US 11,981,365 B2
System for monitoring and controlling shopping cart usage
Stephen E. Hannah, Placentia, CA (US); Scott J. Carter, Seal Beach, CA (US); and Jesse M. James, Ladera Ranch, CA (US)
Assigned to Gatekeeper Systems, Inc., Foothill Ranch, CA (US)
Filed by Gatekeeper Systems, Inc., Foothill Ranch, CA (US)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/804,440.
Application 17/804,440 is a continuation of application No. 17/564,648, filed on Dec. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,358,621.
Application 17/564,648 is a continuation of application No. 17/225,830, filed on Apr. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,230,313, issued on Jan. 25, 2022.
Application 17/225,830 is a continuation of application No. 16/995,471, filed on Aug. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,299,189, issued on Apr. 12, 2022.
Application 16/995,471 is a continuation of application No. 16/224,046, filed on Dec. 18, 2018, granted, now 10,745,040, issued on Aug. 18, 2020.
Application 16/224,046 is a continuation of application No. 15/877,187, filed on Jan. 22, 2018, granted, now 10,189,494, issued on Jan. 29, 2019.
Application 15/877,187 is a continuation of application No. 15/191,303, filed on Jun. 23, 2016, granted, now 9,914,470, issued on Mar. 13, 2018.
Application 15/191,303 is a continuation of application No. 15/093,545, filed on Apr. 7, 2016, granted, now 9,676,405, issued on Jun. 13, 2017.
Application 15/093,545 is a continuation of application No. 14/821,244, filed on Aug. 7, 2015, granted, now 9,322,658, issued on Apr. 26, 2016.
Application 14/821,244 is a continuation of application No. 13/907,502, filed on May 31, 2013, granted, now 9,758,185, issued on Sep. 12, 2017.
Application 13/907,502 is a continuation of application No. 11/277,016, filed on Mar. 20, 2006, granted, now 8,463,540, issued on Jun. 11, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/663,327, filed on Mar. 18, 2005.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/663,195, filed on Mar. 18, 2005.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/663,147, filed on Mar. 18, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2023/0057163 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B62B 5/04 (2006.01); A47F 10/04 (2006.01); B60K 25/08 (2006.01); B60T 7/16 (2006.01); B60T 7/18 (2006.01); B62B 3/14 (2006.01); B62B 5/00 (2006.01); G01C 21/12 (2006.01); G01C 21/20 (2006.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G06Q 10/08 (2024.01); G08B 13/24 (2006.01); G08G 1/00 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01); H04W 4/024 (2018.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.01)
CPC B62B 5/0438 (2013.01) [A47F 10/04 (2013.01); B60K 25/08 (2013.01); B60T 7/16 (2013.01); B60T 7/18 (2013.01); B62B 3/14 (2013.01); B62B 3/1404 (2013.01); B62B 3/1412 (2013.01); B62B 3/1424 (2013.01); B62B 3/1492 (2013.01); B62B 5/0003 (2013.01); B62B 5/0423 (2013.01); B62B 5/048 (2013.01); G01C 21/12 (2013.01); G01C 21/206 (2013.01); G06K 7/10366 (2013.01); G06Q 10/08 (2013.01); G08B 13/2434 (2013.01); G08B 13/2448 (2013.01); G08B 13/2462 (2013.01); G08B 13/2482 (2013.01); G08G 1/20 (2013.01); H02K 7/1846 (2013.01); H04W 4/024 (2018.02); H04W 4/029 (2018.02); G08B 13/246 (2013.01); G08B 13/2474 (2013.01); G08B 13/2477 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for monitoring shopping cart usage in a store, comprising:
a VLF (Very Low Frequency) signal line from which an encoded VLF signal is transmitted, said VLF signal line provided at an exit of the store;
at least one fixed-location wireless signal transceiver mounted in the store; and
a shopping cart wheel assembly attached to a shopping cart, the shopping cart wheel assembly comprising a VLF receiver capable of receiving said VLF signal, a wireless signal transceiver capable of communicating bidirectionally with the at least one fixed-location wireless signal transceiver, and a controller;
wherein the controller of the shopping cart wheel assembly is programmed to detect, based on receipt of the VLF signal by the VLF receiver, a store exit event in which the shopping cart is exiting the store, and is further programmed to determine, based at least in part on a transmission received by the wireless signal transceiver from the at least one fixed-location wireless signal transceiver, whether the store exit event is authorized.