IP Library Granted Patent US 11,704,623
Granted Patent B1
US 11,704,623 · App. 17/849,268 · Granted Jul 18, 2023

Systems and methods for product imaging and provisioning applications

Inventors: Jai Thomas (Schaumburg, IL); Teresa Joy Astreides (Mount Prospect, IL); William A. Cuffe (Palatine, IL); Lindsay N. Mikos (Arlington Heights, IL); Andrew G. Shotwell (Evanston, IL)
Assignee: WALGREEN CO.
G06Q10/087G06Q30/0233G06K7/10722G06K7/1413
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,704,623
App. No.
17/849,268
Granted
Jul 18, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods for product imaging and provisioning include a mobile application (app) installed on an imaging device, where the mobile app activates the imaging device to generate an image of a product tag associated with an unavailable product at a first location. The mobile app determines, based on the image, a product indicator associated with the unavailable product. A provisioning app, executing on a remote device, receives the product indicator associated with the unavailable product. The provisioning app also receives a user indicator associated with a first user and executes one or more product provisioning rules that determine, based on a product availability database and the user indicator, an availability result. The availability result indicates whether the unavailable product will be available to the first user. The provisioning app is further operable to send the availability result to the imaging device for presentation by the imaging device.

Claims (41)

1. A product provisioning system comprising:

a remote device comprising one or more processors;

a mobile application (app) installed on an imaging device, the mobile app operable to:

activate the imaging device to generate an image of a product tag associated with an unavailable product, the unavailable product currently unavailable at a first location, and

determine, based on the image, a product indicator associated with the unavailable product; and

extract a price from the image of the product tag at a given time;

a provisioning app executing on the remote device, the provisioning app operable to receive requests from, and send responses to, the mobile app, the provisioning app further operable to:

receive the product indicator associated with the unavailable product,

receive a user indicator associated with a first user,

execute one or more product provisioning rules, the one or more product provisioning rules determining, based on a product availability database and the user indicator, an availability result, the availability result indicating whether the unavailable product will be available to the first user,

send the availability result to the imaging device, wherein the availability result and price of the unavailable product as imaged in the product tag at the given time is presented via the imaging device on a display view,

receive a request from the imaging device indicating a selection of the first user to save the price of the unavailable product as imaged in the product tag at the given time, and

associate the price of the unavailable product as imaged in the product tag at the given time with the user indicator of the first user.

2. The product provisioning system of claim 1 , wherein the availability result indicates that the unavailable product will be available to the first user, and wherein the provisioning app associates the product indicator with the user indicator.

3. The product provisioning system of claim 2 , wherein a predefined purchase amount of the unavailable product is associated with the user indicator.

4. The product provisioning system of claim 3 , wherein the availability result further indicates an expiration timestamp, the expiration timestamp indicating when the predefined purchase amount will be disassociated with the user indicator.

5. The product provisioning system of claim 3 , wherein the provisioning app is further operable to receive a selection of the first user to purchase the unavailable product with balance reward points associated with the user indicator.

6. The product provisioning system of claim 4 , wherein the expiration timestamp is set to a date one week from the determination of the availability result.

7. The product provisioning system of claim 4 , wherein the expiration timestamp is set to a date of expiration of the unavailable product.

8. The product provisioning system of claim 4 , wherein the expiration timestamp is set based on the first location.

9. The product provisioning system of claim 3 , wherein availability result causes the imaging device to display an indication that the unavailable product has been associated with the user indicator and to display the predefined purchase amount.

10. The product provisioning system of claim 2 , wherein the provisioning app is further operable to notify the first user via a notification when the unavailable product becomes available.

11. The product provisioning system of claim 10 , wherein the notification is a push-based notification.

12. The product provisioning system of claim 2 , wherein the mobile app is further operable to display a list of one or more availability results.

13. The product providing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more product provisioning rules include a maximum limit product rule, the maximum limit product rule specifying the a maximum amount of the unavailable product that will be available to all users.

14. The product providing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more product provisioning rules include a per-user limit product rule, the per-user limit product rule specifying the an amount of the unavailable product that will be available to the first user.

15. The product providing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more product provisioning rules include a second location rule, the second location rule triggered when the unavailable product is unavailable at the first location and is available at a second location, the second location rule causing the availability result to indicate that the unavailable product is available to the first user at the second location.

16. A product provisioning method comprising:

activating, via a mobile application (app), an imaging device to generate an image of a product tag associated with an unavailable product, the unavailable product currently unavailable at a first location;

determining, based on the image, a product indicator associated with the unavailable product;

extracting a price from the image of the product tag at a given time;

receiving, via a provisioning app executing on a remote device, the product indicator associated with the unavailable product;

receiving, via the provisioning app, a user indicator associated with a first user;

executing, via the provisioning app, one or more product provisioning rules, the one or more product provisioning rules determining, based on a product availability database and the user indicator, an availability result, the availability result indicating whether the unavailable product will be available to the first user;

sending, via the provisioning app, the availability result to the imaging device, wherein the availability result and price of the unavailable product as imaged in the product tag at the given time is presented via the imaging device on a display view;

receiving a request from the imaging device indicating a selection of the first user to save the price of the unavailable product as imaged in the product tag at the given time; and

associating the price of the unavailable product as imaged in the product tag at the given time with the user indicator of the first user.

17. The product provisioning method of claim 16 , wherein the availability result indicates that the unavailable product will be available to the first user, and wherein the provisioning app associates the product indicator with the user indicator.

18. The product provisioning method of claim 17 , wherein the mobile app displays a list of one or more availability results.

19. The product provisioning method of claim 17 , wherein a predefined purchase amount of the unavailable product is associated with the user indicator.

20. The product provisioning method of claim 17 , wherein the provisioning app notifies the first user via a notification when the unavailable product becomes available.

Assignments (3)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: WALGREEN CO.
To: SIXTH STREET LENDING PARTNERS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072606/0878 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: WALGREEN CO.; DUANE READE; WALGREENS SPECIALTY PHARMACY LLC; WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072679/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: THOMAS, JAI; ASTREIDES, TERESA JOY; CUFFE, WILLIAM A.; MIKOS, LINDSAY N.; SHOTWELL, ANDREW G.
To: WALGREEN CO.
Reel/Frame 063561/0898 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation 15891823 · Feb 8, 2018