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: 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
  • Publication number: 20180349841
    Abstract: A data structure is stored at a central processing center. The data structure includes product information concerning financial characteristics and physical characteristics of the product, and destination location information indicating geographic coordinates of potential destinations for placement the product. At the central processing center, a failure indication indicating that the refrigeration unit has failed is received. The data structure in the database is accessed to obtain the product information and the destination location information. A product preservation action is determined based upon an analysis of the product information and the destination location information associated with the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Benjamin D. Enssle, Cristy C. Brooks, David C. Winkle, John P. Thompson, Bruce W. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20180341906
    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: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle
  • Publication number: 20180279806
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed which facilitate installation of modular shelving through utilization of a notch indication tape. The notch identification tape may include an adhesive surface and an opposing identification surface having a plurality of identification markers. The identification markers can be numbers, letters, a combination thereof, or any other identification scheme. The notch identification tape may be placed on a vertical plane of a modular shelf so that it adheres to the vertical plane in order to identify specific notches on the vertical plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Bryan, Matthew Jones
  • Publication number: 20180283863
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to quickly and accurately determine shelf notch height for a shelving unit. This is particularly advantageous to determine whether shelves in the shelving unit were installed at the correct height and/or for installing shelves at desired heights. In some embodiments, a measurement member is provided with a bottom offset and shelf notch indicator portions. A horizontal position indicator can then be aligned with a desired shelf notch indicator portion and project outwardly therefrom towards a shelving unit to provide a visual indication of the height of a desired shelf notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Benjamin D. Enssle, David B. Brightwell
  • Publication number: 20180271281
    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: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, Benji Enssle, David Brightwell
  • 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: 20180268361
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided herein useful to enable shipping of commercial products. In some embodiments, systems are provided to enable shipping of commercial products, comprises: a conveyor positioned proximate to commercial product entry points and communicatively coupled to control circuits, conveyable containers each configured to traverse the commercial product entry points via the conveyor and comprising a volume configured to hold commercial products, and sensors positioned proximate to the volume and communicatively coupled to the control circuits. The control circuits use the sensors to receive authenticating data associated with commercial products when a commercial product undergoes a positional event at a commercial product entry point. The control circuits confirm associations between received authenticating data and conveyable containers. In some embodiments, the control circuits generate a notification of the positional event when the association is confirmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Todd D. Mattingly, Greg A. Bryan, Benjamin D. Enssle, Cristy C. Brooks, David C. Winkle
  • Publication number: 20180268365
    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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle
  • Publication number: 20180268364
    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: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones, Jesse L. Eaton
  • Publication number: 20180268367
    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: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones
  • Publication number: 20180268355
    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: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones, Jesse L. Eaton
  • Publication number: 20180268366
    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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones
  • Publication number: 20180268509
    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: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle
  • Publication number: 20180268356
    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 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, Benjamin D. Enssle, Matthew A. Jones, Jesse L. Eaton
  • Publication number: 20180253690
    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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Cristy C. Brooks, Benjamin D. Enssle, David B. Brightwell
  • Publication number: 20180225612
    Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for facilitating distribution of products between product manufacturers and retail stores of a retailer via specialty distribution centers and regional distribution centers. Based on analysis of various inventory management factors, the products are allocated between different facilities of the retailer to optimize the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of such facilities, and product shipments to and from such facilities are coordinated according to the optimization determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, Cristy C. Brooks, David B. Brightwell, David C. Winkle, Greg A. Bryan, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Publication number: 20180224837
    Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that include interconnected conveyors including multiple sensors configured to detect identifying characteristics and physical characteristics of the products traveling on the conveyors. The product-associated information that is detected by the sensors is analyzed relative to predefined product-associated identifying characteristics and physical characteristics stored in a database, and an error signal is generated if the actual, sensor-obtained product identifying characteristics and/or physical characteristics, do not correspond to the predefined, database-stored product identifying characteristics and/or physical characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Enssle, Cristy C. Brooks, David C. Winkle, Greg A. Bryan, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10024662
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to quickly and accurately determine shelf notch height for a shelving unit. This is particularly advantageous to determine whether shelves in the shelving unit were installed at the correct height and/or for installing shelves at desired heights. In some embodiments, a measurement member is provided with a bottom offset and shelf notch indicator portions. A horizontal position indicator can then be aligned with a desired shelf notch indicator portion and project outwardly therefrom towards a shelving unit to provide a visual indication of the height of a desired shelf notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Benjamin D. Enssle, David B. Brightwell