Patents by Inventor Kenneth C. Macfarlane

Kenneth C. Macfarlane 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).

  • Patent number: 10348903
    Abstract: Aspects of systems and methods for maintaining and operating agent nodes are provided. In some embodiments, calls, contacts, and other work units may be routed to individual customer service agents via a centralized queue based on a variety of factors. Some embodiments may provide market-based call pricing and customer service agent compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon R. Jay, Jeremy A. Dashe, Yung-Chun Lin, Kenneth C. Macfarlane, Eric S. Stone, Raymond P. Sharpe, Jr., Nathan Brent Glissmeyer
  • Publication number: 20180007209
    Abstract: Aspects of systems and methods for maintaining and operating agent nodes are provided. In some embodiments, calls, contacts, and other work units may be routed to individual customer service agents via a centralized queue based on a variety of factors. Some embodiments may provide market-based call pricing and customer service agent compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Jon R. Jay, Jeremy A. Dashe, Yung-Chun Lin, Kenneth C. Macfarlane, Eric S. Stone, Raymond P. Sharpe, JR., Nathan Brent Glissmeyer
  • Patent number: 9769315
    Abstract: Aspects of systems and methods for maintaining and operating agent nodes are provided. In some embodiments, calls, contacts, and other work units may be routed to individual customer service agents via a centralized queue based on a variety of factors. Some embodiments may provide market-based call pricing and customer service agent compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon R. Jay, Jeremy A. Dashe, Yung-Chun Lin, Kenneth C. Macfarlane, Eric S. Stone, Raymond P. Sharpe, Jr., Nathan Brent Glissmeyer
  • Patent number: 9415935
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining discrepancies between physical inventory and virtual inventory includes a memory and a processor. The memory can store a virtual inventory associated with an inventory bin, and an image representing a physical inventory associated with the inventory bin. The processor is coupled to the memory and can determine from the image a physical inventory comprising one or more units of inventory from the inventory bin. The processor can also determine discrepancies between the determined physical inventory of the inventory bin and the virtual inventory associated with the inventory bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Macfarlane
  • Publication number: 20160117635
    Abstract: A video-based monitoring system may dynamically adjust the resolution or frame rate of video cameras in a materials handling facility in response to changing conditions or events. The resolution or frame rate may be increased when an agent authorized to handle high-value items (e.g., expensive items or those at high risk of being stolen) enters the field of view of a given camera in the facility. The system (or a video camera thereof) may detect the presence of the authorized agent by detecting that his clothing or equipment includes a color or pattern designating such authorization using analytics applied to a video stream captured by the camera. Other pre-defined conditions or events indicating that higher-resolution video monitoring is warranted may trigger an increase in the resolution or frame rate of a camera. The resolution or frame rate may be decreased when these conditions or events no longer apply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik R. Parker, Kenneth C. Macfarlane
  • Patent number: 9230250
    Abstract: A video-based monitoring system may dynamically adjust the resolution or frame rate of video cameras in a materials handling facility in response to changing conditions or events. The resolution or frame rate may be increased when an agent authorized to handle high-value items (e.g., expensive items or those at high risk of being stolen) enters the field of view of a given camera in the facility. The system (or a video camera thereof) may detect the presence of the authorized agent by detecting that his clothing or equipment includes a color or pattern designating such authorization using analytics applied to a video stream captured by the camera. Other pre-defined conditions or events indicating that higher-resolution video monitoring is warranted may trigger an increase in the resolution or frame rate of a camera. The resolution or frame rate may be decreased when these conditions or events no longer apply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik R. Parker, Kenneth C. Macfarlane
  • Publication number: 20150023490
    Abstract: Aspects of systems and methods for maintaining and operating agent nodes are provided. In some embodiments, calls, contacts, and other work units may be routed to individual customer service agents via a centralized queue based on a variety of factors. Some embodiments may provide market-based call pricing and customer service agent compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Jon R. Jay, Jeremy A. Dashe, Yung-Chun Lin, Kenneth C. Macfarlane, Eric S. Stone, Raymond P. Sharpe, JR., Nathan Brent Glissmeyer
  • Patent number: 8848898
    Abstract: Aspects of systems and methods for maintaining and operating agent nodes are provided. In some embodiments, calls, contacts, and other work units may be routed to individual customer service agents via a centralized queue based on a variety of factors. Some embodiments may provide market-based call pricing and customer service agent compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon R. Jay, Jeremy A. Dashe, Yung-Chun Lin, Kenneth C. Macfarlane, Eric S. Stone, Paul Sharpe, Nate Glissmeyer
  • Patent number: 8249245
    Abstract: Aspects of systems and methods for maintaining and operating agent nodes are provided. In some embodiments, calls, contacts, and other work units may be routed to individual customer service agents via a centralized queue based on a variety of factors. Some embodiments may provide market-based call pricing and customer service agent compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon R. Jay, Jeremy A. Dashe, Yung-Chun Lin, Kenneth C. Macfarlane, Eric S. Stone, Raymond P. Sharpe, Jr., Nathan Brent Glissmeyer
  • Publication number: 20090154688
    Abstract: Aspects of systems and methods for maintaining and operating agent nodes are provided. In some embodiments, calls, contacts, and other work units may be routed to individual customer service agents via a centralized queue based on a variety of factors. Some embodiments may provide market-based call pricing and customer service agent compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Jon R. Jay, Jeremy A. Dashe, Yung-Chun Lin, Kenneth C. MacFarlane, Eric S. Stone, Raymond P. Sharpe, JR., Nathan Brent Glissmeyer
  • Publication number: 20090122973
    Abstract: Aspects of systems and methods for maintaining and operating agent nodes are provided. In some embodiments, calls, contacts, and other work units may be routed to individual customer service agents via a centralized queue based on a variety of factors. Some embodiments may provide market-based call pricing and customer service agent compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Jon R. Jay, Jeremy A. Dashe, Yung-Chun Lin, Kenneth C. Macfarlane, Eric S. Stone, Raymond P. Sharpe, JR., Nathan Brent Glissmeyer