Abstract: Objects associated with a self-checkout area are identified and tracked through transaction data comprised of transaction details, device statuses, transaction interrupts/events, and video feeds during transactions on Self-Service Terminals (SSTs). Selective objects and selective transaction data are correlated together in a group for each transaction. Actions required of an attendant who is managing the transactions are identified for each group. An Augmented Reality (AR) interface is provided on an attendant-operated device that visually and uniquely identifies the actions, each group requiring a given action, and each object of each group that is to be the subject of the given action. In an embodiment, remote verification, audit, and override actions are processed through gestures made by the attendant and detected by the AR interface.

Abstract: An Augmented Reality (AR) wayfinder tracks the current location of a user within an indoor location relative to a path defined through the indoor location for the user. The path is broken into segments, each segment is a straight line between two nodes, and each node represents either a starting point in the path, a turn along the path, or an ending point in the path. As the user traverses the path, a remaining distance between the user device and the next node in the path is calculated. An AR object with attributes that correlate to the remaining distance to the next node is blended into and superimposed into a video that the user is viewing through the user device of the physical environment as the user travels along the path.

Abstract: When an electronic ticket is purchased, the ticket is maintained electronically (paperless format) on a consumer-operated device via a ticket wallet application (app). Wallet app obtains ticket details via a scan of an image of the ticket captured from a display of a ticket vendor terminal. Only the wallet app maintains ticket details of the ticket; however, a ticket service cooperates with the wallet app to validate the ticket, to track redemption of the ticket, to authorize printing of the ticket, and to manage the ticket with other tickets of a consumer associated with consumer-operated device.

Abstract: An indoor location is mapped into a grid comprising grid cells, each cell associated with items or objects detected as being present in the corresponding cell. The grid, grid cells, and linked items and/or objects are generated and updated using an Augmented Reality (AR) algorithm that maps a physical environment into cells and measures distances and directions within the environment relative to each cell. Walking paths (routes) to the items within the indoor location are generated using the grid information. As a user walks a path, the user's position within the indoor location is mapped and tracked to the cells and the path revised based on the user's actual position. A user device provides video via an AR application to track the user's position; a rendering of the position and path are superimposed within the video being viewed by the user on the user-operated device.

Abstract: Real-time video is captured of a pickup area for orders at a store. The images are analyzed and tracked for unique orders being placed in the pickup area and orders being removed from the pickup area. A customer-operated device is operated by a customer to identify the store where the customer placed an order in a remote location from the pickup area. Images of the orders that are present within the pickup area and order identifying information for the orders are provided to the customer via the customer-operated device.

Abstract: When a new order is received and is to be inserted into an unprepared order queue for order preparation. The new order's items and items' ingredients are obtained along with expected preparation/cook time for each ingredient. Items and ingredients for the orders that are already in the queue are also inspected along with the times that each order was placed in the queue. A machine-learning model is processed with the data associated with the orders and the new order. The model returns an optimized rearrangement of the queue with the new order inserted into the queue that levels out the expected order wait times, reduces variations in order wait times, and minimizes order preparation times based on the rearranged/modified queue. The optimized queue is presented on a display associated with staff responsible for preparing the orders of the queue.

Abstract: A customer logs into a desired retailer through a Virtual Reality (VR)/Augmented Reality (AR) cross-retailer application (app). Preferences and/or a profile are obtained from the retailer via an Application Programming Interface (API). A customized VR/AR setting is rendered within the app based on the preferences and/or profile and a VR/AR session is initiated with the app. Consumable items and ingredients of each item are rendered as VR/AR selectable objects during the session for interaction by the customer and a custom item is made with selected ingredients. The customer purchases the item within the session and an order is placed with the retailer through the API. In an embodiment, an avatar of the customer and avatars of other customer placing orders with the retailer are rendered on a virtual floor or superimposed on an actual floor of the customer's physical environment within the app for social interaction and social network features.

Abstract: Items are identified from one or more catalogues and images of the items are obtained. A dynamically rendered Virtual Reality (VR) store is constructed from the images and from images of objects/structures associated with a store. The item images that populate the VR store can be customized to a given customer and/or a given store. A VR session is established with a customer within the VR store, the item images can be selected, examined, and purchased during the session by the customer as the customer navigates through the VR store. Specialized rooms during the VR session allow the customer to interact in real time with other customers shopping via other VR sessions. The customer and other customers are rendered as avatars within the specialized room. A designated avatar or automated chatbot provides automated and real time assistance to the customer during the VR session.

Abstract: Location information for a user-operated device is obtained or location information associated with a transaction terminal is obtained. A store associated with the location is resolved based on the location information. Loyalty identifiers for a user who operates the device are identified. The loyalty identifiers are used to obtain a loyalty account of the user with the store and the location information is used to identify a transaction that the user is engaged in at the store. A loyalty account number for the loyalty account is dynamically injected into a transaction workflow for the transaction without requiring entry of the loyalty identifiers or the loyalty account number by the user or a cashier who may be performing the transaction on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A real-time cloud-based Augmented Reality (AR) service is provided for events. The service visually and audibly integrates remote participants into event-based locations and event-based devices during an event via participant-operated devices. The service further permits remote ordering of items and/or services by the participants. The items and/or services are actual items and/or services which are being offered at an event venue for the event to in-person event participants. Further, the service renders images of any ordered items/services on AR generated objects of the participant-operated devices. Moreover, the service places the orders with the appropriate vendors and schedules delivery of the ordered items/services to coincide with participant-defined times before, during, and/or after the event.

Abstract: A touch field is created around a touchscreen display, the field is in front of a touch surface of the display and the field maps to locations on the display. An operator of a terminal during a transaction is presented with transaction interface screens that are visually rendered on the display. The operator makes interface options selections, performs screen navigation, and provides date entry field inputs by placing the operator's hand within the field without touching the touch surface of the display and making hand poses, hand movements, and/or hand gestures. The poses, movements, and/or gestures are translated into touch actions and touch inputs recognized by the transaction interface and processed as operator-provided input during the transaction.

Abstract: A base transaction User Interface (UI) is provided that provides transaction processing for transactions at transaction terminals. The base UI can be customized through independent and decoupled customization/extension files, which provide specific UI customizations for UI screen content, UI screen styles, UI screen views, UI screen workflows, and UI screen resource functionality. Customizations or extensions are achieved without modifying the base UI. The customizations or extensions are dynamically obtained during execution of the base UI from the corresponding files and processed by the base UI as user-defined custom overrides.

Abstract: A base transaction User Interface (UI) is provided that provides transaction processing for transactions at transaction terminals. The base UI can be customized through independent and decoupled customization/extension files, which provide specific UI customizations for UI screen content, UI screen styles, UI screen views, UI screen workflows, and UI screen resource functionality. Customizations or extensions are achieved without modifying the base UI. The customizations or extensions are dynamically obtained during execution of the base UI from the corresponding files and processed by the base UI as user-defined custom overrides.

Abstract: A transaction is maintained in a shopping cart and processed by a transaction manager in cooperation with a transaction application of a user device. The status device displays a code that when obtained by user device and provided to the transaction manager links the cart to the status device. Acquisition of the code is an indication that the customer associated with the cart is ready to checkout and pay for the items in the cart. The entire payment processing between the application, the transaction manager, and a payment service is monitored by transaction manager. Payment processing statuses for the payment as it processes in real time are sent from the transaction manager to the status device. Status device displays payment status messages on a display of that device and/or illuminates colored lights and/or plays specialized audible sounds indicative of the statuses as the payment processing continues in real time.

Abstract: A touch field is created around a touchscreen display, the field is in front of a touch surface of the display and the field maps to locations on the display. An operator of a terminal during a transaction is presented with transaction interface screens that are visually rendered on the display. The operator makes interface options selections, performs screen navigation, and provides date entry field inputs by placing the operator's hand within the field without touching the touch surface of the display and making hand poses, hand movements, and/or hand gestures. The poses, movements, and/or gestures are translated into touch actions and touch inputs recognized by the transaction interface and processed as operator-provided input during the transaction.

Abstract: A transaction is maintained in a shopping cart and processed by a transaction manager in cooperation with a transaction application of a user device. The status device displays a code that when obtained by user device and provided to the transaction manager links the cart to the status device, Acquisition of the code is an indication that the customer associated with the cart is ready to checkout and pay for the items in the cart. The entire payment processing between the application, the transaction manager, and a payment service is monitored by transaction manager. Payment processing statuses for the payment as it processes in real time are sent from the transaction manager to the status device. Status device displays payment status messages on a display of that device and/or illuminates colored lights and/or plays specialized audible sounds indicative of the statuses as the payment processing continues in real time.

Abstract: A touch field is created around a touchscreen display, the field is in front of a touch surface of the display and the field maps to locations on the display. An operator of a terminal during a transaction is presented with transaction interface screens that are visually rendered on the display. The operator makes interface options selections, performs screen navigation, and provides date entry field inputs by placing the operator's hand within the field without touching the touch surface of the display and making hand poses, hand movements, and/or hand gestures. The poses, movements, and/or gestures are translated into touch actions and touch inputs recognized by the transaction interface and processed as operator-provided input during the transaction.

Abstract: A base transaction User Interface (UI) is provided that provides transaction processing for transactions at transaction terminals. The base UI can be customized through independent and decoupled customization/extension files, which provide specific UI customizations for UI screen content, UI screen styles, UI screen views, UI screen workflows, and UI screen resource functionality. Customizations or extensions are achieved without modifying the base UI. The customizations or extensions are dynamically obtained during execution of the base UI from the corresponding files and processed by the base UI as user-defined custom overrides.

Abstract: A transaction is maintained in a shopping cart and processed by a transaction manager in cooperation with a transaction application of a user device. The status device displays a code that when obtained by user device and provided to the transaction manager links the cart to the status device. Acquisition of the code is an indication that the customer associated with the cart is ready to checkout and pay for the items in the cart. The entire payment processing between the application, the transaction manager, and a payment service is monitored by transaction manager. Payment processing statuses for the payment as it processes in real time are sent from the transaction manager to the status device. Status device displays payment status messages on a display of that device and/or illuminates colored lights and/or plays specialized audible sounds indicative of the statuses as the payment processing continues in real time.

Abstract: Various embodiments include at least one of devices, systems, methods, and software systems and method enabling communication and signaling devices. One embodiment is in the form of a method that includes receiving, via a network, data from a mobile device of an authenticated customer, including data of items for purchase scanned by the mobile device and storing the data of the scanned items for purchase in a cart data structure associated with an account of the authenticated customer. The method also includes receiving, via the network, data indicating the mobile device is located at a pay station and payment data from the mobile device to pay for items represented in the cart data structure. This method further includes transmitting, via the network and in response to the received payment data, a payment confirmation to the mobile device generated upon successfully processing a payment for items in the cart data structure.