Abstract: A technique for monitoring the quality of objects is disclosed. A container includes a multiple sensors and is configured to receive an object. The sensors monitor various metrics associated with the quality of the object, and a display is affixed to the container for displaying a visual indication of the quality of the object. The visual indication is based on data collected from the sensors. A quality monitoring module is executed by a processor to control the sensors to switch operation between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation based on a detected change in one of the metrics monitored by the sensors.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of managing bins audits in a stock room of a retail sales facility include generating at least one bin audit management factor for the bins at the retail sales facility. The bin audit management factor can include an amount of time a total number of products stored in the bin does not change; a number of times a one product is binned or picked from the bin, a number of products stored in the bin; and an accuracy percentage of a worker at the retail sales facility during a preceding audit of the bin. Based on whether the value of one or more of the bin audit management factors meets a predetermined threshold value that supports the auditing of a bin, an indication to a worker at the retail sales facility is generated as to whether that bin is to be audited or not.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of prioritizing retrieval of products from a plurality of bins at a retail sales facility are described. The methods include receiving an identification of a product being binned at a retail sales facility, then determining the size of the product, and then ranking the products in the bins based on the time stamp of a time of binning of the product. The physical size of the product and the ranking of the product are correlated to a size of the bins to determine the relative physical locations of the products in the bins. A pick of a product from a bin is generated based on a determination that the location of the product to be picked in one of the bins is higher than a location of at least one identical product in at least another one of the bins.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for determining and executing trusted user access. In one embodiment, a system for determining and executing trusted user access for smart locks at a retail shopping facility includes an access member, a smart lock securing the access member, a user interface device, and a control circuit coupled to the user interface device. The control circuit being configured to determine whether a user is a trusted user based on a determination that authentication data matches with stored authentication data within a threshold accuracy, and provide an optical key to the user interface device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of prioritizing retrieval of products from a plurality of bins at a retail sales facility are described. The methods include receiving an identification of a product being binned at a retail sales facility, then determining the size of the product, and then ranking the products in the bins based on the time stamp of a time of binning of the product. The physical size of the product and the ranking of the product are correlated to a size of the bins to determine the relative physical locations of the products in the bins. A pick of a product from a bin is generated based on a determination that the location of the product to be picked in one of the bins is higher than a location of at least one identical product in at least another one of the bins.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of determining whether to purge a bin in order to pick a product from the bin in a stock room of a retail sales facility include processing of bin purge factors associated with the bin and correlating the processed bin purge factors with bin purge threshold values associated with the bin. Based on whether the value of one or more of the bin purge factors meets or exceeds a threshold value that supports the purging of a bin, an indication to a worker at the retail sales facility is generated as to whether that bin is to be purged or not.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to reassigning meeting rooms. In some embodiments, a system comprises a mobile device configured to receive user input to request a meeting room, determine a location of the mobile device, and transmit an indication of the request, the location of the mobile device, and the user, sensors associated with the meeting rooms configured to detect occupancy of the meeting rooms, a scheduling database configured to store scheduling information for the meeting rooms, the control circuit configured to receive the indication of the request, the location of the mobile device, and the user, determine that all meeting are booked, receive occupancy information for the meeting rooms, determine that one of the meeting rooms is unoccupied, reassign the one of the meeting rooms to the user, and cause transmission of a notification that the one of the meeting rooms has been reassigned.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to the sortation of products using a conveyor assembly.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to the sortation of products using a conveyor assembly.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for securing merchandise. In one embodiment an apparatus for securing merchandise comprises a locking mechanism limiting access to one or more items, one or more optical sensors configured to detect a plurality of wavelengths and an intensity associated with each wavelength from at least one light beam emitted by an optical key, and a control device comprising a control circuit and a memory device. The control device being configured to store a lock code comprising a plurality of wavelength values and a plurality of intensity values each associated with a wavelength value on the memory device and determine whether to release the locking mechanism based on whether intensities of each of the plurality of wavelengths detected by the one or more optical sensors match the lock code.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for determining and executing trusted customer access. In one embodiment, a system for determining and executing trusted customer access for smart locks at a retail shopping facility includes an access door, a smart lock securing the access door, a user interface device, and a control circuit coupled to the user interface device. The control circuit being configured to determine whether a user is a trusted user based on a determination that authentication data matches with stored authentication data within a threshold accuracy, a store-risk value associated with a retail shopping facility is within a risk threshold value, and a crime index value associated with an area that is within a threshold distance from the retail shopping facility is within the index threshold value, and provide an optical key to the user interface device.

Abstract: A demand tracking system in a retail environment including a retail store having a plurality of product displays is provided. The system includes at least one processor coupled to a memory storing information regarding a demand for each product of a plurality of products in the retail store, the demand for each product including a difference between a current quantity of each product on a respective product display and a maximum capacity of the respective product display, an interface configured to receive product sales information and user action information and to provide user action requests, and a demand tracking component. The demand tracking component is configured to adjust the demand for each of the plurality of products based on the product sales information and user action information.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides reaming apparatuses. The reaming apparatuses can comprise a base guide, a reamer, and a reamer driver. The base guide can define a base guide through bore and a base guide articulating surface. The base guide articulating surface can be oriented at an angle relative to the base guide through bore. The reamer can define a reamer articulating surface operable to allow rotation of the reamer on the base guide articulating surface. The reamer driver can operate with the reamer to cause rotation of the reamer when the reamer driver rotates.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided to automatically identify overstated perpetual inventory (PI) conditions regarding an inventory level of an item in a retail space. For example, in some embodiments, a method performed by a control circuit comprises determining (504) that, a plurality of times, an item for sale at a retail store sells within a defined tolerance of a non-zero inventory quantity value and then stops selling for a period of time; and making (506) a determination that an overstated PI condition exists with respect to an inventory level of the item at the retail store. In some embodiments, the overstated PI condition is automatically quantified and may be automatically corrected.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of updating perpetual inventory at a retail sales facility are described. After products are delivered to a retail sales facility, an electronic inventory management device receives electronic data indicating that a product has been delivered and calculates, based on at least one factor associated with the product, a delay period from a time of delivery of the product to the retail sales facility to a time for updating the perpetual inventory of products at the retail sales facility. After the calculated delay period elapses, the electronic inventory management device updates the perpetual inventory of the products at the retail sales facility in a product inventory database associated with the retail sales facility with information associated with the product delivered to the retail sales facility.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for store management. A system for store management comprises: a storage system in a backroom area, a conveyor system, a return sensor system, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to: receive an interact request from a customer via a user interface device in a showroom area, cause the conveyor system to retrieve one or more items from the storage system and transport the one or more items to the item interaction area based on the interact request, receive a return request, cause the return sensor system to collect data from the at least one item, determine whether to accept the return request based on the data collected by the return sensor system, and cause the conveyor system to retrieve the at least one item from the customer and make the at least one item available for another customer.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for generating energy with a shopping cart. A shopping cart apparatus comprises: a front wheel, a back wheel, a bottom frame, and a power generator assembly. The power generator assembly comprises: a generator coupled to the back wheel, the generator being configured to convert kinetic energy from a rotation of the back wheel to electrical energy, a capacitor element coupled to the generator and configured to store the electrical energy generated by the generator, the capacitor element comprising a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a dielectric material, wherein the first electrode comprises an elongated member of the bottom frame extending from the back wheel toward the front wheel, and a first contact member and a second contact member coupled to the capacitor element and configured to discharge the electrical energy stored in the capacitor element.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide an indication of stock level for products within a retail location. A marking material can be used on particular products to provide notification that the stock of the product is in or approaching a low stock situation. In some embodiments, a reader or sensor can be provided at or near a point of sale that is configured to detect the marking material and create a task.

Abstract: There is provided systems and methods involving a portable distribution center for distributing merchandise in response to emergencies. The distribution center includes a transport vehicle with a locomotion system for movement of the transport vehicle to an emergency location. It also includes a conveyor system for sortation and distribution of merchandise items upon arrival at the emergency location. The conveyor system includes merchandise identifier for reading identification data from merchandise item; a plurality of sortation units for moving merchandise items to uniquely identified destination lanes; and a control circuit configured to: assign merchandise items to uniquely identified sortation destination lanes; receive identification data; and communicate with the plurality of sortation units. The distribution center also includes a power supply for energizing the conveyor system and a communication system.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided herein useful to determining cart movement in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a system includes a collection device, wherein the collection device is configured to receive material from a cart that was collected throughout a shopping facility. The system can also include a measurement device, wherein the measurement device is configured to determine an amount of material that was received from the cart. The system can also include a control circuit communicatively coupled to the measurement device. The control circuit can be configured to receive, from the measurement device, an indication of the amount of material that was received from the cart.