Abstract: A method for real time presence verification, comprising: capturing a first image of a machine-readable label by a first camera of a mobile device; automatically decoding the machine-readable label to extract a reference to a database entry in response to the capturing; automatically triggering at the mobile device a capturing of a second image by a second camera of the mobile device in response to at least one of the decoding and the capturing; and automatically forwarding the second image and at least one of the first image, the database entry, and the reference to a control network node for documentation of the second image in association with the database entry.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for managing hardware components in a cloud computing environment. A mobile device captures an image of a bar code placed on a rack that is associated with an identifier that references an Internet resource of the management software that manages the rack. The mobile device transmits a request to the management software for information regarding a component in the rack, where the request includes a unique identifier (e.g., serial number) associated with the component. The management software uses the unique identifier to identify the component of interest and transmits information regarding the component of interest to the mobile device. In this manner, the client device can conveniently access the management software as well as conveniently acquire information dynamically from the management software about specific hardware components in these racks while the user is on the floor of the data center.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for managing hardware components in a cloud computing environment. A mobile device captures an image of a bar code placed on a rack that is associated with an identifier that references an Internet resource of the management software that manages the rack. The mobile device transmits a request to the management software for information regarding a component in the rack, where the request includes a unique identifier (e.g., serial number) associated with the component. The management software uses the unique identifier to identify the component of interest and transmits information regarding the component of interest to the mobile device. In this manner, the client device can conveniently access the management software as well as conveniently acquire information dynamically from the management software about specific hardware components in these racks while the user is on the floor of the data center.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes obtaining information about an object at a device; providing at least some of the information to an identification mechanism; obtaining an identifier for the object from the identification service; and using the identifier to access and store information about the object at an information mechanism. The information about the object may be determined from at least one image of the object. The information mechanism may include at least one object information application, and the information mechanism may have an Application Program Interface (API) to the at least one object information application, wherein the device uses the identifier to access the at least one object information application via the API. The identifier may be a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that is resolvable to the information mechanism.

Abstract: A host device is configured to (i) establish a point-to-point connection with a barcode reader via a point-to-point communication interface, (ii) determine that the barcode reader is in a state wherein executable instructions necessary for providing decoded data to the host device are not present within memory of the barcode reader, (iii) use the network interface to connect to a configuration server and to receive, from the configuration server, executable instructions required for the barcode reader to be capable of providing the decoded data to the host device, (iv) provide the executable instructions to the barcode reader via the point-to-point connection, and (v) receive from the barcode reader, via the point-to-point communication interface, the decoded data only after the executable instructions have been loaded to volatile memory of the barcode reader.

Abstract: A wireless scanner is described that performs a pairing operation with a wireless scanner base before commencing scanning operations in a wireless scanner network. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is used to achieve the pairing operation of the wireless scanner with the wireless scanner base by using an RFID tag associated with the wireless scanner base. The RFID tag in the wireless scanner base may contain pairing information such as a network address of the wireless scanner base for use in automatically establishing a wireless communication session with the wireless scanner base in accordance with another wireless protocol.

Abstract: The dual frequency RF identification device comprises an HF antenna for receiving an HF electromagnetic field, an HF interface, an UHF antenna for receiving an UHF electromagnetic field, an UHF interface, non-volatile memory means formed by a first non-volatile memory and a second non-volatile memory. The first non-volatile memory can be in an active state without the second non-volatile memory being powered and consumes substantially more power than this second non-volatile memory. The first non-volatile memory comprises all data needed for a device configuration allowing this device to carry out at least a communication mode of an UHF protocol, this communication mode having access to the first non-volatile memory but not to the second non-volatile memory. The first non-volatile memory further comprises all attributes needed for a configuration of this communication mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage preparation machine with ambience emulation functionality. A providing arrangement (11, 21, 17) provides data with visible 5 content for generating a predefined ambience when reproduced, wherein the provided data are linked to context information, said context information being indicative of a situation. An acquisition arrangement (11, 37, 60, 62, 63) acquires at least one actual context 10 information indicating an actual situation, and a display (10) reproduces data being associated to the acquired actual context information for generating an ambience related to the actual situation.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for effecting payments via a mobile phone. A purchase request is received from a merchant on behalf of a customer. A code is provided to the customer via the merchant, via a first communication path. A purchase confirmation is directly received from the customer, the purchase confirmation being prompted by provision of the code to the customer. The purchase is validated via using the purchase confirmation from the customer via a second communication path different from the first communication path. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for processing and tracking merchant deposits. An exemplary apparatus is configured to receive a deposit package that contains one or more deposit items which have been placed in the deposit package by a merchant. The deposit package may also contain and/or be coupled with visual indicia that has been created by the merchant. The visual indicia may specify information about the one or more deposit items placed in the deposit package. The apparatus may be further configured to read the visual indicia upon receiving the deposit package and track the deposit package based at least partially on the visual indicia.

Abstract: Barcodes are provided that are applied to or integrated with a moving carrier, where the barcodes have a plurality of information modules, at least one clock track having a plurality of alternating clock track modules and at least one reference track having a plurality of alternating reference track modules, where the at least one reference track is a second clock track and has a same periodicity as the clock track but a spatial phase shift when compared to the clock track. The barcode is configured to allow at least one barcode reader to determine a direction of movement of the carrier from at least one signal from a clock track detector and at least one signal from a reference detector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for processing and tracking merchant deposits. An exemplary apparatus is configured to receive a deposit package that contains one or more deposit items which have been placed in the deposit package by a merchant. The deposit package may also contain and/or be coupled with visual indicia that has been created by the merchant. The visual indicia may specify information about the one or more deposit items placed in the deposit package. The apparatus may be further configured to read the visual indicia upon receiving the deposit package and track the deposit package based at least partially on the visual indicia.

Abstract: A payment terminal includes a slot for inserting a magnetic memory card. A general display plane of the terminal, formed by a keyboard and/or a terminal screen, forms a non-zero angle with a general positioning surface of the terminal. The bottom plane of the insertion slot of a magnetic memory card is appreciably parallel to the plane on which the terminal is positioned.

Abstract: The planar antenna (PA) of a transponder chip module (TCM) may have a U-shaped portion so that an outer end (OE) of the antenna may be positioned close to an RFID chip (IC) disposed at a central area of a module tape (MT) for the transponder chip module. A module tape (MT2) may have contact pads (CP) on one side thereof and a connection bridge (CBR) on another side thereof, and may be joined with a module tape (MT1) having a planar antenna (PA). Metal of a conductive layer (CL) within a conductive element such as a coupling frame (CF) or a planar antenna (PA) may be scribed to have many small segments. A metal sheet may be stamped to have contact side metallization, and joined with a module tape (MT) having a planar antenna (PA).

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) having a first circuit block electrically coupled to first and second antenna contacts. The first antenna contact is disposed on a first surface of the IC and the second antenna contact is disposed on a second surface of the IC different from the first surface. The first and second antenna contacts are electrically disconnected from each other.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for locating a target IT component in a data center. A first identification marker is scanned by a mobile computing device. A location of the first identification marker in the data center based on a virtual representation of the data center is determined by the mobile computing device. An identity of the target IT component is received. A location of the rack containing the target IT component in the data center based on the virtual representation of the data center is determined by the mobile computing device. A map of the data center, wherein the map of the data center includes first indicia of the location of the first identification marker and second indicia of the location of the rack containing the target IT component, is displayed by the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A system, device and methods are provided for tracking objects, such as shipping containers and other movable items. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an object based on detection of an object identification tag and detecting a marker during transport of the object, wherein detection of the marker includes determining location data of the marker. The method may further include storing position data for the object based on the location data of the marker, and outputting the position data for the object.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a light source based location and operation system. A computing device may detect an encoded light signal containing an identifier from a light source at a location. The encoded light signal can be decoded to obtain the identifier, and a request for information based on the identifier can be transmitted in response to decoding the identifier. Information associated with the identifier may be received in response to the request for information including location information corresponding to the location of the light source. The location information may be used to provide additional information to the user or enable a user to control devices based on the location information.

Abstract: There is set forth herein an indicia reading apparatus comprising two or more light sensing assemblies. In one embodiment, the indicia reading apparatus can comprise a linear light sensing assembly and an area light sensing assembly, and can be operative to determine the range between the apparatus and the indicia. In one embodiment, the indicia reading apparatus can be operative to apply a range-assisted gain to the data output by one or more of the linear light sensing assembly and the area light sensing assembly to increase the likelihood of indicia reading and improve expected indicia read time.

Abstract: A method for aiding construction of a building is proposed. The building includes a plurality of building components. The method comprises: (A) providing at least one building component marking attached to at least one building component, (B) providing at least one RFID tag, and C) of using at least one building component marking to identify at least one building component on the building site. An RFID tag is attached to at least one building component. The RFID tag is configured to store a predetermined location of at least one building component on a building site. A building component marking is selected from the group consisting of: an optical reflective target; and a physical marking.