Patents Examined by Denisse Y Ortiz Roman
  • Patent number: 11087270
    Abstract: A limited number of items are identified as high-theft items and RFID tags are added to only units of high-theft items. At periodic times during a day, a mobile scanner is taken to each area of a store that contains high-theft items and the mobile scanner is used to read signals from the RFID tags of only the units of high-theft items and thereby generate a periodic inventory count of the high-theft items. The periodic inventory counts for each high-theft item are then electronically stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Foster
  • Patent number: 11074564
    Abstract: A payment network server for processing a payment transaction at a point-of-sale terminal is described. The server comprises a transaction module, a query module and a transfer module. The transaction module is configured to: (i) receive a payment transaction request comprising at least transaction details and a fund transfer indicator, the transaction details comprise at least a customer identifier, a merchant identifier, and a payment amount, the fund transfer indicator indicating that the payment transaction is to be processed by fund transfer; and (ii) transmit a payment transaction response indicating if the payment transaction is approved or refused to proceed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Arunmurthy Gurunathan, Ravi Pareek, Ganesh Shinde
  • Patent number: 11049149
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and system for generating a targeted menu item recommendation are provided. The targeted menu item recommendation includes receiving a menu item recommendation request, generating search criteria for the menu item recommendation request, retrieving menu information regarding the search criteria, assigning weighted values to the retrieved information based on the text of the menu item information, preferences of the user, and social media association values, and generating the targeted menu item recommendation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dhruv A. Bhatt, Bhargav Cheenepalli, Kristin E. McNeil, Nitaben A. Patel
  • Patent number: 11023949
    Abstract: A method of fulfilling custom food orders includes obtaining feedback from a user through an ordering application. The feedback relates to a first food item of a first food order following fulfillment of the first food order. The first food item includes a first ingredient. The method includes determining a preferred variation associated with the first ingredient based on the feedback and a first recipe used to make the first food item. The method includes updating a taste profile associated with the user based on the preferred variation. The method includes receiving, from the user, a second food order including a second food item. The method includes retrieving a second recipe associated with the second food item. The method includes selectively modifying the second recipe based on the taste profile. The method includes controlling a food assembly apparatus to prepare the second food item according to the second recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Creator, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Radcliffe, David Bordow, Jeff C. Jensen, Steven Frehn, Alexandras Vardakostas, John Lawrence McDonald, Harry Shapiro Hawk
  • Patent number: 10990927
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved network for tracking and managing mobile workers, which includes storing, tracking, and managing information associated with mobile workers and projects. The mobile workers may use a mobile communications system, such as a mobile device, to log their project with associated data, after which the data can be uploaded in real-time or stored locally until connectivity is available to the platform. Business owners or managers and individuals can review work performance and automatically create required business reports. The mobile worker may use the mobile device to clock in and out of each project through a worker presence verification method that may include obtaining an image/photograph or video of the worksite, location data (e.g., global positioning (GPS) coordinates), and a timestamp to ensure that the mobile worker is at the worksite and working on the appropriate project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SYNCrew, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mario Muharay Dujisin, John David Cranston
  • Patent number: 10936993
    Abstract: Automated item replenishment for a plurality of items is accomplished by associating each item with one or more tags, which may in turn be associated with a particular consumption level of the item. One or more tag detection units are positioned to monitor an entry and/or an exit point of a monitored location. An inventory database maintains an inventory of the items currently present at the location and tracks consumption levels and exhaustion dates associated with each item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Essenmacher, Anthony M. Cocuzza, Nancy S. Tilley, Janice M. Young, Yuk L. Chan
  • Patent number: 10929847
    Abstract: A technique for providing a pay-by-name payment experience is disclosed. A point-of-sale (POS) system at a store receives information identifying an account with a central server from a payment card using a short-range wireless technology. In response to that, it obtains information regarding the account, including a person's name associated with the account, using the received information. It also accepts a name from a specific consumer in the vicinity. At this point, it determines whether the name accepted from the specific consumer and the name associated with the account are identical. If it determines that the two names are identical, it checks-in the consumer to the store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Templeton, Nathan Spindel, Paul Aaron, Jesse L. Dorogusker
  • Patent number: 10902379
    Abstract: Examples provide an unrequested item resolution system. A rules-decision engine analyzes unrequested item data using a set of per-item constraints to determine whether to accept or reject at least one unrequested item based on open order(s) and/or predicted future order(s). The rules-decision engine generates a reject notification if an overage amount of the at least one unrequested item exceeds an overage amount threshold or a quantity of the at least one unrequested item is above a quantity threshold. A prediction engine generates an accept notification if the unrequested item(s) conform to one or more predicted items. A resolution component extracts supplier-specific resolution data from a plurality of unresolved remedy tickets for the identified supplier. A notification component generates a consolidated notification for the identified supplier, including the extracted supplier-specific resolution data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Ryals, Benji Enssle
  • Patent number: 10874229
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to determining an action to be performed based on vibrations detected on a product display unit. In some embodiments, a system for determining an action to perform based on vibrations comprises the product display unit, one or more vibration sensors, the one or more vibration sensors affixed to the product display unit and configured to detect vibration of the product display unit and transmit an indication of the vibration of the product display unit, and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the one or more vibration sensors and configured to receive, from the one or more vibration sensors, the indication of the vibration, estimate, based on the indication of the vibration a characteristic of at least one item on the product display unit, and determine, based on the characteristic, the action to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholaus A. Jones, Matthew A. Jones
  • Patent number: 10860996
    Abstract: A retail store communications network, a point of transaction (POT) terminal and methods of using the same according to embodiments of the application can include a hand held and/or stationary optical reader for reading a bar code symbol of an item and generating a decoded out bar code data message. The network is configured so that the POT terminal can use linked or identified mobile devices by way of wireless communication, to provide a sequenced order of identified customers at the POT terminal among a plurality of discoverable wireless devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoxun Zhu, Hong Jian Jin, Guoxiang Lv, Junchi Yu
  • Patent number: 10846778
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for suggesting recipes. Within the method, one or more point-of-sale transactions may be conducted. The transactions may involve a computer system and a customer possessing a mobile computing device. The computer system may store receipt data documenting the transactions. The computer system may also receive a request from the mobile computing device for one or more recipes, analyze the receipt data to identify at least one of the food patterns and food preferences of the customer, and identify one or more recipes corresponding to at least one of the food patterns and food preferences. The computer system may then pass the one or more recipes to the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Argue, Anthony Emile Marcar
  • Patent number: 10789582
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for using a device to determine an item, such as, for example, a card based on an interaction environment, such as, for example, a settlement environment, are provided. The method by which a device determines a card to be used in a settlement includes: acquiring a card use history of a card, which is stored in the device; acquiring information which relates to a settlement environment of the device; determining a card to be used in the settlement, based on the acquired information relating to the settlement environment and the acquired card use history; and providing settlement information which relates to the determined card to a point of sale (POS) terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeon-hee Roh, Eun-young Lim, Young-shil Jang, Jae-woo Ko
  • Patent number: 10733675
    Abstract: A description of a machine learning (ML) model is received, with the ML model including multiple features such as an unlikely combination feature, which corresponds to a first attribute to be located in an invoice and a second attribute to be located the invoice concurrently with the first attribute. Training data is received, including (i) invoice data with multiple invoices, each including the first attribute and the second attribute, and respective values of the first attribute and the second attribute, and (ii) validity data including indications of which of the invoices are valid and which of the invoices are invalid. The ML model is trained using the training data using the ML model. The training includes applying the values of the attributes to the unlikely combination feature. The ML model is applied to an invoice to be validated to determine a probability that the invoice is invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: WOLTERS KLUWER ELM SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Abhishek Mittal, Anand K. Ramteke, Sandeep Sacheti, Jeetu Gupta, Florence Merceron, Sharon Horozaniecki
  • Patent number: 10719887
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions. A processor of a server connected to a network executes the instructions to obtain expense data from a terminal device via the network, store the specific user ID, the image data, the receipt information data and expense identification information in a first storage in an associated manner. The processor identifies service identification information stored in a second storage and associated with the specific user ID stored in the first storage. The second storage is configured to store the service information including at least service identification information and user identification information. The service identification information is used for a series of data processing regarding a specific business process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomofumi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10713616
    Abstract: It may be determined that a material package has been used by determining that the material package has moved from a previously recorded location based upon location data corresponding to the material package and a beacon code. The location data may correspond to the material package and the beacon code being periodically reported by a beacon located proximate to the material package. Next, a weight of the material package that has been used subsequent to the material package being used may be received and, based upon the beacon code and in response to receiving the weight of the material package; the material database for a material package record may be queried. A remaining amount of material corresponding to the material package may be calculated based upon the received weight and data from the material package record found from the material package record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Lee Spruell, Charles A. Murrah, Jr., Carter Edward Smith
  • Patent number: 10625940
    Abstract: A system and a method which allow an easy shipment and receipt of construction materials and an easy retrieval of the same, as well as an easy acquisition of position information of construction materials. The system includes: an identification information holding medium which holds identification information of the construction material; a moving body that acquires first position information which is position information of the moving body and also acquires identification information; material data storage unit for storing the first position information in association with the identification information; and retrieval unit for retrieving the identification information in the material data storage unit. The display unit displays the first position information associated with the identification information retrieved by the retrieval unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CHIYODA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Shimizu, Hiroyuki Iwamoto, Yasuyuki Maeda, Eiji Takahashi, Takayuki Naito
  • Patent number: 10600023
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for dynamic inventory management. A system for dynamic layaway inventory management comprises a layaway contract database, an inventory database, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to periodically: aggregate a plurality of layaway contracts in the layaway contract database to determine convey locations and convey dates for one or more units of an item, determine inventory unit counts of the item at a plurality of item locations based on inventory information stored in the inventory database, determine a layaway reserve unit count for each of the plurality of item locations based on the convey locations and the convey dates for the one or more units of the item and the inventory unit counts of the item at the plurality of item locations, and cause a number of available units of the item to be adjusted based on the layaway reserve unit count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Michael D. Atchley
  • Patent number: 10600129
    Abstract: A single automated accounting and business analysis system is employed to acquire, organize, record, analyze and plan all the relevant financial and non-financial metrics utilized by an individual or group. This includes all the internally generated metrics and external metrics such as data related to the economy, a particular industry, weather conditions, etc. The system employs heuristics to learn from previous associations and links data based on previous associations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: 3-D BUSINESS TOOLS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Block, Jonathan Lau
  • Patent number: 10592890
    Abstract: Logic to perform a point of sale (POS) transaction as Card Present. Logic may communicate with a web site of an online vendor to process a payment to the online vendor as a certified POS device. Logic may communicate with a payment service provider associated with the online vendor to process the payment in response to communicating with the web site. Logic may interact with a card reader to obtain a packet to process the payment with a payment instrument to verify the presence of the payment instrument. Logic may encrypt communications to transmit an authorization request to the payment service provider to process the payment with encrypted communications via a secure element agent of the certified POS device, the authorization request to comprise the packet to verify that the payment instrument is present for the transaction. And logic may receive an approval of the authorization request for the payment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miguel Ballesteros, John H. Vincent, Alan D. Bumgarner
  • Patent number: 10580011
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device corresponding to the present invention communicates with a point-of-sale terminal using near field data communications when making a purchase, prompting an offer regarding a warranty on an item purchased before the purchase is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BLAZER AND FLIP FLOPS, INC.
    Inventors: John Cronin, Joseph George Bodkin