Abstract: This disclosure describes architectures and techniques to provide information to a user about items with which the user interacts. In some instances, a user may utilize a wearable device that is configured to interact with one or more components of an information discovery system to obtain information about items in the user's environment.

Abstract: Noise that is present in the output of a weight sensor can lead to erroneous weight data. A moveable device, such as a tote, may be used by a customer while shopping in a facility. This tote can include one or more weight sensors that are used to determine the weight of items added to or removed from the tote. However, noise can affect the output of the weight sensors, where such noise is attributed to movement or vibration of the tote. Data from a vibration sensor or a motion sensor coupled to the tote can be analyzed to determine noise that is common to weight data and vibration data or motion data associated with the tote. This common noise can then be removed or attenuated from the weight signals to determine de-noised and valid weight data for the tote.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for managing inventory as it transitions into a materials handling facility, as it transitions between locations within a materials handling facility and/or as it transitions out of a materials handling facility. In some instances, a total weight associated with a user pattern may be monitored by sensors of a base surface and weight of inventory items may be monitored by sensors at the inventory locations. When a user associated with the user pattern retrieves an item from an inventory location, the decrease in the weight at the inventory location will correspond with the increase in total weight associated with the user pattern. Accordingly, the item may be tracked from the inventory location and associated with the user pattern based on the corresponding changes in weight.

Abstract: Techniques for altering audio being output by a voice-controlled device, or another device, to enable more accurate automatic speech recognition (ASR) by the voice-controlled device. For instance, a voice-controlled device may output audio within an environment using a speaker of the device. While outputting the audio, a microphone of the device may capture sound within the environment and may generate an audio signal based on the captured sound. The device may then analyze the audio signal to identify speech of a user within the signal, with the speech indicating that the user is going to provide a subsequent command to the device. Thereafter, the device may alter the output of the audio (e.g., attenuate the audio, pause the audio, switch from stereo to mono, etc.) to facilitate speech recognition of the user's subsequent command.

Abstract: This disclosure describes architectures and techniques to provide information to a user about items with which the user interacts. In some instances, a user may utilize a wearable device that is configured to interact with one or more components of an information discovery system to obtain information about items in the user's environment.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for managing inventory as it transitions into a materials handling facility, as it transitions between locations within a materials handling facility and/or as it transitions out of a materials handling facility. In some instances, a total weight associated with a user pattern may be monitored by sensors of a base surface and weight of inventory items may be monitored by sensors at the inventory locations. When a user associated with the user pattern retrieves an item from an inventory location, the decrease in the weight at the inventory location will correspond with the increase in total weight associated with the user pattern. Accordingly, the item may be tracked from the inventory location and associated with the user pattern based on the corresponding changes in weight.

Abstract: The implementations described include an audio canceling device that receives and audio signal from within an environment, identifies desired and undesired audio from the received audio signal and generates an attenuation-signal for use in canceling out or reducing the volume of the undesired audio at a canceling location. In addition, the audio canceling device, may determine a time delay before the attenuation-signal should be transmitted from an output based on a distance between the undesired audio source location and the canceling location and a distance between the output and the canceling location.

Abstract: Described are systems and techniques configured to compensate for noise in output of weight sensors which may determine the weight of an item. In one implementation, a mobile cart may be configured with a first weight sensor and a second weight sensor. A noise component and a signal component in the output of the first and second weight sensors are determined. The signal component may be processed to determine the weight of the item.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for managing inventory as it transitions into a materials handling facility, as it transitions between locations within a materials handling facility and/or as it transitions out of a materials handling facility. In some instances, a total weight associated with a user pattern may be monitored by sensors of a base surface and weight of inventory items may be monitored by sensors at the inventory locations. When a user associated with the user pattern retrieves an item from an inventory location, the decrease in the weight at the inventory location will correspond with the increase in total weight associated with the user pattern. Accordingly, the item may be tracked from the inventory location and associated with the user pattern based on the corresponding changes in weight.

Abstract: Digital content such as eBooks, music, video, personal files, and so forth stored in cloud storage resources are selectively transferred to an onboard storage device of a conveyance such as an aircraft, train, motorcoach, and so forth. Travelers may access the content from the onboard storage as if the cloud were still accessible.

Abstract: This disclosure describes architectures and techniques to provide information to a user about items with which the user interacts. In some instances, a user may utilize a wearable device that is configured to interact with one or more components of an information discovery system to obtain information about items in the user's environment.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for determining if assistance is to be provided to a user. In some instances, a total weight associated with a user pattern may be monitored by sensors of a base surface and a determination made if an abnormality related to the user pattern is present. If an abnormality exists, the appropriate assistance may be determined based on the abnormality and provided to the user.

Abstract: An architecture includes a system to create an augmented reality environment in which images are projected onto a scene and user movement within the scene is captured. The augmented reality environment is hosted within a surrounding area in which various ambient conditions, external to the augmented reality environment, persist. The architecture monitors the external conditions and controls secondary devices that selectively modify the conditions as desired in cooperation with operation of the augmented reality environment to effectively enhance user experience. Alternatively or additionally, the architecture may inform the user of what changes to make, and the user manually makes the adjustments.

Abstract: Techniques for altering audio being output by a voice-controlled device, or another device, to enable more accurate automatic speech recognition (ASR) by the voice-controlled device. For instance, a voice-controlled device may output audio within an environment using a speaker of the device. While outputting the audio, a microphone of the device may capture sound within the environment and may generate an audio signal based on the captured sound. The device may then analyze the audio signal to identify speech of a user within the signal, with the speech indicating that the user is going to provide a subsequent command to the device. Thereafter, the device may alter the output of the audio (e.g., attenuate the audio, pause the audio, switch from stereo to mono, etc.) to facilitate speech recognition of the user's subsequent command.

Abstract: Techniques for tailoring beamforming techniques to environments such that processing resources may be devoted to a portion of an audio signal corresponding to a lobe of a beampattern that is most likely to contain user speech. The techniques take into account both acoustic characteristics of an environment and heuristics regarding lobes that have previously been found to include user speech.

Abstract: A virtual user interface is provided which may be used in conjunction with furniture such as shelves, tables, carts, and so forth. The furniture itself may have no active input/output mechanisms such as processors or onboard sensors. Visual output for the user interface may be projected from an overhead projector onto a plurality of projection surfaces on the furniture. Input, such as a user gesturing towards or touching the projected location of a control element, may be detected remotely.

Abstract: Techniques for providing a container that is accessible to at least a first user within a multiple user environment. The container has predetermined access attributes for the first user, and for other potential users within the environment, and the container can be portable across a network and accessible to the first user within either single user or multiple user environments.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and system for detecting fishing related events and providing notifications to a fisher regarding those events. When a fishing related event, such as a fish on line event occurs, it results in a fishing rod flexing or moving in particular directions. The described implementations include sensors located on or in the fishing rod that provide position data that is utilized to monitor a movement of the fishing rod and determine a type of fishing related event that has occurred.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and system for detecting fishing related events and providing notifications to a fisher regarding those events. When a fishing related event, such as a fish on line event occurs, it results in a fishing rod flexing or moving in particular directions. The described implementations include sensors located on or in the fishing rod that provide position data that is utilized to monitor a movement of the fishing rod and determine a type of fishing related event that has occurred.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and devices for providing a utility distribution infrastructure for one or more moveable pieces of active furniture. The utility distribution infrastructure is configured to provide one or more utilities such as electrical power, heating, cooling, fluid, gas, communications, and so forth, to one or more pieces of active furniture, which may be repositioned within the infrastructure.