Intelligent Shelf Display System

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for an intelligent shelf display system that creates an intimate customer experience and helps retailers increase operational efficiencies. The system is comprised of a cabinet top to display animated and/or graphical content and is mounted on top of in-store shelves. A fascia to display animated and/or graphical content is extended along each shelf of the in-store shelves. A media player executes multiple media files that are simultaneously displayed on the cabinet top and the fascia. The cabinet top and the fascia display content to entice customers to approach the shelves, and then the fascia switch to displaying pricing information once a customer is nearby. A proximity sensor detects the presence of the customer. Stock sensors track the inventory stocked on the in-store shelves. Alerts are created once the merchandise remaining on the shelves is reduced to a predetermined minimum threshold quantity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intelligent shelf display system, comprising:
 a cabinet top configured to display animated and/or graphical content and mounted on top of in-store shelves;   a fascia configured to display graphical content and extending along each shelf comprising the in-store shelves;   a data processing system including a media player configured to simultaneously execute a multiplicity of media files that are displayed on the cabinet top and the fascia;   a proximity sensor to detect the presence of a potential customer; and   one or more stock sensors to track inventory stocked on the in-store shelves.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet top and the fascia display animated graphical content so as to entice potential customers to approach the shelves, and wherein the fascia display pricing and other information pertaining to the merchandise on the shelves once a potential customer approaches the shelves. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet top and the fascia may be attached to pre-installed shelves by a suitable fastening means. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fascia and the cabinet top are each comprised of a multiplicity of small light emitting diodes (“LED”) arrays that are coupled together so as to tessellate each of the cabinet top and the fascia, such that the fascia and the cabinet top extend along the length of the shelves. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the small LED arrays may be comprised of any number of LED pixels that are organized into an arrangement extending along the cabinet top and the fascia along the entire length of the shelves. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet top and the fascia may be configured to display graphical content indicating product location to potential customers. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the animated and/or graphical content is comprised of a single animated image that fills the entirety of the cabinet top 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the animated and/or graphical content comprises, multiple animated images that are arranged to cover the area of the cabinet top. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fascia cooperates with the cabinet top to display images that appear to be spread across the height and length of the shelves. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fascia dynamically changes the displayed graphics based upon signals generated from the proximity sensor associated with the presence of a first customer within a first proximity of a shopping area. 
     
     
         11 . An intelligent shelf display system, comprising:
 a cabinet top configured to display animated and/or graphical content and mounted on top of in-store shelves;   a proximity sensor to detect a presence of a potential customer;   a fascia configured to display and dynamically change graphical content based on signals generated from the proximity sensor in response to detecting the presence of the potential customer; and   a data processing system including a media player configured to simultaneously execute a multiplicity of media files that are displayed on the cabinet top and the fascia.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the data processing system is commutatively coupled to:
 the cabinet top; the fascia; and the proximity sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the data processing system further comprises a wireless communication system and the commutative coupling of the data processing system is achieved through the wireless communication system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the cabinet top and the fascia are configured to display graphic content via a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) arrays coupled to the cabinet top and fascia. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the data processing system is configured to display media files at dynamic resolutions based upon a resolution of the cabinet top. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fascia extends along each shelf comprising the in-store shelves. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more stock sensors to track inventory stocked on the in-store shelves. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fascia display information pertaining to the merchandise on the shelves once a potential customer approaches the shelves, wherein the information comprises at least one of: a price of the merchandise and a location of the merchandise. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fascia cooperates with the cabinet top to display images that appear to be spread across a height and a length of the shelves. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the animated and/or graphical content is comprised of at least one of: a single animated image that fills an entirety of the cabinet top and multiple animated images that are arranged to cover portions of the cabinet top.