ASSIGNMENT OF A MOTORIZED PERSONAL ASSISTANCE APPARATUS
An apparatus comprises a plurality of motorized mobile retail facility personal assistance apparatuses and a central computer system. The central computer system includes a network interface that permits the central computer system to wirelessly communicate with the mobile apparatuses and also with at least one user interface unit. Upon receiving a request to use one of the mobile apparatuses, the central computer system assigns an available apparatuses for use by a user during a usage session. This activity can include interfacing with the user to determine one or more specifics regarding their current needs in these regards. The specifics of their needs, in turn, can provide a basis for assigning a particular apparatus from amongst a plurality of differently purposed and differently configured apparatuses.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of motorized transport units configured to move through a retail shopping facility, as least some of the motorized transport units being differently purposed and hence differently physically configured as compared to one another;
a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with the plurality of motorized transport units and wherein the central computer system is configured to:
interface with a user regarding tasking a particular one of the plurality of motorized transport units with assisting the user in a particular corresponding way at the retail shopping facility.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motorized transport units include at least one unit that is purposed and physically configured to serve as one of:
a disability mobility platform;
a grocery cart;
a pallet;
a child-carrying platform.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the motorized transport units include at least one other unit that is purposed and physically configured differently than the at least one unit and which is purposed and physically configured to serve as one of:
a disability mobility platform;
a grocery cart;
a pallet;
a child-carrying platform.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central computer system is configured to interface with the user via at least one of:
a web-based interface;
a short-range wireless interface;
a voice-based interface;
a gesture-based interface.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the central computer system is configured to interface with the user via any of:
a web-based interface;
a short-range wireless interface;
a voice-based interface;
a gesture-based interface.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central computer system is configured to interface with the user regarding tasking a particular one of the plurality of motorized transport units with assisting the user in a particular corresponding way at the retail shopping facility by, at least in part, prompting the user to identify a particular purpose or configuration for the motorized transport unit to be tasked with assisting the user.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the central computer system is further configured to interface with the user to determine how many of the motorized transport units to simultaneously task with assisting the user at the retail shopping facility.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the central computer system is configured to determine how many of the motorized transport units to simultaneously task with assisting the user at the retail shopping facility, at least in part, by determining how many independent purposes the user seeks to be served.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central computer system is configured to interface with the user regarding tasking a particular one of the plurality of motorized transport units with assisting the user in a particular corresponding way at the retail shopping facility by, at least in part, prompting the user to identify a time at which the assistance is sought.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the central computer system is configured to interface with the user to schedule the time at which at least one of the motorized transport units will be available at the retail shopping facility to assist the user.
11 . A method comprising:
by a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with a plurality of motorized transport units that are configured to move through a retail shopping facility, wherein as least some of the motorized transport units are differently purposed and hence differently physically configured as compared to one another:
interfacing with a user regarding tasking a particular one of the plurality of motorized transport units with assisting the user in a particular corresponding way at the retail shopping facility.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the motorized transport units include at least one unit that is purposed and physically configured to serve as one of:
a disability mobility platform;
a grocery cart;
a pallet;
a child-carrying platform.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the motorized transport units include at least one other unit that is purposed and physically configured differently than the at least one unit and which is purposed and physically configured to serve as one of:
a disability mobility platform;
a grocery cart;
a pallet;
a child-carrying platform.
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the central computer system is configured to interface with the user via at least one of:
a web-based interface;
a short-range wireless interface;
a voice-based interface;
a gesture-based interface.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the central computer system is configured to interface with the user via any of:
a web-based interface;
a short-range wireless interface;
a voice-based interface;
a gesture-based interface.
16 . The method of claim 11 wherein the interfacing with the user regarding tasking a particular one of the plurality of motorized transport units with assisting the user in a particular corresponding way at the retail shopping facility comprises, at least in part, prompting the user to identify a particular purpose or configuration for the motorized transport unit to be tasked with assisting the user.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the interfacing with the user regarding tasking a particular one of the plurality of motorized transport units with assisting the user in a particular corresponding way at the retail shopping facility further comprises interfacing with the user to determine how many of the motorized transport units to simultaneously task with assisting the user at the retail shopping facility.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein determining how many of the motorized transport units to simultaneously task with assisting the user at the retail shopping facility comprises, at least in part, determining how many independent purposes the user seeks to be served.
19 . The method of claim 11 wherein interfacing with the user regarding tasking a particular one of the plurality of motorized transport units with assisting the user in a particular corresponding way at the retail shopping facility comprises, at least in part, prompting the user to identify a time at which the assistance is sought.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein interfacing with the user regarding tasking a particular one of the plurality of motorized transport units with assisting the user in a particular corresponding way at the retail shopping facility further comprises interfacing with the user to schedule the time at which at least one of the motorized transport units will be available at the retail shopping facility to assist the user.