Patents by Inventor Qianyu Rui

Qianyu Rui 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).

  • System and method for using a mobile device to access inventory
    Patent number: 10672216
    Abstract: A system and method for using a mobile device to cause a vending machine to provide access to a product. After a calibration position is established within the mobile device, an accelerometer of the mobile device is used to determine a current location of the mobile device relative to the vending machine resulting from a movement of the mobile device from the calibration position. A product location to mobile device location mapping is then used to determine a one of a plurality of vending mechanisms associated with the vending machine that is to be activated given the determined current location of the mobile device. A signal may then be sent from the mobile device to the vending machine to instruct the vending machine to activate the determined one of the plurality of vending mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, James Finn, Qianyu Rui
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING A MOBILE DEVICE TO ACCESS INVENTORY
    Publication number: 20190139352
    Abstract: A system and method for using a mobile device to cause a vending machine to provide access to a product. After a calibration position is established within the mobile device, an accelerometer of the mobile device is used to determine a current location of the mobile device relative to the vending machine resulting from a movement of the mobile device from the calibration position. A product location to mobile device location mapping is then used to determine a one of a plurality of vending mechanisms associated with the vending machine that is to be activated given the determined current location of the mobile device. A signal may then be sent from the mobile device to the vending machine to instruct the vending machine to activate the determined one of the plurality of vending mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Geoffry A. Westphal, James Finn, Qianyu Rui