Abstract: A system for automatic categorization and assessment of billing narratives has a semantic engine that classifies billing entries with descriptions expressed in natural language into standardized categories of activity and task objective. The classification is by machine learning methods via training data that is maintained, updated and extended as needed. A rules engine applies rules to the categorized invoice data to analyze the data, report violations to a user/consumer of billed services and to perform related calculations.

Abstract: A method includes determining that a chat text provided in a chat session between first and second chat application instances is directed to a transaction negotiation, the chat session for facilitating communication between the chat application instances. The method includes determining, in an image associated with the transaction, first and second image elements that are associated with the transaction. Responsive to the determination that the chat text is directed to the negotiation of the transaction, the method can generate an invoice for a first transaction portion that is associated with the first element. The method can provide the invoice, via the chat session, to the first and/or chat application instance. Responsive to determining that the first transaction portion is performed, the method can determines to indicate, via the image, that the first element is unavailable for additional transactions.

Abstract: A vending device has at least one display area and an evaluator. The display area is formed by a rigid body, and has at least two, spatially-separated product areas, the rigid body of the display area being held by force transmission areas of at least two weighing cells. The evaluator is configured to, at periodic intervals or when a total weight detected by the at least two weighing cells changes: determine new coordinates of a center of gravity from data of the weighing cells, and transmit the new coordinates to a controller. The controller is configured to: determine a product area within the display area based upon changes in the coordinates of the center of gravity, determine, from the change in a total weight, the weight of goods removed from or added to the determined product area, and update an inventory, stored in a memory, for the product.

Abstract: Various systems, mediums, and methods herein describe mechanisms that enable a user to send a request from her smartphone to multiple retriever devices, such that an item may be retrieved for the user. At least one of the users of the retriever devices may accept the request to retrieve the item for the requesting user. The retrieving device may send an acceptance message to the requester's smartphone to confirm that the item may be retrieved for the requesting user. In such instances, a retrieval fee may be transferred to the retrieving user's account accessible with the retriever device that accepted the request.

Abstract: An apparatus acquires balance information indicating the balance of electronic money from a storage apparatus possessed by a user, and determines the total price of products picked up by the user using an image captured by an image capturing unit configured to capture an image in a store. In a case where the determined total price exceeds the balance, the apparatus outputs information notifying the user that the total price exceeds the balance.

Abstract: A system and method to count and monitor containers at a warehouse dock is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of image capturing devices for capturing one or more images of the plurality of containers for generating a first count, a plurality of RFID readers for reading identification data of an RFID tag affixed to each of the plurality of containers for generating a second count. The system also includes a computing device configured to select the first count or the second count based on a plurality of predefined parameters, cross-check the selected count with a pre-stored count of the plurality of containers at the warehouse dock and provide a final count the containers at the warehouse dock. Manual identification and calculation of container at time of unloading the container at warehouse dock is totally eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system operable to collect customer ratings during a transaction using an electronic point of sale system comprising a computer programmed to effect operation of the electronic point of sale system.

Abstract: An automated product locker includes a housing and a drawer configured to be slidably stowable within the housing. The defines a storage area for storing product. Visual indicators on the product locker indicate respective positions, i.e., locations of the product within the storage area, so that desired products may located by the user. Upon withdrawal or closure of a door by a user, a machine vision system, such as a camera, may capture information about the product and inventory the product based, at least in part, on the information identified from images of the product obtaining by the machine vision system.

Abstract: Inventory management system, having a plurality of storage regions, which are to be loaded with storage goods, a plurality of storage goods, which are arranged at the storage regions, a plurality storage region identification devices, of which each one is located at an associated one of the storage regions, a plurality of storage goods identification devices, of which each one is located at an associated one of the storage goods, and a determination device, which is, by recognizing the storage region identification devices and the storage goods identification devices and by recognizing positions of the storage region identification devices and the storage goods identification devices, configured for determining a data record, which is indicative for each one of the storage goods and for each of the storage regions as to which storage good is located at which storage region at which position.

Abstract: The present invention is a transportable autonomous robotic merchandise dispensing drive thru wherein merchandise is loaded into said facility and dispensed to a customer through an ordering app downloaded on a mobile device or ordered at a facility site. Said drive thru facility is unmanned and completely computer and robotically operated utilizing no humans within said facility. Said facility is operated via computer processor and requires internet but no utility connections such as water, sewage, electric or gas. The current invention has a three part sanitizing system: interiorly, in each serving compartment and at each exterior touchscreen.

Abstract: In some examples, a payment processing system may receive an indication of a transaction between a customer and a merchant. The payment processing system may generate a notification indicating completion of the transaction between the customer and the merchant. Further, the payment processing system may transmit the notification to a device associated with the customer. For instance, the notification may include an offer for the customer to receive financing from the payment processing system for the transaction or a future transaction. The payment processing system may receive an acceptance of the offer to receive financing, and may transmit an instruction to cause a financed amount to be provided according to the acceptance of the offer.

Abstract: A cash management system comprises a management terminal, a plurality of Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) terminals and one or more intelligent cash holding unit. There are a greater number of EPOS terminals than intelligent cash holding units, whereby one or more intelligent cash holding unit acts as a virtual cash holding unit for more than one EPOS terminal. The or each intelligent cash holding unit comprises a receiver operable to receive a signal comprising an identifier associated with a user, an access module operable, in response to the received signal, to allow access to the intelligent cash holding unit, and a reporting module operable to send a report comprising an identifier relating to the user and data relating to the contents of the cash holding unit to the management terminal. The intelligent cash holding unit can be an intelligent cash drawer unit, optionally connected to an intelligent point of sale safe.

Abstract: A system may receive, via an NFC tag disposed proximate a vehicle fuel tank, a fuel transaction request from a third-party POS NFC reader positioned proximate a fuel pump. The system may detect a user device being paired with a vehicle communication device of the vehicle to enable a short-range wireless communication. The system may determine that the user device is associated with an authorized user of the vehicle. The system may unlock the NFC tag to enable the NFC tag to communicate with the third-party POS NFC reader for a predefined time limit responsive to determining that the user device is associated with the authorized user. Responsive to unlocking the NFC tag, the system may retrieve account payment information associated with the authorized user, and may transmit, via the NFC tag, the account payment information to the third-party POS NFC reader to complete the fuel transaction.

Abstract: According to exemplary inventive practice, a transaction code is selected in an ERP system. The transaction code is characterized by cost elements that to a substantial degree entail OM&S costs. ERP reports are generated by drilling down from the cost elements to commitment costs, obligation costs, and actual costs, wherein drilling down from each cost element yields at least one of these three kinds of costs. Raw worksheets are generated in a spreadsheet program by importing data from the ERP reports, wherein each raw worksheet contains data from at least one ERP report. Data are derived from the raw worksheets and are combined and arranged to produce intermediate pivot tables, wherein each intermediate pivot table contains data from at least on raw worksheet. Data are derived from the intermediate pivot tables and are combined and arranged to produce a master worksheet. Data are derived from the master worksheet and are combined and arranged to produce summary pivot tables.

Abstract: A method for providing automated inventory management in a system having a storage bin, an accelerometer system coupled to the storage bin, and an inventory management system communicatively coupled to the accelerometer system. An accelerometer of the accelerometer system generates a data representative of a movement of the storage bin and the system determines whether the generated data matches a data that is indicative of a replenishment needed event being performed upon the storage bin. The inventory management system initiates the replenishment of the product when replenishment is determined to be needed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for configuring a pay statement. An input area is presented for a user to enter settings defining how the pay statement is to be configured. The settings are received from the user. A preview of the pay statement is displayed in a preview area based on the settings. The preview provides a visual representation of how the pay statement will appear for the settings. The user may modify the settings until the preview appears as desired by the user.

Abstract: A method for processing aluminum alloy rims including: providing a feed of a plurality of aluminum alloy rims of different compositions, each aluminum alloy rim having a serial number distinguishing that aluminum alloy rim from other aluminum alloy rims; storing in a non-transient computer-readable memory, a plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories; dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into a plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims by, for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, scanning that aluminum alloy rim to determine the serial number of that aluminum alloy rim; based on the serial number, determining, from amongst the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, an aluminum alloy rim category for that aluminum alloy rim, wherein each batch of aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims corresponds to a category in the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories.

Abstract: A system and method for dispensing beverage from a container, such as wine from a wine bottle. An identification element may be secured to a beverage container and include a tag and optically readable code that uniquely identify the container. A dispenser may dispense beverage from a container, and be able to read the tag of the identification element. Information regarding characteristics of beverage in the beverage container may be associated with a corresponding identification element and include a brand, type, vintage or volume of beverage in the container.

Abstract: A system and a method for managing inventory are provided. The system may include: a plurality of weighing devices, at least a memory, and at least a processor. The weighing devices are configured to weight at least an object. The processor is configured to receive data from at least one weighing device relating to the at least one object weighed by the respective weighing device, and to store the received data in the memory. The processor is further configured to determine at least a matching of data received from a first weighing device with data received from a second weighing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for self-checkout at a point-of-sale are provided. The system and method includes using a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) transceivers within a store, and an RFID reader configured to receive an RFID code from an RFID tag activated by the plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) transceivers. The system and method also includes using a classifier configured to determine whether the RFID tag is inside or outside a designated area, wherein the classifier is trained in a manner that a number of items incorrectly identified as being purchased is below a threshold to minimize customer dissatisfaction (CDS) determined as the ratio of the value of items charged to the customer but not purchased by a customer to the total charge to the customer.