Abstract: Techniques for evaluating software systems are provided, including measurement of performance ratings of features of an app-under-test are described. The evaluation may include analysis of a video recording of the user interface of the app-under-test, where the video analysis may include comparing the changes over time of co-located pixel in the video to produce a performance rating, for example a speed index. The results of multiple such tests can be compared by comparing the performance rating produced during execution of different tests.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed regarding an e-commerce system that places customers into a plurality of clusters and tailors services provided to a customer based on the cluster in which the customer is placed. In one embodiment, the e-commerce system defines the clusters based on purchase history data for customers having sufficient purchase history data. The e-commerce system then places customers without sufficient purchase history data into one of the defined clusters based on demographic data for the customer and demographic data for the customers in the cluster.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed regarding an e-commerce system that promotes sales of products based on product comparisons. Some embodiments may present a marketing message that justifies a price difference between presented products based on attribute differences between the presented products.

Abstract: A system and method for charging battery packs is provided. The system may include a charging pad comprising a power supply, a charging pad surface, and a microcontroller unit. The power supply may provide charging power. The charging pad surface may include a first charging region and a second charging region. The microcontroller unit may control delivery of charging power to the first charging region and the second charging region such that a device placed on the first charging region is given a higher charging priority than a device placed on the second charging region.

Abstract: A method and system for emergent data processing are described. A system having one or more servers operable to handle retail data can receive content including customer data and product data. The content can be normalized and stored into a hyper-graph structure in the servers. The system can be used to select a portion of the hyper-graph structure based on a particular customer and to generate a recommendation for the particular customer based on the content in that portion of the hyper-graph structure. The system can also generate personal catalogs based on the information in the hyper-graph structure. The system can perform competitive analysis between products from different sources and include the results in the recommendations. Moreover, the system can perform a vertical analysis of consumable products to provide recommendations for tools or products that can be used in connection with the consumable products.

Abstract: A system and method that engages consumers in a consumer game experience that isolates member preferences and fills in the social graph/personal profile of the consumer, to aid in the targeting of various forms of content to the consumer.

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: Door alarm systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed. A door alarm system may monitor a door of a refrigeration device and detect a failed attempt at closing the door. In response to detecting the failed attempt, the door alarm system may generate a notification of the detected, failed attempt so that remedial action may be taken.

Abstract: A system and method that enables the ongoing communication, tracking, and management review of feedback among a population of workers and their management.

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: 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: 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 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 contacts 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. The system may further distribute restricted offers to selected users, and/or allow selected users to share restricted offers with additional users.

Abstract: A computing device (e.g., a server) coupled to a digital signage device may receive characteristic information associated with a visitor of the digital signage device. The received characteristic information may be analyzed, and based on a result of the analysis, advertisement attributes may be determined. The computing device may select, based on the determined advertisement attributes, a particular advertisement from a plurality of advertisement bids. The computing device may cause display of the selected particular advertisement on the digital signage device for the visitor. The characteristic information may be generated by the digital signage device utilizing a video analytics. The computing device may receive particular gesture information associated with a mobile device of the visitor who responds to the displayed particular advertisement.

Abstract: A redundant actuation lock apparatus includes an interface, an electronic mechanism, and a manual mechanism. The interface manipulates lock bar(s) into a locked/unlocked position. The electronic mechanism includes an actuator and power drive. The actuator is disengageably coupled to and drives the interface. The power drive is coupled to and drives the actuator in response to a control signal. The manual mechanism includes a key input and an output. The key input receives and rotates with a mechanical key. The output disengageably couples to the interface and rotates with the mechanical key. The actuator is engaged with and the output is disengaged from the interface in an electronic mode, while the actuator is disengaged from and the output is engaged with the interface in a manual mode.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and system that enable consumers to have deliveries made and services performed safely and securely when they are not at the location at which the delivery is made or service is performed.

Abstract: A system receives from a customer having an associated rewards points account a price offer for an item. The system determines if the price offer for the item is below an established threshold price, e.g., a price a retailer would accept for the item. When the price offer for the item is below the established threshold price, the system determines an amount of rewards points to be redeemed by the customer to thereby allow the customer to purchase the item at the price offer for the item as received from the customer. The system then allows the item to be purchased by the customer at the price offer for the item as received from the customer in the event that the customer indicates a willingness to redeem the determined amount of rewards points from their associated rewards points account.

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: Various embodiments provide a system and method that enables negotiation, creation, and distributed fulfillment of joint gift registries supporting enhanced social interaction among registrants and prospective purchasers.