Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for mapping a shopping space are provided. A system for mapping a shopping space includes a plurality of motorized transport units, a store map database, and a central computer system. The central computer system being configured to divide the map of the shopping space into a plurality of sections, assign a unique section identifier to each of the plurality of sections in the shopping space, associate a blocked tag with each section inaccessible to the plurality of motorized transport units, associate an accessible tag with each section accessible by at least one of the plurality of motorized transport units, for each section having an accessible tag, allow an access restriction setting to be configured, and provide navigation instructions to the plurality of motorized transport units based on access restriction settings of each section of the shopping space stored.

Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses to fulfill customer orders comprising a motorized transport unit; a product pick unit (PPU) that cooperate with the motorized transport unit; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system configured to communicate with the multiple motorized transport units and the plurality of product pick units, and comprises a control circuit and memory storing instructions executed to cause the control circuit to: communicate an instruction to the motorized transport unit and direct the motorized transport unit to transport the product pick unit to a determined first location within the shopping facility proximate to where a first product having been ordered is located; and communicate an instruction to the product pick unit cooperated with the motorized transport unit and direct the product pick unit to retrieve the first product.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.

Abstract: Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system witlessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided, some apparatuses comprise: a location controller separate from a motorized transport unit, comprising: a transceiver configured to receive communications from the motorized transport unit; a control circuit; a memory storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of: obtain, from the communications, a unique light source identifier of a light source detected by the motorized transport unit, and relative distance information determined by the motorized transport unit through an optical measurement; process the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information relative to a mapping of the shopping facility; and determine, in response to the processing, a location of the motorized transport unit within the shopping facility as a function of the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information.

Abstract: A system is provided that provides customer service functions within a store location. In one implementation, an application is provided that executes on a customer's personal device (e.g., a cell phone) or other store systems (e.g., kiosks) that allows the customer to request assistance from store employees. Such requests may be made that identify a customer's location, and a customer assistance system determines appropriate employee(s) who may service the request. In one implementation, the system may be integrated with a task-based employee management system that communicates tasks to devices used by employees.

Abstract: A system is provided that provides customer service functions within a store location. In one implementation, an application is provided that executes on a customer's personal device (e.g., a cell phone) or other store systems (e.g., kiosks) that allows the customer to request assistance from store employees. Such requests may be made that identify a customer's location, and a customer assistance system determines appropriate employee(s) who may service the request. In one implementation, the system may be integrated with a task-based employee management system that communicates tasks to devices used by employees.

Abstract: A system and method of selecting items from an inventory for stocking a display in an enterprise includes receiving a request over a network from a user device to stock a display in the enterprise with items. A type of the display is ascertained. Inventory is analyzed to determine one or more types of items that are available in the inventory and suitable, based on one or more selection criteria, for stocking the type of the display. A response to the request is sent to the user device identifying, based on the analysis of the inventory, each type of item determined to be available in the inventory and suitable for stocking the display.

Abstract: An injection site marking method and apparatus includes a base member having a continuous side wall defining an open top, an open bottom, and an interior area. The open bottom is configured to attach selectively to a serum vial. A liquid retention member is positioned in the interior area and configured to hold a colorized viscous liquid. A cap having a continuous side wall defining an open bottom and interior area is connected to the base member such that the liquid retention member is unexposed. The cap includes a top wall defining an aperture. In use, a syringe may be inserted through the aperture, through the liquid retention member, and into a serum vial so as to withdraw serum and such that the syringe reservoir nose contacts the viscous liquid. The needle is injected into a user's skin until the syringe reservoir nose contacts the skin with the colorant.

Abstract: An injection site marking method and apparatus includes a base member having a continuous side wall defining an open top, an open bottom, and an interior area. The open bottom is configured to attach selectively to a serum vial. A liquid retention member is positioned in the interior area and configured to hold a colorized viscous liquid. A cap having a continuous side wall defining an open bottom and interior area is connected to the base member such that the liquid retention member is unexposed. The cap includes a top wall defining an aperture. In use, a syringe may be inserted through the aperture, through the liquid retention member, and into a serum vial so as to withdraw serum and such that the syringe reservoir nose contacts the viscous liquid. The needle is injected into a user's skin until the syringe reservoir nose contacts the skin with the colorant.

Abstract: A portable kit for brewing beverages has a brace the rests atop a drinking cup, a tubular riser that rests atop the brace, a bottom ring with a folding handle, one or more reuseable or disposable filters, one of which is secured to the bottom ring by a top ring, and a sprinkler with a hemispherical reservoir that is penetrated by tubes that evenly distribute fluid from the reservoir into the filter. When beverage material is placed in the filter, fluids poured into the sprinkler pass through the beverage material and the filter and collect in the drinking cup. Alternately, the bottom ring may rest directly on the drinking cup with the filter extending into the drinking cup so that a steeped beverage may be brewed. The components may be disassembled and carried in a small pouch.

Abstract: An antenna includes antenna elements, an antenna feed assembly and at least one integrated circuit adjacent the antenna feed assembly on a side thereof opposite the antenna elements. The at least one integrated circuit is connected to the antenna elements via the antenna feed assembly. The antenna feed assembly includes a conductive base plate spaced from the antenna elements, and has feed openings therein. Spaced apart conductive posts are integrally formed with the conductive base plate as a monolithic unit, and extend outwardly therefrom toward the antenna elements. Each conductive post has at least one passageway therethrough aligned with at least one respective feed opening to define at least one antenna feed passageway. A respective elongated feed conductor extends through each antenna feed passageway.

Abstract: A resource management station for a distributed system includes a managed resources store operable to store for each of a plurality of remote managed resources a previous value of a status of the remote managed resource and a previous value of a parameter indicative of status changes by the remote managed resource. A polling engine is operable to periodically poll each remote managed resource for a current value of the status and current value of the parameter. A resource manager is operable to determine whether a status change occurred in the remote managed resource by comparing the previous and current values of the status. The resource manager is further operable to determine whether an intermediate status change occurred by comparing the previous and current values of the parameter.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a substrate having a first surface, and a second surface adjacent thereto and defining an edge therebetween. A plurality of dipole antenna elements are on the first surface, and at least a portion of at least one dipole antenna element is on the second surface. Each dipole antenna element includes a medial feed portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom. Adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements on the first and second surfaces include respective spaced apart end portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning for providing increased capacitive coupling between the adjacent dipole antenna elements.

Abstract: A subtended communication network includes a first node servicing a plurality of first subscribers and having a subtend module and a corresponding first identifier. The first node can store a second identifier corresponding to a second node coupled to the subtend module. The subtended communication network also includes a second node servicing a plurality of second subscribers and having a network interface module and corresponding second identifier. The second node can store the first identifier corresponding to the first node coupled to the network interface module. The subtended communication network further includes a management module coupled to the first node and the second node. The management module can determine a subtending relationship between the first node and the second node by retrieving the first identifier from the second node and the second identifier from the first node.

Abstract: A resource management station for a distributed system includes a managed resources store operable to store for each of a plurality of remote managed resources a previous value of a status of the remote managed resource and a previous value of a parameter indicative of status changes by the remote managed resource. A polling engine is operable to periodically poll each remote managed resource for a current value of the status and current value of the parameter. A resource manager is operable to determine whether a status change occurred in the remote managed resource by comparing the previous and current values of the status. The resource manager is further operable to determine whether an intermediate status change occurred by comparing the previous and current values of the parameter.

Abstract: A spaceborne hybrid antenna reflector for dual frequency band illumination of common spot beam coverage regions contains an interior solid reflector region, that is adjacent at its perimeter to a ring-shaped exterior dichroic reflector region and adjoined by a common backing structure. The solid interior region is reflective to RF energy at each of first and second spaced apart frequency bands, while the exterior dichroic reflector region is reflective at the first frequency band, but non-reflective at the second frequency band. This allows the hybrid reflector to realize the same beamwidth coverage for a transmitter operating at one frequency band and a receiver operating at the other frequency band. The backing support frame at the rear side of the reflector is electrically decoupled from the exterior dichroic ring.

Abstract: A phased array antenna element includes an antenna support and two longitudinally extending radiating leg element supported by the antenna supports. The radiating leg elements are positioned in a straight v-configuration from the vertex to antenna element tips. Each radiating leg element has a low loss at the vertex to a high loss at the antenna element tips.

Abstract: A phased array antenna element includes an antenna support and two longitudinally extending radiating leg elements supported by the antenna support and flared outward in a v-configuration from a vertex to antenna element tips. A resistive element is positioned on each radiating leg element and has a resistive value along the radiating leg elements from a low loss at the vertex to a high loss at the antenna element tips. The radiating leg elements are curved outward along their length and form a triangular configuration having a height that is about three times greater than the base.

Abstract: A system for updating a memory storing configuration information of a network element includes a network element and a network manager coupled to the network element using a communication network. The network manager receives selected configuration information from the network element to update a selected part of the memory if a received state variable does not match a stored state variable.