Abstract: A system and method for providing recommendations to individuals on a social network, in which the recommendations include information indicating the similarity of the individuals to one another, to aid the individuals in judging the degree to which the opinions of the others are applicable to the themselves.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an air agitator nozzle system are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a vacuum and a nozzle. The vacuum is configured to suck particles from a floor surface. The nozzle is configured to spray air at the floor surface to loosen the particles and to push the loosened particles toward the vacuum to be sucked from the floor surface.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed that provide a merchandise return and/or exchange process for items purchased from brick-and-mortar and/or e-commerce stores. In some embodiments, a mobile computing device of a customer may determine whether the mobile computing device and therefore the customer are in a defined zone for a store. In response to determining that the mobile computing device is in the defined zone, the mobile computing device may notify the customer and request whether the customer wishes to initiate a return and/or exchange of purchased items to the store. The mobile computing device may notify a merchandise pickup system of the customer's desire to return the purchased items.

Abstract: A retailer computer system receives from a first computing device a shopping recap having data indicative of one or more products that were shown to a customer by the sales associate while the customer was within a retail establishment. The received shopping recap is stored within a data repository where it is linked to a customer identifier that is associated with the customer and an associate identifier that is associated with the sale associate. If the customer later purchases a product, data indicative of the product being purchased is compared against data within any shopping recap that is linked to that customer to determine if a sales associate that is also linked to any shopping recap linked to that customer is to be awarded a commission for the product being purchased. The purchase of the product by the customer may further generate a digital receipt where the digital receipt includes a notice that the customer is being awarded an incentive, such as a coupon.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for managing a loyalty program. In some embodiments, a system includes a loyalty program management (LPM) system and a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The POS terminal is configured to read a membership identifier, identify a plurality of goods, complete a sale of the identified plurality of goods to the member, and transmit, to the loyalty program management system, the read membership identifier and information about the identified plurality of goods. Based on the received information, the LPM system is configured to identify one or more point categories, and update earned loyalty points of the member in each of the identified one or more point categories. The LPM system is further configured to provide the POS terminal with a redemption value to be applied to the sale.

Abstract: Systems and methods that support the creation and timely electronic scheduling and delivery of course materials for training of individuals in an organization, in which course recommendations, scheduling, and rollout are based upon a number of factors including, for example, specific individual and/or business day-to-day operational performance measures, sales performance, and seasonal weather conditions by geographical region.

Abstract: A system and method for providing personalized recommendations or promotional information to consumers based upon a recommendation algorithm selected from a number of recommendation algorithms, by matching personal contextual information of each consumer to detailed contexts in which each recommendation algorithm exhibits optimal performance with regard to particular business performance measures.

Abstract: A system and method for the preparation of electronic publications or “ePubs” that provide a rich multimedia experience to readers using any of a variety of user devices, without requiring those individuals wishing to prepare such ePubs to install proprietary client applications on the computing device used to prepare the ePubs, and without the need to download a large portion or all of the ePub to enable viewing on an electronic device of an end-user.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods and systems that support automated, targeted polling of consumers via an e-commerce promotions platform for administering e-commerce promotional activities, such as, for example, sweepstakes, contests, giveaways, and/or instant wins.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed that process requested changes to operating parameters of an Internet of Things (IoT) device. In some embodiments, a client computing device originates a requested change to the IoT device. An IoT services system may process the requested change and determine whether an early indication of success is appropriate. If an early indication of success is appropriate, the IoT services system, prior to the requested change being applied to the IoT device, transmits to the client computing device a first message that provides an indication of success for the requested change.

Abstract: Example gesture based cross-channel commerce retail systems and methods are provided. Some of the example systems and methods permit a consumer to complete a Store Pick Up order, i.e., an order placed by the consumer via computer, mobile device, telephone, fax, mail-order, etc., by gesturing with a mobile device near a digital kiosk and optical sensor at a store pick up location. The mobile device and/or the digital kiosk may display media content to the consumer while the consumer completes the Store Pick Up order. In another example system, a digital kiosk is located in a public area such as an airport, shopping mall, train station, or stadium. The digital kiosk displays media content to the consumer, and the consumer may transfer to a mobile device such media by gesturing with the mobile device near the digital kiosk.

Abstract: Offers are distributed by providing a plurality of offers to a first user and directing the first user to distribute the offers to selected additional users. The plurality of offers may be customized by the system based on the first user's previous interactions with the system, and may be further customized by the first user before sending the offers to the selected additional users. The additional users may include any user including known and/or unknown users and/or contact in the first's user networks including business and/or social networks. The system may also track and store information relating to the distribution, access, and redemption of the offer by the first user and the selected additional users and provide additional incentives based upon the access and redemption, and based upon interactions between the first user and the selected additional users.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a connected sales associate service application via a mobile device. The application provides for an integrated platform upon which various tools for providing support to a sales associate are built. The application includes a database of information regarding the operation of a retail establishment, and a database of reference materials. The application provides a user interface for allowing several sales associate to access a central server for the retail establishment on multiple mobile devices. The user interface displays information regarding sales and inventory information and reference materials for products, such as user's manuals, which enable the sales associate to answer questions posed by customers. A sales associate can thus search for and find all store products which meet a customer's specifications.

Abstract: A method for data presentation includes assembling a set of documents in response to a search query by a user having a social network. A respective person is identified with each of a group of documents in the set. For at least one document in the group, a chain of one or more links is found in the social network between the respective person and the user. A search results page is displayed, including an identification of the at least one document together with a sequence of breadcrumbs corresponding to the one or more links in the chain.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed regarding an e-commerce system that maintains references between products and relevant content. In some embodiments, methods and/or apparatus obtain content from one or more content providers via a computer network, identify a product from a product catalog of an electronic database that is related to the obtained content; and update references to relevant content maintained in an electronic database for the product to include a reference to the obtained content.

Abstract: A method for managing an electronic commerce (e-commerce) shopping cart may include, in a computing device comprising a touch screen, memory, and at least one processor, receiving a selection of one of a plurality of web pages associated with an e-commerce web site. The selected one of the plurality of web pages and an indication of the e-commerce shopping cart may be displayed on the touch screen. The indication of the e-commerce shopping cart may be integrated for display into each of the plurality of web pages. While displaying the selected one of the plurality of web pages and the indication of the e-commerce shopping cart, at least one gesture event associated with the e-commerce shopping cart may be detected. Access to the e-commerce shopping cart may be enabled upon detecting the at least one gesture event.

Abstract: A multi-mode air compressor pressure switch is disclosed. A first mode of operation of the switch has a first range that includes a first cut-out pressure and a first cut-in pressure. A second mode of operation of the switch has a second range that includes a second cut-out pressure and a second cut-in pressure. The second range is smaller than the first range. The second mode of operation adds compressor output over the first mode of operation to extend operable time of a tool that is connected to a compressor that is controlled by the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: A refrigeration device includes a refrigerated compartment, a door that seals the compartment, a dispenser opening in an exterior surface of the door, and a dispenser outlet in the opening. The refrigeration device also includes a reservoir configured to hold a substance and a conveyor configured to convey the substance from the reservoir to the dispenser outlet. Measurement sensors of the refrigeration device are configured to generate first measurement signals that are indicative a gesture of a hand in the dispenser opening. A control unit of the refrigeration device is configured to ascertain a requested fill height based upon the first measurement signals. The control unit is further configured to generate signals that cause the conveyor to convey the substance from the reservoir to a container placed under the dispenser outlet and cease conveying the substance upon the container attaining the requested fill level.

Abstract: A computing device hosting a website of a business may be operable to receive a first search input comprising a term submitted via a search bar on the website. Upon performing an internal search for the term with no result, the computing device may output information on the no-result. The computing device may then perform, using one or more external search engines, a search for the term. Search results of the search, performed using the external search engine(s), may be analyzed. Based on a result of the analysis, one or more particular character strings related to the term may be identified. The computing device may generate and store, based on the identifying of the particular character string(s), one or more alternative search suggestions. Upon subsequently receiving an input comprising at least a portion of the term entered in the search bar, the computing device may output the alternative search suggestion(s).

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods and systems that enable a consumer to electronically shop for products using a conventional electronic shopping cart such as are typically provided by online merchants, and to also create and manage one or more additional “shared” electronic shopping carts through which the end-user may automatically share details of such shopping activities with others using electronic means such as online social networks, short message services, and email, thereby enabling others to participate and assist in various shopping activities.