Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of managing overstock products at a retail sales facility include scanning a product at a stock room location of the retail sales facility using a hand-held electronic device including a processor. At least two of three functions are performed based on the scanning. First, the product may be audited by comparing data obtained by scanning the product to data contained in an inventory management database. Second, a determination of whether the scanned item is on a pick list may be made, which may include determining a demand for the scanned product to arrive at a decision whether to store the product in the stock room or place it on a shelf on the sales floor. Third, if the item is to be stored in the stock room, a determination of whether identical items are stored in bins in the stock room may be made.

Abstract: Item movement is determined via wireless tracking using RFID data from at least one RFID reader. The RFID data associates RFID tag information with each antenna of the RFID reader that receives the tag information. At least one processer is configured to identify a first appearance of unique tag information in the RFID data. Items may be grouped when their first appearance in RFID data and their antenna association indicates that they first appear in a location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by RFID data, and/or when they have all moved from a previous location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by different RFID data. A group designation comprises the relevant unique tag information, which may be stored in memory along with a time stamp.

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: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for sorting mechanisms at a POS terminal. A POS terminal in a secondary mode of operation, receives input of categories. Information of items received by the POS terminal is used to sort the items into the categories.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for detecting absent physical objects using autonomous robot devices. In exemplary embodiments, the system includes shelving units disposed throughout a facility storing sets of physical objects. A first set of machine readable representations can be disposed on the front surface of the shelving unit and a second set of machine readable representations can be disposed on the back wall of the shelving unit. The first and second set of machine readable representations can be encoded with identifiers associated with the sets of physical objects. An autonomous robot device can be configured to detect and read a first set of machine-readable representations in response to successfully detecting and reading the second set of machine readable representations the autonomous robot device can determine the absence of a set of like physical objects.

Abstract: An example shelf system and associated methods are described. The shelf system includes a frame with a base member and a vertical member, first and second shelves extending from opposite sides of the vertical member, and first and second pairs of sensors disposed below the base member. In response to positioning a physical object on the first shelf or the second shelf, the physical object applies a torque on the vertical member and each of the sensors output electrical signals corresponding to a change in weight sensed by each of the sensors based on the torque. The shelf system includes a central computing system configured to determine which of the first shelf or the second shelf received the physical object, an estimated location of the physical object on the first or second shelf, and whether the physical object is positioned on the first or second shelf in an expected location.

Abstract: A monitoring system for items in a delivery vehicle is described. Sensors disposed in the delivery vehicle are configured to sense data indicative of a current quality of items stored in the delivery vehicle. A computing device calculates navigation routes for the items in the vehicle and selects among the delivery routes at least partly based on sensor data relating to the monitored quality of the items.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for determining in situ locations of physical objects using mobile devices within a facility. Multiple mobile devices may scan different identifiers of different physical objects disposed in a facility. The mobile devices may transmit the identifiers to a distributed computing system. The distributed computing system may query a database to determine the in situ location of the physical objects associated with the identifiers. In response to not being able to retrieve a in situ location of a physical object, the distributed computing system may determine a path of the mobile device which transmitted the identifier associated with the physical object with the unknown in situ location. The distributed computing system may determine the in situ location of the physical object for which the in situ location was unknown based on the path and the known locations of the other physical objects.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for interacting with an interactive display using a shopping cart. A RFID reader can read RFID tags integrated with a handle portion of a shopping cart. A unique identifier can be encoded in each of the RFID tags. A user of the shopping cart can the RFID reader from reading one or more of the RFID tags in response to a hand of a user obscuring the one or more RFID tags. The RFID reader can detect which of RFID tag(s) are covered. The RFID reader can transmit the identifier(s) of the covered RFID tag(s) to a computing system. The computing system can include an interactive display. The computing system can retrieve a specified action to be performed on the interactive display. The computing system can control, to perform a specified action on the interactive display.

Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for containing fluid from an overflowing toilet. An annular fluid containment basin is located near the base of a toilet and is configured to encircle the base of the toilet and collect fluid flowing down the exterior surface of the toilet. A moisture sensor is located within the annular fluid containment basin and configured to sense a spill. A drain is also located within the annular fluid containment basin to direct fluid to bypass an S-bend or trap connected to the toilet.

Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for locating objects. A computational device generates a first set of statistical data indicative of a frequency at which machine readable features associated with a first set of objects and machine readable features associated with a second set of objects are read within each of a plurality of object groups. The computational device also retrieves a second set of statistical data indicative of a historical frequency at which past groups of objects included machine readable features associated with the first set of objects and machine readable features associated with the second set of objects during a previous time interval. Based on a comparison between the first set of statistical data and the second set of statistical data, the computational deice computes a geographical relationship between the first set of objects and a portion of the objects from the second set of objects.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for evaluating shopping cart wheels using a sensor module or one or more microphones engaged with the shopping cart. The microphones can be used to detect sounds generated by the wheels of the shopping cart. A sound signature can be determined from the detected sound and compared to sound signatures in a database. If the detected sound indicates that a wheel of the shopping cart is failing, an alert can be generated using an associate alert system.

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: Sensor systems, methods and machine readable medium are provided for a cargo vehicle. A plurality of sensors are arranged about an opening associated with a door through which packages are unloaded from a vehicle or trailer. The plurality of sensors are configured to measure an unpacked depth of the vehicle or trailer. A processor is provided in communication with each of the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to receive measured data generated by the plurality of sensors, determine an empty volume over time of the vehicle or trailer based on the measured data as packages are being unpacked from the vehicle or trailer, and generate instructions regarding loading packages in a subsequent vehicle or trailer based on the determined empty volume over time of the vehicle or trailer.

Abstract: An item monitoring system including a bladder including a body with a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid is described. The system includes an energy generation mechanism connected to the bladder and including a tube equipped with a wire core or surrounded by a wire coil in fluid communication with the bladder, and a magnetic item movably disposed within the tube. The system includes a light source electrically connected to the energy generation mechanism. Displacement of the fluid from the bladder into the tube moves the magnetic item within the tube, thereby generating an electrical current to emit a light from the light source.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media are provided for rendering at an electronic terminal a first set of graphical user interfaces to request a first set of data from a user, receiving, at a central server in communication with the electronic terminal, the first set of data from the user, communicating the first set of data via a stateless edge appliance to a third party verification server in a selected one of a plurality of third party computer networks to validate the first set of data, rendering a second set of graphical user interfaces to request a second set of data from the user, communicating the second set of data to the third party verification server to authenticate the second set of data, and authenticating the user in response to receipt of authentication of the second set of data.

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: A system and method are provided for automated checkout using metal detection to determine a location of a universal product code (UPC) or another physical item identifier (PID) associated with a given item. A set of sensors detects a location of a physical identifier (PID) associated with at least one item. A set of signal components outputs an indication of the detected PID location on the given item. The output PID location indication directs a movement or change in position of the given item to place the PID in a readable proximity of a scanner component. The PID location indication may include an audible indication, a visual indication, and/or a haptic indication to a user. The PID location indication may include instructions to an orientation component for automatically repositioning the item within the readable proximity of the scanner component.

Abstract: Example shopping cart corral systems and associated systems and methods are described. The example shopping cart corral system includes a corral structure, a radio-frequency transmitter, a radio-frequency receiver, and a controller coupled to the radio-frequency transmitter and the radio-frequency receiver. The controller estimates a quantity of shopping carts disposed in the shopping cart corral based on at least one property of the reflected radio-frequency signal. An example shopping cart counter system includes an elongated structure, first and second electrical contacts, a power source and a processing device. The power source applies a voltage or an electrical current to the first electrical contact and the shopping carts complete an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts. The processing device estimates the quantity of shopping carts disposed in the elongated structure based on an electrical resistance associated with the shopping carts.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for a label position determination. A label position determination system can include labels mounted on the front face of the shelving units. The labels can include conductive patterns on the back face of the label. The conductive patterns of the labels can be electrically coupled with electrically conductive wires extending along a front face of a shelf. The system can further include a controller coupled to with electrically conductive wires, configured to transmit electrical pulses through the electrically conductive wires. The controller can determine at least one of: an identity of each of the labels mounted to the front face, whether a label has been mounted at an incorrect location on the front face of the shelf, or whether a label is missing from the front face of the shelf based on a response to the electrical pulse.