Walmart. has been granted a patent for a system that utilizes a control circuit and a trained neural network model to process images from mobile devices. This system determines prescription information, including transfer and refill needs, and can electronically instruct a human or robot to fulfill prescriptions accordingly. GlobalData’s report on Walmart gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Walmart, Transaction splitting was a key innovation area identified from patents. Walmart's grant share as of June 2024 was 38%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Automated prescription fulfillment and transfer system using images
The patent US12046340B2 describes a sophisticated system designed to streamline the process of recognizing and managing prescription information through the use of advanced neural network technology. The system comprises an electronic network, an electronic database containing a mathematical model, and a control circuit that connects these components. The control circuit is responsible for training the mathematical model to identify prescription-related data by utilizing training images, which may include insurance cards, membership cards, and prescriptions. A key feature of this system is its ability to assign a confidence score to the training images, which informs the model's training process, allowing it to fine-tune its recognition capabilities or discard less relevant images. The model is structured as a neural network that evolves from an initial state to a more advanced state capable of discerning critical information from the images.
In practical application, the system enables users to initiate a prescription transfer from their current pharmacy to a different pharmacy while they are in-store. This is achieved through a mobile electronic device that captures images of the user's existing prescription and related cards. The control circuit processes these images in real-time, extracting prescription information and determining whether a transfer or refill is necessary. Based on this analysis, the system can control a robot to retrieve the required medication and facilitate the electronic transfer of prescriptions between pharmacies. The patent also outlines various configurations for the image capture device, which can include smartphones, tablets, or kiosks, and emphasizes the flexibility of the system in handling different types of image inputs, such as videos or multiple items in a single image.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
