Patents by Inventor Nicholaus Adam Jones
Nicholaus Adam Jones has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10970681Abstract: A system for keeping track of an employee's attendance is described that allows the employee to be creative which also helps morale. An employee sets up an employee account and provides identification. A full body image is taken of the employee that is analyzed. Facial features may also be analyzed and stored. The employee then can create his/her own unique gesture which is captured and stored as a unique clock in gesture. He/she may also set up passwords and/or security questions if the gesture is not recognized. The employee then performs the unique clock in gesture to notify the system when he/she is beginning or leaving work. During clock in, the system checks human resource rules, accumulated work hours and characteristics of the employee's employment and clocks in the employee if it determines that the employee meets the rules and is allowed to clock in and work additional hours.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLCInventors: Steven Lewis, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Matthew Dwain Biermann
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Patent number: 10955373Abstract: A technique for monitoring the quality of objects is disclosed. A container includes a multiple sensors and is configured to receive an object. The sensors monitor various metrics associated with the quality of the object, and a display is affixed to the container for displaying a visual indication of the quality of the object. The visual indication is based on data collected from the sensors. A quality monitoring module is executed by a processor to control the sensors to switch operation between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation based on a detected change in one of the metrics monitored by the sensors.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Bruce W. Wilkinson, David Winkle, Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron James Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor, Todd Davenport Mattingly
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Patent number: 10839172Abstract: An electronic shelf label system comprising a plurality of electronic shelf labels is provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Jeremy Tingler, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Alvin Scott Taulbee, Thomas E. Stiefel
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Patent number: 10732025Abstract: A vehicle analysis system including one or more weight sensors positioned to determine a weight of a vehicle within a pre-defined geographic location in the vicinity of a location of interest is described. The vehicle analysis system acquires data related to vehicles visiting the location of interest that may be saved in a database to provide further insight into individual's visiting the location of interest.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor, Aaron James Vasgaard, Matthew Allen Jones
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Patent number: 10724888Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system for measuring the capacity of a container. The system includes a variable scale disposed near or within the interior wall of the container with elongated body formed by an adjustable shaft including a number of visual indicators. The visual indicators are representative of a capacity of the container, and sliding the adjustable shaft adjusts an amount of space between each of the visual indicators. The system also includes a measuring arm extending from one end of the adjustable shaft and configured to rotate around an axis of rotation from a locked position, in which adjustment of the adjustable shaft is prevented, to a movable position, in which adjustment of the adjustable shaft is permitted. The measuring arm can be used to expand or compress the adjustable shaft, along with the spaces between the visual indicators.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron Vasgaard
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Patent number: 10679470Abstract: An example item carousel system is described. The system includes a terminal including a processor and a scanner. The system includes a carousel rotatably mounted to the terminal, the carousel including two or more bagging sections configured to receive bags. The system includes a motorized actuator configured to actuate rotation of the carousel relative to the terminal. The terminal is configured to read data from a machine readable identifier associated with an item using the scanner, and retrieve, using a retrieval module, item characteristics associated with the item from an item database. The terminal is configured to identify one bagging section of the two or more bagging sections of the carousel capable of receiving the item with the item characteristics, and mechanically rotate the carousel relative to the terminal with the motorized actuator such that the identified one bagging section is oriented toward a bagging area of the terminal.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Aaron Vasgaard, Matthew Allen Jones
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Patent number: 10664704Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for monitoring object locations on a shelving fixture. An electronic detection device includes a first motor for winding and unwinding a first line and a second motor for winding and unwinding a second line. A controller can control the operation of the first and second motor and the electronic detection device is suspended from the first and second line behind a shelving fixture. When the first and second motor wind and unwind the first and second line, the electronic detection device moves to an expected location of an object on a shelving fixture. The electronic detection device also includes sensors that can determine an identity of the object and the quantity of the object on the shelving fixture.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron Vasgaard
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Patent number: 10656266Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for estimating storage capacity of a storage unit disposed in a facility based on echoes detected by microphones. The microphones can detect sounds generated in the warehouse and reflected off the storage unit structures. The microphones detect the intensity of the sounds. The microphones can encode the sounds and the intensity of the sounds in time-varying electrical signals and transmit the time-varying electrical signals to a computing system. The computing system can decode the sounds and the intensity of the sounds from the time-varying electrical signals and estimate storage capacity of a storage unit from which the sounds reflected off of based on the intensity of the sounds.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron James Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
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Patent number: 10657491Abstract: Item movement is determined via wireless tracking using RFID data from at least one RFID reader. The RFID data associates RFID tag information with each antenna of the RFID reader that receives the tag information. At least one processer is configured to identify a first appearance of unique tag information in the RFID data. Items may be grouped when their first appearance in RFID data and their antenna association indicates that they first appear in a location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by RFID data, and/or when they have all moved from a previous location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by different RFID data. A group designation comprises the relevant unique tag information, which may be stored in memory along with a time stamp.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Thomas E. Stiefel, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Bruce W. Wilkinson
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Patent number: 10657489Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of managing overstock products at a retail sales facility include scanning a product at a stock room location of the retail sales facility using a hand-held electronic device including a processor. At least two of three functions are performed based on the scanning. First, the product may be audited by comparing data obtained by scanning the product to data contained in an inventory management database. Second, a determination of whether the scanned 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Marc Ashley Fletter, Matthew Allen Jones, Daniel R. Shields, Robert James Taylor
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Patent number: 10632504Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for sorting mechanisms at a POS terminal. A POS terminal in a secondary mode of operation, receives input of categories. Information of items received by the POS terminal is used to sort the items into the categories.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Matthew Allen Jones, Robert James Taylor, Aaron Vasgaard
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Patent number: 10614538Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for detecting absent physical objects using autonomous robot devices. In exemplary embodiments, the system includes shelving units disposed throughout a facility storing sets of physical objects. A first set of machine readable representations can be disposed on the front surface of the shelving unit and a second set of machine readable representations can be disposed on the back wall of the shelving unit. The first and second set of machine readable representations can be encoded with identifiers associated with the sets of physical objects. An autonomous robot device can be configured to detect and read a first set of machine-readable representations in response to successfully detecting and reading the second set of machine readable representations the autonomous robot device can determine the absence of a set of like physical objects.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Matthew Allen Jones
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Patent number: 10591306Abstract: A monitoring system for items in a delivery vehicle is described. Sensors disposed in the delivery vehicle are configured to sense data indicative of a current quality of items stored in the delivery vehicle. A computing device calculates navigation routes for the items in the vehicle and selects among the delivery routes at least partly based on sensor data relating to the monitored quality of the items.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Donald High, Bruce W. Wilkinson, David Winkle, Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor, Todd Davenport Mattingly
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Patent number: 10592859Abstract: An example shelf system and associated methods are described. The shelf system includes a frame with a base member and a vertical member, first and second shelves extending from opposite sides of the vertical member, and first and second pairs of sensors disposed below the base member. In response to positioning a physical object on the first shelf or the second shelf, the physical object applies a torque on the vertical member and each of the sensors output electrical signals corresponding to a change in weight sensed by each of the sensors based on the torque. The shelf system includes a central computing system configured to determine which of the first shelf or the second shelf received the physical object, an estimated location of the physical object on the first or second shelf, and whether the physical object is positioned on the first or second shelf in an expected location.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron James Vasgaard
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Patent number: 10567912Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Aaron Vasgaard, Robert James Taylor, Matthew Allen Jones
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Patent number: 10565408Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for interacting with an interactive display using a shopping cart. A RFID reader can read RFID tags integrated with a handle portion of a shopping cart. A unique identifier can be encoded in each of the RFID tags. A user of the shopping cart can the RFID reader from reading one or more of the RFID tags in response to a hand of a user obscuring the one or more RFID tags. The RFID reader can detect which of RFID tag(s) are covered. The RFID reader can transmit the identifier(s) of the covered RFID tag(s) to a computing system. The computing system can include an interactive display. The computing system can retrieve a specified action to be performed on the interactive display. The computing system can control, to perform a specified action on the interactive display.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Aaron Vasgaard
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Patent number: 10550560Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for containing fluid from an overflowing toilet. An annular fluid containment basin is located near the base of a toilet and is configured to encircle the base of the toilet and collect fluid flowing down the exterior surface of the toilet. A moisture sensor is located within the annular fluid containment basin and configured to sense a spill. A drain is also located within the annular fluid containment basin to direct fluid to bypass an S-bend or trap connected to the toilet.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Matthew Dwain Biermann, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Steven Jackson Lewis
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Patent number: 10552491Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Aaron James Vasgaard, Robert James Taylor, Matthew Allen Jones
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Patent number: 10518796Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for evaluating shopping cart wheels using a sensor module or one or more microphones engaged with the shopping cart. The microphones can be used to detect sounds generated by the wheels of the shopping cart. A sound signature can be determined from the detected sound and compared to sound signatures in a database. If the detected sound indicates that a wheel of the shopping cart is failing, an alert can be generated using an associate alert system.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Matthew Dwain Biermann, Steven Jackson Lewis
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Patent number: 10515504Abstract: An example cart inventory system and associated methods are described. The example cart inventory system includes a cart and a detection system. The cart includes a frame, and a shelf movably mounted to the frame and configured to be positioned between an extended position and a folded position. A top surface and a rear surface of the shelf include first and second identifiers, respectively. The detection system is configured to detect the first identifier when the shelf is in the extended position and detect the second identifier when the shelf is positioned in the folded position. In the extended position, the top surface is oriented upwards relative to horizontal and the rear surface is disposed against the frame. In the folded position, the rear surface is oriented upwards relative to horizontal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron James Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor