Inventory Patents (Class 235/385)
  • Patent number: 11202456
    Abstract: A food item freshness notification system may include a remote device and a gas sensor configured to sense gas adjacent the food item and generate food item freshness data related thereto. The food item freshness notification system may also include a food item freshness server configured to obtain the food item freshness data from the gas sensor and determine a freshness level for the food item based upon the food item freshness data. The food item freshness server may also be configured to communicate a notification to the remote device based upon the freshness level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: INMAR CLEARING, INC.
    Inventor: Alise Raak
  • Patent number: 11196458
    Abstract: A reading device includes an antenna, a data storage unit, and a controller. The antenna is configured to receive tag information from RFID tags attached to objects in a receiving range. The data storage unit stores an object ID in association with a predetermined total number of RFID tags on an object corresponding to the object ID. The controller is configured to start a reading operation in which the antenna emits radio waves and receives tag information from the RFID tags. The controller counts the number of RFID tags associated with the object ID according to the tag information received during the reading operation. The counted number is compared to the predetermined total number associated with the object ID, and the controller controls a timing for terminating the reading operation based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wataru Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11185891
    Abstract: An approach is provided for performing sorting of physical mail items using Augmented Reality (A/R) glasses. A/R glasses acquire an image of a physical mail item to be sorted and generate image data that represents the image. A unique value is generated for the image, for example, by processing the image data for the image using one or more hash functions to generate a hash value. The hash value is used to obtain sorting information for the mail item from a mail item manager. The A/R glasses use the sorting information to assist the user in sorting the mail item by displaying the name of a sort location for the mail item, visually distinguishing the sort location from other sort locations, displaying information about the mail item, providing “out of view” assistance, etc. The A/R glasses may allow the user to override the sort location specified for the mail item and override information is sent to the mail item manager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Steve Cousins, Nicole Blohm, Jonathan Garrett Adams, Dale Walsh
  • Patent number: 11184739
    Abstract: A signal is received from an occupancy sensor each time a person passes through an access point corresponding to a building space, and is identified as indicating a person either entering or exiting the building space. An occupancy count is maintained for each of the building spaces by incrementing the occupancy count when the signal indicates a person entering and decrementing the occupancy count when the signal indicates a person exiting. A determination is made as to whether the occupancy count for any of the building spaces of the plurality of building spaces has reached a threshold for the corresponding building space. Action is taken in response to determining that the occupancy count for any of the building spaces of the plurality of building spaces has reached the threshold for that particular building space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywel International Inc.
    Inventors: Armin Wellig, Chris Inkpen, Kelvin Towler
  • Patent number: 11182739
    Abstract: A carrier tracking system is applied to a predetermined space. Carriers with optical recognizable marks are operating in the predetermined space, in which each of the optical recognizable mark is associated with information of materials carried by the carrier. The carrier tracking system includes at least one optical capturing device and a computing unit. The at least one optical capturing device is configured to capture images of the predetermined space. The computing unit is configured to determine an optical recognized coordinate of the optical recognizable mark in the images. The computing unit converts the optical recognized coordinate to a real-space coordinate in the predetermined space. In order to locate the carrier, the computing unit further associates the real-space coordinate with the information of materials carried by the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Zi-Yu Zhu, Choon-Meng Lee
  • Patent number: 11166874
    Abstract: A system for packaging an item with an identifier comprises an identifier adder, a labeler, and a packager. The identifier adder adds one or more types of silica-based tags to an item, wherein each type of silica-based tag has a first signature readable using an optical spectroscopic reader. A label is generated based at least in part on reading the one or more types of silica-based tags of the item using the optical spectroscopic reader. The label includes goods info. The packager includes the label on a package, and wherein the packager includes the item in the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TruTag Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Pearson, Ting Zhou, Timothy Learmonth, Michael P. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 11151510
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities for tracking an item delivery are provided. In one embodiment, an item is associated with a vehicle (e.g., manned or unmanned terrestrial vehicle, nautical vehicle, and/or aerial vehicle) by updating item data in a database. An item tracking session is then generated based on the item data. Upon the determination that session availability trigger has occurred, access to the item tracking session is provided to a user. Data representing an updated location of the delivery vehicle is then used to update the item data to indicate the current location of the item as the updated location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sumeet Pradeep Shroff, Kenny Takano Takahashi, Jeffrey J. Horne, Thomas V. Hoffmann, Michael J. Donohue, Ferdinand So, Julian Pulfrey, Michael Kerr, Larry Augsburger, Todd Brown, Susan Ruggles, Shane Hennessy, John Brelesky
  • Patent number: 11151611
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for passively monitoring the number of guests in a rental property. Mobile device broadcasts intended for connecting the device to a wireless network contain information about that device. This information includes unique identifiers such as MAC addresses. Detecting these broadcasts and filtering out those devices that are expected enables a property owner to have a semi-accurate number of guests within their property without actually being at the property, or visibly observing the guests in an obtrusive fashion. Guests are able to enjoy themselves in privacy and the property owner is able to monitor the safety of their property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: BLUEZOO, INC.
    Inventors: Jan Willem Korver, Thomas Sandholm, Philippe Rene Morin, Thibault de Lacheze-Murel, Guillaume Tenant de la Tour, Paul-Ambroise Augustin Duquenne, Jerome Lejeune, Amanda Mills, Thuong Ho, Hang Ung
  • Patent number: 11145150
    Abstract: A smart storage locker can be used to store an individual's mobile device while the individual is at work, school or another location where mobile devices should be restricted. The smart storage locker will therefore prevent the individual from carrying his or her mobile device while in such restricted environments. In addition to storing mobile devices, the smart storage locker can also be configured to automatically detect an individual's identity when the individual's mobile device is secured within the smart storage locker. This detection can then be employed to track when the individual is present at a particular location while not having access to, and therefore not using, his or her mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Hans Kirchhausen
  • Patent number: 11132887
    Abstract: There is provided an eyeglasses-type wearable terminal that causes a user to more reliably recognize the position of a predetermined object, which includes an image capturing unit that captures the periphery of the user. The eyeglasses-type wearable terminal also includes a determiner that determines whether a predetermined target object is included in a video acquired by image capturing using the image capturing unit. The eyeglasses-type wearable terminal further includes a display unit that displays the position of the predetermined target object in a case in which the determiner determines that the predetermined target object is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Kitada, Akira Kamei
  • Patent number: 11132704
    Abstract: A method for redemption of an electronic voucher via blockchain includes: storing transaction data for a proposed payment transaction comprising a transaction amount; receiving an electronic voucher and a blockchain transaction identifier from a computing device, the voucher including payment credentials associated with a transaction account; receiving blockchain data associated with a blockchain including a transaction data value corresponding to the blockchain transaction identifier including a redemption amount; validating eligibility of the electronic voucher based on a comparison of the transaction data value to the stored transaction data; updating the stored transaction data based on the transaction data value, including updating the transaction amount based on the redemption amount; and transmitting the updated transaction data and the payment credentials included in the electronic voucher to a third party system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vikas Bishnoi, Navneet Kumar, Shubham Bijawat
  • Patent number: 11126803
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for providing security to RFID and NFC systems. In some exemplary embodiments, a smart poster may be utilized to provide appropriate or desired communications with an RFID or NFC-enabled device. Such exemplary embodiments may utilize an authorized NFC tag to communicate with an NFC-enabled device, and upon activation of the authorized NFC tag, may trigger activation or appearance of one or more related items, such as visual cues. Additionally, aspects of NFC security systems which can include regions of security, states of activity and actions performed when security violations are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Patent number: 11120387
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying manufactured items in containers, where each container is suitable for containing two or more units, and where the method comprises the steps of: associating each unit with a unique unit identifier, uniquely identifying each unit, allocating two or more units to be contained in each container, uniquely identifying each container, for each container, determining one or more ranges of unit identifiers of the two or more units allocated to the container, and storing, in a database, a container identifier for each container, each container identifier being coupled, in the database, to the one or more ranges of unit identifiers of the two or more units allocated to the container. There is also provided methods and apparatus for authenticating, tracking and tracing the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Chanez, Alain Sager, Philippe Chatelain, Erwan Fradet
  • Patent number: 11120239
    Abstract: A method and related system are used for device management in a datacenter having multiple racks adapted to house multiple devices. The system may comprise an optical sensor and a reporting unit. The optical sensor may be provided at a position in a rack in a datacenter, the optical sensor configured to sense device identifying data of a device inserted in the rack. The reporting unit may transmit the sensed device identifying data and the position in a message to a central data processing system for the datacenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Owen, Colin Ian Holyoake
  • Patent number: 11113656
    Abstract: Provided is a system for automatic signature for receipt verification. The system includes a delivery management server, wherein the deliver management server includes a memory and a processor. A digital copy of an authorized signature is stored in the memory of the delivery management server. The system also includes a delivery smart crate for receiving packages unattended. The delivery smart crate is in communication with the delivery management server through a network connection. The system also includes a delivery service in communication with the delivery management server through a network connection. The delivery service notifies the delivery management server of a signature request by a sender. The delivery smart crate notifies the delivery management server of a delivery made to the delivery smart crate. Also, the delivery management server sends the digital copy of the authorized signature to the delivery service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Walter Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11109692
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a merchandizing display related to a continuous display formed by electronic displays embedded along product shelves and on the packages stored on the product shelves. An electronic label device may detect the presence of a consumer and send a trigger to the packages on its product shelf. The electronic label device may also send a trigger to surrounding electronic label devices. A streaming video may then be apportioned among displays on electronic label devices and the packages. Each of the displays may simultaneously output a different portion of the streaming video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John Swafford
  • Patent number: 11115787
    Abstract: A code attribution control system includes unique codes. Each code is arranged or marked openly accessible legible or scannable on a sales item. One or more of the sales items is openly and freely displayed and for sale within a physical border of a physical shop. The item initially is allocated a status code attribute as “not sold” in said attribution control system, wherein for a consumer to establish ownership or indication of ownership of the item, the consumer scans and registers the code outside the border of the shop. The status code attribute is changed to “sold” in the attribution control system, after which owner restricted services related to the item will be made available to the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: KEZZLER AS
    Inventor: Magnar Løken
  • Patent number: 11103420
    Abstract: A medical device (100) comprises a container receiver unit (110) configured to receive and hold a container (120), wherein the container (120) accommodates a pharmaceutical product (125) and comprises a first communication tag (130) configured to store information regarding the pharmaceutical product (125), a reader unit (140) configured to wirelessly read the information from the first communication tag (130), and a control unit (150) configured to control the medical device (100) based on the information read from the first communication tag (130). The medical device (100) further comprises an opening or a transparent window (165) allowing to at least partially see from the outside the container (120) inserted into the container receiver unit (110), wherein the reader unit (140) comprises a first antenna unit (142, 144), and the container (120) inserted into the container receiver unit (110) is located between (i) the opening or the transparent window (165) and (ii) the first antenna unit (142, 144).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventors: Alain Schmidlin, Mario Iobbi, Erich Studer, Andrew Bryant, Chinmay Deodhar, Rajan Patel, Samuel Coendet, Vivek Gajera, Prakash Parmar
  • Patent number: 11104453
    Abstract: A baggage drop system is disclosed for depositing and checking of baggage into airline flights. The baggage drop system can include a substantially horizontal frame member. The frame member can be mounted above a first conveyor equipped with a static or dynamic weighting scale. The frame member can also be mounted away from an end of the first conveyor at a distance from an upper surface of the first conveyor substantially equal to a maximum allowable height of baggage thereby forming a physical barrier for oversized baggage. A computer can be configured to compare an output of the weighing scale with allowable baggage weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SITA Ypenburg BV
    Inventors: Jorick Naber, Leander Henricus Albertus Ross, Reinout Vander Meülen, Bart René Yvonne Houlleberghs, Roel Reijnen
  • Patent number: 11100303
    Abstract: A method of auxiliary label detection includes: at an imaging controller, obtaining (i) an image of a support structure and (ii) a plurality of primary label indicators each defining a position of a primary label within the image; at the imaging controller, selecting a detection region from the image based on a reference indicator; at the imaging controller, detecting an auxiliary label within the detection region based on predefined visual attributes of the auxiliary label; at the imaging controller, selecting one of the primary label indicators based on proximity between the auxiliary label and the selected primary label indicator; updating the selected primary label indicator with an identifier of the auxiliary label; and storing the updated primary label indicator in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Shoja Ghiass Reza, Joseph Lam
  • Patent number: 11094020
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods herein relate to generating a machine learning model for providing access to earned income. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a memory and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive calibration datasets including (1) historical time data indicating time worked by a set of users and (2) historical earnings data indicating earnings made by the set of users. The processor may be configured to construct, based on the calibration datasets, a model for identifying anomalous data. The processor may be configured to receive, from a compute device associated with an entity, raw data for a current time period. The processor may be configured to process the raw data by removing anomalous data to produce processed data. The processor may be configured to determine an available balance for each user from the set of users based on the processed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: DailyPay, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Lee, Robert Louis Law, II, Konstantin Getmanchuk
  • Patent number: 11087101
    Abstract: A card is made from rigid plastic confirming to ISO 7810 ID-Type 1 card constructed of PVC, PET, Styrene, Polypropylene, Tyvek, or other synthetic material that is 7 mil to 30 mil thick (180 to 760 microns) with both an embedded High Frequency (HF) RFID chip and a Ultra High Frequency (UHF) chip; each chip is affixed to its own unique antenna that is appropriately tuned to operate in its designated frequency range in a passive manner such that the antenna are not physically connected to a power source such as a battery; the HF chip is encoded using NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) with code that directs a NFC enabled smartphone, tablet, or similar device to a dedicated website or app where it initializes the interaction by delivering in the NFC encode string identification data unique to that card's UHF RFID chip; the NFC encode string may include such data as the UHF chip's Tag Identification Number (TID), a serial number assigned to the tag that is encoded into the UHF chip's EPC memory; the delivery of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: PAP Investments, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hale, Kevin J. Pease, Peter A. Pyhrr
  • Patent number: 11089458
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided having a smart communication device having a processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about sensed data from a multiplicity of data collectors each associated with a respective piece of equipment and configured to collect the sensed data related to the respective piece of equipment when the smart communication device is moved within a predefined proximity to automatically connect with each data collector to receive the signaling during movement of the smart communication device on a programmed route having multiple pieces of equipment; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about prioritized sensed data related to each of the multiplicity of data collectors for operating an app in the processor, based upon the signaling received. The smart communication device includes an iPad, a smart phone, a laptop or a subsystem of a vehicle/robot. The apparatus may include the vehicle/robot having the subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventors: Neil Loychik, James Reitano, Naveen George, Bradley C. Decook, Jeffrey Sullivan, Daniel L. Kernan, Ken Hauenstein, David Rayle
  • Patent number: 11087274
    Abstract: Sensors at an inventory location can be used to detect the occurrence of an event at the inventory location. For example, capacitive sensors can gather capacitance values, which can then be analyzed for changes that indicate an event has occurred at the inventory location. When an event has been detected, event data is generated and used as a possible trigger to collect additional sensor data. As an example, if an event involving items at an inventory location is detected, such an action can trigger the collection and analysis of additional sensor data, such as weight sensor data, to determine a quantity of the items added or removed from the inventory location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Camerin Cole Hahn, Qicai Shi, Christopher Raymond Grajewski, Vinod Lakhi Hingorani, Elizabeth Ann Zitzer, Somasundaram Niranjayan
  • Patent number: 11087270
    Abstract: A limited number of items are identified as high-theft items and RFID tags are added to only units of high-theft items. At periodic times during a day, a mobile scanner is taken to each area of a store that contains high-theft items and the mobile scanner is used to read signals from the RFID tags of only the units of high-theft items and thereby generate a periodic inventory count of the high-theft items. The periodic inventory counts for each high-theft item are then electronically stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Foster
  • Patent number: 11087103
    Abstract: A method includes monitoring performance of a system that determines locations of items in a retail store based on sensor values from a collection of sensors in the retail store. When the performance is insufficient to process the sensor values as the sensor values are received, a spatial resolution used to determine the locations of the items in the retail store is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Brakob, Todd Hagen
  • Patent number: 11069172
    Abstract: The system and method providing enhanced security ballot image records of the present invention includes an enhanced security ballot image tabulator and an enhanced security ballot image audit station. The tabulator processes each ballot of a plurality of ballots to be tabulated to provide an enhanced security ballot image record having diachronically and synchronically coordinated enhanced security ballot image files, each for another ballot of the plurality of ballots to be tabulated. The enhanced security ballot image record may be broadcast upon completion of tabulation and/or simulcast real time during tabulation or otherwise provided such as on a secure media upon completion of tabulation to the public or other parties interested in the tabulation of cast votes. The enhanced security audit station receives the enhanced security ballot image record and analyzes it to selectively identify out-of-bounds diachronic and/or synchronic security parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: James McNeel Keller
  • Patent number: 11064312
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating state measuring system, to a server, and to a method for controlling the operating state measuring system, comprising the following method steps: receiving a data packet from a receiving unit; receiving a position signal; evaluating the received data; and generating a result data set from the evaluated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: WANZL GMBH & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Jürgen Hämmerle, Peter Kowal
  • Patent number: 11051992
    Abstract: A method for inspecting absorbent articles is provided. The inspection is performed using an inspection algorithm generated with a convolutional neural network having convolutional neural network parameters. The convolutional neural network parameters are generated by a training algorithm. Based on the inspection, characteristics of the absorbent articles, such as defects, can be identified. Absorbent articles having identified characteristics can be rejected, or other actions can be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Paul Anthony Kawka, Stephen Michael Varga, Aitzaz Ahmad, Paul Philip Thomas
  • Patent number: 11057518
    Abstract: A local terminal is operable to display a user interface on a display of the terminal. The user interface includes a site information button. The local terminal is operable to receive a user input that corresponds to a user pressing the site information button. The local terminal is further operable to retrieve site information from a memory of the local terminal. The site information includes diagnostic information for the local terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Vernes Medic
  • Patent number: 11052539
    Abstract: Method, server and storage medium for robot routing are provided. An operation area of the robot is gridded into a plurality of cells arranged in rows and columns. The method includes: planning, for the robot, a traveling path from a starting point to a destination point, where the traveling path is divided into a plurality of path segments; and reserving, one or more cells corresponding to a first path segment for the robot, where the first path segment is anyone of at least one among the plurality of path segments, in case that there is the deadlock phenomenon, refraining from reserving the cell for the robot, and re-checking whether the deadlock phenomenon is still present in the cell after a preset interval; and in case that there is no deadlock phenomenon, reserving the cell for the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Kai Liu
  • Patent number: 11049363
    Abstract: An inspection system of a chip includes a reading device and a determining unit. The reading device is configured to count a number of chips stored in a storage case, the chips associated with a table game and including a chip having a radio tag, read the radio tag while the chips are stored in the storage case, and acquire chip information. The determining unit is configured to compare the chip information of the chips in the storage case with a physical number of the chips in the storage case, determine that there is an abnormal chips among the chips stored in the storage case based on a determination that the counted number of the chips does not match a physical number of the chips in the storage case, and output a result associated with an indication of the abnormal chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ANGEL PLAYING CARDS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasushi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 11046465
    Abstract: A solid preparation subdividing device includes: one or more dispensing devices, a solid preparation information input unit to input information on solid preparations, an administration information input unit, and a packaging unit. The dispensing device includes: an accommodating portion with a charging port to receive solid preparations, and a pickup unit to discharge a desired number of solid preparations from the accommodating portion. The administration information input unit is for directly inputting an administration timing for each solid preparation and a dosage for each administration timing in association with the solid preparations charged into the accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: YUYAMA MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yuyama
  • Patent number: 11048791
    Abstract: An example print supply includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The non-transitory computer-readable medium includes data. The data includes an indication of a schema for the data. The data also includes an indication of an identifier. The data includes an indication of a digital signature. The digital signature is usable to authenticate a type of the data, the schema, and the identifier. The print supply also includes a communication interface. The communication interface is to output the data from the non-transitory computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Shell S. Simpson, Jefferson P. Ward, Stephen D. Panshin, David B. Novak
  • Patent number: 11037422
    Abstract: The product location system process includes steps for forming an ad hoc peer-to-peer communication network by way of multiple connected devices communicating with one another, each of which include a communication circuit for sending and receiving data communications. Location information for each of the connected devices within the ad hoc peer-to-peer communication network may then be ascertained based at least in part on bi-lateral exchange of data communications among the multiple connected devices within the ad hoc peer-to-peer communication network. That location information may then be relayed by one or more of the connected devices to an external network for storage in a database, and the location information in that database may then be accessed in real-time from, e.g., by a Smartphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Worthwhile Products
    Inventor: Stanley B. Solomon
  • Patent number: 11030514
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to contactless payments using an electronic payment transaction environment. In particular, the disclosure provides methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing contactless payments based on a dual protocol display label including an optical code and an NFC tag, each configured to communicate merchant information for the purposes of enabling electronic payments to a merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mayank Prakash, Satya Sudipta Padhiary, Vairag Jain
  • Patent number: 11023911
    Abstract: An online gaming system for valuing new virtual items introduced into an online game. The system may comprise one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules. The system may include a virtual shop module configured to present offers to sell instances of probability item bundles including a first offer to sell instances of a first probability item bundle that includes a first primary item and a first set of secondary items for a price, and a second offer to sell instances of a second probability item bundle that includes a second primary item and a second set of secondary items for the same price. The system may include a price determination module configured to determine a value for the second primary virtual item based on comparative sales of the first probability item bundle and the second probability item bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KABAM, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie Schultz, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 10997840
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to systems, methods, and computer readable media containing instructions for causing simultaneous triggering and sequential reading of a plurality of tags. In one implementation, the instructions may include displaying an activatable element on a graphical user interface for activating a 2.4 GHz transmitter. The instructions may also include activating the transmitter to cause each of a plurality of tags to send a unique tag ID to a receiver. The instructions may also include reading a first group of tag IDs during a first time interval; recording first information associated with the first group; maintaining activation of the transmitter to cause transmission of at least some of the tag IDs of the first group along with the unique tag IDs of a second group of tag IDs to the receiver; and recording second information associated with the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NEXITE LTD.
    Inventors: Anat Shakedd, Lior Shakedd
  • Patent number: 10990772
    Abstract: An inventory management system provides automated management of medical item inventory and maintenance of a digital chain of custody for medical items. Medical items are labeled with an RFID-encoded tag that also displays a 2D barcode. The RFID tag and the 2D barcode both encode the same serialized Electronic Product Code (EPC) data for each specific item. Reading of the RFID tag is performed using a fixed or handheld RFID reader. Reading of the 2D barcode is performed using a handheld mobile device, such as a tablet or smart phone. The two-technology label allows for the digital chain of custody to be updated by means of RFID scanning in locations where RFID readers are available and by using a smart phone or tablet to read the 2D barcode in locations where RFID readers are unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: DeRoyal Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. DeBusk, Joe L. Smith, Mary E. Kaylor
  • Patent number: 10987276
    Abstract: A device is provided for storing elements, each element including a first wireless communication unit. The device includes at least two drawer units each including: a drawer including a bottom defining at least one location for receiving an element; for each location, at least one second wireless communication unit including an antenna having a radiation-zone field, each antenna having a first state in which the antenna is activated and a second state in which the antenna is deactivated; and a data-processing unit able to control the activation and deactivation of the antenna of each second communication unit according to a control law.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: BIOLOG-ID
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Mongrenier
  • Patent number: 10977459
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for tracking of one or more discrete objects at one or more discrete positions, the system including: a discrete position reading system, the discrete position reading system including one or more discrete position detectors (DPDs), each DPD comprising a tag reader, the tag reader operative to read an identity tag associated with the one discrete object to placement of any one discrete object at any one discrete position; a discrete object tracking system, the discrete object tracking system including one or more discrete object detectors (DODs), each DOD in communication with one or more DPDs to record discrete object information for each discrete object, the discrete object information including the identity tag in combination with a timestamp from when the identity tag was last read and a location identifier associated with the DPD where the identity tag was read; and a data store, the data store in communication with the DODs and operative to store disc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Crean Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Cristian Frusina
  • Patent number: 10977458
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods automatically track the physical connection configuration of fiber optic cables using high spatial resolution RFID tag readout and high-resolution optical scanning. In further embodiments, the acquisition of RFID and/or optical scans are performed by a robotic scanning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Telescent Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Stephen Kewitsch
  • Patent number: 10969770
    Abstract: An inspection information prediction apparatus includes an environment-information acquisition unit that acquires environment information of a routing step through which an inspection target has been routed before an inspection step of inspecting the inspection target, a manufacturing-information acquisition unit that acquires manufacturing information of the inspection target, and a prediction unit that predicts inspection information which indicates an inspection result of an inspection portion of the inspection target determined by the manufacturing information and is obtained by applying the environment information, based on the manufacturing information of the inspection target and the environment information of the routing step through which the inspection target has been routed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Hatakeyama, Nobuhide Inaba, Shuhei Kobayakawa, Masafumi Kudo
  • Patent number: 10956856
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting an object and/or managing an inventory will be described. A motion of an object is detected at a storage structure. One or more images are acquired of at least a part of the object. A direction of the motion of the object is determined. An object is identified based on the one or more images. In various embodiments, an inventory for the storage structure is updated based on the motion direction determination and the object identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tao Ma, Moe Tanabian, Chunkwok Lee, Suranjit Adhikari
  • Patent number: 10958765
    Abstract: A method and system for presenting a data-enriched visualization of an end-to-end network topology of components in an information technology (IT) infrastructure, wherein a first asset to be deployed is selected from among a plurality of components, and the set of connections between the first asset and one or more of the plurality of components in the IT infrastructure is identified. A unique code is generated and associated with the first asset, wherein the code embodies operational data, position data, and connection data related to the first asset. Labels bearing the code are generated for application to the first asset and each identified connection of the first asset. When the code is read with a programmed device, the position data and the connection data of the first asset are visualized within the IT infrastructure on a display device using a visualization tool provided by code executing in a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ibraheem Ahmed Sheikh
  • Patent number: 10946521
    Abstract: A movement planning apparatus includes: an acquiring unit configured to acquire an environmental map in which a no-entry area is indicated for each of turning angles that a moving robot may have; and a planning unit configured to search for a moving path that allows at least one search branch to be extended from a departure point to a destination point based on the environmental map without making a change in the turning angle become discontinuous and without passing the no-entry area, and determine the turning angle on the moving path to the destination point based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidenori Yabushita, Nobuyuki Matsuno
  • Patent number: 10946668
    Abstract: A production system acquires a plan of production of plural types of products to be produced through sequential attachment of prints, determines an order of production of the prints to be attached to the plural types of products, respectively, and produces the prints in the determined production order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kiuchi, Hajime Aikyo, Mitsuhiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10943685
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for handling medicament delivery devices and is to be used with a safety container, where the medicament delivery devices have information retaining elements having information that is unique to specific medicament delivery devices, and which medicament delivery devices are to be put in a safety container after use. The disclosed device has an information obtaining mechanism operably arranged to obtain information from the medicament delivery devices placed into the safety container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SHL MEDICAL AG
    Inventors: Stefan Gylleby, Nikolaj Hautaviita, Daniel Säll, Rasmus Renstad
  • Patent number: 10943112
    Abstract: An asset management system automatically generates and updates tool data stored in and used by the system for determining the presence or absence of tools or other inventory objects in the systems. The tool data can be automatically generated when a tool is newly added to the automated asset management system, and can be updated if and when characteristics of the tool and/or automated asset management system change. The automatic generation and updating includes automatically recognizing unique identifiers of tags located on inventory objects, automatically identifying an inventory object to associate with each unique identifier, and automatically populating a database to store each unique identifier in association with stored data for the corresponding inventory object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Matthew J. Lipsey, David C. Fly, Preston C. Phillips, Jason Newport, Andrew R. Lobo, Joseph Chwan, Frederick J. Rogers, Sean W. Ryan, Thomas L. Kassouf
  • Patent number: 10929806
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating pick up of items delivered to attended delivery/pickup locations. In various embodiments, the system is configured for confirming an identity of a person attempting to pick up a parcel from an attended delivery/pickup location before releasing the parcel to the person. The system may confirm the identity by receiving identifying information, by confirming a geographic location of a person attempting to retrieve the parcel, etc. In some embodiments, the system may be configure to enable parcel recipients to provide other persons the authorization to retrieve parcels and may be further configured to confirm this authorization before releasing parcels to a person other than the intended parcel recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Lievens, Vincent Dethier, Luc Pirenne