IP Library Granted Patent US 10,268,855
Granted Patent B2
US 10,268,855 · App. 16/003,198 · Granted Apr 23, 2019

System and method for tracking

Inventors: Donald R. High (Noel, MO); Brian Gerard McHale (Oldham, GB)
Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
G06K7/10861G06K7/10732G06K7/10762G06K19/06046G06Q30/0281G06Q30/0613
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,268,855
App. No.
16/003,198
Granted
Apr 23, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for tracking people in a retail store. The system uses the retail store's digital map, video cameras, unique identifiers, video analytics, geo location technology and a customer's mobile device. The unique identifiers may be labels on hats using, for example, invisible ink or magnetic ink. The digital map of the retail store is used to track people. The user of the tracking system is able to track their party throughout the store even if the other people in the party do not have a mobile device.

Claims (14)

1. A system for a customer in a retail store of tracking at least one additional person comprising:

a tracking application for a mobile computing device of the customer;

a unique code for each of the at least one additional person, wherein the unique code is activated on the mobile computing device of the customer by first scanning the unique code and associating the unique code with the tracking application; and

video location technology for tracking by the customer of the at least one additional person on the mobile computing device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the unique code is on a garment.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the unique code is on a self stick label.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the unique code is anonymous.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the unique code is in invisible ink or magnetic ink.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the video location technology includes the retail store's video surveillance cameras, a central computer system, video analytics, and digital store mapping.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the unique code is identified by the retail store's video surveillance cameras.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the digital store mapping is of the retail store.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the customer is outside the retail store when tracking the at least one additional person.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the unique code works only in the retail store.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the customer is also provided a unique code visible with video recognition.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2020
From: HIGH, DONALD R.; MCHALE, BRIAN GERARD
To: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
Reel/Frame 052731/0457 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2020
From: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
To: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
Reel/Frame 052741/0433 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15241848 · Aug 19, 2016
Provisional Application 62208862 · Aug 24, 2015
Related Publication 20180293417A1 · Oct 11, 2018