Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed regarding an e-commerce system that clusters customers based on demographic data and purchase history data for the customers. In some embodiments, the e-commerce system solves an Integer Program that accounts for the demographic data and purchase history data in order to identify a hyperplane that splits a selected cluster of customers.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for migrating data between systems without downtime. User requests may be handled adaptively during migration of data records from a first record system to a second record system, to maintain access to the data during the migration. The handling may include receiving a user request; determining at least one data record associated with the received user request; determining if a copy of the data record in the first record system is still active; and if the copy of the data record in the first record system is still active, forwarding the user request to the first record system. The user request may be forwarded to the second record system if the copy of the data record in the first record system is not active, and a retry mechanism may be used if the user request is not handled by the second record system.

Abstract: A social gift registry provides tools to aid those planning for major milestones in life to engage a network of friends, family, and others in communicating information about the life event, helping to identify and track gifts for the celebrants, and enabling the management of the activities involved in the celebration.

Abstract: Systems and methods that support the creation and timely electronic scheduling and delivery of course materials for training of individuals in an organization, in which course recommendations, scheduling, and rollout are based upon a number of factors including, for example, specific individual and/or business day-to-day operational performance measures, sales performance, and seasonal weather conditions by geographical region.

Abstract: Batteries having different form factors and power tools that are capable of using such batteries are described. In some embodiments, a power tool may use batteries having a post form factor as well as batteries having a slide form factor.

Abstract: Example computer executable instructions for determining a consumer's offer eligibility using a predicate logic tree against sets of input data are provided. In particular, the disclosed examples recite a rewards engine capable of determining a consumer's offer eligibility using a predicate logic tree against sets of input data. The rewards engine applies rules that are relevant to a particular deal offered by a retail establishment to the consumer's records to determine the consumer's offer eligibility. In some examples, the rewards engine sorts or partially sorts some or all of the consumer's records to determine the consumer's offer eligibility.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed that provide a merchandise return and/or exchange process for items purchased from brick-and-mortar and/or e-commerce stores. In some embodiments, a mobile computing device of a customer may determine whether the mobile computing device and therefore the customer are in a defined zone for a store. In response to determining that the mobile computing device is in the defined zone, the mobile computing device may notify the customer and request whether the customer wishes to initiate a return and/or exchange of purchased items to the store. The mobile computing device may notify a merchandise pickup system of the customer's desire to return the purchased items.

Abstract: Ergonomic gripping mechanisms of handheld air movement apparatuses are provided. A handheld air movement apparatus may include a handle portion and a tool portion. The handle portion may include a grip, a trigger, and a handle pivot. The grip may have first and second ends. The trigger may be positioned toward the first end of the grip and the handle pivot may be positioned toward the second end of the grip. The tool portion may include a housing, a nozzle coupled to the housing, and a handle connection base. The tool portion may provide air movement into and/or out of the nozzle in response to a signal received from the trigger of the handle portion. The handle connection base of the tool portion may be pivotally coupled to the handle portion at the handle pivot to provide directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a personal heater are disclosed. In some embodiments, the personal heater comprises a housing, a heating element, and a controller. The housing is configured with an opening for receiving one or more feet. The controller is configured to cause the heating element to heat one or both of an interior and an exterior of the housing based on whether the one or more feet are inside the housing.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and system that enable consumers to have deliveries made and services performed safely and securely when they are not at the location at which the delivery is made or service is performed.

Abstract: Techniques for providing status information of a defined location are described. Data indicative of signal strength associated with radio frequency (RF) signals received by one or more devices communicating via a wireless communications protocol is accessed. A baseline signal strength profile based on the data is determined. The data indicative of signal strength associated with RF signals received by the one or more devices is monitored. Based on a comparison of the monitored data to the baseline signal strength profile, a presence of at least one person in a vicinity of the one or more devices is determined. At least one action based on the determined presence is initiated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing fraud are disclosed. The system includes, for example, a front end device that is operatively coupled to a back end device. The front end device is configured to generate a first dynamic device identification based on dynamic device characteristics of the front end device. The back end device is configured to generate a second dynamic device identification based on the dynamic device characteristics of the front end device to authenticate the front end device. The front end device can also authenticate itself through an Internet of Things (IoT) device that has a trusted connection to the back end device.

Abstract: Object driven newsfeeds supporting interest-based social networks aid in the formation of relationships based on similar domains of user interest. A space efficient graphical user interface (GUI) enables access to an object driven newsfeed of contextual and relevant information to aid a consumer/user in making buying decisions in an e-commerce environment.

Abstract: The present application relates to the handling of what are generally referred to as denial of service (DoS) attacks. More specifically, the present application relates to a method and system for protecting one or more on-line Web service application servers from DoS and/or distributed DoS (DDoS) attacks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for radiative heat transfer are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an infrared heater comprises infrared heating elements and a controller. The infrared heating elements correspond to respective heating zones. The controller causes the infrared heating elements to turn on at different time in succession such that respective heating zones are radiatively heated at different times. In some instances, the respective heating zones correspond to different heating zones of a user, and the user feels a heating wave effect as the infrared heating elements are turned on and off at different times.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a two-in-one vacuum cleaner are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a nozzle that is detachable from a rest of a vacuum cleaner. The nozzle is configured to perform as a vacuum nozzle of the vacuum cleaner when attached to the vacuum cleaner. The nozzle is also configured to perform as a robotic vacuum cleaner when detached from the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed regarding an e-commerce system that maintains references between products and relevant content. In some embodiments, methods and/or apparatus obtain content from one or more content providers via a computer network, identify a product from a product catalog of an electronic database that is related to the obtained content; and update references to relevant content maintained in an electronic database for the product to include a reference to the obtained content.

Abstract: A system and method that triggers actions or sets of actions within a software application executed on a mobile device based at least in part on location identifiers.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically associating an Internet addressable endpoint device of an end-user with an account of the end-user at a remote system supporting a plurality of Internet addressable endpoint devices each associated with a respective end-user.

Abstract: Various battery packs are presented for use with twenty volt (20 V) power tools. In some embodiments, one or more lithium-ion battery cells of the battery packs are received by a handle of the power tool.