A method and system for establishing an electronic communication channel between an agent of a first entity and a second entity is provided, including: linking the second entity to the agent of the first entity when a trigger is sent by the second entity; providing one or more software programs over the electronic communication channel to the second entity; initiating an exchange by the agent of the first entity to the second entity; and sending one or more messages over the communication channel between the agent from the first entity and the second entity. The system includes a database containing a link between the agent of the first entity and the second entity. The system also includes a server configured to establish an electronic communication channel between the agent of the first entity and the second entity when a trigger is sent by the second entity.

A computer system processes a message from a user mobile device by receiving the message from the user mobile device, wherein the message comprises a purchase request, and then determining a matching purchase offer in a database containing a plurality of purchase offers, wherein the matching purchase offer corresponds to an offer identified in the purchase request. The system then transmits a purchase request to a purchase agent at a third party provider that is associated with the matching purchase offer, and processing a purchase transaction received from the purchase agent at the third party provider.

A method and a system to present samples of products to customers by transporting the samples to the customer's location with an autonomous vehicle. The sample can be a product, a component of a product, a material or a device to gather information in defining the product. The autonomous vehicle is adapted for off road travel and may enter buildings, it can be carried to a nearby location by a street adapted vehicle. Information may be transmitted electronically but physical presence is essential. The customer or the customer's agent receives a presentation of the product definer and a selection of a final product is made. In other cases the autonomous vehicle delivery separate or installed technical equipment to examine the presentation location and assist in the final product selection. For example, photographs from multiple locations can measure a room for installation of carpets or draperies, etc.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.

[Problem] To provide an agent robot control system, agent robot system, agent robot control method, and recording medium, which are capable of assisting in optimal shopping in real storefronts and online storefronts. [Solution] Provided is an agent robot control system, comprising an acquisition unit which acquires a purchasing master list which shows a user's purchase merchandise candidates, and a control unit which generates a purchasing execution list for recommending, from the purchasing master list, purchases for select merchandise to be performed at real storefronts and for recommending purchases for other merchandise to be performed at online storefronts.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

An automated conversation is facilitated between a user and a virtual agent. A system receives an input message from the user and analyzes an intent of the input message. Based on the intent of the input message, the system generates a plurality of bids for responding to the input message, and assigns an intent confidence score to each bid from the plurality of bids based on a confidence level of each bid from the plurality of bids. The system determines a winning bid from the plurality of bids based on the intent confidence score associated with each bid from the plurality of bids, and generates a response based on the winning bid.

Various methods and systems are disclosed for managing and facilitating bot-to-bot transactions, implemented with electronic operations and communications in connection with a bot interaction framework service. In an example, a transaction in a bot-to-bot communication session is established and conducted via the bot interaction framework service using a series of communication, trust, and functional attributes. The processing operations performed by the bot interaction framework service may include: receiving a request for a transaction, for a transaction to be conducted via a bot-to-bot communication session between the user bot and the service bot; identifying communication, trust, and functional attributes for the bot-to-bot communication session; transmitting the communication, trust, and functional attributes to the user bot; and conducting the bot-to-bot communication session based on the communication, trust, and functional attributes.

A reorder device having an item tag reader and one or more sensors may facilitate the automatic reordering of an item for a customer. The item may be associated with an item tag that is placed on (or near) the reorder device. The reorder device may detect the item tag and transmit such data to an entity device, which may associate the reorder device and the item. The reorder device may periodically obtain weight measurements of the item that is placed on the reorder device, as well as a timestamp that indicates a time at which the weight measurements are obtained. Such data may be provided to the entity device, and an entity associated with the entity device may determine whether weight measurement satisfies an item threshold value. If so, additional inventory of the item may be ordered and delivered to the customer, without additional input from the customer.

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing roadside service through a synchronized interactive voice response (IVR) system and graphical user interface (GUI). One method may include: receiving, based on an incoming phone call from a vehicle user device, a request for roadside service for a disabled vehicle of a vehicle user; sending a text to a phone number of the vehicle user device, wherein the text includes a link to a mobile application for roadside service requests; receiving, from the vehicle user device and via the mobile application, information associated with the request for roadside service; determining, based on a location sensor of the vehicle user device, a location of the disabled vehicle; matching a roadside service provider with the disabled vehicle based on the request for roadside service; and enabling the vehicle user to track the service status of the roadside service provider through the mobile application.