Patents by Inventor Robert James Taylor

Robert James Taylor 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).

  • Patent number: 10164451
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180365616
    Abstract: A logistics cycle system for managing inventory audits is disclosed. Users are dynamically assigned one or more audit tasks and are guided through performing the tasks and entering results into a mobile device. In embodiments, the logistics cycle system includes a rules engine comprising a set of inventory audit rules, an inventory database, an inventory audit application program interface (API) coupled with the rules engine and the inventory database, and a plurality of mobile electronic devices. The API is configured to build a plurality of different dynamic audit task lists, each including at least one non-confirmation query, based on the set of inventory audit rules and the inventory data, compare received task response data with the inventory data, and update at least one of the plurality of dynamic audit task lists to include a mismatch reconciliation task if there is a mismatch between the task response data and the inventory data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Robert James Taylor, Matthew David Alexander, Shawn M. Hodge
  • Publication number: 20180345232
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are fluidic mixers having bifurcated fluidic flow through toroidal mixing elements. The mixers operate, at least partially, by Dean vortexing. Accordingly, the mixers are referred to as Dean Vortex Bifurcating Mixers (“DVBM”). The DVBM utilize Dean vortexing and asymmetric bifurcation of the fluidic channels that form the mixers to achieve the goal of optimized microfluidic mixing. The disclosed DVBM mixers can be incorporated into any fluidic (e.g., microfluidic) device known to those of skill in the art where mixing two or more fluids is desired. The disclosed mixers can be combined with any fluidic elements known to those of skill in the art, including syringes, pumps, inlets, outlets, non-DVBM mixers, heaters, assays, detectors, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Andre Wild, Timothy Leaver, Robert James Taylor
  • Patent number: 10149091
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
  • Patent number: 10140888
    Abstract: Techniques for providing medical image processing training are described herein. According to one embodiment, at least one medical image associated with a medical image processing training course (MIPTC) is displayed in a first display area. An instruction is displayed in a second display area, where the instruction requests a user to perform a quantitative determination on at least a portion of a body part within the medical image displayed in the first display area. In response to a user action from the user, the requested determination is performed on the displayed medical image. It is determined automatically without user intervention at least one quantitative value representing a result of the user action. The quantitative value is compared to a predefined model answer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TeraRecon, Inc.
    Inventors: Gelson Campanatti, Jr., Vishal Chodnekar, Sha He, Robert James Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180332418
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for identifying actions performed by a forklift based on detected sounds in a facility. An array of microphones can be disposed in a facility. The microphones can detect various sounds and encode the sounds in an electrical signal and transmit the sounds to a computing system. The computing system can determine the sound signature of each sound and based on the sound signature the chronological order of the sounds and the time interval in between the sounds the computing system can determine the action being performed by the forklift which is causing the sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180322450
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments are directed to systems for determining counting accuracy of products, including retail products. The system for determining counting accuracy can interface with other inventory systems to access or receive information on inventory of the retail products. The inventory information can include, for example, numbers of units in inventory, shelf space accorded to respective products, package size (i.e., number of units available per package), retail value, margin value, among other options. The system can manage physical counts made on respective products. In some examples, the system can determine a value associated with physically counting inventory of respective product(s), for example, as a function of a number of units on-hand, time since the product has been counted, and a presentation value. Responsive to determining the value associated with physically counting the respective product, the system triggers a physical count or can prohibit a physical count of a product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Robert James Taylor, Roger L. Snelgrove
  • Patent number: 10104551
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Daniel R. Shields, Marc Ashley Fletter, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180290678
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor, Aaron Vasgaard, Matthew Allen Jones
  • Publication number: 20180293832
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180280970
    Abstract: Limit size lipid nanoparticles, methods for using the lipid nanoparticles, and methods and systems for making limit size lipid nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Pieter R. Cullis, Igor V. Jigaltsev, Robert James Taylor, Timothy Leaver, Andre Wild, Nathan Maurice Belliveau
  • Patent number: 10083577
    Abstract: Sensor systems, methods and machine readable medium are provided for a sensor system for analyzing the ripeness of produce items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor, Aaron James Vasgaard, Matthew Allen Jones
  • Patent number: 10078727
    Abstract: A cloud server receives a request for accessing medical image data from a client device, where the cloud server provides image processing services to users in image processing steps, resulting in image views. User privileges of a user are determined for accessing the medical image data. In response to receiving a command having a selection of an image view from the client device, the cloud server provides the medical image data based on the selected one or more image views. The user interactions of the user with the medical image data via the selected image views are tracked, including tracking how long in time the user takes to complete a particular medical image processing step. An analysis is performed on the tracked user interactions to determine an overall usage trend of the image views.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: TERARECON, INC.
    Inventors: Junnan Wu, Robert James Taylor, Gang Li, Tiecheng Zhao, Chunguang Jia
  • Patent number: 10076730
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are fluidic mixers having bifurcated fluidic flow through toroidal mixing elements. The mixers operate, at least partially, by Dean vortexing. Accordingly, the mixers are referred to as Dean Vortex Bifurcating Mixers (“DVBM”). The DVBM utilize Dean vortexing and asymmetric bifurcation of the fluidic channels that form the mixers to achieve the goal of optimized microfluidic mixing. The disclosed DVBM mixers can be incorporated into any fluidic (e.g., microfluidic) device known to those of skill in the art where mixing two or more fluids is desired. The disclosed mixers can be combined with any fluidic elements known to those of skill in the art, including syringes, pumps, inlets, outlets, non-DVBM mixers, heaters, assays, detectors, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Andre Wild, Timothy Leaver, Robert James Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180251318
    Abstract: Embodiments of a conveyor system for separating cases of product are disclosed. An elongated, substantially horizontal frame extends from an entry point to an exit point and has a plurality of linear zones. A plurality of motivators is arranged along the frame, such that a case placed on one or more motivators will be moved forward toward the exit point by a coordinated movement of the motivators. A plurality of case sensors arranged along the frame detects the presence of one or more cases within each of the linear zones, and a controller activates the motivators such that a minimum time period elapses between cases delivered to the exit point. The system can include an AC/DC power supply configured to receive 110-120V alternating current power at 60 Hz and to provide direct current power to the controller, the plurality of case sensors, and the plurality of individually-controllable motivators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Robert James Taylor, Jason Bellar, John Crecelius
  • Publication number: 20180253081
    Abstract: A technique for forming a product with an embedded RFID element is disclosed. An extruder can extrude a first material and a second material onto a print bed. The first material has multiple RFID chips dispersed throughout the first material, and the second material has metallic particles dispersed throughout the second material to achieve a specified concentration of metallic particles. A computing system controls the extruder to print a three dimensional product on the print bed using the first extrusion material and the second extrusion material. The computing system also controls the rate at which the first material and the second material is extruded in order to electrically couple at least one of the RFID chips to at least some of the metallic particles in the three dimensional product to form an RFID tag embedded in the three dimensional product that is readable by an RFID reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180253683
    Abstract: Shipment receiving systems and methods are disclosed. Invoice and store inventory management data is provided to an invoice processor for assigning expected destinations to lanes of a material transporter having and a plurality of outlet lanes that each have an indicator. A scanner determines a case identifier for each case which is routed accordingly. One or more notifications is provided to the indicator of one or more of the plurality of outlet lanes. Received shipment data enables reconciliation of upstream supply change management systems and downstream store inventory systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Robert James Taylor, Jason Bellar, John Crecelius, Matthew David Alexander, William M. Propes, Jesse Berry, Jeffrey Scott Cruz
  • Patent number: 10070238
    Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for identifying actions performed by a forklift based on detected sounds in a facility. An array of microphones can be disposed in a facility. The microphones can detect various sounds and encode the sounds in an electrical signal and transmit the sounds to a computing system. The computing system can determine the sound signature of each sound and based on the sound signature the chronological order of the sounds and the time interval in between the sounds the computing system can determine the action being performed by the forklift which is causing the sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron James Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
  • Patent number: 10068407
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Jones, Aaron James Vasgaard, Nicholaus Adam Jones, Robert James Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180247264
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to scheduling and coordination of particular tasks based upon dynamically updated product inventory data. These systems and methods increase the efficiency of stocking and fulfillment as well as inventory auditing of the inventory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Robert James Taylor, Jeffrey Scott Cruz, William M. Propes, Ryan Travis, Matthew D. Alexander, Leigh Ann Marie Scobey, Marc Fletter, Jamison Sibley, Aaron Vasgaard, Nicholaus A. Jones, Matthew Jones