The present invention relates to a wardrobe system and a method for easy identification of a garment. Background of the invention

Wardrobes or cloakrooms in both small and large venues, such as concert venues, museums, restaurants and similar have some sort of system that matches a garment such as coats, bags and similar of a guest (here from referred to as a user) with some sort of a storage device such as a coat hanger, baggage tag, basket, or the like. This allows the user to deposit their garment(s) and then later via the system be identified as the owner of said garment(s). Many of these venues employ cloakroom staff that assists users in storing and finding their belongings again.

In many of these systems the identification of the storage device is done manually by matching markings (such as a number) on a piece of paper that is given to the user with the same marking on a storage device. Often a paper label, with a removable identification part, is attached to the storage device which allows the staff to remove this part of the label and give it to the user. This then serves as an identification unit for the ownership of the garments related to the storage device.

This wardrobe system has several drawbacks. One is that these systems are often highly inefficient and a staff member quickly spends copious amounts of time identifying and locating the correct storage device in a sea of storage devices.

Furthermore, the user must keep the identification unit safe in order to retrieve the garments, as this is the only proof of ownership. If the label is lost another user with bas intentions, could find the label and hand it in to the staff and claim the garment as their own.

The paper labels are also fragile when squeezed in between a large number of garments arranged in a small space. This results in the labels falling of their respective storage devices, thereby making identification of the correct user and storage device troublesome.

One example of a storage device which overcomes the drawbacks of the manual paper based label system is disclosed in DE102013005501. Here the storage device is a hanger which can be manually given a code by using two dials located on the hanger.

In this example of a wardrobe system, the customer must still remember this code which is assigned to the hanger. Thus the disclosed example does not solve the problem of easing the cognitive task of remembering codes for individuals.

Further, the staff must manually dial a combination for each hanger which makes it a tedious task. If the staff and user are two different persons, for example in assisted cloakrooms, then the code entered in the dials must then be delivered to the user. The example does not disclose how this pro- cess works and how to ensure that the code, which is entered in the hanger is the same as the one the user receives. Or the other way around, that a user gives a code, that is not their code, to get access to other people's garments. In the disclosed example when calling a code on the remote control a light device, on hangers that have matching codes, will light up.

The dials also have the limitation of only 100 different combinations, which may be a problem such as with applications in larger wardrobes or cloakrooms, for example a concert venue.

In other well-known wardrobe systems, the process of checking in a garment and payment for the wardrobe service is two different acts. This is very time-consuming and may lead to long lines at big venues with a large number of users wanting to check in their garments.

In the content of this specification the wording "garment" is to be understood as covering all wearables that a person would wear such as; clothing, accessories, bags, footwear etc. Furthermore, "garment" or "gar- ments" is to be understood as to be either a single or a plurality of wearables, for example of one or more of the types listed above.

Summary of the invention

An object of the invention of the present disclosure is to provide a wardrobe system and a method for easy identification of a garment which mitigates at least part of one or more of the above mentioned drawbacks.

The present invention is based on the inventive concept that many individuals carry electronic devices, for example a smartphone, with identification capabilities and pairing these with their garments that are being checked in, provides a more efficient process of both checking the garments in, facilitating payment and later on locating these again during check-out. This is especially advantageous in wardrobe systems.

According to the invention, these and further objects may be met by a wardrobe system for easy identification of a garment, the wardrobe system comprising :

- an object identifier having a wireless communication means and a signalling device potentially configured to emit a signal receivable by a user, and the object identifier optionally being configured to attach to the garment,

- an administration device having a two-way wireless communication means, and

- an identification unit potentially configured to identify a user, wherein the administration device is adapted to wirelessly identify the object identifier and to wirelessly identify the identification unit and based on these identifications match said identification unit and said object identifier, the administration device being adapted to transmit an activation signal to said object identifier, which object identifier is adapted to activate said signalling device upon receipt of said activation signal by said wireless communication means.

Generally, in this disclosure the expression "one-way" in this case in relation to the wireless communication means, is to be understood as wireless communication means adapted for either receiving or transmitting wireless communication, and similarly for the expression "two-way" as wireless communication means adapted for both receiving and transmitting wireless communication.

The object identifier may be defined as a device suitable for the purpose of identifying an object. The object may be a garment. The object identifier may be configured to attach to a garment, and may allow identification thereof. The object identifier may comprise an attachment device, in particu- lar a clip and/or a hanger, configured to attach to a garment.

The identification unit may be defined as a device suitable for the purpose of identifying a user. The identification unit may have a personal identifier configured to identify the user. The identification unit may be part of a suitable device having a personal identifier.

The signalling device may be defined as a device suitable for the purpose of emitting a signal receivable by a user, potentially a visual signal and/or an acoustic signal.

The administration device may comprise wireless communication means in the form of one, two, several, or all the following; a one- dimensional (ID) barcode scanner; a two-dimensional (2D) barcode scanner, such as a QR scanner; a camera; a fingerprint scanner; an eye scanner; a biometric scanner; a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) scanner; a Near Field Communication (NFC) scanner; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; Internet of Things (IoT) network; wireless ultra-high frequency (UHF) communication means; high-frequency (HF) communication means; or any other type of wireless communication means suitable for identifying the identification unit.

The wireless communication means of the administration device may be adapted for communicating with the wireless communication means of the object identifier. Furthermore, the administration device may be adapted to store data for matching object identifiers with identification units.

The administration device may have a first wireless communication means for communicating with the identification unit and/or a second wireless communication means for communicating with object identifier and/or hosting means.

In an embodiment the administration device may have one wireless communication means for communicating with both the identification unit and the object identifier and/or hosting means.

The first and/or second wireless communication means may be adapted for one-way or two-way communication.

In an embodiment the wireless communication means of the object identifier may be adapted for one-way or two-way wireless communication.

In an embodiment the wireless communication means of the object identifier corresponds to at least one of the wireless communication means of the administration device and the object identifier is adapted for actively transmitting a wireless signal to said administration device.

This allows the object identifier to wirelessly transmit a signal to the administration device. This is advantageous in confirming receipt of an earlier signal transmitted from the administration device to said object identifier.

In an embodiment the identification unit is an electronic device or is part of an electronic device such as a mobile phone. Alternatively, the identification unit is an or part of the following types; a credit card; a token; a smart card; a beacon; a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip; a software program; an app; a beacon; a RFID tag; a barcode, in ID, 2D and/or 3D; a piece of paper with markings; or a controller unit with an ID; or biometric identification.

Alternatively or additionally, the identification unit may be a combination of two, three or more of the above types, for example as a NFC chip and an app, or a piece of paper with a 2D barcode.

Furthermore, the wardrobe system may comprise identification units of one, two, several or more of the above types.

Biometric identification could for example be in the form of fingerprint scanning, face recognition, or retina scanning. Furthermore, since the identification unit can be part of a device, which is already possessed by the user, the need for having paper slips with an identification number on is elim- inated. The risk of losing the identification unit is also minimized.

The identification unit may either be a passive or an active type. Generally, in this disclosure the expression "passive" in this case in relation to the identification unit, is to be understood as the identification unit does not comprise an energy storage device, such as a battery. The passive device thus receives energy from the transmitter so that is can respond.

An example of a passive identification unit is a smart card, token, or biometric identification. Similarly, in this disclosure the expression "active" in this case in relation to the identification unit, is to be understood as the identification unit comprises an energy storage device, such as a battery. An ex- ample of an active identification unit is an electronic device running an app or software program.

In an embodiment the wardrobe system comprises a plurality of identification units each for identifying an individual user.

In an embodiment the wardrobe system comprises a plurality of identification units, wherein a first subset of the identification units are passive types and second subset is of active types.

Additionally or alternatively, in an embodiment a wardrobe system comprising a plurality of passive and/or active identification units of one, two, several, or all the above listed types.

In an embodiment the identification unit is a NFC chip. Hereby, the NFC-chip facilitates a wireless identification of said identification unit by the administration device, ensuring minimal effort by the wardrobe staff and the user.

In an embodiment the wireless identification of said identification unit by said administration device is done via electromagnetic waves.

Hereby, a wireless identification of said identification unit by the administration device is achieved, whereby the staff avoids having to manually perform said identification.

Alternatively, the wireless identification is done via one or more of the following; radio waves; high-frequency (HF) radio waves; ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio waves; Bluetooth; Near Field Communication (NFC); Radio frequency identification (RFID); infrared communication; Wi-Fi communication; optic technology; a laser; an Internet-of-Things (IoT) network, such as NB-IoT, LoRa, or SixFox.

Generally, radio-frequency identification technology (known as RFID) allows the administration device to both supply power to and communicate with the otherwise unpowered and passive identification unit or object identifier using radio waves. This allows for identification, authentication, and/or tracking.

In an embodiment the identification unit comprises a wireless communication means for communicating with said administration device.

This allows the user to wirelessly communicate with the administration device and thereby wirelessly establish an identification between the identification unit of the user and an object identifier.

In an embodiment the signalling device may be one or any combination of the following; a lightning device or an acoustic device.

The signalling device may upon activation emit a signal. This allows the staff to easily locate the object identifier and the appertaining garment.

The lightning device may be of one or more of the following types; a light, a display, a touchscreen display, a lamp, a light bulb, a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a plurality of LEDs. Furthermore, the lightning device may upon activation emit a visual signal, such as coloured light.

Alternatively or additionally, the lightning device may be adapted to show one, two, several or many colours.

The acoustic device may be of one or any combination of the follow- ing types; a speaker, a tweeter, a vibration device.

The acoustic device may upon activation emit an acoustic signal, such as a sound, and/or it may vibrate.

Often wardrobes are crowded with garments and have poor lightning. With the visual and/or acoustic signal the staff can locate the garment instantly, thereby avoiding the time consuming process of looking through many hangers or signs to identify the correct garment.

In an embodiment the administration device comprises a signalling device. The signalling device may be of one or more of the above listed types for the signalling device of the object identifier.

The signalling device of the administration device may be adapted to emit the same signal as the signalling device of the object identifier. For example, the signalling device of the administration device may be a display. The display may be a touchscreen display and may be adapted for showing a plurality of colours. The display may be adapted to display the same one or more colours as the lightning device of the object identifier.

In an embodiment the wardrobe system further comprises a hosting means, wherein the administration device and/or the object identifier and/or the identification unit are adapted to wirelessly communicate with the hosting means. The communication from the hosting means to the client(s) may be in the form of a network or a mesh-network.

In an embodiment the invention may comprise a plurality of administration devices, object identifiers and identification units. The identification unit may be adapted to wirelessly one-way or two-way communicate with the hosting means.

The hosting means may be a one or a combination of the following; traditional network server; a cloud based server. The hosting means may allow the wardrobe system to store data, such as the match of an identification unit and an object identifier.

This allows the hosting means to perform and/or manage the matches. The hosting means may track said matches. This allows storage of data and/or processing of data, which enables the wardrobe system to provide the staffs with statistics such as customer patterns and customer retention.

When the identification unit is part of an electronic device, this allows the hosting means to transmit signals to the identification unit, whereby the hosting means can interact with other parts of the electronic device, such as programs and/or apps. This allows the hosting means to send the user one or more offers for different services, discount coupons and the like, which may be done both before and/or after a garment has been checked in/out.

When the identification unit is an app or a software program, or the identification unit is connected to an electronic means, the user is able to create a user profile, which allows the user to log-in to a software program. Here the user profile may comprise personal details such as number, name, address, password, and the like. The software program may allow the user to check-in, check-out, choose which garments to retrieve, and/or provide payment. The user profile may be stored in the administration device and/or in the hosting means. The user profile may allow the user to choose from a different variety of identification units to be used.

An identification unit may be matched with a plurality of object iden- tifiers. This allows a user to check-in and/or check-out a plurality of garments.

In an embodiment the object identifier may be adapted to match one identification unit with a plurality of object identifiers. This allows a user to check-in and/or check-out a plurality of garments.

In the opposite way one object identifier may match one, two or several identification units to allow multiple users to retrieve the same item or garment.

In an embodiment the object identifier may be one or more of the following; a coat hanger for garments; an attachment device for attaching to a garment for example a clip; a storage container adapted to store a bag, purse, jewellery, and/or an electronical device; a hook for hanging garments; a box for storing garments.

In another aspect the present invention relates to a method for easy identification of a garment in a wardrobe system, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing an identification unit,

- providing an object identifier having a wireless communication means and a signalling device,

- providing an administration device having a two-way wireless communication means, wherein

- the administration device wirelessly establishes an identification match between said identification unit and said object identifier,

- the administration device transmits an activation signal to said ob- ject identifier, and

- the object identifier activates said signalling device upon receipt of said activation signal by said wireless communication means.

In another aspect the present invention relates to a use of the wardrobe system according to an embodiment of the invention for checking gar- ments in and/or out.

In yet another aspect the present invention relates to a use of the wardrobe system according to an embodiment of the invention in a method according to an embodiment of the invention for checking garments in and/or out.

When a user arrives at the wardrobe system according to the invention and desires to check-in a garment, the identification unit may wirelessly transmit a signal to the administration device or the administration device wirelessly identifies the identification unit. This allows the administration device to identify the specific identification unit of the user.

The administration device may thereafter wirelessly transmit a signal to an object identifier to identify this. Alternatively, the object identifier is already identified by the administration device.

The administration device then matches said identification unit and said object identifier as a pair. Additionally, a plurality of object identifiers may be matched with an identification unit, and/or a plurality of identification units may be matched with an object identifier.

The staff of the wardrobe system can hereafter place the users garments) in connection with needed number of the object identifiers.

In an embodiment the administration device transmits a request to said identification unit after said match of the identification unit and the object identifier.

This request may be a payment request. Hereby the user can easily pay for the garment check-in via the identification unit.

The administration device may be adapted to communicate with a at least one payment system such as; sms-payment, electronic payment, abon- nement, app-based (Mobile Pay and/or and/or Pay Pal) or others.

In another aspect the invention relates to a method for easy identification of a garment in a wardrobe system, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing an identification unit,

- providing an object identifier having a wireless communication means and a signalling device,

- providing an administration device having a two-way wireless communication means,

- providing a wirelessly established identification match between the identification unit and said object identifier,

wherein

- the administration device wirelessly identifies the identification unit and wirelessly transmits an activation signal to the object identifier, and

- the object identifier activates said signalling device upon receipt of said activation signal by said wireless communication means.

When the user desires to check-out the garment, the identification unit may wirelessly transmit a signal to the administration device or the administration device wirelessly identifies the identification unit. This allows the administration device to identify, that the user desires to check-out the appertaining garment.

The administration device thereafter wirelessly transmits an activation signal to said object identifier. The object identifier then activates its signalling device upon receipt of said activation signal by said wireless commu- nication means.

The activation of said signalling device allows the staff of the wardrobe to quickly and easily locate the object identifier and thus the garment connected thereto.

The garment in then returned to the user and the object identifier can anew be matched with another identification unit.

Each and any one of the above mentioned embodiments of any aspect may be combined with one or more other embodiments of any aspect as desired. Brief description of the drawings

In the enclosed schematic drawings, which show non-binding examples of embodiments of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a wardrobe system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of an object identifier according to an embodiment of the invention

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an object identifier according to an embodiment of the invention.

Description of detailed embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1 is provided as an overview of an embodiment of the invention. What is shown in an illustrative diagram is a wardrobe system 100 for easy identification of a garment, the wardrobe system 100 comprising :

- an object identifier 110 having a wireless communication means

111 and a signalling device 113,

- an administration device 120 having a two-way wireless communication means 121 and

- an identification unit 130,

wherein the administration device 120 is adapted to wirelessly identify the object identifier 110 and to wirelessly identify the identification unit 130 and based on these identifications match said identification unit 130 and said object identifier 110, the administration device 120 being adapted to transmit an activation signal to said object identifier 110, which object identi- fier 110 is adapted to activate said signalling device 113 upon receipt of said activation signal by said wireless communication means 111.

The lines between the different elements of the illustration are non- binding, and are only to visualise which elements are in relation to which elements.

The skilled person will understand that elements may be arranged in other parts of the system, as long as they are still able to perform their intended function.

The wireless communication means 111 is adapted for two-way wireless communications and the signalling device 113 of the object identifier is adapted to emit a visual coloured signal. The identification unit 130 may be part of a suitable device having personal identifier, in this embodiment the identification unit 130 is exemplified as a NFC chip, which may form part of one or more of the following; an electronic device; a mobile phone; a smart phone; a smart card; a credit card.

The administration device 120 may include a signalling device.

In this embodiment the administration device 120 is a computer and comprises a signalling device 123 in the form of a touchscreen display, for displaying information to a staff member and/or a user.

The two-way wireless communication means 121 may take various forms, in this embodiment the administration device 120 has at least a RFID reader for NFC adapted to communicate with the identification unit 130.

As illustrated here the wardrobe system 100 may further comprise a hosting means 140, which may be a computer or controller adapted to wire- lessly communicate with one or more object identifiers 110 and/or one or more administration devices 120.

The hosting means 140 may be connected to a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network, and may be connected to the internet.

In an embodiment the communication of the elements of the inven- tion works as a mesh-net. This provides for communication between all the separate entities across the network.

As an example the hosting means 140 can communicate directly with the signalling device 113 and/or the signalling device 123, and the administration device 120 can communicate directly with the signalling device 123 and/or the signalling device 113.

The touchscreen display of the administration device 120 may be adapted to display the same colour as the lightning device of the object identifier 110.

The identification unit 130 may be previously registered by the hos- ting means 140 or the administration device 120.

In the shown embodiment the identification unit 130 is not and needs to be registered.

If the identification unit 130 is part of a suitable electronic device, for example a smartphone having a mobile phone number, then a software ap- plication or app may be installed to said electronic device which pairs a unique identifier, here a mobile phone number, with a wireless communication means of the identification unit 130, here a NFC chip.

Alternatively, if the identification unit 130 is not NFC compatible, the software application may form the identification unit 130, for example it may generate a one- or two-dimensional barcode which is paired to the mobile number.

If the user does not have a suitable device, then a NFC card may be provided which is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the administration device 120.

If the electronic device having the identification unit 130 can be connected to the internet, then electronic device may communicate directly with the hosting means 140, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In one embodiment, the procedure of checking in garment(s) may be as follows:

A user who wants to deposit a garment uses an identification unit

130, here a NFC chip which is part of a smartphone.

A staff member operates the administration device 120 which is adapted to establish a match between an identification unit 130 and an object identifier 110.

The user presents a garment and the identification unit 130 to the wireless communication means 121 of the administration device 120, here a NFC scanner, which wirelessly identifies the identification unit 130.

The staff member may use the administration device 120 to wirelessly identify an object identifier 110.

The identification unit and the object identifier are then matched and this information is transmitted to the hosting means 140.

The hosting means 140 then sends an activation signal to the object identifier 110 and/or the administration device 120. Upon receiving the activation signal, the signalling device 113 and/or the signalling device 123 may emit a signal, such as a flashing light in the same colour.

This allows the staff member to quickly confirm that a match between the object identifier 110 and the identification unit 130 has been made.

If a match isn't made then the signalling device 113 of the object identifier 110 may emit an error signal, for example by a flashing red light. The staff member can then proceed with attaching the garment to the object identifier 110 and hang it on for example a clothes rack.

If the user wishes to deposit more than one garment, then the staff member may scan an according number of object identifiers 110 to match these to the identification unit 130.

In one embodiment, the procedure of retrieving garment(s) may be as follows:

A user who wants to retrieve a garment presents the identification unit 130 to the administration device 120, here a NFC chip forming part of a smartphone to a NFC scanner.

The administration device 120 identifies the identification unit 130 by scanning the NFC chip.

The administration device 120 then transmits information about the identification unit 130 to the hosting means 140, which identifies the object identifier(s) 110 matched with the identification unit 130.

The hosting means 140 transmits an activation signal to the matched object identifier(s) 110 and the administration device 120.

The signalling device 113, here a LED, and the signalling device 123, here a display, emit a coloured light.

The staff member can now easily identify the object identifier(s) 110 attached to garment(s) belonging to the user.

When the garment(s) are returned, the object identifier(s) 110 may be presented to the administration device 120 which identifies the object identifier(s) 110.

The identification of the object identifier(s) may then be transmitted to the hosting means 140 which clears the match of identification unit 130 and object identifier(s) 110, and the hosting means 140 may send a confirmation to be displayed on the display of the administration device 120.

The software program or app may be adapted as to send a notifica- tion to the user if the user leaves the venue having the wardrobe, when the user still has garment(s) checked in, or if the venue is closing.

Additionally, the software program may enable the user to allow another identification unit 130 to be matched to the object identifier(s) associated with the user's garment(s). Thereby, allowing a user to retrieve gar- ments for another user. Fig. 2 and 3 illustrates two different embodiments of the object identifier 110.

Fig. 2 shows a hanger-type object identifier 110. The hanger-type object identifier 110 comprises; a hanger portion 110a for hanging garments, such as coats; a hook portion 110b for hanging items unsuitable for the hanging on the hanger portion 110a; a hanger hook 110c for hanging the object identifier on a hanging rail; a wireless communication means 111; and a signalling device 113.

The signalling device 113 is adjacent to the hanger hook 110c in a top portion of the hanger-type object identifier 110.

The hanger-type object identifier 110 has a shape similar to well know hangers for garments.

The skilled person will understand, that the object identifier may be shaped in different versions of a hanger without differing from the invention.

Now turning to fig. 3 which illustrates a clip-type object identifier

110.

The clip-type object identifier 110 comprises a first resilient member llOd opposite a second resilient member llOe.

The object identifier 110 further comprises a first manipulation por- tion l lOf connected to the first resilient member llOd and a second manipulation portion llOg being opposite the first manipulation member llOf and being connected to the second resilient member llOe.

The object identifier 110 further comprises a wireless communication means 111, a signalling device 113, and a wireless transmitting device 115 arranged within a semi-spherical compartment. The compartment being attached to the second manipulation portion llOg.

The compartment may in another embodiment be attached to the first manipulation portion llOf.

The resilient members llOd and llOe are arranged such that a spring effect forces an edge of each resilient member towards each other, enabling the clip-type object identifier 110 to be attached to garments, such as bags.

The manipulation portions llOf and llOg are adapted to allow a force on these portions to release the resilient members llOd and llOe.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the hosting means 140 may be included in the admin- istration device 120, or the hosting means 140 may be a cloud-based service. This may be an advantage, especially for smaller venues since the amount of required equipment is lessened while still allowing all features.