Abstract: Techniques for performing a bit rake instruction in a programmable processor. The bit rake instruction extracts an arbitrary pattern of bits from a source register, based on a mask provided in another register, and packs and right justifies the bits into a target register. The bit rake instruction allows any set of bits from the source register to be packed together.

Abstract: Efficient computation of complex long multiplication results and an efficient calculation of a covariance matrix are described. A parallel array VLIW digital signal processor is employed along with specialized complex long multiplication instructions and communication operations between the processing elements which are overlapped with computation to provide very high performance operation. Successive iterations of a loop of tightly packed VLIWs may be used allowing the complex multiplication pipeline hardware to be efficiently used.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for management and negotiation of prices of goods purchased from a vendor. Pricing information is collected by a purchaser. This information reflects factors influencing pricing of components used by a vendor and intended for use in products sold to the purchaser. The pricing information is processed to develop models that can be used to compute expected prices for components. The models and other available information are then used to compute target prices for components. When a price quotation for a product is received from a vendor, the price quotation is analyzed, and the quoted price is compared against an overall target price generated by identifying the components making up the product and adding the target prices for components and elements making up the product. If the quoted price exceeds the target price, the price quotation is rejected. Negotiations may then be undertaken to resolve the pricing differences.

Abstract: Lighting packages are described for light emitting diode (LED) lighting solutions having a wide variety of applications which seek to balance criteria such as heat dissipation, brightness, and color uniformity. The present approach includes a backing of thermally conductive material and two or more arrays of LEDs attached to a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB is attached to the top surface of the backing and the two or more arrays of LEDs are separated by a selected distance to balance heat dissipation and color uniformity of the LEDs.

Abstract: A method for developing a template of a reference document, such as a bank note and using that template to validate other test documents. The method involves using images of a plurality of reference documents, such as banknotes and segmenting each image in a like manner into a plurality of segments. Each segment is then classified using a one-class classifier to determine a reference classification parameter. These parameters are used to define a threshold reference classification parameter. Optionally, the step of segmenting is optimized to determine a preferred number of segments, and a preferred combination of these for use in a subsequent validation process. Preferably, this is done using a stochastic algorithm such as a genetic algorithm.

Abstract: An array processor includes processing elements (00, 01, 02, 03, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33) arranged in clusters (e.g., 44, 46, 48, 50) to form a rectangular array (40). Inter-cluster communication paths (88) are mutually exclusive. Due to the mutual exclusivity of the data paths, communications between the processing elements of each cluster may be combined in a single inter-cluster path, thus eliminating half the wiring required for the path. The length of the longest communication path is not directly determined by the overall dimension of the array, as in conventional torus arrays. Rather, the longest communications path is limited by the inter-cluster spacing. Transpose elements of an N×N torts may be combined in clusters and communicate with one another through intra-cluster communications paths. Transpose operation latency is eliminated in this approach. Each PE may have a single transmit port (35) and a single receive port (37).

Abstract: A variety of advantageous mechanisms for improved data transfer control within a data processing system are described. A DMA controller is described which is implemented as a multiprocessing transfer engine supporting multiple transfer controllers which may work independently or in cooperation to carry out data transfers, with each transfer controller acting as an autonomous processor, fetching and dispatching DMA instructions to multiple execution units. In particular, mechanisms for initiating and controlling the sequence of data transfers are provided, as are processes for autonomously fetching DMA instructions which are decoded sequentially but executed in parallel.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for retail product transaction processing and security tag deactivation analysis. Upon detection of a security tag deactivation associated with entry of product information into a retail transaction, product information for the product is analyzed to determine whether the security tag deactivation is legitimate or possibly illegitimate. Upon identification of a deactivation as possibly illegitimate, an alert is issued to a retailer employee to investigate the transaction. The product information may be updated according to an entry made by the retailer employee identifying the deactivation as legitimate or illegitimate. Product information for a product may include a deactivation count for a product, with a deactivation being identified as possibly illegitimate if the deactivation count does not meet a predefined threshold, the deactivation count being incremented if a deactivation identified as unexpected is determined to be legitimate.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for improved accuracy of bar code detection and decoding are described. A bar code scanner employs a rotating spinner to reflect a laser beam used to produce one or more scan patterns emerging from scan windows. The spinner has reflective surfaces, with one or more of the surfaces exhibiting variations influencing characteristics of the laser beam as it is reflected from the surfaces. The scanner produces a scanner signal in response to light entering the scan windows, and processes the scanner signal to detect and decode bar codes within a scan field of the scanner. The rotational position of the spinner is continuously monitored and adjustments to processing parameters are made and other actions are taken based on the rotational position of the spinner, in order to compensate for variations in the scan pattern caused by the variations in the surfaces of the spinner.

Abstract: A telecommunications terminal is disclosed that comprises: a receiver for receiving a geographically-sensitive message and an indicium of a geographic location of relevance; means for ascertaining a geographic location of the telecommunications terminal; and a processor for determining a geographic region of interest based on the geographic location of the telecommunications terminal, for determining whether the geographic location of relevance is within the geographic region of interest, and for disregarding the geographically-sensitive message when the geographic location of relevance is not within the geographic region of interest.

Abstract: A method is described for determining the cause of an error state for one or more components within an apparatus. The apparatus comprises a plurality of sensors arranged to monitor the operation of components of the apparatus and a control means arranged to receive said information from said plurality of sensors. The method comprises analysing said sensor information in the form of an error log to ascertain sensor patterns from said sensor information comparing said sensor patterns with detectors, which are predefined patterns, indicative of the condition of said one or more components within the apparatus and classifying said sensor patterns as being indicative of said error state of a component or not based upon a comparison of sensor patterns with said detectors.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring a one way delay between two handsets over an Internet protocol (IP) network utilize a delay measurement subsystem connected to both handsets and a procedure to couple a test signal to both handsets and measure the response to the test signal. The delay measurement subsystem is connected to a call originating handset to play an acoustic test signal to the transmitter of the originating handset. The delay measurement subsystem is connected to a call terminating handset to play the acoustic test signal to the transmitter of the call terminating handset and to record acoustic signals received on the call terminating handset. Signals recorded at the call terminating handset include a sidetone signal and a signal received from the call originating handset. The difference between the sidetone signal and the signal received from the call originating handset represents the delay through the handsets and the IP network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-scanning retail merchandise. A mobile scanning station includes a frame, and a pair of arms mounted to the frame, positioned to hold an open bag for receiving pre-scanned items. A platform is mounted to the frame, positioned under the pair of arms for providing a supporting surface for items contained in an open bag held by the pair of arms. The frame further includes an EAS deactivator support for holding an EAS deactivator for deactivating EAS tags on pre-scanned items before they are placed in the open bag.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (SST) that allows a user to conduct one or more transactions through a remote transaction host during a user session includes a display module for use in presenting information to the user and a processing module that is configured to cause the SST to progress through a series of states. For each of the states, the SST receives from the transaction host an instruction to present on the display module a screen containing information corresponding to the state. At some point during the user session, the SST halts its progression through the series of states and presents on the display module a series of screens containing information received from a source other than the transaction host.

Abstract: Techniques are described for decoupling fetching of an instruction stored in a main program memory from earliest execution of the instruction. An indirect execution method and program instructions to support such execution are addressed. In addition, an improved indirect deferred execution processor (DXP) VLIW architecture is described which supports a scalable array of memory centric processor elements that do not require local load and store units.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing vocoders in parallel digital signal processors are described. A preferred approach is implemented in conjunction with the BOPS® Manifold Array (ManArray™) processing architecture so that in an array of N parallel processing elements, N channels of voice communication are processed in parallel. Techniques for forcing vocoder processing of one data-frame to take the same number of cycles are described. Improved throughput and lower clock rates can be achieved.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for eliminating or compensating for noise affecting a bar code scanner. A scanner is operated in a learning mode under conditions designed to insure that a scan signal will take on predictable characteristics and noise affecting the scan signal will be easily detectable. During the learning mode, information relating to noise affecting the scan signal and the conditions under which the noise occurs is stored. During normal operation of the scanner, the stored noise information is used in controlling operation of the scanner so as to eliminate or compensate for noise under conditions in which noise has been shown to be susceptible to occur.

Abstract: A reconfigurable register file integrated in an instruction set architecture capable of extended precision operations, and also capable of parallel operation on lower precision data is described. A register file is composed of two separate files with each half containing half as many registers as the original. The halves are designated even or odd by virtue of the register addresses which they contain. Single width and double width operands are optimally supported without increasing the register file size and without increasing the number of register file ports. Separate extended registers are also employed to provide extended precision for operations such as multiply-accumulate operations.

Abstract: A double indirect method of accessing a block of data in a register file is used to allow efficient implementations without the use of specialized vector processing hardware. In addition, the automatic modification of the register addressing is not tied to a single vector instruction nor to repeat or loop instructions. Rather, the technique, termed register file indexing (RFI) allows full programmer flexibility in control of the block data operational facility and provides the capability to mix non-RFI instructions with RFI instructions. The block-data operation facility is embedded in the iVLIW ManArray architecture allowing its generalized use across the instruction set architecture without specialized vector instructions or being limited in use only with repeat or loop instructions.

Abstract: A method of monitoring item shuffling in a post-scan area of a self-service checkout terminal having a post-scan shelf, a bagwell with a grocery container positioned therein, and a weight scale positioned so as to detect weight of items positioned both on the post-scan shelf and in the grocery container, includes the step of detecting removal of a first number of items from the post-scan shelf with the weight scale and generating a first weight decrease value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the first number of items. The method also includes the step of detecting placement of a second number of items into the grocery container with the weight scale and generating a first weight increase value in response thereto which corresponds to the weight of the second number of items.