Abstract: System, methods, and computer program products are provided for enhanced freight tracking and monitoring. The system may track the location of a freight shipment within a carrier's transportation network from the time it is picked up by a carrier from a consignor until it is delivered to a consignee, provide for weight determinations and shipping re-classifications of the freight shipment during transport, and provide real-time status information and reports to the carrier, consignor, and/or consignee.

Abstract: A system comprising a server configured to store a plurality of storage formats associated with one or more auto-identification technologies transponders; and a mobile device comprising: a plurality of application configured to handle auto-identification data, a communication interface, a reader circuit configured to implement at least one auto-identification protocol, a processor configured to implement operating system instructions, the operating system instructions configured to cause the processor to: receive context data, receive auto-identification data from the reader circuit, send at least some of the auto-identification data and the context data to the server via the communication link, receive one of the plurality of storage formats via the communication link that was selected based on the auto-identification data and the context data, and identify and launch one of the plurality of applications based on the received storage format.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system and method for utilizing an automated aerial vehicle for rapidly transporting a priority pick item when an exception occurs (e.g., an item that was to be picked from another location or otherwise processed is found to be missing or damaged). In some implementations, a priority pick instruction may be generated that directs picking of the item from an alternative location after which the item may be transported by the automated aerial vehicle to a processing location (e.g., a problem solve station). A flight path may be determined which may have starting and ending points at designated locations where the automated aerial vehicle can safely land and take off for acquiring and/or delivering the priority pick item.

Abstract: Embodiments include asset tracking and management. In one embodiment, an end-user device obtains a user identifier, a tracking unit identifier, and an asset identifier. The end-user device sends these items to a server. Upon receipt, the server verifies that the tracking unit identifier is valid, available, and assigned to the user. When verified, the server associates the tracking unit identifier with the asset identifier and the user identifier, and marks the tracking unit identifier applied. In another embodiment, a group code is generated. The group code specifies a unit identifier a multiplier. Upon confirmation that the group code was properly generated and applied to a container, unit identifiers are generated for the group. In another embodiment, a custody record is updated to indicate that a received user identifier now has custody of a tracking identifier, while preserving a previous chain of custody of the tracking identifier.

Abstract: A set of applications on a mobile device can be specified, presented and automatically populated with transitional data sets. The transitional data sets can be stored on a network to facilitate computations of differences between transitional data sets and other data sets, and the differences can be presented on the mobile device by one or more location-aware applications.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.

Abstract: An induction-based data identification system having real-time response, including a plurality of mobile identity terminals that can be carried, a gateway system, and a background computer. The system configuration and method process are reasonable. It has the features of recording any update status data of the objects and real-time response without being affected by large amount of information. In addition, the mobile identity terminal has a low power consumption, suitable for the occasions of long-time use, such as anti-theft systems of shopping malls, places of detention, and warehouse management.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include at least one medical device having a device transceiver configured to wirelessly broadcast a device signal including at least unique identifier data and an information system is configured to maintain an active list of medical device inventory associated with a particular emergency response vehicle, and the processor is configured to automatically determine presence of the at least one medical device.

Abstract: A business intelligence document provides functionality for testing a hypothesis on aggregated data in a business intelligence document (e.g., a spreadsheet-like document), wherein one or more of the input data values and transformation properties are designated as constrained (e.g., invariant or constrained within a range, set, enumeration, or domain). The hypothesis, which is articulated as a data mining assertion, is input through the user interface of the business intelligence document (e.g., via an expression interface or properties of a row, column, or cell) and solved over the aggregated data. The solution is then presented through the user interface of the spreadsheet-like document, such as in a table, graph, histogram, etc.

Abstract: A computer system and set of routines with access to a map, a merchandizing plan, and a store catalog performs spatial matching of items to assign locations to the items; when spatial matching cannot be performed, group matching is attempted based on categories associated with the items. If group matching cannot be performed, the location of a department or of a store is assigned to the corresponding item. An error is also determined in relation to the assigned location. The assigned location and error are output, for example, to guide people to the items.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a removal channel may be described. In an example, a first estimate may be generated. The first estimate may be associated with removing a volume of items from an inventory space within a planning horizon through a removal channel. A decision to remove the volume of items may be accessed. The decision may be based on the first estimate and a second estimate associated with adding a capacity for inventorying an equivalent volume of items. Based on the decision, a constraint may be generated and imposed on an inventory level of an item during a time period of the planning horizon. A quantity of the item to remove within the time period through the removal channel may be estimated based on the constraint. Usage of the removal channel during the time period may be set based on the quantity of the item to remove.

Abstract: A system and method for locating nearby attended delivery/pickup locations with a particular item in stock is described. The system receives a request from an individual to purchase a particular item from an on-line retailer. The system receives information associated with attended delivery/pickup locations, including location and inventory information. The system then determines which (if any) attended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., the attended delivery/pickup locations are not the on-line retailer) are near the individual and have the particular item in stock and notifies the individual. In various embodiments, the system enables the user to purchase or reserve the particular item at the particular attended delivery/pickup location.

Abstract: A medication delivery system includes a medical server configured to send and receive and process data, a medication device configured to administer a preselected medication, a sensor circuit configured to detect selected parameters relating to medication delivery and transmit information, a transmission hub configured to communicate with the medical server and the sensor circuit. The transmission hub is configured to receive a signal from the sensor circuit and exchange the information. An application is configured to facilitate exchange of information between the sensor circuit and the medical server. The application has a preselected set of protocols. The application monitors usage of the medication device and location of the medication device by connecting to the medication device via the transmission hub.

Abstract: In a method for generating a capacity schedule for a facility to meet a predefined operational goal, in which the facility is to receive resources from a first resource supply, a prediction of a supply of resources available from the first resource supply for a predetermined period of time is accessed. In addition, a prediction of a demand for resources in the facility during the predetermined period of time is accessed. The prediction of the supply of resources and the prediction of the demand for resources are inputted into a constrained optimization problem and the capacity schedule for the facility is generated by finding a solution to the constrained optimization problem.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for managing inventory in e-commerce. A method may be provided that may include segmenting a quantity of a specific product in inventory into a plurality of inventory leases having a smaller quantity of the specific product. A lease management server may distribute at least one inventory lease. At least one of the specific products may be selected by the inventory management server for reservation. A rate of selection of the specific products from each of the respective inventory leases may be determined. The determined rate of selection may be analyzed to determine when the quantity in the respective inventory lease will reach a minimum quantity in the respective inventory lease. An indication of when a request for a new inventory lease is to be sent to the lease manager server may be provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are disclosed for capturing purchase information regarding purchased items of a consumer. Upon receiving an image of a receipt (a receipt image) regarding a list of purchased items, receipt text is generated. The receipt text is processed to identify the purchased items in the receipt image. Accordingly, an iteration is begun to iterate through the item blocks of the receipt text. An item block corresponds to a discrete item in the receipt text. The processing comprises extracting textual elements from the item block and matching the textual elements to a known product. Upon matching the textual elements to a known product, the consumer inventory associated with the consumer is updated with regard to the purchase of the known product.

Abstract: Global shoppers may access numerous predetermined online shopping websites. Users can shop normally and can generate a third-party cart. Foreign shipping addresses and foreign payment types may be accepted.

Abstract: Each electronic shelf label terminal includes a display section, a first image storage section in which a first image containing the price of a commodity displayed on the commodity shelf equipped with the electronic shelf label terminal is stored, a second image storage section in which a second image consisting of n parts simultaneously displayed on each display section of n electronic shelf label terminals arranged in one direction is stored, and a control section configured to repeatedly carry out a control to continuously display the second image stored in the second image storage section for a time which is n times greater than the display time of the first image at a predetermined interval after displaying the first image stored in the first image storage section for a time at a predetermined interval on the display section.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining which of multiple vendors have a product in stock.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for managing data between data systems. A request, originating from a management system, is received by a unified inventory management system. Such a request comprises a request for inventory from one or more inventory systems. A first inventory system is identified. The first inventory system manages a first portion of inventory needed to fulfill the request. Thereafter, a second inventory system is identified. The second inventory system manages a second portion of inventory that is also needed to fulfill the request.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an enhanced user experience at an event or venue are provided. The systems and methods provided herein provide venue-specific location-based services to the user through the user's mobile device. Such services include allowing a user to order merchandise and concessions from their seat using their mobile device and delivering the ordered items to their seat. Such services also include determining a user's seat location from a scanned code on the user's ticket and providing a map to and from their seat.

Abstract: Optimized delivery of locally applicable Internet content to users. A cache of locally applicable Internet content is maintained in a local content server, based upon a monitoring of locations of users requesting Internet content. Requests for Internet content are received from user equipment through a wireless network base station, and served from the local content server, which is logically proximate to the wireless network base station. The caching of locally applicable Internet content may be maintained on a layered basis. Secure action request receipt and corresponding performance, and item condition alerts are also described.

Abstract: A medication delivery system includes a medical server configured to send and receive and process data, a medication device configured to administer a preselected medication, a sensor circuit configured to detect selected parameters relating to medication delivery and transmit information, a transmission hub configured to communicate with the medical server and the sensor circuit. The transmission hub is configured to receive a signal from the sensor circuit and exchange the information. An application is configured to facilitate exchange of information between the sensor circuit and the medical server. The application has a preselected set of protocols. The application monitors usage of the medication device and location of the medication device by connecting to the medication device via the transmission hub.

Abstract: A method of managing an inventory includes associating an identifier with a container system component such as a container, a sensor or a substance, where the sensor is configured to determine an indication of an attribute of the substance stored in the container. The method further may include associating an identifier with a container system member within a dataset remote to the container; remotely receiving container system data including the identifier and the indication of the attribute; and performing at least one data processing task associated with the container system data.

Abstract: Combining the natural language processing of product descriptions and statistical analysis of payment data to classify consumers based on products purchased and merchants based on products sold. Systems and methods use natural language processing techniques to interpret the descriptions of item level purchase data to classify products that have been purchased by customers into micro-categories. Statistical deviation methods are applied to the payment data to calculate normalized mean product cost, after removing outliers. After determining the micro-categories of the products purchased and the mean product cost of the purchased products, the system and methods classify consumers and merchants into categories based at least in part on the product micro-categories, mean costs, and relative volume of product types sold by merchants to predict which consumers are likely to purchase from which merchants.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attending to a supply of product at a position on a store shelf involves receiving an electronic image of the position on a store shelf and comparing the electronic image to a previous electronic image of the position on the store shelf. Depending of the difference, if any, between the two images, generating an indication to attend to the supply of product at the position on the store shelf.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method. The method can include: identifying a first consumer location of a consumer; identifying a first limited irregular product group associated with the first consumer location; and receiving a selected limited irregular product type of one or more first limited irregular product types. The first limited irregular product group can have the first limited irregular product type(s). Further, an irregular product group can have multiple irregular product types, the multiple irregular product types can have the one or more first limited irregular product types, a master product group can have multiple product types, and the multiple product types can have multiple regular product types and the multiple irregular product types. The multiple irregular product types can satisfy at least one irregularity parameter distinguishing the multiple irregular product types from the multiple regular product types. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are various implementations for updating information displayed in a user interface for a worker in a fulfillment center. Information changing relative to a previous user interface can be provided in response to location data that indicates the worker's location within a fulfillment center.

Abstract: Through various embodiments, a traceability system may comprise a first tracking device configured to receive a pre-generated session identification number, wherein the pre-generated session identification number is assigned to a first load and a MAC address of the device. The device is further configured to initialize one or more environmental sensors of the device and generate, through the one or more environmental sensors, environmental data pertaining to one or more factors of an environment surrounding the device. The device is additionally configured to execute a propagation query to generate a second session identification number adapted from the pre-generated session identification number, the second session identification number being related to a second load derived from the first load.

Abstract: A real time medical communication system for sending Notifications of medical Alerts includes a data translation layer for receiving real time medical data from one or more sources via a network and an Alerts engine. The Alerts engine may include a message processing module including an entity extraction module configured to extract entities from the real time medical data; and a fragment generation module configured to define fragments comprising events of interest for defining one or more medical Alerts. The Alerts engine may further include an Alert generation module that may include fragment query and evaluation modules for analyzing received real time medical data for defined fragments and generating one or more medical Alerts therefrom. A Notification module may also be provided for sending Notifications of Alerts to users.

Abstract: An inventory management system that uses an automated guided vehicle that scans articles on a shelf case while reciprocating along guide lines is introduced. This inventory management system using an automated guided vehicle may include a scanning unit configured to recognize information about articles placed in a shelf case, guide lines deployed along a plurality of shelf cases that are spaced apart from each other, a vehicle configured to support the scanning unit, to recognize the guide lines, and to move along the guide lines, and a control unit configured to control the vehicle so that the vehicle moves along the guide lines recognized by the line recognition unit.

Abstract: A method and system for control of bailment inventory is disclosed. The method includes receiving a customer identifier from a customer, receiving from the customer at least one customer item for bailment, associating the customer identifier with the at least one customer item, storing the at least one customer item, and returning the at least one customer item to the customer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for shelf life expiration date management for smart refrigerators. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for shelf life expiration date management for smart refrigerators is provided. The method includes identifying a consumer during a point of sale transaction for purchasing different food items by a point of sale computer system, for example by scanning a bar code or reading a magnetic strip of a loyalty program card or reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) dongle. A list of the different food items can be provided to the smart refrigerator, for example from storage in the loyalty program card or RFID dongle, or as transmitted from the point of sale computer system to the smart refrigerator over a computer communications network. Finally, expiration dates can be determined for the food items in the list and stored in the smart refrigerator.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for selectively increasing and decreasing the balances of gaming accounts and stored value accounts. Each of the gaming account and the stored value account are associated with a player. Instructions for balance transfers can be provided by the player to a remote computing device.

Abstract: A robotic retail wall is presented allowing for the dispensing of merchandise within a retail location. The robotic wall includes commodity products and robotics that pick and deliver products to consumers in response to input at a kiosk. The robotics and products are separated from a retail space by a transparent barrier, allowing consumers in the retail space to view the actions of the robotics in retrieving a product. Behind the robotic wall is a product stocking area, where commodity products can be added to the robotic wall with assistance from the robotics.

Abstract: There are: a communication sheet that propagates electromagnetic wave; a wireless communication part arranged close to the communication sheet, and stores predetermined information, and wirelessly transmits the predetermined information to the communication sheet; a shield part that shields a radio signal wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication part; an operation part that enables or disables wireless communication between the communication sheet and the wireless communication part; and a discrimination part that discriminates contents of operation by the operation part based on the predetermined information wirelessly transmitted by the wireless communication part. According to an operation by said operation part to disable the wireless communication between said communication sheet and the wireless communication part, said shield part shields the radio signal from the wireless communication part.

Abstract: Items are added to a transaction on a user mobile device. In-store items may be added by scanning and on-line only items may be added to the transaction. Payment for the transaction may be invoked on the mobile device and processed in a single transaction. A verification code may be transmitted to the mobile device, scanned by an employee device, which uses the code to obtain a listing of the items of the transaction. The employee device sends verification to the server, which, in response, sends an electronic receipt to the mobile device. Recommendations for online products, including possible substitutions are provided. Where a desired quantity of an in-store item exceeds available inventory, an online order for the excess quantity may be added to the transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for integrating locally carried products into web services provided by a global server. A user computing device, such as a mobile phone, is used to scan optical codes for products. A product identifier extracted from the optical code is used to request product information from a global server system with respect to the product or to take an action with respect to the product, such as adding the product to an electronic shopping cart. For locally carried products, notice may be provided to the user computing device to scan the product using an in-store scanner. Upon scanning the optical code, the in-store scanner retrieves product information from a local server system and encodes this information in an optical code, which the user computing device scans in order to use with respect to a web service or web-integrated transaction.

Abstract: A customer service application resident on a user's portable electronic device is used to get information about a service and also request the service offered by a store. The customer service application can check for nearby stores when launched. Once the user is deemed to be within the service area of the store, the store host server computer can start sending information about various products, servers, events, or workshops offered by the store. The user can use the customer service application to request product or service help from store employees, register for an event/workshop, reserve a product for pickup, etc.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a store system includes: an image output section configured to output an image picked up by an image pickup section; an object recognizing section configured to recognize a specific object by reading a feature value of the output image; a similarity determining section configured to calculate similarity indicating to which degree the recognized object is similar to a reference image of the object determined in advance and determine whether the calculated similarity exceeds a threshold set in advance; and a defective informing section configured to inform, if the similarity determining section determines that the calculated similarity does not exceed the threshold set in advance, that the object is not recognized as a regular commodity.

Abstract: The object is to maintain the operations of a logistic system. The recovering method of the logistic system includes a plurality of controllers connected with each other via a local network. A recovery method for the logistic system comprises detecting an abnormal state of the plurality of controllers, outputting a switching requesting signal, receiving a control signal, and outputting the control signal. In outputting the switching requesting signal, when an abnormal controller that shows the abnormal state is detected, a switching requesting signal to switch from the abnormal controller to an alternate controller is outputted from the logistic system to the alternate controller. In receiving the control signal, a control signal that controls at least a part of operations of the logistic system instead of the abnormal controller is received from the alternate controller.

Abstract: A system for accessing product information from embedded sensors via mobile device video analysis is disclosed. The system includes a processing device configured for analyzing a video stream of the surrounding environment captured on a mobile device. At least one product that has one or more embedded sensors associated therewith is identified within the surrounding environment. The system retrieves information associated with the one or more products from the one or more embedded sensors. Information retrieved, or information derived from the information retrieved, from the embedded sensors is presented to the user via a display of the video stream on the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of transporting commodities in a supply chain management system including a supply chain. The method includes providing a database and a network in communication with the database, which is accessible by at least one member of the supply chain via the network. The method also includes providing a container and supporting one or more commodities using the container, assigning at least one sensor to the commodities, sensing a condition of the commodities and generating a signal indicative of the commodity condition, identifying information related to the commodities, acquiring data related to identifying the commodity information, distributing the signal and the acquired data over the network, storing the signal and the acquired data in the database, monitoring the commodities via the network, and managing at least one of storage and transport of the commodities through the supply chain based on the signal and the acquired data.

Abstract: A signal transmission system of electronic display devices includes a plurality of electronic display devices and a wireless signal transmission device. The wireless signal transmission device broadcasts a first packet data to the electronic display device. The first packet data comprises an access control address list, and the access control address list comprises the MAC address of a first group of electronic display device. When the wireless signal transmission device receives an acknowledgement (ACK) message from at least a first electronic display device of the first group of electronic display devices, the wireless signal transmission device changes the method of transmission from broadcast to unicast in order to transmit second packet data to the first electronic display device, wherein the second packet data comprises video packet data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for shelf life expiration date management for smart refrigerators. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for shelf life expiration date management for smart refrigerators is provided. The method includes identifying a consumer during a point of sale transaction for purchasing different food items by a point of sale computer system, for example by scanning a bar code or reading a magnetic strip of a loyalty program card or reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) dongle. A list of the different food items can be provided to the smart refrigerator, for example from storage in the loyalty program card or RFID dongle, or as transmitted from the point of sale computer system to the smart refrigerator over a computer communications network. Finally, expiration dates can be determined for the food items in the list and stored in the smart refrigerator.

Abstract: A computer server for a network-based transaction system is coupled to a kiosk via a data communications network. The kiosk includes a computer processor, an input device, an electronic display unit, a plurality of compartments, and a data communications port. The computer server receives input from a seller of an item. The input includes a listing of the item for sale on the network-based transaction system. The server identifies an available compartment from the plurality of compartments based on the item for sale. The available compartment is configured to receive the item for sale from the seller. The server transmits an identification of the available compartment to the seller via the electronic display unit, and enables access to the available compartment by the seller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for creating customized products using a product identification device. In some embodiments, the process involves receiving an aggregate order for yearbooks, creating a master list associated with the aggregate order and including single orders, associating at least one number with each single order, manufacturing a first portion of a yearbook for each single order with a first identifier associated with that portion and also being associated with the at least one number, manufacturing a second portion of the yearbook for the single order with a second identifier associated with that portion and also being associated with the at least one number, and combining the first portion with the second portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure extends to maintaining an item inventory status at an inventory cache management system. The inventory cache may be refreshed regularly by a threshold-based triggering mechanism. In embodiments, as item inventory breaches certain thresholds, the inventory cache may be refreshed with increased frequency to mitigate overselling or underselling scenarios and reduce overall network traffic for items having relatively high inventory levels.

Abstract: A system for using attributes to deploy demand response resources. A service provider may provide energy to customers. The provider may via interactions modify consumption of the energy by the customers. Customers that participate in these interactions may be regarded as demand response resources. Interactions may incorporate demand response signals sent to the resources at their respective facilities. Each resource may have a demand response client which has an association with a customer account in a demand response management system of the provider. The association may be regarded as a binding of the demand response client. The binding may involve inputting an attribute of the demand response client, which can be correlated to the customer account. The attribute may be, for example, a location of the demand response client. Such attribute may be used for the association of the demand response client with a proper customer account.

Abstract: A system for managing beverage sales and inventory, and for enabling customers to pour their own beverages while preventing shrinkage is disclosed. The system enables a user to access a beverage from a beverage dispenser by presenting a beverage-pour tracking device. The beverage dispenser can prevent a user from accessing the beverage without the beverage-pour tracking device. Further, the system can confirm whether the user is permitted to access the beverage dispenser before enabling the user to access the dispenser.