Patents Assigned to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20170220703
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing distributed storage and visualization for a graph database system for very large graph databases is presented. A graph database can comprise nodes and edges stored as artifacts, which can then be indexed using a distributed index system. A system capable of performing such tasks can include a processing system that creates an index of the artifacts, a construction system that can create a graph database from a text file, and a reading system that can create a text file from a graph database by finding requested artifacts in the graph of interest. A visualization system can perform queries on a graph database, then create sub-graphs containing the results for visualization purposes. The sub-graph can receive navigation inputs that display various portions of the sub-graph. Other embodiments also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: Venkata Swamy Martha
  • Publication number: 20170220991
    Abstract: A method for sharding a store order database and order management application is provided. The method may include a computer router associated with a store receiving, from a customer computer, a query regarding an order. The router may use resident shard determination logic to identify a database shard which pertains to the order and which is part of a store order database having multiple database shards. The router may transmit information regarding the order to a database server which implements the identified database shard and which implements an order management system application layer. The database server may process information regarding the order and transmit information regarding the order to the customer computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Madhavan Kandhadai Vasantham, Sreekanth Sreedhararaj
  • Publication number: 20170221120
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can comprise receiving a query and determining one or more results for the query. In many embodiments, the one or more results can comprise one or more shelves, each shelf of the one or more shelves can comprise one or more facets, and each facet of the one or more facets can comprise one or more items. In various embodiments, the method can further comprise facilitating display of at least a portion of the one or more results for the query by facilitating display of at least the portion of the one or more results in a ranked order. In many embodiments, displaying the portion of the one or more results in a ranked order can comprise determining a composite score for each facet of the one or more facets of each shelf of the one or more shelves. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Manas Pathak, Onur Gungor
  • Publication number: 20170220984
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can comprise receiving a request for one or more orders, and analyzing the one or more orders. Each of the one or more orders can comprise one or more items and at least a portion of the one or more items are available at a warehouse. The method can further comprise determining one or more pick lists based at least in part on the analyzing the one or more orders and also based at least in part on an inventory layout of the warehouse, determining a first route for a first pick list of the one or more pick lists, and determining a second route for a second pick list of the one or more pick lists, wherein the first pick list and the second pick list each comprise a first common item. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaurav Agarwal, Devadas Pattathil, Rahul Ramkumar
  • Publication number: 20170221139
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can comprise categorizing, in a database, one or more purchasing categories based at least in part on one or more queries. In some embodiments the one or more purchasing categories can comprise one or more products. The method can further comprise computing a set of browse categories of the one or more purchasing categories, loading the set of browse categories of the one or more purchasing categories into non-transitory memory, and receiving a query. In some embodiments, the method can further comprise determining one or more results for the query, the one or more results comprising a portion of the one or more products, analyzing intention of the query, and selecting a display configuration of the one or more results based at least in part on the intention. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Zebin Chen, Andrei Lopatenko, Manas Pathak
  • Publication number: 20170221124
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can comprise analyzing user interaction with one or more items. In some embodiments, analyzing user interaction with the one or more items can comprise determining a number of impressions for each item of the one or more items. In many embodiments, the method can further comprise determining at least one undiscovered item of the one or more items based at least in part on the analyzing user interaction with the one or more items, estimating a performance of the at least one undiscovered item of the one or more items, promoting the at least one undiscovered item of the one or more items based at least in part on the estimating the performance of the at least one undiscovered item of the one or more items. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Chatwin, Yashaswini Kotresh
  • Publication number: 20170221089
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing marketing campaigns is presented. Two marketing campaigns are received. Each is presented to a subset of users. The conversion rates of both marketing campaign are used to determine weighting of the two marketing campaigns. The weighting is determined using a range of conversion rates and maximizing the minimum expected value through the range of conversion rates. The process can be iteratively performed to converge upon an optimum weighting of the first and second conversion rates. More than two marketing campaigns can be used. The marketing campaign can be an email marketing campaign, a web marketing campaign, or an advertising keyword campaign. Other embodiments also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Tao Zhu, Bin Li, Thanh Ngo, FNU Manasi, Patrick Harrington
  • Publication number: 20170221118
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can comprise receiving a search query for an item in a product catalog, the product catalog comprising one or more items and determining that a language of the search query is an unselected language. In many embodiments, the method can further comprise translating the search query into a selected language, performing a search of the search query based on the translation of the search query into the selected language, the search comprising search results in the selected language and the search results comprising at least a portion of the product catalog, and facilitating display of the search results in the selected language. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Manas Pathak, Seshadri Sridharan
  • Publication number: 20170213233
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and systems for implementing a visit- based loyalty rewards program. Disclosed is a system that includes location detection devices placed throughout a retail store that are used in conjunction with a mobile device carried by a customer to determine the presence, duration, path, and location of the customer device, and hence the customer, in the retail store. A retail store server is used to store customer information, including the customer visits, the length of customer visits, and the path taken by the customer through the retail store. A loyalty reward is calculated based upon at least one customer visit and at least one customer purchase. The loyalty reward is then awarded to the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Michael D. Atchley
  • Publication number: 20170213228
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a system for identifying elastic products in a retail environment, the system comprising a network interface configured to be coupled to a communication network, a product analysis module coupled to the network interface and configured to communicate with a server of each one of a plurality of retail stores in the retail environment via the network interface and the communication network, and a database coupled to the product analysis module, wherein the product analysis module is further configured to receive signals from each server of the plurality of retail stores including experience based information related to sales of a plurality of products in each one of the plurality of retail stores, and profile a group of the plurality of products as elastic products based on the experience based information related to the sales of the plurality of products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventor: Rahul Chowdhury
  • Patent number: 9715682
    Abstract: A system for purchasing fuel is provided. The system includes, but is not limited to, a local device for retrieving identification information which identifies a fuel dispensing station, the identification information containing information identifying the fuel dispensing station from which fuel is desired to be purchased, and a remote server connected with the local device. Upon receiving the identification information at the local device, the local device automatically forwards the identification information along with a unique identifier to the remote server. The remote server generates and transmits an unlock code to the fuel dispensing station. The unlock code signals the fuel dispensing station to dispense fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Webb, Jason R. Todd, Danny K. Olivarez
  • Patent number: 9710755
    Abstract: A system and method for predicting search term popularity is disclosed herein. A database system may comprise a first database cluster H and a second database cluster L. A machine learning algorithm is trained to create a predictive model. Thereafter, for each record in a database system, the predictive model is used to calculate a probability of the record being accessed. If the calculated probability of the record being accessed is greater than a threshold value, then the record in the first database cluster H; otherwise, the record is placed in the second database cluster L. Training the machine learning algorithm comprises inputting a training feature vector associated with the record into the machine learning algorithm, inputting a cost vector into the machine learning algorithm, and iteratively operating the machine learning algorithm on each record in the set of records to create a predictive model. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Varun Srivastava, Yiye Ruan, Yan Zheng
  • Patent number: 9710365
    Abstract: According to one aspect, it is appreciated that it may be useful and particularly advantageous to provide a data generator that creates more realistic data for testing purposes, especially in data systems where large volumes of data are necessary. In one implementation, a data generator is provided that produces relationally consistent data for testing purposes. For instance, a synthetic data generation process may be performed that produces any number of relationally consistent data table structures. Further, in another implementation, generation of the data can be statistically influenced so that the data generated can take on the “look and feel” of production data. Also, data may be produced as needed, and its generation may be performed in parallel, depending on interdependencies in the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: Harold Correll
  • Patent number: 9712714
    Abstract: A computer-implemented process can be operated to create a watermarked copy of a unique original copy of an electronic sales receipt in a first computerized device to a second computerized device. The watermarked copy includes an electronic watermark identifying the copy. The process includes creating the watermarked copy of the electronic sales receipt by copying information from the original copy of the electronic sales receipt to the watermarked copy and providing the electronic watermark within the watermarked copy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart Argue, Anthony Emile Marcar
  • Patent number: 9710839
    Abstract: A system and method includes receiving a search query for a product to be located in a retail store, performing a search on a plurality of products records corresponding to a plurality of products located in the retail store, identifying one or more of the product records relevant to the product in the search query, obtaining a store map, the store map being indicative of a layout of the retail store, transmitting a representation of the store map and the one or more product records identified as one or more search results, and providing the one or more search results as a list to a mobile device, each of the one or more search results being associated with a physical location of the product in the retail store, and present the store map overlaid with an icon on a graphical display of the mobile device, wherein the store map represents the retail store and the icon is positioned overlaid on the map to designate a physical location of a corresponding one or more of the list of search results for the retail sto
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Pellow, Emily Poplawski, Stephen Aase
  • Publication number: 20170199704
    Abstract: A system and method for providing mutual exclusivity to an operation is presented. A memory location is checked to determine if the memory location is subject to an exclusive lock. If so, the age of the exclusive lock is determined. If the age of the exclusive lock is greater than a certain length of time, the exclusive lock on the memory location is released such that operations can be performed on the memory location. When a memory lock is created, a length of time can be associated with the memory location. The length of time can be a default length of time. The length of time can be a custom length that is stored in a database. Other embodiments also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: Ergin Guney
  • Publication number: 20170200191
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an eCommerce provider with the ability to efficiently determine, retrieve, and compile rollup information from each vendor using the eCommerce provider is presented. Event are monitored to set a trigger when the event occurs. A rollup can be initiated regarding the item in question. Price and shipping information from each vendor of a particular item is collected and tabulated. Each item from each vendor can be verified to determine if any information is missing or is otherwise incorrect. The offerings from each vendor is ranked by a variety of different criteria. When the item in question is displayed to a user, the vendor being displayed is based on the ranking. Other embodiments also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Tuteja, Shekhar Raj
  • Publication number: 20170200194
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing keyword prediction for search engine marketing is presented. Historical search data is analyzed to find top search patterns in the form of n-grams. Keywords from historical search data are analyzed to generate n-grams for various values of n. The n-grams can represent trending search term patterns, as opposed to merely finding trending keywords. Thereafter, each of the n-grams is associated with one or more categories and/or sub-categories. The categories and sub-categories are thus associated with one or more n-grams. When a new product is introduced, the new product can be associated with n-grams based on the categories and sub-categories associated with the new product. Advertisements can be bid upon based on the associations. Other embodiments also are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: Anand Gupta
  • Patent number: 9703448
    Abstract: Provided herein are methodologies, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media for configuring a graphical user interface of an electronic display device for enabling preauthorized payment of products or services using distributed processing. A customer may interact with a kiosk or terminal to identify themselves and initiate the process for dynamically computing an active preauthorization limit. Items may then be added to the customer's balance at various point of sale terminals or scanning locations within the facility. Total cost of the items is compared to the active preauthorization limit. Once the customer is finished shopping, a GUI can present them with an authorization screen showing their shopping balance and requesting authorization. The user can interact with the GUI to approve the total via the GUI without the need to produce their card or payment method at checkout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Tyler Caution, Douglas Jahe Ryner
  • Patent number: D793646
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Yurgis Mauro Bacallao, Michael D. Bookman