The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 11, 2020
Filed:
Jun. 10, 2019
Walmart Apollo, Llc, Bentonville, AR (US);
Nicholaus A. Jones, Fayetteville, AR (US);
Jeremy R. Tingler, Bentonville, AR (US);
Alvin S. Taulbee, Springdale, AR (US);
Todd D. Mattingly, Bentonville, AR (US);
Walmart Apollo, LLC, Bentonville, AR (US);
Abstract
In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitor a shopping facility. The shopping facility can include an array of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers distributed throughout the facility to thereby receive and read signals generated from RFID tags within the facility. RFID tags can advantageously be coupled to and associated with products within the facility so that readings of the tags can be used to monitor the status of the products. A control circuit can be coupled to the RFID readers to thereby analyze the readings and compile readings over time. With this, the control circuit can monitor the shopping facility to identify scenarios requiring follow up. Upon identification of one of the scenarios, the control circuit can instruct an automated ground vehicle (AGV) to inspect an identified product at a location within the facility. The AGV can operate a sensor thereof to determine a status of the identified product.