Abstract: A method includes generating a control set, based on input received via a user interface, the control set comprising at least a first product of a product category type. The method further includes generating a test set, based on input received via the user interface, the test set comprising at least a second product of the product category type other than the first product in the control set. The method further includes changing a feature of the second product in the test set, the feature being visible on a web page via the internet, while maintaining the feature of the first product in the control set. The method further includes measuring competitor or consumer responses to the changing. The method further includes generating a recommendation based on the measured competitor or consumer responses.

Abstract: A misting fan system includes a fan and a mister positioned above the fan. The fan includes a motor and a plurality of fan blades operably coupled thereto. Each of the fan blades comprises a base member and a paddle member mated to the base member, and each paddle member comprises an upper surface and a lower surface. A hydrophobic coating may be applied to at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the paddle member of at least one of the plurality of fan blades.

Abstract: Competitors are classified in terms of products the competitors offer. A product set is generated from product information received from a user. Also, a competitor set is generated, where the competitor set comprises at least one competitor determined to be relevant to one or more products in the product set. A target price rule is generated that is operative to change a price offered by the user for the at least one product. A competitor's relevancy can be determined by considering factors such as: (1) unique visitors to the competitor's website, (2) reviews on the competitor's website (3), ratings on the competitor's website, (4) absolute number of products common to the user's website and the competitor's website, (5) percentage number of products common to the user's website and the competitor's website, and (6) number of products offered by the competitor that comprise the product set.

Abstract: This disclosure includes various methods and systems for automatically identifying product substitutes based on correlating product attributes to attributes of products in a subset of possible product pairs that are identified as substitute pairs.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a tilt angle of a plurality of slats in a window blind. The window blind includes a headrail having disposed therein a shaft that rotates responsive to rotation of an externally accessible angle adjustment wand. The apparatus includes a pulley coupled with the shaft and the slats. The pulley causes adjustment of the tilt angle of the slats in response to rotation of the shaft, provides a first torque at a first position corresponding to an open position of the slats and a second torque at a second position corresponding to an approximately closed position of the slats, where the second torque is greater than the first torque.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying a user interface may include an examination and/or elimination of positional bias of interactive categories in order to drive user engagement. A method or system configured to execute the method on a user interface may include creating a first arrangement of categories. The arrangement can be shown on a user device to one or more users a selected number of times. The users' interactions with the categories in the interface may be recorded. The method may further include creating a second arrangement, which is different from the first arrangement, and this second arrangement may be shown to the users the selected number of times and the users' interactions with the second arrangement may be recorded. Based on the frequency of user interactions with the first and second arrangement, a ranked set of the categories may be created and displayed to users.

Abstract: A hanging bracket for supporting a suspended apparatus and a control unit housing includes a base having a first end and a second end. The first end includes a first surface and a first screw boss therethrough, and the second end includes a second surface and a second screw boss therethrough. The bracket also includes a support portion vertically spaced from the base, where the support portion adapted to support the suspended apparatus, and a neck extending between the base and the support portion. At least the first surface of the first end of the base, the second surface of the second end of the base, and the first and second screw bosses collectively form an interface configured for juxtaposition with complementary surfaces and screw holes of the control unit housing.

Abstract: A method for creating an augmented reality experience. The method includes receiving a value to associate with a stored value token, searching a database for one of products and services that are sold close to the value, matching at least one of a product and a service which is sold close to the value, and creating a record comprising a token identifier and a graphical item representing one of the product and service that is found during matching, receiving a request to initiate the augmented reality experience. The method further includes, in response to the request, preparing data comprising augmented reality information including a video file and the record. The method further includes sending the data over a computer network.

Abstract: This disclosure includes systems and methods for providing purchase recommendations to a user that may include items frequently purchased with a product selected by the user. The determination of which items are frequently purchased with which other items may account for both online and in-store transactions and may further account for both pairwise and multi-wise relationships. The recommendations may be provided on an electronic user interface, such as a website, in response to the user's selection of the product through the electronic user interface. The recommendations may be tailored to the user's selected product so that the recommended items are available in the same delivery channel as the user-selected product.

Abstract: A cabinet assembly and cabinet assembly kit include two side panels and a rear panel coupled by hinge assemblies. Each hinge assembly includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a linkage. The first and second brackets each include a key that alternate to create a key channel when the one of the side panels is positioned at a generally right angle relative to the rear panel. Each hinge assembly permits the cabinet assembly to be configured in a folded configuration in which the side panels are parallel with the rear panel. A locking bracket includes a locking member sized and shaped to be inserted into the key channel. The locking bracket locks the side panel into a substantially right angle relative to the rear panel when the locking member is inserted into the key channel.

Abstract: A system facilitates identifying service providers capable of performing services for users and enable the pricing and scheduling of services to be performed by the service providers. A user submits a service request including a service description and optionally service constraints such as a required service location and service time. The system matches the service request with service providers potentially suitable for performing the requested service. The system sends bid solicitations to matched service providers, who may then respond with requests for additional information or bids. The bids are presented to the user, who then selects the bid best suited for his or her needs. The service provider associated with the selected bid is notified of the user's selection, thereby scheduling the service. A social graph associated with the user may be used to assist users in selecting bids.

Abstract: A customizable router manages traffic between application programming interfaces (APIs) of microservice applications (apps) that make up various features of a website. Various datastores may also be used to store information, such as information related to certain products, pricing, users, etc. In order for the website to function properly, the microservice apps communicate with one another and with the datastores. The customizable router is used to manage and route traffic between the microservice apps and/or datastores. The customizable router may, for example, route a universal resource indicator (URI) request for a webpage of a website to particular versions or revisions of a microservice app based on rules established for the customizable router. For example, a certain percentage of traffic may be routed to a first version of a microservice app, while a different percentage of traffic may be routed to a second version of the microservice app.

Abstract: Methods of operating a search engine may include calculating multi-modal document vector models for each of a plurality of electronic documents, training category-specific, search query-specific ranking models with respective machine learning algorithms based on those document vector models, and applying each of those models to further instances of the same search query to rank the documents responsive to that search query.

Abstract: A packaging system protects and retains all the components of a lighting unit with a resilient binding unit. The packaging system is used for a lighting unit with a first component having a first elongate member and a second component having a second elongate member. It also includes a carrier base with a first and second aperture used to receive and hold the first and second elongate member at a first longitudinal location. The second aperture is located proximate to the first aperture. The packaging also includes a resilient binding element for holding the first and second components with a first and second ring to receive and hold the first and second elongate member at a second longitudinal location, where the second longitudinal location being spaced a distance from the first longitudinal location. The binding element is used to inhibit the first and second components from being longitudinally moved relative to each other.

Abstract: A method for operating a database and a cache of at least a portion of the database may include receiving a plurality of read requests to read a data entity from the database and counting respective quantities of the requests serviced from the database and from the cache. The method may further include receiving a write request to alter the data entity in the database and determining whether to update the cache to reflect the alteration to the data entity in the write request according to the quantity of the requests serviced from the database and the quantity of the requests serviced from the cache. In an embodiment, the method further includes causing the cache to be updated when a ratio of the quantity of the requests serviced from the database to the quantity of the requests serviced from the cache exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A promotion price adjustment system of the present application utilizes improved data definitions, caching, and a combination of online and offline processing to increase the efficiency and speed of applying promotional discounts in electronic retail systems. The system performs an offline batch process on a product catalog to generate a predetermined mapping between products in the catalog and candidate promotions. When checkout of a product in a virtual shopping cart is initiated, the product's candidate promotions are obtained from the predetermined mapping. Each of those candidate promotions is then evaluated against the properties of the virtual shopping cart to determine which of those candidate promotions are eligible for application. Any eligible promotions may serve as a basis for applying price discounts to the virtual shopping cart.

Abstract: A magnetic wand is used for adjusting window blinds. The blinds include slats and a slat angle adjustment mechanism. The wand includes an upper housing portion and a handle portion. The upper housing portion has a connecting mechanism disposed on one end and a docking area on a second end. The connecting mechanism is adapted to connect the upper housing portion to the window blinds. A first magnetically attractive element is disposed within the docking area. The handle portion has an end shaped to fit within the docking area. The end includes a second magnetically attractive element. The second magnetically attractive element is adapted to releasably couple with the first magnetically attractive element through magnetic coupling, forming a magnetic joint. That magnetic joint is configured to prevent the handle portion from longitudinally rotating independently relative to the upper housing portion.