Patents by Inventor Timothy M. Fenton
Timothy M. Fenton 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: 11107086Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to testing retail financial system transactions. In some embodiments, a system comprises an automated robotic testing device configured to retrieve a selected card from a physical media library, interact, via the selected card, with a point-of-sale terminal, the point-of-sale terminal configured to receive from the selected card, information associated with the selected card, and transmit, to an external banking institution, the information, and a control circuit configured to determine the selected card, transmit, to the automated robotic testing device, the indication of the selected card, receive one of an authorization and a lack of authorization, in response to receipt of 1) authorization, cause the transaction to be completed, and 2) the lack of authorization, cause the transaction to be voided, determine whether a test associated with the transaction was successful, and log an indication of whether the test was successful.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson, Joel E. Strader
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Patent number: 11003560Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for testing a touchscreen electronic device. In some embodiments, an attachment for an end effector for use with testing a touchscreen electronic device comprises a body, wherein the body includes a connection portion configured to secure the attachment to the end effector, a first end, an opening, wherein the opening is located adjacent to the first end, and a conductive contact member, wherein the conductive contact member is wrapped about the first end, and wherein the conductive contact member is configured to contact the touchscreen during testing and simulate a touch of a human finger.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson, Joel E. Strader
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Publication number: 20200363452Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for testing a touchscreen electronic device. In some embodiments, an attachment for an end effector for use with testing a touchscreen electronic device comprises a body, wherein the body includes a connection portion configured to secure the attachment to the end effector, a first end, an opening, wherein the opening is located adjacent to the first end, and a conductive contact member, wherein the conductive contact member is wrapped about the first end, and wherein the conductive contact member is configured to contact the touchscreen during testing and simulate a touch of a human finger.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson, Joel E. Strader
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Patent number: 10768203Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for testing a touchscreen electronic device. In some embodiments, an attachment for an end effector for use with testing a touchscreen electronic device comprises a body, wherein the body includes a connection portion configured to secure the attachment to the end effector, a first end, an opening, wherein the opening is located adjacent to the first end, and a conductive contact member, wherein the conductive contact member is wrapped about the first end, and wherein the conductive contact member is configured to contact the touchscreen during testing and simulate a touch of a human finger.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson, Joel E. Strader
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Patent number: 10733392Abstract: Some embodiments provide robotic multiple-slot test card support systems comprising: a test robot system comprising a robotic arm and an end-effector; and a first card support apparatus comprising: a plurality of lateral supports; a plurality of angled shelf supports each extending between a pair of the plurality of lateral supports defining an array of angled card slots, wherein the shelf supports along the columns are vertically separated and each comprises: a guide exterior surface and an interior surface configured to support a payment test card with at least a portion of a face of the test card being flush with the interior surface; wherein each card slot repeatedly positions the respective test card at substantially the same position within the card slot each time the test card is released by the end-effector enabling repeated accurate retrieval by the end-effector.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson
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Patent number: 10611029Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to test user interfaces of systems. Some embodiments provide a puck support apparatus comprising: a base; a first support and a second support both supported by the base and extending away from the base in generally a first direction; wherein the first support comprises a first channel formed at an angle relative to the first direction; and wherein the second support comprises a second channel formed at the angle relative to the first direction and mirroring the first channel; and wherein the first support at the first channel is separated from the second support by at least a robotic effector threshold distance.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Christopher D. Johnson, Timothy M. Fenton
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Patent number: 10515519Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automating testing of transactions at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. In some embodiments, a system comprises a handheld scanner including an electronic switch electrically coupled to a physical trigger of the handheld scanner, wherein the handheld scanner is configured to read a product identifier, a first display device configured to present the product identifier, the POS terminal including a second display device configured to present a transaction record for a transaction, and a control circuit configured to determine a test case to execute, determine the product identifier, cause presentation of the product identifier, transmit a signal that mimics a pull of the trigger, capture, from the second display device, an image including at least a portion of the transaction record, and analyze the image to determine whether the transaction record includes a record associated with the product identifier.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Christopher D. Johnson, Timothy M. Fenton, Michael A. Ryan
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Publication number: 20190238624Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to capture and distribute imaging content. Some embodiments, provide remote inspection systems, comprising: an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) base station control system that wirelessly communicates with an UAS, and comprises: a wireless transceiver; a control circuit; and a memory wherein the control circuit: receives imaging content, captured by a camera of the UAS; establishes a network connection with a content distribution system and activate a distribution session; and communicates the imaging content to the content distribution system that enables multiple remote authorized rendering systems to access the networked content distribution system over the Internet, join the distribution session, and receive over the Internet in real time the imaging content allowing each of the rendering systems to visually play back the imaging content such that a user at each of the multiple rendering systems can watch the imaging content in real time.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Donald R. High, John P. Thompson, Timothy M. Fenton, Erik Rye
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Patent number: 10346832Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided to support the testing of card interface systems. Some embodiments provide apparatuses to support a card payment system during robotic testing, comprising: a frame configured to cooperate with the separate card payment system; a card chip guide extending from the frame and comprising a first and second card contact surfaces extending from the frame at a first position such that interior ends of the first and second card contact surfaces are configured to align with a card slot of the card payment system; and a card strip guide extending from the frame and comprises third and fourth card contact surfaces that taper with an alignment slot separating the third and fourth card contact surfaces, wherein the alignment slot is configured to align with a card slide of the card payment system when the card payment system is cooperated with the frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson
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Publication number: 20190156638Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automating testing of transactions at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. In some embodiments, a system comprises a handheld scanner including an electronic switch electrically coupled to a physical trigger of the handheld scanner, wherein the handheld scanner is configured to read a product identifier, a first display device configured to present the product identifier, the POS terminal including a second display device configured to present a transaction record for a transaction, and a control circuit configured to determine a test case to execute, determine the product identifier, cause presentation of the product identifier, transmit a signal that mimics a pull of the trigger, capture, from the second display device, an image including at least a portion of the transaction record, and analyze the image to determine whether the transaction record includes a record associated with the product identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Christopher D. Johnson, Timothy M. Fenton, Michael A. Ryan
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Patent number: 10298664Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided to capture and distribute imaging content. Some embodiments, provide remote inspection systems, comprising: an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) base station control system that wirelessly communicates with an UAS, and comprises: a wireless transceiver; a control circuit; and a memory wherein the control circuit: receives imaging content, captured by a camera of the UAS; establishes a network connection with a content distribution system and activate a distribution session; and communicates the imaging content to the content distribution system that enables multiple remote authorized rendering systems to access the networked content distribution system over the Internet, join the distribution session, and receive over the Internet in real time the imaging content allowing each of the rendering systems to visually play back the imaging content such that a user at each of the multiple rendering systems can watch the imaging content in real time.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Donald R. High, John P. Thompson, Timothy M. Fenton, Erik Rye
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Publication number: 20190065792Abstract: Some embodiments provide robotic multiple-slot test card support systems comprising: a test robot system comprising a robotic arm and an end-effector; and a first card support apparatus comprising: a plurality of lateral supports; a plurality of angled shelf supports each extending between a pair of the plurality of lateral supports defining an array of angled card slots, wherein the shelf supports along the columns are vertically separated and each comprises: a guide exterior surface and an interior surface configured to support a payment test card with at least a portion of a face of the test card being flush with the interior surface; wherein each card slot repeatedly positions the respective test card at substantially the same position within the card slot each time the test card is released by the end-effector enabling repeated accurate retrieval by the end-effector.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson
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Publication number: 20190050848Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided to support the testing of card interface systems. Some embodiments provide apparatuses to support a card payment system during robotic testing, comprising: a frame configured to cooperate with the separate card payment system; a card chip guide extending from the frame and comprising a first and second card contact surfaces extending from the frame at a first position such that interior ends of the first and second card contact surfaces are configured to align with a card slot of the card payment system; and a card strip guide extending from the frame and comprises third and fourth card contact surfaces that taper with an alignment slot separating the third and fourth card contact surfaces, wherein the alignment slot is configured to align with a card slide of the card payment system when the card payment system is cooperated with the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson
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Patent number: 10134027Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided to support the testing of card interface systems. Some embodiments provide apparatuses to support a card payment system during robotic testing, comprising: a frame configured to cooperate with the separate card payment system; a card chip guide extending from the frame and comprising a first and second card contact surfaces extending from the frame at a first position such that interior ends of the first and second card contact surfaces are configured to align with a card slot of the card payment system; and a card strip guide extending from the frame and comprises third and fourth card contact surfaces that taper with an alignment slot separating the third and fourth card contact surfaces, wherein the alignment slot is configured to align with a card slide of the card payment system when the card payment system is cooperated with the frame.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2017Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson
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Publication number: 20180247291Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to test the operation of a point-of-sale (POS) system by executing a testing routine to send signals associated with keystrokes from a POS keyboard to a POS terminal for processing in the POS system. The simulated keystroke signals have expected corresponding operations in the POS system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2018Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson
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Publication number: 20180180645Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for testing a touchscreen electronic device. In some embodiments, an attachment for an end effector for use with testing a touchscreen electronic device comprises a body, wherein the body includes a connection portion configured to secure the attachment to the end effector, a first end, an opening, wherein the opening is located adjacent to the first end, and a conductive contact member, wherein the conductive contact member is wrapped about the first end, and wherein the conductive contact member is configured to contact the touchscreen during testing and simulate a touch of a human finger.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson, Joel E. Strader
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Publication number: 20180181960Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to testing retail financial system transactions. In some embodiments, a system comprises an automated robotic testing device configured to retrieve a selected card from a physical media library, interact, via the selected card, with a point-of-sale terminal, the point-of-sale terminal configured to receive from the selected card, information associated with the selected card, and transmit, to an external banking institution, the information, and a control circuit configured to determine the selected card, transmit, to the automated robotic testing device, the indication of the selected card, receive one of an authorization and a lack of authorization, in response to receipt of 1) authorization, cause the transaction to be completed, and 2) the lack of authorization, cause the transaction to be voided, determine whether a test associated with the transaction was successful, and log an indication of whether the test was successful.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson, Joel E. Strader
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Publication number: 20180155058Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to monitoring an event encountered by an autonomous vehicle. In some embodiments, an autonomous vehicle for monitoring an encountered event comprises a vehicle body, a propulsion mechanism, a plurality of sensors configured to detect travel information, a primary camera system affixed to the vehicle body, a secondary camera system including two or more cameras, wherein each of the two or more camera has a different fixed field of view, and wherein each of the two or more cameras are affixed to different portions of the vehicle body, and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to receive, from the plurality of sensors, the travel information, determine, based on the travel information, that a trigger condition has occurred, and in response to a determination that the trigger condition has occurred, cause video captured by the secondary camera system to be stored.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Donald R. High
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Publication number: 20180141216Abstract: In some embodiments, robotic payment card grip apparatuses are providing, comprising: a body comprising: an end base; a first extended wall extending from the end base to a distal end and a second extended wall extending from the end base; and a card gap defined between the first extended wall and the second extended wall wherein the first extended wall is separated from the second extended wall by the card gap; wherein each of the first and second extended walls comprises: an exterior robot end effector grip, and at least first and second alignment protrusions separated from each other by a grip area of the end effector grip and formed extending away from the grip area and away from the card gap and configured to guide an alignment of a robot end effector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Timothy M. Fenton, Christopher D. Johnson
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Publication number: 20180141214Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to test user interfaces of systems. Some embodiments provide a puck support apparatus comprising: a base; a first support and a second support both supported by the base and extending away from the base in generally a first direction; wherein the first support comprises a first channel formed at an angle relative to the first direction; and wherein the second support comprises a second channel formed at the angle relative to the first direction and mirroring the first channel; and wherein the first support at the first channel is separated from the second support by at least a robotic effector threshold distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Christopher D. Johnson, Timothy M. Fenton