Systems and Methods for Thermal Monitoring in a Retail Facility

1 . A system for thermal monitoring in a retail facility, the system comprising:

a thermal sensor positioned in a predetermined location of a portion of the retail facility;

a database for storing thermal images and thermal data obtained from the thermal sensor and known thermal profiles correlating to baseline conditions, occupancy, temperature control unit efficiency, temperature control unit operation, and retail stock; and

a control circuit coupled to the thermal sensor and the database, the control circuit configured to:

identify a thermal image obtained from the thermal sensor that deviates from an expected baseline thermal profile for the portion of the retail facility; and

compare the thermal image to the known thermal profiles to determine at least one of an estimated occupancy, temperature control unit efficiency, temperature control unit operation, and whether a temperature-sensitive retail item has been abandoned.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal sensor is an infrared sensor positioned at an end of an aisle of the retail facility.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal sensor is an infrared sensor positioned above the portion of the retail facility such that the infrared sensor is inside the retail facility.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to alert a worker when a temperature control unit is determined to be failing, wherein the temperature control unit is determined to be failing when the thermal image comprises an image of the temperature control unit and the thermal image indicates a warmer temperature than expected based on a known thermal profile of the temperature control unit.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to alert a worker when a temperature-sensitive retail item is determined to be abandoned, wherein the temperature-sensitive retail item is determined to be abandoned when the thermal image indicates a colder or warmer temperature than expected based on the baseline thermal profile of the portion of the retail facility.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the database stores point of sale data for the retail facility, and the control circuit is further configured to compare the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility to the point of sale data stored in the database to determine if the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is justified by the point of sale data, the estimated occupancy being justified when the point of sale data is higher than a predetermined value.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein if the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is not justified by the point of sale data, a worker is alerted to attend to the portion of the retail facility, or if the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is justified by the point of sale data, a marketing associate is alerted.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more point of sale units coupled to the control circuit such that the one or more point of sale units transmit point of sale data for the retail facility to the control circuit,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to compare the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility to the point of sale data to determine if the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is justified by the point of sale data, the estimated occupancy being justified when the point of sale data is higher than a predetermined value.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein if the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is not justified by the point of sale data, a worker is alerted to attend to the portion of the retail facility, or if the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is justified by the point of sale data, a marketing associate is alerted.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine a duration that the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility remains above a predetermined value, and to alert a worker to attend to the portion of the retail facility when the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility remains above the predetermined value for more than a predetermined duration.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the duration that the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility remains above the predetermined value correlates to a level of service such that the duration that the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility remains above the predetermined value is inversely proportional to the level of service in the portion of the retail facility.

12 . A method of thermal monitoring in a retail facility, the method comprising:

monitoring at least a portion of the retail facility using a thermal sensor;

identifying a thermal image obtained from the thermal sensor that deviates from an expected baseline thermal profile for the portion of the retail facility; and

comparing the thermal image to the known thermal profiles to determine at least one of an estimated occupancy, temperature control unit efficiency, temperature control unit operation, and whether a temperature-sensitive retail item has been abandoned.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the thermal sensor from which the thermal image is obtained is an infrared sensor positioned at an end of an aisle of the retail facility.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the thermal sensor from which the thermal image is obtained is an infrared sensor positioned above the portion of the retail facility such that the infrared sensor is inside the retail facility.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

alerting a worker when a temperature control unit is determined to be failing,

wherein the temperature control unit is determined to be failing when the thermal image comprises an image of the temperature control unit and the thermal image indicates a warmer temperature than expected based on a known thermal profile of the temperature control unit.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

alerting a worker when a temperature-sensitive retail item is determined to be abandoned,

wherein the temperature-sensitive retail item is determined to be abandoned when the thermal image indicates a colder or warmer temperature than expected based on the baseline thermal profile of the portion of the retail facility.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is compared to point of sale data to determine if the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is justified by the point of sale data, the estimated occupancy being justified when the point of sale data is higher than a predetermined value.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein if the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is not justified by the point of sale data, alerting a worker to attend to the portion of the retail facility, or if the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility is justified by the point of sale data, alerting a marketing associate.

19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining a duration that the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility remains above a predetermined value, and alerting a worker to attend to the portion of the retail facility when the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility remains above the predetermined value for more than a predetermined duration.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the duration that the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility remains above the predetermined value correlates to a level of service such that the duration that the estimated occupancy of the portion of the retail facility remains above the predetermined value is inversely proportional to the level of service in the portion of the retail facility.