Abstract: Multiple cameras capture videos within a secure room. When individuals are detected as entering the room, identities of the individuals are resolved. When an asset is exposed in a field of view of one of the cameras, the individuals' eye and head movements are tracked from the videos with respect to one another and the asset. Additionally, touches made by any of the individuals on the asset are tracked from the videos. The eye and head movements are correlated with the touches or lack of touches according to a security policy for the asset. Any violations of the security policy are written to a secure audit log for the room and the asset.

Abstract: Image analysis is performed on a user at a transaction terminal. Based on behaviors, expressions, and activities of the user, fraud or potential fraud is flagged. When fraud is flagged, the transaction terminal stops processing an active transaction on behalf of the user and alerts are sent. When potential fraud is flagged, images/video associated with the active transaction are sent for review and the active transaction may be suspended or permitted to proceed at the transaction terminal. In an embodiment, a same user conducting multiple transactions with different accounts at a same transaction terminal or multiple different transaction terminals within a configured period of time is automatically identified as fraud based on a fraud rule.

Abstract: A monitoring project is defined interactively through an interface. Resources needed for the project are obtained, configured, arranged, and verified within a target area. Video and audio feeds are captured and analyzed during a project period within the target area and customer interactions and intentions are derived from detected customer behaviors within the feeds. The intentions and behaviors are indexed with aggregated metrics within a data store. The interface provides custom queries, reports, interactive graphics, and real-time notifications from the data store that depict the custom aggregated metrics for the intentions and behaviors of the monitoring project.

Abstract: An item return for an item is identified and a workflow is determined based on first factors defined in customized rules. Resources associated with the workflow may be staged on devices associated with the item return and the workflow is initiated. When the item is detected as being present at a drop-off location for the item, item and customer information are gathered in accordance with the customized rules associated with the workflow. Security checks are processed using second factors defined in the customized rules. A decision is made based on the security checks as to whether the item return can continue processing with the workflow or as to whether an item return exception is to be raised for evaluation and/or inspection of the item and item return information collected before the item return exception was raised.

Abstract: A monitoring project is defined interactively through an interface. Resources needed for the project are obtained, configured, arranged, and verified within a target area. Video and audio feeds are captured and analyzed during a project period within the target area and customer interactions and intentions are derived from detected customer behaviors within the feeds. The intentions and behaviors are indexed with aggregated metrics within a data store. The interface provides custom queries, reports, interactive graphics, and real-time notifications from the data store that depict the custom aggregated metrics for the intentions and behaviors of the monitoring project.

Abstract: A cross-entity and cross-retailer platform is provided that captures transaction data (associated with both in-store or on-line transactions), indexes, and stores the data in a cloud-accessible data store. For any given store of a given retailer, a Virtual Planogram (VP) is maintained for that store. The VP comprises metrics, relationships derived from the metrics, and inferences drawn from the relationships based on item sales and the corresponding transaction data for those item sales. The relationships show the rate of change in item sales over different intervals of time vis-a-vis sales of item categories/departments within the store. The inferences drawn from the relationships show a logical product placement mapping of the items or the proximity of the items to one another within the store. The VP is provided to the retailers and/or entities associated with items of the retailers as an interactive graph within retailer-provided and entity-provided interfaces.

Abstract: A cross-entity and cross-retailer platform is provided that captures transaction and item return data, indexes, and stores the data in a cloud-accessible data store. A service is provided that custom processes retailer and entity-defined workflows based on purchase transactions and return transactions using the data store. The entities may comprise manufacturers of an item, a supplier of the item, a distributor of the item, and a Consumer Packaging Goods (CPG) company of the item. In an embodiment, a given entity workflow causes the service on a given return to calculate a custom aggregation of returns for a given item or a given set of items across different retailers within a given geographical region for a select period of time and provide selective data about the returns automatically to an inventory system and/or a schedule/delivery system of the given entity through an Application Programming Interface (API).

Abstract: A cross-entity and cross-retailer platform is provided that captures transaction data (and/or browser history data associated with online browser-based transactions), indexes, and stores the data in a cloud-accessible data store. A cloud service is provided that custom processes retailer and entity-defined workflows based on purchase transactions using the data store. The service discovers and updates trends and patterns associated with item sales for a given retailer or for a given entity across channels associated with in-store and online item sales. The trends and patterns are dynamically reported to the corresponding entity or the corresponding retailer. The entities may comprise manufacturers of an item, a supplier of the item, a distributor of the item, and a Consumer Packaging Goods (CPG) company of the item.

Abstract: A cross-entity and cross-retailer platform is provided that captures transaction data (associated with both in-store or on-line transactions), inventory data, and store planogram data for stores, indexes, and stores the data in a cloud-accessible data store. For any given store of a given retailer, metrics, aggregated totals for each metric, and correlations between the aggregated totals over intervals of time are maintained. Stocked inventory levels for items of the store and promotional compliance levels for promotions of the items within the stores are monitored and tracked using the metrics, aggregated totals, correlations, planograms, and promotion conditions associated with the promotions. When the stocked inventory levels and/or the compliance levels fall below thresholds select data and/or alerts are reported to the retailers and/or the entities. In an embodiment, select data is reported out to the retailers and/or entities at an end of each interval of time.

Abstract: A cross-entity and cross-retailer platform is provided that captures transaction data, indexes, and stores the data in a cloud-accessible data store. A service is provided that custom processes retailer and entity-defined workflows based on purchase transactions using the data store. The service also generates and maintains correlations between items, the transactions, geographical locations, retailers, and stores of the retailers. The correlations are provided as timely retail recommendations to the retailers and entities for suggested changes that are likely to optimize purchase transactions. The entities may comprise manufacturers of an item, a supplier of the item, a distributor of the item, and a Consumer Packaging Goods (CPG) company of the item.

Abstract: Image analysis is performed on a user at a transaction terminal. Based on behaviors, expressions, and activities of the user, fraud or potential fraud is flagged. When fraud is flagged, the transaction terminal stops processing an active transaction on behalf of the user and alerts are sent. When potential fraud is flagged, images/video associated with the active transaction are sent for review and the active transaction may be suspended or permitted to proceed at the transaction terminal. In an embodiment, a same user conducting multiple transactions with different accounts at a same transaction terminal or multiple different transaction terminals within a configured period of time is automatically identified as fraud based on a fraud rule.

Abstract: An item return for an item is identified and a workflow is determined based on first factors defined in customized rules. Resources associated with the workflow may be staged on devices associated with the item return and the workflow is initiated. When the item is detected as being present at a drop-off location for the item, item and customer information are gathered in accordance with the customized rules associated with the workflow. Security checks are processed using second factors defined in the customized rules. A decision is made based on the security checks as to whether the item return can continue processing with the workflow or as to whether an item return exception is to be raised for evaluation and/or inspection of the item and item return information collected before the item return exception was raised.

Abstract: An item return is identified at a transaction terminal and a real-time notification is provided to a cloud-based item return service. The service obtains contact information for a consumer associated with the item return along with item return data being collected at the transaction terminal. The service provides the item return data in near-real time to a manufacturer/supplier of an item associated with the item return. A communication directed by the manufacturer/supplier is provided by the service to the consumer using the contact information for collection of additional information relevant to the item return. The item return data and any additional information collected from the consumer are indexed and housed in a data store by the service for subsequent customized searching, mining, and reporting by the manufacturer/supplier for correlations associated with item returns.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an augmented reality (AR) interaction zone to a user of a mobile device to provide remote access to a self-service terminal (SST) having a controller, a display for providing information and instructions to a user, a keypad for entering user data and user commands, and a camera (preferably a depth camera). A mobile device selectively initiates, based on a user command, a transaction by establishing a wireless communications channel with the SST. The controller generates the AR interaction zone based on signals from the camera, provides a signal to the mobile device to display an AR input field on an integral display, processes signals from the camera to monitor the AR interaction zone for user movement corresponding to input, identifies input based on the signals from the camera, and causes the SST to process a requested user transaction based on the identified input.

Abstract: An item return for an item is identified and a workflow is determined based on first factors defined in customized rules. Resources associated with the workflow may be staged on devices associated with the item return and the workflow is initiated. When the item is detected as being present at a drop-off location for the item, item and customer information are gathered in accordance with the customized rules associated with the workflow. Security checks are processed using second factors defined in the customized rules. A decision is made based on the security checks as to whether the item return can continue processing with the workflow or as to whether an item return exception is to be raised for evaluation and/or inspection of the item and item return information collected before the item return exception was raised.

Abstract: An item return transaction for an item is identified at a transaction terminal. The item is authenticated using multiple factors at least some of which are independent of item code identification for the item. A fraud score is calculated based on the multiple factors, item code identification, and data that is specific to a customer associated with the transaction, specific to the item, specific to a store associated with the transaction terminal, and specific to a retailer associated with the store. The fraud score and a customer-return grade for the customer are processed to determine whether the transaction can complete at the terminal without assistance or whether the transaction is to be held in abeyance for an audit (onsite audit or remote network-based audit). In an embodiment, the t terminal is a Self-Service Terminal (SST) and the transaction is a self-item return transaction conducted by a customer at the terminal.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems methods, software, and data structures for electronic lock control and audit. The various embodiments, although widely applicable, are well suited for retail use where higher-value and access-controlled merchandise is stored in locked cages, closets, rooms, and cabinets to prevent theft. One method embodiment includes receiving, via a network from a mobile device app, an unlock request including an employee identifier and a lock identifier to unlock a secured resource of the lock identifier. The method proceeds in processing the request by validating the employee identifier is authorized to unlock the lock of the lock identifier at a current date and time and retrieving a key-code that will unlock the lock of the lock identifier. The method then proceeds with transmitting the key-code to the mobile device app to enable unlocking of the lock.

Abstract: A user makes a request from a requesting device for access to a secure operation associated with a network-based service. A first biometric authentication is processed for the request and at least one second scope-based authentication is processed for the request based on an analysis of a physical environment for the requesting device. A determination is made based on at least the first biometric authentication and the scope-based authentication whether the secure operation can be: processed on behalf of the user by the network-based service, not processed at all, or processed only if requested from a specific medium/channel associated with a specific device, which may or may not be the requesting device.

Abstract: A first device is detected within a geofenced area of an establishment. A second device is determined to be within the geofenced area. A first individual associated with the first device is instructed to enter the establishment and complete a first portion of opening security procedures associated with an opening of the establishment. Upon completion of the first portion, a second individual associated with the second device is instructed to enter the establishment for a second portion of the opening security procedures. The first individual and the second individual are monitored through video feeds during the first portion and the second portion of the opening security procedures for compliance with the opening security procedures.

Abstract: An identity of a customer within an establishment is authenticated using a variety of captured biometric features obtained from sensors and/or video. Video capturing movements/interactions of the customer is analyzed in real time to identify the customer's behavior and actions. Any staff of the establishment who interact with the customer are identified from the video. Transaction data and other data retained for the customer by the establishment are aggregated and linked with the video and the customer identity. The linked data is analyzed in combination with the customer behavior and actions to determine responses within the establishment to customer-initiated transactions. In an embodiment, the customer is authorized to perform at least one transaction within the establishment based on the authenticated identity and linked data without a presentation by the customer of an identification card, a Personal Identification Number (PIN), a password and/or verification by a staff member.