Abstract: A retailer system responds to a request to view an electronic product offerings publication by using data indicative of a geographic location to select from a plurality of retailer locations at least one retailer location and by retrieving inventory related information for the selected at least one retailer location. The retrieved inventory related information is then used to select product offerings from a repository of product offerings whereupon an electronic product offerings publication container is populated with the product offerings selected from the repository of product offerings. The populated electronic product offerings publications container is then returned to the requester as the requested product offerings publication.

Abstract: Ergonomic gripping mechanisms of battery-operated electric cutting apparatus are provided. The electric cutting apparatus may include a cantilevered cutting head, an adjustable telescoping shaft, a rear grip portion, a pistol grip, and a forearm shaft. The adjustable telescoping shaft may be pivotally connected to the cantilevered cutting head. The rear grip portion may have a first end connected to the adjustable telescoping shaft. The pistol grip may have a first end extending at a first angle from the second end of the rear grip portion. The forearm shaft may extend from the second end of the pistol grip at a second angle. The forearm shaft may have a top side comprising a forearm pad having an exterior surface configured to receive a forearm of a user. The exterior surface of the forearm pad may be parallel to an axis defined by a longitudinal extension of the adjustable telescoping shaft.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for generating and processing natural language requests. A request processing system processes a received natural language request to identify an intent of the natural language request and a confidence level of the identified intent. In response to the confidence level of the identified intent not satisfying a threshold level, the request processing system sends the natural language request to the fulfillment computing device for further processing by a person associated with the fulfillment computing device. In response to the confidence level satisfying the threshold level, the request processing system proceeds with fulfilling the request per the identified intent.

Abstract: A motion sensor assembly may include a cover plate configured to be mounted to an electrical box. The cover plate may include a front surface configured to face away from the electrical box and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The cover plate may further include an aperture configured to receive a toggle or rocker type switch. A motion sensor may be coupled to the cover plate. A power source and processor may be operably coupled to the motion sensor. Furthermore, the processor may be operably coupled to a communication device.

Abstract: Embodiments of water sensors having multi-value outputs are disclosed. A water sensing circuit measures the impedance between two contacts of a water sensor and compares it with a reference signal. The impedance between two contacts varies depending on the wetness of the contacts, and so the sensing circuit may provide a measured wetness level. The water sensor may transmit measurements or other information wired or wirelessly. The water sensor may display indicia of measurements or other information via a display on a housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide an integrated user interface experience with third party applications selected by a user and accessed as part of a web site such as an e-commerce web site, for example. In some embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed that support access to additional user selected functionality on top of a web site platform. This allows third-party developers, who can be different from the web site operator and/or sponsor, to inject content and capabilities into a web site.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods based thereon are provided for utilizing washing attachments in portable manner. A washing attachment may comprise a movement component and a washing component. The movement component is adapted to connect the washing attachment to a driving device that is operable to provide a driving force to the washing attachment. The washing component is adapted to fit within a space in the container when the washing attachment is applied to the container, and is configured to facilitate laundry washing within the space when the driving force is applied to the washing attachment. The washing component may be an auger component having a helical-shaped structure. The helical-shaped structure may comprise helical extensions (e.g., spiral blades) configured to generate washing movement in the space. When the driving device is a power drill, the helical-shaped structure may be designed such that the spacing between spiral blades of the structure is 0.9 inches.

Abstract: A method and system for determining an optimal combination of value offers from a plurality of value offers available to a consumer having selected a group of products or services for purchase.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing personal preferences and interests of end-users by engaging one or more end-users in a game in which the end-user may be given a chance to win a product item from a collection of product items selected by the end-user.

Abstract: A system and method for directing queries to the most suitable potential responders of an audience selected from a crowd-sourced population from which to request information, based on information such as query content, query context, timing, location, preferred supporting resource(s), and source of the query.

Abstract: Various embodiments of tools with integrated measurement devices are described. An apparatus may include a tool to be applied to a workpiece, an integrated measurement device in a feed path of the tool, and a controller. The integrated measurement device may generate signals indicative of rotation of a roller in a feed path of a workpiece. The controller may generate, based on the signal, a distance measurement of the workpiece. The distance measurement may indicate a distance between an end of the workpiece and a location of the workpiece to which the tool is to be applied.

Abstract: A rechargeable device is disclosed. The rechargeable device may include an enclosure, a rechargeable battery cell, a constellation assembly, and charging circuitry. The enclosure may include a receptacle defining a longitudinal opening into the enclosure. The constellation assembly may include a diaphragm, a puck, and a contact point affixed to the puck and configured to engage an electrode of a charging pad surface. The charging circuitry may be configured to charge the battery cell based on electrical power received from the charging pad surface via the contact point. The receptacle may further permit movement of the puck and the affixed contact point along the longitudinal opening.

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods that provide a socially interactive application for requesting, searching, and sharing visual step-by-step instructions and related information to complete a project.

Abstract: A power tool that includes a brushless DC motor, one or more motor sensors, and a controller, such as, for example, an electronic speed control (ESC) circuit. The controller is adapted to provide instructions to control the operation of one or more parameters of the brushless DC motor. The controller is also adapted to receive feedback from one or more motor sensors that reflect whether the motor is attaining the one or more parameters. The controller may also be adapted to have a learning mode, in which feedback provided during use of the power tool is stored by the controller as a program so that the same operating parameters may be subsequently replicated by using the program to operate the tool. The controller may also use the feedback to adjust the operation of the motor so that the motor maintains one or more selected or programmed operating parameters.

Abstract: A retailer computer system receives from a first computing device a shopping recap having data indicative of one or more products that were shown to a customer by the sales associate while the customer was within a retail establishment. The received shopping recap is stored within a data repository where it is linked to a customer identifier that is associated with the customer and an associate identifier that is associated with the sale associate. If the customer later purchases a product, data indicative of the product being purchased is compared against data within any shopping recap that is linked to that customer to determine if a sales associate that is also linked to any shopping recap linked to that customer is to be awarded a commission for the product being purchased. The purchase of the product by the customer may further generate a digital receipt where the digital receipt includes a notice that the customer is being awarded an incentive, such as a coupon.

Abstract: A system and method supporting the assisted creation of media content documenting the details of completing a step-by-step project by a consumer in an Internet-based, social networking/social e-commerce environment. For example, a first user may create web pages documenting a multi-step project, including tagging items such as ingredients, products, utensils, and/or materials that appear in project web page images, with information and links for purchasing the tagged items. A collection of images for use in creating the project web pages may be automatically retrieved from web pages identified by the user. Other users, upon viewing the project web pages may create additional web page(s) documenting their own step variations that are then associated with one or more steps of the project of the first user. Users may choose which of the original project steps and/or step variations to include when requesting information for a customized project of their own choice.

Abstract: A computing device hosting a website of a business may be operable to receive a first search input comprising a term submitted via a search bar on the website. Upon performing an internal search for the term with no result, the computing device may output information on the no-result. The computing device may then perform, using one or more external search engines, a search for the term. Search results of the search, performed using the external search engine(s), may be analyzed. Based on a result of the analysis, one or more particular character strings related to the term may be identified. The computing device may generate and store, based on the identifying of the particular character string(s), one or more alternative search suggestions. Upon subsequently receiving an input comprising at least a portion of the term entered in the search bar, the computing device may output the alternative search suggestion(s).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed regarding an e-commerce system that places customers into a plurality of clusters and tailors services provided to a customer based on the cluster in which the customer is placed. In one embodiment, the e-commerce system defines the clusters based on purchase history data for customers having sufficient purchase history data. The e-commerce system then places customers without sufficient purchase history data into one of the defined clusters based on demographic data for the customer and demographic data for the customers in the cluster.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods and systems that enable a consumer to electronically shop for products using a conventional electronic shopping cart such as are typically provided by online merchants, and to also create and manage one or more additional “shared” electronic shopping carts through which the end-user may automatically share details of such shopping activities with others using electronic means such as online social networks, short message services, and email, thereby enabling others to participate and assist in various shopping activities.

Abstract: Techniques for evaluating software systems are provided, including measurement of performance ratings of features of an app-under-test are described. The evaluation may include analysis of a video recording of the user interface of the app-under-test, where the video analysis may include comparing the changes over time of co-located pixel in the video to produce a performance rating, for example a speed index. The results of multiple such tests can be compared by comparing the performance rating produced during execution of different tests.