Patents Assigned to W. W. Grainger, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11301876
    Abstract: The example systems and methods provide ways for websites to monitor, store, retrieve, and display navigation tendencies of users of websites. More particularly, the systems and methods involve websites displaying measures of user traffic associated with various categories of web content. The measures of user traffic may inform a user of how the user previously navigated the various hierarchical categories of web content, or the measures of user traffic may inform a user of how others navigate the various hierarchical categories of web content. Moreover, the user may select an identifiable group of users for which the website will display navigation tendencies. In the alternative, the website may display navigation tendencies of an identifiable group of users based on an identity of the user viewing the website.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 11201802
    Abstract: An infrastructure metrics measuring process provides relevant infrastructure metrics for components of a monitored system. The process retrieves and stores application user data for a plurality of applications running on a network system and operating system statistics for at least one operating system running at least one of the plurality of application running on a network system. The data is aggregated into at least one of a transactional data stream and a non-transactional data stream and correlated onto a common time scale. The correlated aggregated data stream is then graphically displayed to a user to further analysis by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Sidi, Stephen S. Haskell, Abhijit Naik, Deepak Rathi
  • Patent number: 11182421
    Abstract: A system and method compares an image of an object of interest captured by an image capturing device from a first positional view relative to the object of interest against each of a plurality of images of each of a plurality of reference objects wherein each of the plurality of images of each of the plurality of reference objects is reflective of a unique positional view of the corresponding one of the plurality of reference objects to determine a second positional view relative to the object of interest at which the image capturing device is to be positioned to capture a further image of the product of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 11144932
    Abstract: An account ribbon of a website has a plurality of message fields each having a link activatable to cause a display of a type of user related information. Continued access to the user related is provided by causing the account ribbon to be persisted across plural webpages of the website.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Miller, Jason Brownewell, Rosa Manfredi, Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 11049155
    Abstract: A system and method for use in presenting information relevant to a product catalog. The system receives a search request and presents to a user in a two-dimensional format a plurality of iconic images each representative of a page of a product catalog. Each of the iconic images is activatable to cause a display of an image of the page of the product catalog represented by the iconic image. One or more of the presented plurality of iconic images that are linked to a page of the product catalog having a product responsive to the search request are highlighted to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 11037220
    Abstract: A systems and methods for providing a search refinement tools that incorporate contextual information, such as supply chain information is disclosed. In general, the example methods and systems provide the customer with the ability to refine search results on an e-commerce website using previously stored historical supply chain information. Supply chain information refers to historical information about a purchaser and the purchaser's previous purchases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 10977608
    Abstract: A method for managing inventory within a supply chain. The method is performed by providing forecasts of demand for items distributed within the supply chain, using the forecasts to establish base stocking levels and reorder points within the supply chain, and using the established base stocking levels and reorder points to position items within the supply chain so as to maximize efficiency and profitability when responding to an order for an item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Scheer
  • Patent number: 10824989
    Abstract: An inventory management system includes a beacon or button connected to a warehouse server. The beacon buttons are placed in or near a product storage area with a number of products. The beacon has a controller and a transceiver to communicate with a server. There is a user input on the front of the beacon and several sensors able to detect a user identity and interaction with the products. When the user input is triggered, the beacon sends a message to the warehouse server including a user identity and other sensor data. Additionally, the beacon includes an energy harvester configured to power the beacon from ambient or user provided energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Ray “Qianyu” Rui, Eun Sem Kil, Jerry Shim, Svetlana Kharlamova
  • Patent number: 10698946
    Abstract: A system and method compares an image of an object of interest captured by an image capturing device from a first positional view relative to the object of interest against each of a plurality of images of each of a plurality of reference objects wherein each of the plurality of images of each of the plurality of reference objects is reflective of a unique positional view of the corresponding one of the plurality of reference objects to determine a second positional view relative to the object of interest at which the image capturing device is to be positioned to capture a further image of the product of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 10687173
    Abstract: A current geographic location of a mobile device, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or the like, is used to customize a selection guide that is used to retrieve product related information. The product related information generally provides details about one or more products meeting one or more criteria specified via use of the customized selection guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Mary Bee Pietrowicz
  • Patent number: 10672216
    Abstract: A system and method for using a mobile device to cause a vending machine to provide access to a product. After a calibration position is established within the mobile device, an accelerometer of the mobile device is used to determine a current location of the mobile device relative to the vending machine resulting from a movement of the mobile device from the calibration position. A product location to mobile device location mapping is then used to determine a one of a plurality of vending mechanisms associated with the vending machine that is to be activated given the determined current location of the mobile device. A signal may then be sent from the mobile device to the vending machine to instruct the vending machine to activate the determined one of the plurality of vending mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, James Finn, Qianyu Rui
  • Patent number: 10600114
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to quickly access product information and/or commerce functionalities as related to one or more products that are associated with an electronic document, such as a web page, that is currently being viewed by the user in an electronic document viewing program, such as an Internet browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Jerry Shim, Kelsey Heffren
  • Patent number: 10565637
    Abstract: A dynamic merchandising system creates for each of a plurality of products in a plurality of purchase orders a list of products purchased together. This information is then used to create ordered lists reflecting relationships between various product attributes, e.g., the relationships between different brand names purchased together, different product categories purchased together, different catalog pages of products purchased together, etc. From these ordered relationship lists information may be selected and presented to the customer for the purpose of directing the customer to additional purchasing opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Thomas John Carroll
  • Patent number: 10515521
    Abstract: This disclosure presents various means for securing a tracking beacon to personal protection equipment. The tracking beacon mount is constructed of a cover, a base, a transmitter and a mounting mechanism, such as a strap. The transmitter has a unique identifier which is detected by a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor is operably connected to a tracking system which can be used to detect the presence of the beacons. The system is programmed to recognize the types of items used and warn the user if something predetermined as required for the location or job type is missing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Brice Klein, Alessia Serafino, David Koenig, Steve Martinez, Reena Patel
  • Patent number: D954077
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Rahate, Matt Leigh
  • Patent number: D954078
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Rahate, Matt Leigh
  • Patent number: D954079
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Rahate, Matt Leigh
  • Patent number: D954080
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Rahate, Matt Leigh
  • Patent number: D957414
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Rahate, Matt Leigh
  • Patent number: D957415
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Rahate, Matt Leigh