Wal-mart Stores, Inc.

Walmart Apollo, LLC

Stuart Argue

Anthony Emile Marcar

A computer-implemented method is disclosed for suggesting recipes. Within the method, one or more point-of-sale transactions may be conducted. The transactions may involve a computer system and a customer possessing a mobile computing device. The computer system may store receipt data documenting the transactions. The computer system may also receive a request from the mobile computing device for one or more recipes, analyze the receipt data to identify at least one of the food patterns and food preferences of the customer, and identify one or more recipes corresponding to at least one of the food patterns and food preferences. The computer system may then pass the one or more recipes to the mobile computing device.

Recipe-suggestion apparatus and method

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for presenting advertising content during searches of digital receipts. Advertising content can be presented at a user interface used to search digital receipts. During character by character input of a search term, input characters are detected as entered. Prior to completely entering the search term, detected characters can be transmitted from a customer device to an advertising system. The advertising system can match the characters to one or more advertisements. The advertising system can return the one or more advertisements back to the customer device. The customer device can present the one or more advertisements at the user interface.

Presenting advertisement content during searches of digital receipts

A method is disclosed for reprinting a receipt. Where a customer has elected to receive electronic receipts, an electronic receipt may be received on a mobile electronic device following a customer purchase or other transaction at a brick and mortar retail store. Where a customer requests that the receipt be reprinted at the time of the transaction, the election to receive electronic receipts is overridden and a paper copy of the receipt is printed at the register or terminal where the transaction was completed.

Reprinting a paper receipt where an electronic receipt was originally issued

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for auditing in-store sales transactions when a digital receipt is issued. A receipt application server formulates a digital receipt from digital receipt data received from a POS system. The digital receipt is sent from the receipt application server to an auditor mobile device at the location of the POS system. A human auditor can view the digital receipt during an in-store audit. In some embodiments, one or both of the receipt application server and the auditor mobile device reorder receipt entries so that items having specified characteristics are presented more prominently on a display. For example, receipt entries can be re-ordered such that higher profit margin items, bulkier items, or more likely to be stolen items are presented more prominently. As such, a human auditor is more likely to expressly audit these types of items.

Locating and organizing digital receipt data for use in in-store audits

A computer-implemented method is disclosed for storing and presenting warranties to one or more customers. Within the method, a computer system may store at least one warranty. Subsequently, a point-of-sale system forming part of the computer system may initiate a point-of-sale transaction involving a customer. The computer system may then determine that a first product forming part of the point-of-sale transaction corresponds to a first warranty of the least one warranty and offer to display the first warranty. In response to the offer, the computer system may receive a request to display the first warranty from a computing device corresponding to the customer. Accordingly, the computer system may present the first warranty to the customer via the computing device.

Warranty storing and presenting apparatus and method

A method is disclosed for a customer splitting the cost of a purchase with other persons. An electronic receipt may be viewed on a mobile electronic device with electronic receipts software thereon. Using a device configured according to one or more embodiments of the invention, a customer is able to select the receipt for splitting as well as selecting other persons to share the cost of items on the receipt. The customer may allocate item cost among those other persons. Information may be sent to a server or computer system to provide notifications to the other persons. The server may then process the request and transmit receipt information/notifications to the person requested by the customer.

Splitting a purchase among multiple parties using an electronic receipt after the transaction

A method is disclosed for a customer splitting a bill with other persons. A bill may be obtained and viewed electronically on a mobile electronic device with electronic receipts software thereon. Using a device configured according to one or more embodiments of the invention, a customer is able to select the bill for splitting as well as selecting other persons to share the cost of items on the receipt. The customer may allocate item cost among those other persons and each person may pay for their individual portion of the bill. Notifications and/or receipt copies may be sent electronically to each person associated with the bill.

A method is disclosed for reprinting a paper copy of a receipt at a physical store location. The receipt printing may be based off of an electronic receipt. A customer may provide receipt identification to a returns associate at a POS terminal in a store location. Information may be sent to a server or computer system to request that a receipt be reprinted. The server may then process the request and transmit receipt information to the POS terminal where a paper copy of the receipt is printed for the returns associate. A modified receipt may be printed which includes receipt information for additional transactions. A modified receipt may be printed which includes additional information regarding items on the receipt.

Reprint of a physical receipt and receipt history from an electronic receipt for reducing fraudulent returns

Systems and methods are disclosed for alerting a customer when an item is out of stock or in stock. In embodiments, the customer may add items to a shopping list within a shopping list software application (commonly known as an 'app') installed on a mobile computing device such as a smart phone. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, if one or more items on the shopping list become out-of-stock, and/or later become in-stock, the system may transmit an alert to be displayed on the shopping list app to notify the customer. The system may notify the customer regarding relevant changes in product inventories at selected retail store branches where the customer is most likely to shop and/or has recently shopped.

Informing customers regarding items on their shopping list

A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a commerce server, one or more shopping list signals from an electronic computing device to establish a shopping list of a plurality of items offered for sale in a retail store. The method also includes the step of receiving, with the processing device, one or more consumer signals from a first augmented reality device and a second augmented reality device. Each augmented reality device can be worn by a consumer as the consumer shops in the retail store. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a first procuring signal containing data associated with the shopping list to the first augmented reality device and a second procuring signal containing data associated with the shopping list to the second augmented reality device, such that the consumers can cooperatively shop for items on the shopping list.

Cooperative execution of an electronic shopping list

A shopping system may include a mobile shopping aid sized to support thereon or therewithin one or more items to be purchased. A holder may be connected to the mobile shopping aid to travel therewith. The holder may be sized and shaped to hold a mobile computing device. The holder may have a front aperture enabling an owner of the mobile computing device to view a display screen of the mobile computing device while the mobile computing device is being held by the holder. The holder may also have a back aperture enabling a back-facing camera of the mobile computing device to scan one or more barcodes while the mobile computing device is being held by the holder. The system may also include an anti-theft program or module programmed to initiate an alarm protocol in the event that the mobile computing device is untimely removed from the holder.

Mobile-computing-device-securement apparatus and method

A shopping list may be ordered in order to guide a shopper through a store in an efficient manner. Congestion in the store may be identified, such as using security camera footage. The shopping list may be reordered in order to avoid congested areas in the store. Expected areas of congestion may be determined based on velocities and maneuverability of other shoppers. Maneuverability of other shoppers may be estimated by analyzing video data and determining attributes of the other shoppers, such as whether they are pushing a cart or have children. The shopping list may be presented with directions to the locations of items within the store and may be periodically reordered throughout the shopper's visit responsive to detected congestion.

Real-time congestion avoidance in a retail environment

A method is disclosed for a customer sharing a receipt with other persons. An electronic receipt may be viewed on a mobile electronic device with electronic receipts software thereon. A customer may select the receipt for sharing as well as selecting modifications to the receipt and persons to share the receipt with. Information may be sent to a server or computer system to request that a receipt be shared. The server may then process the request and transmit receipt information to the contact person requested by the customer. The receipt may be shared via data transfer, facsimile or email, or may be shared through a receipts management software or application.

Automatic sharing of a receipt with a place of employment

A method for comparison of product information based on product codes to determine the cost per unit weight per product and hereby determine the cheapest product per unit weight is disclosed herein. The method further comprises of displaying the location information of the cheapest product within the retail store and providing navigational information for enabling the consumer to access the product easily.

Locating a specific product within a retail environment in furtherance of a comparison of product information based on product codes

A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of positioning at least one location marker at a position in a retail store. The method also includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a position detection server, a video signal from an electronic device possessed by a consumer as the consumer shops in the retail store. At least one image frame of the video signal contains the at least one location marker. The method also includes the step of determining, with the processing device, a location of the consumer within the retail store in response to the receiving step.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Stuart Argue