A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel assembly containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel may also include a brake mechanism. In one embodiment, the wheels are placed on shopping carts and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. In some embodiments, the wheel assemblies detect that they have entered into particular zones by measuring received signal strengths of received command transmissions, and by comparing these measurements to thresholds that are used to define zone boundaries.
Zone-based command transmissions to cart wheel assemblies
2017-10-10
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | G01C Messen von Entfernungen, Höhen, Neigungen oder Richtungen , MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS / H04W WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS , Drahtlose Kommunikationsnetze / A47F Spezialmöbel, Einrichtungen oder Zubehör für Ladengeschäfte, Lagerräume, Bars, Restaurants oder dgl. , SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS, OR THE LIKE / B60K Anordnung oder Einbau von Antriebseinheiten oder von Kraft- bzw. Drehmomentübertragungen in Fahrzeugen , ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES / B60T Bremsanlagen für Fahrzeuge oder Teile davon , VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF / B62B Von Hand bewegte Fahrzeuge, z.B. Handkarren oder Kinderwagen , HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS / G06K Erkennen von Daten , RECOGNITION OF DATA / G06Q Datenverarbeitungssysteme oder -verfahren, besonders angepasst an verwaltungstechnische, geschäftliche, finanzielle oder betriebswirtschaftliche Zwecke, sowie an geschäftsbezogene Überwachungs- oder Voraussagezwecke , DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTING PURPOSES / G08B SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS , Signalisier- oder Rufsysteme / G08G Anlagen zur Steuerung, Regelung oder Überwachung des Verkehrs , TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS / H02K Dynamoelektrische Maschinen , DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES |
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