Abstract: A wirelessly powered and controlled robotic apparatus enabling performance of tasks within a three-dimensional space includes a rail, a robotic unit, and a tool. The rail comprises negative and second paths to carry an electrical current. The robotic unit comprises a microcontroller having a drive motor and a transceiver engaged thereto and is engaged to and electrically coupled to the rail. A transfer unit is engaged to both the drive motor and the rail and thus can translate rotation of the drive motor to a force to motivate the robotic unit along the rail. The microcontroller selectively actuates the transfer unit to move the robotic unit along the rail to a location. The transceiver receives commands wirelessly from a control unit and transmits data thereto. The tool is engaged to the robotic unit and can perform a task at, or proximate to, the location.

Abstract: Techniques and system configurations for generating, updating, and customizing user interface content and functionality based on user activity and a customer level of interest (affinity) for a particular commerce information item are disclosed. In an example, electronic operations used for generating and updating output of a user interface includes: processing streaming events that represent user activity involving a commerce information item performed by a user in a user interface; identifying a current score of the user activity from the streaming events; generating an affinity score corresponding to the commerce information item, based on forward time decay of a history score and a future score; and providing output in a user interface based on the generated affinity score. With these techniques, engagement and affinity of particular products/services, product groups, and offers, can be measured and tracked to enable improved outputs in an electronic commerce website or app.

Abstract: A wirelessly powered and controlled robotic apparatus enabling performance of tasks within a three-dimensional space includes a rail, a robotic unit, and a tool. The rail comprises negative and second paths to carry an electrical current. The robotic unit comprises a microcontroller having a drive motor and a transceiver engaged thereto and is engaged to and electrically coupled to the rail. A transfer unit is engaged to both the drive motor and the rail and thus can translate rotation of the drive motor to a force to motivate the robotic unit along the rail. The microcontroller selectively actuates the transfer unit to move the robotic unit along the rail to a location. The transceiver receives commands wirelessly from a control unit and transmits data thereto. The tool is engaged to the robotic unit and can perform a task at, or proximate to, the location.

Abstract: Techniques and system configurations for identifying search recall activities and performing changes to search criteria based on streaming event data are disclosed. In an example, electronic operations used for identifying search recall scenarios based on streaming events in a user interface include: obtaining a plurality of streaming events that represent user interaction from a user interface sessions, from inputs that are used to locate and select items; identifying search recall scenarios from the events based on vicinity and exposure, where the items are not retrieved by initial searches; determining changes to selection criteria, to locate and select the items; and updating the selection criteria such that subsequent searches are configured to locate the items using the updated search criteria. With this technique, search data and rules such as exclusion and inclusion lists or category/product information rules may be automatically updated to successfully locate product items in subsequent searches.

Abstract: Techniques and system configurations for generating rankings and ranking models for information, including for new and updated items, based on streaming event data are disclosed. In an example, operations used for ranking and ordering information in a commerce user interface based on streaming events include: processing streaming events representing user interaction in a commerce user interface; calculating a simulated engagement score for a new or updated item based on the streaming events; applying the simulated engagement score in a ranking model for a subsequent information set; and generating output of the subsequent information set via the commerce user interface, using the ranking model, as the new or updated item of information is ordered based on the simulated engagement score. With this technique, an approach for presenting and organizing data may be offered in user interfaces considering actual and estimated engagement, including for new and updated products and information.

Abstract: Techniques and system configurations for generating, updating, and customizing user interface content and functionality based on user activity and a customer level of interest (affinity) for a particular commerce information item are disclosed. In an example, electronic operations used for generating and updating output of a user interface includes: processing streaming events that represent user activity involving a commerce information item performed by a user in a user interface; identifying a current score of the user activity from the streaming events; generating an affinity score corresponding to the commerce information item, based on forward time decay of a history score and a future score; and providing output in a user interface based on the generated affinity score. With these techniques, engagement and affinity of particular products/services, product groups, and offers, can be measured and tracked to enable improved outputs in an electronic commerce website or app.

Abstract: Techniques and system configurations for generating rankings and ranking models for information, including for new and updated items, based on streaming event data are disclosed. In an example, operations used for ranking and ordering information in a commerce user interface based on streaming events include: processing streaming events representing user interaction in a commerce user interface; calculating a simulated engagement score for a new or updated item based on the streaming events; applying the simulated engagement score in a ranking model for a subsequent information set; and generating output of the subsequent information set via the commerce user interface, using the ranking model, as the new or updated item of information is ordered based on the simulated engagement score. With this technique, an approach for presenting and organizing data may be offered in user interfaces considering actual and estimated engagement, including for new and updated products and information.

Abstract: Techniques and system configurations for identifying search recall activities and performing changes to search criteria based on streaming event data are disclosed. In an example, electronic operations used for identifying search recall scenarios based on streaming events in a user interface include: obtaining a plurality of streaming events that represent user interaction from a user interface sessions, from inputs that are used to locate and select items; identifying search recall scenarios from the events based on vicinity and exposure, where the items are not retrieved by initial searches; determining changes to selection criteria, to locate and select the items; and updating the selection criteria such that subsequent searches are configured to locate the items using the updated search criteria. With this technique, search data and rules such as exclusion and inclusion lists or category/product information rules may be automatically updated to successfully locate product items in subsequent searches.

Abstract: Techniques and system configurations for generating rankings and ranking models for information based on streaming event data are disclosed herein. In an example, electronic operations used for ranking and ordering information provided in commerce user interface based on streaming events include: processing streaming events representing user interaction in a commerce user interface; producing a ranking model from the events for a subsequent output within the commerce user interface; and generating the subsequent output of the information set via the commerce user interface, using the ranking model, where respective items of information are ordered among each other based on an engagement score, an exposure score, or a relevancy score. In a further example, the exposure score is used as a weight to the engagement score, relative to the relevancy score. With this technique, a balanced approach for presenting and organizing data relevancy may be offered in user interfaces.

Abstract: Techniques and system configurations for generating rankings and ranking models for information based on streaming event data are disclosed herein. In an example, electronic operations used for ranking and ordering information provided in commerce user interface based on streaming events include: processing streaming events representing user interaction in a commerce user interface; producing a ranking model from the events for a subsequent output within the commerce user interface; and generating the subsequent output of the information set via the commerce user interface, using the ranking model, where respective items of information are ordered among each other based on an engagement score, an exposure score, or a relevancy score. In a further example, the exposure score is used as a weight to the engagement score, relative to the relevancy score. With this technique, a balanced approach for presenting and organizing data relevancy may be offered in user interfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of checking the validity of one or more directory numbers in a device for interfacing communications equipment to a digital telephone line, wherein the device is capable of accessing at least two channels on the digital telephone line, each channel having a directory number associated therewith, including: instructing the device to establish a plurality of protocol layers; initiating a call from the device over a first channel of the digital telephone line to the device over a second channel of the digital telephone line only if the plurality of protocol layers are established; and determining if the call is received by the device over the second channel to check the validity of the directory number associated with the second channel.