Abstract: A plastic item, such as a beverage bottle, conveys two distinct digital watermarks, encoded using two distinct signaling protocols. A first, printed label watermark conveys a retailing payload, including a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) used by a point-of-sale scanner in a retail store to identify and price the item when presented for checkout. A second, plastic texture watermark conveys a recycling payload, including data identifying the composition of the plastic. The use of two different signaling protocols assures that a point-of-sale scanner will not spend its limited time and computational resources working to decode the recycling watermark, which lacks the data needed for retail checkout. In some embodiments, a recycling apparatus makes advantageous use of both types of watermarks to identify the plastic composition of the item (e.g., relating GTIN to plastic type using an associated database), thereby increasing the fraction of items that are correctly identified for sorting and recycling.

Abstract: A plastic item, such as a beverage bottle, conveys two distinct digital watermarks, encoded using two distinct signaling protocols. A first, printed label watermark conveys a retailing payload, including a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) used by a point-of-sale scanner in a retail store to identify and price the item when presented for checkout. A second, plastic texture watermark conveys a recycling payload, including data identifying the composition of the plastic. The use of two different signaling protocols assures that a point-of-sale scanner will not spend its limited time and computational resources working to decode the recycling watermark, which lacks the data needed for retail checkout. In some embodiments, a recycling apparatus makes advantageous use of both types of watermarks to identify the plastic composition of the item (e.g., relating GTIN to plastic type using an associated database), thereby increasing the fraction of items that are correctly identified for sorting and recycling.

Abstract: A network extender for a computer network including multiple computers interconnected with a shared, common memory. A computer system interface interconnects the multiple computers and controls data flow between the multiple computers and a memory controller connected to the memory. First and second identical interfaces are respectively connected in data communication with the computer system interface and the memory controller. Each interface includes a circuit for converting parallel data to serial data format and a circuit for converting serial data to parallel data format. The parallel to serial converting circuit and the serial to parallel converting circuit of the first interface are respectively connected to the corresponding serial to parallel and the parallel to serial converting circuits of the second interface by serial data communication conductors.

Abstract: A multiple computer interface for connecting a plurality of computers in a network system. The interface interconnects a plurality of computers or central processing units to a main computer control arrangement comprising a central processing unit, main memory storage for shared programs as well as peripheral I/O devices, such as printers. Separate directly addressable control processing units are provided for inputs as well as controlling various output devices such as printers.