Systems and methods for automated association of product information with electronic shelf labels

Abstract

Systems and methods that employ an autonomous robotic vehicle (ARV) alone or in combination with a remote computing device during the installation of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) in a facility are discussed. The ARV may detect pre-existing product information from paper labels located on modular units prior to their removal and then detect the location of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) after installation. Pre-existing product information gleaned from the paper labels is associated with the corresponding ESLs. The ARV may also determine compliance or non-compliance of modular units to which an ESL is affixed with a planogram of the facility.

1 . A system for automated association of product information with electronic shelf labels, comprising:
 a computing device that includes a processor and a memory, the computing device configured to execute an identification module; and   one or more databases holding product information associated with products assigned to a plurality of product storage units in a facility;   wherein the identification module when executed is configured to:
 receive a plurality of captured first images of a plurality of product storage units in the facility, the plurality of product storage units including a plurality of non-electronic shelf labels; 
 receive a plurality of captured second images of the plurality of product storage units, the plurality of captured second images taken after a plurality of electronic shelf labels are affixed to the plurality of product storage units; 
 retrieve product information from the one or more databases; 
 analyze the plurality of captured first images to determine the product information associated with each of the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels; 
 analyze the plurality of electronic shelf labels disposed on the product storage unit that appear in the plurality of captured second images to determine identifying information associated with each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels; 
 identify a correspondence between each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels and one of the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels; and 
 associate product information previously assigned to each of the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels with the corresponding one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels, wherein the corresponding one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels is programmed with the product information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the identification module when executed:
 analyzes a product storage unit identifier disposed on the product storage unit and appearing in the plurality of captured first images;   identifies a location of the product storage unit within the facility based on the analysis of the product storage unit identifier and a planogram of the facility; and   associates the location with the identifying information of a corresponding one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device stores a planogram of the facility and uses the planogram to confirm that one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels corresponds to a planogram of the facility. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device stores a planogram of the facility and uses the planogram to confirm that one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels fails to correspond to a planogram of the facility. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is a local computing device located in the facility and that includes at least one sensor configured to capture the plurality of first images and the plurality of second images. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the local computing device is an autonomous robotic vehicle or forms a part thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is a remote computing device that includes a communications interface configured to receive the plurality of captured first images and the plurality of captured second images. 
     
     
         8 . A system for automated association of product information with electronic shelf labels, comprising:
 one or more databases holding product information associated with products assigned to a plurality of product storage units in a facility; and   a local computing device in the facility and that includes at least one sensor, an identification module, a processor, and a memory;   wherein the identification module when executed is configured to:
 receive, from the local computing device, a plurality of captured first images of a plurality of product storage units in the facility, the plurality of product storage units including a plurality of non-electronic shelf labels; 
 receive, from the local computing device, a plurality of captured second images of the plurality of product storage units, the plurality of captured second images taken after a plurality of electronic shelf labels are affixed to the plurality of product storage units; 
 retrieve product information from the one or more databases; 
 analyze the plurality of captured first images to identify the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels appearing in the plurality of captured first images to determine the product information associated with each of the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels; 
 analyze the plurality of electronic shelf labels disposed on the product storage unit that appear in the plurality of captured second images to determine identifying information associated with each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels; 
 identify a correspondence between each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels and one of the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels; and 
 associate product information previously assigned to each of the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels with the corresponding one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels, wherein the corresponding one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels is programmed with the product information. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the identification module when executed:
 analyzes a product storage unit identifier disposed on the product storage unit and appearing in the plurality of captured first images;   identifies a location of the product storage unit within the facility based on the analysis of the product storage unit identifier and a planogram of the facility; and   associates the location with the identifying information of a corresponding one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the local computing device stores a planogram of the facility and uses the planogram to confirm that one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels corresponds to a planogram of the facility and transmits a notification to a remote computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the local computing device stores a planogram of the facility and uses the planogram to confirm that one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels fails to correspond to a planogram of the facility and transmits a notification to a remote computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the local computing device includes the one or more databases. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the one or more databases include one or more communications interfaces and the local computing device includes a communications interface, and wherein the identification module retrieves product information from the one or more databases by using the communications interface of the local computing device to receive product information from the one or more communications interfaces of the one or more databases. 
     
     
         14 . A method for automated association of product information with electronic shelf labels, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of captured first images of a plurality of product storage units in a facility, the plurality of product storage units including a plurality of non-electronic shelf labels;   receiving a plurality of captured second images of the plurality of product storage units, the plurality of captured second images taken after a plurality of electronic shelf labels are affixed to the plurality of product storage units;   retrieving product information from one or more databases holding product information associated with products assigned to the plurality of product storage units in the facility;   analyzing the plurality of captured first images to identify the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels appearing in the plurality of captured first images to determine the product information associated with each of the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels;   analyzing the plurality of electronic shelf labels disposed on the plurality of product storage units that appear in the plurality of captured second images to determine identifying information associated with each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels;   identifying a correspondence between each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels and one of the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels;   associating product information previously assigned to each of the plurality of non-electronic shelf labels with the corresponding one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels; and   programming the corresponding one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels with the product information.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 analyzing a product storage unit identifier disposed on a product storage unit in the plurality of product storage units and appearing in the plurality of captured first images;   identifying a location of the product storage unit within the facility based on the analysis of the product storage unit identifier and a planogram of the facility; and   associating the location with the identifying information of a corresponding one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining using a stored planogram of the facility whether one of the plurality of electronic shelf labels corresponds to the stored planogram of the facility.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, by at least one sensor of a local computing device located in the facility, capturing the plurality of first images and the plurality of second images. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the local computing device is an autonomous robotic vehicle or forms a part thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 transmitting the plurality of captured first images to a remote computing device using a communications interface of the local computing device, and   transmitting the plurality of captured second images to the remote computing device; and   wherein analyzing the plurality of captured first images and analyzing the plurality of electronic shelf labels disposed on the product storage units that appear in the plurality of captured second images is performed by the remote computing device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, by a communications interface of a remote computing device, receiving the plurality of captured first images and the plurality of captured second images.