Abstract: Images of an unknown item picked from a store are processed to produce a cropped image. The cropped image is processed to produce a brightness/perspective corrected image, and the brightness/perspective corrected image is processed to produce a low-resolution final image. Image features of the low-resolution final image are extracted and compared against known item features for known items to identify an item code for a known item.

Abstract: Images of an unknown item picked from a store are processed to produce a cropped image. The cropped image is processed to produce a brightness/perspective corrected image, and the brightness/perspective corrected image is processed to produce a low-resolution final image. Image features of the low-resolution final image are extracted and compared against known item features for known items to identify an item code for a known item.

Abstract: An image is compared to a validation image to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio. The signal-to-noise ratio is used to determine validity of the image. According to an embodiment, the image includes a barcode. According to another embodiment, a minimum threshold value for the signal-to-noise ratio is set and the validity of the image is determined based on the minimum threshold value and the signal-to-noise ratio. The minimum threshold value can be determined by using respective signal-to-noise ratios resulting from comparing a valid image to a validation image and an invalid image to a validation image.

Abstract: Images of an unknown item picked from a store are processed to produce a cropped image. The cropped image is processed to produce a brightness/perspective corrected image, and the brightness/perspective corrected image is processed to produce a low-resolution final image. Image features of the low-resolution final image are extracted and compared against known item features for known items to identify an item code for a known item.

Abstract: Embodiments of a symbol for identification of a property of a presented item at a Point-Of-Sale Terminal (POS) are generally described herein. A method can include a detecting a presence of a symbol other than a barcode within at least one image captured by a scanner of the POS of an item presented to the scanner, the symbol indicating that the presented item has a property, and when the presence of the symbol is detected, outputting an indication that the presented item has the property.

Abstract: An image is compared to a validation image to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio. The signal-to-noise ratio is used to determine validity of the image. According to an embodiment, the image includes a barcode. According to another embodiment, a minimum threshold value for the signal-to-noise ratio is set and the validity of the image is determined based on the minimum threshold value and the signal-to-noise ratio. The minimum threshold value can be determined by using respective signal-to-noise ratios resulting from comparing a valid image to a validation image and an invalid image to a validation image.

Abstract: An image is compared to a validation image to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio. The signal-to-noise ratio is used to determine validity of the image. According to an embodiment, the image includes a barcode. According to another embodiment, a minimum threshold value for the signal-to-noise ratio is set and the validity of the image is determined based on the minimum threshold value and the signal-to-noise ratio. The minimum threshold value can be determined by using respective signal-to-noise ratios resulting from comparing a valid image to a validation image and an invalid image to a validation image.

Abstract: Embodiments of a symbol for identification of a property of a presented item at a Point-Of-Sale Terminal (POS) are generally described herein. A method can include a detecting a presence of a symbol other than a barcode within at least one image captured by a scanner of the POS of an item presented to the scanner, the symbol indicating that the presented item has a property, and when the presence of the symbol is detected, outputting an indication that the presented item has the property.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the dimensions of an unknown item using multiple images captured by different cameras. The dimensions include the height, length and width of the item. The dimensions are used to reduce the universe of possible candidates that would identify the unknown item. The methods use multiple reference planes and projects elements of the item onto the one or more of the reference planes to determine the coordinates of the elements of the item. Once the coordinates are determined, the dimensions of the items are determined.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for low resolution item identification using brightness compensated images. An image of an unknown item is captured in digital RGB image format and converted to HSV image format. Then the HSV formatted image is quantized which greatly reduces the resolution of the image. The quantized HSV image data of the unknown item is compared to a plurality of quantized HSV image data for known items. The comparison includes using a signal-to-noise ratio calculated using the quantized HSV image data for both the unknown and known items. A match is found when the calculated signal-to-noise ratio is above a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An image is compared to a validation image to obtain a signal-to-noise ratio. The signal-to-noise ratio is used to determine validity of the image. According to an embodiment, the image includes a barcode. According to another embodiment, a minimum threshold value for the signal-to-noise ratio is set and the validity of the image is determined based on the minimum threshold value and the signal-to-noise ratio. The minimum threshold value can be determined by using respective signal-to-noise ratios resulting from comparing a valid image to a validation image and an invalid image to a validation image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the dimensions of an unknown item using multiple images captured by different cameras. The dimensions include the height, length and width of the item. The dimensions are used to reduce the universe of possible candidates that would identify the unknown item. The methods use multiple reference planes and projects elements of the item onto the one or more of the reference planes to determine the coordinates of the elements of the item. Once the coordinates are determined, the dimensions of the items are determined.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for low resolution item identification using brightness compensated images. An image of an unknown item is captured in digital RGB image format and converted to HSV image format. Then the HSV formatted image is quantized which greatly reduces the resolution of the image. The quantized HSV image data of the unknown item is compared to a plurality of quantized HSV image data for known items. The comparison includes using a signal-to-noise ratio calculated using the quantized HSV image data for both the unknown and known items. A match is found when the calculated signal-to-noise ratio is above a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An electromagnetic signal transmitter for fraud prevention in a self-service terminal is described. The electromagnetic signal transmitter comprises a plurality of coil drives. The plurality of coil drives may include a first inductive coil drive comprising a first pair of opposing poles; and a second inductive coil drive comprising a second pair of opposing poles, where the second pair of opposing poles are offset from the first pair of opposing poles in at least two dimensions.

Abstract: An electronic shelf label with internal information which may be used all locations, including wet locations. The electronic shelf label includes a housing including a substantially transparent portion containing an aperture and an inner surface, a display in the housing for displaying information about an item associated with the electronic shelf label, wherein the display is visible through the aperture, and a layer of material adjacent the inner surface for conveying information about the item.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing wireless transmission of information in electronic display systems and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention is directed to an air interface and protocol to facilitate wireless transmission of information from a communication base station or other controlling device to individual electronic display modules.

Abstract: An electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method which maintains power to a memory within the electronic price label during removal and replacement of a battery. The battery storage apparatus includes a battery compartment in the housing, a generally circular lid which is rotatable between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the lid includes a tab, and power terminals accessible from a rear surface of the housing which provide power to a memory within the electronic price label when a power source is coupled to the power terminals, wherein the power terminals are covered by the tab when the lid is in the closed position.

Abstract: An electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method which maintains power to a memory within the electronic price label during removal and replacement of a battery. The battery storage apparatus includes a battery compartment in the housing, a generally circular lid which is rotatable between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the lid includes a tab, and power terminals accessible from a rear surface of the housing which provide power to a memory within the electronic price label when a power source is coupled to the power terminals, wherein the power terminals are covered by the tab when the lid is in the closed position.

Abstract: An electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method which maintains power to a memory within the electronic price label during removal and replacement of batteries. The battery storage apparatus includes a first electrical contact for simultaneously providing a first electrical path to first polarity sides of a plurality of batteries within the electronic price label, a second electrical contact for simultaneously providing a second electrical path to second polarity sides of the plurality of batteries, and a retainer which maintains at least a single one of the batteries in contact with the first and second electrical contacts during removal of other batteries to maintain power to the memory within the electronic price label.

Abstract: An electronic price label which is suitable for use in both small EPLs having lengths of about 1.5 to 2 inches and large size EPLs having lengths of about 3 to 4 inches. The antenna includes a folded planar conductor including a generally planar radiator portion coupled to a antenna port on a printed circuit board, a generally planar ground plane portion coupled to a ground on the printed circuit board having a width and oriented generally parallel to the radiator portion, and a dielectric layer between the radiator portion and the ground plane portion. The width of the ground plane portion is larger than the width of the radiator portion by a distance sufficient to produce an electric field which is linearly polarized in the width direction, thereby eliminating a need for shielding.