Indoor Localization Enabled Shopping Assistance in Retail Stores

Abstract

The present invention concerns methods, systems and devices that use indoor localization for assisting customers in retail stores. The customer is provided with a tag for localizing said customer while he or she moves through the store. The sales person is provided with a mobile device for localizing said sales person and for notification. The customer can request for assistance, in which case a sales person is allocated to the customer by the shopping assistance system. The sales person can start assisting the customer after an interaction between the mobile device and the tag, preferably on the basis of a proximity determination between the mobile device of the sales person and the tag of the customer.

Claims

1. A method for assisting customers, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a customer with a tag for localizing said customer; (b) obtaining localization information about said tag while said customer moves through the store; (c) attributing a ranking to a customer, if a request for assistance is received from said customer, whereby said ranking is indicative of the priority of the customer in a group of customers requesting assistance; (d) obtaining localization information about a sales person via a mobile device of said sales person; (e) if said customer is entitled to assistance based on said ranking and if said sales person is available for lending assistance, allocating said sales person to said customer; (f) notifying said sales person via his mobile device that a customer needs assistance and providing information about the location of said customer in the store to said sales person via his mobile device; (g) obtaining assistance information that the sales person has started assisting the customer, wherein said assistance information is obtained on the basis of an interaction between the mobile device and the tag, and (h) obtaining end-of-assistance information when the sales person has ended assisting the customer.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said interaction between the mobile device and the tag comprises determining a relative distance between the mobile device and the tag and comparing said relative distance with a predefined maximum distance to determine that the mobile device and the tag have been in close proximity, preferably wherein said mobile device and said tag interact via near field communication (NFC) and/or Bluetooth, preferably NFC.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said tag is one of the following: an electronic device with means for localization and transmitting data, optionally comprising a button or touch area with button functionality as a signaling means to signal requests of the customer; an application (“app”) installed on the mobile device of the customer with means for localization, transmitting data and signaling; a mobile device provided by the store with means for localization, transmitting data and signaling;

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said localization information about the tag and/or said localization information about said mobile device of the sales person is obtained via a real-time localization system, preferably based on Bluetooth signals being sent and/or received by said tag and/or said mobile device, and preferably wherein the real-time localization system comprises a plurality of beacons distributed across the store, preferably each of said beacons configured for sending and/or receiving Bluetooth signals.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said request for assistance is given via said tag.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of identifying the customer and optionally retrieving data regarding previous shopping behavior of said customer.

7. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of providing the customer with assistance information regarding his ranking, the number of customers in queue and the expected waiting time, as well as advertising relating to said retrieved data regarding previous shopping behavior of said customer.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein attributing of said ranking to a customer is performed taking into account any or any combination of the following: the time of the request; previous shopping behavior of the customer; localization information of the customer such as a route of the customer through the store from the time of the request; number of previous requests, preferably whereby said ranking is based solely on the time of the request, thereby helping the customer on a first-come, first-served basis.

9. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of receiving a shopping order from said customer through the mobile device of the sales person, said shopping order comprising identification information from the customer and/or the tag of the customer, and optionally preparing said shopping order for the customer to pick up at a payment desk, preferably said method comprising the step of preparing said shopping order for the customer to pick up at a payment desk, whereby a ready-signal signal is sent to the tag when the shopping order has been prepared.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the request for assistance is accompanied by biometric information of the customer.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said request for assistance may be triggered by the tag remaining within a predetermined distance of a product display for at least a predetermined amount of time.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said request for assistance may be triggered by the displacement of the tag during a predetermined amount of time being smaller than a predetermined distance.

13. A method for supporting a sales person via a mobile device, comprising the steps of: (1) transmitting localization signals allowing localization of the sales person, preferably allowing localization of a mobile device of the sales person, within a store; (2) transmitting an availability signal, indicating that the sales person is available to help a customer which is next in line; (3) receiving customer localization information on the mobile device, indicating a location of the customer next in line and/or a route, preferably a shortest route, towards said customer next in line, and optionally receiving additional customer information; (4) transmitting assistance information signaling that the sales person has started assisting the customer; (5) transmitting end-of-assistance information signaling that the sales person has completed providing assistance to the customer, wherein the assistance information signaling that the sales person has started assisting the customer is obtained on the basis of an interaction between the mobile device and a tag of said customer.

14. A method for obtaining assistance in a store, comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining a tag; (ii) transmitting localization information via said tag while being in and/or moving through the store; (iii) transmitting a request for assistance via said tag; (iv) interacting via said tag with a mobile device of a sales person responding to said request for assistance, thereby signaling that the sales person has started assisting the customer; (v) optionally receiving and/or transmitting end-of-assistance information signaling that the sales person has completed providing assistance to the customer.

15. A system for assisting customers in accordance with a method according to claim 1, comprising: a server computer, preferably having a server processor, tangible, non-transitory server memory, and server programming on the server memory instructing the server processor; a tag for a customer, preferably a plurality of tags, one for each customer, said tag preferably comprising at least one button that can be pushed by the user for transmitting a request, and preferably said tag further having a tag processor, a wireless network interface, a battery or equivalent power source, a tangible, non-transitory tag memory, and tag programming on the tag memory instructing the tag processor; a mobile device for a sales person, preferably a plurality of mobile devices, one for each sales person, said mobile device preferably having a mobile device processor, a mobile device display, a wireless network interface, a tangible, non-transitory mobile device memory, and mobile device programming on the mobile device memory instructing the mobile device processor; wherein the tag is configured to allow localization of said tag within said store and wherein the mobile device is configured to allow localization of said tag within said store; wherein the server computer is configured to obtain localization information about said tag while said customer moves through the store with said tag, and localization information about said mobile device; wherein the tag is configured to transmit a request for assistance to said server computer, preferably by pressing a button on said tag; wherein the server computer is configured to receive a request for assistance from the tag, and is further configured to attribute a ranking to said customer; wherein the server computer is configured to obtain availability information of said sales person; wherein the server computer is configured to allocate said customer to said sales person based on ranking of said request of said customer and availability of said sales person; wherein the server computer is configured to notify said sales person via his mobile device that a customer needs assistance providing information about the location of said customer in the store to said sales person via his mobile device, and whereby said mobile device of the sales person is configured to receive the notification and location information of the customer; wherein the mobile device and/or the tag are configured to transmit information to the server computer notifying that said sales person has started assisting said customer and wherein the server computer is configured to receive information from the sales person via said mobile device and/or from the customer via the tag, notifying that said sales person has started assisting said customer; wherein the mobile device and/or the tag are configured to transmit information to the server computer notifying that said sales person has ended assisting said customer and wherein the server computer is configured to receive information from the sales person via said mobile device and/or from the customer via the tag, notifying that said sales person has ended assisting said customer, wherein said tag and said mobile device are configured to interact with each other to signal when the sales person has started assisting the customer, preferably said interaction comprising a determination of the relative distance between the tag and the mobile device.

16. A system according to claim 15, comprising a terminal for said customer to provide additional information regarding the request for assistance, said terminal able to identify said tag of said customer, said terminal configured to send information related to said tag identification and said additional information to said server computer.

17. A system according to claim 16, comprising at least one biometric measuring device to measure biometric information of said customer upon providing said additional information, the system configured to send said biometric information from said biometric measuring device to said server computer, preferably said biometric measuring device in communication with said terminal and the system configured to send said biometric information from said biometric measuring device to said terminal and from said terminal to said server computer.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein the system comprises a plurality of beacons for localizing said tag within said store, said plurality of beacons configured for signal exchange with said tag, preferably Bluetooth signal exchange, wherein the system is configured for one of the following: emitting a signal from said tag and receiving said signal by at least one of said plurality of beacons, preferably receiving said signal by at least two of said plurality of beacons, more preferably receiving said signal by at least three of said plurality of beacons, said plurality of beacons configured for sending data related to said received signal to said server computer for determining the position of said tag within said store; and emitting a signal from each of said plurality of beacons and receiving at least one of said signals by said tag, preferably receiving at least two of said signals by said tag, more preferably receiving at least three of said signals by said tag, said tag configured for sending data related to said received signals to said server computer for determining the position of said tag within said store.

19-21. (canceled)

Description

OVERVIEW OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a system for assisting a customer in a retail store.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a drawing of an example embodiment of a Tag.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a drawing of an example embodiment of a Terminal.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a drawing of the functional component of the Central Server.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a drawing of the functional flow chart of an example embodiment of the customer assistance system.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] This disclosure will now more fully describe some embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which only some of the possible embodiments are shown. Other aspects may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the possible embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows the block diagram of an example embodiment of the present invention. For indoor positioning purposes the embodiment makes use of beacons that communicate with Tags and Mobile Devices on the one hand and with the Central Server on the other.

[0049] The beacons are distributed over the store and perform received signal strength indication (RSSI) measurements of Bluetooth Low Energy signals that are exchanged between the beacons and Tags & Mobile Devices. These RSSI measurements are forwarded to the Central Server that combines this information with motion data from the Tags & Mobile Devices and floorplan information to calculate the most likely location of the Tags & Mobile Devices. WiFi links between the Central Server and the Mobile Devices and the Terminals are used for exchanging information. NFC communication between the Tag and the Terminal is used to enter a request for assistance. NFC communication between the Tag and a Mobile Device is used to signal the start of an assistance intervention.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment of a Tag, such as BlooLoc's yooBee Tag, that is used in the present invention. Tags are small, easy to carry devices that include: (a) battery to power the device. Given the short time of usage, the battery can be made extremely small; (b) motion sensors and compass to estimate the movement and orientation of the customer as he or she moves throughout the store; (c) BLE communication to send pings to the beacons for RSSI measurements as a means to support indoor localization; (d) NFC communication to interact with Mobile Devices and/or Terminals; (e) NFC communication with gates at the store's exit points to signal the customer that he or she has forgotten to return the Tag; (f) NFC communication at the payment desk to link the Tags trajectory to the customer's identity; (g) button as a means for the customer to signal events to the Central Server (e.g., request for assistance or distress); and (h) light indicator as means for the Central Servicer to signal events or assistance information to the customer (e.g., order is ready at the payment desk, possibly with indication of the current number of customers in queue and/or the current estimated waiting time at the payment desk).

[0051] FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of a Terminal that is used in the present invention. It includes an NFC reader to interact with a Tag and an input/output device, such as an iPad that runs an application as a means for a customer to specify a request for assistance, and more specifically: (a) Select a product category related to his request; (b) Select a preferred expert; (c) Have his or her picture taken, such that the sales expert can more easily identify the customer in the store and the Central Center can use face recognition to establish the customer's identity and retrieve & store relevant data of the identified customer; (d) Enter initials, such that the sales expert can properly address the customer in the shop; and (e) Enter text related to the request for assistance.

[0052] An embodiment of the Mobile Device that is used in the present invention is any state-of-the-art smartphone that includes: (a) Bluetooth Low Energy; (b) motion sensors, such as acceleration, rotation and compass; (c) NFC to communication with the Tags; (d) WiFi to communicate with the Central Server; (e) runs an indoor localization app, such as BlooLoc's Mobile SDK, and (f) runs a sales force management app to interact with the Central Server.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the Central Server that is used in the present invention. The Central Server is a computer that is physically located in the store, or in a remote datacenter (Cloud) and communicates via a network with the Mobile Devices and Terminals and via a gateway, such as BlooLoc's yooBee BaseStation, to the beacons. The Central Server offers the following functions: (a) indoor localization, such as BlooLoc's Cloud SDK; (b) Real-time sales force management, which a queue management system; (c) Order preparation, which notifies the warehouse that an order needs to be prepared and forwarded to the payment desk; (d) Customer recognition and analysis, which uses face recognition to identify returning customers and to link product interests that are extracted from the customer's trajectories throughout the store; (e) Sales force analysis and optimization, which includes the analysis of the historical workload and the response time of the individual sales persons and aggregation per expertise, for the purpose of predicting the future workload and matching the composition and size of the sales force to match the expected load, and incentivizing the sales persons, e.g., by rewarding top performers with a bonus; (f) Store analysis and optimization which includes the analysis of customer trajectories and dwell times to detect dead zones and to identify opportunities for store floorplan improvements

[0054] FIG. 5 shows the functional flow chart of an example embodiment of the present invention. The chart is self-explanatory.

Example

[0055] This example serves the purpose to illustrate the present invention and should under no circumstances be interpreted as limiting.

[0056] A running store sells both running shoes and other apparel such as clothes. A customer enters the store and takes a tag. Before proceeding further into the store, the customer holds the tag in front of a terminal. The terminal polls the gender of the customer and whether running shoes are desired. The customer indicates that he or she would like running shoes. The terminal asks the customer to take place on a foot measurement plate (a biometric measuring device) barefooted. The foot measurement plate measures the shoe size, foot width, weight, and/or foot pronation of the customer. Subsequently, the customer browses the apparel in the store.

[0057] Once a sales person indicates on his smartphone that he is available, the sales person receives information regarding the request for running shoes. The sales person can preselect pairs of running shoes compatible with the customer's gender and one or more of the customer's shoe size, foot width, weight, and foot pronation. The sales person places the shoe boxes of suitable pairs in a fitting area provided with seats and fetches the customer. The smartphone of the sales person detects the proximity of the customer's tag. The customer thereby does not have to wait for the sales person to fetch compatible running shoes. The customer tries the preselected shoes in the fitting area and selects a pair. The sales person takes the customer's credit card and the selected pair of running shoes to a checkout counter to bill the purchase, while the customer can continue to browse the apparel. When the purchase is ready for billing, the customer receives a signal on the tag and proceeds to the checkout counter to sign the bill. The customer brings a jacket he or she would like to buy. The jacket is easily added to the bill based on the pre-entered credit card information. The customer signs the bill, returns the tag, and leaves the store with the two purchases.