Patents by Inventor Todd D. Mattingly

Todd D. Mattingly 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).

  • Publication number: 20190295100
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for providing customer service agent assistance. A system for providing customer service agent assistance comprises a customer profile database storing customer partiality vectors for a plurality of customers, the customer partiality vectors comprise customer value vectors, a communication device, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to: provide a customer service agent user interface on a user device associated with a customer service agent, associate a particular customer with the customer service agent, retrieving at least one customer value vector for the particular customer from the customer profile database, and cause, via the communication device, the at least one customer value vector of the particular customer to be displayed on the customer service agent user interface of the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Bruce W. Wilkinson, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Publication number: 20190291954
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for product storage location identification. Reconfigurable lights can be mounted to product storage locations and one or more of the lights can be illuminated to identify a particular storage location, such as for placement or pick up of a product. The system described herein can utilize radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips or tags to identify products and storage locations. So configured, the system can identify which storage location a particular product is in or can identify where a particular product should be placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ryan Lee, Joseph Blackner, Santos Cerda, JR., Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10423169
    Abstract: In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that comprise: multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) each comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system; and wherein data acquired through a first set of at least one of the multiple UAVs while performing a first set of at least one task is caused to be distributed to a second set of at least two of the multiple UAVs, and cause cooperative computational processing of the data through the UAV control circuits of the second set of UAVs and cooperatively identify based on the cooperative computational processing a second set of at least one task to be performed, and identify a set of at least two tool systems to be utilized by a third set of at least two of the multiple UAVs in cooperatively performing the second set of at least one task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Cantrell, John P. Thompson, David C. Winkle, Michael D. Atchley, Donald R. High, Todd D. Mattingly, Brian G. McHale, John J. O'Brien, John F. Simon, Nathan G. Jones, Robert C. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10423921
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to manage reservations and deliveries for a docking station. More specifically, the various embodiments described herein track spaces on a docking station to determine whether one or more spaces are available when requested by a delivery device. Each space on the docking station has a corresponding capacity unit for each location on the docking station. The transactions for the capacity units are tracked in a ledger, with available capacity units indicating an open location on the docking station or contracted out capacity units indicating that either the location has a locker secured thereto or that the location is reserved for a future delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce W. Wilkinson, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10423910
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for monitoring and updating a supply chain record for one or more products. More specifically, a wearable smart device can be utilized by users to access a supply chain for a particular product, which can include shipping information, delivery vehicle information, package information, package condition, source information, destination information, storage information, and so forth. The wearable smart device can include an output device to present the supply chain to the user. The wearable smart device can also include a user input to add, update, or revise various pieces of information in the supply chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Lee, Joseph Blackner, Santos Cerda, Jr., Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10399775
    Abstract: Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful for autonomously delivering lockers. In some embodiments, a system comprises a carrier vehicle, the carrier vehicle comprising a storage area, a docking station including a plurality of storage docks, each of the plurality of storage docks configured to secure at least one locker, wherein the docking station is located within the storage area, and a retrieval point, a plurality of lockers each configured to house at least one product, a delivery vehicle, the delivery vehicle comprising a delivery dock, wherein the delivery dock is configured to receive, at the retrieval point, at least one locker, and a propulsion mechanism, wherein the propulsion mechanism propels the delivery vehicle, and a control circuit, the control circuit configured to identify, from the plurality of lockers, a selected locker, and cause the selected locker to move to the retrieval point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, David C. Winkle, Michael D. Atchley, Brian G. McHale, Nicholas Ray Antel, John J. O'Brien, Todd D. Mattingly, Bruce W. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20190268371
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to identifying a hacked data communication received by an unmanned vehicle (UV). In some embodiments, there is provided a system for identifying a hacked data communication received by a UV including a retail UV a first antenna; a second antenna; a timing device; a memory device; a transport device; and a control circuit configured to determine whether data communication is hacked based on at least: an estimated location of a signal source, a determined timestamp, a determined source device identifier, a determined data type of a data content, and a source antenna; and in response to a determination that the data communication is not hacked, modify a first mission data to a second mission data; and initiate operation of the transport device to move the UV through a modified route based on the second mission data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Donald R. High, David C. Winkle, John J. O'Brien, Robert L. Cantrell, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Publication number: 20190259120
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for autonomous vehicles task management and organization. A system for organizing autonomous product delivery vehicles comprises a locomotion system of a first autonomous vehicle, a communication device, a memory device, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to retrieve one or more vehicle tasks assigned to the first autonomous vehicle from a hash chain database, decrypt the task parameters with a private key of the first autonomous vehicle stored on the memory device, identify a second autonomous vehicle as a transferee of the one or more vehicle tasks based on transfer rules in the task parameters, and update the hash chain database with a new block comprising a hash of preceding data in the hash chain database and the task parameters of the one or more vehicle tasks encrypted with a public key of the second autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Todd D. Mattingly, Donald R. High, Bruce W. Wilkinson, Joseph Jurich, JR., Brian G. McHale, Robert L. Cantrell, John J. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20190244531
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to manage a last mile delivery of an unmanned vehicle (UV). In some embodiments, there is provided a system for managing a last mile delivery of a UV including a scout UV configured to perform a dry run delivery to a delivery destination comprising: a differential global positioning satellite (DGPS), an altimeter sensor, a distance sensor, a wind sensor, and a scout control circuit configured to: determine positional location coordinates of the scout UV, determine perimeter coordinates of obstacles along one or more last mile routes, determine a trail of positional location coordinates, provide the trail of positional location coordinates to a delivery UV; and a delivery UV configured to follow the trail of positional location coordinates during an actual delivery of one or more retail products to a delivery destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan G. Jones, Robert L. Cantrell, Donald R. High, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Publication number: 20190244168
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to support the delivery of products. Some embodiments provide a retail delivery locker system comprising: multiple delivery lockers comprising: a housing enclosing an interior product cavity; a door enabling access to the product cavity; first and second docking couplers each configured to securely dock with a docking station and a docking coupler of another locker; and a communication link between the first and second docking couplers; and multiple docking stations each comprising: a locker coupler configured to secure a locker with the docking station; a station control circuit that obtains a first locker identifier from a first locker, confirms the first locker is scheduled to dock with a docking station, and authorize the locking of the docking station with the first docking coupler; and a transceiver enabling the station control circuit to communicate with a remote central control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Bruce W. Wilkinson, Todd D. Mattingly, Brian G. McHale
  • Patent number: 10373464
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided herein useful to detecting a deviation in a person's activity. In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises one or more sensors, the one or more sensors configured to monitor parameters associated with a person and the person's home, and a control circuit, the control circuit communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to generate one or more partiality vectors for the person, receive, from the one or more sensors, values associated with the parameters, create, based on the values associated with the parameters, a spectral profile for the person, determine, based on the spectral profile and a routine base state for the person, that a combination of the values indicates a deviation, and update at least one of the one or more partiality vectors for the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce W. Wilkinson, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Publication number: 20190236678
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to recommend items. In some embodiments, there is provided a system for recommending items for purchase based on smell of food including a user interface product configured to trigger an odor sensor, prompt a user to provide an indication, receive a location coordinate, and provide a listing of identified chemicals, the indication, and the location coordinate; a main database configured to store a first set of associations and a second set of associations; and a main control circuit configured to determine a filter parameter, determine a filtered set of recipe components from the first set of associations, determine at least one recipe component from the filtered set of recipe components, determine a filtered set of recipes from the second set of associations, determine one or more recipes from the filtered set of recipes, and provide the one or more recipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Bruce W. Wilkinson, Brian G. McHale, Todd D. Mattingly, Kurt W.R. Bessel
  • Publication number: 20190236517
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for monitoring and updating a supply chain record for one or more products. More specifically, a wearable smart device can be utilized by users to access a supply chain for a particular product, which can include shipping information, delivery vehicle information, package information, package condition, source information, destination information, storage information, and so forth. The wearable smart device can include an output device to present the supply chain to the user. The wearable smart device can also include a user input to add, update, or revise various pieces of information in the supply chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Ryan Lee, Joseph Blackner, Santos Cerda, JR., Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10366396
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for providing customer service agent assistance. A system for providing customer service agent assistance comprises a customer profile database storing customer partiality vectors for a plurality of customers, the customer partiality vectors comprise customer value vectors, a communication device, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to: provide a customer service agent user interface on a user device associated with a customer service agent, associate a particular customer with the customer service agent, retrieving at least one customer value vector for the particular customer from the customer profile database, and cause, via the communication device, the at least one customer value vector of the particular customer to be displayed on the customer service agent user interface of the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce W. Wilkinson, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Patent number: 10366261
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to monitor a shopping facility. The shopping facility can include an array of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers distributed throughout the facility to thereby receive and read signals generated from RFID tags within the facility. RFID tags can advantageously be coupled to and associated with products within the facility so that readings of the tags can be used to monitor the status of the products. A control circuit can be coupled to the RFID readers to thereby analyze the readings and compile readings over time. With this, the control circuit can monitor the shopping facility to identify scenarios requiring follow up. Upon identification of one of the scenarios, the control circuit can instruct an automated ground vehicle (AGV) to inspect an identified product at a location within the facility. The AGV can operate a sensor thereof to determine a status of the identified product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholaus A. Jones, Jeremy R. Tingler, Alvin S. Taulbee, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Publication number: 20190227576
    Abstract: Sensory information is obtained at a drone (e.g., from sensors at the drone or deployed at other locations), and the sensory information defines the physical operating environment of the drone. The aerial drone is initially operated according to a current geographical location that is received. The sensory information is subsequently obtained, for example, from the sensors. An adjusted current geographical location of the aerial drone is selectively determined based upon an evaluation of the sensory information and a UWB beacon signal. The aerial drone is operated according to the adjusted current geographical location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Donald R. High, David C. Winkle, John J. O'Brien, Robert L. Cantrell, Todd D. Mattingly
  • Publication number: 20190227542
    Abstract: In some embodiments, unmanned task systems are provided that comprise multiple unmanned vehicles each comprising: a control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the respective unmanned vehicles to move themselves; and wherein a first control circuit of a first unmanned vehicle of the multiple unmanned vehicles is configured to identify a second unmanned vehicle carrying a first tool system configured to perform a first function, cause a notification to be communicated to the second unmanned vehicle directing the second unmanned vehicle to transfer the first tool system to the first unmanned vehicle, and direct a first propulsion system of the first unmanned vehicle to couple with the first tool system being transferred from the second unmanned vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Robert L. Cantrell, John P. Thompson, David C. Winkle, Michael D. Atchley, Donald R. High, Todd D. Mattingly, Brian G. McHale, John J. O'Brien, John F. Simon, Nathan G. Jones, Robert C. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20190227554
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for field monitoring. A system for field monitoring comprises a plurality of types of sensor modules, an unmanned vehicle comprising a sensor system, and a control circuit configured to: receive onboard sensor data from the sensor system of the unmanned vehicle, detect an alert condition at a monitored area based on the onboard sensor data, select one or more types of sensor modules from the plurality of types of sensor modules to deploy at the monitored area based on the onboard sensor data, and cause the unmanned vehicle and/or one or more other unmanned vehicles to transport one or more sensor modules of the one or more types of sensor modules to the monitored area and deploy the one or more sensor modules by detaching from the one or more sensor modules at the monitored area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Robert L. Cantrell, John P. Thompson, David C. Winkle, Michael D. Atchley, Donald R. High, Todd D. Mattingly, John J. O'Brien, John F. Simon, Nathan G. Jones, Robert C. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20190227541
    Abstract: In some embodiments, unmanned aerial task systems are provided that comprise multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) each comprising: a UAV control circuit; a motor; and a propulsion system coupled with the motor and configured to enable the respective UAVs to move themselves; and wherein a first UAV control circuit of a first UAV of the multiple UAVs is configured to identify a second UAV carrying a first tool system configured to perform a first function, cause a notification to be communicated to the second UAV directing the second UAV to transfer the first tool system to the first UAV, and direct a first propulsion system of the first UAV to couple with the first tool system being transferred from the second UAV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Robert L. Cantrell, John P. Thompson, David C. Winkle, Michael D. Atchley, Donald R. High, Todd D. Mattingly, Brian G. McHale, John J. O'Brien, John F. Simon, Nathan G. Jones, Robert C. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10358290
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for product storage location identification. Reconfigurable lights can be mounted to product storage locations and one or more of the lights can be illuminated to identify a particular storage location, such as for placement or pick up of a product. The system described herein can utilize radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips or tags to identify products and storage locations. So configured, the system can identify which storage location a particular product is in or can identify where a particular product should be placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Lee, Joseph Blackner, Santos Cerda, Jr., Todd D. Mattingly