Abstract: A heat and acid resistant probiotics microsphere having a size from 20 to 250 ?m that can readily be incorporated into food or beverages that subsequently undergo thermal treatment. The synbiotic core includes a seed layer formed from at least one polysaccharide. A probiotic microorganism is coated on the seed layer. An acid-resistant shell layer is positioned over the synbiotic core, the acid-resistant shell layer comprising one or more pH-responsive polymers. A heat-resistant bilayer shell is positioned over the acid-resistant shell layer, the heat-resistant bilayer shell including an inner shell layer and an outer shell layer, wherein the inner shell layer includes a heat-resistant liposome layer and the outer layer includes a heat-resistant disaccharide or polysaccharide.

Abstract: A point of sale system has a display for receiving touch inputs, a controller to receive the touch inputs from the display, and a secure controller to receive touch input data from the controller. The system also has a card interface module and a contactless interface module to provide encrypted data to the secure controller. The secure controller can operate in either a secure mode or a non-secure mode. When a non-secure mode is engaged, the secure controller provides the touch input data to a processor. When a secure mode is engaged, the secure controller blocks at least a portion of the touch input data from the processor.

Abstract: Processor system with a general purpose processor and a cryptographic processor dedicated to performing cryptographic operations and enforcing the security of critical security parameters. The cryptographic processor prevents exposure of critical security parameters outside the cryptographic processor itself, and instead implements a limited scripting engine, which can be used by the general purpose processor to execute operations that require the critical security parameters.

Abstract: An expedited booting process with brownout detection for a payment reader is provided. The payment reader can execute a boot sequence from read only memory at startup. A check is made of a stored flag value to determine whether a value such as a flag indicates whether or not a prior execution of the boot sequence was successful. If the last execution of the boot sequence was successful, the boot sequence can be executed at a faster clock rate. Otherwise the boot sequence is executed at a slower clock rate. An evaluation can be made to determine whether a predetermined portion of the boot sequence has been surpassed. If the predetermined portion of the boot sequence has been surpassed, the flag value can be set to indicate a successful execution of the boot sequence and the general operating instructions for the payment reader are then executed.

Abstract: Processor system with a general purpose processor and a cryptographic processor dedicated to performing cryptographic operations and enforcing the security of critical security parameters. The cryptographic processor prevents exposure of critical security parameters outside the cryptographic processor itself, and instead implements a limited scripting engine, which can be used by the general purpose processor to execute operations that require the critical security parameters.

Abstract: Processor system with a general purpose processor and a cryptographic processor dedicated to performing cryptographic operations and enforcing the security of critical security parameters. The cryptographic processor prevents exposure of critical security parameters outside the cryptographic processor itself, and instead implements a limited scripting engine, which can be used by the general purpose processor to execute operations that require the critical security parameters.

Abstract: A communication device generates a wireless carrier signal and communicates by modulating the wireless carrier signal. A measurement circuit of the communication device measures an inductively coupled signal that is based on the transmitted wireless carrier signal and a measurement value is calculated for that signal. The measurement value is used to select a modulation procedure that is used by the communication device to encode data to be transmitted. The communication device generates and transmits a wireless data signal based on the data to be transmitted, the selected modulation procedure, and the carrier signal.

Abstract: A point of sale system has a display for receiving touch inputs, a controller to receive the touch inputs from the display, and a secure controller to receive touch input data from the controller. The system also has a card interface module and a contactless interface module to provide encrypted data to the secure controller. The secure controller can operate in either a secure mode or a non-secure mode. When a non-secure mode is engaged, the secure controller provides the touch input data to a processor. When a secure mode is engaged, the secure controller blocks at least a portion of the touch input data from the processor.

Abstract: Processor system with a general purpose processor and a cryptographic processor dedicated to performing cryptographic operations and enforcing the security of critical security parameters. The cryptographic processor prevents exposure of critical security parameters outside the cryptographic processor itself, and instead implements a limited scripting engine, which can be used by the general purpose processor to execute operations that require the critical security parameters.

Abstract: Processor system with a general purpose processor and a cryptographic processor dedicated to performing cryptographic operations and enforcing the security of critical security parameters. The cryptographic processor prevents exposure of critical security parameters outside the cryptographic processor itself, and instead implements a limited scripting engine, which can be used by the general purpose processor to execute operations that require the critical security parameters.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for a wireless musical figurine belonging to a set of wireless musical figurines that play audio files in coordination with one another. One system of the musical figurine includes a wireless transceiver utilized to communicate with one or more musical figurines. The musical figurine also includes a set of master audio files of a first quality level, and a set of slave audio files of a second quality level. An audio player plays an audio file from the set of master audio files or the set of slave audio files. A master audio file is played when the musical figurine is initiated in accordance with a user indication, and a slave audio file is played when the musical figurine is initiated by another musical figurine. The musical figurine may also have movement capabilities which may be coordinated with the playing of an audio file to present a dancing figurine.

Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for a wireless musical figurine belonging to a set of wireless musical figurines that play audio files in coordination with one another. One system of the musical figurine includes a wireless transceiver utilized to communicate with one or more musical figurines. The musical figurine also includes a set of master audio files of a first quality level, and a set of slave audio files of a second quality level. An audio player plays an audio file from the set of master audio files or the set of slave audio files. A master audio file is played when the musical figurine is initiated in accordance with a user indication, and a slave audio file is played when the musical figurine is initiated by another musical figurine. The musical figurine may also have movement capabilities which may be coordinated with the playing of an audio file to present a dancing figurine.

Abstract: Decoration devices of various forms are disclosed, including decoration devices that connect with one or more decorative bodies having performances or routines. When decorative bodies are attached to decoration devices of various embodiments of the present invention, the activation and control of any performance or routine on one decoration device may result in the activation and control of any number of performances or routines on other decoration devices. Once a selection of a performance or routine is received or identified, information associated with the selection may be communicated among the decorative bodies and used to activate additional performances.