Abstract: A shopping cart deflection measurement system and associated methods are described. The shopping cart deflection measurement system includes a shopping cart, a sensor, and a processing device equipped with a processor. The shopping cart includes a frame, a basket portion pivotably mounted to the frame so as to enable deflection of at least one edge of the basket portion downward in the direction of gravity following a weight being placed in the basket portion, and a lower rack portion mounted to the frame and disposed below the basket portion. The processing device can be configured to execute instructions to measure deflection of the basket portion relative to the lower rack portion of the shopping cart using data acquired by the sensor. The measured deflection can be indicative of a fullness of the basket portion with one or more products.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for identifying actions performed by a forklift based on detected sounds in a facility. An array of microphones can be disposed in a facility. The microphones can detect various sounds and encode the sounds in an electrical signal and transmit the sounds to a computing system. The computing system can determine the sound signature of each sound and based on the sound signature the chronological order of the sounds and the time interval in between the sounds the computing system can determine the action being performed by the forklift which is causing the sounds.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for estimating storage capacity of a storage unit disposed in a facility based on echoes detected by microphones. The microphones can detect sounds generated in the warehouse and reflected off the storage unit structures. The microphones detect the intensity of the sounds. The microphones can encode the sounds and the intensity of the sounds in time-varying electrical signals and transmit the time-varying electrical signals to a computing system. The computing system can decode the sounds and the intensity of the sounds from the time-varying electrical signals and estimate storage capacity of a storage unit from which the sounds reflected off of based on the intensity of the sounds.

Abstract: A vehicle identification system that includes exhaust emissions sensors that identify a vehicle type based on detected exhaust emission profiles and further determines vehicle stay duration and related metrics is discussed. Additional audio sensors may be used to further identify a change in load on the vehicle due to purchases made at the retail facility. The exhaust emission profiles detected by the vehicle identification system can be correlated with transaction data for the customer to determine the exact items purchased by the customer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for application aware notifications in a wireless communication network are disclosed. The methods and apparatuses enable the transfer of at least some data to a UE or group of UEs without the specific need to establish a communication session for this data transfer. According to embodiments, the method and apparatus enable data to be transferred to a UE or a group of UEs along with a paging request. According to embodiments, downlink data to be transferred to a UE is integrated within a grant sent to the UE for transmission of uplink data.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for identifying actions based on detected sounds in a facility. An array of microphones can be disposed in a facility. The microphones can detect various sounds and encode the sounds in an electrical signal and transmit the sounds to a computing system. The computing system can determine the sound signature of each sound and based on the sound signature the chronological order of the sounds and the time interval in between the sounds the computing system can determine the action being performed causing the sounds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for paging an application on a User Equipment, UE are disclosed. When an application server is to push a notification or other data to an application operating on the UE, the application server transmits a paging notification for transmission to the UE. Prior to the transmission of a paging notification by the application server, the application provides an identifier to the application server, wherein the identifier includes at least some details relating to the application and the associated UE. The identifier can be used by communication mechanisms intermediate between the application server and the UE to direct the paging notification to the UE with which the intended application is associated. According to embodiments, the paging notification can be configured such that a locator function, which may operate in a manner similar to a Domain Name Service (DNS) server, can determine the operator network which provides communication connectivity to the UE.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine readable medium are provided for analyzing remotely located facilities based on sensed data. Exemplary embodiments include sensing data by one or more sensors located at or near a first facility to determine customer traffic and adding the sensed data to a set of stored data associated with the first facility. Customer demographics of the first facility are determined based on the sensed data, and transaction data for the first facility is received from one or more computing systems at the first facility. A second facility is identified that has customer demographics with a pre-defined degree of similarity to the customer demographics of the first facility. Transaction data of the second facility is analyzed with respect to the transaction data of the first facility and an improvement or change in item assortment at the first facility is determined based on the analysis.

Abstract: Sensor systems, methods and machine readable medium are provided for a sensor system for analyzing the ripeness of produce items.

Abstract: An example customer assistance system and associated methods are described. The example customer assistance system includes a shopping cart, a customer assistance unit mounted on the shopping cart, and a location system disposed remotely from the shopping cart and the customer assistance unit. The customer assistance unit includes a light source oriented upwards relative to horizontal, and an actuator for actuating the light source into an illumination position. In the illumination position, the light source projects a light beam over the shopping cart. The locating system includes at least one image capturing device configured to scan a ceiling for the light beam and to determine a source location of the shopping cart based on a ceiling location of the light beam.

Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for detection motion using an air curtain. An air flow source generates an air curtain that can rotate an airfoil located downstream of the air flow source. The airfoil contains an RF reflective material, and a sensor can detect RF reflections from the airfoil. The sensor communicates data associated with the RF energy reflections detected from the airfoil to a computing device that can compare this data against a reflection threshold value. The computing device can determine whether an object has obstructed the air curtain if the reflections detected by the sensor decrease below the reflection threshold value. The computing device can also compute a number of objects passing through the air curtain during a specified period of time.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension measurement system that allows for tracking of customer traffic at a retail environment, and for determining whether items were purchased by a customer during their visit to the retail environment is discussed. Using a passive sensor-based system, data may be gathered by visually analyzing a vehicle's suspension system upon entry to the retail environment and again upon exit from the retail environment. A comparison of the entry and exit images may be performed to determine the degree of engagement of the vehicle suspension system and thereby provide an indicator as to whether the customer in the vehicle has made a purchase.

Abstract: An example cart inventory system and associated methods are described. The example cart inventory system includes a cart and a detection system. The cart includes a frame, and a shelf movably mounted to the frame and configured to be positioned between an extended position and a folded position. A top surface and a rear surface of the shelf include first and second identifiers, respectively. The detection system is configured to detect the first identifier when the shelf is in the extended position and detect the second identifier when the shelf is positioned in the folded position. In the extended position, the top surface is oriented upwards relative to horizontal and the rear surface is disposed against the frame. In the folded position, the rear surface is oriented upwards relative to horizontal.

Abstract: A vehicle analysis system including one or more weight sensors positioned to determine a weight of a vehicle within a pre-defined geographic location in the vicinity of a location of interest is described. The vehicle analysis system acquires data related to vehicles visiting the location of interest that may be saved in a database to provide further insight into individual's visiting the location of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, system, and method for the bulk blending of dry component materials to produce a blended product mix. The apparatus utilizes a special construction that allows multiple bulk dry materials to be added simultaneously to create a blended mix compliant with a desired or specified mixture of cement components. The system is automated by use of a controller, and provides real-time data to a user as to rates and amounts of materials blended and delivered over time.

Abstract: An embodiment method of indicating reception of a plurality of low-payload messages includes receiving the plurality of low-payload messages from respective user equipments (UEs). The method also includes generating a composite reception indication (RIND) containing a RIND for each of the plurality of low-payload messages. The method also includes broadcasting the composite RIND to the respective UEs.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for determining crowd traffic in a facility by detecting debris on floor mats. The system can include floor mats disposed in a facility to collect debris from objects passing over the floor mats. A computing system can detect and estimate the amount of objects causing the debris on the floor mat. The computing system can estimate the amount of objects entering and exiting the facility based on the quantity of objects passing over the floor mats.

Abstract: Electronic reading devices provide readers with text on a display, and enhancements to their functionality and efficiency are discussed herein. Text is provided to the reader in an enhanced contrast mode that highlights the active word and line of the text as well as words of interest in the text so as to improve the functionality of the electronic reading device itself as a provider of textual content.

Abstract: Systems and methods reduce redundancy in a data representation. The data is divided into a plurality of data portions. The data portions are used to encode a plurality of compressed data portions, wherein the compressed data portions correspond to a subset of the data portions and comprise less redundant data than the subset of the data portions. The compressed data portions are also encoded in accordance with data in the remaining data portions. The compressed data portions are transmitted instead of the subset of the data portions with the remaining data portions according to a sequence of data portions. Each of the compressed data portions is transmitted upon receiving an acknowledgment message that indicates successful transmission of a previous data portion or compressed data portion in the sequence of data portions.