Abstract: A method is disclosed for administering a gift registry. Within the method, a computer system may associate or link a gift registry to a computing device in the possession of a customer. A point-of-sale system forming part of the computer system may then initiate a transaction comprising the purchase of an item by the customer. The computer system may identify a link between the computing device and the transaction, determine that the item is listed within the gift registry, and receive confirmation that the item was purchased for the gift registry. Accordingly, the computer system may modify the gift registry to reflect the purchase of the item.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for calendaring reminders. Within the method, one or more point-of-sale transactions may be conducted. The transactions may involve a computer system and a customer possessing a mobile computing device. The computer system may store receipt data documenting the transactions. The computer system may also search the receipt data in an effort to locate one or more products having predictable purchase periodicity. When such products are identified, one or more appropriate reminders for subsequent purchases of the one or more products may be scheduled.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a commerce server, one or more signals from a head mountable unit corresponding to a forward direction and a position of the head mountable unit. The method also includes the step of identifying, with the processing device, at least one product that is in the forward direction of the head mountable unit based on the signal received from the head mountable unit. The method also includes the step of obtaining, with the processing device, at least one product promotion for the at least one product. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, the at least one product promotion to the head mountable unit.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for storing and presenting warranties to one or more customers. Within the method, a computer system may store at least one warranty. Subsequently, a point-of-sale system forming part of the computer system may initiate a point-of-sale transaction involving a customer. The computer system may then determine that a first product forming part of the point-of-sale transaction corresponds to a first warranty of the least one warranty and offer to display the first warranty. In response to the offer, the computer system may receive a request to display the first warranty from a computing device corresponding to the customer. Accordingly, the computer system may present the first warranty to the customer via the computing device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a commerce server, at least a video signal from a head mountable unit worn by a consumer in a retail store. The method also includes the step of identifying, with the processing device, an indication of depleted stock in the retail store in response to the video signal received from the head mountable unit. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a restock signal in response to the identifying step.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a commerce server, one or more signals from a head mountable unit corresponding to a forward direction and a position of the head mountable unit. The method also includes the step of identifying, with the processing device, at least one product that is in the forward direction of the head mountable unit based on the signal received from the head mountable unit. The method also includes the step of obtaining, with the processing device, at least one product promotion for the at least one product. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, the at least one product promotion to the head mountable unit.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for searching digital receipts at a mobile device. A customer mobile device receives and stores one or more digital receipts. The one or more digital receipts correspond to transactions conducted with a merchant. A user captures an image (e.g., a barcode scan, picture, etc.) from or of an item. Search criteria (e.g., barcode data, item characteristics, etc.) are derived from the captured image. The search criteria are used to search digital receipts stored at the customer mobile device for instances of the item. One or more instances of the item are identified from among the stored digital receipts. The one or more instances of the item are presented at a display.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for searching digital receipts at a mobile device. A customer mobile device receives and stores one or more digital receipts. The one or more digital receipts correspond to transactions conducted with a merchant. A user captures an image (e.g., a barcode scan, picture, etc.) from or of an item. Search criteria (e.g., barcode data, item characteristics, etc.) are derived from the captured image. The search criteria are used to search digital receipts stored at the customer mobile device for instances of the item. One or more instances of the item are identified from among the stored digital receipts. The one or more instances of the item are presented at a display.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of monitoring a plurality of locations within a retail store with respective cameras directed at each location and generating respective monitoring video signals. The method also includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a commerce server, an access signal from a head mountable unit worn by a consumer in the retail store containing a request for access to at least one of the monitoring video signals. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, at least one of the monitoring video signals to the head mountable unit in response to said receiving step.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for alerting a customer when an item is out of stock or in stock. In embodiments, the customer may add items to a shopping list within a shopping list software application (commonly known as an “app”) installed on a mobile computing device such as a smart phone. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, if one or more items on the shopping list become out-of-stock, and/or later become in-stock, the system may transmit an alert to be displayed on the shopping list app to notify the customer. The system may notify the customer regarding relevant changes in product inventories at selected retail store branches where the customer is most likely to shop and/or has recently shopped.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for maintaining product available on store shelves. An optical code is positioned adjacent a location where a product is located when in stock. A customer finding the product to be out of stock may scan the code and report this fact. A computer system receives the notification and may transmit a message to an employee computing device. Notice of restocking or unavailability may be transmitted from the employee computing device and subsequently reported to a customer computing device. A location of the user computing device may be reported to an employee to facilitate hand delivery of the product if available. Where inventory is not available at a store, notice of availability at a proximate store may be transmitted to the customer computing device. An incentive in the form of a promotion or points may be assigned to notifying customers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of positioning at least one light source at a position in a retail store. The method also includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a position detection server, a video signal from an electronic device possessed by a consumer as the consumer shops in the retail store. At least one image frame of the video signal contains the at least one light source. The method also includes the step of determining, with the processing device, a location of the consumer within the retail store in response to the receiving step.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a commerce server, a video signal containing a barcode from an augmented reality device worn by a consumer shopping in a retail store. The method also includes the step of identifying, with the processing device, the barcode in the video signal. The method also includes the step of correlating, with the processing device, the barcode with a product offered for sale in the retail store.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for enabling pre-purchase feedback. Within the method, a primary customer carrying a first computing device may be received within a brick-and-mortar store. A computer system corresponding to the store may receive via the first computing device an instruction to share with a secondary customer data describing a proposed purchase of one or more products. The computer system may then pass the data to a second computing device corresponding to the secondary customer. The computer system may also receive, via the second computing device, feedback corresponding to the proposed purchase and pass the feedback to the first computing device. Accordingly, the primary customer may receive pre-purchase feedback from the secondary customer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for allowing a customer to create a digital shopping cart on a mobile electronic device while shopping at a brick and mortar store. The customer may scan barcodes, e.g. UPC variants, from a product with the camera of the mobile electronic device and record these product barcodes into the mobile electronic device. The shopping cart contents may be transferred to a checkout register without a data connection between the register and the device. The mobile electronic device may create one or more 2D barcodes with the item information embedded into the 2D barcode and may display the barcode on the device screen. Multiple 2D barcodes may be displayed in sequence. The 2D barcode may be scanned at the checkout register to read the barcode and thereby transmit the shopping cart information to the checkout register.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for arranging advertisement content in digital receipts. A receipt database server formulates a digital receipt for a sales transaction. When the digital receipt is requested for viewing by another computer system, the receipt database server can arrange content in the digital receipt for an advertising purpose. In some embodiments, the digital receipt server places an advertisement insert into the digital receipt. In other embodiments, the digital receipt server (re)arranges receipt items of the digital receipt so that some receipt items appear more prominently (e.g., are moved towards the top of the digital receipt, are displayed in a different color, are highlighted, etc.). Thus, in response to requesting a digital receipt, a customer mobile device can receive an advertisement digital receipt. The advertisement digital receipt can include content arranged for an advertising purpose.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically or semi-automatically depositing retail items into a bag using a robotic arm. Embodiments of the present disclosure comprise a camera, an image processor, and a robotic arm control module to analyze and attempt to identify an item. Human intervention may be utilized to assist in item identification and/or robotic arm control. A human operator may visually identify the item and/or remotely control the robotic arm from a remote control station.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying carts exhibiting tendencies that are indicative of damaged or defective wheels. A shopping cart may be identified and tracked visually through one or more surveillance cameras. By comparing the cart's tracked movement to known symptomatic movement patterns, the system may identify defective or damaged carts. Alternatively, by analyzing movement and positioning of a cart's swiveling wheels, the system may identify defective or damaged carts. Alternatively, by identifying if a customer has abandoned a cart, the system may identify defective or damaged carts. A notification message may be transmitted to an associate to repair or replace the identified problematic cart. The notification may be displayed on a mobile computing device, a workstation, or other like systems.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying carts exhibiting tendencies that are indicative of damaged or defective wheels. A shopping cart may be identified and tracked visually through one or more surveillance cameras. By comparing the cart's tracked movement to known symptomatic movement patterns, the system may identify defective or damaged carts. Alternatively, by analyzing movement and positioning of a cart's swiveling wheels, the system may identify defective or damaged carts. Alternatively, by identifying if a customer has abandoned a cart, the system may identify defective or damaged carts. A notification message may be transmitted to an associate to repair or replace the identified problematic cart. The notification may be displayed on a mobile computing device, a workstation, or other like systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing an estimate of the delay to check out at a store for a target time and date. A user computing device may receive or infer target data such as a time, date, and location at which a user would like to go shopping. The target data may then be input to a delay model for a target location. The delay model returns a checkout delay estimate that is provided to a requesting user. In some embodiment, alternate locations to a target location that provide a shorter wait time may be identified. In some embodiments, delay estimates may be based on throughput data for cashiers working at a target time. The delay model may be trained or updated using observations of wait times based on images of a queue at a POS station.