Patents Assigned to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9990664
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for monitoring a facility, such as the safety, security, and status of individuals and items within the facility. In one illustrative approach, a retail facility maintains information regarding product location, in part, from correlating a shopper's cart path and their purchased items with those of other shoppers. In some approaches, a cart path may be determined, in part, by depositing compounds on a floor surface, provide shopping carts configured to pick up the compounds deposited on the floor of the retail facility, and capture, via a compound detector, the compounds deposited on the cart wheels of a particular shopping cart during a customer checkout at a point of sale terminal, and generate an estimated cart path for the particular one of the plurality of shopping carts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholaus A. Jones, Robert J. Taylor, Aaron J. Vasgaard, Matthew A. Jones, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 9990605
    Abstract: In some embodiments, methods of tracking uniquely labeled products are provided. An item representing one unit of a consumer product may be labeled with a unique label via automatically generating a random identifier unique to the item, associating the randomly-generated identifier with the item in a record of an electronic database, creating a label comprising a substrate and the randomly-generated identifier, applying the label to the item, and tracking the item via obtaining the randomly-generated identifier from the label. Products labeled with unique identifiers via such methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Harcar, Andrew J. Rizkallah, Olivia H. Bozik, Bryan J. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20180150527
    Abstract: Various embodiments can include a system comprising one or more processing modules; a database system that can comprise a first database cluster H and a second database cluster L; and one or more non-transitory memory storage modules storing computing instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Varun Srivastava, Yiye Ruan, Yan Zheng
  • Publication number: 20180150538
    Abstract: A system and method for integrating business logic into a database system is disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Varun Srivastava, Yiye Ruan, Yan Zheng
  • Publication number: 20180150914
    Abstract: In one aspect, a computer system for evaluating the accuracy of an identity mapping method is disclosed. The system can comprise a system memory, one or more processors, and/or a computer readable medium containing compute-executable instructions representing a probability accuracy module. The probability accuracy module can be configured to query an identity map database for an identity map created using the identity mapping method, compare the identity map with additional social media data, calculate a correlation based on similarities between the social media data and the additional social media data, and/or verify the identity map based on the correlation. The identity map can be based on commerce data from a retailer and/or social media data from a first social media site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Shen, Chris Undernehr, Loannis Pavlidis, Zoheb Vacheri, Ronald Benson
  • Publication number: 20180150894
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system for grouping a set of distinct records in a database system, the database system comprising a first database cluster H and a second database cluster L. In many embodiments, the system can comprise one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory memory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules. In some embodiments, the computer instructions can be configured to perform acts of determining, for each distinct record (i) of the set of distinct records, whether the record is a first priority or a second priority; for each distinct record (i) of the set of distinct records which is determined to be the first priority, storing the record in the first database cluster H, wherein the first database cluster H comprises a first computer server; and for each record (i) of the set of distinct records which is determined to be the second priority, storing the record in the second database cluster L.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Varun Srivastava, Yiye Ruan, Yan Zheng
  • Publication number: 20180150901
    Abstract: A system identifying an order comprising items for users for delivery to a common geographic location by: identifying an order comprising items for users for delivery to a common geographic location, wherein the order further comprises instructions to separate each item of the items associated with each one of the users by: receiving an indication to identify the each item of the items in the order, wherein the order is stored in a database of a retailer; receiving an indication to identify the users associated with the order by accessing user accounts for the each one of the users, wherein the user accounts are stored in a user database; receiving an indication to identify a particular user of the users that is associated with the each item of the items in the order; and generating a list of items of the items associated with the each one of the users; calculating respective payments for respective portions of the order, wherein the each one of the users is presented with a respective one of the lists of ite
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: David Jon Carr, Richard Mark Ramsden Mark Ramsden
  • Patent number: 9984403
    Abstract: An electronic shopping cart of a user is presented in a first interface during checkout, such as one allowing scrolling through representations of items in a shopping list in a first direction. On selection of an item, a second interface is displayed of a “shelf” for the selected item, the shelf including related items such as might be located on a same shelf as the selected result in a retail location. The second interface may allow scrolling in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Items in the second interface may be selected and either added to the electronic shopping cart or used to replace the selected item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Hemanth Kumar Narayanan, Pravat Ranjan Rana, Bhaavan Merchant, Aastha Garg
  • Patent number: 9984355
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses, systems, and methods of monitoring product placement on shelves at a retail sales facility include at least one torque measurement sensor proximate at least one mounting location of a shelf on a sales floor of the retail facility. The torque measurement sensor is configured to measure a torque exerted by at least one product located on the shelf relative to a fulcrum of the shelf, and to send a signal to an electronic inventory management device including a processor-based control unit. The control unit of the electronic inventory management device is configured to receive electronic data associated with the at least one product and to estimate a weight distribution of the at least one product on the shelf based on the received electronic data and the measured torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Jones, Nicholaus A. Jones, Robert J. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180144357
    Abstract: Example dynamic pricing systems and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Amaresh Nayak, Vijay Patil
  • Publication number: 20180144385
    Abstract: Systems and methods including one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts of receiving an online query from an electronic device of a user, the online query comprising natural language of the user, determining an intent of the online query as at least one of a product-related intent or a non-product-related intent, predicting an entity from the online query if the intent of the online query is determined to be a product-related intent, mapping the entity predicted from the online query to product metadata associated with one or more products, and coordinating a display of product information of the one more products on the electronic device. The entity can include a product name, a product attribute, a product price range, an average customer review, or a product brand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Shankara Bhargava Subramanya, Kushal Bhatt, Jun He, Luyang Chen
  • Publication number: 20180137162
    Abstract: Systems and methods including one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts of transmitting an action command to each of a first server and a second server, the action command comprising one or more operation statements, transmitting an undo operation statement to each of the first server and the second server with each of the one or more operation statements, and receiving a fail notification from the second server indicating that an action associated with the action command has failed if one of the operation statements has failed on the second server. The operation statements can include instructions to create, modify, or delete a referential relationship. The undo operation statements can include instructions to undo operations associated with the operation statements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Venkatesh Kandaswamy, Karthik Deivasigamani, Arvind Chockalingam Senthil Kumaran
  • Patent number: 9965788
    Abstract: A system and method for searching databases is disclosed herein. A database system may comprise a first database cluster H and a second database cluster L. After receiving a search request from a requester, the search request is executed in the first database cluster H to retrieve a first set of results. If the first set of results is greater than a minimum number of results, then the first set of results are presented to the requester. Otherwise, the second database cluster L is searched to retrieve a second set of results. Then the first set of results and the second set of results are presented to the requester. The first database cluster H is stored on a first database server; and the second database cluster L is stored on a second database server apart from the first database server. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Varun Srivastava, Yiye Ruan, Yan Zheng
  • Publication number: 20180121977
    Abstract: Systems and methods including one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts of extracting, with a domain specific language, structured values of one or more product attributes of a product from raw source values of a plurality of vendor data sheets received by an online retailer; obtaining a plurality of normalization rules for transforming the structured values to final normalized values, optimizing the domain specific language to reduce the number of a plurality of normalization rules used in a runtime normalization process, normalizing the structured values by adding the domain specific language to the runtime normalization process to obtain the final normalized values for the structured values, and persisting the final normalized values in a catalog of the online retailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: Binwei Yang
  • Publication number: 20180121979
    Abstract: Systems and methods including one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts of receiving a plurality of normalization rules, using the plurality of normalization rules and a multi-class classification algorithm to train a classification model for one or more product attributes of a plurality of products, determining additional normalization rules for transforming additional structured values to additional final normalized values based on a classification of un-normalized additional raw source values with the classification model, validating the additional normalization rules, and adding the additional normalization rules to the classification model if the additional normalization rules are validated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: Binwei Yang
  • Patent number: 9950877
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to aid in the loading and/or unloading of delivery vehicles. Some embodiments provide a product load system, comprising: multiple pallet lift systems configured to enable pallets to be moved in and out of a delivery vehicle, wherein the multiple pallet lift systems comprise a series of pallet lift magnets; a magnetic levitation track comprising a series of track magnets, wherein track is configured to be positioned adjacent a floor of the first delivery vehicle; and a control circuit configured to control an activation of one of the series of pallet lift magnets and the series of track magnets such that magnetic forces established inducing a lifting force on the series of pallet lift magnets, and reduces a force applied by the first pallet on the floor of the delivery vehicle and allows reduced friction movement of the first pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Thompson, Donald R. High, Chandrashekar Natarajan
  • Patent number: 9953388
    Abstract: In some embodiments, provide apparatuses and methods to estimate unload states. Some of these embodiments include system to monitor unloading of product delivery vehicles, comprising: an audio detector; an audio evaluation circuit configured to: receive the audio signals captured by the audio detector; and identify when the audio signal includes one or more audio signatures corresponding to one or more distinct predefined audio signatures that correspond to movements of products relative to unloading products; and a control circuit coupled with the audio evaluation circuit and configured to estimate at a given time a state of unloading of a load of products intended for the shopping facility as a function of the identifying that one or more of the audio signals include one or more audio signatures corresponding to the one or more predefined audio signatures that correspond to movements of products relative to unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholaus A. Jones, Robert J. Taylor, Matthew A. Jones
  • Patent number: 9953359
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a commerce server, one or more shopping list signals from an electronic computing device to establish a shopping list of a plurality of items offered for sale in a retail store. The method also includes the step of receiving, with the processing device, one or more consumer signals from a first augmented reality device and a second augmented reality device. Each augmented reality device can be worn by a consumer as the consumer shops in the retail store. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a first procuring signal containing data associated with the shopping list to the first augmented reality device and a second procuring signal containing data associated with the shopping list to the second augmented reality device, such that the consumers can cooperatively shop for items on the shopping list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart Argue, Anthony Emile Marcar
  • Patent number: 9953362
    Abstract: A shopping system may include a mobile shopping aid sized to support thereon or therewithin one or more items to be purchased. A holder may be connected to the mobile shopping aid to travel therewith. The holder may be sized and shaped to hold a mobile computing device. The holder may have a front aperture enabling an owner of the mobile computing device to view a display screen of the mobile computing device while the mobile computing device is being held by the holder. The holder may also have a back aperture enabling a back-facing camera of the mobile computing device to scan one or more barcodes while the mobile computing device is being held by the holder. The system may also include an anti-theft program or module programmed to initiate an alarm protocol in the event that the mobile computing device is untimely removed from the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart Argue, Anthony Emile Marcar
  • Patent number: 9944461
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a product storage racking system, comprising: a frame comprising frame beams secured together with support surfaces aligned along a first plane; feet posts fixed to the frame beams; feet cooperated with the feet posts, wherein each of the feet is configured to stackably cooperate with a post of a set of posts that are cooperated with another product storage racking system enabling stacking; at least two rack support systems each secured with the frame and configured to support the weight of the product storage racking system and products stored on the product storage racking system independent of the three or more feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Reynolds, Thomas L. McClarty, Morgan D. Reiner, Olivia H. Bozik, Richard T. Wilkinson