Patents by Inventor Bruce Walter Wilkinson

Bruce Walter Wilkinson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11113656
    Abstract: Provided is a system for automatic signature for receipt verification. The system includes a delivery management server, wherein the deliver management server includes a memory and a processor. A digital copy of an authorized signature is stored in the memory of the delivery management server. The system also includes a delivery smart crate for receiving packages unattended. The delivery smart crate is in communication with the delivery management server through a network connection. The system also includes a delivery service in communication with the delivery management server through a network connection. The delivery service notifies the delivery management server of a signature request by a sender. The delivery smart crate notifies the delivery management server of a delivery made to the delivery smart crate. Also, the delivery management server sends the digital copy of the authorized signature to the delivery service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 10592957
    Abstract: A system selects meals according to a user's tastes and presents media files instructing execution of the meal. The media file is presented as a set of segments, each segment having a thumbnail image and metadata associated therewith. User interactions with the segments are monitored and evaluated to determine whether the segments are viewed, viewed for inspiration, and/or viewed while executing the meal. Actions monitored and evaluated may include movement of a user device during a viewing, pausing of playback, appropriateness of pausing locations to meal preparation steps, and orientation of the device. The metadata of segments and the viewing status thereof is used to determine a user's tastes and skill level to facilitate selection of subsequent meals for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Darrin Richards, Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 10594495
    Abstract: A method for ensuring that a computer readable information is authentic, including: generating a public key associated with the computer readable information, hashing the computer readable information to obtain a hashed computer readable information, encrypting the hashed computer readable information with a private key to create a digital signature, wherein the hashed computer readable information and the digital signature are stored on a block of a blockchain, authenticating the user computing device in response to a request from the user computing device to download the computer readable information, transmitting the public key and the digital signature to an authenticated user computing device, and instructing the authenticated user computing device to decrypt the digital signature using the public key to obtain the hashed computer readable information, and download the hashed computer readable information to the authenticated user computing system to retrieve the computer readable information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, Brian Gerard McHale, John J. O'Brien, V, Robert Cantrell, Joseph Jurich
  • Patent number: 10496798
    Abstract: A system ingests the purchases of a user at various retail outlets and are analyzed to characterize a user's taste profile as well as the complexity and effort of meals prepared by the user. A meal plan including the preparation of recipes corresponding to the user's taste, complexity, and effort profiles. Meal plan media including instructions for preparing the meals of the meal plan are provided. Interactions or lack thereof and the date of interactions are monitored and analyzed to determine whether a meal was executed and the date of execution. A weekly schedule profile of the user is developed based on the complexity and effort scores of meals and the determination of whether the meals are or are not executed. Subsequent meal plans are generated based on the schedule profile and the taste profile updated per determinations of which meals are executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 10395206
    Abstract: Deliveries of meal ingredients to a user are made in a crate and retrieval times of the crate are detected, such as by detecting input of a code to the crate or detecting proximity of a mobile device of a user to the crate. Retrieval times are used to train a retrieval model for the user. The amount of refrigerant (e.g. ice) required for subsequent deliveries is estimated based on a period between an expected delivery time and an expected retrieval time determined from the retrieval model as well as expected weather conditions during the period. A pick list for the meal ingredients is output and includes the amount of refrigerant as an item to be retrieved for the delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20180183606
    Abstract: A method for ensuring that a computer readable information is authentic, including: generating a public key associated with the computer readable information, hashing the computer readable information to obtain a hashed computer readable information, encrypting the hashed computer readable information with a private key to create a digital signature, wherein the hashed computer readable information and the digital signature are stored on a block of a blockchain, authenticating the user computing device in response to a request from the user computing device to download the computer readable information, transmitting the public key and the digital signature to an authenticated user computing device, and instructing the authenticated user computing device to decrypt the digital signature using the public key to obtain the hashed computer readable information, and download the hashed computer readable information to the authenticated user computing system to retrieve the computer readable information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, Brian Gerard McHale, John J. O'Brien, V, Robert Cantrell, Joseph Jurich, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180167394
    Abstract: A method for controlling access to a locked space, including generating an access code and a private key associated with the access code, hashing the access code to obtain a hashed access code, encrypting the hashed access code with a public key to create a digital signature, wherein the hashed access code and the digital signature are stored on the blockchain, authenticating a receiving device in response to a request from the receiving device to gain access to the locked space, transmitting the private key and the digital signature to an authenticated receiving device, instructing the authenticated receiving device to decrypt the digital signature using the private key to obtain the hashed access code, and transmit the hashed access code to the computing system, and unlocking the locked space in response to receiving the hashed access code from the receiving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, John J. O'Brien, V, Robert Cantrell, Brian Gerard McHale, Joseph Jurich, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180165660
    Abstract: A method and system for managing a demand on an electrical grid is provided, including: receiving a capped total amount of cryptocurrency available to purchase units of energy from an energy provider, the capped amount of cryptocurrency being recorded in a publicly distributed transaction ledger, allocating a portion of the cryptocurrency of the capped total amount of cryptocurrency to each energy consumption device, wherein the portion of the cryptocurrency allocated to each energy consumption device is recorded in the ledger, receiving, a request from an energy consumption device of the plurality of energy consumption devices that the energy metering device purchase an energy unit, using the portion of cryptocurrency allocated to the first energy consumption device, accessing the publically distributed transaction ledger in response to receiving the request from the first energy consumption to verify that the first energy consumption device has a remaining amount of cryptocurrency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, Brian Gerard McHale, John J. O'Brien, V, Robert Cantrell, Joseph Jurich, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180167200
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a medical record of a patient that is unable to communicate, wherein the medical record of the patient is stored on a blockchain, is provided, including receiving an encrypted private key and a public key associated with the patient stored on a wearable device of the patient, in response to a scanning of the wearable device of the patient at a scene of an emergency, wherein the encrypted private key is decrypted by a biometric signature of the patient, obtaining the biometric signature of the patient by scanning a bodily feature of the patient, decrypting the encrypted private key using the biometric signature of the patient to determine a private key associated with the patient, and accessing the medical records of the patient, using a combination of the public key and the private key associated with the patient, to access a local storage medium of the wearable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, Robert Cantrell, John J. O'Brien, V, Brian Gerard McHale, Joseph Jurich, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180107977
    Abstract: Provided is a courier shopping system. The system includes a customer computing device for accessing and receiving data produced by the system and a server located at a service provider. The server is coupled to the customer computing device and programmed to operate a courier management system; operate a customer management system; operate a vendor payment sharing system; and operate a customer interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, Anton Valkov, Donald R. High, John J. O'Brien, V
  • Publication number: 20180108061
    Abstract: Provided is a customer interface system. The system includes a customer computing device and a server. The server may be programmed to receive from the customer computing device customer preferences and automatically store the customer preferences and to automatically generate and transmit to the customer computing device for display a scalable shopping preference interface associated with the customer preferences, wherein the scalable shopping preference interface comprises a sliding scale indicating a level of courier involvement. The system is programmed to receive from the customer computing device a signal from the scalable shopping preference interface a signal indicating selection of the level of courier involvement and store selection of courier involvement with the customer preferences and receive from the customer computing device a shopping list and automatically store the shopping list, wherein the shopping list is created in response to right clicking on a product from a web page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, Anton Valkov, John J. O'Brien, V
  • Publication number: 20180108026
    Abstract: Provided is a customer management system. The system includes a customer computing device for accessing and receiving data produced by the system and a server located at a service provider, the server, wherein the server coupled to the customer computing device. The server is programmed to receive from the customer computing device customer preferences and automatically store the customer preferences, and to receive from the customer computing device shopping lists over time and automatically store the shopping lists. The server may automatically generate a customer history in response to retrieving and processing the stored customer preferences and the stored shopping lists and may be programmed to receive from the customer computing device a request for a virtual expert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, John J. O'Brien, V
  • Publication number: 20180108010
    Abstract: Provided is A vendor payment sharing system. The system includes a customer computing device for accessing and receiving data produced by the system and a server located at a service provider, the server coupled to the customer computing device. The server may be programmed to receive from the customer computing device an acceptance indication of the products delivered from a courier service. The server is also programmed to automatically process payment for a total amount due for the products and services related to obtaining and delivering the products and to automatically divide the payment between parties that provided services related to obtaining and delivering the products. The system further may be programmed to encrypt the payment and the division of the payment with a blockchain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Todd Mattingly, Anton Valkov, Donald R. High, John J. O'Brien, V
  • Publication number: 20180061162
    Abstract: Provided is a smart package. The smart package may include a body portion having an inner volume. A door may be coupled to the body portion, wherein the door is moveable between a closed and an open position. In the closed position the door restricts access to the inner volume of the body portion. In the open position, an opening to the inner volume is exposed for access to the inner volume. The smart package may also include a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device controls and monitors operation of the smart package, such as monitoring the status of the contents and the environment of the inner volume of the smart package. The smart package may also include a modular adapter coupled to an outer surface of the body portion, wherein the modular adapter is configured to releasably connect to an output of a delivery vehicle system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Chandrashekar Natarajan, John J. O'Brien, V, Robert Cantrell, Todd Mattingly, Brian Gerard McHale, Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20170053232
    Abstract: Provided is a system for automatic signature for receipt verification. The system includes a delivery management server, wherein the deliver management server includes a memory and a processor. A digital copy of an authorized signature is stored in the memory of the delivery management server. The system also includes a delivery smart crate for receiving packages unattended. The delivery smart crate is in communication with the delivery management server through a network connection. The system also includes a delivery service in communication with the delivery management server through a network connection. The delivery service notifies the delivery management server of a signature request by a sender. The delivery smart crate notifies the delivery management server of a delivery made to the delivery smart crate. Also, the delivery management server sends the digital copy of the authorized signature to the delivery service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20170024798
    Abstract: A system selects meals according to a user's tastes and presents media files instructing execution of the meal. The media file is presented as a set of segments, each segment having a thumbnail image and metadata associated therewith. User interactions with the segments are monitored and evaluated to determine whether the segments are viewed, viewed for inspiration, and/or viewed while executing the meal. Actions monitored and evaluated may include movement of a user device during a viewing, pausing of playback, appropriateness of pausing locations to meal preparation steps, and orientation of the device. The metadata of segments and the viewing status thereof is used to determine a user's tastes and skill level to facilitate selection of subsequent meals for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Darrin Richards, Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20160379288
    Abstract: A customer profile for each user of a plurality of users is generated based on purchase history and reception of meals by the each user. A preferential fabric for each user is generated based on attributes of ingredients and dishes preferred by the user according to the user's customer profile. Users are clustered together according to the similarities of the preferential fabrics thereof. A sample product is selected based on its attributes having a high correspondence to the preferential fabrics of the users of a cluster. The sample product is transmitted to a portion of the users of the cluster and a response thereto is evaluated. In response to positive reception, direct shipment of the sample product to the cluster is invoked, bypassing a retail store. The sample product may therefore have a shelf life shorter than required to stock the sample product in a conventional retail store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Bruce Walter Wilkinson, Kimberly Sue Houchens
  • Publication number: 20160379162
    Abstract: Deliveries of meal ingredients to a user are made in a crate and retrieval times of the crate are detected, such as by detecting input of a code to the crate or detecting proximity of a mobile device of a user to the crate. Retrieval times are used to train a retrieval model for the user. The amount of refrigerant (e.g. ice) required for subsequent deliveries is estimated based on a period between an expected delivery time and an expected retrieval time determined from the retrieval model as well as expected weather conditions during the period. A pick list for the meal ingredients is output and includes the amount of refrigerant as an item to be retrieved for the delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20160379320
    Abstract: A system selects meals according to a user's tastes and presents media files instructing execution of the meal. User interactions with the media file are monitored and evaluated to determine whether the media file is viewed, viewed for inspiration, and/or viewed while executing the meal. Actions monitored and evaluated may include movement of a user device during a viewing, pausing of playback, appropriateness of pausing locations to meal preparation steps, and orientation of the device. The occurrence or non-occurrence of these actions is evaluated for one or more viewings of the media file to determine whether the media file was viewed for execution or only inspiration. A profile of the user is updated according to the determination of whether or not the media file was viewed for execution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20160371764
    Abstract: A system selects meals according to a user's tastes and presents media files instructing execution of the meal. User interactions with the media file are monitored and evaluated to determine whether the media file is viewed, viewed for inspiration, and/or viewed while executing the meal. Actions monitored and evaluated may include movement of a user device during a viewing, pausing of playback, appropriateness of pausing locations to meal preparation steps, and orientation of the device. The occurrence or non-occurrence of these actions is evaluated for one or more viewings of the media file to determine whether the media file was viewed for execution or only inspiration. Subsequent media files are selected for the user that have attributes more similar to media files determined to be viewed for execution and less similar to those not viewed for execution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce Walter Wilkinson