Abstract

A method for reducing peak electrical demand of a building includes generating a baseline electrical demand profile over a target time period from a model. The baseline electrical demand profile can be used to define a policy including a peak management period having at least a first sub-period and a subsequent second sub-period, the first sub-period having a first temperature set point for at least one air handling system of the building that is different from a normal operating temperature set point, the second sub-period having a second temperature set point different from both the normal operating temperature set point and the first temperature set point, and implementing the policy. The model can be generated from one or more of historical electrical data for the building, weather forecast data, building and equipment operating schedules, sales data, and data based on information received from a video camera located in the building.

IPC Classes  ?

• H02J 3/00 - Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• G06Q 50/06 - Energy or water supply

Abstract

A service may provide an e-commerce platform through which users may search for, view, and purchase products. To ensure users receive relevant results when querying for particular products or product classes, a list of ranked classes may be generated, from which the query results are based. For example, products may be classified into classes and particular text from search data may be associated with one or more of the products based on click log data. For instance, input text from previously performed queries may be associated with products interacted with following those queries (e.g., products clicked on to view/purchase). Training data that associates the particular text with the respective one or more classes into which the clicked on products are classified may be generated, and in response to receiving a query including the particular text as input, the list of ranked classes may be generated based on the training data.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 16/2457 - Query processing with adaptation to user needs
• G06F 16/2453 - Query optimisation
• G06N 3/08 - Learning methods
• G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• G06F 16/248 - Presentation of query results

Abstract

Methods and systems for forecasting demand for a plurality of items are provided. In particular, the demand forecasting system and methods described herein are useful for predicting demand of products in a retail context. Forecast models are built and used to score incoming sales data to predict future demand for items. Forecast models are validated by evaluating actual demand against predicted demand and using that information to inform how future ensemble forecast will be generated. Forecasts may be broken down into smaller components to satisfy a variety of requests for data from client applications.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/04 - Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"
• G06Q 30/02 - MarketingPrice estimation or determinationFundraising

Abstract

Methods and systems for recommending items to an unknown user of a website are disclosed. In one aspect, browsing activity of known users is analyzed to determine which items or categories of items are most popular in a given context (time, place, device, etc.). The known user browsing activity (clickstream data) is used to generate a multi-dimensional attribute matrix. Matrix factorization and clustering are used to generate affinity scores for items based on user context. These scores are used to generate item recommendations for an unknown user in a particular browsing context. In some embodiments, personalized item recommendations are updated based on interactions made between the unknown user and content of the website.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Methods and systems for analyzing and evaluating item recommendations presented on a web site are disclosed. In one aspect, a user interface is generated for display on a website. Item recommendations personalized for an individual user are displayed within in item recommendation region of the website. Impression, clickstream, and sales data are received from user activity on the website. The impression, clickstream, and sales data are displayed on a dashboard of an administrator user interface. An administrator user can select visualizations to display on the dashboard using selectors for impressions, clicks, sales, users, and time. Two or more sets of data can be overlaid to illustrate relationships between user interactions with recommended items and actual sales of those items. The dashboard is dynamically updated in response to new data received from the website in real-time.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing inventory movements are disclosed. Transfer orders are issued to move inventory from location to location in response to real-time demand events. One method includes receiving an inventory request in response to demand signals. The inventory request is analyzed to determine if inventory needs to be moved within the supply chain to satisfy the request. Origin locations are identified that have available stock of the requested items. Transfer orders are issued for each movement on an individual item basis regardless of the type of event that prompted the transfer. The transfer management system responds in real-time to inventory demands from both online and in-store sales.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing supply chains are disclosed. Replenishment of items within retail stores and distribution centers is optimized to respond to real-time demands. One method includes determining optimized inventory positions based on demand probability distributions. Items are stocked at locations within a supply chain in order to support efficient movement of items to customers. Inventory levels are maintains in real time. Proactive and reactive demand signals are received and are processed to trigger movements of items within the supply chain to fill orders and replenish stocks in anticipation of future customer demand.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management

Abstract

A lead time architecture includes a lead time aggregator that calculates a lead time estimate to move products between a first node in a supply chain and a second node in the supply chain. The lead time aggregator can additionally, or alternatively, calculate lead time estimate for the sourcing of a product. This lead time estimate reflects the time between receipt of a purchase order by a vendor and the time of delivery of the ordered product to a node within the supply chain. The lead time aggregator is in communication with resources which provide the data upon which the lead time aggregator bases its calculations. The calculations can take into account expected times for route travel, warehouse, and supplier sourcing to be completed. The resources can include any of various resources that can provide insight into an accurate determination of lead times and can include, for example, a route travel time estimator, delivery schedules, sourcing time estimates, unloading schedules, warehousing time estimates and product-node relationship data.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management
• G06Q 10/04 - Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"

Abstract

A lead time calculation system includes a configured lead time generator and a measured lead time generator. The configured lead time generator calculates a lead time estimate to move products between a first node in a supply chain and a second node in the supply chain based on expected travel times, expected warehouse times, expected sourcing times, delivery schedules, unloading schedules, and product-node relationship data. A measured lead time generator receives electronic data interchange (EDI) events, receipts, and purchase order data and calculates an actual lead time for the first node and second node. The actual lead time can be compared with the configured lead time to evaluate performance of different aspects of the supply chain. Lead time estimates can be adjusted based on actual lead times that are measured by the measured lead time generator.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/04 - Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"
• G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management

Abstract

Warehouse automation and methods of controlling material flow can be used to streamline order fulfillment. For example, according to some embodiments described herein, a method includes: causing a first mobile robot to engage with and transport a mobile storage unit to a robotic picking cell, causing a second mobile robot to engage with and transport an outbound container to the robotic picking cell, and causing the picking robot to transfer a sellable unit from the mobile storage unit to the outbound container.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing an item assortment from among a collection of heterogeneous items are disclosed. One method includes receiving item data associated with the collection of heterogeneous items that defines values for a plurality of item attributes, and calculating a score for a degree of substitutability between items. A community detection algorithm is applied to edge weights that are based on the scores between items, to identify substitution groups among the items. Preferred attributes common to items within the substitution groups are found, and an item assortment is updated based on a determination of substitutability among items in at least one of the substitution groups.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 30/02 - MarketingPrice estimation or determinationFundraising

Abstract

An inland freight management module manages inland moves of freight from a plurality of vendor supply locations to port and includes a profile maintenance component, a load planning component, and a load routing and booking component. The load planning component is programmed for planning field consolidation of one or more container loads via a multi-stop route between the plurality of vendor supply locations. A gateway balancing module balances shipments of a plurality of containers between a plurality of associated gateways and includes a determine demand subcomponent, a calculate containers subcomponent, a determine capacity subcomponent, and a generate balance recommendations subcomponent. The generate balance recommendations subcomponent is adapted to provide a user with a gateway balancing recommendation based upon a comparison of a handicapped gateway demand and de-consolidation capacities of each of the plurality of associated gateways.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06Q 10/00 - AdministrationManagement