Patents by Inventor Greg Bryan

Greg Bryan 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: 20210264360
    Abstract: Scans of a selected product on shelves of a retail store are obtained and the scans are transmitted over a network via a transceiver circuit. A perpetual inventory (PI) value is stored for a selected product in a database. A data structure includes a first category and first actions programmatically linked to the first category. When the selected product is out-of-stock and when the PI value is greater than a predetermined threshold, one or more of the first actions associated with the first category are performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones
  • Patent number: 11062262
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include an electronic scanning device, an electronic database, and an electronic inventory management device for analyzing products at a retail store in order to detect products at the retail store that are associated with mis-shipments and to adjust perpetual inventory at the retail store in view of a detected mis-shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, David B. Brightwell, Jeffrey Kerbs, Jesse L. Eaton
  • Patent number: 11055662
    Abstract: A perpetual inventory (PI) value associated with the selected product and a last PI adjustment time that indicates when the retail store last adjusted the PI value are received. The PI value of the selected product is compared to the back room quantity value of the selected product, and a second time when the back room quantity value becomes greater than the PI value for the selected product is determined. An adjustment to the PI of the selected product is blocked when an indication of upcoming inventory adjustment for the selected product is received. An adjustment to the PI value of the selected product is also blocked when the PI adjustment time is after the second time. When the back room quantity value is greater than the PI value and the adjustment to the PI value is unblocked, the PI value is adjusted to be the back room quantity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones, Jesse L. Eaton
  • Publication number: 20210201255
    Abstract: An analysis of the scans is performed to determine whether the selected item was moved from the back room to the shelf, then returned from the shelf to the back room. The analysis also determines a re-bin time when the selected product was returned to the back room. An adjustment to the PI is blocked when last PI adjustment time is later than the re-bin time. An adjustment to the PI is also blocked when an audit indicator is received at the interface indicating that the retail store is under an audit. An adjusted PI value is determined when the analysis indicates that the selected item was moved from the back room to the shelf, then returned from the shelf, the adjusted PI value being at least one more than the shelf capacity value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones, Jesse L. Eaton
  • Patent number: 11049086
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to monitor and adjust perpetual inventory (PI). Some embodiments comprise multiple point of sale (POS) systems; an inventory system and a perpetual inventory (PI) engine control circuit that receives inventory information and is configured to identify the occurrence of a plurality of different events each associated with a different product at a shopping facility and corresponding to a potential inconsistency in a determined inventory count; and for each of the events: identify a first set of inventory evaluation rules; apply the first set of inventory evaluation rules to determine a type of inventory count error; determine an inventory adjustment action to be implemented based on the first product and the determined error type; and cause the inventory adjustment action to be implemented in substantially real-time to adjust the determined inventory count of the first product at the first shopping facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Cristy C. Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, David B. Brightwell, Daniel R. Shields, Greg A. Bryan, Matthew A. Jones
  • Patent number: 10997552
    Abstract: Scans of a selected product on shelves of a retail store are obtained and the scans are transmitted over a network via a transceiver circuit. A perpetual inventory (PI) value is stored for a selected product in a database. A data structure includes a first category and first actions programmatically linked to the first category. The first actions include instructing an autonomous vehicle to find the selected product, instructing an employee to find the selected product, and adjusting the PI value of the selected product. When the selected product is out-of-stock and when the PI value is greater than a predetermined threshold, one or more of the first actions associated with the first category are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones
  • Publication number: 20210090015
    Abstract: An electronic indication of a nil pick is received. Item information associated with the desired product, sales data concerning the desired product, supply chain information associated with the desired product, and a perpetual inventory (PI) value of the desired product are stored. An adjustment to the PI of the desired product is blocked when a predetermined event occurs at the retail store, or when information that contradicts the validity of the nil pick is received from the retail store. When the adjustment to the PI of the desired product is not blocked, an amount of the adjustment is determined based upon one or more of: the item information associated with the product, the sales data concerning the product, and the supply chain information associated with the desired product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones, Jesse L. Eaton
  • Patent number: 10936995
    Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems for analyzing an inventory database and an accounting database of a retail store in order to detect products that were mis-shipped to the retail store, improperly invoiced to the retail store, and/or erroneously not invoiced to the retail store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, David B. Brightwell
  • Publication number: 20210056506
    Abstract: A data structure programmatically links the first product to a second product. The second product is historically purchased by the customer whenever the customer has also purchased the first product. A determination is made as to whether the customer purchased the second product together with the first product based upon the sales data. When the customer has failed to purchase the second product with the first product, instructions are transmitted to the retail store over the network to perform a verification that the second product is out-of-stock. An outcome of the verification from the retail store is received via the network. A determination is made as to a level of certainty that the second product is actually out-of-stock based upon an analysis of the sales data and the outcome of the verification. When the level of certainty exceeds a predetermined threshold, the PI value is adjusted to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones
  • Patent number: 10902753
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for an electronic label for use within shelf label tracks in stores. Such electronic labels receive initial information associated with an item being sold and begin displaying that information. When a change occurs such that the label needs to be modified, a record of the original information is retained within memory in the electronic label, such that the modified display can be used until the need for the modification ends. At that point, the electronic label can be restored to display the original information again using the stored record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Bryan, Robert Taylor, Todd Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10846654
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Cristy Crane Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Jesse Lee Eaton, Matthew Jones, Jeffrey Kerbs, Greg Bryan
  • Publication number: 20200349499
    Abstract: A priority is dynamically assigned to each of the inventory-related values. A confidence score is determined based upon an evaluation of all of the prioritized inventory-related values. Based upon the confidence score, one or more PI programs for the retail store is authorized for utilization. The number of inventory-related values used and the priorities for these values are dynamically changeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle
  • Patent number: 10824834
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Cristy Crane Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, Greg A. Bryan, David Blair Brightwell
  • Publication number: 20200342561
    Abstract: A shelving system includes customer shelves, and a top shelf is positioned generally above the customer shelves. The top shelf and a back room are not accessible to the public, but the customer shelves are accessible to the public. First scans of the top shelf and second scans of the customer shelves and back room inventory values for the selected product are obtained. A determination is made as whether there is inventory of the selected product in the back room. When there is available space on the top shelf, when the available space is within a predetermined distance of the location, and when there is inventory of the selected product in the back room, instructions are transmitted to an automated vehicle to cause the automated vehicle to selectively move at least some of the selected product from the back room to the top shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David Blair Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle
  • Patent number: 10810544
    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: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, David Blair Brightwell, Greg A. Bryan, Cristy Crane Brooks, Howard Gabbert
  • Patent number: 10782822
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, David Blair Brightwell, Cristy Crane Brooks, Greg A. Bryan
  • Patent number: 10602842
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for motorized modular shelf organization. The system and method includes a gondola rack with a plurality of longitudinal shelves which engage with an upright support on the gondola rack, and are capable of moving vertically via a motorized element. The gondola rack also includes at least two support arms which are capable of grasping the plurality of longitudinal shelves and moving the plurality of longitudinal shelves laterally and vertically so that the longitudinal shelves may swap positions with another shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, David Blair Brightwell
  • Publication number: 20200097896
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine readable media are provided for image-based replenishment. In exemplary embodiments, a system periodically obtains an image from one or more imaging devices in a facility of a selected rack of items among a group of racks. The system determines, based on the image, a first volume indicative of a volume of items on the rack. The system retrieves a sales forecast for the items on the selected rack and determines an expected second volume of items on the rack based on the sales forecast for the item. The system then determines whether the first volume is within a predetermined threshold of the second volume, and transmits instructions based on whether or not the first volume is determined to be within the predetermined threshold of the second volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Benjamin D. Enssle, Jesse Lee Eaton, Jr., Cristy Crane Brooks, Jeffrey Kerbs, David Brightwell, Ryan Kee
  • Publication number: 20200057985
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include an electronic scanning device, an electronic database, and an electronic inventory management device for analyzing products at a retail store in order to detect products at the retail store that are associated with mis-shipments and to adjust perpetual inventory at the retail store in view of a detected mis-shipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, David B. Brightwell, Jeffrey Kerbs, Jesse L. Eaton
  • Patent number: 10558947
    Abstract: A book inventory monetary value of a selected product in the retail store is received. The book inventory monetary value is the monetary value of the selected product according to the accounting records of a retail store. A perpetual inventory (PI) monetary value is also received from the retail store. The PI monetary value is a product of multiplying a PI value for the selected product with the cost of the selected product. The book inventory monetary value and the PI monetary value are stored in a database. Subsequently, the book inventory monetary value and the PI monetary value are retrieved from the database. A difference between the book inventory monetary value and the PI monetary values is determined. An adjustment of the PI value is determined based upon the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle