Abstract: A security system comprises a wearable security apparatus having an electronic display and a storage device that stores data regarding a wearer and a receiver for receiving emergency information; a security scanner at a facility that communicates with the wearable device to receive and decode the stored data to determine a status of the wearer and whether the wearer may enter or leave the facility; and an associate registry that includes registration information regarding the wearer. The security scanner compares the stored data on the wearable device and the registration information in the associate registry to determine whether the status of the wearer is that the wearer is registered.

Abstract: A system for delivering store items to a selected destination comprises a store computer that receives selected store item data including a delivery request; a delivery request database that stores the delivery request; and a delivery request application processor that provides a rule that includes criteria for selecting at least one delivery driver and generates a result that identifies a delivery driver of the at least one delivery driver satisfying the criteria of the generated rule.

Abstract: Described is a payment register system that can be used for accepting payment for one or more restricted items in a retail store. The payment register system includes one or more local payment registers and a remote monitor and control unit in electrical communication with each of the local payment registers. Each of the local payment registers is either operated by a local cashier, who may be under the age required to sell restricted items, or, one or more of the local payment registers may be “self-checkout” payment registers that do not have an assigned cashier. The remote monitor and control unit is used by a remote cashier to operate the local payment register, and authorize and ring up sales of restricted items that the local cashier may not be authorized to handle.

Abstract: Provided are a retail checkout system and method. A customer record includes registered identification information related to a store customer. An input device receives unique customer identification information from a purchaser card of the store customer. A customer identification analyzer verifies that the received unique customer identification information is included in the registered identification information of the customer record. An order linking module associates purchase data with the unique customer identification information of the purchaser card. A customer record processor updates the customer record to include the purchase data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a smart shopping cart and a method of using a smart shopping cart. The smart shopping cart may hold a set of containers that the customer can place their items in as they are shopping. The customer will associate their mobile device with the physical cart as an electronic shopping cart.

Abstract: A system for communicating the status of a produce product in a retail store is described. The system includes a produce weigh station and a produce status station. The produce weigh station includes a produce scale and a camera. The produce weigh station uses a captured digital image of the produce product to determine a product type of the produce product being weighed, as well as a product status of the produce product. The produce status can include, for example, whether the produce product is ripe, over-ripe, or under-ripe. The produce weigh station communicates the type of the produce product, the digital image, and the produce status to the produce status station. An employee of the retail store can use the produce status station to receive the produce status information without the employee having to be present in the produce sales department.

Abstract: A two-way wireless communications component (such as a near-field communications (NFC) device) is attached to a carton. The two-way wireless communications component has information stored therein regarding, at the least, a planned automated route through a warehouse. By one approach, the automated route information includes information regarding at least one conveyor belt gate in the warehouse. In addition, the two-way wireless communications component can include other information such as a current location of the package in the warehouse, contents that are planned to be placed in the carton, contents that have actually been placed in the carton, a final delivery destination for the carton, and so forth.

Abstract: Provided is a NFC to customer profile system and method for personalized shopping. The system includes a mobile NFC reading device comprising a memory and a processor. The memory stores a user profile having constraints and software logic. The system also includes an NFC tag corresponding to an item for sale. The NFC tag comprising item information of the item for sale and located adjacent to or on the item for sale. The mobile NFC reading device communicates with NFC tag to receive the item information. The processor of mobile NFC reading device executes the software logic to process the item information and compare the item information with the user profile. The mobile NFC reading device notifies a user in response to a determination that the item information is not within the constraints of the user profile. Further, the system operates without a network connection.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for executing on-line purchases. The apparatus includes three different servers, a ticket server, a doorman server, and a checkout server. The purchase tasks are spread among the servers, and timed, so that the on-line purchase can be handled without server overload and customers losing their place in line. The ticket server issues a purchase ticket to a customer. The purchase ticket includes a predetermined time after which the customer can present the ticket to purchase the purchase item. On or after the predetermined time, the customer presents the purchase ticket to the doorman server. The doorman server validates the ticket and checks that the predetermined time has passed. Once the doorman server approves the purchase ticket, the doorman server passes the purchase ticket to the checkout server with a purchase approval indicator. The checkout server then executes the on-line purchase of the purchase item.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating self-shopping in an enterprise comprise a support surface for supporting items. The support surface has a near-field communication (NFC) label coupled thereto. A computing system receives a radio frequency (RF) communication transmitted by a mobile device in response to the mobile device being placed near enough to the NFC label to read the NFC label. The RF communication conveys information read from the NFC label. The computing system comprises a processor programmed to determine an item associated with the NFC label based on the information conveyed by the RF communication, determine that the support surface has an insufficient quantity of the item, and cause a message to be automatically transmitted an electronic message to personnel indicating that the shelf requires restocking of the item.