Abstract: The present disclosure describes a directional radio frequency identification (RFID) system, which provides directional RFID tag scanning using RFID enclosures and moveable radio signal blocking components. The RFID systems herein also prevent unwanted RFID tag activation and focuses RFID readers on specific scan areas. The directional RFID systems may be implemented in any type of system that utilizes RFID tag reading, such as a point of sale systems and other related systems, which utilize RFID scanning.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe providing feedback to a shopper at a POS system using a computer vision system. Many items at a store may lack barcodes or other identifying marks such as produce. The shopper may have to perform an action to identify the item to the POS system. The computer vision system can double check the identify provided by the shopper to reduce mistakes and deter nefarious actors. If the computer vision system cannot independently confirm that the item being purchased matched the identity provided by the shopper, the POS system can display a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes an image of the item captured by the computer vision system along with identification data of the item identified by the shopper. This gives the shopper a chance to correct any mistakes.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a window of effectiveness are provided. A region of effectiveness for a scanner at a checkout kiosk is provided, wherein the region of effectiveness defines a volume where successful scans occur. It is determined that a first path of an item is outside the region of effectiveness. Feedback to change a path of the item to be within the region of effectiveness during a rescan of the item is outputted, using the checkout kiosk.

Abstract: A method includes supporting, by a support, a bag containing one or more items of an order and detecting, by a sensor coupled to an end of the support, a weight of the bag and the one or more items when the bag is suspended on the support such that the weight of the bag and the one or more items is exerted on the support. The method also includes comparing, by a hardware processor, the detected weight to an expected weight of the order and communicating, by the hardware processor, an alert when the expected weight is unequal to the detected weight.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for curating search results. A first request to look up an identifier for an item is received from a first user, and first tracking information corresponding to movements of the first user in a physical space is retrieved. At least one item associated with the first user while moving in the physical space is identified from the first tracking information. A first identifier of the at least one item is determined, and the first identifier is provide to the first user.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques to selectively provide user interventions. A transaction is initiated for a user device, and data describing a user of the user device during the transaction is collected. A preferred level of intervention for the transaction is determined based on the collected data. Interventions are selectively provided to the user device during the transaction based on the preferred level of intervention.

Abstract: Networked devices in a communications network share a common firmware key. Using the common firmware key, one networked device can encrypt configuration data it uses to operate in the network for distribution to other networked devices of the same or similar type. The networked devices that receive the encrypted configuration data then use the common firmware key to decrypt the encrypted configuration data, and using the decrypted configuration data, self-configure to operate on the network. This allows for the secure distribution of configuration data, as well as the self-configuration of networked devices without exposing the sensitive data needed for such configuration to a human.

Abstract: Thermal printing systems are described. The thermal printing systems and methods described provide efficient, compact, and fast thermal printing by providing preheating components that generate a priming thermal energy which preheats thermal paper in the printing system. The priming thermal energy decreases the amount of energy needed to activate the thermal paper during printing. The system and methods also include an optical print head which activates thermal paper using optical energy, which provides for multiple different types of efficient component configuration and increased speed of printing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for monitoring transaction data. A first symbol is a symbol is assigned, at a first point in time, to a user device, where, when a user of the user device inputs an item, the user device outputs the symbol. The symbol is then detected, via one or more image capture devices, at one or more moments in time, and a number of times that the symbol was detected is determined. At a second point in time subsequent to the first point in time, a number of items associated with the user is determined. An audit of the uses is initiated based on determining that a difference between the number of times and the number of items exceeds a threshold maximum difference.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for graphics translation. A plurality of natural language image descriptions is collected for an image of a product. An overall description for the image is generated using one or more models, based on the plurality of natural language image descriptions, by: identifying a set of shared descriptors used in at least a subset of the plurality of natural language image descriptions, and aggregating the set of shared descriptors to form the overall description. A first request to provide a description of the first image is received, and the overall description is returned in response to the first request, where the overall description is output using one or more text-to-speech techniques.

Abstract: A method of assigning products to shoppers can be provided by determining that a plurality of shoppers are collaborating with one another to purchase a plurality of products included on a shared shopping list, receiving shopper characteristics for the plurality of shoppers, receiving respective parameters for the plurality of products included on the shared shopping list, assigning respective sub-lists of the plurality of products for picking by respective ones of the shoppers at a retail shopping location based on the shopper characteristics for the respective ones of the shoppers and the respective parameters for the plurality of products included on the shared shopping list, and providing the respective sub-lists of the plurality of products to the plurality of shoppers. Related systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Radio frequency identification discontinuity correction is provided by calculating a phase-time slope for a Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) signal received from an RFID tag; estimating, based on the phase-time slope, a predicted phase reading for the RFID signal at a given time; and in response to detecting a phase discontinuity based on a difference between the predicted phase reading and an actual phase reading for the given time, adjusting a calculated distance to the RFID tag. The calculated distance may indicate that the RFID tag is inside of or outside of a designated zone, and that a motion of the RFID tag indicates travel towards or away from the designated zone, which may be used to add or remove an item associated with the RFID tag to an ongoing item list.

Abstract: A network node associated with a retail store receives digital images from customers who have initiated a customer transaction at a first location. The digital images are unique and are associated with the transaction. The transaction is then temporarily suspended. To resume the transaction, the customer provides information describing features of the previously provided digital image. The network node uses this information to locate the corresponding digital image, and thus, the corresponding suspended transaction, and to authenticate the customer to resume the transaction. Provided the customer is authenticated, the node resumes the suspended transaction.

Abstract: A computing device is associated with a retail store. As a customer scans his/her items for purchase, images of a bag containing the items are captured and sent to the computing device to be digitally processed. Based on the processing, the computing device identifies the item(s) the customer intends to purchase, and determines whether there are any other items in the container that are different from the first item. If so, the computing device outputs a signal indicating the presence of the second item in the container.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for adjusting display brightness. The method includes determining a color of a bezel surrounding a display and automatically adjusting a brightness of the display based on the color of the bezel.

Abstract: Computer vision grouping recognition is provided by receiving training images that include unpackaged items; identifying, by a computer vision model, a candidate identities for unpackaged items in a given training image; receiving, from a human user, a selected identity for the unpackaged item as feedback for the candidate identity; constructing a confusion matrix tallying matches and mismatches between candidate identities and the selected identities as analyzed across the training images for each unpackaged item; identifying at least one product category that includes at least a first unpackaged item and a second unpackaged item that the confusion matrix indicates as being misidentified for each other by the computer vision model; and reconfiguring the computer vision model to identify the product category instead of the first unpackaged item or the second unpackaged item when analyzing a given image including one or more of the first unpackaged item or the second unpackaged item.

Abstract: Method, computer program product, and system to prioritize the execution of processing task requests in a task request queue, where the processing task requests are related to an environment. The method includes adding processing task requests to a task request queue in response to the detection of predefined actions in an environment. The method also includes adding additional processing task requests or adjusting a priority level of not yet completed task requests in the task request queue, in response to detecting subsequent predefined actions in the environment.

Abstract: A network node associated with a retail store.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing data across an enterprise system including enterprise servers on an enterprise level and including store locations at a store level including edge devices operatively coupled to the enterprise servers can be provided by providing a changeplan that specifies updated data for microservice data operating within the enterprise system on an endpoint that utilizes the microservice in a microservice architecture to perform operations at a store location, executing the changeplan to initiate an export from an enterprise server that operates the microservice at the enterprise level to create an updated state for the microservice data on the endpoint, replicating the updated state for the microservice data at the enterprise server to provide an export updated state for the microservice data on the endpoint, storing the export updated state for the microservice data in an export table at the enterprise level, transmitting a message on a durable message bus from the enterprise level to the store

Abstract: Techniques for self-checkout alert reduction based on packaging detection. A deflection in a first bag reservoir associated with a self-checkout kiosk is determined. The first bag reservoir is positioned adjacent to a packing area and includes a first type of bags. The self-checkout kiosk includes a terminal scale and further includes a platform scale in the packing area. That an empty bag is retrieved from the first bag reservoir is determined based on the deflection in the first bag reservoir. A bag type and a weight range are identified for the empty bag. An allowed weight range of a combination of the empty bag and a desired item is then determined. Presence of the empty bag on the platform scale is prevented from causing a loss prevention alert to be generated when the desired item has been placed in the empty bag on the platform scale.