Patents by Inventor WAL-MART STORES, INC.

WAL-MART STORES, INC. 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: 20140279269
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to electronic order processing of items in an electronic commerce environment. A geographic boundary associated with a physical location of a retail entity can be implemented using, for example, a geo-fence. An order for an item from the retail location can be received by a customer and a notification prioritizing processing of the order can be generated based on a location of the user relative to the geographic boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140207598
    Abstract: A point-of-sale system is provided that permits users to self-manage prepaid debit cards. Such a system may be capable of identifying and managing a number of different prepaid debit cards provided by different card issuers. The system may permit, for example, a user to purchase, activate, load funds, or perform other management operations with such cards. The system may also enforce restrictions associated with particular card types, and follow process flows for activating and performing other operations of such cards. The system may also be easily extendible to other types of prepaid cards through established card network relationships.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
  • Publication number: 20140136255
    Abstract: Dynamic task management processes and systems are provided, whereby tasks are assigned to workers discretely, in response to worker-originated requests, on a real-time basis. Tasks are extracted from an aggregate thereof, scheduled into one or more queues, then “pulled” by workers for execution. Comprehensive data for performing each task are monitored, as are worker skills and availability. Each task is matched to an appropriate worker, the assignment being adjusted or modified automatically, to the extent required, to satisfy certain predefined temporal and/or spatial criteria. When a worker signals completion of an assigned task, the next discrete task in the queue matching the worker's skills and/or availability is pulled from the queue and assigned. The invention is useful for managing warehouse and inventory operations, and specifically, the scheduling and assignment of pick tasks among warehouse pickers, for example, in connection with e-commerce order fulfillment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130290303
    Abstract: Categorizing documents is disclosed. A hierarchy of topics is received. A seed for each topic is determined. One or more documents is received. The seed is used to evaluate the relevance of each document to one or more of the received topics. One or more topics is associated with each document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130206846
    Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, and methods of manufacture are described herein. In one implementation, an RFID device comprises a near field only RFID tag that does not function as a far field RFID tag and is pre-manufactured; and a conductive element independent from the near field only RFID tag and configured to function as a far field antenna, wherein the conductive element extends a length and includes a central region and includes at least one distal region defining a voltage end of the conductive element. The near field only RFID tag and a distal region of the conductive element are coupled in proximity to each other such that the RFID device functions in both a near field and a far field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130043308
    Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices for use in RFID-based sensors and related methods are described herein. In one implementation, an RFID sensor system includes an RFID device having a near field only RFID tag and a conductive element which functions as a far field antenna. The near field only RFID tag and the conductive element are located in at least a first position and a second position relative to each other; wherein in the first position, the RFID device only operates in a near field, and in the second position, the RFID device operates in both the near field and a far field. The system may also include an RFID reader and controller located within the far field to read the RFID device only when the components are located in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130040570
    Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, and methods of manufacture are described herein. In one implementation, a RFID device comprises: a near field only RFID tag that does not function as a far field RFID tag and is pre-manufactured; and a conductive element independent from the near field only RFID tag and configured to function as a far field antenna. The near field only RFID tag and the conductive element are coupled in proximity to each other such that the RFID device functions in both a near field and a far field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventor: WAL-MART STORES, INC.