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: 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, 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 preceeding 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, apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed that utilize label data to assist in performing a retail store function. For example, label data may be utilized to provide an image of a label to help a store associate perform a bin, pick, stock or price change request. In some forms, the label data comprises a print data file which may be used to display the image of the label to the store associate. In other forms, the label data may comprise a larger data set representing the label image itself such as bit map data. In yet other forms, a hybrid of both image data and print file data may be used. In addition, timestamp and location data may also be used to help assist in performing the requested store function more quickly and efficiently.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed that utilize customer feedback to obtain store intelligence and automatically respond to the customer without the need to involve a store associate or employee, thereby allowing employees to continue on with other tasks. For example, customers may provide feedback for a particular product not on the shelves and be advised that it is being pulled (if it is on-site, such as in a back room), or offered the opportunity to order the product or advised of an alternate on-site or off-site location where the product can be found. The system, method or apparatus may also identify products the store should add to its assortment of products based on such customer inquiries and/or may take automated actions in response (e.g., generating pick requests, generating orders for products, reporting potential new products to add to offerings, etc.).

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to determine a weight of products on a product support structure. More specifically, the product support structure can be provided on a suspension system having one or more springs that can be monitored for compression to thereby determine a weight of products on the product support structure. In several embodiments, non-visible electromagnetic (EM) waves, can be directed at the spring and reflections of the non-visible EM waves can be received and analyzed to determine a compression of the spring.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are described herein useful to indicate the number of products on a merchandising unit. Counting devices as described herein maintain an accurate count of the number of products on a given merchandising unit and provides a display of the count.

Abstract: An articulated debris barrier folds on itself to extend radially to span a surrounding annular gap when the tool associated with it is set. The debris barrier can be used with a packer or bridge plug. The set position of the packer or plug is locked and another lock holds the extended position of the debris barrier. The debris barrier lock can be a snap ring that extends into a groove brought into alignment with it during the setting. Alternatively the lock for the debris barrier can be a body lock ring. In either case, release and retrieval of the packer or plug involves undermining of the locking feature for the debris barrier so that the debris barrier can extend while retracting from the borehole wall so that the barrier and the associated packer or plug can be removed together.

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: 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 monitor point of sale terminals and provide information to customers, via a lighting system. In some embodiments, information is provided, via visible light, to consumers and, via invisible light, to the management of a retail shopping facility. For example, a notification system for monitoring point of sale terminals in a retail shopping facility may include one or more visible light emitting status lights, at least one non-visible light emitting status light at each of the point of sale terminals, one or more optical sensors configured to detect the non-visible wavelength and an intensity associated with the non-visible wavelength emitted from the at least one non-visible light emitting status light; and a control circuit.

Abstract: In some embodiments, provide apparatuses and methods to track item containers. Some of these embodiments include systems to track item containers, comprising: an audio detector positioned relative to a parking lot associated with a shopping facility and configured to capture audio signals generated at one or more predefined locations; an audio evaluation circuit to: receive the audio signals; and identify when one or more audio signatures correspond to one or more distinct predefined audio signatures that correspond to movements of a first item container relative to the one or more predefined locations; and a control circuit configured to estimate a quantity of item containers at the one or more predefined locations as a function of identifying that one or more of the audio signals include the one or more audio signatures corresponding to the one or more predefined audio signatures.

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, systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed that utilize customer feedback to obtain store intelligence and automatically respond to the customer without the need to involve a store associate or employee, thereby allowing employees to continue on with other tasks. For example, customers may provide feedback for a particular product not on the shelves and be advised that it is being pulled (if it is on-site, such as in a back room), or offered the opportunity to order the product or advised of an alternate on-site or off-site location where the product can be found. The system, method or apparatus may also identify products the store should add to its assortment of products based on such customer inquiries and/or may take automated actions in response (e.g., generating pick requests, generating orders for products, reporting potential new products to add to offerings, etc.).

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are described herein useful to indicate the number of products on a merchandising unit. Counting devices as described herein maintain an accurate count of the number of products on a given merchandising unit and provides a display of the count.

Abstract: A reference guide tool for conforming a bone plate can include a series of bone templates, each having a distinct three-dimensional shape that replicates portions of various clavicles. Each bone template of the series of bone templates can have a plate engaging surface that is configured to engage a bone plate and provide a reference for the bone plates during structural modification of the bone plate.

Abstract: The unpacked depth of a cargo container is automatically measured as the items are removed therefrom. Information regarding where the unpacked items are to be placed is automatically presented using an active display and determined as a function, at least in part, of the measured unpacked depth. By one approach the foregoing includes using received information that correlates particular items with corresponding packed locations within the cargo container.

Abstract: In some embodiments, provide apparatuses and methods to track item containers. Some of these embodiments include systems to track item containers, comprising: an audio detector positioned relative to a parking lot associated with a shopping facility and configured to capture audio signals generated at one or more predefined locations; an audio evaluation circuit to: receive the audio signals; and identify when one or more audio signatures correspond to one or more distinct predefined audio signatures that correspond to movements of a first item container relative to the one or more predefined locations; and a control circuit configured to estimate a quantity of item containers at the one or more predefined locations as a function of identifying that one or more of the audio signals include the one or more audio signatures corresponding to the one or more predefined audio signatures.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of locating overstock items at a retail sales facility include receiving an indication that a product at the retail sales facility is out of stock and determining whether the product is located on a sales floor or in the stock room at the retail sales facility; then, in response to a determination that the product is not located on the sales floor or in the stock room, tracking a location of the product based on at least one inventory management factor associated with the retail sales facility and at least one worker task event associated with the product; and outputting to a worker at the retail sales facility, based on the tracking of the location of the at least one product, an indication of a perceived location of the least one product.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, workflow templates are maintained, each workflow template including a predefined sequence of workflow stages associated with a particular type of medical diagnosis or process. In response to a request for processing medical image data from a user, a user identifier (ID) that identifies the user is automatically determined based on the request. At least one of the workflow templates that is specifically configured to process medical image data associated with the user is identified based on the user ID. One or more image processing operations defined by the identified workflow template are performed on the medical image data, generating a scene corresponding to an image view representing the medical image data. The scene associated with each of the workflow stages is stored in a persistent storage, where a scene includes metadata used to recreate a corresponding medical image view subsequently.