Abstract: A virtualized transaction terminal platform is provided. A transaction terminal is configured as a thin-client terminal. A virtualized transaction terminal (Virtual Machine (VM)) is instantiated remotely on a cloud or a server over a network connection. Peripherals connected to the thin-client terminal are mapped to virtual peripheral device drivers on the cloud or the server. Physical peripherals connected to the thin-client terminal are mapped inside the VM to the corresponding virtual peripheral device drivers. As transactions are initiated and physical peripherals are operated at the thin-client terminal, the transactions are processed by the VM and inputs/outputs from the physical peripherals are forwarded for processing by the corresponding virtual peripheral device drivers. A remote desktop (RD) agent on the thin-client terminal keeps states of the VM and virtual peripheral device drivers in synchronization with a peripheral display of the thin-client terminal.

Abstract: Item vectors representing transaction contexts for items are mapped to multidimensional space. A request is received for an alternative to a given item from a resource. The multidimensional space is evaluated to identify closest candidate items to the given item based on the corresponding item vectors. An optimal candidate item is selected from the candidate items based on the request. The association between the given item and the optimal candidate item is injected within a process workflow associated with the resource.

Abstract: A presence of a consumer transacting at a transaction terminal is detected. Content for the transaction terminal is played as media on the transaction terminal. When an identity of the consumer is resolved, the content is switched to new content that is targeted/customized to the consumer and is played as new media on the transaction terminal. When a transaction concludes, the media play is stopped. Statistics for the transaction and media play are retained for tracking and reporting.

Abstract: An interface is rendered on a user-operated device. Selections are made with respect to a first set of options by the user operating the interface. A list of potential food dishes for further selection by the user is presented within the interface based on the selections. A food dish selection is received from the user through the interface. A recipe for the selected food dish is generated and presented within the interface based on the food dish selection and a list of ingredients needed for the recipe are generated as a shopping list for the user to obtain at a store. In an embodiment, a navigation route to obtain the ingredients within the store is provided to the user when the user is at the store, allowing the user to traverse the route within the store and obtain each of the ingredients.

Abstract: Item codes are mapped to multidimensional space as item vectors based on each item codes context relevant to other item codes in a product catalogue. A transaction history for a given customer is obtained and each item vector associated with a corresponding item purchase made by that customer is obtained. All item vectors per customer are summed to create an aggregated and single vector representing the purchase history of each customer. The aggregated customer-item vectors for the customers are plotted in the multidimensional space. The plotted customer-item vectors are then clustered into groupings based on their distances from one another in the multidimensional space; the groupings representing data-driven customer segments. The data-driven customer segments along with customer identifiers for the customers comprising each segment are provided as input to promotional engines and/or loyalty systems.

Abstract: An item price that is noted in a transaction for an item is identified. Any discount or item price override is identified for the transaction. A catalogue price for the item is obtained. Similar items associated with the item are determined based on mapped transaction contexts for the item and the similar items within a multidimensional space. Similar item prices are obtained and a median price for the item and similar items is calculated. A real-time price alert is sent to a resource that is associated with processing or handling the transaction when the item price, adjusted for any discount or item price override, deviates (above or below) from the median price by a threshold amount.

Abstract: A cross-entity and cross-retailer platform is provided that captures transaction data (and/or browser history data associated with online browser-based transactions), indexes, and stores the data in a cloud-accessible data store. A cloud service is provided that custom processes retailer and entity-defined workflows based on purchase transactions using the data store. The service discovers and updates trends and patterns associated with item sales for a given retailer or for a given entity across channels associated with in-store and online item sales. The trends and patterns are dynamically reported to the corresponding entity or the corresponding retailer. The entities may comprise manufacturers of an item, a supplier of the item, a distributor of the item, and a Consumer Packaging Goods (CPG) company of the item.

Abstract: Risky actions versus non-risky actions in a transaction are identified and a fraud score associated with probabilities of the risky actions is updated accordingly for purposes of determining whether the transaction is likely or not likely to be associated with fraud. A machine-learning model is trained to predict the risky actions versus non-risky actions of a transaction based on the transaction features as a whole and compare the predicted action labels of risky and non-risky versus the actual actions taken in the transaction to calculate probabilities of risky actions taken and output a risk or fraud score based thereon. Higher probabilities correlate with lower risk scores and vice versus.

Abstract: A cross-entity and cross-retailer platform is provided that captures transaction data, indexes, and stores the data in a cloud-accessible data store. A service is provided that custom processes retailer and entity-defined workflows based on purchase transactions using the data store. The service also generates and maintains correlations between items, the transactions, geographical locations, retailers, and stores of the retailers. The correlations are provided as timely retail recommendations to the retailers and entities for suggested changes that are likely to optimize purchase transactions. The entities may comprise manufacturers of an item, a supplier of the item, a distributor of the item, and a Consumer Packaging Goods (CPG) company of the item.

Abstract: Users form custom-defined communities for performing a defined activity amongst themselves. An actor defines the activity and restrictions associated with the activity. Members of the community place requests for the actor to perform member-specific actions during the activity on behalf of the members. The actor performs the activity with the member-specific actions and arranges procurement of results associated with each of the members. The actor and the members may also settle up with one another at least upon procurement. The activity is crowd sourced within the custom-defined community, thereby reducing the need for the members to each individually perform the activity.

Abstract: Various embodiments include at least one of devices, systems, methods, and software systems and method enabling communication and signaling devices. One embodiment is in the form of a method that includes receiving, via a network, data from a mobile device of an authenticated customer, including data of items for purchase scanned by the mobile device and storing the data of the scanned items for purchase in a cart data structure associated with an account of the authenticated customer. The method also includes receiving, via the network, data indicating the mobile device is located at a pay station and payment data from the mobile device to pay for items represented in the cart data structure. This method further includes transmitting, via the network and in response to the received payment data, a payment confirmation to the mobile device generated upon successfully processing a payment for items in the cart data structure.

Abstract: A user-operated device is assigned a unique tab number. The unique tab number is associated with an open order of a user. An interface is provided to the user-operated device for the user to control in real time the open order.

Abstract: A network-based work assignment platform is provided. Employers and workers are registered on the platform. A registered employer posts a temporary job on the platform. The platform matches a registered worker to the temporary job. The platform facilitates, coordinates, and monitors performance of the temporary job by the registered worker and processes payment to the registered worker for performance of the temporary job on behalf of the registered employer.

Abstract: Images capture an object that a person in a frictionless store is looking at. A user interface is automatically initiated on a device identified as the object. If the person is holding an item, the user interface is automatically placed in a state that displays the item details and pricing within the user interface and provides a link to all item descriptions in possession of the user within the frictionless store along with a running price total of all the items. If the person is not holding any item, the user interface is automatically placed in a state that displays item details and pricing within the user interface to all item descriptions in possession of the user within the frictionless store along with a running price of all items.