Abstract: Provided herein are methodologies, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media for configuring a graphical user interface of an electronic display device for enabling preauthorized payment of products or services using distributed processing. A customer may interact with a kiosk or terminal to identify themselves and initiate the process for dynamically computing an active preauthorization limit. Items may then be added to the customer's balance at various point of sale terminals or scanning locations within the facility. Total cost of the items is compared to the active preauthorization limit. Once the customer is finished shopping, a GUI can present them with an authorization screen showing their shopping balance and requesting authorization. The user can interact with the GUI to approve the total via the GUI without the need to produce their card or payment method at checkout.

Abstract: A technique for generating terminal resource recommendations is discussed. Terminal activity status data is retrieved from a number of sensors in order to generate and render terminal resource recommendations. The activity status data is used to calculate a current active terminal recommendation indicative of the number of terminals needed to currently satisfy a particular service metric. A predicted active terminal recommendation indicative of the number of terminals needed at a specified future time period in order to satisfy a particular service metric at the specified future time period may also be generated.

Abstract: An asset protection system and method may include detecting that a first item includes a first security device coupled to the first item, in response to the first item being scanned by the user, instructing the user to deactivate the first security device and then place the first item into a bagging area, wherein a deactivator is located at the point of sale computer terminal to deactivate the first security device, directing a detection source to scan the bagging area after the first item and other items have been placed into the bagging area, and determining based on the scanning by the detection source, that a second security device coupled to the at least one item other than the first item in the bagging area has been deactivated, but the at least one item has not been scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal.

Abstract: A mobile computing device holder that mounts to a wall is described. The mobile computing device holder holds a mobile computing device base, such as a docking station or charger. The mobile computing device base cradles a mobile computing device such as a smart phone or scanning device. The mobile computing device holder includes a wall mount fixture that mounts to the wall and holds the mobile computing device base. A coupling apparatus is coupled to the mobile computing device so that the mobile computing device can be tethered to the wall mount fixture. The tether device tethers the mobile computing device and coupling apparatus to the wall mount fixture so the mobile computing device can be used, but cannot be moved more than the length of the tethering device from the wall mount fixture. The mobile computing device is docked in the base when not in use.

Abstract: A shopping cart bagging station that can be made from recyclable materials and is lightweight and portable is described. The shopping cart bagging station can be molded or otherwise formed of a single unitary piece of material. The shopping cart bagging station can be mounted in various locations on a shopping cart, making it easy and convenient for a customer to carry and load a plurality of shopping bags as they shop. The shopping cart bagging station includes a support bar with a bag holder hook and pair of shopping bag handle arms. The shopping cart bagging station also includes a first and a second mounting structure. The first and the second mounting structure are configured to couple the shopping cart bagging station to a shopping cart.

Abstract: An asset protection system and method may include detecting that a first item includes a first security device coupled to the first item, in response to the first item being scanned by the user, instructing the user to deactivate the first security device and then place the first item into a bagging area, wherein a deactivator located at the point of sale computer terminal to deactivate the first security device, directing a detection source to scan the bagging area after the first item and other items have been placed into the bagging area, and determining based on the scanning by the detection source, that a second security device coupled to the at least one item other than the first item in the bagging area has been deactivated, but the at least one item has not been scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal.

Abstract: Described is a mobile point-of sale cart for use in a retail store. The cart has four legs and three platforms coupled to the legs. Each of the three platforms is at a different height above the ground. The legs have wheels for easy movement from one place to another, and the legs are telescoping so the cart can be easily stored. The cart holds the equipment needed for a retail store employee to checkout customers and perform other common tasks. The cart has multiple bins to hold a handheld scanner, a debit card reader, and a portable printer. The cart has a bagging station coupled to the top platform, and a shopping bag support surface coupled to the second platform. The cart can be moved about the store to easily ring up purchases, and can be stored when not in use.

Abstract: A voice-actuated system is described that allows voice authentication of on-line secure commands, such as purchases, by one or more designated users. It allows for an account to have multiple signatories that are required to approve a secure command. A user speaks commands into a local microphone, or in another embodiment, into a mobile device. A command recognition device identifies a secure command and sends it to a spectrum/cadence device to analyze spectrum and/or cadence. Also, the voice input may be sent to a word count/grammar device to analyze word counts and grammar errors to identify the user. Once identified, the account of user may be found and contact information for other signatories is acquired. The signatories are contacted and their identities are verified by comparison of their voices to pre-stored voice samples of the signatories.

Abstract: Described is a mobile computing device holder that mounts to a piece of furniture, specifically to the corner of a piece of furniture. The mobile computing device holder holds a mobile computing device base, such as a docking station or charger, and a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device holder includes a corner mount fixture that mounts to a corner of a piece of furniture and holds the mobile computing device base such that the mobile computing device is cradled in the mobile computing device base. The mobile computing device holder also includes a tether device that tethers the mobile computing device to the mobile computing device base so the mobile computing device can be used, but cannot be moved more than the length of the tethering device from the corner mount fixture.

Abstract: A system is described for making use of recycled containers, such as recyclable bags. The shopper first opts into a reusable bag recycling program using a computing device, such as a smartphone. The shopper may select and purchase products through an e-commerce system. The e-commerce system determines if the shopper has allergies and if so, either provides a non-allergenic reusable bag to shopper, or uses non-allergenic bags to package the products purchased through the e-commerce system. If the shopper does not have allergies, then a standard reusable bag will be used. An automated dispensing unit receives reusable bags, authenticates, tests, sanitizes and stores the reusable bags. Credit is provided to shopper for each reusable bag returned. It also debits the account of shopper for reusable bags provided to shopper or used to package products purchased through the e-commerce system.

Abstract: A system and method for acquiring store comprise establishing an electronic communication between a mobile device and a unmanned vehicle; tracking in a store by the unmanned vehicle a customer having the mobile device; collecting data by the unmanned vehicle regarding items of interest by the customer; and processing and outputting to the mobile device a result from the collected data, the result used by the customer to determine whether to purchase the items of interest based on the collected data.

Abstract: Described is a mobile computing device holder that mounts to a piece of furniture, specifically to the corner of a piece of furniture. The mobile computing device holder holds a mobile computing device base, such as a docking station or charger, and a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device holder includes a corner mount fixture that mounts to a corner of a piece of furniture and holds the mobile computing device base such that the mobile computing device is cradled in the mobile computing device base. The mobile computing device holder also includes a tether device that tethers the mobile computing device to the mobile computing device base so the mobile computing device can be used, but cannot be moved more than the length of the tethering device from the corner mount fixture.

Abstract: Described is a device for holding portable computing devices at a register of a retail store. The device for holding portable computing devices includes an elongate member with a first end and a second end. The first end has a coupler that couples to a pole. The second end is coupled to a register. In some embodiments, the elongate member includes a rod portion and a flat bar portion. The coupler couples the rod portion to the pole. The flat bar portion is coupled to the register. The rod portion is sized to conveniently receive portable computing device couplers so that the portable computing devices can be repeatably and removeably hung from the rod portion. Customers who have used the store's scanners while shopping can hang their borrowed scanner on the device when they are done using the scanner.

Abstract: A technique for generating terminal resource recommendations is discussed. Terminal activity status data is retrieved from a number of sensors in order to generate and render terminal resource recommendations. The activity status data is used to calculate a current active terminal recommendation indicative of the number of terminals needed to currently satisfy a particular service metric. A predicted active terminal recommendation indicative of the number of terminals needed at a specified future time period in order to satisfy a particular service metric at the specified future time period may also be generated.

Abstract: A mobile computing device holder that mounts to a wall is described. The mobile computing device holder holds a mobile computing device base, such as a docking station or charger. The mobile computing device base cradles a mobile computing device such as a smart phone or scanning device. The mobile computing device holder includes a wall mount fixture that mounts to the wall and holds the mobile computing device base. A coupling apparatus is coupled to the mobile computing device so that the mobile computing device can be tethered to the wall mount fixture. The tether device tethers the mobile computing device and coupling apparatus to the wall mount fixture so the mobile computing device can be used, but cannot be moved more than the length of the tethering device from the wall mount fixture. The mobile computing device is docked in the base when not in use.

Abstract: Provided herein are methodologies, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media for configuring a graphical user interface of an electronic display device for enabling preauthorized payment of products or services using distributed processing. A customer may interact with a kiosk or terminal to identify themselves and initiate the process for dynamically computing an active preauthorization limit. Items may then be added to the customer's balance at various point of sale terminals or scanning locations within the facility. Total cost of the items is compared to the active preauthorization limit. Once the customer is finished shopping, a GUI can present them with an authorization screen showing their shopping balance and requesting authorization. The user can interact with the GUI to approve the total via the GUI without the need to produce their card or payment method at checkout.

Abstract: Described is a device for holding portable computing devices at a register of a retail store. The device for holding portable computing devices includes an elongate member with a first end and a second end. The first end has a coupler that couples to a pole. The second end is coupled to a register. In some embodiments, the elongate member includes a rod portion and a flat bar portion. The coupler couples the rod portion to the pole. The flat bar portion is coupled to the register. The rod portion is sized to conveniently receive portable computing device couplers so that the portable computing devices can be repeatably and removeably hung from the rod portion. Customers who have used the store's scanners while shopping can hang their borrowed scanner on the device when they are done using the scanner.

Abstract: A garbage collection system comprises a housing positioned under a belt of a point of sale register counter; first and second bins positioned in the housing under the point of sale register counter, the first bin for receiving garbage and/or recyclables, the second bin for receiving hangers; and at least one sliding rail extending perpendicular from a height of the housing, the first and second bins coupled to the at least one sliding rail, at least one of the first and second bins retracting or protruding from at least a portion of the housing in a first position and positioned entirely in the housing in a second position.

Abstract: Provided herein are methodologies, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media for configuring a graphical user interface of an electronic display device for enabling preauthorized payment of products or services using distributed processing. A customer may interact with a kiosk or terminal to identify themselves and initiate the process for dynamically computing an active preauthorization limit. Items may then be added to the customer's balance at various point of sale terminals or scanning locations within the facility. Total cost of the items is compared to the active preauthorization limit. Once the customer is finished shopping, a GUI can present them with an authorization screen showing their shopping balance and requesting authorization. The user can interact with the GUI to approve the total via the GUI without the need to produce their card or payment method at checkout.

Abstract: A mobile bagging station comprises a base; a sloped table on the base; and at least one bagging fixture proximal the table so that items roll or slide down the slope of the table to a perimeter of the table for insertion into at least one bag positioned at the bagging fixture.