Data Collection Or Reporting (e.g., Sales, Inventory) Patents (Class 700/236)
  • Patent number: 11901052
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses to improve the handling of exceptions during the retrieval and processing of health records from various data sources are provided. During the retrieval and processing of health records, exceptions to typical behavior are recorded with context at the data extraction protocol level, at the health record level and at the level of elements with the document. Accordingly, insights may be developed and configurations, rules, or coding changes, based on the detected exceptions may be proposed. In some instances, an operator may be notified about the exceptions such that the operator may act on the insight. In some instances, the processing of extracted records (documents, messages) may be deferred until the operator has made appropriate changes to configuration, rules, or code. In some instances, the system may supplement and/or replace the operator with machine learning engines that act on the developed insights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Moxe Health Corporation
    Inventors: Tomas C. Willis, Daniel P. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11779167
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods that facilitate identifying, logging, mapping, and/or tracking of the movements and/or activities of individuals throughout a facility using a plurality of dispensers are positioned at selected locations about the facility. The systems and methods further allow for capturing infrared radiation of one or more individuals within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone covered using at least one passive infrared radiation sensor. The control system of a dispenser of the plurality of dispensers can be disconnected from a power source of the dispenser when the at least one passive infrared radiation sensor does not capture infrared radiation of one or more individuals within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone. Other aspects also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Charles Agnew Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11612279
    Abstract: A power management system for a dispenser that includes a passive infrared radiation sensor arranged along the dispenser and configured to detect infrared radiation emitted by one or more users within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone of the dispenser. When the passive infrared radiation sensor does not capture infrared radiation within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone, the dispenser is placed in a low power state with the passive infrared sensor remaining connected to a power source and a controller, a dispensing mechanism, and/or the proximity sensor being disconnected from the power source. Other aspects also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Valve Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Agnew Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11612278
    Abstract: A power management system for a dispenser that includes a passive infrared radiation sensor arranged along the dispenser and configured to detect infrared radiation emitted by one or more users within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone of the dispenser. When the passive infrared radiation sensor does not capture infrared radiation within the prescribed detection range, area, or zone, the dispenser is placed in a low power state with the passive infrared sensor remaining connected to a power source and a controller, a dispensing mechanism, and/or the proximity sensor being disconnected from the power source. Other aspects also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Charles Agnew Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11547250
    Abstract: Exemplary dispensers that receive power from a wireless focused power signal and methods of charging such dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser for dispensing soap or sanitizer includes a housing, a receptacle for retaining a supply of soap or sanitizer, a processor, and a focused energy signal receiver. The focused energy signal receiver includes a reflector for reflecting at least a portion of the focused energy signal back to a transmission source and a converter for converting at least a portion of the focused energy signal into an output voltage. The dispenser further includes charge control circuitry and one or more capacitors. The charge control circuitry monitors the output voltage of the converter. If the output voltage of the converter is above a threshold, the one or more capacitors receive a charging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis, Mark T. Smith, Alexander Slepoy
  • Patent number: 11462071
    Abstract: A food/drink dispensing device that manages a connection with a mobile terminal may include a connection unit for specifying a mobile terminal to connect with and for establishing a connection with the specified mobile terminal. A transmission unit may be configured to send, to the mobile terminal, device identification information for identifying the food/drink dispensing device, type information relating to the types of food/drink handled by the food/drink dispensing device, and status information relating to the food/drink. A determination unit may be configured to determine whether or not the food/drink can be dispensed when dispensing designation information with respect to food/drink of the type selected has been received from the mobile terminal. A dispensing unit may be configured to dispense the food/drink when dispensing of said food/drink is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamazaki, Tatsuya Sugawara
  • Patent number: 11426541
    Abstract: A medication dispenser includes a casing, a notched wheel and a circuitry unit. The casing includes a mouthpiece. The notched wheel has a plurality of notches, and is rotatable to register the notches with the mouthpiece. The circuitry unit includes an annular magnetic member co-rotatably mounted to the notched wheel, and a Hall sensor. The magnetic member has a plurality of alternately arranged first and second magnetic poles. The Hall sensor is in a first detecting state when it detects one of the first magnetic poles, and is in a second detecting state when it detects one of the second magnetic poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Jabil Circuit (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhe-Heng Wang, Ying Li
  • Patent number: 11393274
    Abstract: Provided are a method for detecting quantity of items and a vending machine. The vending machine includes: an item column configured to temporarily store items, where the item column includes an outlet; a shielding member configured to shield or open the outlet of the item column; and a driving device configured to drive the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column. The method includes: controlling the shielding member to shield the outlet of the item column; driving the items in the item column to move until the items in the item column abut against each other; detecting a total length of all items in the item column; and calculating the quantity of items in the item column according to the total length of the all items and a length of a single item in the item column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: SHANDONG NEW BEIYANG INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., WEIHAI NEW BEIYANG DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liangliang Chang, Xiangwei Chen, Xuqiang Dong, Yue Wang, Zhigang Xu, Tianxin Jiang
  • Patent number: 11363894
    Abstract: A retail merchandise pusher is configured for sliding along a pusher assembly track. The pusher assembly is mountable to a retail merchandise shelf. The pusher includes a housing, a spring drum rotatably mounted within the housing, and a coil spring mounted to the spring drum. The coil spring is coilable and uncoilable upon rotation of the spring drum. A controller is coupled to a sensor arrangement within the housing. The sensor arrangement has a spring drum sensor for detecting rotation of the spring drum. A direction sensor detects a direction of rotation of the spring drum. An incremental distance sensor detects incremental movement of the pusher. The controller is configured to calculate, based on data from the sensor arrangement, a total distance and direction of travel by the pusher, and to generate an alarm when the pusher travels more than a threshold distance within a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man
  • Patent number: 11354705
    Abstract: A contact lens package includes a first package layer and a second package layer joined to the first package layer at an edge of the first package layer. The first package layer and the second package layer collectively define, at least in part, a cavity and a contact lens is disposed within the cavity. A visual trigger is depicted on either the first package layer or the second package layer, and the visual trigger is identifiable by a mobile device to be associated with an executable file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Menicon Singapore PTE LTD
    Inventor: Stephen D. Newman
  • Patent number: 11328251
    Abstract: A vending device has at least one display area and an evaluator. The display area is formed by a rigid body, and has at least two, spatially-separated product areas, the rigid body of the display area being held by force transmission areas of at least two weighing cells. The evaluator is configured to, at periodic intervals or when a total weight detected by the at least two weighing cells changes: determine new coordinates of a center of gravity from data of the weighing cells, and transmit the new coordinates to a controller. The controller is configured to: determine a product area within the display area based upon changes in the coordinates of the center of gravity, determine, from the change in a total weight, the weight of goods removed from or added to the determined product area, and update an inventory, stored in a memory, for the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: BIZERBA SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Joerg Drissner
  • Patent number: 11322250
    Abstract: Further system and methods associated there with can use a combination of big data, machine learning, and/or regression equations to make living care paths based on sensitivities, probability, and/or statistics, which increases the chances of a living care path being successful. System, in some embodiments, can also provide a visual representation of the treatment options and statistics to the patient and HCP. As configured, system can empower patients, making them more informed about their condition, expectations of recovery, and more confident in their HCP's recommended treatment measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Scott K Laster, Brian D. Childress
  • Patent number: 11315130
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a storage to store product management data in which an on-sale product management numbers is associated with product management content; an input and output unit to input and output the product management data; and an update control unit configured to update the product management data. Further, the update control unit collectively receives all the product management data including a part to be updated, stores all the product management data as update target product management data, displays the update target product management data including confirmation target information and stores the update target product management data as updated product management data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Takashi Tanazawa, Minoru Murayama, Kazuo Tsunoda, Yusuke Nakajima, Yasuo Nakazato, Yasuhiro Yamazaki, Takashi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11276486
    Abstract: A system and method for holding, transporting, and tracking electronically tagged objects maintained in a portable carrier housing includes a locking mechanism for enabling limited authorized access using a proximity sensor recognizing an identity code of an authorized user, a location tracker for detecting the location of the portable carrier, and an inventory logger registering placement and removal of the electronically tagged objects within and out of the portable carrier housing, registering the location of the portable carrier housing at a time of placement or removal of the electronically tagged object, and registering the identity code of the authorized user within proximity of the proximity sensor. The system further includes a transmitter for uploading data from the inventory logger to a database and a receiver for at least receiving instructions for locking the portable carrier housing when detecting an attempted unauthorized access or detecting a condition indicative of unauthorized access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventor: Mark David Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 11154461
    Abstract: A dispensing system comprising a main body, a carousel, and a shuttle. The carousel is configured to sequentially align each of a plurality of cartridges with a dispensing outlet of the dispensing system. The shuttle is configured to sequentially align each of a plurality of compartments of each cartridge with the dispensing outlet. The dispensing system is configured to dispense a dose only after a predetermined interval of time based on a prescription. In addition, the dispensing system is connected to a network to allow the prescriber to remotely modify the prescription. The dispensing system may additionally have a biometric scanner to verify the identity of a patient, an ID scanner to authorize a pharmacist to refill the dispensing system, and a plurality of tamper sensors to alert the prescriber or the pharmacist if a patient attempts to access the dispensing system without authorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: ABBS STEPTOE ENTERPRISES LLC, AK MEDICAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Dishon Abbs, Michael Steptoe, Ahdev Kuppusamy
  • Patent number: 11158172
    Abstract: A system and associated method are provided for activating and dispensing lottery tickets at a retail establishment. For each pack of lottery tickets delivered to the retail establishment, a pack code unique to the pack is scanned and transmitted to a central lottery server. At the central lottery server, the lottery tickets within the ticket packs associated with the pack codes are electronically activated to a ready for sale status in a database. At the retail establishment, a unique ticket code provided on each lottery ticket is scanned at a time of sale of the individual lottery ticket and transmitted to the central lottery server wherein it is confirmed that the ticket code is associated with a lottery ticket previously flagged as ready for sale and, if so, the individual ticket is flagged as sold in the same or a different database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventor: Ajay J. Ghia
  • Patent number: 11138555
    Abstract: A method to remotely program an inventory management device to measure usage of material has been described. The method comprises receiving a material specific software at the inventory management device. A controller at the inventory management device executes, the received material specific software. Based on the execution, the inventory management device measures the usage of material by the one or more sensors included in the inventory management device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Adrich, Inc.
    Inventor: Adhithi Venkatesh Aji
  • Patent number: 11135135
    Abstract: A pill dispending canister mountable onto a pill packaging device comprising a hopper, a bulk dispenser, and a discrete dispenser. The hopper preferably includes a reservoir and an initial passage. The bulk dispenser preferably includes a bulk dispensing base, a bulk dispensing disc, a bulk dispensing motor, a pill exit chute, and bulk dispensing sensor. The discrete dispenser preferably includes a discrete dispensing base, a pill sorter, a discrete dispensing disc, a discrete dispensing motor, a pill drop chute, a pill jam sensor, a discrete pill sensor, a pill gate, a gate motor, and a control board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Yesudasan Sujith
  • Patent number: 11116699
    Abstract: A medication dispensing system is provided with several cooperating components which help to accommodate the responsible handling of medications. These systems include a user interface to receive input from the user and to present appropriate information/notices/alarms. Further, physical controls and multiple sensors are provided to detect tampering, misuse, and attempts to inappropriately access medications contained within the dispensing system. This misuse can thus be detected, and appropriate notifications can be provided, where appropriate. Further, by adding network communications capabilities, notices can be widely communicated to others, and operation of the medication dispensing system can be controlled and/or monitored remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Dose Health, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Hines
  • Patent number: 11028525
    Abstract: An apparatus management system is provided which includes a bathroom heating and drying apparatus configured to control an air environment in a bathroom space; and a control terminal connected to the bathroom heating and drying apparatus to transmit and receive information to and from the bathroom heating and drying apparatus. The control terminal includes: condition acquisition unit configured to acquire operation information related to a control condition of the bathroom heating and drying apparatus; control condition determination unit configured to determine the control condition of the bathroom heating and drying apparatus, based on the operation information acquired by the condition acquisition unit; and an operating unit configured to operate the bathroom heating and drying apparatus under the control condition determined by the control condition determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Meitoku Okumura, Masamichi Kachi, Tsuraki Nakajima, Ayumi Konishi
  • Patent number: 11027962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage supply apparatus comprising a sensing unit, a microphone, an artificial intelligence unit and a control unit. The control unit: activates the microphone when an object is detected; recognizes first sound data of a user when the first sound data is sensed via the activated microphone; acquires information associated with the user on the basis of the first sound data; stores the acquired information associated with the user; and determines a menu corresponding to the object on the basis of the information associated with the user and the first sound data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Gyuhyeok Jeong
  • Patent number: 10964145
    Abstract: A distributed transaction ledger (e.g. blockchain) is used to control access through access points in an access control system. During normal operation, access control devices (e.g. system controllers and door controllers) generate and broadcast transaction information to a validation network. The validation network maintains a distributed transaction ledger for the access control system, for example, by validating and distributing the transaction information across the validation network according to predetermined consensus criteria. The devices perform access control functions based on transaction information retrieved from the transaction ledger. Door controllers receive identification information from user devices (e.g. identification badges, mobile computing devices) and send the identification information to the validation network. A predetermined number of responding nodes generate verification information based on authorization information in the transaction ledger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Miguel Galvez, Matthew Roberts, Stephen Tarmey, Ashwin Reddy Lingannagari
  • Patent number: 10936698
    Abstract: A system and method for integration of telemedicine into multimedia video visitation systems of correctional facilities is disclosed herein. The system includes a telemedicine center that communicates with a medical center located at a correctional facility and a physician kiosk remote to the correctional facility. The medical center includes an inmate kiosk and a medical assistant station. The inmate kiosk and physician kiosk participate in a secure video call as part of an appointment between the inmate and physician. The inmate kiosk coordinates with the telemedicine center to verify an identity of the inmate. The inmate kiosk interfaces with a number of medical sensors and communicates data collected from the sensors to the physician kiosk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Hodge
  • Patent number: 10878486
    Abstract: A physical retail establishment system comprises a physical retail establishment comprising a showroom area, a stockroom area, a dressing room area, and a wardrobe, the wardrobe comprising a first door that separates the wardrobe from the dressing room area, and a second door that separates the wardrobe from the stockroom area; a first electronically controllable lock for selectively locking the first door; a second electronically controllable lock for selectively locking the second door; an electronic lock controller in electronic communication with the first and second electronically controllable locks to control whether the first and second electronically controllable locks are in a locked state or an unlocked state; a plurality of user access point systems located at the retail establishment; and a central server configured to present an API over a computer network to the plurality of user access point systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: LYMI INC.
    Inventors: Yael Aflalo, Jessica Chappell, Kevin Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 10845374
    Abstract: A device is provided for the storage and selection of cartridges (20) that are pre-filled with reactive discs to be placed on a support. The support has a plurality of magazines (2) each able to store a cartridge (20) of discs, at least one magazine-holding support (3) and, for each support (3), drive means (4) for moving the magazine-holding support (3). The device (1) has a chamber (5) for housing at least one magazine-holding support (3). A drive mechanism (8) drives the movement of the magazine (2) in the placement configuration between a position in which said magazine (2) is distant from and a position in which same is closer to the placement opening (7) of the chamber (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: INTELLIGENCE ARTIFICIELLE APPLICATIONS
    Inventors: Christian Curel, Michel Roch, Jean-Louis Cariou
  • Patent number: 10793044
    Abstract: Vending systems for use in a vehicle are disclosed. In some embodiments, the systems include the following: a product housing positioned in a vehicle, the product housing including an exposed surface having a product delivery opening; a removable inventory cartridge; a product dispensing mechanism including a product dispensing opening, the product dispensing mechanism being configured for dispensing a product from the removable inventory cartridge in the product housing to the product dispensing opening; a product delivery conduit including a first end and a second end, the first end being joined with the product dispensing opening and the second end defining a product delivery opening, which is formed in the exposed top surface of the product housing and positioned in a passenger compartment of the vehicle; and an lifting mechanism positioned within the product delivery conduit for mechanically lifting the product dispensing opening to the product delivery opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Dao, Quinn Chi
  • Patent number: 10762173
    Abstract: Dispensing units or stations for dispensing items, such as in a healthcare facility, are linked in a network. The dispensing stations are arranged in groups. Inventory data for all the stations in a group is combined together, and displayed at a graphical view or widget. Multiple widgets may be displayed on a dashboard screen of a user system, for use in managing inventory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Omnicell, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Czaplewski, James Weaver, George John D'Ambrosio, Manish Patel, Kim Hixson
  • Patent number: 10755809
    Abstract: A home medication management system and method are provided comprise a home medication management device, a computing device associated with a user of medication management system, and a server in communication with the home medication management device and the computing device. The server comprises memory storing an application program interface (API) that is configured to manage the home medication of a patient including the registration of prescriptions, transmission of the registered prescriptions to the home medication management device, association of medications of the registered prescriptions with recesses of the home medication management device, presentation of alerts to the patient at scheduled times to take the medications based on the prescriptions, monitoring the patient for compliance with the alerts, determining whether the patient has taken the medication as scheduled, and presenting the determination to the user via the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Tim Kehoe, Rob Barnikel, Craig Lehmann, John Brittelli
  • Patent number: 10755315
    Abstract: Technologies are provided herein for distributed promotion management. According to a method for distributed promotion management, a device identification may be provided by a consumer electronic device that may comprise a dispensing device. An event notification may be received at the consumer electronic device. The event notification may be based upon the provided device identification. A promotional screen may then be displayed. The promotional screen may comprise a limited time offer section displaying a limited time offer. The limited time offer may be based on the received event notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott Cuppari, Davinder Sawhney
  • Patent number: 10685356
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for electronic transaction auditing and accountability. In one embodiment, a method of providing electronic transaction auditing can be implemented. The method can include determining at least one unique identifier associated with a respective transaction. The method can also include communicating the at least one unique identifier to a destination server. In addition, the method can include receiving data associated with an electronic transaction and at least one unique identifier corresponding to the unique identifier previously communicated to the destination server and associated with the respective transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Leonard F. Antao, Gerard E. Insolia, H. Brock Kolls
  • Patent number: 10647218
    Abstract: A system for thermally conditioning a battery pack of an electric vehicle includes at least one battery pack mounted within the electric vehicle having at least one cell; circuitry in that determines a battery total charge of the at least one battery pack, a thermal conditioning system in thermal communication with the at least one battery pack system configured to heat or cool the at least one cell of the at least one battery pack, a vehicle positioning system in communication configured to determine a location of the electric vehicle, and a map database. The circuitry is configured to determine when the battery total charge of the at least one battery pack should be charged, determine, when the electric vehicle is traveling, a travel time between the electric vehicle and the one or more charging stations, and instruct the thermal conditioning system to thermally condition the at least one battery pack based on the travel time to reduce the time needed to charge the at least one battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Bordin New Energy Vehicle Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Clay Huang, Yonghua Li
  • Patent number: 10643743
    Abstract: An inventory management system for wirelessly taking inventories of medical trays comprises an easily assemblable and disassemblable enclosure comprising interconnected electrically conductive walls to form a Faraday cage. The interior space defined by the walls is large enough to accept the trays. RFID readers are placed within the enclosure directed at the tray to excite and read the RFID tags disposed on the medical articles within the tray. The walls of the enclosure are flexible and one of the walls is rolled up and down to act as an opening to the interior space. A host computer stores the inventory of the tray and compares it against a previous inventory existence for resupply purposes. The host computer also detects expired and recalled medical articles in the tray. If a recalled article is detected, the host computer determines if a substitute article exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Caputo, Shariq Hussain, Jeffrey Shamblin
  • Patent number: 10638291
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a main receptacle, a first detector, a second detector and a processor; wherein said main receptacle is to hold articles for customer selection, said first detector is to detect presence of an article on said main receptacle, said second detector is to detect an article after said article has been removed from said main receptacle; and wherein the processor is to collect identification information of an article upon introduction of said article into the main receptacle during a serving session and to register introduction of said article, and wherein the processor is to check out or de-register said article from said serving session upon detection of presence of said article at said second detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: CHOW TAI FOOK JEWELLERY LIMITED, MEGASOFT LIMITED
    Inventors: Siu Kee Wong, Siu Kwong Tsang, Chun Sing Matthew Man
  • Patent number: 10629016
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for managing cargo. A cargo carrier attaches to a vehicle and includes an interior cavity for storing one or more items. The cargo carrier includes a lock configured to secure the interior cavity. The cargo carrier includes a lock control unit configured to lock or unlock the lock. The cargo carrier includes a processor configured to receive an access communication via a transceiver identifying a first mobile device, and an access communication via the transceiver identifying a second mobile device. The processor is configured to receive an unlocking communication from the first mobile device, and in response transmit a communication to the lock control unit to cause the lock to be unlocked. The processor is configured to receive an unlocking communication from the second mobile device, and in response transmit a communication to the lock control unit to cause the lock to be unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Sean L. Helm
  • Patent number: 10566087
    Abstract: A facility for ordering drugs is described. For each of a number of different drugs, the facility maintains a single outpatient counter of administrations of the drug to outpatients that have not been used as a basis for reordering the drug. For a distinguished one of the drugs, based on the value of the counter of administrations of the distinguished drug, the facility places an order that reorders the distinguished drug at a discounted outpatient price level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Verity Solutions
    Inventor: George Puckett
  • Patent number: 10438184
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a system comprising a first vending machine (VM), the first VM comprising: an exterior chassis having a top, bottom, backside, front side, and first and second sides that couple the front side to the backside; a wireless short range communications node included in the chassis; and an actuator coupled to a compartment included in the chassis; wherein (a) the actuator provides a vended good to an aperture in the front side upon actuation, and (b) each of the front side and first and second sides includes no physically manipulatable consumer interface with which the consumer can control the first VM via direct physical manipulation of the first VM. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Vendwatch Telematics, LLC
    Inventors: Alfonso Javier Barragán Treviño, Alfonso Javier Barragán Rodríguez, James J. Crow
  • Patent number: 10438469
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and techniques for mitigating retail theft include securing items at a receptacle of a retailer via an electronic lock, and providing a transceiver that is proximate to the secured items and that transmits a beacon which may be detected by a personal electronic device (PED) of a customer. Based on a wireless transmission between the PED and the transceiver, a customer's identity may be determined and the customer's risk profile may be accessed. A risk score corresponding to the customer accessing the secured item may be determined based on the customer's risk profile and optionally based upon a profile of the secured item. If the risk score is indicative of an acceptable risk, a trigger to remotely unlock the electronic lock may be sent, thereby remotely and automatically allowing qualified customers to access secured items. An item's removal may be detected and tracked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: WALGREEN CO.
    Inventors: Kartik Subramanian, Andrew Schweinfurth, Raymond Kim
  • Patent number: 10437228
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for governing and monitoring operations of tools. The systems include a registration and control computer, one or more mobile devices, and one or more tools. The tools include electronic locking provisions which upon activation selectively enable tool operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ridge Tool Company
    Inventors: Rudolf Kreuzer, Harald Krondorfer, Frederick D. Pond
  • Patent number: 10402778
    Abstract: A system and method for vending digital video discs is provided. A request is received from a user to complete a rental transaction for a first digital video disc. A database is queried to determine whether a quantity of a set of second digital video discs in a vending inventory exceeds a predetermined threshold. A discount offer notification is presented to the user to rent one of the set of second digital video discs, upon determining that the quantity of the set of second digital video discs exceeds the predetermined threshold. A second request from the user to rent one of the second set of digital video discs is received, and one of the set of second digital video discs is vended to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventor: J. Mitch Lowe
  • Patent number: 10387620
    Abstract: A method and system for inputting, verifying, and communicating order data associated with a patient that may include an order for a patient to take a plurality of medications at various times of the day. The system includes an array of a medication sorting devices configured to communicate with a tracking system for receiving an order and dispensing a plurality of medicaments into a plurality of aligned pouches associated with the order information. The tracking system includes an optimization engine for selecting a medication sorting device to process each order to process a high volume of orders. An inspection assembly that is configured to analyze the plurality of medications within the medication pouches to detect and compare with the order information. The plurality of pouches may be arranged into a dispense package to dispense each pouch as arranged by the order information including medication type, dosage, and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Exact Care Pharmacy, LLC
    Inventor: Dale M. Wollschleger
  • Patent number: 10373443
    Abstract: A system and associated method are provided for activating and dispensing lottery tickets at a retail establishment. For each pack of lottery tickets delivered to the retail establishment, a pack code unique to the pack is scanned and transmitted to a central lottery server that activates the lottery tickets within the ticket pack to a ready for sale status in a database. At the retail establishment, a unique ticket code provided on each lottery ticket is scanned at a time of sale of the ticket and transmitted to the central server that confirms that the ticket as previously flagged as ready for sale and, if so, the ticket is flagged as sold in the database. At defined time intervals, accountability and billing information is provided from the central server to a central retail server based on individual lottery tickets flagged as activated and sold during the defined time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventor: Ajay J. Ghia
  • Patent number: 10347377
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to methods and devices for taking care of elderly, disabled, or other dependents. The devices and methods may be useful for dependents that are not willing or able to live in an environment which has a caretaker physically present. Example devices and methods can facilitate communication between a caretaker and a dependent. Devices and methods can optionally facilitate disbursing medications remotely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Omcare LLC.
    Inventor: Lisa Lavin
  • Patent number: 10338293
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a backlight source, including: a light-guide plate, a diffuser arranged at a light-exiting side of the light-guide plate, and a light bar arranged at a light-entering side of the light-guide plate and including a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp and a flexible circuit board connected to the LED lamp. The flexible circuit board includes a base material, and a first solder mask and a second solder mask arranged at two surfaces of the base material opposite to each other. The base material includes a first region where the second solder mask is arranged and a second region where the second solder mask is not arranged. The second region is located at a side of the base material adjacent to the light-guide plate. The diffuser includes, at an end adjacent to the light bar, a connection member partially or completely covering the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BOE OPTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shanfei Xu, Boran Zheng
  • Patent number: 10334022
    Abstract: Various embodiments each include at least one of systems, methods, and software to detect possible fuel theft and to provide notification thereof. In a simple embodiment, data from a fuel pump is obtained, either directly or via a fuel pump controller, by a fuel station site controller and stored. The stored data includes a measure of a total amount of fuel dispensed from the fuel pump, such as may be measured by a fuel pump feedstock meter. At a time when the site controller reestablishes data communication with the fuel pump controller after a loss, the site controller receives a fuel pump data update. The updated data is then compared to the stored measure. When there is a mismatch, a possible fuel theft has occurred and an alarm process may be triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Joel Aaron Miller, Steven Jarrett Giera, Erick Kobres
  • Patent number: 10329137
    Abstract: A fuel dispenser including one or more processors in a local or distributed computing system provide techniques for smart fuel dispensing that represent a marriage of vehicle telematics data, a smart fuel dispenser, and a customer device (e.g., a mobile device, tablet, computer, etc.). The techniques disclosed particularly provide a customizable fueling experience to customers and, for example, communicate fuel dispensing configuration information to/from a customer, pair vehicles to a fueling dispenser (e.g., using combinations of vehicle telematics, mobile phone data, fuel dispensing data, etc.), initiate/terminate fueling sessions, recommend fuel grades, establish customer accounts for various payment options, and look forward to potential itineraries (e.g., planned trips) to provide recommendations for vehicle maintenance, fuel grades, additives, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Bharat Prasad, Charles L. Oakes, III
  • Patent number: 10306189
    Abstract: A fuel authorization system enables data to be exchanged between vehicles and a gated facility, to verify that the vehicle is authorized to enter the facility. The gated facility is equipped with a camera and a short-range radio (RF) component. Participating vehicles are equipped with fuel authorization component including a RF component that can establish a data link with the gated facility's RF unit. When the camera senses a vehicle in the fuel lane, an RF query is sent to the vehicle. Participating vehicles respond with an action perceivable by the camera. An RF data link is then established between the enrolled vehicle and the gated facility to verify that the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel. Once the verification is complete, the fuel dispenser is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ZONAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Charles King, Rick Fadler, Charles Michael McQuade
  • Patent number: 10290172
    Abstract: A system and method for automating the dispensation of medication is provided. Electronic medical record data including identifying data and medication data for an individual is received at a server. The medication data is analyzed to identify at least one medication for dispensation. An instruction is initiated to load said identified medication in an automated medication dispenser and the automated medication dispenser is loaded with a dosing tray in the form of a replenishable, standardized cartridge. Status data is received from the automated medication dispenser regarding the dispensation of the identified medication and medication dosages remaining. At least one image of a user interacting with the automated medication dispenser is provided from a monitoring component which is in electronic communication with said automated medication dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Humana Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Ghouri, Sheldon Ball
  • Patent number: 10282720
    Abstract: A system that analyzes camera images to track a person from a point where the person obtains an authorization to a different point where the authorization is used. The authorization may be extended in time and space from the point where it was initially obtained. Scenarios enabled by embodiments include automatically opening a locked door or gate for an authorized person and automatically charging items taken by a person to that person's account. Supports automated stores that allow users to enter, take products and exit without explicitly paying. An illustrative application is an automated, unmanned gas station that allows a user to pay at the pump and then enter a locked on-site convenience store or a locked case with products the user can take for automatic purchase. Embodiments may also extend authorization to other people, such as occupants of the same vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ACCEL ROBOTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marius Buibas, John Quinn, Kaylee Feigum, Csaba Petre, Michael Brandon Maseda, Martin Alan Cseh
  • Patent number: 10249388
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to aid in the resupply of product arrays, such as contact lenses. In an aspect, this is accomplished by providing a physical product array to a reseller. Additionally, a computer-operated application is provided that displays a virtual representation of the physical product array. The reseller can then manipulate the virtual storage array to more easily identify the specific product slots in the array that need to be restocked, and the application can interact directly with an ordering system for the product manufacturer to submit orders for fulfillment. In an aspect, the application stores the product attributes for each slot of the product array, so that a simple visual inspection of the physical array can be translated into the proper product without a reseller having to determine product attributes for the specific array slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Mahboud Zabetian, Shaun Schooley
  • Patent number: 10229382
    Abstract: Methods, computer-readable medium, and apparatus are described for proactively reporting a content status of a node-enabled logistics receptacle in a wireless node network. Generally, the node-enabled logistics receptacle may update the content status stored in memory onboard the node-enabled logistics receptacle based upon whether the node-enabled logistics receptacle has received a package and is temporarily maintaining custody of the package. The receptacle may then broadcast status information related to the updated content status for the node-enabled logistics receptacle. In more detail, a node assembled within the node-enabled logistics receptacle may detect a signal broadcast from a master node in the wireless node network, access the content status stored in memory onboard the receptacle, and broadcast status information to the master node related to the content status for the node-enabled receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: FedEx Corporate Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Ole-Petter Skaaksrud