Walmart Apollo, LLC

Wal-mart Stores, Inc.

Marc Ashley Fletter

Nicholaus Adam Jones

Matthew Allen Jones

Robert J Taylor

Daniel R Shields

Robert James Taylor

Jeffrey Scott Cruz

Christopher R Heeney

Sara Vaught

Ryan Sands Magnusson

Hoang-Anh Au

Justin Lynn Brandon

Examples provides on-hand inventory accuracy using radio frequency identification (RFID) tag data and expected populations of items for a plurality of sub-locations within a scan area. The system calculates a dynamic expected population of items value for each sub-location using item level data and modular display data for an item assortment assigned to a modular display within each sub-location. If the items detected by the RFID tag data match the expected population of items with a minimum confidence level, the system provides user feedback in the form of status indicators and/or accuracy indicators on a user interface. The feedback can also include audio feedback. If a discrepancy is detected, the system requests a rescan of each sub-location having a detected discrepancy. The system disallows update of on-hand inventory data using the RFID tag data if the discrepancy remains unresolved after the second scan and/or requests a manual verification.

On-hand inventory accuracy system

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

Overstock inventory management system

Provided are a system and method for operating a mobile device, comprising: establishing by a locking mechanism at the mobile device that the mobile device is owned or controlled by a retail establishment at which an operator of the mobile device is an agent; searching, by a mobile device, for a signal from a network; authorizing the mobile device to operate in a vicinity of the network when the signal is detected from the network; and inactivating the mobile device or displaying information where the mobile device can operate in response to a failure by the mobile device to detect the signal.

Systems and methods for controlling mobile device use

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are related to auditing overstock products in a retail environment. A database query is constructed to retrieve employee schedule information for a specified time period from a database. A first data structure is created that includes an audit list of employees scheduled to work during the specified time period in response to database records returned by the database in response to the submission of the database query. A pseudo-random sorting function is executed to randomize a position of the employees in the audit list. A second data structure is created that includes audit data generated in response to an overstock audit. A report is generated based on the audit data and includes at least one visual representation of the audit data.

Methods and systems for auditing overstock in a retail environment

Disclosed is a system for collecting data and mapping wireless network coverage in a building such as a retail store. A mobile computing device is used by an employee to collect data captures and wireless coverage indicators in the retail store. The wireless coverage indicator includes data on the status of wireless network coverage in the location where the data capture was collected. The data capture and the wireless coverage indicators are wirelessly transmitted to a utility for mapping a building when a wireless network is available. If no wireless network is available, the data is stored in the mobile computing device until a wireless network is available. The utility for mapping a building uses information in the data capture to determine the location where the data capture was collected, and maps the data in the wireless coverage indicator to the location on a map of the building.

System and method for mapping wireless network coverage

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

Consumer demand-based inventory management system

In some embodiments, methods and systems of sorting products at a retail sales facility include receiving identifying information associated with a product at the retail sales facility using an inventory management electronic device, obtaining a demand for the product from a time products identical to the product were delivered to the retail sales facility, calculating whether the demand for the product supports moving the product onto a sales floor of the retail sales facility or storing the product in a stock room of the retail sales facility, determining a characteristic for the product, and outputting, when the demand supports storing the product in the stock room, an indication to a worker at the retail sales facility that the product is to be stored in the stock room at a location selected based on the determined characteristic for the product.

Overstock inventory management at retail sales facilities

In some embodiments, methods and systems of locating overstock items at a retail sales facility include receiving data when a worker of the retail sales facility scans a product case containing a product using an inventory management electronic device including a processor; obtaining at least one inventory management factor associated with the product; estimating whether the product is to be picked by the worker from a storage bin at a stock room location while packed in the product case or after being removed from the product case; and outputting, based on the estimating step, an indication to the worker either that the product is to be picked from the storage bin without being removed from the product case, or that the product is to be picked from the storage bin after being removed from the product case.

Overstock inventory sorting at retail sales facilities

In some embodiments, methods and systems of locating overstock items at a retail sales facility include receiving data when a worker of the retail sales facility scans a product case containing a product using an inventory management electronic device including a processor; obtaining at least one inventory management factor associated with the product; estimating whether the product is to be picked by the worker from a storage bin at a stock room location while packed in the product case or after being removed from the product case; and outputting, based on the estimating step, an indication to the worker either that the product is to be picked from the storage bin without being removed from the product case, or that that the product is to be picked from the storage bin after being removed from the product case.

Growing community of inventors

Bentonville, AR, United States of America

Marc Ashley Fletter