with the data server 38103 by utilizing

remote computers

38107, 38109, for example, using a web browser to link to the data server 38103 through one or more externally exposed websites hosted (host) by the web server 38105. The

client computers

38107, 38109 may be used with the data servers 38103 to obtain data stored in the data servers 38103, or may be used for other or additional functions. In one example, a user may access web server 38105 from client device 38107 using an internet browser, or by utilizing a software application that communicates with web server 38105 and/or data server 38103 over a computer network (such as the internet).

The server and application may be joined on the same physical machine and maintain separate virtual or logical addresses, or may reside on separate physical machines. Fig. 38 shows only one iteration of a network architecture that may be utilized, and those skilled in the art will recognize that the particular network architecture and data processing apparatus used may vary and are secondary to the functionality they provide, as further described herein. In one example, the functionality provided by the web server 38105 and the data server 38103 can be incorporated on a single server.

Each

component

38103, 38105, 38107, 38109 may be any type of computer, server, or data processing device known in the art. The data server 38103 may include, for example, a processor 38111 that directs the overall operation of the rate server 38103. The data server 38103 may also include RAM 38113, ROM 38115, network interface 38117, input/output interface 38119 (e.g., keyboard, mouse, display, printer, camera, scanner, touch screen, etc.), and memory 38121. I/O38119 may include a number of interface units and drivers for reading, writing, displaying, and/or printing data or files. Memory 38121 may further store operating system software 38123 for controlling the overall operation of data processing apparatus 38103, control logic 38125 for instructing data server 38103 to perform aspects described herein, and other application software 38127 that provides auxiliary, support, and/or other functionality, which may or may not be used in combination with features described herein. The control logic may also be referred to herein as data server software 38125. The functionality of the data server software may refer to operations or decisions made automatically based on rules encoded into the control logic, made manually by a user providing input into the system, and/or a combination of automated processes based on user input (e.g., queries, data updates, etc.).

Memory 38121 may also store data used in performing the acts of one or more of the features described herein, including storing into first database 38129 and second database 38131. In some embodiments, the first database may have a second database (e.g., as a separate table, report, etc.). That is, depending on the system design, the information may be archived in a single database or distributed to different logical, virtual, or physical databases.

Devices

38105, 38107, 38109 may include similar or different architectures than those discussed with respect to device 38103. The functionality of the data processing apparatus 38103 (or the

apparatuses

38105, 38107, 38109) as discussed herein may be positioned across multiple data processing apparatuses, for example to distribute processing load across multiple computers, to segregate transactions based on geographic location, user access level, quality of service (QoS), etc., as understood in the art.

In addition, any number of personal computers, such as desktops, laptops, notebooks, mobile phones, or smartphones with applications and other functionality, handheld devices with Wi-Fi or other wireless connectivity (e.g., wireless tablets, PDAs, etc.), displays with built-in or external memory and processors, or any other known computers, computing devices, or handheld computers may also be connected to one or more of the networks described herein. It is also contemplated that other types of devices, such as kiosks, ATMs, and other devices may be connected to one or more of the networks described herein. Wireless access points may be provided for connecting these devices and may include a series of cellular towers supported by one or more service providers. Additionally, the wireless access points may be Wi-Fi (e.g., compatible with IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/and similar wireless communication standards) connections, and the computing devices may gain access to the internet at these connections. Other techniques, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, may be used to allow the device to connect to the network.

One or more features may be embodied in computer usable or readable data and/or computer executable instructions, one or more program modules, which may be executed by one or more computers or other devices described herein. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types when executed by a processor in a computer or other device. A module may be written in a source code programming language that is then compiled for execution, or may be written in a scripting language such as (but not limited to) Javascript or ActionScript. The computer executable instructions may be stored on a computer readable medium such as a non-volatile storage device. Any suitable computer readable storage medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or any combination thereof. In addition, various transmission (non-storage) media representing data or events described herein can be transmitted between a source and a destination in the form of electromagnetic waves propagating through signal-conducting media, such as metal wires, optical fibers, and/or wireless transmission media (e.g., air and/or space). Various aspects described herein may be embodied as methods, data processing systems, or computer program products. Thus, the various functions may be implemented in whole or in part in software, firmware, and/or hardware such as integrated circuits, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc., or hardware equivalents. Particular data structures may be used to more effectively implement one or more aspects described herein, and such data structures are contemplated to be within the scope of computer-executable instructions and computer-usable data described herein.

Fig. 39 shows an example configuration of a wireless store or facility intelligence system. As shown in fig. 39, a hub 39100 may be provided. The hub 39100 may be a centralized data routing and receiving device and may interconnect various devices. As described herein, various inputs and outputs may be configured to be routed (route) from these devices through the hub 39100.

In one example, a plurality of endpoint devices 39202-39210 that may be associated with product shelves may be configured to connect to the hub 39202-39210 via a wired or wireless connection, as discussed herein. In one example, the plurality of

endpoint devices

39202 and 39210 may be configured to transmit information to the hub or receive information from the hub 39100. The endpoint devices 39202-. The hub 39100 may also be configured to make decisions based on information received from the endpoint devices 39202 and 39212, such as by generating specific alerts based on inventory data and outputting the alerts to one or more of a display, speaker, or light 39328.

In a particular example, the endpoint devices may include product quantity and movement sensing devices 39202, product security window sensing devices 39204, hook product movement sensing devices 39206, electronic shelf labels 39208, interactive displays 39209, beacons 39207, or other sensing devices and/or displays 39210. For example, the endpoint devices may be the

display management systems

1800, 2100, and 2300 described above with respect to fig. 18-24, or the continuous display shelf edge label device described above with respect to fig. 28-37. In addition, interactive display 39209 may be interconnected to a system that provides interactive shopping tools for customers to assist in making shopping decisions. Beacons interconnected with the system may be configured to determine that a target device (e.g., a shopper's cell phone) is within its range, and may initiate communication with that device for the purposes of advertising or providing shopping support/assistance in certain situations. Additional endpoint devices that provide inventory data and/or are configured to display product information or shelf labels are also contemplated.

The hub 39100 may also be interconnected with a network that may include

various servers

39322, 39324, 39326 and a cloud 39320. Hub 39100 may also be configured to send and receive information to and from

various servers

39322, 39324, 39326, or cloud 39320 using various communication protocols as discussed herein. For example, the hub 39100 may download information from a plurality of endpoint devices 39202-39210 and send the information to any desired server or portion of a network, such as the in-store server 39322, the cloud 39320, and/or the external client server 39324. The received information may then be processed at one or more servers, and the servers may make decisions about the received data, such as by generating certain alerts 39330 or requests based on inventory data, or may make the received information available for viewing on a portal 39326.

An example hub 39100 is shown in fig. 40, which may be configured as a computing device that may include the components and features discussed herein in combination with or in addition to the hardware and software components discussed below. Additionally, any device interconnected with the hub 39100 may be configured as a computing device and may include similar components and features as the hub 39100 and features discussed herein. The example hub 39100 may include one or more processors 40101 that can execute instructions of a computer program to perform any of the features described herein. The processor 40101 can comprise a custom digital integrated circuit such as an ASIC. However, in some applications, a commercially available processor may be used. The instructions may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer readable medium or memory to configure the operation of the processor 40101. For example, the instructions may be stored in Read Only Memory (ROM)40102, Random Access Memory (RAM)40103, hard disk drive 40105, removable media 40104 such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, Compact Disk (CD) or Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), floppy disk drive or any other desired electronic storage medium. The instructions may also be stored in an attached (or internal) hard drive 40105. One or more of

memories

40102, 40103, 40104, and/or 40105 can comprise a higher level operating environment, such as an operating system for higher level functionality and adaptability.

The hub 39100 may include various external controls. For example, there may be one or more user input devices (not shown), such as a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, a microphone, a camera, and so forth. The hub may also include an optional display 40111 and/or an optional speaker 40115, and may include one or more output device controllers 40107, such as a video or audio processor. The display may be an LCD display in one example, or any other known display type. In one example, the hub may also include one or more lights, such as indicator lights. In another embodiment, user input/output functions may occur through the display 40111, wherein the display 40111 may be configured to allow touchscreen input to see additional output on the display 40111.

One or more of the

memories

40102, 40103, 40104, and/or 40105 can include stored address location and display data location data. The address location may include an address that identifies the hub 40100, which may be a unique identifier in one example. In one example, display data location data may be used by the processor 40101 to format data to be displayed on the optional display 40111. This may include textual data, graphics, dynamic content, and combinations. According to at least one embodiment, the display data location data in the memory may conform to a mark-up language (mark-up language) such as HTML, XML, and the like. Although display 40111 is shown external to computing device 40100 in fig. 40, display 40111 and speaker 40115 may also be integrated into the same physical housing and/or structure as hub 39100. One or more of the components shown within hub 39100 may similarly be housed separately in another device and/or in another location with hub 39100.

The hub 39100 may include an I/O module 40109 that provides one or more inputs and outputs. According to the example discussed above with respect to fig. 39, the hub 39100 may also include one or more network interfaces (such as network interface circuits, scanner interface circuits, etc.) to communicate with the external network 39110, the hub 39100 may include any other computing device, endpoint device, server, cloud server, etc. The I/O module 39109 may be a wired interface, a wireless interface, or a combination of both. In one example, hub 39100 may be connected to one or

more networks

39324, 39326, 39320, computing devices, and/or endpoint devices 39202 and 39212 via twisted pair wires, coaxial cable, optical fiber, radio waves (fixed or plug-in radio option), or other communication media. For example, the connection may be via the Internet, Ethernet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a cellular modem, or infrared. In one particular example, the connections may be made using reduced power consumption types of communications or low power radio signals, such as bluetooth low energy (also referred to as "bluetooth LE," "bluetooth smart" or "BLE"), Zigbee, and ISM. In one example, the ISM may be 315/433MHz ISM or NFC. However, any other known wireless transmission method may be considered to form the above-described connection, including other efficient proprietary and custom protocols.

Hub 39100 may also include a power supply 40113. The power supply 40113 allows the hub 39100 to operate the processor 40101 and various other components. The power supply 40113 may include a dedicated battery power supply, a power over Ethernet (poe over Ethernet) or an external power supply, such as an AC power connection, or a combination thereof.

In a facility such as a store, multiple hubs 39100 may be provided depending on the number and location of

endpoint devices

39202 and 39210. The hub 39100 may be placed on a facility ceiling or at the top of a shelf or merchandising system (merchandising system). Each hub may be assigned to a predetermined set of

endpoint devices

39202 and 39210, and the plurality of

endpoint devices

39202 and 39210 may be configured to transmit information to a neighboring predetermined hub of the plurality of hubs 39100 or receive various data from a predetermined hub of the plurality of hubs 39100. Each hub 39100 may be located near a predetermined set of

endpoint devices

39202 and 39210 assigned to the hub 39100. It is also contemplated that the plurality of hubs may be configured to communicate with each other and determine with which endpoint device each hub should communicate. The shorter distance between endpoint devices 39202-. This may help reduce the cost of the overall system.

Additionally, in this example, each of the plurality of hubs 39100 may be interconnected with a server, such as a facility server, such as in-store server 39322 or cloud 39320. The multiple hubs 39100 may receive inventory information from one or more of the

multiple endpoint devices

39202 and 39210 and communicate the inventory information to an in-store server, facility server, or cloud. Hub 39100 may also be configured to receive information from an in-store server, facility server, or cloud server and transmit the information to one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices 39202-39210.

According to examples discussed herein, each of the plurality of hubs 39100 may receive information, such as price information, marketing materials, and other product information, from an in-store server, facility server, or cloud server and transmit the information to a particular set of endpoint devices. Additionally, each of the hubs 39100 may be configured to send inventory received from a predetermined set of

endpoint devices

39202 and 39210 to an in-store server, facility server, or cloud.

As described above, the hub 39100 may be configured to link to the endpoint devices 39202 and 39212 and other systems that utilize data from the endpoint devices 39202 and 39212. In one example, hub 39100 may be configured to perform one or more of the following functions: (1) act as a data aggregator to accumulate data and then pass the data along one or more networks, (2) receive, track, and calculate inventory levels, (3) perform various actions depending on the data received from the endpoint device 39202 and 39212, such as generating alarms, (4) efficiently communicate various data to the endpoint device 39202 and 39212, (5) communicate data to the network/internet at higher data rates with higher level protocols (such as WiFi), (6) monitor endpoint devices and report the status of endpoint devices.

The hub 39100 may receive and store data received from the endpoint devices 39202-39212, thus acting as a data aggregator, and may be configured to communicate the stored data to another computing device, a server, or the internet. For example, the hub may be configured to receive inventory data or customer information from an endpoint device as discussed herein. In another example, the hub may be configured to receive various log file data from endpoint devices 39202 and 39212.

In one example, hub 39100 may transmit the stored data upon request. In an alternative example, hub 39100 may be configured to receive a predetermined amount of data before transmitting the data over the network. For example, the hub may manage servers of the endpoint devices that alert the problematic endpoint devices based on a predetermined duration of lack of input from the endpoint devices. In one example, once the endpoint device stops communicating with the hub, the hub may start a timer and wait a predetermined period of time before sending an error code or alert to the network and/or the appropriate human device. The hub may also be configured to aggregate the information into a single file and send the single file to the network, for example by sending a log file of the entire facility, rather than sending a report for each endpoint device individually. This helps to reduce network traffic and thereby improve overall network efficiency.

In other examples, the hub 39100 may transmit data at predetermined times, or when certain conditions occur, such as a low inventory condition or a theft condition. In this way, inventory data may be acted upon by a store inventory management system, for example, to schedule restocking or appropriate personnel may be notified regarding potential theft. Additionally, the hub 39100 may be configured to calculate and track the number of products based on inventory information received from the endpoint devices 39202-39212. For example, according to the example described above, each of the endpoint devices 39202-39212 may collect inventory data, and the hub 39100 may receive the inventory data from each of the endpoint devices 39202-39212 and calculate the number of products located on each of the shelves monitored by the hub 39101. For example, the quantity and movement sensing devices 39202, the product security window sensing device 39204, the hook product movement sensing device 39206 may provide a hub with a respective individual count (tally) of products monitored by each device, and the hub 39100 may maintain a running tally of inventory on each shelf being monitored.

Alternatively or additionally, the hub 39100 may be configured to track the location of the endpoint device, which may be related to the number of products on the shelf, and the hub 39100 may be configured to determine how many products are on the shelf and/or the facility. Where multiple hubs 39100 are employed, each hub 39100 may maintain a running inventory of inventory and may be configured to report inventory quantities to a centralized server such as the in-store server 39322 or the cloud 39320. The in-store server 39322 may then maintain a running tally of the number of products within the facility and make decisions based on inventory, notifying appropriate personnel of the product level or when replenishment is needed. Additionally, the total inventory of the company may be calculated by routing all store inventory information to the client company server 39324. For example, the network may be configured to receive inventory information and send a notification once the inventory level reaches a predetermined value.

According to the examples described herein, the hub 39100 itself may also perform various actions with respect to data received from one or more of the endpoint devices 202 and 212. For example, the hub may be programmed to detect theft situations, and various rules may be set to trigger an alarm based on theft activity. For example, if a possible theft is occurring, the hub may also be configured to send a predetermined message, such as an alarm or text message, to the smart phone or handheld device of one or more responsible parties (such as a facility manager, staff, stock clerk, etc.). In other examples, the hub 100 may communicate with another computing device and/or facility PA system to play messages based on one or more predetermined conditions. Additionally, the hub may be configured to play audio messages (with local audio options) on attached speakers, e.g., the hub 39100 may include an audio message player with speakers and audio playback circuitry that may be configured to play security sounds. In this manner, the centralized hub may play the security message rather than configuring each product or commercial display to play the security message. In other examples, the hub 100 may be connected to a store security system that may be programmed to locate an optional camera and initiate recording of video in the vicinity of a potential theft, similar to the examples discussed herein.

In another example, the hub 39100 may be configured to track the location of an endpoint device, which may be associated with a possible theft. For example, the hub may be configured to detect anomalous activity. Specifically, the hub can detect rapid and large movements of the pusher to detect abnormal shopping conditions.

Additionally, indicator lights may be attached to the hub, which may illuminate when a predetermined condition occurs. In particular a plurality of colored indicator lights, such as green, yellow and red, each of which may provide a different alarm/meaning, e.g., green indicating that the system is functioning properly, yellow indicating a potential problem, red indicating a fault or theft condition. Certain color codes may also indicate predetermined types of theft.

Additionally, various rules may be set to trigger alerts based on inventory levels. For example, if the inventory level reaches a certain threshold, the hub or network may also be configured to send a predetermined message, such as an alert or text message, to the smartphone or handheld device of one or more responsible parties (such as a facility manager, staff, stock clerk, etc.). In other examples, the hub or network may be provided with various rules that automate inventory actions, such as when to request restocking or when to order additional products.

The hub 39100 may also be configured to communicate all data as discussed herein to the

endpoint device

39202 and 39210, such as pricing, marketing materials, product information, product location information, user specifications, advertisements, discounts, promotions, transactions, coupons, shopping support/help information, discount information, updates to software, updates to operating systems, and the like, and may be in the form of text, images, audio, video, data files, executable files, and the like. The hub 39100 may be configured to communicate any of the information discussed above to the endpoint device 39202-39210, such as the interactive display 39209 or the continuous display shelf edge label device examples described above with respect to fig. 28-37. For example, the hub 39100 may be configured to send or update data representing information about the product on the shelf on which the endpoint device is located, e.g., current product information data for a user interface on a continuously displaying shelf edge tag device or interactive display. The information may come from any of the various interconnected components in the wireless intelligent system network as discussed herein, such as a facility server, an in-store server, or a cloud.

The hub 39100 may also be configured to periodically update the

endpoint devices

39202 and 39210 with current software, operating systems, and/or updated content. As described herein, updates may be pushed from the network. The hub may also check to see if the endpoint device is properly updated and report back to the network at a predetermined time to indicate if the update was successful.

The hub may be configured to store data received from the network for the endpoint device as discussed above and determine when to send the data out to the endpoint device, such as at predetermined times of day, week, month, etc. For example, the hub may be configured to transmit data to the endpoint device during off-peak hours at the facility when the endpoint device may not be in use. Thus, the hub can manage network traffic to the endpoint device and not burden the endpoint device with some non-critical data while the endpoint device is in use.

The hub 39100 may be configured to communicate data to the network/internet at higher data rates with higher level protocols (such as Wi-Fi), allowing the hub 39100 to transmit data bi-directionally and receive and transmit data efficiently, making the system more cost-effective and energy-efficient. In one example, the hub 39100 may be configured to communicate with storage systems or other areas of the internet and networks at higher level protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi), at higher data rates, and may also be configured to communicate with multiple endpoint devices via a low energy transport protocol. In this manner, the system may utilize low energy transmission to avoid having to provide a large amount of power to each of the endpoint devices without sacrificing the ability to efficiently collect data. This allows the hub 39100 to send data bi-directionally and receive data efficiently, as discussed herein, helps the hub 39100 to send larger files, such as usage log information, video, and data updates, more quickly and efficiently.

The hub 39100 may also be configured to monitor endpoint devices and provide reports on the status of endpoint devices, allowing the health of endpoint devices to be assessed and problematic endpoint devices to be reported. In one example, the hub may also receive periodic updates or "heartbeats" from the endpoint device to indicate status. These heartbeats may be in the form of any of the transmissions discussed herein, and may inform the hub 39100 that an endpoint device is connected to the system and operating. The heartbeat transmission may include various data related to the operation of the endpoint device, such as a device serial number, presence status, battery life information, operating system/software version, update status information, network context information, and the like. This helps monitor the network integrity of the system and ensures that the endpoint devices are properly connected to the system. In one example, after installation of an endpoint device in a store or facility, a heartbeat transmitted from the endpoint device may indicate to the hub that the device is working and operational. In this way, if the hub does not receive a heartbeat from an endpoint device after a predetermined time, the hub may send a message or alert to an in-store server, cloud, or the like to indicate that the particular endpoint device is not operating, and a person such as a technician may troubleshoot or diagnose the situation. Further, the heartbeat from the endpoint device may include software and hardware information to allow a person to determine if any updates to the endpoint device are needed.

In an alternative example, the hub 39100 may be configured to diagnose certain errors and faults of the endpoint devices. For example, if the endpoint device does not respond to requests for inventory data, the hub 39100 may alert the appropriate personnel through the various channels discussed herein. In other examples, the endpoint device may be configured to cause the hub 39100 to emit a sound if certain fault conditions or error codes are encountered, such as low battery, a fault sensor, or a fault display. Upon receiving an indication of a fault condition, the hub 39100 may be configured to alert appropriate personnel immediately or after a predetermined time, depending on the error or fault, and the likelihood that the problem may be resolved within the network. Personnel can then troubleshoot or replace the problematic endpoint device.

As discussed with respect to the examples discussed above with respect to fig. 18-24, the endpoint devices 39202 and 39212 may be configured to collect various data, such as inventory data and customer information. For example, as described herein, an endpoint device may be configured to collect various data about a store environment and configured to communicate the data together. Endpoint devices 39202-39212 may also be configured as display devices for displaying various data including static and dynamic images. For example, according to the examples discussed above with respect to the continuously displaying shelf edge label devices of fig. 28-37, certain end-point devices may be configured to display real-time data regarding product information, pricing, and/or marketing information to shoppers. In the multi-hub example, the plurality of endpoint devices 39202-39212 may be configured to transmit inventory information to a neighboring predetermined hub of the plurality of hubs or receive price information from a predetermined hub of the plurality of hubs.

Another example endpoint device may be configured as an interactive tablet and/or display device 39209, an example of which is depicted in fig. 41. The interactive display device 39209 may be configured as a computing device and may include one or more of the various hardware and software components as discussed herein. For example, the interactive display 39209 may be provided with multi-touch screen technology and other inputs, such as a barcode scanner. The interactive display device 39209 may be configured to provide assistance to customers for making decisions to determine which products to purchase in order to provide the retailer with an opportunity to bridge the gap between in-store and online retail.

For example, the interactive display 39209 may be configured to provide interactive product information to customers and/or shoppers at the shelf edge. The interface may provide many different views and menus of products that can be selected, or the products may be scanned to access product information stored therein. The interactive display 39209 may also provide up-sales and cross-sales based on the customer's selection or previous selections and provide relevant suggestions to the customer. For example, if a customer is interested in shoes, the interactive display may provide other similar shirt or pants of shoe selection or matching. The interactive display device 39209 may also provide for immediate price comparisons and real-time updates. The interactive display device 39209 may provide price matching or some incentive for purchasing a product in a store on the current day. The interactive display device 39209 may provide online reviews to shoppers. In one example, interactive display device 39202 may also rely on social media and may provide shoppers access to product recommendations from peers. Further, interactive display device 39209 may integrate the store's website in the store and may be configured to check for on-line availability of out-of-stock items and may provide electronic or on-line ordering. The interactive display 39209 may also provide mailing list registration to customers and shoppers, where the customer may enter contact information into the display and may select topics of interest using a multi-touch screen. All of this information can be forwarded to the network via transmission to the hub and acted upon accordingly by the retailer.

Additionally, the interactive display 39209 may also be configured as a kiosk to sell products to customers and shoppers. For example, the interactive display may be provided with a transaction interface configurable to process payments. In this example, the printer may be connected to an interactive display or hub so that the interactive display or hub may issue a receipt to the customer. The transaction data may be stored on the interactive display and may be routed directly to the hub, or to the hub at a predetermined time or upon request from the hub or network.

Additionally, log data (which may include transaction data, access data, customer information, etc.) from the interactive display may be collected, recorded, transmitted, and routed through the hub. The log file data may include data regarding the number of customers or shoppers using a particular interactive display, whether the customer or shopper viewed certain product information, and any other information explaining the effectiveness of the interactive display. In this way, the network can further process and track the data for later review and analysis. For example, the retailer may determine which customers are accessing which interactive displays at what times, and which customers have made purchases, and which customers are unsure of the effectiveness of the interactive displays.

In one example, an endpoint device may include one or more location beacons 39207. The beacon 39207 may be configured to determine that a target device, such as a customer computing device, is within its range and, in some cases, initiate communication with the device for the purposes of advertising or providing shopping support/assistance. For example, the customer computing device may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, and so on. In one or more arrangements, the customer computing device may be a personal computing device, such as a mobile computing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable computer, augmented reality glasses, or any other type of mobile device), belonging to and/or used by a customer of the facility or store at or near the facility or store and/or at any other location operated, controlled, and/or otherwise associated with the facility or store. The location beacon may be configured to transmit one or more signals, such as radio signals, that may be detected and/or received by devices located near and/or otherwise within a specified distance of the beacon. In one or more embodiments, the location beacon may implement bluetooth low energy (also referred to as "bluetooth LE," "bluetooth smart," or "BLE"), Zigbee, or ISM technology to transmit low power radio signals. The beacon may communicate with the hub using any of the protocols discussed herein, including wired or wireless connections.

The particular signal(s) transmitted by the particular location beacon may include one or more characteristics, such as a unique identifier assigned to and/or otherwise connected with the particular location beacon, which may enable the location beacon to be identified by any device that obtains the particular signal(s) transmitted by the particular location beacon. Upon sensing a particular signal transmitted by a location beacon (which may, for example, be located at a particular location) and subsequently identifying the location beacon that transmitted the particular signal, the computing device may be able to infer that it is located at and/or near the particular location at which the location beacon is located.

For example, the location beacon may be located at and/or near a facility or store, and may be specifically located at and/or near different areas of the facility or store, such as in a welcome area, at various product displays, or in waiting areas, etc. Beacons may be strategically placed in retail environments to attract customers to certain displays or locations within a store or facility. In addition, each location beacon may transmit a radio signal that may be detected and/or received by other devices (such as customer computing device devices), which may enable these devices to determine that they are present at the facility or store and/or located at and/or near a particular area of the facility or store. The beacon may also be configured to track information about the behavior of the customer, such as the location of the customer's travel within the store. This data may help assess the effectiveness of certain promotional activities and better understand customer presence and demographics in the store. The retailer may also track how often certain customers are in the facility or store and provide automated loyalty discounts or loyalty programs based on how often customers visit the store.

The beacon may also communicate with the hub to integrate its data and receive information from the hub as discussed herein, such as advertising information, product information, or shopping information. For example, the hub may communicate with the client devices and deliver various advertisements, discounts, promotions, transactions or coupons, or provide shopping support/assistance or location information for particular products in the vicinity. The hub may also be configured to adjust beacon transmissions to maximize beacon effectiveness within the store environment. For example, the hub may use real-time aggregated data from multiple co-located beacons and adjust its power output or RF radiation pattern to target a particular area of the store, fill in RF gaps within the store, or use RSS (received signal strength) data from the beacons to triangulate the location of the target device for more accurate location information, allowing more relevant information to be pushed to the target.

In one example, a beacon may be present in a retail store to transmit advertising or discount information related to several specific brands, and the effectiveness of the beacon advertisement may be evaluated. When the beacons throughout the store communicate with the hub, it can be determined whether a particular shopper allows and complies with advertisements and discounts from brand "A" rather than "B". As the system tracks shoppers through the store, decisions may be made regarding the strength of the content in the presented advertisement or discount to reinforce brand "A" or promote "B". Further, using aggregated data from beacons and other endpoint devices, it can be speculated that if a shopper is presented with an advertisement or discount for a brand "a" product near its location, and within a predetermined time, the endpoint device may indicate through the hub that the brand "a" product was removed and presumably purchased. In this way, the effectiveness of the beacon advertisement can be directly evaluated.

Referring back to fig. 39, a network (e.g., an in-store server 39322, a cloud 39320, or an external client server 39324) is configured to receive data from the hub 39100. In general, as discussed in further detail below, the network (e.g., the in-store server 39322, the cloud 39320, or the external client server 39324) may (1) store any data received or transmitted to the hub and endpoint devices, (2) make decisions regarding the data received and transmitted to the hub and endpoint devices, (3) display any data received or transmitted to the hub and endpoint devices, and (4) allow the data received or transmitted to the hub and endpoint devices to be modified.

The network may store any data received or communicated to the hub and endpoint devices as discussed herein, such as inventory data, customer information, endpoint device status, usage and activity information, customer information, product information, pricing information, marketing materials, product information, user specifications, rebate information, content, software updates, operating system updates, etc. In this manner, the network may continuously provide updates to data received or transmitted to the hub and endpoint devices, as well as continuously updating internal web pages and any external web pages displaying this information.

The network may also make various decisions regarding data received and transmitted to the endpoint devices. In one example, various rules or algorithms may be provided to monitor inventory levels and send instructions to request additional inventory, and the network may be configured to request additional inventory for a particular area or location.

The network may also make decisions regarding the data received by the endpoint device when generating a particular alert 39330 based on the received inventory data. In one example, the in-store server 39322 may be connected to one or more of a store security system, a camera, a display, a light indicator, or a PA system. Upon receiving an indication of a possible theft condition, which may be determined according to examples discussed herein, the network may be configured to turn on a camera to capture an image of the potential theft, display a predetermined message to alert personnel, provide an alarm through a light indicator and/or provide an alarm through a PA system according to one or more examples discussed herein. The network may also be configured to send messages to personnel to alert personnel of a possible theft according to the examples discussed above.

Additionally, in one example, the network may make decisions regarding data sent to the endpoint device. For example, various rules or algorithms may also be provided to update content, e.g., interactive display data or electronic shelf display data, such as pricing information based on demand, supply, market conditions, and/or time of day, week, month, or year.

All information received at the network can be viewed by personnel at the facility or company with the appropriate network credentials. In one example, a portal may be web-based and may provide different views and decompositions of information provided by one or more hubs. For example, a portal may provide trending theft from a particular endpoint device, facility, or area. In this way, different people can view the portal and can view trends, such as theft of certain products, theft in certain areas, or theft at certain points in the year.

In addition, a facility or company may view and manage inventory levels through a portal. The portal may also provide inventory intelligence to the retailer so that the retailer can better manage product trends and predict events from an inventory replenishment perspective. This improves the ability to stock products within the store or facility and can be used to alert inventory personnel to prepare inventory for replenishment purposes.

The portal may also provide real-time data about the integrity of the network. For example, a portal may provide information about whether an endpoint device at a monitored facility is online or offline. In particular, the portal may track and receive periodic updates or heartbeats from the endpoint device. For example, if the hub does not receive a heartbeat from one or more of the endpoint devices, the hub may send a message or alarm over the network to indicate that the particular endpoint device is not operating, and this information may then be viewed on the portal. This can help personnel monitor various facilities and engage appropriate personnel for diagnostic and troubleshooting of faulty end point devices and monitor the system as a whole.

In addition, the portal may provide shopping activity data based on the transactions that occurred and other data received from the endpoint device. The portal may also provide shopping data from certain facilities regarding certain product types and certain end-point devices. For example, the portal may provide information to help retailers learn about the marketing effectiveness of certain products. In particular, within a store environment, where products are located at more than one location within the store or facility, it is often difficult to know where the customer decides to make a purchase. The endpoint device may provide product location information so that the retailer can know which locations and/or displays are most effective in inducing purchases.

Any data provided on the portal may be aggregated and extracted depending on how the data is viewed. The portal software may be configured to provide various outputs such as tables, charts or graphs to illustrate such information. In addition, the portal software may include various search capabilities for retailers to search through stores, facilities, areas, products and product types, theft, pricing information, sales volumes, or specific end point devices/end point device types, etc.

All information received at the network may be modified by appropriate personnel, such as personnel with appropriate network credentials. For example, appropriate personnel may modify data such as display or pricing information provided to an endpoint device at the portal 39326.

Examples herein may provide a centralized wireless store intelligence system that may be configured, for example, to integrate theft prevention, managing shelf inventory, providing shopper price displays and marketing messages, providing interactive shopping tools, all under one system to provide a single in-digital-facility strategy. Examples provided herein may provide a mechanism for maintaining and viewing inventory data at one location and provide a centralized mechanism for theft reduction management and inventory data. Furthermore, the system provides a method for homogenizing (homogenizing) the data, which can therefore be considered on a large scale. The system may also provide a consistent look and feel to the user and an enhanced user experience.

Although in some examples discussed above, the processing and display of various data collected from endpoint devices is discussed with respect to certain computing devices, such as hubs and/or servers, it is contemplated that the processing and display of various data collected from endpoint devices may be accomplished at any computing device within a network, including any known computing device not discussed or described herein. Further, it is also contemplated that any hub may also be configured as any endpoint device as discussed herein.

As discussed below with respect to the examples in fig. 42 and 43, the merchandising system may also be configured to provide continuous labeling across the bottom of the shelf, on the product itself, or across both the product and the screen on the bottom of the shelf to allow dynamic messages to be sent to customers. Fig. 42 illustrates an example block diagram of a system for communicating and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the present disclosure. In one example, one or more components of fig. 42 can be implemented by the computing device 27100 in fig. 27 and/or one or more of the devices shown in fig. 2 a-12. In this example, a system 4200 is shown having multiple consecutive display shelf edge label devices operating together. In this example, there are four successive display shelf edge label devices. However, as discussed below, it is contemplated that any number of shelf edge label devices may be used depending on the size of the shelf and product.

Each successive display shelf edge label device includes a single display area 4210A-4210D oriented along the entire edge of shelf 4230A-4230D. Further, in this example, shelves 4230A-B hold products 4260A-4260H, wherein 4260A-B may be of a first type, 4260C-D may be of a second type, 4260E-F may be of a third type, and so on, or any combination thereof. Shelves 4230C-D hold products 4280A-H, where 4280A-B may be of a first type, 4280C-D may be of a second type, 4280E-F may be of a third type, and so on, or any combination thereof. Products 4260A-4260H and 4280A-H are each enclosed in packages 4250A-4250H and 4270A-4270H, respectively.

In one example, displays 4210A-4210D may be embedded into their respective shelves 4230A-4230D. The shelf may be formed from any suitable material, and in one example, the shelf may be formed from a plastic material. This allows power to be sent over the air and over the shelves to power packages 4250A-4250H and 4270A-4270H. Additionally, in addition to displays 4210A-4210D, plastic shelving may allow electronic signals to pass through and may be embedded with other electronic components. This allows additional hardware to be installed and integrated into the commercial display system, such as the various components discussed above and herein. In addition, plastic pallets can also be formed to be lightweight for ease of handling, making it easier to clean, transport, stock, or move, for example if product is lost behind the pallet, or the like.

Packages 4250A-4250H and 4270A-4270H may include electronic display screens or LEDs. In one example, an electronic display screen or LED may be located on or embedded in the package. In other examples, packages 4250A-4250H and 4270A-4270H may be provided with a bi-stable or electrophoretic display to display any desired characters or images. In certain examples, the packages 4250A-4250H and 4270A-4270H may consist essentially of a display such that a majority of the package surface may display any desired characters or images.

In one example, a single contiguous display 4210A-4210D may be formed from multiple displays. For example, each single sequential display 4210A-4210D may comprise two digital displays 4220A-H, one for each respective type of product for sale. Each display 4220A-H may provide information about the type of product above the user interface. For example, the display may provide information about products 4260A-B, the display provides information about products 4260C-D, display 4220C provides information about products 4260E-F, display 4220D provides information about products 4260G-H, display 4220E provides information about products 4280A-B, display 4220F provides information about products 4280C-D, display 4220G provides information about products 4280E-F, and display 4220H provides information about products 4280G-H. The displays 4210C-4210D may also display additional information, such as advertisements and promotions. Further, the displays 4210C-4210D may be configured as user interfaces such that, for example, a user may obtain additional interactive product information at the edge of the shelf according to the example discussed above with respect to fig. 41, e.g., the user interface may be provided with many different views and product menus that may be selected, or may scan products to access product information stored therein.

Successive display shelf edge label devices 4210A-D may communicate with each other, with products 4260A-H and 4280A-H and corresponding packages 4250A-H and 4270A-H. For example, continuous display shelf edge label device 4210A may communicate with packages 4250A-D, continuous display shelf edge label device 4210B may communicate with packages 4250E-H, continuous display shelf edge label device 4210C may communicate with packages 4270A-D, and continuous display shelf edge label device 4210D may communicate with packages 4270E-H. Although illustratively shown as wireless communication, the transmission paths between the successive display shelf edge tag devices 4210A-D and the packages 4250A-H and 4270A-H may be wired communication paths through the network 210 or according to the examples disclosed with respect to fig. 39 and/or in some other manner. In addition, information such as pricing information, product data, and advertisements may be provided to the continuous display shelf edge label devices 4210A-D and packages 4250A-H and 4270A-H through the network and hub 39100 discussed above with respect to FIG. 39.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, various continuous display shelf edge label devices may operate in concert to provide additional information to customers, such as product information, pricing information, discount information, advertising, and product logos. By stacking the successive display shelf edge label devices in a side-by-side orientation (4210A and 4210B or 4210C and 4210D) on top of each other like shelves (4210A and 4210C or 4210B and 4210D), an array of successive display shelf edge label devices may be configured that may be configured to display a unified image or video in combination. In the illustrative example of fig. 42, there are four consecutive display shelf edge label devices arranged as an array of 2x2, two rows and two columns of consecutive display shelf edge label devices. However, any of a variety of additional arrangements may be implemented, including but not limited to 6 × 1, 4 × 1, 3 × 4, 3 × 3, and 4 × 4 configurations.

In addition, various continuous display shelf edge label devices may work with packages 4250A-H and 4270A-H to provide additional information to or draw the attention of the customer. For example, selection packages from 4250A-H and 4270A-H may be illuminated to facilitate selection of a product, wherein the illumination may be coordinated by the sequential display of shelf edge label devices 4210 and 4210D. In addition, complementary products may illuminate their packaging with similar or complementary visual effects. In one example, packages 4250A-F may be continuously lit; packages 4250G-H may be illuminated during selected time intervals; packages 4270A-D may be illuminated when the continuous display shelf edge label device 4210C detects the presence of a customer via a proximity sensor; the packages 4270E-F may be illuminated when a customer interacts with one or more of the displays 4220A-H when configured as a user interface; the packages 4270G-H may be illuminated when a change in product information (such as price) is performed at a user interface or when the information is pushed over a network as discussed herein.

In one example, the front-most packages of packages 4250A-H and 4270A-H and the forward-facing surfaces of the front-most packages may also be determined such that only the forward-facing surfaces of the front-most packages are displaying information. For example, the front and back of a plurality of shelves may be determined, and a set of front-most packages may be determined from the plurality of packages. The front-most package may be configured to form a continuous display, and further, the forward facing surface of the front-most package may be configured to display a desired image. Further, it is also contemplated that any of the surfaces of the package may have a package digital display such that the package may be placed on the shelf in any orientation to form part of the continuous display.

In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, various continuous display shelf edge label devices 4210A may communicate with products 4260A-D, continuous display shelf edge label devices 4210B may communicate with products 4260E-H, continuous display shelf edge label devices 4210C may communicate with products 4280A-D, and continuous display shelf edge label devices 4210D may communicate with products 4280E-H. Although illustratively shown as wireless communications, the transmission paths between the successive display shelf edge tag devices 4210A-D and the packages 4250A-H and 4270A-H may be wired communication paths from the hub 39100 through the network 210 and/or in some other manner, in accordance with any of the examples discussed herein.

Various continuous display shelf edge label devices 4210A-D may work with products 4260A-H and 4280A-H to provide additional information to the customer or draw the customer's attention. In one example, the continuous display shelf edge label device may send a trigger to a product above the continuous display shelf edge label device, the trigger causing the product to power on. In a second example, the products 4260A-B are electronic devices, and the continuously displaying shelf edge label device 4210A may communicate a trigger to the products 4260A-B to energize a display of the electronic device. When interaction between a customer and the display 4220A is detected, or when the continuously displaying shelf edge label device 4210A detects the presence of a customer through a proximity sensor, the continuously displaying shelf edge label device 4210A may communicate such a trigger at a selected time interval. Additionally, the sequential display shelf edge tag devices 4210A-D and products 4260A-H and 4280A-H may be powered by one or more hubs 39100 or the networks described herein. Once the display of the electronic products 4260A-B has been powered on in response to a trigger from the continuous display shelf edge label device 4210A, a customer may be able to interact with the display of the electronic products 4260A-B through the display 4220A, which is then configured as a user interface. When configured as a user interface, the user may interact with the display 4220A using any of the methods provided with reference to fig. 27. For example, user input on display 4220A may be communicated to and mirrored on the display of products 4260A-B. The display 4220A may also be updated with data received from the products 4260A-B in response to user input, and the interaction may be repeated one or more times. This feature is discussed in detail below with reference to fig. 44 a-d.

Fig. 43 illustrates an example block diagram of a system for communicating and distributing content in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure. The example in fig. 43 may have similar features and functionality as the example discussed above with respect to fig. 42. In one example, one or more components of fig. 43 may be implemented by computing device 100 in fig. 27, one or more of the devices shown in fig. 2 a-12, and/or the examples discussed with respect to fig. 39. In this example, a single continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 is shown. The continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 may be provided with any number of displays. In this example, the continuous display shelf label device 43001 may be provided with two displays, which may or may not also be configured as user interfaces, and may be configured similarly to the example discussed above with respect to fig. 42. The display 43002 provides information about the

products

43006A and 43006B and may also display static or dynamic advertisements 43004. For example, the background of the display 43002 may display a logo representing the manufacturer of the

products

43006A and 43006B. The display 43003 may provide information about the

products

43007A and 43007B. Further, the background of the display 43003 may display a logo representing the manufacturer of the

products

43007A and 43007B, where the logo displayed on the background of the display 43003 may be different from the logo displayed on the background of the display 43002. However, it is contemplated that the background of the

displays

43002 and 43003 may display additional information, such as still images or streaming video of the products 43006A-B and 43007A-B, promotional content, goodwill messages, advertisements, or any related information.

Products

43006A and 43006B are packaged in

packages

43004A and 43004B, respectively.

Packages

43004A and 43004B may each have embedded them an electronic display screen or LED. The

products

43006A and 43006B may be powered by a receiver or transceiver within the

packages

43004A and 43004B. In one example, the continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 may send a trigger to the products 43006A-B and 43007A-B, the trigger causing the displays of the products 43006A-B and 43007A-B to be powered on. When interaction between a patron and one or more of the

displays

43002 and 43003 is detected, or when the continuously displaying shelf edge label apparatus 43001 detects the presence of a patron via a proximity sensor, the continuously displaying shelf edge label apparatus 43001 may communicate such a trigger at a selected time interval. It is also contemplated that content may be pushed out to the display of the continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 and products 43006A-B and 43007A-B through a hub 39100 or network as discussed herein. Further, the hub 39100 or network discussed herein may be configured to power up the displays of the continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 and products 43006A-B and 43007A-B automatically or when certain conditions occur, such as when a customer is detected within the vicinity of the continuous display shelf edge label device 43001.

Once powered on, the displays of the

products

43006A and 43006B may be dynamically configured with various static or streaming messages through the continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 or the network. In one example, a display of product 43006A may display an advertisement and a display of product 43006B displays a logo representing the manufacturer of

products

43006A and 43006B. The displays on the

products

43006A and 43006B may instead include promotional content, seasonal greetings, and/or general messages for the customer.

Products

43007A and 43007B may be powered by a receiver or transceiver in packages 43005A-B, respectively. Packages 43005A-B each have embedded an electronic display screen or LED. The displays of the

products

43007A and 43007B may be dynamically configured by the continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 to display still or streaming video or images that include information about the products, manufacturers, promotional content, greeting messages, and/or advertisements (shown).

Additionally, the displays on products 43006A-B and 43007A-B may be interactive. The continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 may dynamically configure the display of products 43006A-B and 43007A-B. For example, promotional content may be dynamically displayed on one or more of the products 43006A-B and 43007A-B when the presence of a customer is detected. The customer may then interact with a display of one of the products 43006A-B and 43007A-B via the

display

43002 or 43003. For example, user input on the display 43002 may be transmitted to the display of the product 43006A and mirrored on the display of the product 43006A. The display 43002 may then be updated with the data received from the product 43006A in response to the user's input, and the interaction may be repeated one or more times. This feature is discussed in detail below with reference to fig. 44 a-d.

Products 43006A-B and 43007A-B are packaged in packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B, respectively. The displays of packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B may be powered by the display shelf edge label device 43001. In one example, the displays of the packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B may be powered continuously over the air. Continuous powering over the air can be achieved via a highly resonant wireless power transfer process. The coils with special drive wires may be placed in the base platform of the plastic shelving unit that holds packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B and also houses the display shelf edge label device 43001. A small, thin coiled antenna wire may be placed in the wall of each product package 43004A-B and 43005A-B. Packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B may each intercept a portion of the power wirelessly transmitted by the coiled wire via the coiled antenna wire in each package. The intercepted power may then be used to operate a display on the product packaging or LEDs or displays on products 43006A-B and 43007A-B. In a second example, a continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 may send a trigger to one or more of the packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B that powers up the displays of the packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B. When interaction between a patron and one or more of the displays 43002 and 13003 is detected, or when the continuously displaying shelf edge label apparatus 43001 detects the presence of a patron via a proximity sensor, the continuously displaying shelf edge label apparatus 43001 may communicate such a trigger at a selected time interval.

Once powered on, the displays of the packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B may be dynamically configured with various still or streaming images or video by continuously displaying the shelf edge label device 43001. In one example, packages 43004A-B and packages 43005A-B may be dynamically configured by a continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 to

mirror display

43002 and 43003 by displaying a logo representing the manufacturer of products 43006A-B and 43007B, respectively. In another example, the packages 43004A-B may be dynamically configured by the display shelf edge label device 43001 to display, along with the indicia, other information related to the

products

43006A and 43006B (where the other information is that the price only lasts for "a limited time"). The packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B may display additional or alternative information, such as streaming video of the product within the package, related products, advertisements, or any related information thereof.

Although the displays of each of the user interface 43002, the

products

43006A and 43006B, and the

packages

43004A and 43004B are shown as separate, the continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 may dynamically configure one or more of the aforementioned components to each display a portion of a logo, a product, or any other desired visual content. In this manner, a larger display may be allocated among all or any combination of the user interface 43002, the

products

43006A and 43006B, and the

packages

43004A and 43004B. For example, the packages 43005A-B jointly display the logo of the manufacturer of the products 43007A-B. Instead of a logo, streaming video of a product may also be distributed across packages 43005A-B. Similarly, larger displays may be apportioned among all or any combination of the display 43003, the products 43007A-B, and the packages 43005A-B. In one example, a continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 may distribute displays across

displays

43001 and 43003 and the products and packages corresponding to these user interfaces. Thus, the integrated visual display will be distributed among all or any combination of the

user interfaces

43002 and 43003, the products 43006A-B and 43007A-B, and the packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B, where each component may output a different portion of the visual display simultaneously.

The continuous display shelf edge label device 43001 may also dynamically coordinate with one or more additional continuous display shelf edge label devices to create a dynamic display of user interfaces, products, and packaging across multiple continuous display shelf edge label devices. Thus, a still image or streaming video of a product, a logo of a manufacturer, or any related content will be distributed among a plurality of successive shelf-edge label devices and one or more user interfaces, one or more products and one or more packages corresponding to each successive shelf-edge label device.

In one example, the continuous display shelf edge label 43001 or other sensor placed proximate to the continuous display shelf edge label 43001 may detect the presence of a customer through a proximity sensor. The continuous display shelf edge label 43001 may then send a trigger to the package 43004A-B and adjacent or surrounding continuous display shelf edge labels. The adjacent and/or surrounding continuously displayed shelf edge label may then send an activation trigger to its corresponding package. The continuous display shelf edge label 43001 may then distribute the streaming video in the continuous display shelf edge labels in and around itself. Each successive display shelf edge label may further subdivide the video of the distribution between its packages. Alternatively, the continuous display shelf edge label 43001 may control the distribution among all surrounding continuous display shelf edge labels and their corresponding packages.

The display or continuous display formed by the package and shelf edge displays allows for dynamic resizing of the desired message in a retail environment. For example, as a planogram (planogr) changes, the size of the shelf edge label may change. In addition, the various displays may be formed either as one large screen to display one continuous message or divided into various screens to display various messages. In addition, the display or continuous display formed by the package and shelf edge display may be paid for by the retailer by renting space to the distributor of the product.

The continuous display shelf edge label may be further integrated with a software application. For example, a user may download and install a software application on a mobile device, such as a cellular device. The software application may be associated with one or more retailers, and the user may catalog, using the software application, one or more items that the user wishes to purchase or view. For example, a software application may be associated with a grocery store, and a user may use the software application to store a list of groceries. The software application may additionally or alternatively be associated with an electronic retailer, and the user may use the software application to store a list of electronic devices that the user wants to analyze.

The user may launch the software application upon entering a designated location, such as a grocery store or an electronics retailer. The software application may scan the shopping list and determine the location of each item on the shopping list associated with the continuously displayed shelf edge label device disposed throughout the store. Such information may alternatively be stored by the software application upon initial list entry by the user (i.e., prior to the user launching the software application in the grocery store). The software application may then establish wireless communication with one or more continuously displaying shelf edge label devices that maintain the one or more items on the shopping list as the user approaches the items.

For example, the software application may determine that a first item on the user list is located in a first lane on a first plastic shelf that houses a first continuous display shelf edge label device. The software application may track the user's location within the store and detect when the user enters the first aisle. The software application may then establish a wireless connection to the first continuous display shelf edge label device. When the user enters the first lane, the software application may signal the first continuous display shelf edge label device. The first continuous display shelf edge label device may then initiate the predetermined display using the continuous display shelf edge label device itself, the surrounding continuous display shelf edge label device, one or more packages and/or product displays on the continuous display shelf edge label device, and/or one or more packages and/or product displays on the surrounding continuous display shelf edge label device. For example, the continuous display shelf edge label 43001 may utilize a light following effect to direct the user to the product 43006A. This may include displaying various graphical messages or images, such as arrows, to help guide the user to the first item on the list. In addition, the packaging that encloses the item that matches the first item on the user's list may be activated, thereby drawing the user's attention. Alternatively or additionally, the continuously displaying shelf edge label may be provided with a speaker which may alert the user by an audible alarm to direct the user to the items on the list.

The first continuous display shelf edge label device may initiate an integrated visual display upon detecting the user entering the first aisle. This integrated visual display would be distributed among all or any combination of the

user interfaces

43002 and 43003, the products 43006A-B and 43007A-B, and the packages 43004A-B and 43005A-B, where each component may output a different portion of the visual display simultaneously. The packaging of the complementary articles may also be activated in a coordinated manner. For example, the retailer may use the coordinating display to sell different products up or across based on the retailer's preferences (such as directing the user to a common brand of retailer in place of brand name items on the user's list).

The software application may continue to track the user's location within the store as the user traverses different channels. When a user enters a channel, the software application may cross-reference items on the user's list with items stored in the channel. If one or more items on the user's list or any items complementary to items on the user's list are stored in the user's current aisle, the software application may establish wireless communication with one or more continuously displaying shelf edge label devices in the user's current aisle and may enable the appropriate display, directing the user to the items or complementary items on the list. The complementary items may be items that are typically purchased together. For example, if the user's shopping list indicates that the user is about to purchase peanut butter, the visual display may draw the user's attention to the shelf holding the bread. The complementary item may also be a similar item, a retailer's own brand item, an item that the retailer is attempting to sell up, and so forth.

44a-d illustrate exemplary states of screens of electronic products and displays that continuously display user interfaces within shelf edge labels. A portion of the shelf edge label arrangement 44001 is continuously displayed having been configured as a user interface 44002 a. The continuous display shelf edge label device 44001 may work in concert with the product 44003 to provide additional information to the customer or attract the customer's attention. In fig. 44a-d, only one exemplary continuous display shelf edge label arrangement 44001 and one product 44003 are shown. However, any number of successive display shelf edge labels and products may be configured to interact as described herein.

In one example, product 44003 is an electronic device having a digital display screen. The continuous display shelf edge label device 44001 may communicate a trigger to the product 44003 to power on the display 44004a of the electronic device 44003. Alternatively, the display 44004a of the electronic device 44003 may remain constantly or continuously powered. The continuous display shelf edge label apparatus 44001 may communicate such triggers at selected time intervals when interaction between a customer and the continuous display shelf edge label apparatus 44001 is detected, or when the continuous display shelf edge label apparatus 44001 detects the presence of a customer through a proximity sensor. Alternatively, the product 44003 may be powered by one or more hubs 39100 or networks as discussed herein.

The continuous display shelf edge label device 44001 may configure at least a portion of a display of the continuous display shelf edge label device 44001 as a user interface 44002a in addition to sending triggers to the electronic product 44003. Once the display 44004a of the electronic product 44003 has been powered on in response to a trigger from the continuous display shelf edge label device 44001 (or one or more hubs 39100 or networks), the display 44004a may display a default screen. The default screen may also be replicated on the user interface 44002 a. The default screen may include an icon that displays a main menu screen when selected by the user. The default screen may additionally or alternatively include advertisements, other promotional content, or information about the electronic product 44003. The customer may then interact with the display 44004a of the electronic product 44003 through the user interface 44002a (e.g., using any of the methods provided with reference to fig. 27).

If the user selects an icon displayed on the default home screen through the user interface 44002a, the selection may be communicated from the continuously displaying shelf edge label apparatus 44001 to the electronic product 44003. The display screen 44004a of the electronic product 44003 may then transition to the display screen 44004b in response to the user selection, with the display screen 44004b displaying a main menu screen. The electronic product 44003 may then transmit data required for displaying a main menu screen to the user interface 44002 a. Alternatively, this data may already be stored in the continuous display shelf edge label device 44001. In response to receiving the data, the display in the user interface 44002a may then transition to the display in the user interface 44002 b. User interface 44002b now mirrors display screen 44004b of product 44003 by displaying the same main menu screen as electronic display 44004 b. The user may then select an item from a home screen menu (currently displayed on the display screen 44004b of the product 44003 and the display in the user interface 44002 b) through the user interface 44002 b. The user's selection may be communicated from the user interface 44002b to the electronic product 44003. In response to receiving the user's selection, the electronic display 44004b on the product 44003 can transition to the electronic display 44004 c. The electronic display 44004c displays graphics associated with the item selected by the user through the user interface 44002 b. Data necessary for the display of graphics associated with the selected item may then be transmitted from the electronic product 44003 to the user interface 44002 b. Data may be transmitted via the continuous display shelf edge label device 44001. In response to receiving the data, the display on the user interface 44002b may then transition to the display displayed on the user interface 44002 c. The user interface 44002c now mirrors the electronic display 44004c by displaying graphics associated with the selected item. This type of interaction may continue until terminated by the user.

In one aspect, the present disclosure includes a display management system having a mechanism that may be configured to move in response to removing a product from the display management system. The display management system may additionally have a sensor that outputs motion data in response to movement of the mechanism. In addition, the display management system may have a control circuit that receives the motion data and communicates the motion data to the remote processor if the motion data exceeds a threshold. Further, the display management system may have a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions that may be executed by the remote processor to calculate the current location of the establishment from the athletic data and calculate the amount of product removed from the display management system based on the location of the establishment.

In another aspect, the present disclosure includes a display management system that may have a mechanism configured to move in response to removing a product from the display management system. The display management system may further have a sensor that outputs motion data in response to movement of the mechanism. Additionally, the display management system may have a transmitter circuit that transmits the motion data to a remote processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions that are executable by the remote processor to calculate the current location of the facility and calculate the product removal pattern.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, may be configured to receive sensor data from sensors associated with one or more display management systems. Additionally, the sensor data may be used to calculate the number of products removed from one or more display management systems and may be used to detect a product removal pattern based on the number of products removed from the display management systems.

In another aspect, a method and apparatus for providing information along a shelf edge of a retailer is provided. On a display configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, a first user interface is provided that includes first information about a first product on the shelf. At least one second user interface is provided on the display, the second user interface including at least one second information about at least one second product on the shelf. The person is allowed to edit parameters of the first user interface and/or the at least one second user interface. The parameter may include at least one of: a size of the user interface on the display, a shape of the user interface on the display, and a location of the user interface on the display. The first information and the at least one second information may be output to the display simultaneously.

In one example, a system may include a plurality of endpoint devices associated with product shelves configured to display products, and a plurality of hubs each positioned proximate to one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices. One or more of the plurality of endpoint devices may be configured to detect inventory information and communicate the inventory information to a predetermined proximate hub of the plurality of hubs, and one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices may be configured to receive and display price information or product information from the predetermined hub of the plurality of hubs. The plurality of hubs may each be configured to perform one or more of receiving inventory information from one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices, providing one or more alerts depending on the received inventory information, transmitting inventory information to a network, receiving price information and product information, and transmitting price information and product information to one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices, communicating with the plurality of endpoint devices via a low energy transmission protocol, and in one example, the low energy transmission protocol may be one or more of bluetooth, bluetooth low energy, or ISM.

The endpoint devices may include one or more of the following: a product door sensor, a hook security sensor, an inventory measurement pusher sensor, an electronic shelf label display, or an interactive touch screen display. One or more of the endpoint devices is configured to send a periodic transmission indicating status to a predetermined one of the plurality of hubs. One or more of the endpoint devices may include a product pusher and may be configured to detect a position of the product pusher.

The plurality of hubs may be configured to calculate a quantity of the product based on inventory information received from the one or more endpoint devices. The number of products calculated by the plurality of hubs may be received by the network, and the network may calculate the number of products in the facility. The plurality of hubs may be configured to transmit one or more of a message, audio, or visual indicator if a predetermined rate of product displacement from the product shelves is detected. The plurality of hubs may be configured to transmit one or more of a message, an audio, or a visual indicator if a predetermined level of a product is detected. The plurality of hubs may be configured to aggregate and accumulate inventory information and transmit the inventory information to the network. The plurality of hubs may be configured to monitor the endpoint devices and report the status of the endpoint devices. At least one of the plurality of hubs may be configured to track a location of one or more of the endpoint devices, and at least one of the plurality of hubs may be configured to detect a possible occurrence of a theft based on a change in the location of one or more of the endpoint devices, or to calculate an inventory level based on the location of one or more of the endpoint devices. The plurality of hubs may each include a series of indicator lights configured to illuminate when a predetermined condition occurs. The plurality of hubs may be configured to update software or an operating system of the endpoint device. The plurality of hubs may be configured to transmit the selected information to the endpoint device at a predetermined time.

A portal may also be provided for viewing inventory information received from one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices and for modifying price information and product information communicated to the one or more endpoint devices. The network may be configured to receive inventory information, and the network may be configured to request additional inventory based on the inventory information received from one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices. The network may be configured to receive inventory information and send a notification once the inventory level reaches a predetermined value.

In another example, a method may include one or more of: providing a plurality of endpoint devices associated with product shelves configured to display products; providing a plurality of hubs and positioning each of the plurality of hubs in proximity to one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices; configuring one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices to transmit inventory information to a predetermined proximate hub of the plurality of hubs or to receive price or product information from a predetermined hub of the plurality of hubs; configuring each of the plurality of hubs to receive inventory information from one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices, to communicate inventory information to a network, to calculate a quantity of a product based on the received inventory information, to communicate the quantity of the product to the network, and to communicate with the plurality of endpoint devices via a low energy transmission protocol; the network is configured to receive and transmit information to the plurality of hubs and to calculate a total number of products within the facility and to receive price information and transmit the price information to one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices.

Additionally, the method may further include configuring one or more of the endpoint devices as one or more of: a product door sensor, a hook security sensor, an inventory measurement pusher sensor, an electronic shelf label display and a touch screen display, configuring one or more of the endpoint devices to send periodic transmissions to a predetermined one of the plurality of hubs indicating status. One or more of the endpoint devices may include a product pusher, and the method may include detecting a position of the product pusher.

The method may further comprise one or more of: configuring the plurality of hubs to transmit one or more of a message, audio, or visual indicator to aggregate and accumulate inventory information and transmit the inventory information upon detecting a predetermined rate at which products are being shifted from product shelves; configuring a low energy transmission protocol as one or more of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low energy, or ISM; configuring the plurality of hubs to monitor and report the status of the endpoint devices; configuring at least one of the plurality of hubs to track a location of one or more of the endpoint devices; configuring at least one of the plurality of hubs to detect a possible occurrence of a theft based on a change in location of one or more of the endpoint devices or to calculate an inventory level based on the location of one or more of the endpoint devices; providing each of the plurality of hubs with a series of indicator lights configured to illuminate upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; configuring the hub to update the software or operating system of the endpoint device; configuring the plurality of hubs to update software or an operating system of an endpoint device; and configuring the plurality of hubs to transmit the selected information to the endpoint device at a predetermined time.

The method may further comprise: providing a portal for viewing inventory information received from one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices or for modifying price information and product information communicated to the one or more endpoint devices; configuring the network to receive inventory information and to set the network to request additional inventory based on the inventory information received from one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices; the network is configured to receive inventory information and to send a notification once the inventory level has reached a predetermined value.

Another example method may include one or more of the following: a configuration network for receiving information and transmitting information to a plurality of hubs; configuring one or more of the endpoint devices to transmit inventory information to a predetermined neighboring hub of the plurality of hubs or to receive price or product information from a predetermined hub of the plurality of hubs; configuring each of the plurality of hubs to receive inventory information from one or more of a plurality of endpoint devices, transmit the inventory information to a network, calculate a quantity of a product based on the received inventory information, transmit the quantity of the product to the network, receive price information and transmit the price information to one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices; and communicating with the plurality of endpoint devices via a low energy transport protocol.

In one aspect, a system for forming a continuous display between one or more electronic label devices positioned along a product shelf and a plurality of packages stored on the product shelf, wherein the plurality of packages include an embedded display, may be provided. The electronic label device may be configured to receive the streaming video and distribute the streaming video between the one or more electronic label devices and the plurality of packages. The one or more electronic label devices may send activation triggers to the plurality of packages. An activation trigger may be sent when one or more electronic label devices detect the presence of a user through a proximity sensor. The plurality of packages may each enclose a product, and the product may include a display screen. The one or more electronic label devices may transmit an activation trigger to a display screen of the product of each of the plurality of packages. When a user interacts with the one or more electronic label devices, an activation trigger may be sent for a display screen of the products of one or more of the plurality of packages. A user may interact with a display screen of a product through one or more electronic label devices.

In one example, the system may include a second product shelf vertically adjacent to the product shelf and a second electronic label device positioned along a bottom of the second product shelf, the second electronic label device including one or more electronic displays. The one or more electronic displays of the product shelf and the one or more electronic displays of the second product shelf may form a continuous display. The system may also include a second plurality of packages connected to a second electronic label device, wherein each of the second plurality of packages is stored on a second product shelf and includes an embedded display. The one or more electronic displays of the product shelf, the one or more electronic displays of the second product shelf, the plurality of displays, and the second plurality of embedded displays may form a continuous display. The electronic label device may output the streaming video to a continuous display upon detecting the presence of the user through the proximity sensor. In one example, the front-most of the packages and the forward-facing surface of the front-most package may be determined such that only the forward-facing surface of the front-most package forms a continuous display.

In one aspect, a system is provided for forming a continuous display along: a first electronic label device positioned along a bottom of a first product shelf, a second electronic label device positioned along a bottom of a second product shelf, a first set of packages stored on the first product shelf and including a first set of electronic displays, and a second set of packages stored on the second product shelf and including a second set of electronic displays. The first electronic label device may be configured to distribute the streaming video among each of the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of electronic displays, and the second set of electronic displays. Each of the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of electronic displays, and the second set of electronic displays may be configured to output different portions of the streaming video simultaneously. The front-most packages of the first and second sets of packages and the forward-facing surfaces of the front-most packages may be determined such that only the forward-facing surfaces of the front-most packages form a continuous display.

In one aspect, a method is provided for: displaying a first video on a first electronic label device embedded along a bottom of a first product shelf; displaying a second video on a second electronic label device embedded along a bottom of a second product shelf; sending, by the first electronic label device, a first activation trigger to a first group of packages stored on the first product shelf and positioned at a front portion of the first product shelf; transmitting, by the second electronic label device, a second activation trigger to a second group of packages stored on a second product shelf and positioned at a front portion of the second product shelf; distributing, by the first electronic label device, the streaming video among each of the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of packaging, and the second set of packaging; and simultaneously displaying different portions of the streaming video by each of the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of packaging, and the second set of packaging, such that each of the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of packaging, and the second set of packaging form a continuous display. The first electronic label device may transmit a first activation trigger in response to detecting the presence of the user through the proximity sensor. The first electronic label device may detect the presence of a user through a proximity sensor and send a trigger to the second electronic label device. The second electronic label device may transmit a second activation trigger in response to receiving the trigger from the first electronic label device.

In one aspect, there is provided a merchandise display system, including: a plurality of shelves, each shelf comprising a shelf number display positioned along an edge of a shelf of a retailer to form a plurality of shelf number displays; and a plurality of packages positioned on the plurality of shelves, each package having a package digital display to form a plurality of package digital displays; wherein the plurality of shelf digital displays and the plurality of package digital displays are configured to form a continuous display, wherein the continuous display is configured to form a unified display to display one of a price, an advertisement, or a message. The packaged digital display may include electronic ink. Power may be sent over the air through the plurality of shelves to the plurality of shelf digital displays. The plurality of shelves may be configured to interact with the plurality of packages. The plurality of shelves may define a front and a back, and wherein a set of front-most packages is determined from the plurality of packages, and wherein the front-most packages are configured to form a continuous display. The front surface of each of a set of front-most packages may be determined for forming a continuous display. The plurality of packages may have a plurality of surfaces, and each of the surfaces may have a package digital display, such that the packages may be placed on the shelf in any orientation to form part of a continuous display.

In one aspect, an apparatus for guiding a user to one or more items is provided. The apparatus may include a processor and a memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: storing one or more items for purchase or viewing; determining a location of one or more shelf edge electronic displays associated with the one or more items within a facility; detecting a computing device of a user within a facility and determining whether the user is proximate to one or more shelf-edge electronic displays associated with the one or more items, and directing the user to the one or more items by changing the one or more shelf-edge electronic displays or changing the electronic display of the one or more items when the user is proximate to the one or more items. The apparatus may be further configured to direct a user to items similar to or related to the one or more items by changing the one or more shelf edge electronic displays or changing the electronic display of the one or more items when the user is proximate to the one or more items. The apparatus may be further configured to determine that the one or more items are on a shopping list stored on a mobile device associated with the user.

In another example, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to perform the methods discussed herein.

The various features described above are merely non-limiting examples and may be rearranged, combined, subdivided, omitted, and/or altered in any desired manner. The true scope of this patent is defined only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A merchandise display system comprising:

a product shelf having an electronic label device positioned along a bottom of the product shelf, the electronic label device comprising one or more electronic displays;

a plurality of packages connected to an electronic label device, wherein each of the plurality of packages is configured to be stored on the product shelf and includes a display;

wherein the one or more electronic displays and the display in each of the plurality of packages form a continuous display,

wherein the electronic label device receives the streaming video and distributes the streaming video between the one or more electronic displays and the corresponding display of each of the plurality of packages,

Wherein the electronic label device is configured to transmit user input received at a first electronic display of the electronic label device to a first display of a first package of the plurality of packages,

wherein the electronic label device is configured to receive data from the first display in response to communicating the user input to the first display, and

wherein the electronic label device is configured to output the data to the first electronic display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic label device sends an activation trigger to one or more of the plurality of electronic displays.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic label device sends a trigger if the presence of the user is detected by a proximity sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of packages encloses a product, the product comprising a display screen.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electronic label device sends an activation trigger to a display screen of one or more packaged products of the plurality of packages.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic label device sends an activation trigger if a user interacts with one of the electronic displays.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a user can interact with the display screen through one of the electronic displays.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second product shelf vertically adjacent to the product shelf and a second electronic label device positioned along a bottom of the second product shelf, the second electronic label device comprising one or more electronic displays.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more electronic displays of the product shelf and the one or more electronic displays of the second product shelf form a continuous display.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second plurality of packages connected to the second electronic label device, wherein each of the second plurality of packages is stored on the second product shelf and includes an embedded display.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more electronic displays of the product shelf, the one or more electronic displays of the second product shelf, the display in each of the plurality of packages, and the embedded display in each of the second plurality of packages form a continuous display.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic label device outputs the streaming video to a continuous display upon detecting the presence of the user through the proximity sensor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a front-most one of the packages and a forward-facing surface of the front-most package are determined such that only the forward-facing surface of the front-most package forms a continuous display.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electronic displays and each display of the plurality of packages are configured to be changed to direct a user to one or more items stored on a user's computing device.

15. A merchandise display system comprising:

a first product shelf including a first electronic label device positioned along a bottom of the first product shelf;

a second product shelf vertically adjacent to the first product shelf, the second product shelf including a second electronic label device positioned along a bottom of the second product shelf;

a first set of packages stored on the first product shelf and connected to the first electronic label device, the first set of packages comprising a first set of electronic displays; and

A second set of packages stored on the second product shelf and connected to the second electronic label device, the second set of packages comprising a second set of electronic displays;

wherein the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of electronic displays, and the second set of electronic displays form a continuous display,

wherein the first electronic label device is configured to transmit user input received at the first electronic label device to a first electronic display of a first package of the first set of packages,

wherein the first electronic label device is configured to receive data from the first electronic display in response to communicating the user input to the first electronic display.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first electronic label device distributes streaming video between each of the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of electronic displays, and the second set of electronic displays.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of electronic displays, and the second set of electronic displays simultaneously output a different portion of the streaming video.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the front-most package of the first and second groups of packages and the forward-facing surface of the front-most package are determined such that only the forward-facing surface of the front-most package forms a continuous display.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein one or more of the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of electronic displays, and the second set of electronic displays are configured to be changed to direct a user to one or more items stored on a user's computing device.

20. A merchandise display method, comprising:

displaying a first video on a first electronic label device embedded along a bottom of a first product shelf;

displaying a second video on a second electronic label device embedded along a bottom of a second product shelf;

sending, by the first electronic label device, a first activation trigger to a first group of packages stored on the first product shelf and positioned at a front portion of the first product shelf;

sending, by the second electronic label device, a second activation trigger to a second group of packages stored on the second product shelf and positioned at a front portion of the second product shelf;

Distributing, by the first electronic label device, streaming video among each of the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of packaging, and the second set of packaging;

simultaneously displaying, by each of the first electronic label device, the second set of electronic label devices, the first set of packaging, and the second set of packaging, a different portion of the streaming video such that the first electronic label device, the second electronic label device, the first set of packaging, and the second set of packaging form a continuous display;

receiving a first user input at the first electronic label device; and

transmitting the first user input from the first electronic label device to a first package of the first set of packages,

receiving, by the first electronic label device, data from the first package in response to transmitting the first user input to the first package.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first electronic label device transmits a first activation trigger in response to detecting the presence of a user via a proximity sensor.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the first electronic label device detects the presence of a user through a proximity sensor and sends a trigger to the second electronic label device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second electronic tag device transmits a second activation trigger in response to receiving a trigger from the first electronic tag device.

24. A merchandise display system comprising:

a plurality of shelves, each shelf comprising a shelf number display positioned along an edge of a shelf of a retailer to form a plurality of shelf number displays;

a plurality of packages placed on the plurality of shelves, each package having a package digital display to form a plurality of package digital displays;

wherein the plurality of shelf digital displays and the plurality of package digital displays are configured to form a continuous display, wherein the continuous display is configured to form a unified display to display one of a price, an advertisement, or a message, and

wherein a first shelf digital display of the plurality of shelf digital displays is configured to communicate user input received at the first shelf digital display to a first package digital display of the plurality of package digital displays,

wherein the electronic label device is configured to receive data from the first package digital display in response to communicating the user input to the first package digital display, and

Wherein the electronic label device is configured to output the data to the first shelf digital display.

25. The merchandise display system of claim 24 wherein the packaged digital display comprises electronic ink.

26. The merchandise display system of claim 24 wherein power is sent over the air through the plurality of shelves to the plurality of shelf digital displays.

27. The merchandise display system of claim 24 wherein the plurality of shelves are configured to interact with the plurality of packages.

28. The merchandise display system of claim 24 wherein the plurality of shelves define a front and a back, a set of front most packages is determined from the plurality of packages, the front most packages configured to form a continuous display.

29. The merchandise display system of claim 28 wherein a front surface of each of the front most packages of the group is determined to form a continuous display.

30. The merchandise display system of claim 24 wherein the plurality of packages have a plurality of surfaces and each surface has a package digital display such that packages can be placed on the shelf in any orientation to form part of the continuous display.

31. The merchandise display system of claim 24 wherein one or more of the plurality of shelf digital displays are configured to be changed to direct a user to one or more items stored on a user's computing device.

32. A merchandise display device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

storing one or more items for purchase or viewing;

determining a location of one or more shelf edge electronic displays associated with the one or more items within a facility;

detecting a computing device of a user within a facility and determining whether the user is proximate to one or more shelf edge electronic displays associated with the one or more items; and

directing a user to one or more items by changing the one or more shelf edge electronic displays or changing the electronic display of the one or more items when the user approaches the one or more items,

wherein the device is further configured to direct the user to items similar to or related to the one or more items by changing the one or more shelf edge electronic displays or changing the electronic display of the one or more items when the user is proximate to the one or more items.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the apparatus is further configured to determine that the one or more items are on a shopping list stored on a mobile device associated with a user.