Patents by Inventor Geoffry A. Westphal

Geoffry A. Westphal 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: 20170055112
    Abstract: A current geographic location of a mobile device, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or the like, is used to customize a selection guide that is used to retrieve product related information. The product related information generally provides details about one or more products meeting one or more criteria specified via use of the customized selection guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Mary Bee Pietrowicz
  • Patent number: 9535930
    Abstract: A system and method uses one or more images provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. The image recognition system may use one or more image match algorithms to create one or more possible product match sets. In the event multiple product match sets are created, the search results may be limited to product that appears in one or more of the plural possible product match sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20160350710
    Abstract: A system and method can monitor inventory of product within storage bins of a storage facility by mounting cameras to the storage bins. The cameras and a user processing device may be operably connected to a network such that the user processing device is in communication with the cameras. Further, the user processing device may search records of a database that correspond to product stored in the storage facility. Once a product of interest is identified, a location of the relevant storage bin may be provided to the user processing device, along with an image and/or video captured by the camera to show contents of the storage bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: George C. Rimnac, Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20160328779
    Abstract: Personalized product listing are generated for a user by gathering from a data repository prior product purchasing history of the user and by then analyzing the gathered prior product purchasing history of the user to discern if one or more products have been purchased according to a similar recurrence pattern. The one or more products that have been purchased according to the similar recurrence pattern are then placed within the generated personalized product listing for the user. The generated personalized product listing for the user can be used by the system to facilitate an automatic reordering of quantities of the product according to the recurrence pattern schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20160321729
    Abstract: An auto cross-referencing functionality related to an order number directed to a product within an electronic catalog hosted by a vendor system is presented on a client computing device in a page providing an access point for ordering an item. The system allows a customer to enter a manufacturer, competitor, or other non-vendor specific ordering number into an ordering system and have the provided number transformed in-situ to the vendor's ordering number, either in real-time and/or through a batch-like process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20160300295
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing a user to quickly access product information and/or commerce functionalities as related to one or more products that are associated with an electronic document, such as a web page, that is currently being viewed by the user in an electronic document viewing program, such as an Internet browser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, Jerry Shim, Kelsey Heffren
  • Publication number: 20160300276
    Abstract: A system causes an image of a product and a ratings dashboard to be presented on a client computing device. Interaction with the ratings dashboard causes a quick review summary for the product to be presented. The quick review summary for the product provides a top line visual summary of review information provided by product reviewers which information includes a visualization of at least a number of product reviewers that have given the product each of a plurality of overall product reviewer ratings and a visualization of an average overall product reviewer rating of at least one characteristic of the product. Interaction with the quick review summary for the product may be used to cause a presentation of a more detailed summary of the product reviewer information for the product or information related to all product reviewer reviews for the product which information is further capable of being at least one of sorted and filtered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Hala Farouk El-Hmayssi, Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 9466003
    Abstract: A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: W. W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 9418379
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing a consumer to quickly access product information and/or commerce functionalities as related to one or more products that are associated with an electronic document, such as a web page, that is currently being viewed by the consumer in an electronic document viewing program, such as an Internet browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20160203515
    Abstract: Personalized search results are provided to a user by sending to the user a direct marketing email having associated therewith one or more opt-out elements. Information related to the user's interaction with the one or more opt-out elements is maintained in a database. When a search request is thereafter submitted to a search engine by the user, the information related to the user's interaction with the one or more opt-out elements is used to inhibit inclusion within the search results of one or more items. In addition or alternatively, when the user accesses a search interface having a plurality of search options selectable to provide a search request to the search engine, the information related to the user's interaction with the one or more opt-out elements is used to inhibit inclusion within the search interface of one or more of the plurality of user selectable search options.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20160070799
    Abstract: A received search query is used to create a search result where the search result is a listing of items identified in a data repository of item information where the item information includes data indicative of parametric values for each of a plurality of items. Data indicative of parametric values within the item information of the listing of items is used to order the search result for display whereby at least one subset of items within the listing of items determined to have similar parametric values will be displayed as a group having positions within the listing of items that are proximate relative to each other. Data indicative of parametric values within the item information of the at least one subset of items is also used to discern differences in one or more parametric values between items in the at least one subset of items which discerned differences in the one or more parametric values between items in the at least one subset of items within the listing of items are caused to be highlighted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20160055179
    Abstract: A system and method uses one or more images provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. The image recognition system may use one or more image match algorithms to create one or more possible product match sets. In the event multiple product match sets are created, the search results may be limited to product that appears in one or more of the plural possible product match sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 9230256
    Abstract: Catalog pages on which appear identified products and catalog pages on which appear products purchased-with the identified products are selected and aggregated to form a customized, electronic catalog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: W. W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20150356809
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a kit of items from one or more vending machines includes a kit determination system with a kit analyzer to determine whether there is a specific kit or kits to recommend or assign to a user. A kit may be pre-assigned to the user by a third party. If there is no kit assigned to the user, a kit may be recommended to the user based on past history and a number of other factors. Also included is a vending machine kit dispensing system for dispensing a kit of items from one or more vending machines, the vending machines being interconnected on a network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas John Carroll, Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 9208401
    Abstract: A system and method uses one or more images provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results. The image recognition system may use one or more image match algorithms to create one or more possible product match sets. In the event multiple product match sets are created, the search results may be limited to product that appears in one or more of the plural possible product match sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20150178313
    Abstract: A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20150178583
    Abstract: A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20150178314
    Abstract: A system and method uses an image manipulating application to define in an object image a plurality of discrete cells. Predefined image information is substituted for image information in selected ones of the plurality of discrete cells to form a translated version of the object image. The translated version of the object image may then be provided to an image recognition capable search engine to obtain search results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20150120614
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for optimizing prices for products and services based on consumer survey data, or at least based on the principle that non-flat prices such as $0.99, $3.95, $49.99, for example, create negative impressions about merchants. The system may retrieve a current price from a database and identify a price class or a price range to which the current price corresponds. The system may then execute a pricing process that is associated with the identified price class or price range. The pricing process computes an offer price that a majority of consumers will perceive as being more fair than the current price.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal
  • Patent number: 9009291
    Abstract: A system determines if functionality offered via a Web site is being underutilizing by a user, e.g., not being using at all or not being using with some desired degree of regularity. When it is determined that the functionality offered via the Web site is being underutilized by the user, the system provides to content of the Web site a cue, e.g., audio and/or visual, for directing the attention of the user to the functionality offered via the Web site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffry A. Westphal