Abstract: Embodiments herein describe aggregating RFID events before determining a location of an RFID tagged item. For example, a warehouse may be divided into different zones in which the RFID tagged item is tracked. An inventory tracking system may require that at least one RFID reader detect the RFID tagged item a threshold number of times before determining that the item is at the location corresponding to the reader. Thus, even if RFID readers at neighboring locations in the zone also detect the RFID tagged item, the inventory tracking system determines the location with the most RFID events is the most likely location of the package. By aggregating RFID events, the inventory tracking system can provide a more accurate location of the RFID tagged item in a noisy environment or an environment with a high density of RFID readers.

Abstract: A device and a method for supplying spare parts of an aircraft to a maintenance and/or repair center, such as a hangar. From data of previous transactions with the spare parts and from technical data relating to the spare parts, probabilities are calculated that certain spare parts are needed together, enabling them to be supplied together. According to a further aspect, different vending machines at the maintenance and/or repair center are proposed, with which the spare parts for a maintenance or repair task can be supplied together.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and related method are provided for operating a digital inventory system. The method comprises receiving, from an imaging device, an image comprising an object and performing object recognition on the image to determine an object type of the object. The method further comprises determining when the object is to be added to an inventory database based on inventory rules stored in a memory of the digital inventory system. When these rules indicate that the object is to be added, the object is added to the inventory database. The method determines a value of the inventory object based on valuation information related to other objects of a same or similar object type. The value is associated with the inventory object. The inventory object is displayed along with its value on a computer display.

Abstract: A vacuum generation system and method utilizes a dual-action piston-cylinder vacuum generation system to evacuate a vacuum storage. Saturated steam of higher than ambient pressure is inserted into a condensation cylinder with two chambers separated by a movable piston. Steam moves the piston to fill one chamber while expel gaseous content and condensate out of the other chamber. Steam is then condensed to a rough vacuum (RV) state by cooling. By repeated operations of inserting and condensing steam in each chamber alternatively, a sustained vacuum generation is achieved. A multi-level vacuum storage is also disclosed with a high vacuum (HV) storage placed inside a rough vacuum (RV) storage to reduce leakage as well as mechanical stresses. The vacuum generation system and method is extended for creating a prime mover or actuator to drive vacuum pumps maximizing thermal energy usage for increased vacuuming capacity.

Abstract: A system that employs aerial drones for inventory management is disclosed. The system includes at least one aerial drone with an optical sensor, an indoor positioning system, and a controller on the aerial drone. The controller is communicatively coupled to the optical sensor and the indoor positioning system. The controller is configured to localize and navigate the aerial drone within a facility based on one or more signals from the indoor positioning system. The controller is further configured to detect identifiers attached to respective inventory items via the optical sensor and to store information associated with the detected identifiers in an onboard memory. The controller may be further configured to transmit the information associated with the detected identifiers to a warehouse management system.

Abstract: A system and environment to enable entities to utilize delivery services provided by a service provider are described herein. In some examples, the service provider exposes the delivery services to a computing device associated with a merchant, buyer, and/or others using one or more Applicant Programming Interfaces (APIs) provided by the service provider. The one or more APIs may enable merchants and/or others to automatically integrate the delivery services into technologies used by the merchants and/or others in order to facilitate delivery of items that are offered for acquisition by the merchants.

Abstract: An appliance includes a temperature control system, a light source, and a spectrometer. The spectrometer works in conjunction with the light source to obtain a measured value of a foodstuff. The measured value is at least one of an absorbance value, a transmittance value, and a reflectance value. The measured value from the foodstuff is compared to a reference value for the foodstuff.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating estimation of node processing capacity values for order fulfillment are provided. In one example, a computer-implemented method can comprise: generating, by a system operatively coupled to a processor, a current processing capacity value for an entity; and determining, by the system, a future processing capacity value for the entity based on the current processing capacity value and by using a future capacity model that has been explicitly trained to infer respective processing capacity values for the entity. The computer-implemented method can also comprise fulfilling an order of an item, by the system, based on the future processing capacity value.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of managing an inventory of articles includes receiving, by a transfer processor, article information associated with the articles, and identifying, by the transfer processor, one of the articles based on an article identifier. The method also includes retrieving article information based on the identifier, the article information including care information for the one of the articles, and, when the identified article is an article requiring special care, a special care requirement is included in the care information, and preparing the article for transfer based on the care information.

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 terminal includes an item scanner. The item scanner determines whether an item that passes within a field of view of the scanner during a transaction has a properly noted barcode recorded for the transaction. When the item fails to have a properly noted barcode an alert is raised in real time for assistance and/or investigation of the transaction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a point of sale terminal. The point of sale terminal may include a housing, a customer display, and a payment device. The housing may define a customer display opening and a tablet opening. The customer display may be located within the housing and arranged to be visible through the customer display opening. The payment device may be located within the housing proximate customer display opening.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein describe a location aware, RFID-enabled pallet mover for tracking inventory moving in a warehouse. The pallet mover includes a RFID system for detecting a pallet currently loaded on the pallet mover and a real-time location system (RTLS) tag for identifying a location of the pallet mover in the warehouse. In one embodiment, the RFID system includes an antenna and an RFID reader for detecting RFID tags in order to track inventory such as a pallet or packages. The RFID reader can communicate with the RFID tags in the environment to identify which pallet is currently loaded on the mover. In one embodiment, the RFID system waits until the pallet mover is moving before activating the RFID reader and monitoring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of an RFID tag to determine whether the corresponding pallet is currently loaded onto the pallet mover.

Abstract: A kit for connecting to, and monitoring fill levels of a fluid storage tank includes a control module and primary and secondary sensor units. The control module is electronically connected to the primary sensor unit. The control module includes a circuit board with a microprocessor, memory unit, and transmitter. Each sensor unit includes a housing a seal attached to the housing around an opening thereof, attachment structure for attaching the housing to a wall of the tank, and an infrared sensor disposed in the housing proximate the opening. The primary sensor unit also includes a circuit board disposed within the housing, an ambient temperature sensor disposed in the housing, and a communications link for communicating with the control module. A method of monitoring a fluid level in a storage tank, and a system for monitoring and reporting fluid levels in a plurality of storage tanks, are also described.

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: 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: 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: In some embodiments, methods and systems for analyzing an inventory database and an accounting database of a retail store in order to detect products that were mis-shipped to the retail store, improperly invoiced to the retail store, and/or erroneously not invoiced to the retail store.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating estimation of node processing capacity values for order fulfillment are provided. In one example, a computer-implemented method can comprise: generating, by a system operatively coupled to a processor, a current processing capacity value for an entity; and determining, by the system, a future processing capacity value for the entity based on the current processing capacity value and by using a future capacity model that has been explicitly trained to infer respective processing capacity values for the entity. The computer-implemented method can also comprise fulfilling an order of an item, by the system, based on the future processing capacity value.

Abstract: A unified service model method is used for Business Service Management of a computing infrastructure. In the model, service offerings are defined for a business service, and one or more service level targets are associated with each of these offerings. The business service is associated with one or more technical services that support the business service. These technical services are delivered by actual component in a computing infrastructure. In the model, service offerings are associated with the technical services, and service level targets are associated with each of these offerings. A customer defined in the model subscribes to one of the service offerings of the business service. As business services are provided, the unified service model combines the service offerings tying the business and technical services to the associated service level targets, and administrators can manage the services and IT components using the unified service model.