WO2017189670A1

WO2017189670A1 - Index of refraction floor scrubber to determine traffic

Info

Publication number: WO2017189670A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/029551
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholaus A. JONES; Robert J. Taylor; Aaron J. VASGAARD; Matthew A. Jones
Original assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Priority date: 2016-04-29
Filing date: 2017-04-26
Publication date: 2017-11-02
Also published as: GB2564806A; CA3022414A1; MX2018013199A; GB2564806B; US20170311770A1; GB201818200D0

Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided herein useful for determining a task to perform based on a quality associated with a cleaning solution. A system for determining a task to perform comprises a surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus includes a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is configured to contain a cleaning solution. The system can also include a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a quality associated with the cleaning solution. The system can also include at least one of a memory device wherein the memory device is configured to store data related to the quality of the cleaning solution, and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution. The data related to the quality of the cleaning solution can be used to determine a task to perform.

Description

INDEX OF REFRACTION FLOOR SCRUBBER TO DETERMINE TRAFFIC

Cross-Reference To Related Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Application Number

62/329,635, filed April 29, 20 6, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety

Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to traffic in a shopping facility, and more particularly, to determining traffic patterns in a shopping facility.

Background

[0003] Guests of a shopping facility deposit and track dirt and other contaminates throughout the shopping facility while shopping. Consequently, a relationship exists between the accumulation of dirt and other contaminates found in areas of the shopping facility and the frequency with which the areas of the shopping facility are visited. Shopping facilities utilize surface cleaning apparatuses (e.g., floor scrubbers) to clean the floor. A need exists for systems and methods to leverage this relationship to determine traffic patterns in the shopping facility and to determine tasks to perform based on the traffic patterns.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0004] Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods pertaining to determining tasks to perform based on data provided by a surface cleaning apparatus. This description includes drawings, wherein:

[0005] FIG. 1 depicts a surface cleaning apparatus 100 including a memory device 102 and a transmitter 104, according to some embodiments.

[0006] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict example surface cleaning apparatuses that include two reservoirs, according to some embodiments.

[0007] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict example surface cleaning apparatuses that include a single reservoir, according to some embodiments.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a surface cleaning apparatus 400

communicating with a control circuit 402, according to some embodiments.

_ i . [0009] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram including example operations for determining a task to perform based on data from a surface cleaning apparatus, according to some embodiments.

[0010] Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

Detailed Description

[0011] Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful for determining a task to perform based on traffic patterns in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises a surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus includes a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is configured to contain a cleaning solution, a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a quality associated with the cleaning solution, and one of a memory device, wherein the memory device is configured to store data related to the quality of the cleaning solution and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution, wherein the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution can be used to determine a task to perform.

[0012] Guests of a shopping facility deposit dirt and other contaminates throughout the shopping facility while shopping. Much of the dirt and other contaminates are deposited from the guests' shoes onto the floor of the shopping facility. Because the guests track the dirt and other contaminates throughout the shopping facility, the amount of dirt and other contaminates spread throughout different areas of the shopping facility is proportional to the frequency with which the areas of the shopping facility are visited. Embodiments include a surface cleaning apparatus that can determine the amount of dirt and other contaminates throughout the shopping facility. Additionally, some embodiments determine a task to perform based on this information. For example, if the amount of dirt and other contaminates in an area of the shopping facility, such as a particular aisle, is high, employees can be dispatched to the area to ensure that the product display units in the area are properly stocked.

[0013] FIG. 1 depicts a surface cleaning apparatus 100 including a memory device 102 and a transmitter 104, according to some embodiments. Although the surface cleaning apparatus 100 can be any suitable type of surface cleaning apparatus, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 1 is a floor scrubber 100. The floor scrubber 100 can be manually operated and/or have automated functionality. The floor scrubber 100 traverses the shopping facility and cleans dirt and other contaminates from the floor. The floor scrubber 100 includes a scrubbing assembly 106 {e.g., including brushes, mops, pads, etc.) The floor scrubber 100 discharges cleaning solution and the scrubbing assembly 106 cleans the floor with the cleaning solution. The floor scrubber 100 also includes a squeegee assembly 108. The squeegee assembly 108 clears the cleaning solution from the floor and, in some embodiments, returns the cleaning solution to a reservoir in the floor scrubber 100.

[0014] Unlike a traditional surface cleaning apparatus, the floor scrubber 100 includes one or more sensors (see FIGS. 2A - 2B and 3 A - 3B). The one or more sensors determine a quality associated with the cleaning solution. The quality associated with the cleaning solution indicates the amount of dirt and other contaminates in the cleaning solution. For example, the quality associated with the cleaning solution can be an index of refraction of the cleaning solution, a turbidity of the cleaning solution, an electrical impedance of the cleaning solution, or any other suitable quality. Additionally, unlike a traditional surface cleaning apparatus, the floor scrubber 100 also includes a memory device 102 and a transmitter 104. Although the floor scrubber 100 is depicted as having both a memory device 102 and a transmitter 104, in some embodiments the floor scrubber 100 may only include a memory device 102 or a transmitter 104.

[0015] The memory device 102 functions to store data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution. The transmitter 104 functions to transmit the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution. The transmitter 104 can be a wireless transmitter or wired transmitter (e.g., a bus). In the case of a wired transmitter, the memory device 102 stores the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution while the floor scrubber 100 is cleaning the floor. The floor scrubber 100 can then be connected to a control circuit via the transmitter 104. The transmitter 104 transmits the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution to the control circuit. In the case of a wireless transmitter, the transmitter 104 can transmit the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution in real time (or near real time) to the control circuit. Alternatively, the memory device 102 can store the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution and the transmitter 104 can later wirelesslv transmit the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution to the control circuit. Regardless of the transmission type, the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution can be used to determine a task to perform. For example, if the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution indicate that a particular product display is visited by many customers, but point of sale (POS) data indicate that a product presented on the product display is not often purchased, it might be prudent to undertake an investigatory action to determine why sales of the product are low (e.g., the cost of the product is too high, the product is placed in an area of the shopping facility that does not include similar products, etc.).

[0016] While FIG. 1 provides a general overview of a surface cleaning apparatus according to some embodiments, FIGS. 2A and 2B provide greater detail about an embodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus that includes two reservoirs.

[0017] FIG. 2A depicts a surface cleaning apparatus in which a first reservoir 204 includes a first sensor 206 and a second reservoir 210 includes a second sensor 208. The first reservoir 204 contains new cleaning solution and the second reservoir 210 includes used cleaning solution. The first reservoir 204 supplies the new cleaning solution to the scrubbing assembly. The scrubbing assembly uses the new cleaning solution to clean the floor. A squeegee assembly clears and collects the used cleaning solution from the floor and deposits the used cleaning solution into the second reservoir 210.

[0018] The sensors measure a quality associated with the cleaning solution. For example, the first sensor 206 measures a quality associated with the new cleaning solution and the second sensor 208 measures a quality associated with the used cleaning solution. The first sensor 206 and the second sensor 208 can be any suitable type of sensor. For example, the first sensor 206 and the second sensor 208 can be refractometers, turbidity sensors, impedance sensors, or any other suitable type of sensors.

[0019] The quality associated with the new cleaning solution can be compared to the quality associated with the used cleaning solution to determine the amount of dirt and other contaminates contained in the used cleaning solution. The amount of dirt and other contaminates contained in the used cleaning solution compared to the new cleaning solution is indicative of the amount of traffic throughout the shopping facility. Because the second sensor 208 is located in the second reservoir 210, the measurement of the quality associated with the used cleaning solution measured by the second sensor 208 determines the total amount of dirt and other contaminates cleaned from the floor during the total cleaning period. For example, if the cleaning period begins with the second reservoir 210 containing no used cleaning solution {i.e., the second reservoir 210 is empty), halfway through the cleaning period the amount of dirt and other contaminates in the used cleaning solution will be an accumulated total of all of the dirt and other contaminates collected during the first half of the cleaning period. The accumulated total of all of the dirt and other contaminates collected during the cleaning period is useful in determining total traffic in the shopping facility.

[0020] The accumulated total of all the dirt and other contaminates collected during the cleaning period may not provide specific enough information as to the traffic in the shopping facility by section or area. That is, the accumulated total of all of the dirt and other contaminates collected during the cleaning period does not provide detail as to how much of the dirt and other contaminates were collected in a specific aisle of the shopping facility. The amount of dirt and other contaminates collected in specific areas of the shopping facility can be calculated based on known or determined locations of the floor scrubber 200 during the cleaning period {i.e., the quality associated with the cleaning solution can be correlated with a location). For example, in one embodiment, the floor scrubber 200 records values indicative of the amount of dirt and other contaminates in the used cleaning solution while the floor scrubber 200 cleans throughout the shopping facility. The floor scrubber 200 can record the values indicative of the dirt and other contaminates in the used cleaning solution at predetermined intervals, at specific times (e.g., based on a known cleaning route), or on command.

[0021] In addition to the values indicative of the dirt and other contaminates in the used cleaning solution, the floor scrubber 200 can record timestamps or location indicators (e.g., a geotags). In the case of timestamps, the timestamps can be used to determine a location for the values recorded by the floor scrubber based on a known cleaning route. In the case of location indictors, the locations for the values recorded by the floor scrubber 200 may be explicitly stated in the data, or determined from the data (e.g., based on relative location indications on, for example, a coordinate system). Regardless of the method by which locations are determined for the values indicative of the dirt and other contaminates in the used cleaning solution, the amount of dirt and other contaminates collected by the floor scrubber 200 can be determined for specific areas of the shopping facility. For example, if a level of "X" dirt and contaminates are in the used cleaning solution at Locatiom and a level of "Y" dirt and contaminates are in the used cleaning solution at Location?., then "Y" minus "X" dirt and contaminates were collected in an area of the shopping facility between Location) and Location?..

[0022] Like FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B depicts a floor scrubber 220 including two reservoirs, a first reservoir 224 and a second reservoir 230. The first reservoir 224 and the second reservoir 230 can be any suitable type of container. Unlike FIG. 2A in which each reservoir includes a sensor, the floor scrubber 220 depicted in FIG. 2B includes a first sensor 226 located in the first reservoir 224 and a second sensor 228 located in an intake line 232 at, or connected to, the squeegee assembly. The first sensor 226 measures a quality associated with the new cleaning solution and the second sensor 228 measures a quality associated with the used cleaning solution. In some embodiments, the transmitter 222 can transmit data related to the quality associated with the used and/or new cleaning solutions in real time (or near real time) to a control circuit. The transmission can also include information from which a location of the floor scrubber 220 at the time the measurement was taken can be determined. For example, the data related to the quality associated with the used and/or new cleaning solutions can include timestamps or locations indicators. In alternative embodiments, the floor scrubber 220 can store the data related to the quality associated with the used cleaning solution in a memory device. After the floor scrubber 220 is done cleaning (or at periodic intervals during cleaning), the transmitter can transmit the data related to the quality associated with the used and/or new cleaning solutions to the control circuit. Because the intake sensor measures the quality associated with the used cleaning solution at the intake (as opposed to from the second reservoir 210), the measured quality associated with the used cleaning solution is not a cumulative measurement. Rather, the measured quality associated with the used cleaning solution is a measurement of the dirt and other contaminates present at the floor scrubber's 220 current location.

[0023] While FIGS. 2A and 2B depict example surface cleaning apparatuses including two reservoirs, FIGS 3A and 3B depict example surface cleaning apparatuses having only one reservoir.

[0024] FIG. 3 A depicts an example floor scrubber 300 including a single reservoir 304 and a sensor 310 in an intake line 308. The sensor 310 measures a quality associated with the used cleaning solution as it is collected by the squeegee assembly and deposited in the reservoir 304 via the intake line 308. In some embodiments, the transmitter 302 can transmit data related to the quality associated with the used cleaning solution in real time (or near real time) to a control circuit. The transmission can also include information from which a location of the floor scrubber 300 at the time the measurement was taken can be determined. For example, the data related to the quality associated with the used cleaning solution can include timestamps or locations indicators, in alternative embodiments, the floor scrubber 300 can store the data related to the quality associated with the used cleaning solution in a memory device. After the floor scrubber 300 is done cleaning (or at periodic intervals during cleaning), the transmitter can transmit the data related to the quality associated with the used cleaning solution to the control circuit. Because the floor scrubber 300 recirculates the cleaning solution, the measurement taken by the sensor 310 at the intake line 308 is a cumulative measurement of all dirt and other contaminates collected by the cleaning process thus far. Accordingly, measurements taken at different times can be used to determine an amount of dirt and other contaminates on the floor in a specific area of the shopping facility. For example, if a level of "X" dirt and contaminates are in the used cleaning solution at Locationi and a level of "Y" dirt and contaminates are in the used cleaning solution at Locationi, then "Y" minus "X" dirt and contaminates were collected in an area of the shopping facility between Locationi and Locationi. [0025] Although not shown, the floor scrubber 300 can include a sensor at an output line

312 (i.e., to the floor) or in the reservoir 304, in addition to the sensor 310 in the intake line 308. In such embodiments, the quality associated with the cleaning solution can be measured at the output line 312 or the reservoir 304 and compared to the quality associated with the cleaning solution at the sensor 310 m the intake line 308.

[0026] Like FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B depicts a floor scrubber 320 which includes only one reservoir 324. Unlike FIG. 3 A, the floor scrubber 320 of FIG. 3B includes a sensor 326 in the reservoir 324. The floor scrubber 322 recirculates cleaning solution. The sensor 326 measures a quality associated with the cleaning solution contained in the reservoir 324. Because the floor scrubber 300 recirculates the cleaning solution, the measurement taken by the sensor 326 in the reservoir 324 is a cumulative measurement of all dirt and other contaminates collected by the cleaning process thus far. Accordingly, measurements taken at different times can be used to determine an amount of dirt and other contaminates on the floor in a specific area of the shopping facility. The floor scrubber 322 can transmit data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution in real time (or near real time) to a control circuit, or can store the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution in a memory device for transmission after the cleaning process is complete (or at predetermined intervals during the cleaning process).

[0027] Unlike embodiments in which a floor scrubber includes two reservoirs (i.e., a reservoir containing new cleaning solution and a reservoir containing used cleaning solution), the floor scrubbers depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B do not have a reservoir dedicated to containing new cleaning solution. Consequently, a quality associated with new cleaning solution cannot be obtained onboard the floor scrubber while the floor scrubber is cleaning. Rather, the quality associated with the cleaning solution that is measured by the onboard sensor is compared to a known value for new (i.e., unused) cleaning solution.

[0028] While FIGS. 2A - 2B and 3 A - 3B depict example surface cleaning apparatuses,

FIG. 4 depicts a system including a surface cleaning apparatus and a control circuit.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a surface cleaning apparatus 400

communicating with a control circuit 402, according to some embodiments. The surface cleaning apparatus 400 (depicted as a floor scrubber 400) includes sensors that determine a quality associated with cleaning solution used by the floor scrubber 400 to clean a floor of a shopping facility. The floor scrubber 400 transmits data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution to the control circuit 402. For example, the floor scrubber 400 can include a transmitter 410 that transmits the data related to a quality associated with the cleaning solution to the control circuit 402. The transmitter 410 can be a wireless or wired transmitter and can either transmit the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution in real time (or near real time) while the floor scrubber is cleaning 400 or after the floor scrubber 400 has finished cleaning.

[0030] The control circuit 402 includes a receiver 404, a traffic determination unit 406, and a task determination unit 408. The receiver 404 receives the data related to a quality associated with the cleaning solution from the transmitter 410. The receiver 404 can receive the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution via a wired connection or wirelessly. The traffic determination unit 406 determines traffic values based on the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution. The traffic values can be specific to locations in the shopping facility. For example, the traffic determination unit 406 can determine a number of guests (or a proportion of total guests) that visited particular areas within the shopping facility. The task determination unit 408 determines a task to perform based on the traffic value. For example, if the traffic value indicates high traffic in a particular aisle, the task determination unit 408 can determine that a zoning or restocking task should be performed in that aisle. In some embodiments, the task determination unit 408 can determine a task to perform based on information in addition to the traffic value. For example, the task

determination unit 408 can determine a task to perform based on the traffic value and POS data.

[0031] The control circuit 402 can be local to the shopping facility. For example, the control circuit can be located in a back office or stock room. Alternatively, the control circuit 402 can be remote from the shopping facility. For example, the control circuit 402 can be located at a corporate office. Whether local to or remote from the shopping facility, the control circuit 402 can receive data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution from a single shopping facility (i.e., the shopping facility) or multiple shopping facilities (e.g., all shopping facilities in a region). [0032] While FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a surface cleaning apparatus and a control circuit, FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting example operations that can be performed by a surface cleaning apparatus and a control circuit to determine tasks to perform.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram including example operations for determining a task to perform based on data from a surface cleaning apparatus, according to some embodiments. The flow begins at block 502.

[0034] At block 502, a quality associated with a cleaning solution is determined. For example, a sensor of a surface cleaning apparatus can determine a quality associated with a cleaning solution. The quality associated with the cleaning solution can be any quality that is indicative of traffic in a shopping facility. For example, the quality associated with the cleaning solution can be a turbidity of the cleaning solution, an index of refraction of the cleaning solution, an electrical impedance of the cleaning solution, etc. Accordingly, the sensor can be any type of sensor suitable for determining a quality that is indicative of traffic in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus can determine qualities associated with multiple samples of cleaning solution. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus can determine a quality associated with new cleaning solution in a first reservoir and a quality associated with used cleaning solution in a second reservoir. Additionally, in some

embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus can determine multiple qualities associated with one or more samples of cleaning solution. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus can determine an index of refraction of used cleaning solution and a turbidity of the used cleaning solution. The flow continues at block 506.

[0035] At block 506, data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution is transmitted. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus transmits the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution. In some embodiments, the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution includes information in addition to an indication of the quality related to the cleaning solution. For example, the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution can include time and/or date information, location information (e.g., based on triangulation or trilateration), and any other information related to the surface cleaning apparatus, the shopping facility, or the cleaning activity. The surface cleaning apparatus can transmit the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution by wired or wireless means. In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus transmits the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution in real time (or near real time). In other embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus performs an intermediate step between determining the quality associated with the cleaning solution and transmitting data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution. This optional intermediate step is depicted at block 504. At block 504, the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution is stored. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus can store the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution. The surface cleaning apparatus can store the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution in a memory device. In embodiments including the operations performed at block 504, the flow proceeds from block 502 to block 504, before proceeding to block 506, as indicated by the dashed arrows in FIG. 5. After the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution is transmitted, the flow continues at block 508.

[0036] At block 508, the data, related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution is received. For example, a control circuit can receive the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution. In some embodiments, the control circuit can receive information in addition to the data, related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution. For example, the control circuit can receive an indication of a baseline value for a quality associated with a cleaning solution, POS data, traffic values associated with other shopping facilities, etc. The flow continues at block 510.

[0037] At block 510, traffic values are determined. For example, the control circuit can determine the traffic values. The traffic values can be an absolute number of guests (e.g., a number of guests that visited the shopping facility or a section of the shopping facility) or be a relative value (e.g., twice as many guests visited a first location within the shopping facility as a second location with the shopping facility, fewer guests visited a grocery section of the shopping facility than the sporting goods section, etc.). The traffic values are based on the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution. In some embodiments, the control circuit determines the traffic value based on experimentally or historically determined values. For example, a baseline value for new cleaning solution and one or more values for used cleaning solution (e.g., at differing concentrations of dirt and other contaminates) can be used to estimate the traffic values (e.g., using curve fitting). The flow continues at block 512. [0038] At block 512, a task to perform is determined. For example, the control circuit determines a task to perform. The task to perform can be a general task management task (e.g., zoning), a modular task (detailed work on a small section of the shopping facility), a product management task, a facilities management task, a merchandising task, or any other task in the shopping facility. The control circuit can determine a task to perform based on the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution alone or in combination with other information (e.g., POS data, sales data, date or time information, data from other shopping facilities, etc.). In some embodiments, it is determined whether the task was actually needed. For example, if the task to perform was a restocking task and an employee assigned to restock an item determined that the item did not need to be restocked, it could indicate that the system needs to be adjusted. On the other hand, if the task did indeed need to be performed, it could indicate that the system is working properly.

[0039] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of other modifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept. For example, in some embodiments, a control circuit may be included on the surface cleaning apparatus.

[0040] While the examples depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B include floor scrubbers with a sensor in the reservoir containing new cleaning solution (i.e., the "first sensor" in FIGS. 2A and 2B), embodiments are not so limited. One purpose of this sensor is to provide a measurement with which to compare the quality associated with the used cleaning solution. A floor scrubbing including two reservoirs need not include a sensor in the reservoir containing new cleaning solution. Rather, the floor scrubber may only include one sensor, for example at the reservoir containing the used cleaning solution or in the intake line (i.e., the "second sensor" in FIGS. 2A and 2B). In such embodiments, instead of comparing the quality associated with the used cleaning solution to a measured quality associated with the new cleaning solution, the quality associated with the used cleaning solution is compared to a known (e.g., baseline) value for the quality associated with the new cleaning solution.

[0041] In some embodiments, a system comprises a surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus includes a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is configured to contain a cleaning solution, a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a quality associated with the cleaning solution, and one of a memory device, wherein the memory device is configured to store data related to the quality of the cleaning solution and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution, wherein the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution can be used to determine a task to perform.

[0042] In some embodiments, a method comprises determining, via a sensor of a surface cleaning apparatus, a quality associated with a cleaning solution, and at least one of storing, via a memory device of the surface cleaning apparatus, data, related to the quality of the cleaning solution and transmitting, via transmitter of the surface cleaning apparatus, the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution, wherein the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution can be used to determine a task to perform.

[0043] In some embodiments, a system comprises a surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus includes a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is configured to contain a cleaning solution, a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a quality associated with the cleaning solution, and at least one of a memory device, wherein the memory device is configured to store data related to the quality of the cleaning solution, and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution, and a control circuit configured to receive the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution, determine based, at least in part, on the data related to the quality of the cleaning solution, a traffic value, and determine based, at least in part, on the traffic value, a task to perform.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:

a surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus includes:

a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is configured to contain a cleaning solution; a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a quality associated with the cleaning solution; and

at least one of;

a memory device, wherein the memory device is configured to store data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution; and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution;

wherein the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution can he used to determine a task to perform.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution include a refractometer and a refractive index, a turbidity sensor and a turbidity, and an impedance sensor and an electrical impedance.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit configured to:

receive the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution;

determine, based at least in part on the data, a traffic value; and

determine, based at least in part on the traffic value, the task to perform.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

correlate a location with the traffic value.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a wireless receiver configured to receive the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution in substantially real time, and wherein the control circuit is configured to correlate the location with the traffic value based at least in part on a known location of the surface cleaning apparatus at a time when the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution was transmitted.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution over a period of time, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus followed a predetermined route during cleaning, and wherein the correlation of the location with the traffic value is based, at least in part, on the predetermined route and a time value for the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution includes a time value.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the traffic value is a number of people that passed through a location over a period of time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein reservoir includes a first container and a second container, and wherein the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution is a comparison of cleaning solution in the first container to cleaning solution in the second container.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution is one or more of a comparison of cleaning solution in the reservoir and intake cleaning solution, a known cleaning solution value and the cleaning solution in the reservoir, and the known cleaning solution value and the intake cleaning solution.

11. A method comprising:

determining, via a sensor of a surface cleaning apparatus, a quality associated with a cleaning solution; and

at least one of: storing, via a memory device of the surface cleaning apparatus, data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution; and

transmitting, via a transmitter of the surface cleaning apparatus, the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution;

wherein the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution can be used to determine a task to perform,

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor and the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution include a refractometer and a refractive index, a turbidity sensor and a turbidity, and an impedance sensor and an electrical impedance.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, via a control circuit, the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution from the transmitter;

determining, based, at least in part, on the data, related associated with the quality of the cleaning solution, a traffic value; and

determining, based, at least in part, on the traffic value, the task to perform.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

correlating a location with the traffic value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein control circuit includes a wireless receiver, wherein the receiving the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution occurs in substantially real time, the method further comprising:

determining a known location of the surface cleaning apparatus at a time when the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution was transmitted, wherein the correlating the location with the traffic value is based, at least in part, on the known location of the surface cleaning apparatus at the time when the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution was transmitted.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution occurs over a period of time, the method further comprising:

determining a predetermined route traveled by the surface cleaning apparatus during cleaning, and wherein the correlating the location with the traffic value is based, at least in part, on the predetermined route and a time value for the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the data, related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution includes a time value.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the traffic value is a number of people that passed through a location over a period of time.

19. The method of claim 1 1 , wherein the surface cleaning apparatus includes a first container and a second container, and wherein the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution is a comparison of cleaning solution in the first container and cleaning solution in the second container.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the surface cleaning apparatus includes a reservoir, and wherein the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution is one or more of a comparison of cleaning solution in the reservoir and intake cleaning solution, a known cleaning solution value and the cleaning solution in the reservoir, and the known cleaning solution value and the intake cleaning solution.

21. A system comprising:

a surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus includes:

at least one of; a memory device, wherein the memory device is configured to store data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution; and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution; and a control circuit configured to;

receive the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution; determine, based, at least in part, on the data related to the quality associated with the cleaning solution, a traffic value; and

determine, based, at least in part, on the traffic value, a task to perform.