Abstract:
A system and method of the type for aiding a user in navigating a route through a facility so as too efficiently locate specific items within a facility is provided. The system includes a facility processor having a database and software stored thereon for mapping an interactive route from selected location to selected location within a facility, a label located proximate individual items, the label electronically communicating information specific to the item it is associated with, and a digital device having the interactive route electronically stored thereon, the digital device electronically communicating with the facility processor and the labels for tracking movement of the digital device along the route via communication with the labels and communicating a direction to move to follow the route.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of electronically aided navigation through a facility and in particular to a method and apparatus for guiding visually impaired individuals along a route in a facility to obtain items or visit locations chosen by the individual.  
         BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
         [0002]    Various methods and systems have been devised to aid visually impaired individuals in unfamiliar surroundings. Devices and systems have been developed in the past to guide the visually impaired by utilizing detection devices to warn the user of obstacles. These prior art systems merely react and signal the user of obstacles and do not aid the user in navigating a route.  
           [0003]    Other devices have been developed which aid visually impaired individuals toward specific locations by utilizing remote modules located at specific locations and a mobile module carried by the individual recording distances and transmitting information to the user. Although these devices do aid visually impaired individuals to be more mobile and self-sufficient they do not allow for the user to detail his own task list and have the system create a route for him to travel in a manner to efficiently accomplish the tasks on the list.  
           [0004]    It would be a benefit therefore to have a navigation system that allows an individual to create his own task list and have a route provided to accomplish the tasks listed. It would be a further benefit to have a navigation system that allows an individual to create his own task list and electronically submit it to a service provider for the preparation and downloading of a route into the user&#39;s personal digital device so as to navigate the route and complete the tasks within a particular facility. It would be a still further benefit to have a navigation system that is adapted for use with many existing electronic label systems currently existing in facilities.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a navigation system that allows an individual to create his own task list and have a route provided for the individual to accomplish the tasks on the list.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a navigation system that allows an individual to create his own task list and electronically submit it to a facility for the preparation and downloading of a route into the user&#39;s personal digital device so as to navigate the route and complete the tasks within the particular facility.  
           [0007]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a navigation system that interacts with many systems already existing in facilities.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, a system and method of the type for aiding a user in navigating a route through a facility so as too efficiently locate specific items within a facility is provided. The system includes a facility processor having a database and software stored thereon for mapping an interactive route from selected location to selected location within a facility, a label located proximate individual items, the label electronically communicating information specific to the item it is associated with, and a digital device having the interactive route electronically stored thereon, the digital device electronically communicating with the facility processor and the labels for tracking movement of the digital device along the route via communication with the labels and communicating a direction to move to follow the route.  
           [0009]    A user creates a list of items to acquire, or locations to visit that are specific to a facility. The user then provides this list to a facility processor at the facility or via a network. An interactive route is then created to provide an efficient route for the user to locate all the items on the list. This route is downloaded onto the user&#39;s digital device for utilization in the facility. The system utilizes two-way communication between the labels and the digital device and the digital device and the facility processor when necessary to navigate through the facility. The digital device indicates a direction to follow until a listed item is located. The system may utilize any means necessary, such as visual, audio, and/or physical stimulation, to communicate to the user a direction to travel or when an item is located. This system may be used by the visually impaired. The interactive route program may also allow the user to skip items or move through the list and select specific items, the route being adjusted according to the item selected.  
           [0010]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an illustration of the navigation system of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a data processing system, including hardware and firmware, which may be used to implement the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an illustration of a navigation system of the present invention utilizing radio frequency (RF) communication.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of initiating the navigation system of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 5A, 5B,  5 C is a flowchart of a method of the navigation system of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several figures.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is an illustration of the navigation system of the present invention generally designated by the numeral  10 . Navigation system  10  includes a facility processor  12 , a personal digital device  14 , and a facility  16 . System  10  as shown is adapted for use in a facility such as a grocery store or other sales facility. It should be recognized that navigation system  10  of the present invention may be utilized in many different types of facilities, such as, but not limited to grocery stores, department stores, hardware stores, entertainment centers and the like. For brevity and clarity navigation  10  is described for utilization in a grocery store for aiding visually impaired persons to navigate shopping routes to obtain particular items.  
         [0019]    Facility processor  12  may be a dedicated personal computer system, a store controller, or a manager&#39;s workstation. Facility processor  12  may be a stand-alone processor or connected to other processors, such as, but not limited to, a corporate headquarters, through a network (not shown). Typically, facility processors will contain inventory data, facility location of inventory, price lists, and promotional offers among other data necessary to operate a sales facility.  
         [0020]    Personal digital device  14  is an independently powered, stand-alone, two-way wireless communication device. Personal digital device  14  may be a device such as, but not limited to, a personal digital assistant, laptop computer, cell phone or other similar device. Personal digital device  10  will have software loaded to allow communication with facility processor  12  and labels  18  (FIG. 3).  
         [0021]    A representative hardware environment which can be used for practicing the present invention is depicted with reference to FIG. 2, which illustrates the hardware configuration of a data processing system  213  in accordance with the subject invention. The representative system may be utilized, in whole or in part, for various elements of the present invention such as facility processor  12 , personal digital device  14 , and label  18  shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0022]    The data processing system  213  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  210 , such as a conventional microprocessor, and a number of other units interconnected via a system bus  212 . The data processing system  213  includes a random access memory (RAM)  214  and a read only memory (ROM)  216 , and may include flash memory. Data processing system  213  may also include an I/O adapter  218  for connecting peripheral devices such as disk units  220  and tape drives  240  to the bus  212 , a user interface adapter  222  for connecting a keyboard  224 , a mouse  226  and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen device to the bus  212 , a communication adapter  234  for connecting the data processing system  213  to a data processing network  242 , and a display adapter  236  for connecting the bus  212  to a display device  238  which may include sound. The CPU  210  may include other circuitry not shown herein, which will include circuitry found within a microprocessor, e.g., an execution unit, a bus interface unit, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), etc. The CPU  210  may also reside on a single integrated circuit (IC).  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is an illustration of navigation system  10  of the present invention utilizing radio frequency (RF) communication. As shown, facility  16  includes facility processor  12  and a plurality of labels  18 . Facility processor  12  contains stored information such as store inventory, price lists, store diagrams, label  18  locations in the facility, and promotional information. Facility processor  12  may include software which allows mapping of the locations of labels  18  in facility  16 . Facility processor  12  is connected to one or more RF links  20  for transmitting and receiving radio frequencies. It should be recognized that the system is described utilizing radio frequency, however, infrared technology or hard-wire communication may be utilized.  
         [0024]    Each label  18  may be an independently powered, stand-alone, two-way communication device. Label  18  may be a radio frequency identification tag. Labels  18  are placed along shelves, such as in a grocery store, adjacent to a product that it identifies. As represented in FIG. 3, labels  18  have been placed on two rows of shelves forming an aisle. Labels  18  may be loaded with information such as the location of label  18 , the item represented, item price, and promotional offers. This information may be pre-loaded and/or edited via communication from facility processor  12 . Labels  18  may be programmed to transmit information back to facility processor  12 .  
         [0025]    The electronic label system as shown in FIG. 3 may be utilized with systems available for use in retail facilities. The present invention utilizes these in-place and readably available systems in-part, to aid the visually impaired to shop in a self-sufficient and timely manner.  
         [0026]    A user creates a task list and has an interactive route, created to locate each item listed, loaded via a network or directly from facility processor  12  at facility  16  into personal digital device  14 . Once the route is downloaded and the user and personal digital device  14  enter a particular facility  16 , personal digital device  14  polls labels  18  within transmission range. When a label  18  is polled it will respond with an item identification such as a barcode and may transmit a location and additional information. When personal digital device  14  receives the signal from a label  18 , it processes the information sent, comparing it to the route identified and indicates to the user if it is a product he desires or may indicate that the user is to move forward or in a different direction. Personal digital device  14  may transmit the received barcode from a label  18  and send it to facility processor  12  to receive the location of personal digital device  14  for routing information. The personal digital device may provide information to the user utilizing audible, visible, and/or physical stimulation methods such as a synthetic voice, buzzers, vibration, braille display, or lights depending on the ability of the user.  
         [0027]    By requesting as little information as possible from labels  18 , the label&#39;s battery life is prolonged. Additionally, if the wireless link between label  18  and personal digital device  14  is limited to a very short range, navigation system  10  can more accurately pinpoint the location of the shopper on the route.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of initiating navigation system  10  of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. A shopper creates a shopping list, step  410 . The shopper then transmits the list to facility processor  12 , step  420 . The shopper may transmit the list to facility processor  12  via a network or upload the list at facility  16 . The list may be a hard copy and scanned into facility processor  12 . In step  430 , facility processor  12  compares the listed items to the location of the items in the store and creates an optimal route through facility  16  to obtain the items listed. The route may be recalculated during use if the user elects to skip an item listed. In step  440 , the route is loaded into personal digital device  14  of the user either over a network or at facility  16 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5A is a flowchart of a method of navigation system  10  of the present invention described in relation to FIGS. 1 through 4. Once the shopper has the route loaded into his personal digital device  14  ,he initiates the programing and shopping route in step  510 . In step  510 , the shopper initiates the navigation program by inputting a request for the first product. The shopper may input the request by typing it into the personal digital device  14 , utilizing voice recognition, utilizing a dedicated key on the personal digital device  14 , or any other method known to operate a computing device by the visually impaired. In step  520 , personal digital device  14  queries a label  18  for a barcode. If more than one label  18  transmits a barcode, personal digital device  14  accepts the strongest signal. In step  530 , personal digital device  14  queries label  18  for a location; if no location is transmitted from label  18 , the information is obtained from facility processor  12 . In step  540 , if personal digital device  14  recognizes the barcode as an item listed, the process continues as shown in FIG. 5B. If the barcode is not recognized as an item desired, personal digital device  14  compares the location of the previous label  18  with that of the current label  18  location, step  550 . In step  560 , personal digital device  14  determines if the shopper is moving in the correct direction. If the shopper is not moving in the correct direction, the correct direction is calculated, step  570 , and the correct direction is indicated to the shopper in step  590 . If the shopper is moving in the correct direction, that direction is set in step  580  and is indicated to the shopper in step  590 . This process is continued until the shopper locates the first item listed.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5B is a flowchart of a method of navigation system  10  of the present invention described in relation to FIGS. 1 through 5A. FIG. 5B is an illustration of the found product process of system  10 . Once the barcode transmitted from a label  18  matches an item listed, an indication is given to the shopper that the item is located, step  600 . In step  610 , personal digital device  14  inquires if the shopper responds to the found item. If the shopper does not respond to personal digital device  14 , the barcode is again checked against the item listed, step  620 . If the barcode matches the listed item, the process resets to step  600 . This loop continues for a set number of times. If the barcode does not match the listed item, the process resets to step  520 . If the shopper responds that the item is found, personal digital device  14  queries if the shopper would like a price check, step  630 . If price is requested, personal digital device  14  queries label  18  and/or facility processor  12  for the price, step  640 . The price received is then stored in a running price total, step  650 . Then system  10  is set to locate the next item listed in step  660  and the process continues as shown in FIG. 5C. If the shopper does not request a price in step  630 , system  10  waits a specified time for a response, step  670 . If the preset wait time passes, step  680 , system  10  is set to the next product listed, step  660 . If the shopper indicates by pushing a button or submits a response in another manner established for another item in step  690 , the method continues as shown in FIG. 5C. If the shopper does not give an indication as to price request in steps  670 - 690 , the program repeats a set number of times before moving to step  660 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5C is a flowchart of a method of navigation system  10  of the present invention described in relation to FIGS. 1 through 5B. FIG. 5C illustrates the next selection process which may be utilized at anytime, for example if the shopper decides to reduce the list because of time constraints or money concerns. In step  700 , personal digital device  14  provides for selection of a previous item or next item. This step may always be available by vocal command or by physical command and also includes indications from personal digital device  14  to the shopper of the next item to pursue. Whichever direction the shopper chooses to go through the list, once an item is selected personal digital device  14  calculates a route to the selected item, steps  710  and  720 . In step  710 , the shopper selects an item earlier in the list and the interactive route recalculates a route from the current location. In step  720 , the interactive route recalculates a route from the current location to the item selected that is not the next listed item in the original list. In step  730 , the item is selected and the direction to move is indicated to the shopper, step  740 . The process then continues to step  510 . The process may be terminated upon the shoppers request or once all the listed items have been found. Upon completion of the item list, digital device  14  may indicate a route to a payment station and/or exit (not shown).  
         [0032]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It should be recognized that the present method and system may be utilized by any individual to speed shopping or locating items in a facility. The label may be a wireless communication device that does not have the ability to visually display information.