Patents by Inventor Thomas Franklin Smith

Thomas Franklin Smith 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 transportation management
    Patent number: 11775921
    Abstract: A system and method for transport management includes a back-end system controlling a display depicting real-time location tracking for drivers or commodities requiring location tracking, route status tracking for driveaway vehicles and towable unites, and freight using a location tracking device including a GPS device connected to a cloud-based infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: William James Martin, Jr., Angela Blough, Arthur James Hicks, Jr., Thomas Franklin Smith
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20220391837
    Abstract: A system and method for transport management includes a back-end system controlling a display depicting real-time location tracking for drivers or commodities requiring location tracking, route status tracking for driveaway vehicles and towable unites, and freight using a location tracking device including a GPS device connected to a cloud-based infrastructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: William James Martin, Jr., Angela Blough, Arthur James Hicks, Jr., Thomas Franklin Smith
  • Article dispensing machine and method for auditing inventory while article dispensing machine remains operable
    Patent number: 10810822
    Abstract: An article dispensing machine capable of performing an inventory audit of a portion of the inventory and automatically pausing the inventory audit in response to a customer transaction request and method for performing the same are shown. After completing the customer request, the article dispensing machine resumes the inventory auditing process. The article dispensing machine thereby remains available for customer use during the inventory auditing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: REDBOX AUTOMATED RETAIL, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Hoersten, William E. Caputo, Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski, Jr.
  • ARTICLE DISPENSING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR AUDITING INVENTORY WHILE ARTICLE DISPENSING MACHINE REMAINS OPERABLE
    Publication number: 20180158272
    Abstract: An article dispensing machine capable of performing an inventory audit of a portion of the inventory and automatically pausing the inventory audit in response to a customer transaction request and method for performing the same are shown. After completing the customer request, the article dispensing machine resumes the inventory auditing process. The article dispensing machine thereby remains available for customer use during the inventory auditing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Eric J. Hoersten, William E. Caputo, Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski, JR.
  • System and method for optimizing utilization of inventory space for dispensable articles
    Patent number: 9916714
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski
  • Article dispensing machine and method for auditing inventory while article dispensing machine remains operational
    Patent number: 9886809
    Abstract: An article dispensing machine capable of performing an inventory audit of a portion of the inventory and automatically pausing the inventory audit in response to a customer transaction request and method for performing the same are shown. After completing the customer request, the article dispensing machine resumes the inventory auditing process. The article dispensing machine thereby remains available for customer use during the inventory auditing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Hoersten, William E. Caputo, Thomas Franklin Smith, Jr., William Martinka, Jim Polubinski, Jr.
  • System and method for optimizing utilization of inventory space for dispensable articles
    Patent number: 9390577
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: REDBOX AUTOMATED RETAIL, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING UTILIZATION OF INVENTORY SPACE FOR DISPENSABLE ARTICLES
    Publication number: 20150287262
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING UTILIZATION OF INVENTORY SPACE FOR DISPENSABLE ARTICLES
    Publication number: 20140367399
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski
  • System and method for optimizing utilization of inventory space for dispensable articles
    Patent number: 8768789
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area. Quicker and more efficient removal and loading of articles from and to the article dispensing machine may result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski, Jr.
  • System and method for optimizing utilization of inventory space for dispensable articles
    Patent number: 8712872
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski, Jr.
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING UTILIZATION OF INVENTORY SPACE FOR DISPENSABLE ARTICLES
    Publication number: 20130238116
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area. Quicker and more efficient removal and loading of articles from and to the article dispensing machine may result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski, JR.
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING UTILIZATION OF INVENTORY SPACE FOR DISPENSABLE ARTICLES
    Publication number: 20130238115
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Franklin Smith, William Martinka, Jim Polubinski, JR.
  • ARTICLE DISPENSING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR AUDITING INVENTORY WHILE ARTICLE DISPENSING MACHINE REMAINS OPERATIONAL
    Publication number: 20130131863
    Abstract: An article dispensing machine capable of performing an inventory audit of a portion of the inventory and automatically pausing the inventory audit in response to a customer transaction request and method for performing the same are shown. After completing the customer request, the article dispensing machine resumes the inventory auditing process. The article dispensing machine thereby remains available for customer use during the inventory auditing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Hoersten, William E. Caputo, Thomas Franklin Smith, JR., William Martinka, Jim Polubinski, JR.