Patent Publication Number: US-2018047059-A1

Title: Triggering beacons that are used in point-of-purchase displays and other in-store displays

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of United States provisional application Ser. No. 62/139,922 filed on Mar. 30, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to product displays and more particularly (although not necessarily exclusively) to a system for triggering beacons that are used in point-of-purchase displays and other in-store displays. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Beacon technology can be used in retail stores to engage shoppers at a point of purchase. For example, relatively low-cost Bluetooth beacons can communicate with Bluetooth-enabled smart phones. Bluetooth beacons operate by sending out a beacon signal, through the Bluetooth wireless protocol, throughout an area. Current solutions involving beacon technology typically involve beacons that are constantly active, which may cause online content to be provided to a shopper regardless of the shopper&#39;s actual interest level in any given product in a coverage area of the beacon. 
     Improved systems and methods for activating beacons that are used in point-of-purchase displays and other in-store displays are desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim. 
     Certain aspects and features of the present invention are directed to a retail display system that integrates beacon technology, such as a beacon using Bluetooth or another suitable short-range communication protocol, with retail displays in a store. In some aspects, beacons can transmit ultrasonic signals. Bluetooth beacon technology can be combined with on-shelf sensors (light, motion, others) in a retail shelf or other point-of-purchase display to provide contextual information to a mobile application executed on a mobile device used by a shopper in a retail store. The retail display system can be used to push or otherwise provide contextual product information, product contents, or other media content to a mobile device in response to a shopper manipulating a product package on a retail display shelf. 
     These illustrative aspects and features are mentioned not to limit or define the disclosure, but to provide examples to aid understanding of the concepts disclosed in this application. Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure will become apparent after review of the entire application. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting an example of a system for selectively triggering beacons that are used in point-of-purchase displays and other in-store displays. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram depicting another example of a system for selectively triggering beacons that are used in point-of-purchase displays and other in-store displays according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of a pusher system that can be used for on-shelf sensing according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting a pusher system causing a force to be applied to a coil of a rotary potentiometer for sensing purposes according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram depicting an example of a computing system for processing inputs received using the sensor and outputting commands for activating a beacon according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A system for selectively triggering beacons that are used in point-of-purchase displays and other in-store displays is disclosed herein. 
     The subject matter of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting an example of a retail display system  100  for selectively triggering beacons  102  that are used in point-of-purchase displays and other in-store displays. 
     The retail display system  100  can include one or more sensors  104  and one or more beacons  102  that are integrated with or otherwise communicatively coupled to a retail display shelf  106 . One or more of the sensors  104  can detect a movement of a package  108  on the shelf (e.g., removing a package  108  from a shelf, placing a package  108  on the shelf, etc.). For example, a light sensor  104  or electromagnetic sensor  104  near a product package  108  can be used to detect movement of the product package  108 . A processing device included in or communicatively coupled to the beacon  102  can receive data from the sensor  104  that is indicative of a product package  108  being moved. In some aspects, the processing device can correlate the received data with a particular product (e.g., a specific product or brand that is located on a shelf near the sensor). The received data from the sensor  104  can trigger activation of the beacon  102 . 
     Triggering activation of the beacon may include, as an example, turning on the beacon or otherwise causing power to be supplied to the beacon. In a first embodiment, a switch controlled by the processing device may be interposed between the beacon and its internal battery. Between the battery and the beacon&#39;s battery contacts may be interposed a pair of thin contacts wired to a relay controlled (triggered) by the processing device. In a second embodiment, the usual beacon battery may be replaced by a slightly thinner battery with an attached or integrated switch or relay (controlled/triggered by the processing device) where the attached or integrated switch or relay brings the combination battery-switch back to the thickness of the usual battery. In a third embodiment a magnetic switch may be interposed between the battery and the beacon contacts, and the magnetic switch triggered/actuated by an external electromagnet controlled by the processing device. In a fourth embodiment, the battery within the beacon may be replaced by a pair of contacts supplying power in lieu of the battery, with the supplied power being triggered/turned on or off by the processing device. This fourth embodiment removes the need for periodic replacement of the beacon battery. All of these embodiments involve the processing device triggering (turning on) the beacon when specific conditions have been met, such as the movement of a product on the shelf. The processing device may further determine how long the beacon should be active before it is turned off. For example the beacon may be turned on for a few seconds, such as 10 seconds or 30 seconds. The time for which a beacon is turned on may be determined by the processing device based on characteristics of the product(s) on the particular shelf. 
     A smart phone  110  or other mobile device used by a shopper in the retail store may execute a mobile application that is used to communicate with the retail display system  100 . The mobile application can be programmed to receive unique beacon codes or other communications from a beacon  102 . The beacon  102  can communicate using any suitable type of transmitted signal, such as (but not limited to) electronic or ultrasonic signals. If the mobile device  110  enters a coverage area of a beacon  102  and the shopper triggers the beacon  102  by manipulating a product package  108 , the beacon  102  can transmit one or more messages to the mobile application (or cause the messages to be transmitted to the mobile application). The message or message may be the ID number of the beacon. The messages can direct the shopper to online content associated with the retail shopping experience. A coverage area of the beacon  102  can be, for example, 1-3 feet. However, the coverage area may be greater than 3 feet. The messages can be transmitted to the mobile application in a push manner (i.e., without requiring the shopper to perform a request for online content or other interaction using the mobile application). Different zones in a retail store can include different retail display systems, which can be used to automatically push online content to a shopper&#39;s mobile device  110  as the shopper enters various coverage zones throughout the store. 
     In some aspects, a server or cloud-based platform  112  in communication with a beacon  102  can be used for generating and/or communicating the online content to the mobile device  110 . For example, a processing device included in or communicatively coupled to the beacon  102  can use Bluetooth or another short-range communication protocol to obtain an identifier of the mobile device  110 . The processing device can provide the identifier to a server. The server can cause online content to be pushed to the mobile device  110 . 
     The sensor  104  portion of the system depicted in  FIG. 1  can be implemented in any suitable manner. 
     In some aspects, the sensor  104  can include an optical reader such as (but not limited to) spectrometer. The optical reader may detect movement, such as when an object is picked up or when a hand approaches the display shelf  106 . The optical reader may be integrated into a display shelf  106 . The optical reader may or may not be visible to a consumer. In an example where the optical reader is visible to the consumer, the display shelf  106  may be designed such that a consumer is instructed to place the package  108  in a certain area to initiate the push of information to the user&#39;s mobile device  110 . 
     In additional or alternative aspects, the sensor  104  can detect a code discreetly hidden in the coloring of the package  108 . For example, a particular color mix can be used that can be read by a color sensor  104  to indicate the presence of a package  108 . Embedding a code in the color of the package  108  can allow transmitted information to be multi-bit, in that the sensor  104  is able to detect movement of the package  108  and determine what type of product is in the package  108 . Embedding a code in the color of the package  108  can also allow a color code to blend in seamlessly to the package design for the package  108 . Embedding a code in the color of the package  108  can also avoid detracting from branding information depicted on the package  108 . Embedding a code in the color of the package  108  can also allow a color code to occupy a small footprint on the package  108  or be invisible to a consumer. A color code can be placed at any suitable location on the package  108 . For example, placement of a color code may be determined by the shape of the package  108  and the design of the display shelf  106 . 
     A color code sensor  104  may also be used for counting the number of items in a display, such as during inventory or to validate a planogram, i.e., to determine if the right product is on the display. For such an implementation, the display shelf  106  can include an array of sensors  104  usable for capturing or otherwise determining a number of products sitting on a display shelf  106 . Additionally or alternatively, if the color code were on the top of the package  108 , a camera above the shelf can be used to count the number of items in the display shelf  106 . 
     In some aspects, the sensor  104  may operate by measuring the wavelength of visible light absorbed by a package  108 . For example, the sensor  104  may shine a white light on the target. The sensor  104  may include three photodiodes, one having a red filter, one having a green filter, and one having a blue filter. The sensor  104  can digitize the strength of the returned color, and can run the result through an analog-to-digital conversion to return the RGB signature for that color. The logic in the display system can be calibrated in advance, using the color signatures of packages  108  that are intended for the display. 
     In some aspects, the color code can be invisible to the human eye. This allows for the use of color coding on a trademark protected package  108  design. The invisible color code can be achieved by using a color that is not in the visible spectrum, such as infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV). Painting the invisible color code over the package  108  would not obstruct the underlying colors of the package  108  and can allow the color code to be read by the sensor  104 . 
     Other aspects allow for using a metallic code on the package  108 . A metallic code can be read by an IR sensor. Such a metallic code can be printed as a 2-D patch antenna using conductive ink. The code can be printed on the outside or on the inside of the package  108 . The position of the metallic code can be selected such that the metallic code does not detract from a trademark-protected package  108  design. 
     In some aspects, the metallic code can enable the automated computation of product inventory. For example, the retail display system  100  can include an electromagnetic transmitter and receiver. If the metallic code is irradiated with a signal, the antenna can absorb a maximum amount of energy. The receiver in the retail display system  100  can measure the energy present in the area. The logic in the retail display system  100  can determine how much energy was absorbed. The determined amount of absorbed energy can indicate how many packages  108  are present. The frequency of the absorbed signal can indicate the type of product. The logic in the retail display system  100  can be calibrated with the frequency signatures of the various products that can be shelved on the display. 
     In some aspects, one or more devices of the retail display system  100  can be powered via an energy harvesting unit. An energy harvesting unit can generate electrical current from other types of energy in the area in which one or more devices of the retail display system  100  are deployed. Examples of energy that can be harvested and used to generate electrical current include light, thermal energy, vibrations, etc. 
     In some aspects, a cell phone detector can be used in the retail display system  100  to detect whether a cell phone  110  is in the proximity of the display shelf  106 . For example, if a cell phone  110  is determined to be near the display shelf  106 , information about a product can be pushed to an application executed on the cell phone  110 . Detecting the presence of a cell phone  110  can be accomplished by monitoring bands used by various cell phone  110  technologies. The logic in the retail display system  100  can be set to identify the carrier for the phone  110  based on the band used. Identifying the carrier can allow customized product information to be pushed to various users of mobile devices. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram depicting an example of a retail display system  100 . A sensor  104  can be positioned near a product  108  that is positioned on a shelf  106 . In the example depicted in  FIG. 2 , the beacon  102  is attached or otherwise coupled to the shelf  106 . An indication of the product  108  being moved can be detected using the sensor  108 . The detection of this indicator by the sensor  108  can trigger the beacon  102 . In some embodiments, triggering the beacon includes turning on the power to the beacon. 
     In some aspects, one or more of the retail display system  100  and the product packaging can include mechanical and/or design features that can optimize on-shelf sensing that is used to send contextual information to a user. For example, a pusher system can be used to align product packages  108  to a display sensor. A simplified example of such a pusher system is depicted in  FIG. 3 . A pusher  202  can be biased by a spring or other biasing mechanism. The spring or other biasing mechanism can exert a force  204  on the pusher  202  in the direction of the products  108 . The pusher  202  can be coupled to a rotary potentiometer having a coil. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 4 , a connector  206  can be used to transfer force from the movement of the pusher  202  to a coil  210  of a rotary potentiometer in the shelf  106 . For example, a force  204  can cause the pusher  202  to exert a force  208  on the connector  206 , which in turn causes a force to be applied to the coil  210  and thereby causes the coil  210  to move in a rotating direction  212 . The rotary potentiometer generates specific voltages to indicate the contents of the shelf, to facilitate with inventory control. The potentiometer can measure the position of the pusher  202  to determine the number of packages  108  that are on the shelf. This can be accomplished in a coil pusher by measuring the number of rotations in the coil  210 . 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram depicting an example of a computing system for processing inputs received using the sensor  104  and outputting commands for activating a beacon  102  according to one aspect. The computing system can include a processing device  302  that includes or is communicatively coupled with a memory device  304 . Examples of processing device  302  include a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), a field-programmable gate array (“FPGA”), or other suitable processor. The processing device  302  may include one processor or any number of processors. The memory device  304  can be a non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing program instructions. The processing device  302  can execute the program instructions stored the memory device  304 . The executable program instructions can include a beacon triggering module  306 . The beacon triggering module  306  can perform one or more of the operations for selectively triggering a beacon  102  as described herein, including but not limited to turning on the power to a beacon. 
     The foregoing description of aspects and features of the disclosure, including illustrated examples, has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications, adaptations, and uses thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Aspects and features from each example disclosed can be combined with any other example. The illustrative examples described above are given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed here and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts.