Abstract: Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media are provided for rendering at an electronic terminal a first set of graphical user interfaces to request a first set of data from a user, receiving, at a central server in communication with the electronic terminal, the first set of data from the user, communicating the first set of data via a stateless edge appliance to a third party verification server in a selected one of a plurality of third party computer networks to validate the first set of data, rendering a second set of graphical user interfaces to request a second set of data from the user, communicating the second set of data to the third party verification server to authenticate the second set of data, and authenticating the user in response to receipt of authentication of the second set of data.

Abstract: Example shopping cart corral systems and associated systems and methods are described. The example shopping cart corral system includes a corral structure, a radio-frequency transmitter, a radio-frequency receiver, and a controller coupled to the radio-frequency transmitter and the radio-frequency receiver. The controller estimates a quantity of shopping carts disposed in the shopping cart corral based on at least one property of the reflected radio-frequency signal. An example shopping cart counter system includes an elongated structure, first and second electrical contacts, a power source and a processing device. The power source applies a voltage or an electrical current to the first electrical contact and the shopping carts complete an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts. The processing device estimates the quantity of shopping carts disposed in the elongated structure based on an electrical resistance associated with the shopping carts.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for a label position determination. A label position determination system can include labels mounted on the front face of the shelving units. The labels can include conductive patterns on the back face of the label. The conductive patterns of the labels can be electrically coupled with electrically conductive wires extending along a front face of a shelf. The system can further include a controller coupled to with electrically conductive wires, configured to transmit electrical pulses through the electrically conductive wires. The controller can determine at least one of: an identity of each of the labels mounted to the front face, whether a label has been mounted at an incorrect location on the front face of the shelf, or whether a label is missing from the front face of the shelf based on a response to the electrical pulse.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for dynamically transmitting alerts. Sensors disposed in a facility can detect mobile devices roaming around the facility when they are within range of the sensor. The sensor can transmit the location an identification information of the mobile devices to a computing system. The computing system can determine physical objects disposed within a predetermined distance to the mobile devices. The computing system can determine if at least one physical object is of interest to the users of the mobile devices. The computing system can transmit an alert including information associated with the physical object and generate a messaging interface on the mobile devices. The computing system can prompt the users of the mobile devices to input information associated with the physical object. The computing system can dynamically update the database based on the information input associated with the physical object.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for an automatic physical object status marking system. An electronic label can display a machine-readable element encoded with an identifier associated with a physical object on the display. A first computing system can receive instructions to modify a status of the physical object. The first computing system can retrieve the identifier associated with the physical objects and the identifier associated with the electronic label. The first computing system can control display of the electronic label to display a visual indicator associated with the status. An RFID reader can detect a RFID tag of the electronic label. The RFID reader can transmit the identifier associated with the electronic label to the second computing system. The second computing system is prevented from scanning a machine-readable element associated with the physical object in response to receiving the first identifier from the RFID reader.

Abstract: An example customer assistance system and associated methods are described. The example customer assistance system includes a shopping cart, a customer assistance unit mounted on the shopping cart, and a location system disposed remotely from the shopping cart and the customer assistance unit. The customer assistance unit includes a light source oriented upwards relative to horizontal, and an actuator for actuating the light source into an illumination position. In the illumination position, the light source projects a light beam over the shopping cart. The locating system includes at least one image capturing device configured to scan a ceiling for the light beam and to determine a source location of the shopping cart based on a ceiling location of the light beam.

Abstract: Systems, methods and tools for tracking the amounts of merchandise being displayed or available for sale in a retail environment using measurements of air displacement caused by the movement of customers, employees and shopping carts throughout a retail environment. The disclosed embodiments may position air displacement sensors throughout a store and near the products being offered for sale. As the merchandise is removed by customers, a greater amount of air may be measured. Embodiments of each sensor device may be calibrated with a maximum threshold measurement of air displacement corresponding to the amount of merchandise surrounding the sensor. After enough of the products have been removed from the surrounding proximity of the sensor, the maximum threshold of air displacement may be reached, wherein upon exceeding the maximum threshold of air displacement a signal may be sent alerting employees to restock the specified merchandise proximate to the sensor's location.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for detecting attributes of vehicles using an images captured by an image capturing device disposed at a facility. The system detects attributes of the vehicles from the image, retrieves information associated with each vehicle based on the attributes and generates a score for each vehicle based on the information associated with each vehicle. Based on the score a distribution of physical objects is triggered to the facility.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine readable medium are provided for a detection system for identifying unsafe activity occurring at a shelving unit. A plurality of distance sensors are disposed at a top end of the shelving unit and point downwards towards a bottom end of the shelving unit. The plurality of sensors are configured to detect presence of a person near the shelving unit. An initial height of the person is determined, and a change in height of the person is detected. A processor determined whether the change in height indicates unsafe activity at the shelving unit. If unsafe activity is determined, then an alert is generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide access to secured containers in a facility. The systems and methods unlock a lock securing the container in response to receiving identifying information for an individual seeking access to the secured container. If objects are removed from the secured container by the individual, the systems and methods can determine whether an authorization was received for the removed objects within a time period. If the authorization is not received, the systems and methods can issue an alert including the identifying information using an alert system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for using photos of the interior of a retail store to update an inventory database. The inventory management system receives a data capture from a mobile computing device carried by a customer of a retail store. The system sends a data capture request to the mobile computing device, which can include a request for a photo capture. The customer captures an image using the mobile computing device, and sends it to the inventory management system. The inventory management system analyzes the photo, and gleans from the photo inventory information such as products that are in stock, products that are out of stock, where products are located, etc. Photo inventory information obtained from the photo is used to update the inventory database. Each item of inventory data obtained from a photo relieves an employee of the responsibility of obtaining the inventory data.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for operating a mobile device, comprising: establishing by a locking mechanism at the mobile device that the mobile device is owned or controlled by a retail establishment at which an operator of the mobile device is an agent; searching, by a mobile device, for a signal from a network; authorizing the mobile device to operate in a vicinity of the network when the signal is detected from the network; and inactivating the mobile device or displaying information where the mobile device can operate in response to a failure by the mobile device to detect the signal.

Abstract: A task-indicating shelf that includes a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects and one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects is described. The task-indicating shelf includes a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device. Docking the handheld device within the docking station powers an electric circuit between the handheld device and the one or more visual indicators to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for dynamic projection. The dynamic projection system includes a projector configured to project a first set of information associated with a set of like physical objects onto a front portion of a shelving unit. The first set of information includes an image of a machine-readable element encoded with an identifier associated with the set of like physical objects. An optical scanner can scan and decode the identifier from the image of the machine-readable element. The optical scanner can transmit the identifier or location of the scanner to a computing system. The computing system can further control an output of the projector to dynamically project the second set of information associated with the set of like physical objects onto the front portion of the shelving unit receiving the identifier or location of the optical scanner.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for interacting with an interactive display using a shopping cart. A user navigate a shopping cart to a computing system including an interactive display and can actuate or press one or more push buttons associated with RFID tags integrated with the handle portion on a shopping cart to interact with the interactive display. A unique identifier can be associated with each RFID tag. A RFID reader disposed with respect to the computing system can detect the unique identifiers associated with the one or more detected RFID tags. The RFID reader can transmit the unique identifiers to the computing system. The computing system can execute the retrieved actions on the interactive display, based on the one or more buttons actuated or pushed and the correlated RFID tags.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for verification of a report of absence of a physical object from an assigned region. A mobile device may capture an image of a vacant region and transmit the image and GPS coordinates of the location of the vacant region to a video analysis module within a computing device. The video analysis module may perform video analytics on the image and verify the location of the vacant region. The video analysis module may verify the physical object is absent from the vacant region. In response to verification that the physical object is absent from the vacant region the video analysis module may trigger an event.

Abstract: Described is a system for directing employee movement to maintain a minimum distance between any two employees on a sales floor, and maximize employee coverage on the sales floor. The system includes a first mobile computing device carried by a first employee. The first mobile computing device includes a proximity detection module that detects the proximity of a second mobile computing device carried by a second employee. If it is determined that the distance between the first and the second employee is too small, the first mobile computing device will output a motion direction instruction to the first employee, telling the first employee to change direction, thus increasing the distance between the first and the second employee. The mobile computing devices can be in communication with a base station that receives proximity information and helps coordinate employee coverage and motion direction instructions.

Abstract: Systems, methods and tools for tracking the amounts of merchandise being displayed or available for sale in a retail environment using measurements of air displacement caused by the movement of customers, employees and shopping carts throughout a retail environment. The disclosed embodiments may position air displacement sensors throughout a store and near the products being offered for sale. As the merchandise is removed by customers, a greater amount of air may be measured. Embodiments of each sensor device may be calibrated with a maximum threshold measurement of air displacement corresponding to the amount of merchandise surrounding the sensor. After enough of the products have been removed from the surrounding proximity of the sensor, the maximum threshold of air displacement may be reached, wherein upon exceeding the maximum threshold of air displacement a signal may be sent alerting employees to restock the specified merchandise proximate to the sensor's location.

Abstract: A shopping cart deflection measurement system and associated methods are described. The shopping cart deflection measurement system includes a shopping cart, a sensor, and a processing device equipped with a processor. The shopping cart includes a frame, a basket portion pivotably mounted to the frame so as to enable deflection of at least one edge of the basket portion downward in the direction of gravity following a weight being placed in the basket portion, and a lower rack portion mounted to the frame and disposed below the basket portion. The processing device can be configured to execute instructions to measure deflection of the basket portion relative to the lower rack portion of the shopping cart using data acquired by the sensor. The measured deflection can be indicative of a fullness of the basket portion with one or more products.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for detecting missing or miss positioned labels. The system can include a portable scanning device to scan machine-readable elements included on labels at a first and second location. The portable scanning device can detect the acceleration and the cumulative change between the first and second location. The portable scanning device or a computing system can determine the distance between the first and second location based on the acceleration data. The computing system can place a data point on a map of an estimated location of the location of the first scan and the location of the second scan.