A technique for effecting electronic commerce using a data network is described. The data network includes a plurality of subsystems which, together, form an integrated system for receiving customer orders for selected items via a data network, fulfilling the customer orders, and delivering the ordered products to the customers. Moreover, according to a specific embodiment, the integrated nature of the system architecture of the present invention allows the on-line merchant to provide a guarantee to the customer that the ordered items will be available to be delivered to the customer at the specified delivery date, time, and location.

Some embodiments provide methods and systems of monitoring trash cans. A central computer system of a shopping facility identifies a first motorized transport unit and a second motorized transport unit; communicates routing instructions based on a mapping of the shopping facility to each of the first and second motorized transport units directing the first and second motorized transport units to a trash can receptacle, wherein the second motorized transport unit transports a replacement second trash can; communicates trash can removal instruction to the first motorized transport unit to cause the first motorized transport unit to remove the first trash can from the trash can receptacle; and communicates a trash can replacement instruction to the second motorized transport unit to cause the second motorized transport unit to place the second trash can into the trash can receptacle in place of the first trash can.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for sorting items discarded in a shopping facility. A system for sorting discarded items comprises a motorized transport unit configured to travel around discarded items placed in a sorting area in the shopping facility, the motorized transport unit comprises a sensor device and an item mover device, an item characterization database storing characteristics corresponding to a plurality of items likely to be found in the shopping facility, and a central computer system. The central computer system is configured to receive data from the sensor device on the motorized transport unit, determine an item characteristic of an item among the discarded items in the sorting area, determine a sorting category of the item from a plurality of predefined categories, and cause the motorized transport unit to move the item, with the item mover device, from the sorting area into a category area.

An apparatus comprises a plurality of motorized mobile retail facility personal assistance apparatuses and a central computer system. The central computer system includes a network interface that permits the central computer system to wirelessly communicate with the mobile apparatuses and also with at least one user interface unit. Upon receiving a request to use one of the mobile apparatuses, the central computer system assigns an available apparatuses for use by a user during a usage session. This activity can include interfacing with the user to determine one or more specifics regarding their current needs in these regards. The specifics of their needs, in turn, can provide a basis for assigning a particular apparatus from amongst a plurality of differently purposed and differently configured apparatuses.

The present invention determines which network devices are likely to have a positive result in engagements with terminal devices. A server can obtain data about network devices with respect to the communication session with a network site. Then the server can use rules to define a set of network devices that are eligible to interact or communicate with a terminal device. The server can connect to the network devices as randomly as possible. Terminal devices can initiate engagements with network devices. The server can detect characteristics in the interaction of engagements that have positive results. The server generates an evaluation protocol based on the characteristics, to assign new network devices a parameter representing how close the new network device conforms to the evaluation protocol. The parameter is used by the system in real-time to inform terminal devices as to which network devices to connect to and in what order.

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.

A method and apparatus for managing capabilities of an account of a user system at a commerce platform are described. The method includes receiving a request for a desired functionality of the account from a user system. The method may also include mapping the requested capability to a compliance plan that defines a set of account data to be collected before activation of the capability for the account. The method may also include transmitting a message that includes a list of additional data to be provided by the user system before activation of the capability for the account. The method may further include receiving a response from the user system that includes the additional data for activating the capability for the account.

A system and method for facilitating natural language conversations between customers and vendors for product purchases is provided. The system ingests product catalogs from vendors, normalizes the data, and provides a conversational interface for customers to query the catalogs. In some examples, a chatbot system receives a natural language query from a customer about a product in a chat interface, identifies vendors offering that product by searching uploaded product catalogs, determines available inventory for the product by querying the catalogs, and generates a natural language response to the customer using the vendor and inventory information. The system can extract product details from the query, search based on those details, rank and recommend vendors and products, update user profiles, offer purchase incentives, and complete transactions within the conversation. The system handles the conversational and technical aspects to enable natural dialog between businesses and customers regarding products.

The present teaching relates to conduct persona-adaptive communications with a customer at a geo-locale. Transcripts of a current and historic communications involving the customer are used to characterize the persona of the customer. Transcripts of historic communications with customers at the geo-locale are used to characterize the persona of the geo-locale. Current persona of the customer exhibited in the current communication is combined with the customer's persona and the geo-locale's persona to compute a response input vector, A language model generates, based on the response input vector, a persona-adaptive response, which is then sent to the customer a response.

One embodiment provides a system for dynamically optimizing inventory picking paths within a physical store. The system performs operations including receiving merchandise requests from customers, providing the merchandise requests to merchandise pickers, and receiving, from the merchandise pickers, picking data identifying picking paths executed by the merchandise pickers when picking items within the physical store to fulfill the merchandise requests. The operations further include analyzing the merchandise requests and the picking data to identify an algorithm suitable for determining an optimized picking path, and, in response to receiving a new merchandise request, applying the algorithm to determine an optimized picking path for fulfilling the new merchandise request. The optimized picking path is provided to at least one of the merchandise pickers. The algorithm is dynamically adjustable in response to receiving additional picking data identifying different picking paths that reflect changes to the store layout.