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.

Abstract: Provided is a payment system for paying for goods at a door of a store. The system includes a purchase tunnel that has an entrance door or gate, an exit door or gate and a scanning device. The scanning device automatically scans and reads product identifying elements for all products within a cart. A biometric reader may be electronically coupled to the purchase tunnel, wherein the entrance door or gate opens in response to a customer inputting biometric data through the biometric reader. The system includes an entrance sensor coupled to the purchase tunnel to determine when a customer enters the purchase tunnel, wherein the entrance door or gate closes in response to the sensor determining that the customer entered the purchase tunnel. The system also includes a payment hub, wherein payment is automatically processed by the payment hub upon confirmation of scanning all of the products within the cart.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for collecting data and mapping wireless network coverage in a building such as a retail store. A mobile computing device is used by an employee to collect data captures and wireless coverage indicators in the retail store. The wireless coverage indicator includes data on the status of wireless network coverage in the location where the data capture was collected. The data capture and the wireless coverage indicators are wirelessly transmitted to a utility for mapping a building when a wireless network is available. If no wireless network is available, the data is stored in the mobile computing device until a wireless network is available. The utility for mapping a building uses information in the data capture to determine the location where the data capture was collected, and maps the data in the wireless coverage indicator to the location on a map of the building.

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: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for generating routes for relocating delivery of objects. Public data relating to a user's current location, a current location of an object to be delivered, and the user's future travel plans is retrieved. Personal data is also retrieved, including customizable relocation preferences and future travel plans associated with the user. A relocation destination is computed for relocating delivery of the object to the user from a current delivery destination to the relocation destination based on the public data and the personal data associated with the user. A relocation time and a relocation route are also computed, based in part on the public data and the personal data associated with the user. A notification of the relocation destination and the relocation time is then transmitted to an electronic device associated with the user.

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: 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: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for locating objects. A computational device generates a first set of statistical data indicative of a frequency at which machine readable features associated with a first set of objects and machine readable features associated with a second set of objects are read within each of a plurality of object groups. The computational device also retrieves a second set of statistical data indicative of a historical frequency at which past groups of objects included machine readable features associated with the first set of objects and machine readable features associated with the second set of objects during a previous time interval. Based on a comparison between the first set of statistical data and the second set of statistical data, the computational deice computes a geographical relationship between the first set of objects and a portion of the objects from the second set of objects.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for determining in situ locations of physical objects using mobile devices within a facility. Multiple mobile devices may scan different identifiers of different physical objects disposed in a facility. The mobile devices may transmit the identifiers to a distributed computing system. The distributed computing system may query a database to determine the in situ location of the physical objects associated with the identifiers. In response to not being able to retrieve a in situ location of a physical object, the distributed computing system may determine a path of the mobile device which transmitted the identifier associated with the physical object with the unknown in situ location. The distributed computing system may determine the in situ location of the physical object for which the in situ location was unknown based on the path and the known locations of the other physical objects.

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: A budget-constrained, machine-learning system is described that creates a shopping (purchase) list and performs on-line ordering and delivery. It receives the shopper's past purchase receipts from a retail store, pharmacy and/or auto center. It may attach to a web server to acquire on-line browsing information. The system creates a Purchase List from acquired information. The system receives a budget and determines if all items on the Purchase List can be bought under the budget. If not, the items are given priority ratings. The system walks down the list to in decreasing priority rating order identifying items to purchase without exceeding the budget. The shopper may override the items identified to be purchased. Shopper override is monitored by a machine learning engine which adjusts the priority rating of the item or the period of replacement for the next shopping trip/session, allowing for more accurate results and flexibility.

Abstract: Sensor systems, methods and machine readable medium are provided for a cargo vehicle. A plurality of sensors are arranged about an opening associated with a door through which packages are unloaded from a vehicle or trailer. The plurality of sensors are configured to measure an unpacked depth of the vehicle or trailer. A processor is provided in communication with each of the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to receive measured data generated by the plurality of sensors, determine an empty volume over time of the vehicle or trailer based on the measured data as packages are being unpacked from the vehicle or trailer, and generate instructions regarding loading packages in a subsequent vehicle or trailer based on the determined empty volume over time of the vehicle or trailer.

Abstract: A shopping cart that generates power, and comprising a shopping cart body; a set of wheels that each rotates about an axle coupled to the shopping cart body; a power generator that generates a source of power from a rotational force of the wheels when a user moves the shopping cart; a voltage regulator that controls the source of power output from the power generator; and an outlet for outputting the controlled power to an electronic device.

Abstract: Described is a retail store fixture that includes an electric charge circuit. The electric charge circuit generates a positive electric charge, or voltage, in response to the motion of a moveable portion of the retail store fixture. The retail store fixture can be a shopping cart or other fixture with a moveable portion. The positive electric charge is deposited on a part of the retail store fixture that it is desired to sterilize. The positive electric charge repels bacteria, sterilizing the portion of the retail store fixture that receives the positive charge. A shopping cart, for example, equipped with the electric charge circuit can be sterilized without requiring chemicals or power to be supplied to the cart. Rotation of the shopping cart wheels can be used to generate the voltage. The voltage can be used to sterilize a shopping cart handle, and/or other parts of the shopping cart.

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: In some embodiments, methods and systems of managing products at a retail sales facility include scanning a product in a stocking cart at the retail sales facility using a hand-held electronic device including a processor. At least two of the following three functions may be performed based on the scanning of the product. First, the stocking cart may be audited by comparing scanned data to data contained in an inventory management database. Second, a determination of whether the item is on a pick list may be made, which may include determining a demand for the scanned product to arrive at a decision whether to store the product in the stock room or place it on a shelf on the sales floor. Third, if the item is to be stored in the stock room, a determination of whether identical items are stored in bins in the stock room may be made.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for collecting data and mapping wireless network coverage in a building such as a retail store. A mobile computing device is used by an employee to collect data captures and wireless coverage indicators in the retail store. The wireless coverage indicator includes data on the status of wireless network coverage in the location where the data capture was collected. The data capture and the wireless coverage indicators are wirelessly transmitted to a utility for mapping a building when a wireless network is available. If no wireless network is available, the data is stored in the mobile computing device until a wireless network is available. The utility for mapping a building uses information in the data capture to determine the location where the data capture was collected, and maps the data in the wireless coverage indicator to the location on a map of the building.

Abstract: Provided is a wearable navigation device, comprising a band portion positioned at a portion of a human body; a location device that receives navigation data regarding a destination location for an item and determines a distance and orientation with respect to a current position of the wearable navigation device to the destination location; and a plurality of tactile feedback emitters that provide tactile feedback to the portion of the human body in a predetermined sequential order to direct a wearer of the band portion to the destination location having a point of intersection of a length, width, and height.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide for controlling a speed of the checkout belt at a point-of-sale terminal. A belt at a point-of-sale terminal is provided for moving an item from a distal end of the POS terminal toward a proximal end of the POS terminal. A drive motor is provided in electrical communication with the POS terminal operative to drive the belt. A sensor is disposed with respect to the belt to sense a distance between the item on the belt and the cashier area of the POS terminal. A processor associated with the POS terminal is provided in communication with the drive motor and the sensor, and is configured to control the drive motor to adjust a speed of the belt in response to the distance between the item and the proximal end of the POS terminal.

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.