Patents by Inventor Brian Gerard McHale

Brian Gerard McHale has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230347511
    Abstract: Described in detail herein is an automated fulfilment system including a computing system programmed to receive requests from disparate sources for physical objects disposed at one or more locations in a facility. The computing system can combine the requests, and group the physical objects in the requests based on object types or expected object locations. Autonomous robot devices can receive instructions from the computing system to retrieve a group of the physical objects and deposit the physical objects in storage containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Donald High, David Winkle, Brian Gerard McHale, Todd Davenport Mattingly
  • Patent number: 11707839
    Abstract: Described in detail herein is an automated fulfilment system including a computing system programmed to receive requests from disparate sources for physical objects disposed at one or more locations in a facility. The computing system can combine the requests, and group the physical objects in the requests based on object types or expected object locations. Autonomous robot devices can receive instructions from the computing system to retrieve a group of the physical objects and deposit the physical objects in storage containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald High, David Winkle, Brian Gerard McHale, Todd Davenport Mattingly
  • Patent number: 11544664
    Abstract: A method for tracking an item in a distributed environment is provided. At least one node in a network adds a new block to a first cryptographically verifiable ledger represented by a first sequence of blocks that is stored in one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The new block added to the first cryptographically verifiable ledger contains a component identifier and a hash of a previous block in the first sequence of blocks. The at least one node in the network adds a new block to a second cryptographically verifiable ledger represented by a second sequence of blocks that is stored in the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The new block added to the second cryptographically verifiable ledger contains a destination identifier, the first sequence of blocks, and a hash of a previous block in the second sequence of blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: John Jeremiah O'Brien, Daniel Wayne Young, Richard Carl McSorley, Jr., Christopher Heeney, Joseph Jurich, Jr., Bruce W. Wilkinson, Todd Davenport Mattingly, Donald High, Robert Cantrell, Brian Gerard McHale
  • Patent number: 11362806
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recording codes in a distributed environment are provided. A first node receives data including at least one code from a code generation computing device via a network. The first node adds a first new block to a first cryptographically verifiable encrypted ledger, the first block containing the at least one code. The first node adds a second new block to a second cryptographically verifiable, the second block containing the at least one code. The first node or a second node retrieves the at least one code from the second cryptographically verifiable unencrypted ledger. The first node or the second node analyzes the at least one code pursuant to a set of rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cantrell, Todd Davenport Mattingly, John Jeremiah O'Brien, Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce W. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20220080588
    Abstract: Described in detail herein is an automated fulfilment system including a computing system programmed to receive requests from disparate sources for physical objects disposed at one or more locations in a facility. The computing system can combine the requests, and group the physical objects in the requests based on object types or expected object locations. Autonomous robot devices can receive instructions from the computing system to retrieve a group of the physical objects and deposit the physical objects in storage containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Donald High, David Winkle, Brian Gerard McHale, Todd Davenport Mattingly
  • Patent number: 11179845
    Abstract: Described in detail herein is an automated fulfilment system including a computing system programmed to receive requests from disparate sources for physical objects disposed at one or more locations in a facility. The computing system can combine the requests, and group the physical objects in the requests based on object types or expected object locations. Autonomous robot devices can receive instructions from the computing system to retrieve a group of the physical objects and deposit the physical objects in storage containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald High, David Winkle, Brian Gerard McHale, Todd Davenport Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10650434
    Abstract: A budget-constrained, machine-learning system is described that creates a shopping (purchase) list and performs on-line ordering and delivery. It receives the shopper's past purchase receipts from a retail store, pharmacy and/or auto center. It may attach to a web server to acquire on-line browsing information. The system creates a Purchase List from acquired information. The system receives a budget and determines if all items on the Purchase List can be bought under the budget. If not, the items are given priority ratings. The system walks down the list to in decreasing priority rating order identifying items to purchase without exceeding the budget. The shopper may override the items identified to be purchased. Shopper override is monitored by a machine learning engine which adjusts the priority rating of the item or the period of replacement for the next shopping trip/session, allowing for more accurate results and flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Matthew Allen Jones, Chandrashekar Natarajan, Michael Dean Atchley, Brian Gerard McHale
  • Publication number: 20200133286
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine readable media are provided for automatic charging and swapping power sources for an Autonomous Vehicle (AV). A determination is made whether a current first power source installed in an AV has sufficient power to complete a task assigned to the AV. In response to determining the first power source has insufficient power to complete the assigned task, the AV is directed to a location of a power source repository. The AV is positioned proximate a power source swapping unit of the power source repository where the first power source is removed from the AV and a second power source stored at the power source repository is installed into the AV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Jason Bellar, Jeremy L. Velten, Donald Ray High, Robert Cantrell, Brian Gerard McHale
  • Patent number: 10625941
    Abstract: Described in detail herein is an automated fulfillment system including a computing system programmed to receive requests from disparate sources for physical objects disposed at one or more locations in a facility. The computing system can combine the requests, and group the physical objects in the requests based on object types or expected object locations. Autonomous robot devices can receive instructions from the computing system to retrieve a group of the physical objects and deposit the physical objects in storage containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald High, David Winkle, Brian Gerard McHale, Todd Davenport Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10614274
    Abstract: Described in detail herein is an autonomous fulfillment system using RFID devices. One or more RFID readers can be disposed throughout a facility can detect RFID tags disposed on or about physical objects picked up by the autonomous robotic devices. The computing system can determine whether there is an error in the physical objects picked up by the autonomous robotic device based on the identifiers. The computing system can instruct the autonomous robotic device to resolve the error. RFID readers can be disposed with respect to storage containers can detect the RFID tags disposed on or about the storage containers and the RFID tags disposed on the physical objects deposited in the storage containers. The computing system determine whether there is an error with the physical objects deposited in the storage containers. The computing system can instruct the autonomous robotic devices to resolve the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald High, David Winkle, Brian Gerard McHale, Todd Davenport Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10594495
    Abstract: A method for ensuring that a computer readable information is authentic, including: generating a public key associated with the computer readable information, hashing the computer readable information to obtain a hashed computer readable information, encrypting the hashed computer readable information with a private key to create a digital signature, wherein the hashed computer readable information and the digital signature are stored on a block of a blockchain, authenticating the user computing device in response to a request from the user computing device to download the computer readable information, transmitting the public key and the digital signature to an authenticated user computing device, and instructing the authenticated user computing device to decrypt the digital signature using the public key to obtain the hashed computer readable information, and download the hashed computer readable information to the authenticated user computing system to retrieve the computer readable information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, Brian Gerard McHale, John J. O'Brien, V, Robert Cantrell, Joseph Jurich
  • Patent number: 10582150
    Abstract: An audio/visual (A/V) recording apparatus comprises an A/V input, a memory configured for recording A/V signals received from the A/V input, a locator configured to determine a location of the A/V recording apparatus when an A/V recording is taking place to provide location information based on localized location inputs and a tagger configured to tag the recording in the memory with the location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Brian Gerard McHale
  • Patent number: 10494180
    Abstract: Described in detail herein is an autonomous fulfillment system. The system includes the first computing system with an interactive display. The first computing system can transmit a request for physical objects from a facility. A second computing system can transmit instructions to autonomous robot devices to retrieve the physical objects from the facility. The second computing system can control the image capturing device of an autonomous robot device to capture a live image feed of at least one physical object picked up by the autonomous robot device. The second computing system can switch an input feed of the first computing system to display the live image feed on the interactive display of the first computing system. The second computing system can instruct the autonomous robot device to discard the physical objects picked up by the autonomous robot device and to pick up a replacement physical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, David Winkle, Brian Gerard McHale, Todd Davenport Mattingly
  • Publication number: 20190303935
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing invalid reverse transactions in a distributed environment is provided in which a first block is added to a first cryptographically verifiable ledger containing a transaction identifier and an executable program for preventing a reversal of a transaction. A second block is added to a second unencrypted ledger and contains a flag indicating that the transaction identifier is invalid and a reference to the first block. A notification that the transaction associated with the transaction identifier is being reversed can be received and execution of the executable program for preventing a reversal of the transaction can be triggered. In response to execution of the executable program, the reversal of the transaction associated with the transaction identifier is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Cantrell, Vinay Rao, Dhivya Ganesan, Todd Davenport Mattingly, John Jeremiah O'Brien, Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce W. Wilkinson, Donald Ray High
  • Publication number: 20190305934
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recording codes in a distributed environment are provided. A first node receives data including at least one code from a code generation computing device via a network. The first node adds a first new block to a first cryptographically verifiable encrypted ledger, the first block containing the at least one code. The first node adds a second new block to a second cryptographically verifiable, the second block containing the at least one code. The first node or a second node retrieves the at least one code from the second cryptographically verifiable unencrypted ledger. The first node or the second node analyzes the at least one code pursuant to a set of rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Cantrell, Todd Davenport Mattingly, John Jeremiah O'Brien, Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce W. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20190303854
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine readable media are provided for delivery verification. Delivery of a package is initiated by a courier by submitting an action to a distributed ledger. The courier records video of the delivery of the package to a customer site. The video of the delivery of the package is sent to a blockchain referenced by the distributed ledger. The video of the delivery of the package is added to the blockchain. The customer captures any motion detected video of the package occurring after delivery of the package by the courier and this video is added to the blockchain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: John Jeremiah O'Brien, Daniel Wayne Young, Robert Cantrell, Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce W. Wilkinson, Donald Ray High
  • Publication number: 20190303843
    Abstract: A method for tracking an item in a distributed environment is provided. At least one node in a network adds a new block to a first cryptographically verifiable ledger represented by a first sequence of blocks that is stored in one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The new block added to the first cryptographically verifiable ledger contains a component identifier and a hash of a previous block in the first sequence of blocks. The at least one node in the network adds a new block to a second cryptographically verifiable ledger represented by a second sequence of blocks that is stored in the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The new block added to the second cryptographically verifiable ledger contains a destination identifier, the first sequence of blocks, and a hash of a previous block in the second sequence of blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: John Jeremiah O'Brien, Daniel Wayne Young, Richard Carl McSorley, JR., Christopher Heeney, Joseph Jurich, JR., Bruce W. Wilkinson, Todd Davenport Mattingly, Donald High, Robert Cantrell, Brian Gerard McHale
  • Publication number: 20190259150
    Abstract: Described in detail herein is an automated marking system. The autonomous robot device can locate and identify one or more cases stored in at least one of a plurality of bins in the first location of the facility, wherein each case containing a set of like physical objects. The autonomous robot device can transmit identifying information of the at least one of the one or more cases to the computing system. The computing system can determine a priority for a quantity of the first set of like physical objects to be moved from the at least one of the one or more cases to the second location of the facility. The computing system can instruct the at least one autonomous robot device to mark the at least one of the one or more cases with an identifying mark denoting the determined priority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Donald High, Robert Cantrell, Brian Gerard McHale, Matthew David Alexander, Jeremy Velten, William Mark Propes
  • Publication number: 20190222418
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are related to a system for key exchange in a blockchain based system associated with warranty-ownership of physical objects. Embodiments of the key exchange system can include user terminal devices, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media, and a computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: John Jeremiah O'Brien, Aditya Prakash Hemdev, Adrian Cabal, Steven Jackson Lewis, Chris Heeney, Joseph Jurich, JR., Robert Cantrell, Todd Davenport Mattingly, Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce W. Wilkinson, Donald High
  • Publication number: 20190213573
    Abstract: A method for processing store returns, comprising: selecting, from a data repository, an electronically archived purchase receipt corresponding to an item for return to a retail establishment; identifying the retail establishment for returning the purchased item regardless of whether the item was purchased at the retail establishment; associating at the data repository the purchase receipt and a selected type of tender; and electronically and automatically transferring a refund for the returned item to the selected type of tender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Tyler Zelten, Rebecca Engelke, Robert Cantrell, John J. O'Brien, V, Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce Wilkinson, Donald R. High, Todd Mattingly