Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an approach is provided in which a product request is received that corresponds to a point-of-sale (POS) device, which is located at a merchant facility. In addition to identifying a product location corresponding to the product, an employee location of an employee in proximity to the product location is also identified. In turn, an electronic message is sent to the employee's mobile device that includes a request to transport the product from the product location to the POS device.

Abstract: A location-based service includes detecting the relative motion of an on-site resource, detecting the absolute position of the on-site resource, and tracking the position of the on-site resource. The position is tracked by deriving a deduced position based on the detected relative motion and adjusting the deduced position as a function of and in response to the detected absolute position. According to one embodiment, the on-site resource can be a shopping cart and the tracking includes recording a travel pattern of the shopping cart as it moves through a site floor plan such that the travel pattern is reproducible. Preferably, the recorded travel pattern includes travel patterns within an aisle in the site floor plan such that the recorded patterns include travel along the length of the aisle and travel having components which are perpendicular to the length of the aisle.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting that a signature capture device is not performing optimally by analyzing captured signatures for either aesthetic quality or expected form, wherein the signature capture device performs the aesthetic quality or expected form analysis and wherein the analysis is performed by software external to the signature capture device.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for testing a radio frequency identification reader. The radio frequency identification reader transmits a test signal to a diagnostic tag during a diagnostic period. Responsive to receiving a return signal from the diagnostic tag, the radio frequency identification reader compares the return signal with an expected return signal to form a comparison. The radio frequency identification reader identifies an operational status for the radio frequency identification reader using the comparison.

Abstract: A method for automatically determining a configuration of an I/O connector panel is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing information about the capabilities of the connector card to a memory within the connector card, examining the information in the memory. The method further includes downloading at least one driver to a system coupled to the I/O connector panel based upon the examined information.

Abstract: A system for enabling reliable verification of items being purchased using a self checkout system. The self checkout system is equipped with a verification mark dispenser and verification mark detectors that respectively dispenses a mark on an item as the item is being scanned for purchasing and then verifies, by detecting the mark on the item, that the item being bagged (or passed through the tunnel) is the same item that was scanned. When a customer scans an item for purchase, and if purchase transaction is successful, a mark (made of a non-reactive but detectable material or ink) is placed on the exterior packaging of the item. When the item is placed in the tunnel, the detector, sensitive to the activation of the specific marking and located at or in the tunnel, detects the marking on the item. If the activated marking is not detected by the detector, an alert condition is triggered.

Abstract: A system for automatically determining a configuration of an I/O connector panel is disclosed. The system provides information about the capabilities of the connector card to a memory within the connector card, examining the information in the memory. The system further downloads at least one driver to a system coupled to the I/O connector panel based upon the examined information. The I/O capabilities of a platform (as determined by an I/O panel or other hardware that contains some identification mechanism that defines the I/O capabilities) is within the connector card. This mechanism is then used to determine what software to “preload” into a system so that as new I/O devices are added in the field, the required software for these devices has already been preloaded.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for testing a radio frequency identification reader. The radio frequency identification reader transmits a test signal to a diagnostic tag during a diagnostic period. Responsive to receiving a return signal from the diagnostic tag, the radio frequency identification reader compares the return signal with an expected return signal to form a comparison. The radio frequency identification reader identifies an operational status for the radio frequency identification reader using the comparison.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a method, an apparatus, and a computer usable program product for authenticating a transaction. A confirmation device receives an authentication data pattern from a data processing system, wherein the authentication data pattern is generated in response to completing a transaction processed by the data processing system. Responsive to receiving the authentication data pattern from the data processing system, the confirmation device monitors a transmission comprising the data pattern from a wireless mobile device. Responsive to receiving the transmission comprising the data pattern from the wireless mobile device, the confirmation device authenticates the data pattern from the wireless mobile device using an authentication form.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for detecting false purchases is disclosed. The method includes detecting a motion across a product identifier in a self-service terminal and monitoring for a product identifier. In response to failing to detect the product identifier, an alert signal is transmitted.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer usable program product for varying the amount of received advertising content. A content editor provides a portion of a plurality of levels of advertising to a user, wherein the portion of the plurality of levels indicates an amount of advertising content to be received by the user. Responsive to receiving a user input selecting the portion of the plurality of levels, the content editor inserts the amount of advertising content into a media content to form a modified media content, wherein the amount of advertising content corresponds to the portion of the plurality of levels selected by the user. The content editor then transmits the modified media content to the user.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a magnetic reader assembly, a magnetic reader subassembly, a computer implemented method, and a computer program product for diagnosing a magnetic reader subassembly. A processor generates a test signal during a diagnostic period. The processor then receives a return signal from the magnetic reader subassembly. The processor then compares the test signal and the return signal and diagnoses an operational status of the magnetic reader subassembly in response to the comparison of the test signal and the return signal.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for detecting false purchases is disclosed. The method includes detecting a motion across a product identifier in a self-service terminal and monitoring for a product identifier. In response to failing to detect the product identifier, an alert signal is transmitted.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting that a signature capture device is not performing optimally by analyzing captured signatures for either aesthetic quality or expected form, wherein the signature capture device performs the aesthetic quality or expected form analysis and wherein the analysis is performed by software external to the signature capture device.

Abstract: A method and system for managing printer paper conditions is provided. The method includes monitoring states of a paper source in a point-of-sale (POS) printer by a light source and sensor mounted in the paper source, the light source emitting light. A low paper state is determined when a low reflection is detected by the sensor, the low reflection resulting from light reflecting off of a colored portion of a paper roll when the light source and the sensor are positioned on the same side of the paper roll. The colored portion is provided along a margin at the low end of the paper roll. The method further includes tracking a motor step count of the paper source in response to the low paper state to determine a current amount of paper remaining on the paper roll, and transmitting a notification to a system that manages the POS printer informing the system of the current amount of paper remaining.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling reliable verification of items being purchased using a self checkout system. The self checkout system is equipped with a verification mark dispenser and verification mark detectors that respectively dispenses a mark on an item as the item is being scanned for purchasing and then verifies, by detecting the mark on the item, that the item being bagged (or passed through the tunnel) is the same item that was scanned. When a customer scans an item for purchase, the purchase transaction is processed and, if the item is successfully purchased (i.e., transaction confirmed), a mark (made of a non-reactive but detectable material or ink) is placed on the exterior packaging of the item. When the item is placed in the tunnel, the detector, sensitive to the activation of the specific marking and located at or in the tunnel, detects the marking on the item.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to file system access and provide a method, system and apparatus for a file system firewall. In one embodiment of the invention, a data processing system configured for file system access can be provided. The data processing system can include a file system, an operating system, a set of access rules, each of the access rules having an associated rule key, and a file system firewall disposed between the file system and the operating system. The file system firewall can include program code enabled to permit or deny a file system request according to an access rule in the set of access rules associated with a rule key formed from an application based attribute in the file system request.

Abstract: A method and system for wirelessly coupling a computer with a peripheral device. The peripheral device is initially docked to a docking port in the computer. Detecting the docking event, the computer then turns on the docked peripheral device and listens for identifiers from all peripheral devices within range of the computer, including the identifier for the peripheral device that is presently docked with the computer. The computer then instructs the docked peripheral device to turn off, thus preventing the docked peripheral device from broadcasting its identifier. By a process of deduction, the computer is able to identify the docked peripheral device. In a preferred embodiment, the docked peripheral device subsequently is wirelessly associated only with the computer to which that peripheral device was initially docked.

Abstract: A location-based service includes detecting the relative motion of an on-site resource, such as a shopping cart, in addition to detecting the absolute position of the on-site resource, and displaying information on the on-site resource. The displayed information is based upon the detected relative motion and the detected absolute position. The relative motion is tracked and a position on a floor plan is deduced. This deduced position is adjusted, for example, synchronized or reset, as a function of and in response to the detected absolute position.

Abstract: A shopping environment process includes determining when a shopper is in proximity to an item by detecting a wireless transmission from a shopper device associated with the shopper. A purchase price of the item is determined based in part on the identity of the shopper. A graphical interface of a shelving device associated with the item then displays the purchase price. The interface enables the shopper to purchase the item. The item is then included in a virtual shopping cart associated with the user if the user purchases the item. The shopper device may include a card reader enabling the shopper to associate with the shopper device by swiping a loyalty card. The shelving device can communicate with a customer database server by sending a wireless communication to an intermediate shelving device and transmitting the communication from the intermediate shelving device to a repeater device connected to a wired network.