Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for receiving one or more input signals and providing output signals in various video, audio, data and mixed formats are described. One or more input processors receive the input signals. Each of the input processors provides one or more packetized signals corresponding to one or more of the input signals received at the input processor. Each output processor can receive one or more packetized signals and generate one or more output signals. The output signals correspond to one or more of the input signals, additional locally generated signals or data relating to the signals or any combination of such signals. Use of a packet router according to the invention allows input signals encoded as one set of packetized signals to be recombined to provide additional packetized signals incorporating the same or different combinations of the packetized signals.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes processing transactions from multiple users as installment transactions based on an installment plan. A first transaction associated with a first user is received. The transaction includes an installment indicator and a transaction value, the installment indicator indicating that an installment plan is requested, and wherein the transaction value is less than a total value threshold required to qualify for the installment plan. At least one second transaction associated with at least one second user is identified associated with the installment plan. Based on a sum of the transactions exceeding the total value threshold, the first transaction is associated with the at least one second transaction as an installment transaction set associated with the installment plan. The installment transaction set is then provided for processing as installment transactions.

Abstract: Methods and system for managing media clips over a data network. Media streams may be received over a data network and stored by a storage server. Metadata regarding the media streams may be generated and stored at a metadata server. A control station can retrieve media frames originating in the stored media streams from the storage server, based on metadata. Media frames from multiple media streams can be retrieved and displayed in synchronization, based on respective timecodes.

Abstract: In some aspects, a computing system can generate entity links between a primary entity object identifying a primary entity for multiple accounts and secondary entity objects identifying secondary entities from the accounts. The computing system can determine a rate at which secondary users change on the accounts. The computing system can update, based on the determined rate, the primary entity object to include a fraud-facilitation flag. The computing system can also service a query from a client system regarding a presence of a fraud warning for a target consumer associated with a consumer system that accesses a service provided with the client system. For instance, the computing system can generate a fraud warning based on the target consumer being identified in a secondary entity object associated with the primary entity object having the fraud-facilitation flag. The computing system can transmit the fraud warning to the client system.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, server systems and devices for redeeming a gift card at a merchant terminal. The method includes receiving, by a server system associated with a payment network, a payment transaction request from the merchant terminal. The payment transaction request includes a first information associated with a merchant, a second information associated with a payment card of a customer and a transaction amount to be paid to a merchant account. The method also includes detecting if at least one gift card with a gift balance amount associated with the merchant is already linked with the payment card. The method further includes sending an approval request to redeem at least a part of the gift balance amount for the transaction amount to the customer. The method includes processing payment of the transaction amount using at least the part of the gift balance amount upon receiving an approval from the customer.

Abstract: A method for processing merchant-bypassing refunds includes: storing blockchain data including blockchain values, each including a transaction identifier, recipient address, sender address, and transaction amount; receiving a refund request including a specific identifier; identifying a specific blockchain value that includes the specific identifier; receiving a transaction request including a buyer digital signature, merchant address, and spending amount, where the spending amount is greater than the transaction amount in the specific blockchain value; generating a new transaction value that includes the buyer digital signature, a first transaction pair comprising a refund address and the transaction amount in the specific blockchain value, and a second transaction pair comprising the merchant address and a remainder amount based on a difference between the spending amount and the transaction amount in the specific blockchain value; and transmitting the generated new blockchain value to a node in a blockchai

Abstract: A method for processing a multi-account check includes: receiving a first authorization request including a transaction amount, an account identifier, and a check number; identifying a blockchain associated with the account identifier including a plurality of blocks, each block including a block header and blockchain data values, and a blockchain data value included in one of the blocks including the check number; generating two or more additional authorization requests including a payment amount, an alternate account number, and an alternate check number, where the alternate account number included in each of the additional authorization requests is unique among the additional authorization requests and a total of the payment amount included in the additional authorization requests is based on the transaction amount; and transmitting each of the additional authorization requests to a financial institution associated with the alternate account number included in the respective additional authorization request

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a data transmission system comprising a plurality of video routers, a supervisory system for transmitting one or more router configuration signals to one or more video routers, and a control communication network for coupling the plurality of video routers and the supervisory system. Each router in the system comprises a backplane including a plurality of backplane connections, at least one line card and at least one fabric card. Each line card comprises a plurality of input ports and output ports where each input and output port is coupled to a respective external signal through the backplane. Each line card further comprises a line card cross-point switch having a plurality of input switch terminals and a plurality of output switch terminals. Each fabric card comprises a fabric card cross-point switch having a plurality of input switch terminal and a plurality of output switch terminals.

Abstract: Methods and system for managing media clips over a data network. Media streams may be received over a data network and stored by a storage server. Metadata regarding the media streams may be generated and stored at a metadata server. A control station can retrieve media frames originating in the stored media streams from the storage server, based on metadata. Media frames from multiple media streams can be retrieved and displayed in synchronization, based on respective timecodes.

Abstract: A method for preventing account referral fraud includes: receiving a referral request, the request including a referring account identifier; transmitting a digital signature corresponding to the referral request to a processing server; verifying, by the processing server, the digital signature using a public key; identifying a plurality of blockchain data values included in a blockchain using the public key, wherein each data value is related to a blockchain transaction involving a blockchain wallet associated with the public key; generating an authenticity score for the blockchain wallet based on data included in the plurality of blockchain data values; receiving, by the referral server, the authenticity score from the processing server; and processing the referral request based on the authenticity score, wherein processing the referral request includes one of: declining the referral and awarding a referral reward.

Abstract: Phantoms for use in calibrating a dual energy imaging system and methods for their use. The phantoms include a body having at least first and second portions arranged in a through-thickness direction of the body. The first portion defines an anterior surface of the body and contains a first material simulating soft tissue and a second material simulating bone. The second portion contains a third material simulating lung tissue and at least a first object embedded in the third material and formed of a fourth material simulating tumor tissue. The first and second portions of the body are configured such that the second material in the first portion superimposes the first object in the second portion in the through-thickness direction of the body relative to the anterior surface thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for receiving one or more input signals and providing output signals in various video, audio, data and mixed formats are described. One or more input processors receive the input signals. Each of the input processors provides one or more packetized signals corresponding to one or more of the input signals received at the input processor. Each output processor can receive one or more packetized signals and generate one or more output signals. The output signals correspond to one or more of the input signals, additional locally generated signals or data relating to the signals or any combination of such signals. Use of a packet router according to the invention allows input signals encoded as one set of packetized signals to be recombined to provide additional packetized signals incorporating the same or different combinations of the packetized signals.

Abstract: A method for secure approval of a check includes: reading a machine-readable code to obtain a block identifier and a validation value, wherein the machine-readable code is displayed on a physical check and encoded with the block identifier and validation value; receiving a digital signature from an external device; identifying a blockchain data value stored in a blockchain, wherein the blockchain data value includes at least the block identifier and an additional value; validating the received digital signature using a public key; validating the validation value based on a comparison of the validation value to the additional value; and approving use of the physical check to fund a payment transaction upon successful validation of the received digital signature and validation value.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for systems and methods that can be used to determine a destination location in a network fabric. In one example embodiment, the method comprises receiving an application server attribute at a fabric controller from a source port, generating at the fabric controller a destination location based on the application server attribute and mapping information stored on the fabric controller, and transmitting the destination location to the source port, where the source port transmits packetized data to a destination location based on the destination location.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for systems and methods that can be used to determine a destination location in a network fabric. In one example embodiment, the method comprises receiving an application server attribute at a fabric controller from a source port, generating at the fabric controller a destination location based on the application server attribute and mapping information stored on the fabric controller, and transmitting the destination location to the source port, where the source port transmits packetized data to a destination location based on the destination location.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein include an engine that uses data science, history, and trends to successfully determine and suggest the complimentary add on and upsell items that are tailored to at least some of the customer, current trends, product popularity, recommendations, and other such factors. One embodiment, in the form of a method, includes receiving, from a process involved in processing an open transaction, data representative of at least one of products and services that are subjects of the open transaction. The method further includes querying a recommendation engine for at least one of product and service recommendations based on the received data representative of products and services and receiving, in response to the query, at least one product or service recommendation. The method may then provide the at least one product recommendation to the process involved in processing the open transaction.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate to methods and systems for detecting the blockiness of a video signal comprised of a number of pixels. The method includes the steps of determining if the pixel forms a part of at least one visible horizontal transition along a macroblock border, at least one visible vertical transition along a macroblock border, at least one flat area or at least one flat macroblock; calculating a horizontal border transitions count, a vertical border transitions count, a flat area count and a macroblock flat area count; and generating at least one blockiness indicator for the region of interest selected from the group consisting of a block border indicator, a flat area indicator and a flat block indicator, wherein the at least one blockiness indicator is based on at least one of the horizontal border transitions count, the vertical border transitions count, the flat area count and the macroblock flat area count.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting audio levels in a plurality of audio signals are disclosed. One or more input signals containing one or more audio signals are depacketized. The audio signals are analyzed to determine if audio levels of the signals correspond to a desired audio level for at least some of the signals. The audio levels of signals that do not correspond are adjusted. Packets that do not require adjustment and the resulting adjusted packets are combined to form one or more output signals corresponding to the one or more input signals.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a data transmission system comprising a plurality of video routers, a supervisory system for transmitting one or more router configuration signals to one or more video routers, and a control communication network for coupling the plurality of video routers and the supervisory system. Each router in the system comprises a backplane including a plurality of backplane connections, at least one line card and at least one fabric card. Each line card comprises a plurality of input ports and output ports where each input and output port is coupled to a respective external signal through the backplane. Each line card further comprises a line card cross-point switch having a plurality of input switch terminals and a plurality of output switch terminals. Each fabric card comprises a fabric card cross-point switch having a plurality of input switch terminal and a plurality of output switch terminals.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for receiving one or more input signals and providing output signals in various video, audio, data and mixed formats are described. One or more input processors receive the input signals. Each of the input processors provides one or more packetized signals corresponding to one or more of the input signals received at the input processor. Each output processor can receive one or more packetized signals and generate one or more output signals. The output signals correspond to one or more of the input signals, additional locally generated signals or data relating to the signals or any combination of such signals. Use of a packet router according to the invention allows input signals encoded as one set of packetized signals to be recombined to provide additional packetized signals incorporating the same or different combinations of the packetized signals.