International Business Machines Corporation

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions

Other

Jeffrey John Smith

Brad Matthew Johnson

Dean Frederick Herring

David Thomas Windell

Adrian Xavier Rodriguez

John David Landers, Jr

Timothy Andreas Meserth

Ankit Singh

David John Steiner

David Frederick Champion

William L Talley

Phuc Ky Do

Thomas John Sluchak

John Charles Hilburn

Marshall S Stanley

Mitchell R Moschetti

Patrick Gabor Nyeste

Mark Edward Molander

Aaron Roger Cox

Seth T Teeples

William J Hollander

Bilal Aziz

Kevin J Smith

Todd Michael Eischeid

Jeff David Thomas

Daniel Paul Kelaher

Jason E Minyard

Jeremy Scott Bridges

Mary Sumner Johnson

Seth David Lewis

Paul Morton Wilson

Duane Scott Miller

William J Grady

William R Duffy, Iii

Edward John Vitek

John A Hibbard

Ethan G Holder

Fredrik Carlegren

Kathleen Wahrer

Gregory H Delott

Adrian Xavier Rodriquez

Robert J Harlow

David T Wendell

A method, computer program product, and system to perform a sale transaction are provided. The method includes identifying each item of a plurality of items, based on at least one image of the plurality of items, determining a cost for each item, optionally identifying a person based on an image of the person, adding each of the items and each of the costs to a sale transaction, and charging the person for the sale transaction.

Method of using, apparatus, product, and system for a no touch point-of-sale self-checkout

A method, computer program product, and system are disclosed for managing a return transaction within an environment having a plurality of purchasable item. The method acquires, using at least one visual sensor disposed within the environment, first image information including a first person and including a first item associated with the first person. The method identifies the first person using image analysis performed on the first image information. Further, the method determines, using image analysis performed on the first image information and based on one or more predetermined criteria, that the first item is eligible to be returned by the first person within the return transaction. Upon completion of one or more predefined return tasks specified for the first item within the return transaction, the method updates a first data structure representing an inventory of the environment to reflect the returned first item.

Visual sensor-based management of a return transaction

The apparatus for workflow capture and display is provided with a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of capturing task workflow information, storing the task workflow information captured by the capture module in a data storage device, retrieving a portion of the task workflow information from the data storage device in response to a first event, and presenting the task workflow information in response to a second event. These modules in the described embodiments include a capture module, a storage module, an assembly module, and a presentation module.

Apparatus and methods for workflow capture and display

A method, computer program product, and system to identify one or more items in a transaction are provided. The method includes capturing images of the items, determining a set of possible identifications for each item based on the images, determining information regarding the transaction, selecting an identification for each item from the sets of possible identifications, based on the determined information, and adding the selected identifications to the transaction. Identifications for items may be selected based on confidence factors, price thresholds, and customer information.

Method, product, and system for identifying items for transactions

Method of using apparatus, product, and system for a no touch point-of-sale self-checkout

Methods, computer program products, and systems for operating a retail environment using unmanned vehicles are provided. The methods include observing a person interacting with one or more items with a camera carried by an unmanned vehicle, identifying the one or more items based on data received from the unmanned vehicle, and adding each identified item to a transaction for the person. The methods can further include charging the person for the transaction, presenting promotions, retrieving a desired item, answering questions, following a person, guiding a customer to a location, and showing images of inventory items.

Method, product, and system for unmanned vehicles in retail environments

Method, computer program product, and system to provide assistance to at least a first person during a transaction within an environment having a plurality of items. The method includes identifying the first person within the environment, and analyzing acquired image information to determine at least one item interaction of the transaction and thereby associate the identified first person with the transaction. The method further includes determining whether the first person is associated with a personal profile that includes information related to the environment, the information including at least one of personal preferences and personal historical data reflecting one or more previous transactions of the first person. When the first person is determined to be associated with a personal profile, the method further includes determining, based on the information in the personal profile, an amount of assistance to provide to the first person during the transaction.

Method, computer program product, and system for providing a sensor-based environment

Method, computer program product, and system to facilitate an audit of a checkout transaction, where the checkout transaction is associated with a virtual transaction record reflecting interactions of a person with a first set of one or more items of a plurality of items within an environment. The method includes acquiring image information including a shopping receptacle associated with the checkout transaction, and identifying a second set of one or more items of the plurality of items that are included in the shopping receptacle using the acquired image information. The method further includes comparing the first and second sets of items, and determining, based on the comparison, whether to perform an audit of the checkout transaction.

Method, computer program product, and system to trigger one or more events during an interaction of a person with an item and within an environment having a plurality of items. The method includes acquiring, using a first visual sensor disposed within the environment, image information including the item and identifying the item using the image information. The method further includes acquiring, using a second visual sensor disposed within the environment, behavior information for the person relative to the identified item, analyzing the behavior information to identify at least a first behavior of the person, and classifying the first behavior into one of a number of predefined behavior types. The method further includes performing, based on the identified item and the classified first behavior, one or more predefined events.

Methods and systems for adjusting a security level of a transaction system based on biometric characteristics of a customer are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes interacting with a customer at a transaction terminal. The method also includes determining a biometric characteristic of the customer based on the interaction with the customer. Further, the method may include adjusting a security level of a transaction system based on the biometric characteristic.

Adjustment of a security level of a transaction system based on a biometric characteristic of a customer

Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for enhancing a shopping experience that include: determining, by a self-checkout terminal, that a shopper invoked a help event; selecting, by the self-checkout terminal in dependence upon the help event, a shopper assistant to assist the shopper; and providing, by the self-checkout terminal to the shopper, distinguishing information identifying the shopper assistant.

Providing an enhanced shopping experience

A programmable logic circuit assigns a value to an outlet of a power distribution unit (PDU) that comprises a power source at an input of the PDU and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) associated with the outlet. The programmable logic circuit sends the value to a program on a hardware device that comprises one or more power supplies. The programmable logic circuit receives information from the program. Subsequently, an illumination state of the LED is modified based on the information.

Determining suitability for disconnection from an electrical outlet based on status of power supplies of a hardware device

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Jeffrey John Smith