Abstract: This disclosure describes architectures and techniques to provide information to a user about items with which the user interacts. In some instances, a user may utilize a wearable device that is configured to interact with one or more components of an information discovery system to obtain information about items in the user's environment.

Abstract: Migrating applications executing on a storage system, including: detecting, by the storage system, that an application executing on a first platform within the storage system should be migrated to a second platform within the storage system; rejecting, by the storage system, all pending input/output (‘I/O’) requests received by the storage system from the application executing on the first platform; and initiating, by the storage system, execution of the application on the second platform.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for disambiguating between multiple potential users that may have performed an item action (e.g., item removal or item placement) at an inventory location. For example, if there are three picking agents (users) standing near an inventory location and one of the agents removes an item (item action) from the inventory location, the example systems and processes described herein may utilize various inputs to disambiguate between the users and determine which of the potential users performed the item action.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a hosted payment service are disclosed. In some embodiments, a merchant can enable customer use of the payment service by adding a line or sequence of widget code to a web page, such as a shopping cart page, of the merchant's site. Thereafter, a user who is registered with the payment service can invoke the payment service and complete a purchase transaction directly from the merchant site. For example, while viewing a shopping cart page, the user may be able to securely interact with the payment service and complete the purchase transaction via a transaction display object that is incorporated into the shopping cart page. In some embodiments, the transaction display object prompts the registered customer to enter a secondary authentication input, and the payment service uses this input in combination with a browser cookie to authenticate the user.

Abstract: A non-contact biometric identification system includes a hand scanner that generates images of a user's palm. Images are acquired using light of a first polarization at a first time show surface characteristics such as wrinkles in the palm while images acquired using light of a second polarization at a second time show deeper characteristics such as veins. Within the images, the palm is identified and subdivided into sub-images. The sub-images are subsequently processed to determine feature vectors present in each sub-image. A current signature is determined using the feature vectors. A user may be identified based on a comparison of the current signature with a previously stored reference signature that is associated with a user identifier.

Abstract: Described is a multiple-camera system and process for identifying a user that performed an event and associating that user with the event. For example, when an event is detected, user patterns near the location of the event are determined, along with touch points at the location of the event. User pattern orientation and/or arm trajectories between the event location and the user pattern may be determined and processed to link the user pattern to the event, thereby confirming the association between the event and the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an article and methods of its manufacture. The article may include a material configured to form an enclosure. The article may further include horsehair disposed within the enclosure. The article may also include a number of beneficial objects dispersed in the horsehair.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system comprises at least one processor and controls an application session. The system suspends a first application session of a first user conducted for an application on a computing device. A second application session is established for a second different user from the first application session and conducted on the computing device for the same application. The second application session is associated with a set of conditions for terminating the second application session. The second application session is terminated in response to occurrence of the set of associated conditions. The first application session is resumed in response to termination of the second application session. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for controlling an application session in substantially the same manner described above.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for tracking removal or placement of items at inventory locations with a materials handling facility. In some instances, a user may remove an item from an inventory location and the inventory management system may detect that removal and update a user item list associated with the user to include an item identifier representative of the removed item. Likewise, if the user places an item at an inventory location, the inventory management system may detect that placement and update the user item list to remove an item identifier representative of the placed item.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for disambiguating between multiple potential users that may have performed an item action (e.g., item removal or item placement) at an inventory location. For example, if there are three picking agents (users) standing near an inventory location and one of the agents removes an item (item action) from the inventory location, the example systems and processes described herein may utilize various inputs to disambiguate between the users and determine which of the potential users performed the item action.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for presenting event information to a user and, if necessary, obtaining confirmation of different aspects (user, item, action) of the event. In some implementations, an event includes a user, an action, and an item. For example, an event may include a user picking an item from an inventory location, a user placing an item into a tote associated with the user, etc. if the aspects of the event cannot be determined with a high enough degree of confidence, a user interface may be generated and sent to the user requesting confirmation of one or more of the aspects of the event.

Abstract: An inventory location such as a shelf may be used to stow different types of items, with each type of item in a different partitioned area or section of the shelf. Weight data from weight sensors coupled to the shelf is used to determine a change in weight of the shelf and a change in the center-of-mass (“COM”) of the items on the shelf. Based on the weight data and item data indicative of what items are stowed in particular partitioned areas, activity such as a pick or place of an item and the partitioned area in which the activity occurred may be determined. Data from other sensors, such as a camera, may be used to confirm the occurrence of the activity, disambiguate the determination of the particular partitioned area, and so forth.

Abstract: In this patent we disclose, for the first time, detailed methods of our newly invented state-of-the-art cryogenic technology for the cost effective energy efficient capture of each known component of entire emissions (nearly 100%) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide(CO), any other acid vapor, mercury, steam and unreacted nitrogen from industrial plants (coal and natural gas fired power plants, cement plants etc.), in a liquefied or frozen/solidified form, such that each of the components is captured separately and is industrially useful. This new technology includes a novel NH3 power plant to generate auxiliary electrical power from the heat energy of the flue gas to further improve the energy efficiency and cost effectiveness of the capture processes. It is the most cost effective of all existing emission capture technologies. It does not require use of any chemicals/reagents/external cryogens, unlike the current technologies.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for automatically updating item image information stored in an item images data store and used for processing captured images to identify items represented in those images. In one implementation, once an identity of an item has been verified, captured images of that item are associated with the item and stored in the item images data store. As a result, the item images data store is updated each time an image of the item is captured and the identity of the item is verified.

Abstract: A system and method for textually displaying weather data on an onboard aircraft display comprises receiving weather data from onboard weather radar. A data collector is coupled to the weather radar and collects relevant data, which is then manipulated to place it in a PIREP (pilot report) format. The formatted data is then rendered on the aircraft display and subsequently transmitted to a ground station.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for automatically transitioning items from a materials handling facility without delaying a user as they exit the materials handling facility. For example, while a user is located in a materials handling facility, the user may pick one or more items. The items are identified and automatically associated with the user at or near the time of the item pick. When the users enters and/or passes through a transition area, the picked items are automatically transitioned to the user without affirmative input from or delay to the user.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system comprises at least one processor and controls an application session. The system suspends a first application session of a first user conducted for an application on a computing device. A second application session is established for a second different user from the first application session and conducted on the computing device for the same application. The second application session is associated with a set of conditions for terminating the second application session. The second application session is terminated in response to occurrence of the set of associated conditions. The first application session is resumed in response to termination of the second application session. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for controlling an application session in substantially the same manner described above.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for tracking removal or placement of items at inventory locations with a materials handling facility. In some instances, a user may remove an item from an inventory location and the inventory management system may detect that removal and update a user item list associated with the user to include an item identifier representative of the removed item. Likewise, if the user places an item at an inventory location, the inventory management system may detect that placement and update the user item list to remove an item identifier representative of the placed item.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for presenting event information to a user and, if necessary, obtaining confirmation of different aspects (user, item, action) of the event. In some implementations, an event includes a user, an action, and an item. For example, an event may include a user picking an item from an inventory location, a user placing an item into a tote associated with the user, etc. if the aspects of the event cannot be determined with a high enough degree of confidence, a user interface may be generated and sent to the user requesting confirmation of one or more of the aspects of the event.

Abstract: Multiple video files that are captured by calibrated imaging devices may be annotated based on a single annotation of an image frame of one of the video files. An operator may enter an annotation to an image frame via a user interface, and the annotation may be replicated from the image frame to other image frames that were captured at the same time and are included in other video files. Annotations may be updated by the operator and/or tracked in subsequent image frames. Predicted locations of the annotations in subsequent image frames within each of the video files may be determined, e.g., by a tracker, and a confidence level associated with any of the annotations may be calculated. Where the confidence level falls below a predetermined threshold, the operator may be prompted to delete or update the annotation, or the annotation may be deleted.