Patents by Inventor David A. Blair

David A. Blair 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).

  • Publication number: 20190241298
    Abstract: A bagging station, comprises a base; a carousel that rotates relative to the base, the carousel including a plurality of bag holding elements; an indicator at each bag holding element that provides a status regarding a bag hanging from the bag holding element; and a bag selection system that controls the indicators to identify bags for allocating items according to a predetermined criteria about at least one of the bag or the items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Cristy Crane Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, David Blair Brightwell, Jesse Lee Eaton, Jeffrey A. Kerbs, Greg A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20190236528
    Abstract: Examples provide a system for dynamic allocation of supplemental space to items based on predicted variable demand. Item data is analyzed using a set of item selection criteria to identify an item located within a predetermined distance of available flex-space associated with a topstock shelf which has a predicted time-supply predicted to be less than a threshold time-supply during a predicted time-period. A portion of flex-space sufficient to increase the time-supply enough to meet the predicted increase in demand is identified. Additional instances of the item are assigned to the portion of the flex-space during the predetermined time-period. When an expiration date for the flex-space assignment occurs, remaining instances of the item in the portion of the flex-space are removed. The portion of the flex-space is assigned to a next item predicted to experience temporary context-dependent increased demand exceeding time-supply and/or capacity of permanent display space of the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Cristy Crane Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Greg Bryan, Jesse Lee Eaton
  • Publication number: 20190213661
    Abstract: Examples provide a system for crowdsourced item selection. A request fulfillment component selects a set of one or more items from a plurality of requested items for retrieval by an identified user. A set of items are selected based on an analysis of item data, per-user retrieval score(s), user-provided data, and/or per-user restriction(s). The request fulfillment component analyzes sensor data associated with a set of retrieved items received at an intake area to identify the items retrieved by the identified user and/or a level of compliance with retrieval criteria for the set of items. The request fulfillment component assigns a reward to the identified user, one or more retrieval scores ranking quality of items retrieved by the user, and/or one or more retrieval restrictions are assigned to the user based on the number of retrieved items and the level of compliance with the retrieval criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: David Blair Brightwell, Cristy Crane Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, Greg Bryan, Jesse Lee Eaton, Jeffrey Kerbs
  • Publication number: 20190213532
    Abstract: Examples provide a system for cold-chain compliant item selection. A set of perishable items are selected for retrieval by a user based on item data, cold-chain compliance score(s), and/or cold-chain compliance restrictions associated with each user. The selected set of items are assigned to the user for retrieval in accordance with a set of cold-chain compliance parameters, including a per-item maximum dwell-time specifying a maximum time interval between removal of a perishable item from a temperature controlled display area and receipt of the perishable item at an intake area. A dwell-time is calculated for an item received at an intake area. The item is accepted if the per-item maximum dwell-time exceeds the calculated dwell-time and the item is rejected if the calculated dwell-time exceeds the per-item maximum dwell-time. An incentive is provided to the identified user based on a cold-chain compliance score for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: David Blair Brightwell, Cristy Crane Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, Greg Bryan, Jesse Lee Eaton, Jeffrey Kerbs
  • Publication number: 20190139066
    Abstract: Examples provide a customized cart management system. A cart monitoring component monitors a location of one or more unattended carts outside a cart intake area. A cart intake component generates cart intake data for each cart returned to the cart intake area, including a cart identifier and a cart return time. A verification component analyzes the cart intake data using a set of reward criteria, including a minimum cart return time threshold, to determine if the user is eligible to receive a cart reward. If the user is eligible, an incentives generation component assigns a first reward to the identified user. A feedback query component outputs a feedback query associated with the one or more returned carts to a user device. If the user provides feedback in response to the feedback query, the incentives generation component assigns a second reward to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Greg Bryan, David Blair Brightwell, Cristy Crane Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, Jesse Lee Eaton, Jeffrey Kerbs
  • Publication number: 20190130346
    Abstract: Examples provide a perpetual inventory (PI) reconciliation system. A PI controller analyzes item data using a set of PI purge criteria and a set of weighted prioritization variables to select a highest priority seasonal inventory item having a positive PI value a per-item threshold time after an end-of-season (EOS) date for PI purge analysis. A PI controller determines if the selected item is a high confidence item or a low confidence item based on a set of confidence rules and item data. If the selected item is a high confidence item, a PI purge component sets an inventory value for the selected item to zero to eliminate the positive PI. If the selected item is a low confidence item, a verification component verifies the number of physical instances of the selected item. The inventory value is updated using the verified number of physical instances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Cristy Crane Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Jesse Lee Eaton, Matthew Jones, Jeffrey Kerbs, Greg Bryan
  • Publication number: 20190057367
    Abstract: Images or other sensed data involving a sales transaction are received from a network. The sales information from the transaction is also received from the network. A reconciliation is performed between the images and the sales information. When the reconciliation identifies a discrepancy between the sales information and the images or other sensed data, one or more perpetual inventory (PI) values of one or more products are adjusted to a value so as to correct for the discrepancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Jesse L. Eaton
  • Publication number: 20190042820
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for an electronic label system. Electronic labels display on a display first sets of information associated with sets of like physical objects disposed in a facility. The first computing system can encode a hyperlink into a machine-readable element in response to determining that the quantity is below the threshold. In response to receiving the machine readable element, the electronic label can automatically change the display to render machine-readable element. A portable electronic device can initiate a first session with a second computing system in response to executing an application. The portable electronic device can scan and decode the machine-readable element. The portable electronic device can navigate to a domain hosted by the second computing system. The second computing system initiates a second session. The second computing system merges the first and second session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Cristy Crane Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, Greg A. Bryan, David Blair Brightwell
  • Publication number: 20190012399
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for an data interception and transmission system. A wireless access point disposed in a facility can detect a mobile device in the facility executing an facility application associated with the facility. The wireless access point can intercept internet browsing data associated with one or more domains unrelated to a domain associated with the facility within a specified time interval from the mobile device. The computing system can receive the internet browsing data of the at least one mobile device. The computing system can detect information associated with a physical object. The computing system can determine the physical object is disposed in the facility. The computing system can control the operation of the facility application, residing on the mobile device, via the wireless access point to render information associated with the physical object on a display of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, Greg A. Bryan, Cristy Crane Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Jesse Lee Eaton, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180365632
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for detecting absent like physical objects at a first facility and replenishing the like physical objects from the second facility to the first facility. The system includes an autonomous robot device configured to detect absent like physical objects at a first facility and transmit an identifier associated with the like physical objects to a first computing system. The first computing system determines the need for the addition of the like physical objects in the first facility and transmits the data associated with the like physical objects to the second computing system. The second computing system corrects a perpetual inventory error associated with the like physical objects based on the received data and transmits instructions to an autonomous robot picker disposed at a second facility to replenish the like physical objects at the first facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, David Blair Brightwell, Greg A. Bryan, Cristy Crane Brooks, Howard Gabbert
  • Publication number: 20180356933
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for an augmented touch-sensitive display system. A portable electronic device can render on the touch-sensitive display a physical scene within the field of view of the image capturing device. The portable electronic device, can parse the physical scene rendered on the touch-sensitive display into discrete elements based on dimensions of items in the physical scene. The portable electronic device can superimpose a selectable link on the at least one of the discrete elements on the touch-sensitive display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, David Blair Brightwell, Cristy Crane Brooks, Greg A. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20180357827
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for an augmented display system. A computing system can determine whether a physical object is absent from a designated location in a facility in response to data retrieved from the database. The computing system can insert a virtual element in a planogram corresponding to the designated location of the facility in response to determining the physical object is absent. The computing system can augment via interaction with the application executing on the portable electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, David Blair Brightwell, Cristy Crane Brooks, Greg A. Bryan, Sonney George, Barrett Freeman, Sachin Padwal
  • Patent number: 10083418
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for detecting absent like physical objects at a first facility and replenishing the like physical objects from the second facility to the first facility. The system includes an autonomous robot device configured to detect absent like physical objects at a first facility and transmit an identifier associated with the like physical objects to a first computing system. The first computing system determines the need for the addition of the like physical objects in the first facility and transmits the data associated with the like physical objects to the second computing system. The second computing system corrects a perpetual inventory error associated with the like physical objects based on the received data and transmits instructions to an autonomous robot picker disposed at a second facility to replenish the like physical objects at the first facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, David Blair Brightwell, Greg A. Bryan, Cristy Crane Brooks, Howard Gabbert
  • Publication number: 20180254280
    Abstract: A circular printed memory device and a method for fabricating the circular printed memory device are disclosed. For example, the circular printed memory device includes a base substrate, a plurality of bottom electrodes arranged in a circular pattern on the base substrate, a ferroelectric layer on top of the plurality of bottom electrodes and a single top electrode on the ferroelectric layer that contacts each one of the plurality of bottom electrodes via the ferroelectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher David Blair, Markus R. Silvestri
  • Publication number: 20180197130
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to estimating and adjusting initial inventory demands at new shopping facilities based on real time sales data. In some embodiments, there is provided a system including: a new shopping facility database including demographic and geographic data about a new shopping facility; an existing shopping facility database including demographic, geographic, and historic sales data at existing shopping facilities; real time inventory data including sales at the new shopping facility after opening; and a central computing system identifying an existing shopping facility with similar demographic and geographic data to the new shopping facility; determining the historic sales at the existing shopping facility; calculating a first estimate of inventory demand for merchandise items at the new shopping facility; and calculating a second estimate of inventory demand for the merchandise items at the new shopping facility based on real time inventory data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Cristy C. Brooks, Greg A. Bryan, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle
  • Publication number: 20180000754
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting the conversion of choline to trimethylamine (TMA) and lowering TMAO by providing a composition comprising a compound set forth in Formula (I):
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Stanley Leon Hazen, Jose Carlos Garcia-Garcia, George Franklin GERBERICK, John August WOS, Xiaodong GU, Michael REILLY, Mark Robert SIVIK, Jodie Michelle REED, David Blair CODY
  • Publication number: 20170323253
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for detecting absent like physical objects at a first facility and replenishing the like physical objects from the second facility to the first facility. The system includes an autonomous robot device configured to detect absent like physical objects at a first facility and transmit an identifier associated with the like physical objects to a first computing system. The first computing system determines the need for the addition of the like physical objects in the first facility and transmits the data associated with the like physical objects to the second computing system. The second computing system corrects a perpetual inventory error associated with the like physical objects based on the received data and transmits instructions to an autonomous robot picker disposed at a second facility to replenish the like physical objects at the first facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, David Blair Brightwell, Greg A. Bryan, Cristy Crane Brooks, Howard Gabbert
  • Patent number: 9733991
    Abstract: Data operations, requiring a lock, are batched into a set of operations to be performed on a per-core basis. A global lock for the set of operations is periodically acquired, the set of operations is performed, and the global lock is freed so as to avoid excessive duty cycling of lock and unlock operations in the computing storage environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Kenneth Wayne Todd, David Blair Whitworth
  • Patent number: D832185
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Inventor: David Blair McIntire
  • Patent number: D836071
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Marklyn Group Inc
    Inventor: David Blair Webb