Patents Examined by Nathan Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11941598
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a sensor unit that is installed in an automatic vending machine, and unlocks the automatic vending machine, based on encrypted data transmitted from a terminal apparatus. The sensor unit includes: an encryption processor that generates a public key and a private key, and encrypts an unlocking code with the public key; a hash generator that hashes, through a hash function, sensor information including at least a sensor ID and position information on a sensor, and outputs a hash value; a manager that stores, in a storage, at least the public key and the hash value in association with each other, and manages the public key and the hash value; and an unlocker that determines success or failure of encrypted data transmitted from the terminal apparatus, and unlocks the automatic vending machine when the encrypted data matches with encrypted data generated by the encryption processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventors: Norio Ichihashi, Kenichi Kainuma, Hiroki Osanai
  • Patent number: 11934995
    Abstract: Techniques for predicting a manufacturer and/or contents of a received package are described herein. Images of a package may be received from cameras. A visual vector for the package in a vector space of package attributes may be generated using the images. Physical attributes of the package may be received. A subset of candidate packages may be determined by comparing the physical attributes of a plurality of historically received packages to the physical attributes of the package. A ranking of the subset of candidate packages may be determined by identifying a distance in the vector space of the package attributes between a vector for the subset of candidate packages and the visual vector for the package. An identifier associated with a particular package of the ranked subset of candidate packages may be obtained. Data for the particular package may be retrieved from a database using the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Huinan Ren, Nicole Yoshino, Kristin Quel Lien, Abhishek Shrivastava, Vinit Dinesh Jain, Brian Gleadle, Ruslan Khmeliuk, Michael Allen Swift, Pushkar Naik
  • Patent number: 11922783
    Abstract: A display includes two-integrated cameras. A first camera is situated in a top right corner of a front display surface of the display and a second camera is situated in a top left corner of the front display surface. The display is connected to a transaction terminal with the first camera focused on a bagging area associated with the transaction terminal and with the second camera focused on a staging area associated with the transaction terminal. Each camera captures images of items and the item images are streamed over a high-speed display port directly to the transaction terminal. The transaction terminal performs item recognition, item tracking, and auditing on the items based the item images during transaction processing at the transaction terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Steven James Birnie, Ian McFarlane Denny, Michael Peter Gillies
  • Patent number: 11915241
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and method for securely entering a confidential access code into a user device. A system for allowing secure entry of a confidential access code into a user device may include one or more memories storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute instruction to perform operations. The operations may include receiving a request for confidential access, prompting the user, via the user interface, to enter a group of inputs into a single-entry field, receiving a dummy sequence of inputs, receiving or providing an indicator signal, receiving an access sequence of inputs, parsing the group of inputs received to identify the access sequence of inputs based on the location of the indicator signal, comparing the access sequence of inputs to the confidential access code associated with the user, and granting or denying access to the confidential information based on the results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Abdelkader M'Hamed Benkreira, Michael Mossoba, Joshua Edwards
  • Patent number: 11908023
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for generating a user interface to prompt users of a software application to perform an action in the software application. The method generally includes generating historical transaction time gap data for transactions in the account. A probability distribution is generated based on the historical time gap data. The probability distribution represents a probability that a transaction related to the account has been performed after an elapsed time from a previous transaction. A probability that an unrecorded transaction exists for an account based on the probability distribution and a time difference between a most recent transaction and a current time. The probability that an unrecorded transaction exists is determined to exceed a threshold probability, and a user interface is generated and displayed to a user of the software application including a prompt for the user to enter new transactions for the account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
    Inventors: Meng Chen, Lei Pei, Yueyue Gu, Zhicheng Xue, Linxia Liao
  • Patent number: 11900772
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes: a processor that acquires a type of a product sold by weight; and a transceiver connected to the processor and that establishes intercommunication with a weighing device that weighs the product sold by weight; a storage connected to the processor. The processor causes the transceiver to acquire, from the weighing device, a weight value of the product sold by weight weighed by the weighing device. The processor registers, in the storage, the type of the product and the weight value that corresponds to the type of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Teraoka Seiko Co., LTD
    Inventors: Kazuya Sasaki, Tomoki Kaneko, Naoto Kurosaki, Shingo Higuchi, Kazuki Watanabe, Fumikatu Saitoh, Akiko Yoshikawa, Sayaka Tomori
  • Patent number: 11900349
    Abstract: A method operates a sales device for goods. The method includes: detecting, using a shelf with automatic removal monitoring, a removed item and determining item data of the removed item; reading out a customer identification number of a customer in a vicinity of the shelf from which the removed item has been removed; receiving, by a controller, the item data of the removed item and the customer identification number; adding, with the controller, the item data of the removed item and the customer identification number to a list of items intended for payment; and detecting, with a detector, items for which a payment transaction is to be executed. The detector has at least one sensor and an evaluator and for detecting articles, at least the data of the sensor and the list of items intended for payment are being made available to the evaluator as input variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BIZERBA SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Tudor Andronic, Meik Huber
  • Patent number: 11893866
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, wheel apparatuses that includes weight sensors. For instance, a wheel apparatus may include at least a hub, a rim located around the hub, a tire located around the rim, weight sensor(s) located within the rim, and a caster that connects the wheel apparatus to a mobile apparatus. In some examples, the wheel apparatus may include additional components, such as one or more batteries, a generator, and/or a wireless communication interface. As such, the mobile apparatus may use the wheel sensors included in the wheel apparatuses to determine weights, such as weights of items added to the mobile apparatus. In some examples, the wheel apparatuses are configured such that the weight sensors remain perpendicular with respect to a ground plane so that the mobile apparatus may use the weight sensors to determine the weights even when the mobile apparatus is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Franklin, Andre David Brown
  • Patent number: 11887463
    Abstract: A computer vision card reader and/or point of sale device is described. The device is configured to sense when a user inserts a card into a card reader and to determine when a user departs or is about to depart from the device without retrieving the card. The device may issue an audible or visible alert to the user, reminding the user to retrieve the card. The device may additionally send a notification to a mobile device associated with the user that reminds the user that he has left a card at the point of sale. In some embodiments, message sent to the user contains a code and, upon entry of the code, the point of sale or card reader device returns the card to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Abdelkader Benkreira, Joshua Edwards, Michael Mossoba
  • Patent number: 11887095
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to one example embodiment is an information processing apparatus that performs a checkout process for a product or a service, and the information processing apparatus includes: a motion unit that causes the information processing apparatus to autonomously move; a detection unit configured to detect a position of a person; and a control unit that controls the motion unit in accordance with the position of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Uchimura
  • Patent number: 11853992
    Abstract: A settlement device includes a packing unit located near a reading unit to pack a commodity, a symbol of which is read by a reading unit, a measuring unit to measure the packed commodity, a light emitting unit, determining means for determining, using data of weight measured, whether the commodity, the symbol of which is read, is packed, and light-emission controller for, if determining that the commodity, the symbol of which is read, is packed, causing the light emitting unit to emit light in a first form and, if determining that the commodity, the symbol of which is read, is not packed, causing the light emitting unit to emit light in a second form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Kawaguchi, Hidehiro Naito, Shinsuke Yajima, Daisuke Hattori, Masaki Ito, Takahiro Saitou, Kota Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11842809
    Abstract: A system and method for reconciling conflicting identifiers from a first entity and a second entity is disclosed. The first entity and the second entity may be associated with a contract for goods to be delivered to an address of an organization. The system and method may include receiving, from the first entity via a first user interface or the second entity via a second user interface, respective files including respective identifiers. The system and method may include updating, in a database, an entry associated with the organization based on the received identifiers such that an organization address identifier assigned by the first entity is associated with an account identifier assigned by the second entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: GLOBAL HEALTHCARE EXCHANGE, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Cochran, Hatem El-Sebaaly, Mark Wilcox, Neil Collins, Martin Braure De Calignon, Juhi Jaiswal, Scott Witoszynski
  • Patent number: 11842321
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for determining product volumes associated with products in a facility. These product volumes may be used to update planogram data associated with a facility, with the planogram data indicating inventory locations within the facility for various types of items supported by product fixtures. The planogram data may be used, in some instances, to update virtual carts of users interacting with the items in the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuhang Zou, Behjat Siddiquie, Abhay Mittal, Jean Laurent Guigues, Chris Broaddus
  • Patent number: 11836677
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, mechanisms (which can, for example, include systems, apparatuses, methods, and media) for managing inventory associated with a facility are provided. In some embodiments, a method is provided comprising: receiving identifying information of items; causing a mobile device to present a subset of items in a user interface; receiving transmitting device identification information, the device associated with a first location; determining, based on the transmitter identifying information, a location of the mobile device within the facility; receiving an indication items are being stored at the location of the mobile device; associating the items with the location; causing a computing device to present a user interface that includes identifying information associated with the items in connection with a location of the items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Direct Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Avery, Jr., Ryan G. Colwell, Andrew J. Novotny, Nathanial C. Ziarek
  • Patent number: 11836694
    Abstract: A method of network configuration of personal identification number (PIN) pads includes obtaining a PIN pad configuration hash value for a current configuration of the PIN pad, comparing the obtained PIN pad configuration hash to a locally stored PIN pad configuration hash, upon determining that the obtained PIN pad configuration hash and the locally stored PIN pad configuration hash do not match, performing additional operations, which include requesting a new PIN pad configuration, receiving the new PIN pad configuration, receiving a new PIN pad configuration hash, and storing the PIN pad configuration hash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Worldpay, LLC
    Inventor: Bryan Cox
  • Patent number: 11829990
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for contactless checkout in a retail environment including a security pedestal located at an entrance or exit to a retail location. The system further includes a scanning device that is communicably coupled with the security pedestal. The self-checkout system and methods may also include a processing system that is configured to receive a list of items from the security pedestal and customer identification code from the scanning device. The system and method is configured to allow for a customer to scan his purchases at the security pedestal and pay for the purchases through the use of the customer identification code generated, preferably, using the customer's personal computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Ricardo Vargas, Melwyn Sequeira
  • Patent number: 11829944
    Abstract: The present application provides systems and methods for a mobile storefront having direct customer access to inventory and pricing from a mobile storefront. In particular, systems and methods provide an application usable by customers to purchase goods or services from a mobile storefront through an electronic communication device. This includes reserving and purchasing products in inventory of the mobile storefront or pooled inventory from multiple mobile storefronts in an area, reserving and purchasing services and/or support, and for communicating directly with an electronic communication device of the mobile storefront.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MATCO TOOLS CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Green, Brian Katzenmeyer, Rayne Covault, Kevin Fanning, Mark Thomas
  • Patent number: 11823151
    Abstract: A kiosk is disclosed. For example, the kiosk includes a graphical user interface (GUI), a payment processing module to receive payment, a processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations. The operations include receiving a plurality of job requests, providing a total cost of the plurality of job requests on the GUI, receiving confirmation of the total costs via the GUI, receiving a single payment for the plurality of job requests via the payment processing module, and executing the plurality of job requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kathryn K. Matysek, Prince Gerald Albert, Srinivasan Kottaiyappan
  • Patent number: 11816646
    Abstract: A method for conducting payment transaction by an employee using an employer payment system includes retrieving a token or an account identification from the employee payment card presented by a consumer, sending an authorization request with token, account identification and transaction data to an acquirer processor, identifying the employer and the employee associated with the token or account identification, determining whether the employee is authorized for the requested transaction based on an employee information from the employer's database, sending, to the employer, a transaction request from the point of sale terminal, transferring funds electronically from the employee's funds account or employer's account to the merchant in accordance with the transaction request between the merchant and the employee, and updating the employer's database with the transaction information once the transfer of funds is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Worldpay, LLC
    Inventor: Coy Christensen
  • Patent number: 11816965
    Abstract: A cannabis tracking assembly for tracking the progress of cannabis products through a retail chain includes a tracking unit that can be manipulated by a user in a cannabis retail environment. The tracking unit is actuatable to scan identifying data from cannabis products received from a manufacturer and cannabis products sold to customers. In this way the tracking unit can track the cannabis products throughout the retail distribution chain. Additionally, the tracking unit has point of sale capabilities to process payments received from retail customers of the cannabis products. The tracking unit is in remote communication with a remote data storage device to transfer data to and from the remote data storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Barrington Hodges