Dynamic Projection System

Abstract

Described in detail herein are methods and systems for dynamic projection. The dynamic projection system includes a projector configured to project a first set of information associated with a set of like physical objects onto a front portion of a shelving unit. The first set of information includes an image of a machine-readable element encoded with an identifier associated with the set of like physical objects. An optical scanner can scan and decode the identifier from the image of the machine-readable element. The optical scanner can transmit the identifier or location of the scanner to a computing system. The computing system can further control an output of the projector to dynamically project the second set of information associated with the set of like physical objects onto the front portion of the shelving unit receiving the identifier or location of the optical scanner.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A dynamic projection system comprising:
 a plurality of projectors, a first projector in the plurality of projectors configured to project a first set of information associated with a first set of like physical objects onto a front portion of a shelving unit, wherein the first set of information includes an image of a machine-readable element encoded with an identifier associated with the first set of like physical objects   an optical scanner configured to scan the image of the machine-readable element and decode the identifier from the machine-readable element; and   a computing system communicatively coupled to the projector and the optical scanner, the computing system programmed to: determine the location of the optical scanner in response to the optical scanner scanning the image of the machine-readable element in the first set of information; query a database using the identifier to retrieve a second set of information associated with a second set of like physical objects disposed within a predetermined distance of the location of the optical scanner; identify a second projector in the plurality of projectors as being closest in proximity to a shelfing unit in which the second set of like physical objects is disposed; and control an output of the second projector to dynamically project the second set of information associated with the second set of like physical objects onto the front portion of the shelving unit.   
     
     
         2 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the front portion of the shelving unit is at a predetermined angle and the plurality of projectors is configured to project the first and second sets of information at the predetermined angle. 
     
     
         3 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projectors is configured to render the first set of information in a first color and render the second set of information in a second color. 
     
     
         4 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the optical scanner further comprising a location module configured to output location information associated with the optical scanner to the computing system. 
     
     
         5 . The system in  claim 4 , wherein the computing system is further programmed to output a third set information in response to a location of the optical scanner by: determining the location of the optical scanner in response to receipt of the location information; querying the database to retrieve an identification of a set of like physical objects disposed at the location; identifying a projector in the plurality of projectors as being closest in proximity to the location of the optical scanner; and controlling the identified projector to output the third set of information on the front portion of the shelving unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the optical scanner is configured to scan the image of the machine-readable element by detecting a pulse rate at which the first projector renders the image. 
     
     
         7 . The system in  claim 6 , wherein the pulse rate is unique to the identifier encoded in the image of the machine-readable element. 
     
     
         8 . The system in  claim 7 , wherein the optical scanner decodes the identifier from the machine-readable element based on the pulse rate. 
     
     
         9 . A dynamic projection method comprising:
 projecting, via a first projector in a plurality of projectors, a first set of information associated with a first set of like physical objects onto a front portion of a shelving unit, wherein the first set of information includes an image of a machine-readable element encoded with an identifier associated with the first set of like physical objects;   scanning, via an optical scanner, the image of the machine-readable element;   decoding, via the optical scanner, the identifier from the machine-readable element;   determining, via a computing system, the location of the optical scanner based on the decoded identifier;   querying, via the computing system, a database using the identifier to retrieve a second set of information associated with a second set of like physical objects, disposed within a predetermined distance of the location of the optical scanner;   identifying, via the computing system, a second projector in the plurality of projectors as being closest in proximity to a shelfing unit in which the second set of like physical objects is disposed; and   controlling, via the computing system, an output of the second projector to dynamically project the second set of information associated with the second set of like physical objects onto the front portion of the shelving unit.   
     
     
         10 . The method in  claim 9 , further comprising projecting, via the plurality of projectors, the first and second sets of information at a predetermined angle, wherein the front portion of the shelving unit is at the predetermined angle. 
     
     
         11 . The method in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 rendering, via the second projector, the first set of information in a first color; and   rendering, via the second projector, the second set of information in a second color.   
     
     
         12 . The method in  claim 9 , further comprising outputting, via a location module included in the optical scanner, location information associated with the optical scanner to the computing system. 
     
     
         13 . The method in  claim 12 , further comprising outputting, via the computing system, a third set information in response to a location of the optical scanner. 
     
     
         14 . The method in  claim 9 , wherein scanning, via the optical scanner, the image of the machine-readable element comprises detecting a pulse rate at which the first projector renders the image. 
     
     
         15 . The method in  claim 14 , wherein the pulse rate is unique to the identifier encoded in the image of the machine-readable element. 
     
     
         16 . The method in  claim 15 , further comprising decoding, via the optical scanner, the identifier from the machine-readable element based on the pulse rate. 
     
     
         17 . A dynamic projection system comprising:
 a first projector in a plurality of projectors, configured to project a first set of information associated with a first set of like physical objects onto a front portion of a shelving unit, wherein the first set of information includes an image of a machine-readable element encoded with an identifier associated with the first set of like physical objects   an optical scanner including a location module configured to output location information associated with the optical scanner; and   a computing system communicatively coupled to the projector and the optical scanner, the computing system programmed to: determine the location of the optical scanner in response to receipt of the location information; query the database to retrieve an identification of a second set of like physical objects disposed within a predetermined distance of the location; identify a second projector as being closest in proximity to a shelfing unit in which the second set of like physical objects is disposed; and control the second projector to output a second set of information associated with the second set of like physical objects onto the front portion of the shelving unit.   
     
     
         18 . The system in  claim 17 , wherein the front portion of the shelving unit is at a predetermined angle and the plurality of projectors is configured to project the first and second sets of information at the predetermined angle. 
     
     
         19 . The system in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of projectors is configured to render the first set of information in a first color and render the second set of information in a second color. 
     
     
         20 . The system in  claim 17 , wherein the computing system is further programmed to control the second projector to output the first set of information on the front portion of the shelving unit subsequent to outputting the second set of information on the front portion of the shelving unit based on determining a distance between the shelving unit and the optical scanner is greater than a predetermined threshold.