NL2016245B1 - Product information presentation system and method. - Google Patents

Abstract

The various aspects relate to a device provided with an object, like a product in a store. The device is arranged to detect movement of the object. If movement is detected, a signal is sent out, comprising an identifier related to the object and, optionally, data characterising the detected movement. The signal is retrieved by a multimedia presentation server. Upon retrieval, the server looks up multimedia data by means of the identifier. The retrieved multimedia data is presented on a screen and/or speakers. If a customer picks up a product, for example for inspecting it, the device detect the movement of the product. The customer inspecting the product may be understood as an interest. Therefore, receiving data communicated to indicate a movement, triggers presentation of multimedia data, for example providing a demonstration of the product.

Description

Title: Product information presentation system and method

Technical Field

The various aspects relate to the field of communicating product data to a customer.

Background

Retailers employ various ways of presenting their products to their customers. Some retailers present their products in a conventional way, on a shelf, while other retailers highlight specific products. Such highlighting may be provided by means of a presentation on a screen, optionally accompanied by providing sound by means of speakers.

Summary

An issue with using audio-visual data for highlighting a product is that continuous presentation can be perceived as disturbing by customers. Therefore, it is preferred to provide an enhanced shopping experience to the customer. A first aspect provides a device for communicating movement of an object. The device comprises a movement detector for generating a movement signal upon detection of a movement a memory for storing identifier data identifying the object a wireless communication module; and a processing unit. The processing unit is arranged to receive the movement signal and retrieve the identifier data from the memory upon receiving the movement signal. The wireless communication module is caused to send a signal comprising the identifier data to a product data communication server.

Detection of the movement and, in response, sending out a signal with identification data allows another device arranged to receive the signal to take an action dedicated to the identification data - and with that, to the object. An example of such action may be presenting audio-visual data by means of a screen and/or speakers, which audio-visual data is related to the object. Such audio-visual data may be a presentation of a demonstration of the product.

If a customer moves a product, for example by picking it up, the customer is usually interested in the products. And in such case the customer may appreciate a presentation about the product, rather than finding it annoying. The device according to the first aspect enables triggering of

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the movement detector is arranged to have the movement signal comprise information on a magnitude of the movement and the processing unit is arranged to cause the wireless communication module to send out the signal if the information on the magnitude of the movement indicates a magnitude above a predetermined threshold.

Certain movements may be triggered as a collateral to wind blowing in an open air shop, a customer putting down another product on a shelf abruptly or other unintended - or intended - events. Such movements will in certain cases have a magnitude that is less than when a product provided with the device are picked up. This embodiment prevents triggers to be sent out in case movement of the device as a collateral of events that are not to trigger sending a data signal. Which, in turn, may ensure prevention of unnecessary presentation of information related to the object.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the movement detector is arranged to provide the movement signal as long as the movement detector detects the movement and the processing unit is arranged to cause the wireless communication module to send out the signal if the processing unit receives the movement signal for longer than a pre-determined period of time.

An advantage of this embodiment is that accidental short movements do not trigger sending out the data signal from the device to another device arranged for receiving the data signal. If the object is moved for a longer time, for example due to a customer picking up a project and inspecting it, the customer may be interested in the product. This would be a reason to alert another device for providing a presentation on the product. In this way, unnecessary triggering of the presentation may be prevented, preventing in turn potential annoyance by the customer. A second aspect provides a product data communication server.

The product data communication server comprises a server wireless communication module for receiving identifier data identifying an object, from a device for communicating movement of the object, a presentation module for communication data to a presentation and a server processing unit. The server processing unit is arranged to retrieve presentation data related to the object, based on the identifier data and communicate the presentation data to a presentation device for presenting the presentation data.

Movement of an object may provide an indication of a certain interest in the object. In particular if the product is located in a shop, movement of the product may provide an indication a customer has picked up the product, with a certain interest in the product. When receiving a signal indicating movement of such product, the signal may be an indication of interest of a customer. This potential indication is used as a trigger providing the presentation to a presentation device for presenting, providing the customer for example with a demonstration of the product.

Whereas such server is particularly advantageous for use with the device according to the first aspect, it may also be used in conjunction with other devices for communicating movement of an object. A third aspect provides a system providing display data related to a product, the system comprising the device according to the first aspect and the server according to the second aspect. In this system, the wireless communication module of the device is arranged to communicate the identifier data to the server wireless communication module of the server. A fourth aspect provides a method of communicating movement of an object. The method comprises: generating a movement signal upon detection of a movement of the object and receiving the movement signal. Upon receiving the movement signal, retrieving the identifier data is retrieved from the memory and a signal comprising the identifier data is sent to a product data communication server. A fifth aspect provides a method of processing a signal comprising a product identifier. The method comprises receiving identifier data identifying an object, using the identifier data, retrieving presentation data related to the object and communicating the presentation data to a presentation device for presenting the presentation data. A sixth aspect provides method of presenting presentation data related to an object upon detecting movement of an object. The method comprises the method according to the fourth aspect and the method according to the fifth aspect. In this method, the identifier data in the signal sent is used for retrieving presentation data related to the object of which movement is detected.

Brief description of the drawings

The various aspects and embodiments thereof will now be discussed in conjunction with drawings. In the drawings,

Figure 1: shows a product presentation system;

Figure 2: shows an identification tag 200;

Figure 3: shows a presentation server 300; and

Figure4: shows a flowchart depicting a procedure

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows a product presentation system 100 for presenting products 114 in a shop. The product presentation system 100 comprises a product display 110. The product display 110 comprises shelves 112 on which products 114 are placed. Alternatively or additionally, the product display 110 comprises hooks for hanging the products 114 and/or other arrangements for accommodating the products 114. The products 114 are provided with an identification tag 200 attached to the product 114. The attachment may be provided by means of glue or another adhesive. Alternatively, ribbon or yarn may be used for decorative purposes. In such embodiment, the tag 200 may be provided with a hole. The product presentation system further comprises a presentation server 300 connected to a presentation device 120. The presentation device 120 comprises a screen 122 and speakers 126.

Figure 2 shows the identification tag 200 in further detail. The identification tag 200 comprises a tag processing unit 202 for controlling operation of the identification tag 200 and components thereof. The identification tag 200 further comprises an tag storage unit 204, an tag communication unit 206 provided with an tag antenna 210 and a sensor module 208. The tag storage unit 204 is arranged for storing data comprising an identifier identifying the product 114 to which the identification tag 200 corresponds and for storing computer executable instructions for programming the tag processing unit 202. The identification tag 200 is arranged to communicate with the presentation server 300 via the tag communication unit 206.

The tag 200 preferably has a size and shape of a credit card or business card, comprising the various components discussed above as a package. Such size allows the tag 200 to also carry a display for displaying price of the product 114 and/or additional information related to the product 114. Alternatively or additionally, the card form factor allows legible print to be provided on the tag 200. Other sizes and smaller sizes in particular may be envisaged as well.

The sensor module 208 comprises one or more sensor units for sensing one or more conditions of the product 114 and its environment. In particular, the sensor units of the sensor module 208 are arranged for sensing any motion of the product 114. The sensor module 208 may comprise a gyroscope 282, an accelerometer 284, an infrared sensor 286, a rotation sensor 288, a tomographic motion sensor 290 and/or a further motion sensor 292 of a further type.

Figure 3 shows the presentation server 300 in further detail. The presentation server 300 comprises a presentation processing unit 302 for controlling operation of the presentation server 300 and components thereof. The presentation server 300 further comprises a presentation storage unit 304, a presentation communication unit 306 provided with a presentation antenna 310 and an audio-visual processing unit 308.

The presentation storage unit 304 is arranged for storing data comprising data related to the products 114 and for storing computer executable instructions for programming the presentation processing unit 302. In another embodiment, the data related to the products 114 is located in another memory. The other memory may be provided at a remote location and in communication with the presentation server 300 by means of, for example, a wide area network. The presentation server 300 is arranged to communicate with the identification tag 200 via the presentation communication unit 306.

The functionality of the identification tag 200 and the presentation server 300 will be discussed in further detail in conjunction with a flowchart 400 depicted by Figure 4. In the table below, summaries of the elements of the flowchart 400 are provided: 402 start procedure 404 detect movement 406 generate movement signal 408 retrieve identifier 410 create data signal 412 send data signal 414 receive data signal 416 extract identifier 418 search matching presentation data 420 retrieve presentation data 422 render presentation data 424 send rendered presentation 426 receive rendered data 428 present rendered data 430 end

The procedure starts in a terminator 402 and continues to step 404, waiting for a movement to be detected. A movement may be detected if one or more of the sensor units comprised by the sensor module 208 detect a particular movement. Such movement may be acceleration, either rotational, linear, other or a combination thereof, a movement with constant linear or annular velocity or a combination thereof, any other type of movement or a combination thereof. If a movement is detected, a movement signal is generated by the sensor module 208 in step 406.

One or more of the sensor units may provide a continuous sensor signal, of which a change indicates a movement of the applicable sensor unit. Such change in the signal may be change in frequency, a change in voltage, a change in current, a change in amplitude, a change in power, another change or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the sensor module 208 only generates the movement signal if the change in the sensor signal provided by a sensor unit exceeds a particular, for example predetermined threshold or if the magnitude of the sensor signal provided by a sensor unit exceeds a particular, for example pre-determined threshold.

In a preferred embodiment, the movement signal is generated as long as any sensor unit of the sensor module 208 senses movement. Alternatively, the movement signal is generated and sent at pre-determined intervals as long as any sensor unit detects movement. In yet another alternative embodiment, the movement signal is generated and/or sent only once a movement has been detected and not sent or generated again until a movement is detected after a pre-determined interval during which no movement is detected.

The movement signal is received by the tag processing unit 202, upon which the tag processing unit 202 retrieves an identifier identifying the product 114 from the tag storage unit 204 in step 408. In step 410, an identification signal is created, comprising data related to the retrieved identifier. Additionally, data related to characteristics of the detected movement may be provided in the signal. Such data may be the type of movement, as discussed above. Furthermore, the data may provide an indication of a magnitude of the movement.

The data may provide timing information. Also other data may be provided, either as such or in combination with characteristics already mentioned. The data signal thus created is sent by the tag communication unit 206 in step 412. Like the generation and sending of the movement signal, the generation of the data signal may be executed continuously, as long as a movement signal is received. Such receiving of the movement signal may be continuously or periodically, at pre-determined intervals.

Alternatively, the data signal is generated and/or sent at predetermined intervals, as long as the movement signal is received. In yet another alternative, the data signal is generated and/or sent only once, for a limited period in time, for a small number of time or until another condition is met, once the movement signal has been received and the reception thereof continues. The continuation of the reception may be continuous, near-continuous or intermittently. Not receiving the movement signal may also be such condition, as discussed above. Subsequently, the data signal is not sent and/or generated again until the movement signal is received again after it has not been received during a pre-determined period of time.

If the data signal to be sent has the same payload as a previous data signal, the data signal or at least the payload does not have to be generated again. It may be very well stored in a buffer of the tag processing unit 202, the tag storage unit 204 or a buffer of the tag communication unit 206.

In step 414, the data signal is received by the presentation communication unit 306. Hence, the tag communication unit 206 is arranged to communicate with the presentation communication unit 306. The protocol used for exchange of data between the tag communication unit 206 and the presentation communication unit 306 is preferably Zigbee. Alternatively or additionally, other wireless communication protocols may be used, such as IEEE 802.llx protocols.

The received data signal is processed by the presentation server 300. In step 416, the presentation processing unit 302 extracts data related to the identifier from the data signal. In step 418, the extracted data is used for searching for data related to the product 114. The searching is performed on data stored by the presentation storage unit 304. If data related to the product 114 is found by means of the extracted data, the data related to the product 114 is retrieved. The data retrieved preferably comprises audiovisual data. Alternatively or additionally, the data may comprise text data in a preferred language.

If the received data signal carries data related to the detected movement, such data may be assessed by the presentation processing unit 302. The assessment the movement data may provide input on a decision whether or not the presentation processing unit 302 takes further action on searching for data related to the product 114. For example, if the magnitude of the movement is below or above a particular threshold or the duration of the movement is below or above a specific threshold, the presentation processing unit 302 may decide to take no action, despite reception of the data signal.

Data retrieved from the presentation storage unit 304 is processed in step 422 for display of the processed data by means of the presentation device 120. The processing may comprise decoding, decrypting, decompression, rendering, other processing or a combination thereof. The processing of the audio-visual processing unit 308. The processed data is sent to the presentation device 120 in step 424 and received by the presentation device 120 in step 426. The presentation device 120 presents the received data in step 428. The presentation of the data may be provided by means of the screen 122 or the speakers 126.

The data related to the first product may be shown as long as the data signal is received. Upon not receiving the data signal comprising data identifying the product 114 anymore, processing and presentation of audiovisual data related to the product 114 may either continue presenting the data related to the product 114 until the end or cease presentation of the data. Upon continuation of receiving the data signal comprising data related to the product 114, the presentation may either be repeated or shown only once until the data signal comprising data identifying the first product 114 is not received for a pre-determined amount of time.

In a preferred embodiment, the data comprised by the presentation data is a short presentation comprising audio as well as video data. An argument for limited length of the presentation is that a visitor of the shop may want to pick up multiple products 114 in a short timespan. In such scenario, a user may pick a second product shortly after having picked up or otherwise moved a first product. This may, in case of a long presentation, result in either the presentation related to the first product still running while the second product is of interest of the customer. Alternatively, the presentation related to the first product is interrupted as soon as the second product is moved, for showing a further presentation related to the second product. This may result in the first presentation to be interrupted before the most important part of the first presentation has been shown.

So far, the tag 200 has been described as being attached to the product 114. If the product display 110 comprises hooks for hanging the products 114, the tag 200 may also be provided at the end of the hook. The product 114 may be hanged by means of a loop, either comprised by the product or added to the product. If the product 114 is removed from the hook, the tag 200 moves. This may require modification of off-the-shelf hook systems. This embodiment has an advantage that for a larger amount of products 114, hanged on the hook, only one tag 200 comprising electronic elements is required. Furthermore, the tag 200 in this embodiment remains on the hook. And in the other case above, with the tag 200 being attached to the product 114, tags 200 have to be attached to product 114 to be provided on the shelves 112, which is an additional burden.

In yet another embodiment, tags 200 are provided to interact with the products 114 in another way. The tag 200 does not have to be attached to the product or to be in contact with the product 114. Most important is that the tag 200 senses movement of the product and communicates the movement to the presentation server 300, as discussed above.

In summary, the various aspects relate to a device provided with an object, like a product in a store. The device is arranged to detect movement of the object. If movement is detected, a signal is sent out, comprising an identifier related to the object and, optionally, data characterising the detected movement. The signal is retrieved by a multimedia presentation server. Upon retrieval, the server looks up multimedia data by means of the identifier. The retrieved multimedia data is presented on a screen and/or speakers. If a customer picks up a product, for example for inspecting it, the device detects the movement of the product. The customer inspecting the product may be understood as an interest. Therefore, receiving data communicated to indicate a movement, triggers presentation of multimedia data, for example providing a demonstration of the product.

Expressions such as "comprise", "include", "incorporate", "contain", "is" and "have" are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa. When data is being referred to as audio-visual data, it can represent audio only, video only or still pictures only or a combination thereof, unless specifically indicated otherwise in the description of the embodiments.

In the description above, it will be understood that when an element such as layer, region or substrate is referred to as being “on” or “onto” another element, the element is either directly on the other element, or intervening elements may also be present.

Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in the Figures, wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components. A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is stipulated that the reference signs in the claims do not limit the scope of the claims, but are merely inserted to enhance the legibility of the claims.

Claims (15)

An apparatus for communicating motion of an object, the apparatus comprising: a motion detector for generating a motion signal upon detection of a motion; A memory for storing an identification data identifying the object; A wireless communication module; and a processing unit adapted to: receive the motion signal; Upon receiving the motion signal, retrieve the identification data from the memory; and Ensuring that the wireless communication module sends a signal including the identification data to a product communication server. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises at least one of the following: A gyroscope An accelerometer; An infrared detector; A rotation sensor; and A tomographic motion detector. Device according to one of the following claims, wherein the wireless communication module is adapted to communicate data according to at least one of the following protocols: Zigbee; and IEEE 802.11 Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least a part of the components are provided in a housing, which housing is adapted to be connected to the object as a product label to visually identify the object. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the motion detector is arranged to cause the motion signal to include information regarding a magnitude of the motion and the processing unit is arranged to cause the wireless communication module to send the signal as the information with respect to the magnitude of the motion, indicates that the magnitude is greater than a predetermined threshold value. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the motion detector is adapted to provide the motion signal as long as the motion detector detects the motion and the processing unit is arranged to cause the communication module to output the signal if the processing unit receives the signal longer than one predetermined duration. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to cause the wireless communication module to stop sending the signal if a predetermined condition is met. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to continue with no sending until the processing unit does not receive the motion signal for a predetermined period of time. A server for communicating product data, the server comprising: A server wireless communication module for receiving identification data identifying an object, from a device for communicating movement of the object; A presentation module for communicating data to a presentation device; and A server processing unit adapted to: Retrieve presentation data related to the object, based on the identification data; Communicate the presentation data to the presentation device for communicating the presentation data. A product data communication server according to claim 9, wherein the presentation data comprises image data and the presentation module comprises an image processing unit. A system for delivering presentation data related to a product, the system comprising: The device of any one of claims 1 to 8; The server for communicating product data according to any of claims 9 and 10; The wireless communication module of the device being adapted to communicate the identification data to the server wireless communication module. The system of claim 11, wherein the presentation data comprises image data and the system further comprises a presentation screen, which presentation screen is connected to the presentation module and the presentation screen is arranged to display image data. A method of communicating motion of an object, the method comprising: Generating a motion signal upon detection of a motion of the object; Receive the motion signal; Upon receipt of the motion signal, retrieve identification data identifying the object; Sending a signal comprising the identification data to a server for communicating product data. A method of processing a signal comprising an identification of a product, the method comprising: Receiving identification data identifying the product; Use the identification data to retrieve presentation data related to the product; Communicate the presentation data to a presentation device for displaying the presentation data. A method for presenting presentation data related to an object upon detection of movement of the object, the method comprising: The method according to claim 13; The method of claim 14; The identification data in the sent signal for retrieving presentation data is related to the object whose motion has been detected.