Patents by Inventor James L. Whiteman

James L. Whiteman 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).

  • System and methods for preventing fraud in retail environments, including the detection of empty and non-empty shopping carts
    Patent number: 5883968
    Abstract: Purchase of an item bearing a unique identification code is verified by (a) ascertaining the identification code of an item to be purchased; (b) acquiring data representative of color features of the item to be purchased; and (c) comparing the data representative of color features of the item to be purchased to data representative of expected color features for items having the same identification code. Other physical characteristics of an item, such as height, may also be employed. The disclosed system is also capable of detecting whether a shopping cart is empty or not, and determining whether a non-empty cart is an indication that a theft is being attempted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: AW Computer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Welch, J. Michael Rozmus, James L. Whiteman, Michael Negin, William J. Herd