Patents by Inventor Charles G. Lauria
Charles G. Lauria 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).
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Publication number: 20230196325Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of point of sale (POS) systems, and more specifically, to reading RFID tags at or near POS transaction stations. In an embodiment, the present invention is a method of operating a POS system having a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader where the POS system is in contact with a product database. The method comprises providing a transaction station configured to be operated by an employee; detecting a presence of the employee at the transaction station; reading, via the RFID reader, an RFID tag associated with a product; causing the reading of the RFID tag to be reflected in the product database when the employee is detected; and causing the reading of the RFID tag to not be reflected in the product database when the employee is not detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Charles G. Lauria, Richard J. Lavery, Russell Calvarese
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Patent number: 10762312Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the field of asset tracking via RFID. In an embodiment, the present disclosure describes a system that selectively deactivates at least some of the plurality of fixed RFID readers that are disposed within a venue based on a location determination of an active mobile RFID reader.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLCInventors: Richard J. Lavery, Russell Calvarese, Charles G. Lauria, Timothy B. Austin
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Publication number: 20200193453Abstract: A system and method for grouping associated customers with connected customers. In various aspects, a controller detects, via data obtained by a plurality of detector stations, a plurality of individuals, including associated and connected customers, entering the venue. The controller monitors, via the data obtained by the plurality of detector stations, a location of each individuals to generate a confidence level that the connected customer and the associated customer are members of a group. The controller determines that the confidence level exceeds a threshold confidence level. In response, the controller updates an account associated with the connected customer based on tracking data associated with the associated customer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2018Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Richard J. Lavery, Russell Calvarese, Charles G. Lauria
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Patent number: 10460585Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a moving target in a venue and for capturing a sequenced timeline of target directed images is described. Target sensing stations having a wide-angle video camera, such as a 180° video camera, are positioned within the venue. Each sensing station includes a sensing unit, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver unit, that determines a location and/or direction of travel of the target. The sensing station correlates the RFID transceiver information with the wide-angle video camera to specifically filter and process a video stream from the camera, producing target directed image snapshots from the stream that are assembled at a centralized controller into the sequenced timeline images that may be used in monitoring target movement and to establish location chain for prevention of unauthorized movement.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLCInventors: Jimmy Chabra, Rehan K. Jaffri, Charles G. Lauria, Thomas E. Wulff, Sean Connolly, Russell Calvarese
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Patent number: 10423924Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a qualified target for an association with a misplaced item within a venue includes detecting, using a detection and locationing system, a communication device and/or person within the venue. The method and apparatus detect a physical item that has been misplaced within the venue, where that misplaced item at has one or more attributes. The method and apparatus perform a digital association of the misplaced item with the communication device or with the person, using a determined proximity and a profile attribute. With the digital association made, a digital notification is communicated to the associated communication device or person to retrieve and return the misplaced item along a determined path.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLCInventors: Eric McCafferty, Andrew Schiano, Ian L. Fade, Charles G. Lauria
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Patent number: 10325126Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a bulk quantity of RFID tags in a presentation area such as a point-of-sale device. Bulk quantity of RFID tags may be detected according to input to the point-of-sale device including through input from a symbolic barcode scanner, a conveyor belt, a weight scale, and/or via an RF antenna driven at a first power level. After the bulk quantity of RFID tags is detected, the RF antenna is driven at a second, higher power level temporarily to increase bulk RFID tag detection accuracy. “Fringe” tags may be detected by the RF antenna when it is driven at the higher power level that are in the environment but not presented at the point-of-sale device. Fringe tags may be filtered based on RF characterization of the presentation area including driving the RF antenna outside of presentation sessions and/or filtering RFID tags detected across multiple presentation sessions.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLCInventors: Russell Calvarese, Richard J. Lavery, Rehan K. Jaffri, Charles G. Lauria
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Publication number: 20190163942Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the field of asset tracking via RFID. In an embodiment, the present disclosure describes a system that selectively deactivates at least some of the plurality of fixed RFID readers that are disposed within a venue based on a location determination of an active mobile RFID reader.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Inventors: Richard J. Lavery, Russell Calvarese, Charles G. Lauria, Timothy B. Austin
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Publication number: 20190147393Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a qualified target for an association with a misplaced item within a venue includes detecting, using a detection and locationing system, a communication device and/or person within the venue. The method and apparatus detect a physical item that has been misplaced within the venue, where that misplaced item at has one or more attributes. The method and apparatus perform a digital association of the misplaced item with the communication device or with the person, using a determined proximity and a profile attribute. With the digital association made, a digital notification is communicated to the associated communication device or person to retrieve and return the misplaced item along a determined path.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Eric McCafferty, Andrew Schiano, Ian L. Fade, Charles G. Lauria
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Publication number: 20190122196Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of point of sale (POS) systems, and more specifically, to reading RFID tags at or near POS transaction stations. In an embodiment, the present invention is a POS system that includes: a transaction station configured to be operated by a cashier; a cashier detector configured to detect a presence of the cashier at the transaction station; an RFID reader; and a controller operably connected to the cashier detector and to the first RFID reader, the controller being configured to operate the first RFID reader in a first mode when the cashier is detected, the controller being further configured to operate the first RFID reader in a second mode when the cashier is not detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Charles G. Lauria, Richard J. Lavery, Russell Calvarese
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Publication number: 20190102587Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a bulk quantity of RFID tags in a presentation area such as a point-of-sale device. Bulk quantity of RFID tags may be detected according to input to the point-of-sale device including through input from a symbolic barcode scanner, a conveyor belt, a weight scale, and/or via an RF antenna driven at a first power level. After the bulk quantity of RFID tags is detected, the RF antenna is driven at a second, higher power level temporarily to increase bulk RFID tag detection accuracy. “Fringe” tags may be detected by the RF antenna when it is driven at the higher power level that are in the environment but not presented at the point-of-sale device. Fringe tags may be filtered based on RF characterization of the presentation area including driving the RF antenna outside of presentation sessions and/or filtering RFID tags detected across multiple presentation sessions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2017Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Russell Calvarese, Richard J. Lavery, Rehan K. Jaffri, Charles G. Lauria
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Publication number: 20180350221Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a moving target in a venue and for capturing a sequenced timeline of target directed images is described. Target sensing stations having a wide-angle video camera, such as a 180° video camera, are positioned within the venue. Each sensing station includes a sensing unit, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver unit, that determines a location and/or direction of travel of the target. The sensing station correlates the RFID transceiver information with the wide-angle video camera to specifically filter and process a video stream from the camera, producing target directed image snapshots from the stream that are assembled at a centralized controller into the sequenced timeline images that may be used in monitoring target movement and to establish location chain for prevention of unauthorized movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Jimmy Chabra, Rehan K. Jaffri, Charles G. Lauria, Thomas E. Wulff, Sean Connolly, Russell Calvarese
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Patent number: 10037608Abstract: An array of light sensors arranged along mutually orthogonal sensor rows and sensor columns is exposed to return light from a target over successive frames. The array is subdivided into mutually orthogonal zones, each having a sub-plurality of sensor rows and sensor columns. Each row of zones is scanned multiple times to produce output light intensity values, which are averaged to obtain an average zonal value for each zone for each frame. The average zonal value over the successive frames is simultaneously averaged with slow and fast response characteristics to obtain respective slow and fast response values for each zone, which are then compared to obtain a difference value for each zone. Motion of the target in any region of a venue is indicated when the difference value between the fast and slow response values in a corresponding zone exceeds a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLCInventors: Russell Calvarese, Charles G. Lauria, Richard J. Lavery
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Publication number: 20180137627Abstract: An array of light sensors arranged along mutually orthogonal sensor rows and sensor columns is exposed to return light from a target over successive frames. The array is subdivided into mutually orthogonal zones, each having a sub-plurality of sensor rows and sensor columns. Each row of zones is scanned multiple times to produce output light intensity values, which are averaged to obtain an average zonal value for each zone for each frame. The average zonal value over the successive frames is simultaneously averaged with slow and fast response characteristics to obtain respective slow and fast response values for each zone, which are then compared to obtain a difference value for each zone. Motion of the target in any region of a venue is indicated when the difference value between the fast and slow response values in a corresponding zone exceeds a threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Russell Calvarese, Charles G. Lauria, Richard J. Lavery
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Publication number: 20180139570Abstract: A mobile device is moved and operated by a user in a venue, and transmits a device identifier (ID) that identifies the mobile device. A camera system is deployed in the venue, and images the user in the venue. A control system prompts the user to perform a gesture, controls the camera system to image and detect the gesture and a location of the mobile device that is proximal to the detected gesture, receives the device ID from the mobile device, and associates the device ID with the location of the mobile device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Russell Calvarese, Charles G. Lauria