Abstract: The invention discloses a waitressing drone that brings drinks to people at the restaurant, and the orders are identified from the Facebook photo of the user, that the drone displays when making the delivery. The invention facilitates the interaction with humans and drones via the social network. With the invention, the order input time is greatly reduced for the consumer, and the consumer may move about while waiting for the order as the drone finds the consumer. Also importantly, the social nature of the drone allows for the sharing of drones among multiple human users. Further, the interfacing of the social human profile with non-human drone profiles allows for the continuous retraining and reprogramming of drones to meet more specific and individualistic user tasks, thereby liberating people from mundane manual labour.

Abstract: The invention discloses a waitressing drone that brings drinks to people at the restaurant, and the orders are identified from the Facebook photo of the user, that the drone displays when making the delivery. The invention facilitates the interaction with humans and drones via the social network. With the invention, the order input time is greatly reduced for the consumer, and the consumer may move about while waiting for the order as the drone finds the consumer. Also importantly, the social nature of the drone allows for the sharing of drones among multiple human users. Further, the interfacing of the social human profile with non-human drone profiles allows for the continuous retraining and reprogramming of drones to meet more specific and individualistic user tasks, thereby liberating people from mundane manual labour.

Abstract: The invention discloses a waitressing drone that brings drinks to people at the restaurant, and the orders are identified from the Facebook photo of the user, that the drone displays when making the delivery. The invention facilitates the interaction with humans and drones via the social network. With the invention, the order input time is greatly reduced for the consumer, and the consumer may move about while waiting for the order as the drone finds the consumer. Also importantly, the social nature of the drone allows for the sharing of drones among multiple human users. Further, the interfacing of the social human profile with non-human drone profiles allows for the continuous retraining and reprogramming of drones to meet more specific and individualistic user tasks, thereby liberating people from mundane manual labour.

Abstract: A control circuit automatically determines a number of unloaders to task with unloading a cargo container at a cargo-container unloading area as a function of (1) the weight of the cargo container including the plurality of physically-discrete shipping containers loaded therein and (2) how many of the physically-discrete shipping containers are loaded in the cargo container. By one approach this comprises calculating a ratio of the weight with respect to the number of physically-discrete shipping containers and correlating that ratio with a human-resource metric. By one approach the number representing how many physically-discrete shipping containers are loaded in a given cargo container is derived from a bill of lading and/or an advanced shipping notice as may correspond to a given shipment. The weight metric, in turn, can be provided by a scale. By one approach the scale is proximal to the cargo-container unloading area.

Abstract: A user requests a package delivery from a package delivery system. The package delivery system provides the user with a machine-readable code for display at the delivery location. An aerial delivery device receives, from the package delivery system computing device, information associated with the delivery location of the package. The information comprises information matching the information in the machine-readable code associated with the delivery location and a delivery address. The delivery device secures the package for transporting to the delivery location and transports the package to the delivery address. The delivery device locates the machine-readable code on a display at the delivery address and verifies that the information from the machine-readable code is associated with the package. The delivery device deposits the package on the display.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for arranging for shipping a package without the customer needing to generate or apply a shipping label, or any other information, to the package. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a carrier server and a carrier device. The carrier server may receive and store a smart code and shipping information associated with the package, which it may link together. The carrier device may capture the smart code from the package and send a request, including the smart code, to the carrier server for related shipping information. The carrier server may receive the request from the carrier device, retrieve the shipping information based on the smart code, and send the shipping information to the carrier device. The carrier device may receive the shipping information and generate a shipping label for the package based on the shipping information.

Abstract: Techniques related to presentation of re-stocking maps are disclosed. The techniques involve accessing using a search engine module, from at least one database, map data relating to a layout of a retail facility, product data identifying products for sale at the retail facility, location data defining a location of products for sale at the retail facility, and inventory data providing an inventory level of the products for sale at the retail facility. A processor makes a determination about which products require re-stocking based on the inventory level. A map of the layout of the retail facility is then generated for presentation on a display of a computing device. The map indicates the location of the products requiring re-stocking with respect to the layout.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can comprise receiving a request for one or more orders, and analyzing the one or more orders. Each of the one or more orders can comprise one or more items and at least a portion of the one or more items are available at a warehouse. The method can further comprise determining one or more pick lists based at least in part on the analyzing the one or more orders and also based at least in part on an inventory layout of the warehouse, determining a first route for a first pick list of the one or more pick lists, and determining a second route for a second pick list of the one or more pick lists, wherein the first pick list and the second pick list each comprise a first common item. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.

Abstract: A system which creates a wireless monitoring network of programmed and computing devices for the capture and transmission of real-time monitoring data. The system uses programmed devices that incorporate at least one sensor, a micro-controller, a data store, transmitters and receivers for multiple wireless communication methods and data input and output ports. The micro-controller may be programmed to operate the programmed device as a collector and transmitter of data from sensors in the programmed device or from other sensors connected to its input port, or as a reader and transmitter of data from other programmed devices. When a computing device is connected to a programmed device via USB, WiFi or Bluetooth (LE), the programmed device acts as a data reader providing monitoring data to the computing device. The system optimizes communications and power usage to maximize network sustainability and performance by managing alternative functional states with finite state machine firmware.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of enabling consumers to purchase substitute products when the products ordered by the consumers are out of stock include processing an internet order for a product received from a consumer in a geographic location and in response to receiving an electronic notification indicating that the product ordered by the consumer is out of stock at a retail sales facility associated with the geographic location of the consumer, generating an electronic message including an indication that the product ordered by the consumer is out of stock at the retail sales facility, and including a selection option of at least one substitute product for the product ordered by the consumer. The methods and system further include transmitting the electronic message from the electronic inventory management device at the retail sales facility to an electronic computing device of the consumer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for real-time measurement of inventory on shelves. The system uses light sensors placed in association with the inventory and the shelves to measure in real-time the removal/replacement of inventory from the shelves. When inventory is on the shelves, less light reaches the light sensors. As inventory is removed from shelves, the light sensors receive more light. The difference in light received generates as signal that can be measured, thereby allowing for determining inventory levels on each shelf. The system may be retro-fitted to existing shelving systems, thereby avoiding the cost of purchasing new shelving systems. The system can work on any shelving system, including gravity-feed roller shelf (GRS), flat shelves, and spring loaded pusher shelves, and is unaffected by usual temperatures found in retail establishments and can thus work in both refrigerated and unrefrigerated systems. Also disclosed are related methods.

Abstract: A received item has a machine-readable timecode placed thereon. A storage area that contains this item is correlated with that timecode to provide correlated information. That correlated information is used to automatically determine when to move that item from that storage area to a display area. So configured, an item received at a product-receiving area of a retail shopping facility can have a label placed thereon, the label bearing a current time. After placing this labeled item in a non-public storage area of the retail shopping facility a handheld code scanner can help correlate a particular timecode/item with a particular machine-readable location code in the non-public storage area. That correlated information is used to automatically determine when to move that item from the non-public storage area to a retail display area of the retail shopping facility. So configured, earlier-received items can be reliably moved in this manner before later-received items.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system configured to process location information for objects in a site comprising an imaging device configured to take a picture of an object, the picture containing a unique identifier of the object; a global positioning system (GPS) component associated with the imaging device and configured to tag the image of the object with GPS location information of the object to generate a tagged image; a communications interface configured to transmit the tagged image to a server computer remote from the imaging device over an Internet Protocol (IP) network; and a processor of the server configured to perform Optical Character Recognition (OCR) on the picture and to create an indicator code corresponding to the identifier of the object, wherein the processor is further configured to create a processed result containing the indicator code and the location to locate the object within the site.

Abstract: A solution for inventory identification and quantification using a portable computing device (“PCD”) comprising a camera subsystem is described. An exemplary embodiment of the solution comprises a method that begins with capturing a video stream of a physical inventory comprised of a plurality of individual inventory items. Using a set of tracking points appearing in sequential frames, and optical flow calculations, coordinates for global centers of the frames may be calculated. From there, coordinates for identified inventory items may be determined relative to the global centers of the frames within which they are captured. Comparing the calculated coordinates for inventory items identified in each frame, as well as fingerprint data, embodiments of the method may identify and filter duplicate image captures of the same inventory item within some statistical certainty. Symbology data, such as QR codes, are decoded and quantified as part of the inventory count.

Abstract: A method for sharding a store order database and order management application is provided. The method may include a computer router associated with a store receiving, from a customer computer, a query regarding an order. The router may use resident shard determination logic to identify a database shard which pertains to the order and which is part of a store order database having multiple database shards. The router may transmit information regarding the order to a database server which implements the identified database shard and which implements an order management system application layer. The database server may process information regarding the order and transmit information regarding the order to the customer computer.

Abstract: A method of tracking is described. The method may include determining that an identification signal transmitted by a transponder is an unregistered identification signal and extracting, by a processing device, properties of an item associated with the unregistered identification signal. The method may also include transmitting, to a database, the extracted properties of the item associated with the unregistered identification signal transmitted by the transponder.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and systems of managing products at a retail sales facility include scanning a product in a stocking cart at the retail sales facility using a hand-held electronic device including a processor. At least two of the following three functions may be performed based on the scanning of the product. First, the stocking cart may be audited by comparing scanned data to data contained in an inventory management database. Second, a determination of whether the item is on a pick list may be made, which may include determining a demand for the scanned product to arrive at a decision whether to store the product in the stock room or place it on a shelf on the sales floor. Third, if the item is to be stored in the stock room, a determination of whether identical items are stored in bins in the stock room may be made.

Abstract: A logistics-solution intranet system of the present invention includes a data bank that stores information regarding predetermined logistics, planning means that plans a process of a logistics solution based on the information regarding the predetermined logistics, execution means that transmits execution process information that an operation target device executes, based on the process planned by the planning means, a controller that transmits a work state of the operation target device, optimum process deployment means that controls the entire logistics-solution intranet system based on the information regarding the predetermined logistics, and a network that mutually communicatively couples the planning means, the execution means, and the optimum process deployment means to the controller, and the planning means, the execution means, and the optimum process deployment means are executed in a communication information process (a conversation method), and use identical hardware to be configured using an iden

Abstract: Systems and methods for recording an inventory of monitoring objects (1) of a plant (4) having a multiplicity of fixed or non-fixed areas (5) where monitoring objects (1) can be located. The plant (4) is suitable for carrying out sequences of operations using the monitoring objects (1) and has a multiplicity of detection devices (6) which are each assigned to an area (5) of the plant (4). The monitoring objects (1) are in each case provided with preferably contactlessly readable identification elements (3), which have a unique identifier. The detection devices (6) have a data connection to an arithmetic unit (7), which manages an inventory database (8).

Abstract: An enterprise facility having a plurality of enterprise associates can further have a plurality of delivered-package vaults that each have a selectively-lockable access portal. At least some of these delivered-package vaults are not generally assigned to any particular associate but instead are assigned on an as-needed basis. At least some of the delivered-package vaults include a sensor disposed and configured to detect a level of sanitation within the delivered-package vault. The control circuit operably couples to that sensor and serves to detect a level of sanitation within the corresponding delivered-package vaults to determine when cleaning of a particular one of those delivered-package vaults is required. By one approach the control circuit can automatically task one or more persons with cleaning a delivered-package vault that requires such attention.

Abstract: A conference support system is for supporting a conference. The conference support system includes one or more information processing apparatuses for implementing various functions of the conference support system. The conference support system includes an inputter configured to input a statement content that is a content of a statement stated by a participant of the conference; a determiner configured to determine a statement type of the statement content, based on the statement content input by the inputter; and an outputter configured to output at least one of the statement content, an evaluation of the conference, and an evaluation of the participant, based on a determination result obtained by the determiner.

Abstract: A system may generate action requests for a service management system. A user preference data store may contain electronic records for a set of users, including, for example, at least one user preference value. A back-end application computer server may receive, from a remote user mobile device, an indication associated with an event. The server may then determine at least one location coordinate associated with the event and select a sub-set of service providers from a service provider data store based on the location and at least one user preference value. The server may generate an action request for a designated one of the sub-set of service providers in accordance with logic based rules and transmit information about the action request to the designated service provider and the remote user mobile device. The server may receive an action request update and transmit a modified action request to another service provider.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to controlling access to document information (e.g., signatures, an audit trail, etc.) related to a document management project. The method may include receiving user-specified input related to the document management project that comprises a first set of attributes that define a first set of tasks and accessible information of a first workflow and a second set of attributes that define a second set of tasks and accessible information of a second workflow. A first document is provided to a first individual by executing one or more instructions of the first workflow according to the first set of attributes. A second document is provided to a second individual by executing one or more instructions of the first workflow according to the first set of attributes. Progress of the first workflow execution and the second workflow execution is tracked. Information is provided related to the tracked progress.

Abstract: A system and method for creating, executing and managing processes of cross-enterprise businesses using nano server architecture, is disclosed herein. A process store tool (e.g., a graphical interface visual tool) at the end-user (such as, a business entity or an individual process developer) provides an open, flexible workflow engine for supporting the creation and enforcement of at least one business process with respect to the end user. A cluster having at least one nano server (also referred as ‘lean server’) configured within a data centre for storing, executing and managing processes with respect to the end user within the cloud environment. The nano servers of the cluster are the micro app servers with a small memory foot print consuming minimal resources. The nano servers are multi-threaded processes which houses the services that is consumed by the end user.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for real-time human resource activity impact assessment and real-time improvement.

Abstract: An employee compensation modeling approach generates a model from a stored template. The model template may include fields for eligibility rules, performance ratings, guidelines, exchange rates, pay ranges, and other information. A modeling engine then populates that model with specific data from a human resources (HR) database, according to the structure of the template. Examples of HR data stored in an underlying database can include employee names, job codes, pay grades, physical job locations, base salaries, and other compensation-relevant information. The resulting compensation model includes a name, a description, target(s), and other information including allocation(s). The compensation model is displayed on an interface configured to receive further user inputs for purposes of model exploration and/or update.

Abstract: A system for matching nearest contacts in a logical contact hierarchy can include a logical contact hierarchy disposed in a database; and, a hierarchical query processor coupled to the logical contact hierarchy. The hierarchical query processor can be configured to produce a closest matching contact from among contacts in the logical contact hierarchy based upon a specified anchor contact in the logical contact hierarchy. A boolean operator further can be programmed to select a closest matching contact based upon a boolean expression operating upon multiple closest matching contacts produced by the hierarchical query processor.

Abstract: System and method are described for determining whether a job posting is to be presented to a member of an on-line social network system. A JPV calculator determines a job poster value for the job posting at a certain point in time, in the context of the on-line social network system. A job poster value (JPV) represents a value that is still owed to the associated job posting entity at a certain point in time with respect to a particular job posting. A relevance value calculator determines relevance value for a job posting based on results of comparing features of a member profile that represents the member and respective features of the job posting. A determination of whether the job posting is to be presented to the member is based on both its relevance value and its JPV.

Abstract: A JPV calculator is described for quantifying a job poster value for a particular job posting at a certain point in time, in the context of an on-line social network system. A job poster value (JPV) represents a value that is still owed to the associated job posting entity at a certain point in time with respect to a particular job posting. The JPV calculator determines JPV by taking into account the temporal job statistics for a job. The job poster value drops as the job posting gets more applications from members of the on-line social network system.

Abstract: System and method are described for determining an aggregated job poster value (JPV) for a job posting entity in an on-line social network system. JPV represents a value that is still owed to the associated job posting entity at a certain point in time with respect to a particular job posting. An aggregated job poster value is determined using an aggregation function that aggregates job poster values for all job postings that are associated with a particular job posting entity and that satisfy certain predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Learning to rank modeling in the context of an on-line social network is described. A learning to rank model can learn from pairwise preference (e.g., job posting A is more relevant than job posting B for a particular member profile) thus directly optimizing for the rank order of job postings for each member profile. With ranking position taken into consideration during training, top-ranked job postings may be treated by a recommendation system as being of more importance than lower-ranked job postings. In addition, a learning to rank approach may also result in an equal optimization across all member profiles and help minimize bias towards those member profiles that have been paired with a larger number of job postings.

Abstract: In an example, a plurality of member profiles in a social networking service are obtained, each member profile identifying a member and listing one or more skills the corresponding member has explicitly added to the member profile, the one or more skills indicating a proficiency by the member in the corresponding skill. A members-skills matrix is formed, wherein each cell in the matrix is assigned a value based on whether the corresponding member has the corresponding skill. The dot product of the members matrix and the skills matrix is then computed and used to identify one or more latent skills of a first member of the social networking service. Then a first digitally stored member profile is augmented with the one or more latent skills by combining the one or more latent skills with explicit skills for purposes of one or more searches that utilize member skills as an input variable.

Abstract: An improved system and method for data mining messaging systems to discover references to companies with job opportunities matching a candidate is provided. The system and method disclosed may receive messages from messaging systems of a candidate and may construct a reference graph and a company graph that may provide a mapping to match a candidate with job opportunities identified from companies with a relationship to references. Job opportunities identified from the companies may be ranked by a match score weighted by a referral score. The system and method may thus rank job opportunities at those companies for a candidate where there is a relevant job for the candidate and the strongest references for the candidate. A list of job matches to the candidate that includes a list of references ordered by reference strength for each job match may be served for display to the candidate.

Abstract: An improved system and method for data mining messaging systems to discover references to companies with job opportunities matching a candidate is provided. The system and method disclosed may receive messages from messaging systems of a candidate and may construct a reference graph and a company graph that may provide a mapping to match a candidate with job opportunities identified from companies with a relationship to references. Job opportunities identified from the companies may be ranked by a match score weighted by a referral score. The system and method may thus rank job opportunities at those companies for a candidate where there is a relevant job for the candidate and the strongest references for the candidate. A list of job matches to the candidate that includes a list of references ordered by reference strength for each job match may be served for display to the candidate.

Abstract: This disclosure provides for a system and method for managing network-connected industrial assets. A user may request monitored data for one or more of the network-connected industrial assets using a client device that is communicatively coupled to an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) machine. The IIoT machine monitors and records data for various metrics for one or more industrial assets communicatively coupled to the IIoT machine. Using the client device, the user defines a timeframe that the IIoT machine has recorded data for one or more of the more industrial assets. In response to a calendar event broadcast by a calendar web component of the client device, other web components communicate with the IIoT machine to receive and display the recorded data.

Abstract: A calendared event may be visually indicated. A proposed time for the calendared event can be identified and each of a plurality of event participants can be associated with the calendared event. For each of the participants, a local time of the participant that corresponds to the proposed time for the calendared event can be identified and displayed.

Abstract: In one aspect, a first device includes a processor and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to determine whether a user is actually preoccupied with an activity denoted in an electronic calendar. The instructions are also executable by the processor to adjust data pertaining to whether the user is available based at least in part on the determination of whether the user is actually preoccupied with the activity.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a proactive scheduler having a controller element to determine a scheduling conflict between a called party and a calling party according to calendar information of the called party and presence information of the called party. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing service requests. A computer system creates a preliminary compendium comprising building blocks. A building block is a word entity extracted from a text source in a plurality of text sources that are related to a domain of interest. At least a portion of the text sources comprises past service requests. The computer system filters the building blocks in the preliminary compendium based on relevance with respect to the domain of interest to create similarity indicators that form a refined compendium. The computer system analyzes text within a new service request using the past service requests and the refined compendium to generate a ranking of past service requests that ranks the past service requests based on similarity to the new service request. The ranking of past service requests enables the computer system to identify a set of possible resolutions for the new service request.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores a work managing program that causes a computer to execute a process including: specifying, with reference to a memory that memorizes implementation plans of works for maintenances of a road and/or implementation plans of works for maintenances of objects buried in undergrounds of the road in association with places in which the respective works are to be implemented, a place for which both one of the works for maintenances of the road and one of the works for maintenances of objects are planned; and displaying implementation plans of the one of the works for maintenances of the road and the one of the works for maintenances of objects buried in undergrounds of the road corresponding to the specified place so that the implementation plans of both the works are able to be distinguished from implementation plans of other works.

Abstract: System and method to manage collection of waste resources. The system may include a non-transitory computer readable medium to store instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform operations to collect waste resources from a plurality of customers. Embodiments plan the collection and processing of waste resources, and allocate rewards to customers based on their respective recycled waste resources. The system may also include a resource management system, a server, and a communication interface to a communication network in order to communicate with customers. Embodiments also may include a database to store the customers' information along with the rewards allocated to customers.

Abstract: The invention is concerning a proxy payment system including a user device, a physical store device provided in a physical store, an intermediary device provided in the physical store to communicate with the user device and the physical store device, and a proxy payment device provided on a network to make a payment to the physical store device on behalf of the user device in response to a request sent from the intermediary device over the network.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for creating a purchase voucher. In one embodiment, a method of creating a purchase voucher is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a network accessible user interface for configuring the purchase voucher, receiving a selection of a voucher type through the user interface, receiving a selection of one or more products through the user interface, generating voucher usage parameters based on at least the selection of the voucher type and the selection of the one or more products, associating the voucher usage parameters with a voucher identifier, the voucher identifier being configured to be used by a customer to redeem the purchase voucher with a retailer, and storing the voucher usage parameters and the associated voucher identifier at a networked database.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method for coordinating the provision of a digital receipt associated with a financial transaction is provided. According to the method, a digital receipt and an identifier corresponding to the digital receipt are communicated from an acquirer and received at a digital receipt server. The digital receipt and the corresponding identifier may be communicated through a second network, such as the Internet. The digital receipt and the identifier corresponding to the digital receipt are then stored in the digital receipt server. The digital receipt server also receives an inquiry and an identifier corresponding to the inquiry, which are communicated from an issuer. The inquiry and the corresponding identifier may be communicated through the second network. Prior to this, the identifier is transmitted from the acquirer to the issuer, for example, through a first network such as an electronic funds transfer (“EFT”) network.

Abstract: A method and system which allow an actor/user to create new cryptocurrency, designed to motivate people to an active lifestyle in various fields by making certain activities or actions, which can be measured and verified using smartphones or other telecommunication devices. The method creates two kinds of universal cryptocurrency, namely: cryptocurrency/time, based on a time during which the activities or actions were performed and cryptocurrency/quantity, based on the amount/quantity of performed activities or actions. The method converts amount of time during which activities/actions were performed into the cryptocurrency/time and also converts amount of activities/actions which were performed into the cryptocurrency/quantity.

Abstract: A method of transferring information with verification from a first party to a second party using suitably programmed computing apparatus is described. Information from a first party private address to a first party public address. This information is then sent from the first party public address to a second party address. The information is also provided for public recordal on a block of a block chain for verification. The first party private address is not communicated to the second party but the first party public address is communicated to the second party. This approach is particularly suitable for transfer of cryptocurrency, as it allows for an effective refund mechanism. Computing apparatus and application software adapted to implement this approach is also described.

Abstract: A transaction is centrally controlled over multiple communication channels as a sequence of discrete processing units some of which are distributed. In an embodiment, the transaction's processing progression can be shared of the communication channels and paused on one communication channel and resumed on a different communication channel.

Abstract: A transfer request is received from a terminal, in which the transfer request carries a user identity (ID) of a first user, a user ID of a second user, and a virtual card ID of the first user; the virtual card is transferred from user account of first user to user account of second user, based on the user ID of the first user, the user ID of the second user and the virtual card ID; an image for transferring the virtual card is obtained; an image library of the virtual card is obtained; an image ID and the image are stored into the image library of the virtual card.

Abstract: A system and method for performing transactions uses a plurality of tokens for retail sale, each token representing a send transaction. A computer system is connectable to receive data representing a send transaction identifier of at least one token and the computer system presents to the sender a completion interface that includes fields for receiving send transaction information comprising sender identification information recipient identification information and options related to the transfer. In response to receipt of sufficient information entered at the completion interface, a memory stores an active, funded send transaction record in the computer system including the options.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products create credit cards, debit cards, and other transactional cards. An image is received and provided on a transactional card. Account information is retrieved and associated with the transactional card. A machine-readable element is also provided on the transactional card and includes the account information.