Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic shelving system including, in some embodiments, a shelving unit and one or more coupling brackets. Each coupling bracket includes a bracket-coupling body, one or more power couplers disposed in the bracket-coupling body, one or more data couplers disposed in the bracket-coupling body, and one or more integral fasteners such as a tongue extending from the bracket-coupling body configured for fastening the coupling bracket to the shelving unit. Also disclosed herein is a method for the electronic shelving system including, in some embodiments, installing n coupling brackets in the shelving unit, running at least n+1 power cables or data cables through a slotted cable raceway of the shelving unit, and coupling at least two power cables or data cables to each other by way of the coupling bracket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding an image. In one embodiment, the method comprises encoding, using a tiled Cohen-Daubechies-Feauveau (CDF) filter, a plurality of tiles of the image, wherein update step results of one tile edge of a first tile of the plurality of tiles are used as inputs to a predict step of an adjacent tile edge.

Abstract: An automated inventory intelligence system and methods are provided for authenticating identities of customers to facilitate expedited user purchases. The automated inventory intelligence system includes a facial recognition logic for analyzing one or more captured images of a customer, and a voice recognition logic for analyzing voice samples. Customers may be identified using customer matching logic. The facial recognition logic receives multiple views of the customer with a multiplicity of facial recognition cameras coupled with a retail shelving unit. The voice recognition module receives multiple voice samples with a multiplicity of microphones that may be coupled with the retail shelving unit. Customers may be matched with a corresponding customer account to facilitate purchases at the shelving unit based on payment information associated with the customer account.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a composite material selectively movable between an inactive position and an active position, and a control to apply a voltage to the composite material in response to a vehicle panel moving from a closed position to an open position to move the composite material to the active position to mitigate wind throb.

Abstract: A smart store management tool and methods are provided for enabling a user to design and stock an entire store. The smart store management tool may include a store builder that enables the user to use familiar techniques to create a layout of the entire retail store, as well as organize locations of gondolas and inventory within the store. A whole-store view comprising the smart store management tool may be configured to show locations and current stock of inventory within the store and enables the user to view the current status of inventory at specific locations within the store. An inventory analysis view comprising the smart store management tool may be configured to show the locations and current stock of inventory on a specific gondola or shelf that is selected by the user in the whole-store view.

Abstract: An automated inventory intelligence system and method are provided for tracking the positions of the retail products as they are moved around on a retail shelf. The automated inventory intelligence system includes a dynamic planogram, or dynamogram, that reflects the existing state of inventory on the shelf, thereby enabling the automated inventory intelligence system to automatically and intelligently determine the amount of inventory stocked on the shelf as well as tracking correct pricing information for misplaced inventory items. As such, the dynamogram is configured to enable the automated inventory intelligence system to provide a frictionless shopping environment when products are moved elsewhere by customers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a frictionless shopping system is disclosed. The frictionless shopping system may include a plurality of intelligent shelving units having inventory cameras, customer recognition cameras, shelves configured to hold inventory, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the plurality of intelligent shelving units. A non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more processors and having logic thereon may be included.

Abstract: An inventory camera system including an inventory camera having a lens and a housing, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the inventory camera and a non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and having logic thereon is disclosed. The logic, when executed by the one or more processors, is configured to perform operations including: receiving an image captured by the inventory camera, performing object recognition techniques on the image to distill at least a first inventory set, the first inventory set consisting of a first amount, determining whether the first amount meets a first threshold, and responsive to determining the first amount does not meet the first threshold, generating an alert indicating the amount of inventory within the first inventory set does not meet the first threshold. The inventory camera may be coupled to a shelving unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an inventory camera system, comprises an inventory camera having a lens and a housing, and a mount configured to (i) hold the camera in a predetermined position facing inventory stocked on a shelving unit, and (ii) be removably coupled with the shelving unit is shown. The inventory camera may be configured to capture an image of the inventory at predetermined time intervals. Additionally, the image may be transmitted to a cloud computing service for analysis of the inventory. In some embodiments, the camera is held in the predetermined position facing a rear of the inventory stocked on the shelving unit. In another embodiment, the camera is held in the predetermined position facing a front of the inventory stocked on the shelving unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a proximity camera system is disclosed. The proximity camera system may include a proximity camera having a lens and a housing, fascia, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the proximity camera and the fascia. The proximity camera system may additionally include a non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and having logic thereon, the logic, when executed by the one or more processors, being configured to perform operations including: (i) receiving an image captured by the proximity camera, (ii) performing object recognition techniques on the image, (iii) determining whether an object was detected within a first predetermined proximity region, and (iv) transmitting one or more instructions configured to cause a graphical display to be displayed by the fascia. In some embodiments, the proximity camera and the fascia may be coupled to a shelving unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic shelf-tag systems and methods thereof. For example, an electronic shelf-tag system includes, in some embodiments a fascia configured to mount to a shelf of a shelving unit and a light-emitting diode (“LED”) array coupled to the fascia. The LED array is configured to display product information in a shared electronic shelf tag for two or more products respectively stocked in two or more consecutive shelf slots when a horizontal resolution of a portion of the LED array corresponding to at least one shelf slot of the two or more consecutive shelf slots is insufficient for displaying the product information for the product stocked in the at least one shelf slot.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic shelving system including, in some embodiments, a shelving unit and one or more coupling brackets. Each coupling bracket includes a bracket-coupling body, one or more power couplers disposed in the bracket-coupling body, one or more data couplers disposed in the bracket-coupling body, and one or more integral fasteners such as a tongue extending from the bracket-coupling body configured for fastening the coupling bracket to the shelving unit. Also disclosed herein is a method for the electronic shelving system including, in some embodiments, installing n coupling brackets in the shelving unit, running at least n+1 power cables or data cables through a slotted cable raceway of the shelving unit, and coupling at least two power cables or data cables to each other by way of the coupling bracket.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a composite material selectively movable between an inactive position and an active position, and a control to apply a voltage to the composite material in response to a vehicle panel moving from a closed position to an open position to move the composite material to the active position to mitigate wind throb.

Abstract: An automated inventory intelligence system is disclosed including, in some embodiments, an artificial intelligence (“AI”) agent configured to monitor inventory states in designated areas of an environment. The AI agent includes sensors, effectors, and an agent program. The sensors are configured to be disposed in the environment to collect sensory information on inventory items in the designated areas. The effectors are configured for response to inventory state changes in the designated areas. The agent program is configured to receive sensor data from the sensors for current inventory states, as well as send instructions to the effectors for the response to the inventory state changes. In addition, the automated inventory intelligence system includes a system memory configured to store an instance of the agent program at runtime and one or more previous inventory states for determining the inventory state changes from the current inventory states.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for an intelligent shelf display system that creates an intimate customer experience and helps retailers increase operational efficiencies. The system is comprised of a cabinet top to display animated and/or graphical content and is mounted on top of in-store shelves. A fascia to display animated and/or graphical content is extended along each shelf of the in-store shelves. A media player executes multiple media files that are simultaneously displayed on the cabinet top and the fascia. The cabinet top and the fascia display content to entice customers to approach the shelves, and then the fascia switch to displaying pricing information once a customer is nearby. A proximity sensor detects the presence of the customer. Stock sensors track the inventory stocked on the in-store shelves. Alerts are created once the merchandise remaining on the shelves is reduced to a predetermined minimum threshold quantity.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device having a microprocessor housed within a body including a display area and a contact-sensitive area is disclosed. The contact-sensitive area detects contact engagement therewith and produces instruction data based thereupon. A microprocessor-run software program receives instruction data from the contact-sensitive area. The contact-sensitive area has a home zone area and a plurality of activity launch zone areas. The software program is programmed to process the instruction data and determine sweeping contact motion detected on the contact-sensitive area originating at the home zone area and terminating at one of the plurality of activity launch zone areas. The program responsively launches an operator-instructed activity corresponding to the activity launch zone area at which the sweeping contact motion terminated.