Walmart Apollo, LLC

Wal-mart Stores, Inc.

Stephen Tyler Caution

Yurgis Mauro Bacallao

Douglas Jahe Ryner

Christopher Joseph Hendrick

Joshua David Osmon

Tricia Mcpherson Hicks

Lori Lee Wise

Thomas P Smith

Jaclyn Moreda

Lindsay A Fishburn

Kenneth Samuel Larsen

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide a weight of a product in a machine-readable code on a scale. More specifically, the scale can include an associated display that is configured to display a machine-readable code when a product is weighed on the scale, where the machine-readable code informs a scanning computing device of the weighed amount.

Scale having a machine-readable code display

Provided herein are methodologies, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media for configuring a graphical user interface of an electronic display device for enabling preauthorized payment of products or services using distributed processing. A customer may interact with a kiosk or terminal to identify themselves and initiate the process for dynamically computing an active preauthorization limit. Items may then be added to the customer's balance at various point of sale terminals or scanning locations within the facility. Total cost of the items is compared to the active preauthorization limit. Once the customer is finished shopping, a GUI can present them with an authorization screen showing their shopping balance and requesting authorization. The user can interact with the GUI to approve the total via the GUI without the need to produce their card or payment method at checkout.

Systems, devices, and methods for distributed processing for preauthorized payment

A technique for generating terminal resource recommendations is discussed. Terminal activity status data is retrieved from a number of sensors in order to generate and render terminal resource recommendations. The activity status data is used to calculate a current active terminal recommendation indicative of the number of terminals needed to currently satisfy a particular service metric. A predicted active terminal recommendation indicative of the number of terminals needed at a specified future time period in order to satisfy a particular service metric at the specified future time period may also be generated.

Systems, devices, and methods for generating terminal resource recommendations

An asset protection system and method may include detecting that a first item includes a first security device coupled to the first item, in response to the first item being scanned by the user, instructing the user to deactivate the first security device and then place the first item into a bagging area, wherein a deactivator is located at the point of sale computer terminal to deactivate the first security device, directing a detection source to scan the bagging area after the first item and other items have been placed into the bagging area, and determining based on the scanning by the detection source, that a second security device coupled to the at least one item other than the first item in the bagging area has been deactivated, but the at least one item has not been scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal.

Detecting fraudulently deactivated security devices for asset protection

A mobile computing device holder that mounts to a wall is described. The mobile computing device holder holds a mobile computing device base, such as a docking station or charger. The mobile computing device base cradles a mobile computing device such as a smart phone or scanning device. The mobile computing device holder includes a wall mount fixture that mounts to the wall and holds the mobile computing device base. A coupling apparatus is coupled to the mobile computing device so that the mobile computing device can be tethered to the wall mount fixture. The tether device tethers the mobile computing device and coupling apparatus to the wall mount fixture so the mobile computing device can be used, but cannot be moved more than the length of the tethering device from the wall mount fixture. The mobile computing device is docked in the base when not in use.

Mobile computing device holder

A shopping cart bagging station that can be made from recyclable materials and is lightweight and portable is described. The shopping cart bagging station can be molded or otherwise formed of a single unitary piece of material. The shopping cart bagging station can be mounted in various locations on a shopping cart, making it easy and convenient for a customer to carry and load a plurality of shopping bags as they shop. The shopping cart bagging station includes a support bar with a bag holder hook and pair of shopping bag handle arms. The shopping cart bagging station also includes a first and a second mounting structure. The first and the second mounting structure are configured to couple the shopping cart bagging station to a shopping cart.

Shopping cart bagging station and method of forming the same

Described is a mobile point-of sale cart for use in a retail store. The cart has four legs and three platforms coupled to the legs. Each of the three platforms is at a different height above the ground. The legs have wheels for easy movement from one place to another, and the legs are telescoping so the cart can be easily stored. The cart holds the equipment needed for a retail store employee to checkout customers and perform other common tasks. The cart has multiple bins to hold a handheld scanner, a debit card reader, and a portable printer. The cart has a bagging station coupled to the top platform, and a shopping bag support surface coupled to the second platform. The cart can be moved about the store to easily ring up purchases, and can be stored when not in use.

Retail store cart

Described is a mobile computing device holder that mounts to a piece of furniture, specifically to the corner of a piece of furniture. The mobile computing device holder holds a mobile computing device base, such as a docking station or charger, and a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device holder includes a corner mount fixture that mounts to a corner of a piece of furniture and holds the mobile computing device base such that the mobile computing device is cradled in the mobile computing device base. The mobile computing device holder also includes a tether device that tethers the mobile computing device to the mobile computing device base so the mobile computing device can be used, but cannot be moved more than the length of the tethering device from the corner mount fixture.

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein that are useful for holding containers open. For example, in some forms a cart accessory and cart are disclosed herein with an apparatus for holding open a receptacle or container. In one form, the apparatus is an accessory including an elongated body having a cart attachment mechanism for securing the cart accessory to at least a portion of a cart, a receptacle securing mechanism connected to the elongated body via a tether, the receptacle securing mechanism being movable between a retracted position wherein the securing mechanism is positioned proximate the elongated body and an extended position wherein the securing mechanism is spaced apart from the elongated body closer to at least a portion of a receptacle to assist in holding open the receptacle when connected thereto. In another form a cart is disclosed having such a container holding apparatus.

Method and apparatus for holding containers open

Described is a device for holding portable computing devices at a register of a retail store. The device for holding portable computing devices includes an elongate member with a first end and a second end. The first end has a coupler that couples to a pole. The second end is coupled to a register. In some embodiments, the elongate member includes a rod portion and a flat bar portion. The coupler couples the rod portion to the pole. The flat bar portion is coupled to the register. The rod portion is sized to conveniently receive portable computing device couplers so that the portable computing devices can be repeatably and removeably hung from the rod portion. Customers who have used the store's scanners while shopping can hang their borrowed scanner on the device when they are done using the scanner.

Growing community of inventors

Bentonville, AR, United States of America

Stephen Tyler Caution