An electronic device mounting system for mounting an electronic device to a cart includes a cart that may have a child seated therein. An electronic device is provided and a mounting unit is removably coupled to the cart. The electronic device is removably positioned in the mounting unit and the mounting unit is positioned at a selected orientation with respect to the cart. In this way the mounting unit facilitates the electronic device to be accessible to the child thereby occupying the child.

An electronic device mounting system for mounting an electronic device to a cart includes a cart that may have a child seated therein. An electronic device is provided and a mounting unit is removably coupled to the cart. The electronic device is removably positioned in the mounting unit and the mounting unit is positioned at a selected orientation with respect to the cart. In this way the mounting unit facilitates the electronic device to be accessible to the child thereby occupying the child.

A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system is capable of monitoring a path followed by a cart in a store or building, and using the path (optionally together with other criteria) to determine whether to authorize the cart to exit. For example, if a shopping cart fails to pass through a checkout lane of a store, the system may perform an action that blocks or inhibits the shipping cart from exiting the store.

A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system is capable of monitoring a path followed by a cart in a store or building, and using the path (optionally together with other criteria) to determine whether to authorize the cart to exit. For example, if a shopping cart fails to pass through a checkout lane of a store, the system may perform an action that blocks or inhibits the shipping cart from exiting the store.

A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system is capable of monitoring a path followed by a cart in a store or building, and using the path (optionally together with other criteria) to determine whether to authorize the cart to exit. For example, if a shopping cart fails to pass through a checkout lane of a store, the system may perform an action that blocks or inhibits the shipping cart from exiting the store. The wheel assemblies may include LEDs or other visual indicators that alert store personnel when a wheel assembly is in a particular state.

A system for monitoring shopping carts or other human-propelled carts includes wireless access points that communicate bi-directionally on a wireless network with wheel assemblies of the carts. The system supports both unicast and multicast command transmissions from the access points to the wheel assemblies, including multicast transmissions in which the target wheel assemblies are specified in terms of their states. For example, an access point can transmit a command that is addressed to all wheel assemblies that are locked, or to all wheel assemblies that are moving.

A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel assembly containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing one or more types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The wheel assembly may also include a brake mechanism. The wheel assemblies may be mounted on shopping carts and used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. In one embodiment, the wheel assembly communicates via a wired or wireless connection with a handlebar mounted display unit of the cart.

An order fulfillment cart including a first frame portion, the first frame portion including a first plurality of support members, a second frame portion positioned a distance from the first frame portion, the second frame portion including a second plurality of support members, and a connector, the connector operably coupled to the first frame portion and the second frame portion, wherein the connector extends diagonally from the first frame portion to the second frame portion, wherein the first plurality of support members and the second plurality of support members are configured to support a plurality of containers between the first frame portion and the second frame portion, is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.

A navigation system uses a dead reckoning method to estimate an object's present position relative to one or more prior positions. In some embodiments, the dead reckoning method determines a change in position from the object's heading and speed during an elapsed time interval. In embodiments suitable for use with wheeled objects, the dead reckoning method determines the change in position by measuring the heading and the amount of wheel rotation. Some or all of the components of the navigation system may be disposed within a wheel, such as a wheel of a shopping cart.

Novel security clearance delivery assistance system for healthcare providers working in hospitals nationwide that improves patient care by reducing or eliminating the amount of time needlessly wasted by manually presenting security clearance smart cards to the security reader for authentication while transporting patients across hospitals. In life or death situations, which occur routinely in hospitals, quick delivery of patients to destinations such as the operating room could mean life or death. A health care professional's ability to save lives may depend in part on their ability to quickly transport patients through secured areas, which currently require the transporter to stop and authenticate at each doorway. With the likelihood of survival decreasing exponentially as time passes, reducing or eliminating interruptions during transportation will enable healthcare providers more time to perform life saving procedures and dramatically increase the likelihood of survival.