Abstract: A system and method for receiving an image of a product's packaging and extracting information (e.g., a set of facts) associated with a product from the image. The extracted information associated with the product may be added to a product profile if a confidence score associated with the extracted information is greater than or equal to a threshold.

Abstract: The systems described herein may provide mechanisms for recommending specialty packaging in a materials handling facility dependent on physical characteristics of items to be shipped and/or feedback received in response to previous shipments of the items. For example, if feedback indicates frequent low customer ratings for damage during shipping and/or for the suitability of the container in which a particular item was shipped, of if feedback indicates that concession costs were repeatedly incurred due to damage of the item during shipping, the item may be designated as needing special damage protection. This protection may be realized by shipping the item in sturdier containers, in containers of a more suitable size, and/or with improved or increased protective cushioning. For example, a stored indication that an item is designated for special damage protection may influence the selection of a container recommended for shipping the item, e.g., by excluding unsuitable containers from consideration.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for identifying product categories to which products are assigned. At least one attribute associated with a product is received. A determination regarding whether the attribute is associated with a product category is made. An assignment to the product category is made if the attribute is associated with the product category.

Abstract: Various embodiments are provided for determining optimum sizes of packaging in a packaging suite employed in a materials handling facility. The packaging may be used, for example, in the shipping of items from the materials handling facility to various destinations. The sizes of the packaging in the packaging suite are determined based at least upon a cost associated with the packaging, packaging materials and shipping costs of the packaging when applied to a shipment history of the materials handling facility.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for identifying clusters of user accounts who have similar purchase histories and generating product assignments for products identified in the purchase histories. The clusters of user accounts may depict an affinity towards a first type of product while depicting an aversion to a second type of product. The first type of product and the second type of product may have one or more opposing attributes. Product assignments for the products may be generated based on attributes of the products, product categories associated with the products, or the clusters.

Abstract: Various embodiments are provided for determining optimum sizes of packaging in a packaging suite employed in a materials handling facility. The packaging may be used, for example, in the shipping of items from the materials handling facility to various destinations. The sizes of the packaging in the packaging suite are determined based at least upon a cost associated with the packaging, packaging materials and shipping costs of the packaging when applied to a shipment history of the materials handling facility.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for performing an analysis on images of a product packaging. Capture of at least one image of at least one side of a packaging in initiated. An image analysis is performed on the at least one image. Product attributes are detected based at least upon the at least one image analysis and associated with the product in a data store.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically identifying and inhibiting suspect electronic communications between users, such as for electronic communications that may reflect fraudulent activities by one or more of the users or that are otherwise inappropriate for one or more reasons. In some situations, the communications may relate to transactions in which the users are involved, such as for users that are buyers and sellers of items interacting via one or more electronic marketplaces. The communications may occur via a communication mechanism provided by an electronic marketplace that acts as an intermediary between the sender of a communication and the one or more intended recipients of the communication. The automatic identification of suspect communications that may be inappropriate includes automatically assessing the communications in one or more ways, and identified suspect communications and any associated inappropriate user activities may be inhibited in various ways.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically identifying and inhibiting suspect electronic communications between users, such as for electronic communications that may reflect fraudulent activities by one or more of the users or that are otherwise inappropriate for one or more reasons. In some situations, the communications may relate to transactions in which the users are involved, such as for users that are buyers and sellers of items interacting via one or more electronic marketplaces. The communications may occur via a communication mechanism provided by an electronic marketplace that acts as an intermediary between the sender of a communication and the one or more intended recipients of the communication. The automatic identification of suspect communications that may be inappropriate includes automatically assessing the communications in one or more ways, and identified suspect communications and any associated inappropriate user activities may be inhibited in various ways.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for performing an analysis on images of a product packaging. Capture of at least one image of at least one side of a packaging in initiated. An image analysis is performed on the at least one image. Product attributes are detected based at least upon the at least one image analysis and associated with the product in a data store.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for authenticating a user. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided. According to the method, transaction history information for each one of a set of users is maintained in a storage device. The method provides identifiers associated with items for display and receives, from one of the users, a selection of one or more of the identifiers. The method further authenticates the user as a function of the selection and a transaction history of the user.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving an image of a product's packaging and extracting information (e.g., a set of facts) associated with a product from the image. The extracted information associated with the product may be stored in an attribute data store and used to populate an online catalog. In addition, one or more labels (e.g., certification logos or identifiers) may be extracted from the image and added to the attribute data store.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and techniques for determining a pack station for storing inventory in a materials handling facility, routing item packages to pack stations based on size ranges for custom containers and optimizing dimensions of custom containers based on dimensions of a shipping container. For example, the systems described herein may allocate a percentage of inventory to a custom inventory location that is physically near custom container forming devices, thereby reducing the cost to pick, sort, pack and route items for shipment, storing or otherwise handling in a custom container.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and techniques for recommending custom containers in a materials handling facility dependent on physical characteristics of an item or group of items to be shipped and/or dependent upon estimated shipping costs. For example, the systems described herein may determine dimensions for forming a custom container within the materials handling facility that is capable of containing an item or group of items for shipment. The total cost to ship the item or group of items in the custom container or a standard container can also be determined and the container with the lowest total cost may be recommended for use in packaging the item or group of items for shipment.

Abstract: A method for producing quantum dots embedded in a matrix on a substrate includes the steps of: depositing a precursor on the substrate, the precursor including at least one first metal or a metal compound; contacting the deposited precursor and uncovered areas of the substrate with a gas-phase reagent including at least one second metal and/or a chalcogen; and initiating a chemical reaction between the precursor and the reagent by raising a temperature thereof simultaneously with or subsequent to the contacting so that the matrix consists exclusively of elements of the reagent.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically identifying and inhibiting suspect electronic communications between users, such as for electronic communications that may reflect fraudulent activities by one or more of the users or that are otherwise inappropriate for one or more reasons. In some situations, the communications may relate to transactions in which the users are involved, such as for users that are buyers and sellers of items interacting via one or more electronic marketplaces. The communications may occur via a communication mechanism provided by an electronic marketplace that acts as an intermediary between the sender of a communication and the one or more intended recipients of the communication. The automatic identification of suspect communications that may be inappropriate includes automatically assessing the communications in one or more ways, and identified suspect communications and any associated inappropriate user activities may be inhibited in various ways.

Abstract: A method for producing quantum dots embedded in a matrix on a substrate includes the steps of: depositing a precursor on the substrate, the precursor including at least one first metal or a metal compound; contacting the deposited precursor and uncovered areas of the substrate with a gas-phase reagent including at least one second metal and/or a chalcogen; and initiating a chemical reaction between the precursor and the reagent by raising a temperature thereof simultaneously with or subsequent to the contacting so that the matrix consists exclusively of elements of the reagent.