Patent Application
20190073656
The present invention relates to a shopping cart or to a collection of carts in general, and in particular to shopping or collection carts that allow shoppers to shop and pay for their purchases autonomously.
Various types of payment facilities are known for allowing shoppers to record the items they have selected at a store and to make a payment for those items autonomously, that is, without a store clerk. Some systems include methods for comparing items selected by a shopper with items placed on a scale. However, a scale may be subject to various motions and pressures that distort a weight reading. Various improvements to autonomous shopping and in particularly to aspects of an autonomous shopping cart may increase the reliability and security of an autonomous shopping process.
The present invention provides a shopping cart or collection cart and inter-related shopping system, for enabling shoppers to shop and pay for their purchases autonomously.
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention there is provided a shopping cart that may include a cart chassis having an upright portion, a base, a handle bar attached to the upright portion, wherein wheels are attached to the base, and a scale configured to rest on the base. The scale may be configured to provide an output signal indicative of a downward pressure on the scale. Typically, the scale comprises one or more weight transducers. A basket of the shopping cart may be configured to rest on the scale, such that weights of products placed in the basket are indicated by the output signal of the scale. A guard rail of the shopping cart may be positioned above the basket, operably attached to the cart chassis, such that a downward force on the guard rail does not impose a downward force on the basket and is not indicated in the output signal of by the scale. A user identification unit of the shopping cart may be configured to receive a form of identification from a shopper and responsively to authenticate a shopper identification. A payment module of the shopping cart may be configured to receive a payment method from a shopper and responsively to perform a payment transaction for products in the basket. One or more sensors of the shopping cart are configured to identify a product placed into the basket or a product placed in proximity of one of said sensors. A user interface of the shopping cart includes a touch screen, configured to accept product information identified by said one or more sensors, and having an associated processor configured to determine a product correspondence between the identified product information and the output signal of the scale and further configured to generate a lock release signal when a shopper is identified by the user identification unit. A locking mechanism of the shopping cart may be coupled to an external charger via a charging cable, wherein the locking mechanism may be configured to receive power from the external charger to charge a power supply of the shopping cart, and further configured to receive the lock release signal from the user interface and responsively to release the charging cable from the locking mechanism. After the shopper is identified and a payment method provided, products placed in the basket are identified by the one or more sensors, and, after authorization of payment for said products by the shopper, the payment transaction may be made by the payment module.
In some embodiments, the one or more sensors comprise a barcode reader, an RFID reader, an NFC reader, a QR reader, or a camera. The user identification unit may be a credit card reader, a smart card reader, a biometric reader, a mobile phone application or a mobile phone sensor. The payment module may be configured to implement a payment transaction process according to a total price of items placed in the basket, to receive a payment transaction authorization, and responsively to issue a signal of a payment confirmation to confirm that payment has been successfully received. The payment transaction may be one of a credit card transaction, a mobile phone application payment, or a bank transfer.
In further embodiments, the payment module may further comprise a shopping cart registry and the shopping cart registry may be configured to log a “paid” status responsively to the payment confirmation. The payment module may be further configured to transmit the shopping cart status to a user interface.
The user interface including a touch screen, may be configured to accept product information identified by said one or more sensors or entered by a user, and having an associated processor configured to determine a product correspondence between the identified product information and the output signal of the scale. The user interface may be further configured to provide product information comprising: cost of a product; price per weight of bulk items; nutrition information; product content weight; product volume; analogous products to a selected product; a notice of whether a product is on sale; product ingredients; and product warnings including potential allergens, gluten content, artificial sweeteners and colors. The product information may be a type of bulk commodity and wherein the processor may be further configured to determine a price according to the type of bulk commodity and the output signal of the scale. The type of commodity may be one of a type of fruit, vegetable or nut.
The processor may be further configured to generate a lock release signal when a payment method is authenticated by the payment module and when a shopper is identified by the user identification unit. In further embodiments, the shopping cart further comprises a locking mechanism coupled to an external charger. The locking mechanism may be configured to receive power from the external charger to charge a power supply of the shopping cart, and the locking mechanism may be further configured to receive a lock release signal from the user interface and responsively to release the shopping cart from the external charger. A visual indicator on the shopping cart may be configured to switch on responsively to the signal of payment confirmation. The shopping cart may further include an indoor navigation system configured to include a map and/or voice commands for in-store navigation. One or more of the user identification module, the payment module or a user interface may be configured to receive input from a mobile phone. In further embodiments
In further embodiments, there is provided a method for autonomous shopping including: providing a shopping cart comprising a chassis having an upright portion, a base, a handle bar attached to the upright portion, wherein wheels are attached to the base; configuring a scale to rest on the base and to provide an output signal indicative of a downward pressure on the scale, wherein the scale comprises one or more weight transducers; configuring a product basket to rest on the scale, wherein weights of products placed in the basket are indicated by the output signal of the scale; positioning a guard rail above the product basket and attached to the cart chassis, wherein a downward force on the guard rail does not impose a downward force on the basket and is not indicated in the output signal of by the scale; attaching a user identification unit to the chassis to receive identifying information from a shopper; and attaching a payment module to the chassis to receive a payment method and to complete a payment transaction; attaching to the chassis one or more sensors, configured to identify a product placed into the basket or a product placed in proximity to one of said sensors, wherein, after the shopper is identified and a payment method provided, products placed in the basket are identified by the one or more sensors, and, after authorization of payment for said products by the shopper, the payment transaction is made by the payment module.
Although the present cart and system will be described herein with respect to a supermarket environment, it should be understood that the cart and system could be implemented in a warehouse (to control inventory, prevent theft, etc.) or other appropriate settings. As such, the cart and system can be considered to provide the application of a platform for collecting and subsequently distributing items.
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:
The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features/components of an actual implementation are necessarily described. Embodiments and/or limitations featured in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.
A product receiving portion or basket 24 is configured to floatingly or fixedly rest on the scale, such that items placed in the basket may be weighed. A user interface 26 typically includes a processor, memory and a touch screen 28, and additionally or optionally an audio interface and/or a video interface. The shopping cart comprises one or more product sensors 30, such as a barcode reader, an RFID reader, a Near Field Communications (NFC) reader, and/or a camera (or image and/or video capture unit). The product sensors 30 communicate with the user interface 26. A product sensor (also referred to hereinbelow as the “sensor”) may be configured to identify a product and/or to read the cost of a product or information for determining the cost, such as a label indicating a price per weight in the case of bulk items such as fruits and vegetables. The product sensor may be configured to send product information (such as type, price, weight, name, ingredients, nutritional information and such) the user interface to store data about the product, such as content weight and/or volume, analogous products, product discounts, product ingredients, and warnings such as product contents (such as potential allergens, gluten, and artificial sweeteners or colors). Interface 26 has associated or integrated therewith a processor 32, which controls and processes interaction of the cart activities with a store's computer system and in some preferred embodiments with a server configured in an interne cloud.
In some embodiments, product sensor 30 comprising an image capture functionality (still image and/or video) may be configured to recognize each product based on its captured image (using image recognition techniques of the art). The recognized image may be associated by the processor with the product's shape/dimensions (which may include aspect ratio and such relative dimensions); and/or contours, and/or words and/or writing font and/or colors and/or graphics, and/or images and/or any other distinctive features on the product packaging.
In some embodiments, a first product sensor 30 (barcode reader) identifies a product barcode and a second product sensor 30 (image capture and recognition module) identifies a product by its captured image. The processor 32 is configured to confirm that the product identified by its barcode is indeed the same product recognized and identified by its image as placed in the basket 24. This verification is helpful in identifying potential fraud, for example, a user scanning a first product (for example a small package of the product) but then actually placing a different product in the basket 24 (for example, a larger package of the product).
In some embodiments, the processor 32 is configured to confirm that the product identified by its barcode is indeed the same product recognized and identified by its image as placed in the basket 24 and that the weight of the product added to the basket (as 24 transmitted by the digital output of the product scale 20) corresponds to the weight associated with the product identified by the barcode and image. The weight associated with a product added to the basket 24 is calculated by storing in memory the current weight of the basket (say 2.5 kilos) and then when a new weight reading is obtained from the product scale 20 (say 2.8 kilos), deducting the current weight reading from the previous reading and in this example deducting that 300 grams have been added to the basket 24 (could be one or more new products). The weight reading of the scales 20 can be obtained either by a pull mechanism (the user interface requesting a reading periodically, say 10 times per second) and/or a push mechanism (where the scale transmits a new digital output every time there is a change is the weight measured).
Removal of an item from basket 24 also may require scanning the removed item by a product sensor 30 so that the shopper is not charged for the removed item. The cart processor 32 can thus be configured to subtract the cost of a removed item upon scanning, after sensing the decrease in weight of basket 24. In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, processor 32 may be configured to automatically reduce the price of the removed product if the weight of the product is sufficiently distinct from other products. Product removal may be completely automatic or may require confirmation by the shopper via touch screen 28.
In some embodiments, the sensing of an item placed in (or removed from) basket 24 may include a comparison of the expected weight of the item with the actual change in weight indicated by scale 20. This prevents an error that may occur if two items are inserted (or removed) at the same time but only one item is scanned. The weight sensing by scale 20 ensures that products placed in basket 24 have been scanned.
The touch screen 28 may be configured to accept product information identified by the one or more sensors 30 or manually entered by a user. The associated processor 32 may be configured to determine a product correspondence between the identified product information and the output signal of the scale 20. The user interface 26 may be configured to provide product information on the touch screen 28. This may include: a cost of a product; a price per weight of bulk items; nutrition information; a product content weight; a product volume; a list of analogous products to a selected product; a notice of whether a product is on sale; product ingredients; and product warnings including potential allergens, gluten content, artificial sweeteners and colors. The product information may be a type of a bulk commodity. The processor may be further configured to determine a price according to the type of bulk commodity and the output signal of the scale 20. (Commodities may include fruits, vegetables, nuts, spices or other commodities sold unpackaged.)
The user interface 26 may also be connected and operated by a mobile phone and similar mobile devices, whereby an application on the mobile phone can communicate with the processor 32. Information such as shipping lists; recipes; advertisements, and so on, can thereby be communicated between the shopper and the processor 32. In addition to the touch screen 28, the interface 26 may include a microphone and/or speaker for providing and receiving information and/or instructions from the shopper.
In some embodiments, a mobile phone can provide the functionalities of the user interface 26.
In particular embodiments of the shopping cart, the scale 20 includes one or more pressure transducers 20A and 20B (also referred to as “weight transducers”), calibrated to provide an electric, analog or digital signal indicating a weight of the basket 24 itself together with the weight of products added to the basket 24. The scale 20 is in communication with user interface 26, which is configured to display weight information provided by the scale 20. The processor 32 is also configured to check that there is correspondence between the measured weight and the expected weight of a product sensed by the one or more sensors 30, thereby avoiding store pricing errors or fraud by the user. Scale 20 is configured to properly subtract the weight of basket 24 to measure the tare weight, in order to ensure proper weighing of products. Outputs of multiple transducers may be averaged by the scale to provide a single, more representative weight indication. In some embodiments, the scale 20 is configured to sense weight changes of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 grams.
Basket 24 may be attached to the base 11 of the cart in a manner such that the basket may freely move downward with the weight of products accumulating therein. For example, basket 24 may be loosely tethered to chassis 11 by a tether (not shown); or have rails that fit a vertical track (not shown) so as not to fix the basket 24 to the chassis 11, but rather to allow the basket 24 and its contents to be weighed by scale 20 without hindrance. The bottom of basket 24 and the top of scale 20 may be correspondingly shaped so they can be fixed to each other.
The shopping cart may also include an identification unit 34A and a payment module 34A. The identification unit 34A identifies a shopper and may be a credit card reader, a smart card reader, a biometric reader (via finger prints, face recognition, voice recognition etc), a mobile phone application or a mobile phone sensor. When implemented as a credit card reader, the identification unit may also include the payment module as an integral component, the payment module including the additional functions of authenticating a shopper and processing a payment transaction through a remote confirmation. The authentication process may include transmitting credit card information together with shopper identification information to a remote computing service and receiving an authentication confirmation, or alternatively a rejection of the authentication. A payment transaction may include transmitting credit card information in addition to payment details to a remote computing service and receiving a payment confirmation (or rejection).
In some embodiments, the cart further includes a guard rail 40 positioned above the product basket 24 and operably attached to the cart chassis 11, for example, at a connection point 42 with the upright portion 12. Additional rail support bars, such as support bar 44, may provide additional support to position the guard rail 40 above the upper edge of the basket 24. The guard rail 40 isolates the basket 24 from potential external forces that would affect the weight measurement. For example, a downward force on the guard rail 40 does not impose a downward force on the basket 24. Consequently, if a shopper leans on the guard rail 40, the shopper's weight is transmitted to the product basket 24 and is thus not indicated by the output signal provided by the scale 20. If the guard rail 40 were not in place above the basket 24, a shopper leaning on the basket 24 would cause erroneous measurements to be made by the scale 20, and would therefore prevent proper processing of items added to the basket 24.
In some embodiments the shopping cart includes a visual indicator 46, such as a light, which, for example, may be mounted on the guard rail 40. The visual indicator 46 may be configured to switch on after a payment confirmation is received, so that it is easily and visually clear that payment has been made for a shopping cart's contents, for example, when the user exits the store.
The user interface 26 may also be configured to provide a paper receipt, and/or, in conjunction with the payment module, to provide an electronic receipt.
User interface 26 (e.g. touch screen 28), in conjunction with processor 32, can be configured to: (1) indicate the price, name, picture and weight of the items placed in basket 24; (2) provide information to the shopper about analogous products available; (3) receive information from the shopper (e.g. a shopping list) including information received from external applications or databases handling user information such as shopping lists; (4) indicate where products on the shopping list are located in the store, by providing location information (i.e. rice is on isle 7), a map of the store and/or a navigation feature or system; (5) suggest complimentary products (e.g. if lunch meat was an item, then sandwich bread might be suggested); and (6) automatically put required items of a recipe on the shopping list.
The characteristic weight and the barcode data of each product, for example, may be wirelessly transmitted to/from the shopping cart's processor 32 to/from the shop's/store's computer system, for example via a WiFi connection provided by transmitter 56.
The user interface 26 may also communicate with a locking mechanism 58, which may be coupled to an external charger. The locking mechanism 58 is configured to receive power from the external charger via a charging cable to charge the battery 50 (also referred to herein as the interface power supply). When the charging cable is inserted to the locking mechanism 58, it both charges the battery 50 and prevents free movement of the shopping cart. The locking mechanism 58 is configured to receive a lock release signal from the processor 32 and responsively to release the charging cable from the locking mechanism 58. The processor 32 may be configured to generate a lock release signal when a payment method is authenticated by the payment module and/or when a shopper is identified by the user identification unit.
Alternatively, the shopping cart may be mechanically and electrically connected to additional shopping cart or carts in shopping cart zone (where users release and return carts).
In some embodiments, the user is charged a predetermined amount if the shopping cart is not correctly returned to the shopping cart zone.
The user interface 26 may also include additional circuitry 60, which may include components for additional electronic, audio, or visual signal generation, (in addition to the touch screen) such as generation of an alarm if a product identification error occurs, as described below. In some embodiments, the cart's processor 32 is configured to provide an alarm/warning (audio or other) that the product has not been properly scanned by product sensor 30 upon sensing that the weight in basket 24 has increased. Circuitry 60 may also include location sensing circuitry, such as GPS circuitry. The GPS circuitry may transmit location information to a store computer, for example for locating the cart if it is not properly returned to a shopping cart station.
A navigation feature of the interface may include a store directory, a map and/or voice commands, providing the shortest path to arrive to the product location. In particular embodiments, the navigation feature additionally or alternatively uses imaging (image processing, for example by processor 32) of the store plan (floor plan/layout) and/or the specific environment/location to provide navigation information to the shopper. The imaging feature can be configured to identify the goods in the purchaser's vicinity, which may thereby be used to provide purchasing information to the user, for example if any such products are on sale and/or a quality report on products in the area, and so on. In some embodiments, the aforementioned image processing is used in conjunction with the store's system to identify the location of the shopper, which can be used for navigation and to promote purchasing, for example, by suggesting newly offered products in the vicinity. Wheels 18 may also be motorized and controlled by the processor to navigate according to the map.
As described above, the user interface 26, with support from processor 32, may further be configured to receive information (e.g. a shopping list or recipe), for example, from a smartphone application, a website or the like, so the shopper does not need to input a shopping list on the spot, but rather can make the list when convenient, to avoid forgetting desired products and save time in the store. The smartphone application could be programmed to provide information on upcoming sales; new products that have recently come out; and to suggest products based on learned shopping patterns. Further, in some embodiments, the application may allow multiple members of a group, e.g. a family, to separately access and update their shopping list, each one independently from his/her own smartphone.
An exit gate may be configured to sense if payment has been made. Such a feature of the system can be embodied by a scanner of the type used in airport security, which can provide an alarm in the case of any issues and/or control an exit gate.
The shopping cart may also include a camera configured to identify a shopper and/or used to identify anyone stealing the shopping cart. The camera is configured to provide a live video stream to the store's computer system or alternatively to an internet application.
In some embodiments, the shopping cart includes a shopping bag dispenser (not shown) whereby packaging of products can be performed conveniently by the customer. In some embodiments, bags or cartons are prearranged in the cart.
A system supporting the shopping cart may include an entrance gate or entry system configured to register the cart and electronically match the cart with the shopper. The gate may read identifying information transmitted from the cart and, upon identification of the shopper, for example via the payment module 34, such as a credit card reader, the gate may match the cart with the shopper. This matching capability may alternatively or additionally be provided by the user interface. Matching prevents cart switching or theft. The cart registration match with the shopper can be verified at an exit gate system, as described in more detail below.
As a shopping cart leaves a store, an exit gate system, including, for example, a gatekeeper device similar in design to an airport security gate, may verify that payment has been made and may verify the weight of the corresponding purchases corresponds. The exit gate system then opens allowing the shopper to exit the store and bring the cart to the shopper's vehicle, if any, and then to a cart collection point or padlock (also referred to herein as the shopping cart station) where the shopping cart is placed and preferably mechanically and electrically connected to the collection point or connected to a cart already located in the collection padlock. In this manner, the carts can be electrically charged for further use. Upon returning the cart, the shopper is “disconnected” from the system.
In addition to the exit gate system ensuring the cart belongs to a shopper who registered it (who took the cart), typically using an electronic sensor, the exit gate system may also verify that payment was made via the cart, that the weight and products correlate; and that a payment receipt was generated, prior to opening a gate or automatic door.
At a step 126, the shopper begins scanning items, and then placing the items in the basket at a step 128. After each item is scanned and placed, the processor determines at a step 130 if the identification matches the weight. If not, at a step 132, an alert is provided. If there is a match, shopping may continue. The item is also recorded by the processor for subsequent generation of a bill for payment. At a step 154, if the shopper has not finished, he continues to scan and place new items. If finished, at a step 156, the payment module receives from the processor the total price of items in the cart, receives a payment instruction from the shopper, and performs a payment transaction. If the transaction is not successful, an alert is made at a step 158. If successful, the success is logged at a step 160, and additional measures as described above are taken to confirm the transaction, such as lighting the visual indicator and recording the transaction confirmation in the processor registry.
In some embodiments, the support bars 44 extend vertically below the guard rail 40 and thus adding the support bars 44 does not affect the overall width of the shopping cart.
In some embodiments as can be seen in
The bracket structure may also distribute the weight of the basket and its contents to a single force sensor (pressure transducer), or in some embodiments to two force sensors (pressure transducers).
Because basket 24 is not attached directly to chassis 11, several sizes of baskets may be interchanged. Different brackets may compensate for different heights of baskets. Such design eases production whereby fewer, or ideally only one, chassis size is required to be produced.
In some embodiments, the connection between basket 26 and the transducers can be via a quick connect-disconnect fastener. As such, different sized brackets can be easily changed on chassis 11. A store may maintain a variety of sizes of brackets so that, for example, if many baskets of a particular size are in demand, the store, or perhaps the customers themselves, may assemble carts with baskets of the desired sizes. The same advantage could be realized at the manufacturing-assembly stage.
It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments, and those not described herein, may be used separately or in any suitable combination; and the invention can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1412666.8 | Jul 2014 | GB | national |
The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/598,739, entitled “Shopping Cart and System,” filed on Jan. 16, 2015, which claims priority from US provisional patent application 61/929,305, entitled “Shopping System and Cart”, filed on Jan. 20, 2014; and from UK patent application GB 1412666.8, entitled “Shopping Cart and System,” filed on Jul. 16, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61929305 | Jan 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14598739 | Jan 2015 | US |
| Child | 16174965 | US |
