SHOPPING CART MONITORING SYSTEM
In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to detect shopping carts and/or estimate the number of shopping carts in a specified area of a retail facility. In some embodiments, detected magnetic fields from an area are compared with values from a database to estimate the number of shopping carts present, and notifications may be provided regarding actions to be taken based on the arrangement and density of shopping carts in the area.
1 . An apparatus for detecting shopping carts in a shopping cart storage area of a retail facility, the apparatus comprising:
a shopping cart storage unit comprising:
an open end configured to receive and dispense the shopping carts;
a closed end opposite the open end and configured to contain the shopping carts in a storage volume between the open end and the closed end;
at least two generally parallel retention members connecting portions of the open end to corresponding portions of the closed end, each retention member having a length and spaced apart from each other by a width, to form the storage volume having a length and width sized to receive a plurality of shopping carts organized in one or more single-file lines between the generally parallel retention members; and
a linear array of unidirectional magnetic sensors configured to detect a magnitude of an induced electromagnetic field, wherein the magnitude of the induced electromagnetic field varies depending on a presence of metal objects in the storage volume, the unidirectional magnetic field sensors spaced apart along the length of at least one retention member at approximately the same vertical position and oriented to face the storage volume and not face volumes outside of the storage volume;
a power source coupled to the linear array of unidirectional magnetic field sensors;
an electronic control circuit comprising a computer memory and being physically coupled to the linear array of unidirectional magnetic field sensors, wherein the electronic control circuit is in communication with a database correlating combinations of threshold values to store management options, the electronic control circuit configured to:
control power to each of the unidirectional magnetic field sensors such that one or more of the sensors are selectively powered on and off and such that when powered a range of each sensor is limited to the storage volume;
compare detected values obtained from each magnetic sensor to the threshold values from the database; and
select at least one store management option based on a comparison of the detected values to the threshold values; and
a wireless transmitter for transmitting information from the control circuit to one or more devices monitored by one or more sales associates.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic sensors are positioned about 2 to about 4 inches apart along substantially the entire length of the at least one retention member.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each magnetic sensor uses 5.5 mW or less.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the array of sensors alternates between on and off states at predetermined time intervals.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one solar cell coupled to at least one sensor.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensors comprise lead shields that limit detection of the sensors.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to generate an alert when a first magnetic sensor at a location proximate the open end of the storage area detects an electromagnetic field exceeding its respective threshold value and a second magnetic sensor further from the open end does not detect an electromagnetic field exceeding its respective threshold value.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to generate an alert when the detected value of a preset number of sensors are at or above the respective threshold values for each magnetic sensor.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising database information correlating electromagnetic field values to a quantity of shopping carts proximate a sensor, wherein the control circuit is further configured to transmit to the display device information regarding an estimated number of shopping carts based on detected values from the plurality of sensors.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to estimate a number of shoppers based on changes in the estimated number of shopping carts.
11 . An apparatus for estimating a quantity of stored shopping carts in a shopping cart storage area of a retail facility, the apparatus comprising:
a shopping cart storage unit comprising:
an open end configured to receive and dispense the shopping carts;
a closed end opposite the open end and configured to contain the shopping carts in a storage volume between the open end and the closed end;
at least two generally parallel retention members connecting portions of the open end to corresponding portions of the closed end, each retention member having a length and spaced apart from each other by a width, to form the storage volume having a length and width sized to receive a plurality of shopping carts organized in one or more single-file lines between the generally parallel retention members; and
a linear array of unidirectional magnetic field sensors configured to detect a magnitude of an induced electromagnetic field, wherein the magnitude of the induced electromagnetic field varies depending on a presence of metal objects in the storage volume, the unidirectional magnetic field at approximately the same vertical position and oriented to face the storage volume and not face volumes outside of the storage volume, the magnetic sensors spaced apart along the length of at least one retention member and each supplied with an amount of power from a power source so that zones of respective magnetic sensors do not overlap; and
an electronic control circuit comprising a computer memory positioned at the storage area and physically coupled to the plurality of magnetic sensors;
wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a notification identifying each of the magnetic sensors that detect an electromagnetic field exceeding a preset magnitude within a time window.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a notification to retrieve the carts when all magnetic sensors detect an electromagnetic field exceeding the preset magnitude.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit is configured to generate a notification to adjust the carts when one or more magnetic sensors proximate the open end detect an electromagnetic field exceeding the preset magnitude and one or more magnetic sensors further from the open end do not detect an electromagnetic field exceeding the preset magnitude.
14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to generate a notification based on the number of magnetic sensors which, within the time window, first detected an electromagnetic field exceeding the preset magnitude and later did not detect an electromagnetic field exceeding the preset magnitude.
15 . A method for monitoring shopping carts in storage area of a retail facility, the method comprising:
selectively powering on and off a linear array of unidirectional magnetic sensors such that when powered a range of each sensor is limited to the storage area;
detecting a magnitude of induced electromagnetic fields through the linear array of unidirectional magnetic sensors, the magnetic sensors spaced apart along the length of a shopping cart storage area with each magnetic sensor at approximately the same vertical position;
through a control circuit, comparing detected values from each magnetic sensor to respective threshold values from a database; and
transmitting a notification regarding actions to be taken by a sales associate based on a comparison of the detected values to the threshold values.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the notification comprises an instruction to compact the shopping carts when a first magnetic sensor of the array at a location proximate an open end of the storage area detects an electromagnetic field exceeding its respective threshold value and a second magnetic sensor further from the open end does not detect an electromagnetic field exceeding its respective threshold value.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the notification comprises an instruction to retrieve the shopping carts when the detected value of a preset number of sensors are at or above the respective threshold values for each magnetic sensor.
18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising estimating a quantity of shopping carts in the storage area by comparing the detected values to cart estimates from the database.
19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising estimating a quantity of shoppers at the retail facility based on changes in the detected values over time.
20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising estimating a quantity of shoppers at the retail facility based on changes in the detected values over time from magnetic sensors from a plurality of arrays each associated with a respective cart storage area.