Abstract: Cloud-based methods and systems are presented for aggregating custom groupings of Self-Service Terminals (SSTs) and managing the SSTs through a network. Real-time information for the SSTs are gathered and interfaces are used to direct selective usage of particular SSTs within a grouping. The groupings optimized for reducing media replenishment and service of any particular SST within the grouping.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses using a processor coupled to a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions. The processor is structured to count a first amount of currency, wherein the first amount of currency is the actual amount of currency received by a teller money drawer, receive an indication of a second amount of currency, wherein the second amount of currency is an expected amount of currency, compare the first amount of currency to the second amount of currency, discover a discrepancy between the first amount of currency and the second amount of currency, and transmit discrepancy information to be displayed on a teller computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automating a take-out ordering process. In an embodiment, menu data is imported from a restaurant Point-of-Sale (POS) system over at least one network. The menu data may comprise a plurality of menu items. A menu user interface is generated. The menu user interface may comprise one or more menu screens, which comprise a subset of one or more of the plurality of menu items. A selection of at least one menu item from the subset may be received from a user. Up-sell options can be determined and provided to the user. Once completed, an order is sent to the restaurant POS system over the at least one network. The order can comprise the selected menu item(s) and any of the up-sell options selected by the user.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing a consumer device presence-based transaction sessions are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for an apparatus configured to establish consumer device presence-based transaction sessions. The apparatus and consumer device may wirelessly communicate for a variety interactions within the transaction session. For example, consumers may be allowed to provide one or more instances of consumer approval data for payment. The transaction session may be closed upon receipt of consumer approval data or may be kept open based on wirelessly polling for consumer device presence. Based on the lack of consumer device presence, the apparatus may be configured to close the transaction session and subsequently facilitate a transaction. In various embodiments, the apparatus may be a merchant device or a server. For example, the apparatus may be a server of a central system configured to facilitate transaction sessions between merchant devices and consumer devices.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure provide systems and methods for managing product returns. A computing system receives, from a user device, a request for returning a product, compares device identifier data associated with the user device with registered data associated with one or more customer accounts to identify a first customer account associated with the user device, analyzes transaction data associated with the first customer account to determine whether the product is associated with the first customer account, generates an instruction to position the product in a predetermined area, and determines whether the product is positioned in the predetermined area to facilitate a return of the product. Aspects of the disclosure may improve user experience, user efficiency, and/or user interaction performance by processing a product return in an effective and efficient manner.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes training a cognitive engine to recognize a set of tags in customer data, where the set of tags are associated with one or more early-access programs of one or more products. A first set of customer data associated with a first instance of a first early-access program is submitted to the trained cognitive engine, where the first instance is associated with a customer and a first product. A plurality of data packets associated with the tags are received from the trained cognitive engine, responsive to the first set of customer data. The first instance of the first early-access program is reconciled based at least in part on the plurality of data packets.

Abstract: In some examples, methods and systems may process one or more payment transactions between a merchant and a remote customer by exchanging at least one payment proxy having a syntax including a monetary currency indicator preceding an alphanumeric character, corresponding to the merchant or the customer over a mesh network. A customer device detects a neighboring beacon and sends a route request through a communication channel, the route request includes at least an address of a merchant beacon device. The neighboring beacon determines a routing path to connect the customer device and the merchant beacon device by hopping over one or more neighboring beacon devices. Once the communication channel is established, the customer device can send and receive the payment proxy to and from the merchant beacon device. The customer device is configured to generate a message identifying the payment proxy as a method of payment for the payment transaction.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for advantageously forecasting an inventory of a product having a particular duration (e.g., video content). The technique can include determining the particular configuration (e.g., maximum number of impressions, maximum amount of time permitted) of breaks identified within an impression log. Based on the number of breaks and the configurations of the breaks, the technique can forecast a future inventory of the product. In some implementations, the disclosed technique can identify an amount of a previous break that was not filled with video content. These forecasts can enable product sellers to better communicate with their customers, negotiate supply contracts, price their products, plan for business operations, etc.

Abstract: Methods and systems described in this disclosure generally relate to presentation of electronic offers that are viewable on financial instruments (e.g., credit cards and debit cards) by users. More specifically, various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for embedding information pertaining to the electronic offers on a financial instrument of a user. The information can be displayed on a screen or using flashing lights included inside or on the surface of the financial instrument. These offers can be provided by merchants or by banks and financial institutions associated with the financial instrument. In some embodiments, the financial instrument communicates with a mobile application running on a user's mobile device via wireless communication methods to receive offer-related information provided by the mobile application.

Abstract: Utilizing the techniques disclosed herein, sensor data inaccuracies may be corrected such that calculated fill levels more accurately reflect the actual fill level of the item within an automatic replenishment device (ARD). For example, the ARD may include a sensor configured to collect the sensor data (e.g., a distance between the sensor and an item contained within the ARD). Sensor data associated with an item within the ARD may be received. A measurement offset value specific to the item may be identified. An estimated fill level of the item within the ARD may be calculated based at least in part on the distance measured between the sensor and the item and the measurement offset value specific to the item.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to an inventory management system having a machine learning engine trained to (a) dynamically predict a demand amount of the inventory in response to a set of near-future data and (b) generate a signal to order the amount of inventory as needed. In an illustrative example, the machine learning engine may be trained by a hotel's historical room booking data, the hotel's historical occupancy data, and corresponding inventory consumption data stored in a database. Various embodiments may enable, for example, the hotel to have better management on the status of inventories at various stages. For example, sufficient inventory may be available. In addition, providing the proper amount of inventory may also advantageously reduce the cost spent on unused products.

Abstract: Methods and systems for allocating cells of a sorting apparatus include associating, in a database, an identifier of the sorting apparatus with an identifier of a first container storing a first item of the purchase order, the purchase order including a second item stored in a second container; before associating the sorting apparatus with the second container, receiving an identifier of the first item; determining, in the database using the identifier of the first item, whether any cell of the sorting apparatus is associated with the purchase order; when no cell of the sorting apparatus is associated with the purchase order, associating, in the database, an identifier of a cell of the sorting apparatus with the identifier of the purchase order; and transmitting a first signal to a computer associated with a worker instructing placement of the first item in the cell.

Abstract: Past electronic records may be studied using a computer learning algorithm in order to make predictions of future use of the electronic accounts.

Abstract: According to one implementation, an interactive retail venue includes a computing platform interactively linked to a display screen, a lighting system, an audio system, a dynamic product display unit, and multiple product sensors. The computing platform includes a hardware processor and a memory storing a venue orchestration software code. The hardware processor executes the venue orchestration software code to receive sensor data from the product sensors, determine respective locations of retail products within the interactive retail venue based on the sensor data, and present a multi-media entertainment featuring the retail products using the display screen, the lighting system, and the audio system. The hardware processor further executes the venue orchestration software code to concurrently activate the dynamic product display unit if at least one of the retail products is situated within a predetermined distance of the dynamic product display unit.

Abstract: A method for emulating a point of sale (POS) at a mobile device includes identifying a POS based on information associated with the POS received from a mobile device. The method includes generating emulation data descriptive of information captured at the POS, and initiating transmission of the emulation data to the mobile device. The emulation data causes the mobile device to emulate the POS at a display device of the mobile device. The information captured at the POS is associated with a consumer transaction. The method includes dynamically generating updated emulation data as the information captured at the POS changes during the consumer transaction, and initiating transmission of the updated emulation data to the mobile device. The updated emulation data causes the emulation of the POS at the display device of the mobile device to be dynamically updated during the consumer transaction.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for generating predictive models based on past transaction data and/or future-event data to predict: (i) when an account of user is expected to fall below a minimum balance associated with that user, and/or (ii) when an account has surplus funds that may safely be moved to a higher-yield account for some amount of time. In response to determining a predicted time at which an account is expected to fall below the minimum balance, the techniques may generate an offer to extend capital to the user prior to the predicted time. In response to determining that a user has or will have surplus funds, the techniques may generate an offer to move some or all of these surplus funds into a separate account providing a higher yield than the primary account of the user.

Abstract: A method for automatically mapping a store layout includes identifying a path for traversing a retail area and capturing images of the retail area at various points along the path. The images may be analyzed to identify visual characteristics which may be compared to a template of retail products in a template library. When an object depicted in the image matches with a retail product in the template library, the object may correspond to the retail product. Additionally, a retail department for the object may also be identified. The retail department may be compared to the retail product corresponding to the object, and when the retail product is not associated with the retail department, another retail product which is associated with the retail department may be identified as corresponding to the object. A map of the store layout may be generated based on the identified retail products.

Abstract: Methods and systems of exchanging data using payment cards with universal reference numbers are disclosed. A merchant computing system includes a merchant input/output assembly receiving a universal reference number from a customer at a point of sale. A merchant database retrievably stores a plurality of universal reference numbers and customer information associated with each of the plurality of universal reference numbers. A transaction circuit receives the universal reference number from the merchant input/output assembly, retrieves customer information associated with the universal reference number, and provides an output relating to a transaction based on the customer information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided and include a card shuffler device, an optical code reader, a robotic arm, a display area having display windows and light sources, and a controller. The controller receives a selected coating color, searches color chips for the selected coating color by controlling the card shuffler device and the optical code reader to identify a particular color chip that matches the selected coating color based on a machine-readable optical code displayed in an optical code area of the particular color chip, receives a light source selection, and controls the robotic arm to display the particular color chip in a display window that has an associated light source that corresponds to the received light source selection.

Abstract: A pre-defined condition for a pending transaction is satisfied. In response, a real-time request for authorizing the pending transaction is sent to an interested party of the pending transaction. Based on a response received from the interested party, a notice is sent to a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal indicating whether the pending transaction was authorized and completed or denied.