Amazon US Patent 9,554,096 Automated garment photography with fit adjustment

BACKGROUND 

Online shopping has transformed retail in many areas. But apparel is one area where consumers have not fully adopted the online shopping model. Clothing returns are high, and it is believed that many customers abandon online clothing purchases prior to completing them. As a result, some online retailers have generous return policies for clothing that does not fit in order to make the customer more comfortable with purchasing clothing online. 

Compounding this problem is the fact that there is no size standardization in the apparel industry. For example, a size "8" from one clothing manufacturer is not necessarily the same as a size "8" from another manufacturer, making it difficult for a consumer to know whether a garment purchased online will fit. Also, a pant size reported by the manufacturer to be 32 inches in the waist and 34 inches in the inseam does not provide information about how much room the pants have in the thigh, for example. 

Amazon''s Patent Application for reducing sound generated by an aerial vehicle/drone

Once Amazon's thousands or millions of drones takes off for delivery from their beehive shaped fulfillment center, it's a matter of time before people starting to complaint about buzzing noise. The ultimate test of the noise reduction method described in this patent application will be the end of year holiday shopping.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:  The present disclosure is directed to controlling, reducing, and/or altering sound generated by an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle ("UAV"), while the aerial vehicle is airborne. For example, one or more propellers of the aerial vehicle include propeller blade treatments that alter the sound generated by the propeller. For example, the propeller blade treatments may disrupt the airflow around the propeller blades as they rotate and/or absorb sound generated by the propeller blade as it rotates. By using propellers with different propeller blade treatments on the same aerial vehicle, the propellers may generate sounds that destructively interfere with each other, thereby reducing or altering the overall sound generated by the aerial vehicle. Likewise, some of the propeller blade treatments, in addition to altering the sound, reduce and/or otherwise alter the total sound generated by a propeller.

Amazon's voice-controlled light switches US Patent Application 20170188437

BACKGROUND 

Homes are becoming more wired and connected with the proliferation of computing devices such as desktops, tablets, entertainment systems, and portable communication devices. As computing devices evolve, many different ways have been introduced to allow users to interact with these devices, such as through mechanical means (e.g., keyboards, mice, etc.), touch screens, motion, and gesture. Another way to interact with computing devices is through speech. 

Amazon - Multi-level fulfillment center for unmanned aerial vehicles - US Patent Application 20170175413

United States Patent Application	20170175413
Kind Code	A1
Curlander; James Christopher ;   et al.	June 22, 2017

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MULTI-LEVEL FULFILLMENT CENTER FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES 

Abstract A multi-level (ML) fulfillment center is designed to accommodate landing and takeoff of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), possibly in an urban setting, such as in a densely populated area. Unlike traditional fulfillment centers, the ML fulfillment centers may include many levels (i.e., stories, floors, etc.) as permitted under zoning regulations for respective areas. The fulfillment center may have one or more landing locations and one or more deployment locations to accommodate UAVs, which may delivery at least some of the items from the fulfillment center to locations associated with customers.

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Inventors:

Curlander; James Christopher; (Bellevue, WA) ; Gilboa-Amir; Asaf; (Seattle, WA) ; Kisser; Lauren Marie; (Seattle, WA) ; Koch; Robert Arthur; (Issaquah, WA) ; Welsh; Ricky Dean; (Bellevue, WA)

Applicant:	Name City State Country Type Amazon Technologies, Inc. Seattle WA US
Family ID:	1000001639661
Appl. No.:	14/975618
Filed:	December 18, 2015

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Current U.S. Class:	1/1
Current CPC Class:	E04H 14/00 20130101; B64F 1/10 20130101; B64F 1/025 20130101; B64F 1/32 20130101; B64C 2201/066 20130101; B64C 2201/128 20130101; B64C 2201/20 20130101; B64C 2201/18 20130101; B64C 39/024 20130101
International Class:	E04H 14/00 20060101 E04H014/00; B64C 39/02 20060101 B64C039/02; B64F 1/02 20060101 B64F001/02; B64F 1/32 20060101 B64F001/32; B64F 1/10 20060101 B64F001/10; B64F 1/36 20060101 B64F001/36

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Amazon - Physical store online shopping control - United States Patent 9,665,881

United States Patent	9,665,881
Ward	May 30, 2017

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Physical store online shopping control 

Abstract Systems and methods for controlling online shopping within a physical store or retailer location are provided. A wireless network connection may be provided to a consumer device at a retailer location on behalf of a retailer, and content requested by the consumer device via the wireless network connection may be identified. Based upon an evaluation of the identified content, a determination may be made that the consumer device is attempting to access information associated with a competitor of the retailer or an item offered for sale by the retailer. At least one control action may then be directed based upon the determination.

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Inventors:	Ward; Miles J. (Seattle, WA)
Applicant:	Name City State Country Type Ward; Miles J. Seattle WA US
Assignee:	Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Reno, NV)
Family ID:	58738762
Appl. No.:	13/464,602
Filed:	May 4, 2012

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Current U.S. Class:	1/1
Current CPC Class:	G06Q 30/0239 (20130101)
Current International Class:	G06Q 30/02 (20120101)

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Amazon - Systems and methods for removing debris from warehouse floors - United States Patent 9,665,095

United States Patent

	9,665,095
Romano ,   et al.	May 30, 2017

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Systems and methods for removing debris from warehouse floors

Abstract Robots or other machines may be used for retrieving errant objects from the floor of an automated warehouse. A system can include one or more reporting methods to alert a central control to the existence and location of an object on the warehouse floor. The central control can establish a safety zone around the object to avoid contact with normal warehouse traffic (e.g., standard warehouse robots). The system can route a cleanup robot to the location to retrieve the object. The system can include a cleanup pod comprising a convertible shelving unit with a robotic arm. The cleanup pod can have a similar form factor as shelving units used for storing inventory in the warehouse, thereby enabling standard warehouse robots to lift and transport the cleanup pod to retrieve an object.

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Inventors:	Romano; Joseph (Seattle, WA), Wurman; Peter R. (Acton, MA), Polic; Dennis (North Reading, MA), Mansfield; Peter K. (Bellevue, WA)
Applicant:	Name City State Country Type Amazon Technologies, Inc. Seattle WA US
Assignee:	Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Seattle, WA)
Family ID:	1000001044723
Appl. No.:	14/662,893
Filed:	March 19, 2015

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Amazon - Aerial package delivery system - United States Patent 9,663,234

Amazon patent details desire to rain Prime deliveries from the heavens
TNW-Jun 2, 2017 Amazon filed a patent for a parachute/packing label hybrid for their drone deliveries — meaning future Amazon packages could float onto your ...

Amazon granted patent to put parachutes inside shipping labels
The Register-Jun 2, 2017 Amazon patents shipping label with built-in parachute

Amazon patents shipping label with built-in parachute for dropping ...
GeekWire-May 30, 2017 Amazoncustomers could someday be repeating this phrase as the online retail giant this morning received a patent for a shipping label with a ...

United States Patent	9,663,234
Hanlon	May 30, 2017

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Aerial package delivery system

Abstract Systems and methods for delivering packages via aerial vehicles are disclosed. The system can comprise a label that includes a parachute to enable the packages to be dropped from the aerial vehicle, yet land at the package's destination without damage. The system can include a self-adhesive backing, a plurality of parachute cords, a parachute, and a breakaway cover. The parachute cords can include a shock absorber to reduce the shock on the package of the parachute opening. The parachute and/or the breakaway cover can include graphics to provide address, velocity, or spin information for the package. The parachute cords can include a harness to separate the cords and reduce tangling of the cords and spinning of the parachute canopy with respect to the package.

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Inventors:	Hanlon; Jon T. (Mercer Island, WA)
Applicant:	Name City State Country Type Amazon Technologies, Inc. Seattle WA US
Assignee:	Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Seattle, WA)
Family ID:	1000001402641
Appl. No.:	14/836,112
Filed:	August 26, 2015

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