USOO6975205B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`French et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`(54) CART RETURN CREDITSYSTEM
`
`(75) Inventors: John French, San Diego, CA (US);
`Philip Witham, Portland, OR (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Carttronics, LLC, Carlsbad, CA (US)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/535,076
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar 23, 2000
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/153,912,
`filed on Sep. 16, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,486,768.
`(51) Int. Cl. .............................................. H04Q 19/00
`(52)
`340/5.92; 194/211; 705/14;
`235/383,340/518.5
`(58) Field of Search ................................ 340/5.9, 5.91,
`340/5.92,568.5; 705/14; 194/211; 235/383
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,882.982 A 5/1975 Smith ......................... 194/4. C
`3,897.863 A 8/1975 Peggs ......................... 194/4. R
`3,938,638 A 2/1976 Moule ........................ 194/4. C
`4,424,893 A 1/1984 Gillet ......................... 194/4. C
`4,470.495 A 9/1984 Unger ........................ 194/4. C
`4,549,182. A 10/1985 Gillet ......................... 38.042
`4,572,347 A 2/1986 Eisermann .................. 194/205
`4,623,877 A * 11/1986 Buckens ..................... 340/572
`
`5,056,019 A 10/1991 Schultz et al. .............. 364/405
`5,119,087 A 6/1992 Lucas ...............
`... 34.0/825.35
`5,360,094 A 11/1994 Adams et al. .............. 194/212
`5,485,006 A 1/1996 Allen et al. .......
`... 250/222.1
`5,526,916 A 6/1996 Amdahl et al. ............. 194/211
`5,592,560 A
`1/1997 Deaton et al. ....
`... 382/100
`5,687,322. A 11/1997 Deaton et al. .............. 382/100
`5,708,782 A *
`1/1998 Larson et al. .....
`... 395/214
`6,154.879 A * 11/2000 Pare et al. ..................... 902/3
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`30 O2 798A1
`7/1981
`............ GO7C 9/00
`DE
`31 30543 A1
`2/1983 ........... A47F 10/04
`i.
`196 25525 A1
`1/1998
`DE
`O O25754 B1
`9/1980 ............. GO7F 7/06
`EP
`2 122792 A
`1/1984 ............. GO7F 7/06
`GB
`WO 85/OO961
`3/1985
`........... A47F 10/04
`WO
`WO 97/11441
`3/1997
`WO
`WO 98/51197
`11/1998
`WO
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Michael Horabik
`ASSistant Examiner-M Shimizu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gordon & Rees LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A System and method for providing an incentive to a
`customer of a Store to return a shopping cart to a cart return
`location. The System generates a cart return signal. The
`System determines whether a cart is being removed from or
`returned to the cart corral. Alternatively, a radio frequency
`identification System may be used to detect return of a cart.
`The shopper is credited with points or credits in a frequent
`Shopper or reward program for returning the shopping cart
`to the cart return location. The cart return System may be
`readily configured to integrate with a wide range of existing
`f
`h
`loval
`s
`or new frequent shopper or loyalty programs.
`
`15 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`STREN
`
`- too
`
`STORE
`
`- Yi
`
`--->
`cNTRACOMPUTER
`
`NETWoRK; SATELLTE;
`TELEPHONE LINK
`
`-
`
`7ol;
`
`CUSTER
`ENTIFICATION
`NTERFACE
`SCANNER
`REAER
`DETECTOR
`t
`
`Sore
`Products
`
`ld stone AA
`
`STREA
`STORE CORPUTER
`
`2.
`\
`PROJCT
`FLS
`
`NCENTw
`
`t -- 42.
`
`ise
`
`tig
`
`f
`NTERFACE
`22
`--
`
`CUSTOMER
`INFORMATION
`1231
`2O
`
`702.
`
`/
`
`cuSTOMER
`
`
`
`--
`22d
`
`custodMeR code,
`222
`oAT, TIME, etc.
`ACKNOWLEMENT
`is "frog NTEFETar
`CST.
`CARREADErf
`/12
`SANNER}
`cont E. l.
`4
`SENSORS):
`MICRO
`o
`CSTMER
`ENTIFICATION-- - DELECTORS) i
`:
`RECEIVER
`NERFACE
`coTre
`:
`oTP Tiric
`y
`Es:
`RETURNED CART
`
`-- foo
`
`fo2/zoo/
`zozoa :
`
`SHOPM3 ART
`
`Page 1 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 1 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Cart path
`
`Figure 4
`
`Figure 5
`
`O2a
`
`O
`
`O2
`
`88's O
`
`O2b
`
`Loop A
`Loop B
`
`Figure 8
`
`O
`
`O2
`
`O2a
`Loop A
`Loop B
`
`Page 2 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 2 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`Figure 9
`
`Three lane, twelve loop array:
`Etty; itsy"-lo2k
`
`
`
`
`
`Figure 10
`
`Ot
`
`Figure 11
`
`
`
`Page 3 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 3 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`Figure 12 Cart Detector circuit
`
`Fixed
`Reference
`voltage
`
`2OO-7
`
`s 2O3
`
`2O
`
`Controller
`
`"Cart Detected'
`output
`
`Figure 13 System Electronics
`O2a
`
`Cart
`Detector
`2OOa.
`
`
`
`
`
`Mit.
`Confroller
`
`
`
`Loop A
`
`O2b
`
`Loop B
`
`3
`
`222
`To
`Store
`Computer
`2O
`
`S-2
`
`Page 4 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 4 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`(READY, NO CART)
`
`SYMBOLS
`A AND B
`REPRESENT
`THE OUTPUTS
`OF THE LOOP
`DETECTORS.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(CART DETECTED)
`A S THE
`FIRST LOOP
`TO BE PASSED
`BY A RETURNING
`CART, BTHE
`SECOND.
`
`
`
`
`
`322
`N
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`START TIMER
`
`A ON WITHIN
`1 O SECONDS?
`(CART COMING
`OUT BACKWARDS)
`
`WAIT UNTI
`A AND B ARE
`BOTH OFF
`
`WAIT 1 O SECONDS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`B ON AND A
`OFF WITHN 10
`SECONDS?
`
`YES
`(CART MOVING IN)
`
`WAT UNTIL
`A AND B ARE
`BOTH OFF
`(GIVE UP, TOO SLOW)
`
`
`
`AM674
`
`Page 5 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 5 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`352
`
`CREDIT GRANTING FUNCTION
`
`322
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`334
`
`CARD IN
`READER2
`
`
`
`READ CARD
`
`se
`
`SUCCESSFUL
`READ?
`
`
`
`322
`
`CART COUNT
`- ZERO
`
`
`
`
`
`(LOOP: WAITING FOR CARD)
`
`INDICATE BAD READ
`WITH LED AND SOUND
`
`NDCATE NO CART
`RETURNED WITH LED
`AND SOUND
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT
`CUSTOMER ID TO
`STORE COMPUTER
`
`
`
`STORE COMPUTER
`RETURNS ACKNOWLEDGE
`OF CREDIT GRANTED?
`
`
`
`
`
`INDICATE CREDIT GRANTED
`WITH LED AND SOUND
`
`INDICATE CARD NOT
`ACCEPTED WITH ED AND
`SOUND
`
`
`
`
`
`DECREMENT CART
`COUNT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 6 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 6 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`STORE B
`
`242
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CENTRAL COMPUTER
`
`NETWORK/SATELLITE/
`TELEPHONE LINK
`
`4472
`
`STORE DATA
`
`STORE A
`
`STORE
`COMPUTER
`
`PRODUCT
`
`I/O
`INTERFACE
`42
`
`NCENTIVE
`POINTS FILE
`
`CUSTOMER
`NFORMATION
`
`STORE
`PRODUCTS
`
`
`
`CUSTOMER CODE,
`DATE, TIME, ETC.
`402/ 2 Rékow'EcEMEK
`
`---------------------------------------- - a se - as as as as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`f22
`
`1
`?
`/22/222
`SENSOR Sk
`DETECTOR(S)
`
`ID CARD |
`
`CASE,SEA25R/
`DETECTO
`
`MICRO-
`CONTROLLER
`
`
`
`CUSTOMER
`
`422
`
`RETURNED CART
`
`SHOPPNG CART
`
`Page 7 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 7 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`- Hoo
`
`NETWORK/SATELLITE /
`TELEPHONE LINK
`
`CENTRAL COMPUTER
`
`
`
`2-
`
`
`
`
`
`HO
`
`STORE DATA
`
`STORE A
`STORE COMPUTER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`O2
`
`CUSTOMER
`DENTIFICATION
`INTERFACE
`
`SCANNER/
`READER/
`DETECTOR
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`STORE
`PRODUCTS
`
`CARD READER/
`SCANNER
`DETECTOR
`
`
`
`- - - -
`
`- - -
`
`-
`
`-
`
`CUSTOMER
`IDENTIFICATION
`INTERFACE
`OUTPUT INTRFC
`e.g. FOR TOKEN,
`COUPON, CERT. -
`ti-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
`- 1704,
`O
`
`MICRO
`CONTROLLER
`
`FIG. 17
`
`PRODUCT
`FILES
`
`
`
`I/O
`NTERFACE
`
`22
`
`+2.
`
`CUSTOMER CODE,
`DATE, TIME, ETC./
`ACKNOWLEDGMENT
`
`-- OO
`
`I O2/zoo/23O2
`SENSOR(S) 1
`DETECTOR(S) /
`RECEIVER
`
`
`
`22O
`
`RETURNED CART
`
`- - - - - - - -
`
`- - - - a - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`Page 8 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 8 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
`
`80%
`CUSTOMER
`CODE
`
`222.
`CUSTOMER CODE,
`DATE, TIME, ETC./
`ACKNOWLEDGMENT
`
`CARD READER
`SCANNER
`DETECTOR
`
`CUSTOMER
`EDENTIFICATION
`INTERFACE
`
`oUTPUT INRFC
`e.g., FOR TOKEN,
`coUPON, CERT.
`
`- 7 Og
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`O
`7O3
`
`MICRO
`CONTROLLER
`
`FIG. 18
`
`- IOO
`
`2 / 2'
`02/2Od/23O2
`SENSOR(S) /
`DETECTOR(S) /
`RECEIVER
`
`RETURNED CART
`
`
`
`O Gc
`SHOPPEN ART
`
`60
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
`
`CUSTOMER
`CODE
`
`CUSTOMER CODE,
`DATE, TIME, ETC./
`ACKNOWLEDGMENT
`
`--OO
`
`CONT.
`
`;
`
`CARD READER/
`SCANNER
`DETECTOR
`
`
`
`CUSTOMER
`
`CUSTOMER
`to
`t : |IDENTIFICATION
`INTERFACE
`ouTEINRFC
`e.g., FOR TOKEN,
`COUPON, CERT.
`
`:
`
`- - - - - -a as an amas a
`
`MICRO
`CONTROLLER
`
`
`
`SENSOR(S) /
`DETECTOR(S) 1
`RECEIVER
`
`Page 9 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 9 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT
`
`Zoot-
`
`CUSTOMER AND
`TRANSACTION
`INFORMATION /
`ACKNOWLEDGMENT
`
`8O2.
`
`
`
`CUSTOMER K-
`
`DATA PROCESSING SECTION
`
`SENSOR(S) /
`DETECTOR(S) f
`RECEIVER
`
`FIG. 20
`
`Page 10 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 10 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Card reader -N
`or other
`Customer ID
`device
`
`2O
`
`s
`Cable to store
`
`Alternative RFD-G,
`Tag locations ul-Y V.
`
`
`
`FIG 21
`
`Page 11 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 11 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IO2 a.
`
`CART DETECTORA
`2 OO a
`
`CART DETECTOR B
`2 O Ob
`nam-
`
`
`
`
`
`PROCESSOR) CPU /
`MCROCONTROLLER
`
`INTERFACE,
`E.G., SERIAL,
`TO STORE
`COMPUTER OR
`COMPUTING
`ENVIRONMENT
`
`O
`
`OUTPUT
`INTERFACE
`
`CUSTOMER
`IDENTIFICATION
`INTERFACE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`READER/
`SCANNER/
`DETECTOR
`
`FIG. 22
`
`RFID TAG RECEIVER
`
`PROCESSORT CPU I
`MICROCONTROLLER
`
`
`
`
`
`|''
`
`INTERFACE,
`E.G., SERAL,
`TO STORE
`COMPUTER OR
`COMPUTING
`ENVIRONMENT
`
`
`
`17O4.
`|
`- - - - - - 7- - - - -
`
`:
`
`OUTPUT
`INTERFACE
`
`
`
`
`
`CUSTOMER
`IDENTIFICATION
`INTERFACE
`
`READER/
`SCANNERf
`DETECTOR
`
`O
`
`
`
`FIG. 23
`
`Page 12 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 12 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`2OO
`
`CART RETURN DETECTION
`
`(READY, NO CART)
`
`
`
`
`
`RFID TAG
`DETECTED
`
`
`
`
`
`READ TAG
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`UCCESSFU)
`TAG READ?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ADD NEW ENTRY
`TO CART
`NVENTORY LIST
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`UPDATE CART
`INVENTORY LIST
`TIME ENTRY FOR
`THIS CART
`
`CART
`NVENTORY
`LIST (TIME, ID)
`
`A PREDETERMINED
`PERIOD?
`
`YES
`
`DISPLAY CART
`RETURN, e.g., WITH
`NDCATOR AND/
`OR SOUND
`
`NCREMENT CART
`COUNT
`
`FG. 24
`
`Page 13 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 13 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`2SOO
`
`25Ot
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`agro-2so
`
`OBTAIN IDENTIFICATION
`WITH PRIMARY METHOD
`
`YES NOPERATION 2
`
`
`
`OBTAN IDENTIFICATION
`WITH SECONOARY
`METHOD
`
`
`
`UCCESSFU
`
`252o
`
`COUNTP
`
`
`
`REURN
`DETECTED2
`
`2S22
`INDICATE NO
`CART RETURNED
`WITH 1NDICATOR
`AND/OR SOUND
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT TRANSACTION
`INFORMATION TO
`DATABASE COMPUTER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`GRANTED
`
`INDICATED NOT
`ACCEPTED WITH
`INDICATOR AND1
`OR SOUND
`
`FIG. 25
`
`INDICATE CREDIT
`GRANTED WITH
`INDICATOR AND1
`OR SOUND
`
`Page 14 of 27
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`Sheet 14 of 14
`
`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`LOOP:
`WAT FOR
`CARD
`
`22
`NOCATE
`CARD NOT
`READ WITH
`NOICAOR
`AND/OR
`SOUND
`
`2410
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OOP:
`WA FOR
`PAD PRESS
`
`ACCUMUAE
`DIGITN
`MEMORY
`
`ENONG
`CRITERA
`
`NDICATE
`NVALID
`ACCUMULATED) (NE
`
`
`
`ANDOR
`SOUND
`
`NUMBER
`
`
`
`FIG. 27
`
`Page 15 of 27
`
`

`

`US 6,975,205 B1
`
`1
`CART RETURN CREDIT SYSTEM
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This is a continuation-in-part application of application
`Ser. No. 09/153,912, entitled CART RETURN LOYALTY
`CREDITSYSTEM, filed Sep. 16, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,486,768.
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`devices typically include Some type of wheel locking
`mechanism which is activated when the cart crosses a
`boundary of some type around the perimeter of the parking
`lot or travels a fixed distance from a store exit. However,
`these concepts do not provide incentives to discourage
`removal of a cart from the lot or to return the cart to the cart
`corral.
`One method increasingly used by retailers to encourage
`repeat business is a frequent shopper program, also known
`as a reward or loyalty program. In Such a program, a
`customer is typically issued a card having a unique customer
`identification code. The card is issued after the customer
`provides identifying information and usually Some demo
`graphic information to the issuing store. This frequent
`shopper or reward card may be of various types, Such as
`magnetic stripe, bar-code, or Smart card technology having
`a non-volatile memory (proximity, and So forth).
`According to In-Store, the newsletter of In-Store Market
`ing & Business, a current Survey of frequent shopper or
`reward program penetration shows that there are now more
`than 7,750 supermarkets in the United States that have
`card-based frequent shopper programs, which represents
`about 26% of all supermarkets. This is up from 19% (5,867
`stores) of total United States Supermarkets in the 1st Quarter
`of 1997. The growth in loyalty card programs is similar
`throughout the developed countries of the World. A Super
`market is defined as a grocery store with more than S2
`million in annual sales.
`The use of these reward programs continues to grow at a
`rapid pace. In 1998, fifty chains with twenty or more stores
`and seventy-five retailers with fewer than twenty stores have
`or are in the process of rolling out frequent shopper pro
`grams. Over 72% of the frequent shopper store count is
`made up by chains with more than $2.0 billion of annual
`sales. The percentage of frequent shopper penetration in
`1998 represented 22.5% of All Commodity Volume (ACV)
`in the United States, which is up from 17.4% in the first
`quarter of 1997. It is estimated that 3,600 additional Super
`markets will add frequent shopper programs Soon, which
`would mean that about 38% of all supermarkets will have a
`reward program. Similar growth in loyalty card programs
`may be anticipated throughout the developed countries of
`the world.
`ACNielsen performs an annual “Frequent Shopper Pro
`grams' study. The ability to use a frequent shopper or loyalty
`card was cited as more important by card holders than
`every-day low pricing or customer Service. When card
`holders initially joined their shopper card programs, Savings
`was cited as the primary reason by nearly 75% of card
`holders, with check cashing the number two reason at 15%.
`Today, many card holders have had a frequent shopper card
`over 12 months, and savings continues to be the primary
`reason for card usage. Over 50% of the card holders are
`primarily looking for special deals on products. Although
`the most often cited reason for shopping in a particular store
`is still location, the ability to use a frequent shopper card
`ranked third in importance, next to location and store deals.
`In 1998, 55% of households in the United States have at
`least one grocery store loyalty card. A similar ACNielsen
`study in 1997 showed that only 35% of households had a
`card. The highest percentage of card holders was found in
`Chicago, with 94% of households having at least one store
`card. Other top markets include Los Angeles, N.Y., Buffalo/
`Rochester and Charlotte, N.C.
`A system and method is desired that would enlist the help
`of customers in the cart collection process. To accomplish
`this, such a system and method would elicit Supportive
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`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention generally relates to a reward System
`and method for wheeled vehicles, and more specifically, to
`a way to encourage the return of a shopping cart to a cart
`return location.
`2. Description of the Related Technology
`Wheeled shopping carts are conventionally provided by
`Supermarkets, discount stores and other retail stores for the
`convenience of shopperS Such that relatively large loads of
`goods can be collected, paid for and then wheeled out to the
`shoppers vehicle for unloading. A few shoppers will Volun
`tarily return a cart to a central cart return location, Such as
`a cart corral. Typically, however, the shopper leaves the cart
`in the vicinity of where the vehicle is parked. The empty cart
`must then be collected by store personnel and returned to the
`store for subsequent use. Substantial costs may be incurred
`associated with the process of retrieving the carts from the
`far corners of the site and collecting them into a central cart
`corral or a cart line in front of the store. A typical store may
`spend from one to six person-years in the collection process,
`and incur additional indirect costs associated with injury and
`disability claims. Worldwide, labor costs of cart collection
`add up to millions of dollars.
`Additionally, some carts may be removed from the Store
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`parking lot. For example, a shopper without a vehicle may
`use the cart to transport goods back to his home and then
`abandon the cart. This can result in permanent loss of the
`cart. Furthermore, thieves may intentionally abscond with
`carts for the purpose of later resale to other retailers. LOSS of
`shopping carts results in Substantial financial loss to the
`retailer, since each cart is a relatively expensive piece of
`equipment.
`According to the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) in one
`recent year, U.S. retailers annually lost approximately 11%
`of their carts with a value of S185 million, plus another S117
`million in cart retrieval expenses. Because it is common for
`shoppers to "borrow’ carts to transport their purchases home
`or to a transit stop, retailers must contract for regular cart
`retrieval services. Retrieval contractors comb their neigh
`borhoods several times per day or week, at Substantial cost
`to the retailer. The total impact is typically thousands of
`dollars per site per year. Once off-site, carts are often taken
`great distances, experiencing worn wheels and other dam
`age. Rough handling during the collection process often
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`further damages those carts that are retrieved. Extra cleaning
`and repair that may be required following retrieval could
`easily add thousands of dollars of additional expenses per
`store per year. Furthermore, to compensate for carts that are
`off-site, retailers typically maintain excess cart inventories,
`often 10% to 20% over their actual need, to ensure that
`enough carts are available during peak shopping hours. At
`some sites, the total of all these costs may exceed S100,000
`per Site.
`Numerous proposals have been made in the past for
`devices to deter shoppers or others from removing carts
`from the immediate vicinity or parking lot of a store. Such
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`US 6,975,205 B1
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`behavior of a shopper by providing incentives to return a
`Shopping cart to a cart return location. These incentives
`would provide a reward to the shopper for returning a
`Shopping cart and to encourage repeat business. The System
`and method would thus provide direct benefits to both the
`customer and the Store operator.
`It is also desired to have a shopping cart return System that
`can be associated with a frequent Shopper or rewards pro
`gram. Such a cart return System would be able to integrate
`with the existing Store infrastructure So as to minimize Store
`expenses and not require customers to learn a totally new
`System or new procedure. A variety of different ways to
`Sense the return of a cart, to obtain a customer identification,
`and to provide the reward are also desired.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`One aspect of the present cart return credit System inven
`tion is a System consisting of a cart Sensor and a card
`reader/scanner/detector or other interface (e.g., a keypad,
`biometrics Sensor, Bluetooth protocol transceiver, etc.) con
`figured to obtain a customer identification (ID) which can be
`retrofitted to existing cart corrals. An optional output inter
`face may be included in the System. The output interface
`may be a device that is used as backup to provide a reward
`to the customer if a link to a Store computer or a computing
`environment or the Store computer/computing environment
`itself is not functioning properly. Alternatively, the output
`device may be used as the primary Source of a reward to the
`customer, Such as a token, coupon, or certificate. The cart
`Sensor may use a detection loop, a loop oscillator circuit and
`a detector to detect a change in inductance of the loop when
`a cart is returned to the cart corral. Alternatively, each cart
`may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag,
`Such as attached to the frame or embedded in a wheel or
`caster of the cart. A RFID transceiver or receiver may be
`used in conjunction with a antenna located at the entrance to
`the cart corral to detect that a cart is returned to the corral.
`By use of the RFID tags on the carts, a current cart inventory
`may be maintained, and a chronological cart return record
`may be generated to prevent fraudulent credits from being
`issued. When a cart is detected as being returned to the cart
`corral, the customer ID obtained from the reader or other
`interface is then Sent to the Store computer or a computing
`environment via a wireleSS or wired link.
`In another aspect of the present invention there is an
`integrated System of Sensors, card readers or other customer
`identification interfaces, and/or other components, Such as
`described in the previous paragraph, which may be newly
`constructed or assembled.
`In another aspect of the present invention there is a cart
`return System, comprising a Sensor which is activated when
`a cart is returned to a cart corral, a plurality of customer
`identification Signals which are manually entered at the cart
`corral or wirelessly transmitted from a customer device, and
`a data processing Section receiving Signals from the Sensor
`and the customer input Signals So as to associate the returned
`cart with a customer identification for a customer rewards
`program.
`In another aspect of the present invention there is a cart
`return System, comprising a Sensor which is activated when
`a cart is returned to a cart corral, a first interface which
`receives a first Set of identification signals from a customer,
`a Second interface which receives a Second Set of customer
`identification Signals from the customer; and a data proceSS
`ing Section associating at least one set of customer identi
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`fication signals with a cart returned Signal received from the
`Sensor for a customer rewards program.
`In another aspect of the present invention there is a cart
`return System for use by a Store, the System comprising a
`detection loop arranged at the entrance to a cart return
`location, a cart detection circuit connected to the detection
`loop being configured for detecting a change of inductance
`of the loop and identifying a cart detected condition, and a
`processing circuit, connected to the cart detection circuit,
`being configured for identifying a cart return condition in
`response to the cart detected condition, wherein the proceSS
`ing circuit is configured to receive a customer identification.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view diagram for one embodiment
`of a Sensor, card reader and System electronics arrangement
`used with a cart corral in a cart return loyalty credit System
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a top plan view diagram of the Sensor loop
`configuration shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a side elevation view diagram for a second
`embodiment of a Sensor, card reader and System electronics
`arrangement used with a cart corral.
`FIG. 4 is a top plan view diagram of the pole and Sensor
`loop configuration shown in FIG. 3.
`FIG. 5 is a side elevation view diagram of the sensor loop
`configuration shown in FIG. 3.
`FIG. 6 is a side elevation view diagram for a third
`embodiment of a Sensor, card reader and System electronics
`arrangement used with a cart corral.
`FIG. 7 is a top plan view diagram of the pole and sensor
`loop configuration shown in FIG. 6.
`FIG. 8 is a perspective view diagram of the sensor loop
`configuration shown in FIG. 6.
`FIG. 9 is a top plan view diagram for a fourth embodiment
`of a Sensor loop configuration used with a cart corral.
`FIG. 10 is a perspective view diagram of a card reader,
`System electronicS and Sensor panel arrangement for the
`sensor loop configuration shown in FIG. 9.
`FIG. 11 is a perspective view diagram of a fifth embodi
`ment of a cart, identification (ID) tag, card reader and System
`electronics arrangement used with a cart corral.
`FIG. 12 is a diagram of one embodiment of a cart detector
`circuit utilized by the System electronicS unit shown in any
`of FIGS. 1, 3, 6, 10 or 11.
`FIG. 13 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the
`System electronics unit and card reader shown in any of
`FIGS. 1, 3, 6, 10 or 11.
`FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a cart return detection function
`performed by the System electronics unit shown in any of
`FIGS. 1, 3, 6, 10 or 11.
`FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a credit granting function
`performed by the System electronics unit shown in any of
`FIGS. 1, 3, 6, 10 or 11.
`FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of
`the Sensors, System electronics unit and card reader com
`bined with a store infrastructure.
`FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing another embodiment
`of the Sensors, System electronics unit, input interfaces and
`output interfaces combined with a Store infrastructure.
`FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of
`the Sensors, System electronicS unit, input interfaces and
`output interfaces combined with a computing environment.
`FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing another embodiment
`of the Sensors, System electronics unit, input interfaces and
`output interfaces combined with a computing environment.
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`S
`FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of
`the Sensors and data processing Section combined with a
`computing environment.
`FIG. 21 is a perspective view diagram of a sixth embodi
`ment of a cart, alternative radio frequency identification
`(RFID) tag locations, alternative antenna panel arrangement,
`customer ID interface and System electronics arrangement
`used with a cart corral.
`FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of
`the System electronics, input interfaces and output interfaces
`shown in any of FIGS. 16-19 or the data processing section
`shown in FIG. 20.
`FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing another embodiment
`of the System electronics, input interfaces and output inter
`faces shown in any of FIGS. 16-19 or the data processing
`Section shown in FIG. 20.
`FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a cart return detection function
`performed by the system electronics shown in FIGS. 21 and
`23.
`FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a reward points or credits
`granting function performed by the System electronics
`shown in any of FIGS. 16-19 or the data processing section
`shown in FIG. 20.
`FIG. 26 is a flowchart of the obtain identification with
`primary method proceSS or the obtain identification with
`secondary method process defined in FIG. 25, such as
`performed by the card reader of FIGS. 17–19 and 21–23.
`FIG. 27 is a flowchart of the obtain identification with
`primary method proceSS or the obtain identification with
`secondary method process defined in FIG. 25, such as
`performed by the customer identification interface of FIGS.
`17-19 and 21-23.
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`Security or proprietary purposes, utilize these Standards.
`Therefore, assuming a card has been encoded to the typical
`Standard, any brand or model of reader built to a Standard
`will be capable of reading (decoding) the magnetic Stripe.
`Standards have been developed for encoding three
`“tracks” on a magnetic Stripe card. A track is basically a
`Single physical line on the magnetic Stripe where data are
`encoded. The tracks are referred to as Track 1, Track 2 and
`Track 3. What are laid-down on the tracks are bits-the off
`or on Switches (Zeroes and ones) that make up computer
`binary language. The density to which the bits are recorded
`are logically referred to as BPI, or bits-per-inch. What
`follows is an explanation of what makes up each track and
`what it normally encodes.
`Track 1 is an alphanumeric track, recorded at 210 BPI at
`7 bits per character. Its limit is 79 characters. In the case of
`a credit card, this track normally encodes the cardholder's
`name, card number and card expiry date. Included in the 79
`characters are a number of delimiter and placeholder char
`acters found on the track.
`Track 2 is a numeric-only track, recorded at 75 BPI at 5
`bits per character. Its limit is 40 characters. Track 2 on credit
`cards contains the cardholder's card number and expiry date.
`While these two pieces of data are also found on Track 1, the
`reasons for placing them on Track 2 are twofold. Firstly, it
`provides a degree of redundancy on the card, should one of
`the tracks be erased or become unreadable. The Second
`reason is that a number of States and other jurisdictions do
`not allow for the non-discretionary recording of a perSon's
`name during a financial transaction.
`Track 3 which is Seldom used is numeric-only in nature,
`recorded at 210 BPI, 5 bits per character. It is termed the
`“thrift track’. Up to 107 characters can be placed on Track
`3.
`Magnetic card readers and encoders can be purchased as
`Single track, dual track and triple track. In the case of a dual
`track reader or encoder, it could be tracks 1 & 2, or 2 & 3.
`AS the name implies, magnetic Stripe readers only read
`already-encoded magnetic Stripes and they are used almost
`exclusively on-line (attached to a personal computer (PC)
`terminal or cash register). In a retail store, the reader and
`computing device form a part of a point-of-sale (POS)
`System. They are normally interfaced with a computer
`device either through an RS-232 Serial connection, or via a
`keyboard wedge. This latter interface is most common in PC
`applications. In this case, the card reader shares the PCS
`keyboard port and all Scanned data are accepted by the PC
`as if they were keyed in. Serial readers almost always
`require an external AC/DC power Supply. Keyboard wedge
`readers “borrow” power from the keyboard port.
`On-line magnetic Stripe reader Systems come in two basic
`Styles: integrated decoder and non-integrated decoder. A
`decoder is the electronic circuitry that decodes the “raw”
`electrical Signals generated by the reader. The main advan
`tage of the integrated, one-piece Systems is the low cost.
`Their main disadvantage is that should one of the compo
`nents (reader or decoder) fail, the entire System will prob
`ably need to be replaced.
`Most magnetic Stripe readers are of the “Swipe' type,
`where the card is manually drawn through a slot in the
`reader. One Swipe-type magnetic card reader that is available
`from Panasonic is model ZU-M1242S1. Insertion readers,
`common on ATM machines, automated gas pumps and
`kiosks, are also available. Typically, insertion readers are
`integrated into other equipment, like kiosks or automatic
`teller machines (ATMs).
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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`The following detailed description of the preferred
`embodiments presents a description of certain specific
`embodiments to assist in understanding the claims. How
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`ever, the present invention can be embodied in a multitude
`of different ways as defined and covered by the claims.
`Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numer
`als refer to like parts throughout.
`The purpose of the cart Sensor System is to Sense or
`register the return of the cart (the preferred customer behav
`ior) and to enable the credit granting System whereby the
`customer receives credits or points or other benefits in return
`for their replacing the cart in the designated place.
`The detailed description is organized into the following
`Sections: Magnetic Stripe Cards and Readers, Smart Cards
`and Readers or Reader/Writers, Wireless Communication
`Protocols and Technology, Shopping Carts, Physical Lay
`outs of Cart Corral Sensors and Input & Output Interfaces/
`Electronics Station, Cart Detector Circuit and System Elec
`tronics, Software Functions, and Store Infrastructure.
`Magnetic Stripe Cards and Readers
`Data can be encoded on magnetic Stripe cards using a
`proprietary methodology or by employing an open or Stan
`dard encoding pattern. The device that encodes data on a
`magnetic Stripe is termed an encoder. The device that reads
`or decodes data from a magnetic Stripe is termed a reader.
`There are common Standards by which magnetic Stripe cards
`are encoded. Such Standards are created by organizations
`such as ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and
`the ABA (American Banking Association). Virtually all
`magnetic Stripe cards, with the exception of those used for
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