Abstract: User interface systems comprising a touch screen actuator and a tactile key, in which the tactile key is placed adjacent to the touch screen actuator so that manipulation of the tactile key can be detected by the touch screen actuator. Tactile key modules that can be so placed adjacent to a touch screen actuator, and methods of producing such user interface systems, as well as, repositioning such tactile key modules, are also described.

Abstract: A system and method of tracking bill payment methods which stores details about payment to develop promotions. The system includes a touch screen, keyboard, or other device for recording customer identification information. A display displays payment method options based upon the customer identification information. A touch screen or keyboard for records bill payer selection of one of the payment options. A cash acceptor, check reader, or card reader receives payment in accordance with the one payment option. Finally, a processor determines predetermined details about the payment and stores the details.

Abstract: A dual-communication electronic shelf label system and method which increase communication bandwidth and minimize competition with other RF systems in a store for bandwidth. The system includes a base station including first wireless downlink communication circuitry and first wireless uplink communication circuitry operating in a different mode than the first wireless downlink communication circuitry, and an electronic shelf label including second wireless downlink communication circuitry for receiving messages from first wireless downlink communication of the base station, and second wireless uplink communication circuitry for sending messages to first wireless uplink communication of the base station.

Abstract: Popular operating systems for user devices, such as personal computers (PCs), PDAs, pocketPCs, smartphones, and similar such personal devices, typically come bundled with software that is already installed, maintained and run on a user's computer, namely, a non-specialized HTTP client/web browser and a non-specialized instant messaging client. A device is described which presents a user's instant messaging client and HTTP client/web browser as a unified device for handling real-time user interactions with a network resident application. Since this device represents a network application's interface to a user it is termed a pseudodevice. The pseudodevice, which interfaces with network application software, formats user queries as hyperlinked instant messages that are then sent to the user. The user responds by clicking on a hyperlinked message, which invokes the user's web browser and causes the browser to convey the response as an HTTP request back to the pseudodevice.

Abstract: A self-service terminal alphanumeric data entry device comprises a multi-button input device and processing circuitry comprising a letter selector. At least one of the buttons is associated with a number and with at least two alphabetic letters. The input device is arranged to operate in a number entry mode wherein actuation of a button inputs the number associated therewith and a text entry mode. In the text entry mode, actuation of a button causes the letter selector to chose, from the letters associated with that button, the letter which has the highest probability of forming a word.

Abstract: A differential input/differential output converter circuit. The circuit comprises differential complementary input modules each comprising cross-coupled devices for biasing current mirror masters to a condition that increases the operating speed in response to a transition in the differential input signals. Certain current mirror masters are biased to a strong threshold condition and other current mirror masters are biased to a weak threshold condition responsive to a state of the differential input signals. According to another embodiment, the converter circuit further comprises a boost circuit capacitively coupled to the converter circuit for providing further speed improvements.

Abstract: A customer activity data system and method which generate reports for manufacturers, sellers, and other suppliers. The system includes a computer for analyzing transaction data obtained from a transaction terminal and information characterizing customer activity at an information terminal specific to an item bearing a radio frequency identification (RFID) label, and for generating a report.

Abstract: A module (38), a terminal (12) including the module, and a system (10) including the terminal (12), are described. The module may be a printer module (38) comprising a print engine (60), a microcontroller (62), and a wireless receiver (66), such as a wireless modem, so that the module (38) is operable to receive data from a remote server (18) and to print the received data. The module (38) also includes a coupler (70 or 270) for directing data received from the wireless modem (66) to the microcontroller (62) and for directing data from the terminal (12) to the microcontroller (62). A method of printing tickets at a terminal (12) and a method of retro-fitting a self-service terminal (12) are also described.

Abstract: Techniques for estimating a risk of incorrect timing analysis results for signal paths having cells with inputs tied together are described. Signal paths having cells with tied input pins are identified in a circuit. A timing analysis on the signal paths is run to identify the worst case delay through the signal paths. The risk to the signal paths of incorrect timing analysis results due to the cells with tied input pins is estimated by a tied input pin analysis tool. Metrics that quantify timing failure risk associated with signal paths is provided in the form of a set of equations. These equations are embedded into a process allowing automated multi-modal, multi power voltage temperature analysis for the identification of high risk paths.

Abstract: Efficient computation of complex multiplication results and very efficient fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) are provided. A parallel array VLIW digital signal processor is employed along with specialized complex multiplication instructions and communication operations between the processing elements which are overlapped with computation to provide very high performance operation. Successive iterations of a loop of tightly packed VLIWs are used allowing the complex multiplication pipeline hardware to be efficiently used. In addition, efficient techniques for supporting combined multiply accumulate operations are described.

Abstract: A method of determining failure of a CBS.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for recognizing and distinguishing between different containers in which products to be sold by weight may be placed before purchase. A point of sale terminal includes devices for capturing and evaluating information relating to the presence, absence and identity of container type indicia whose presence characterizes a container as belonging to a particular type having a particular weight. Containers in which products may be placed are given appropriate indicia. When an item is to be sold by weight, the item is weighed and a weight reading is received. Information relating to the presence, absence and identity of indicia characterizing a container type is captured and evaluated, and if a container bearing such indicia is identified, the container weight is subtracted from a weight reading to obtain a net weight for the products.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for demagnetizing a write head of a disc drive. Under control of a clock oscillator, synthetic demagnetizing pulses are generated and applied to a writer-driver bridge. Also under control of the clock oscillator, a write current produced by the writer-driver bridge incorporates the demagnetizing pulses and ramps down to about zero. The train of demagnetizing pulses and the write current ramp down demagnetizes the head, reducing write head magnetic bias that may influence the proximate read head of the disc drive head.

Abstract: To ensure high level of reliability, it is desirable to test an electrical device, such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, periodically with minimum possible energy usage and without compromising reliability. A regenerative load (RGL) unit is described which makes it possible to conduct a load test of a UPS system and supply a portion of the energy used for the load test from a generator in the RGL unit. An induction motor driven by an adjustable speed drive and coupled to an induction generator is used in the RGL unit to supply the load to the electrical device and supply a portion of the power used by the electrical device under test.

Abstract: An electronic price label (ESL) system for performing asynchronous ESL transactions. An event notification technique allows a communication base station (CBS) manager to directly notify an ESL manager when responses from an ESL are received, without the ESL manager needing to constantly poll the CBS manager. In one aspect, an inter-process communication layer (IPC) to allow for such event notification by the CBS manager. When initially beginning operation, the ESL manager subscribes to a CBS manager's event and provides the name of a function in the ESL manager to be called when this event occurs. When the ESL manager instructs the CBS manager to send a message to an ESL, the CBS manager provides the ESL manager with a handle or unique identification number to identify the message. When a response is received from the ESL, the CBS manager “fires an event” utilizing the IPC and indicates the identification number of the response.

Abstract: A scalable reconfigurable register file (SRRF) containing multiple register files, read and write multiplexer complexes, and a control unit operating in response to instructions is described. Multiple address configurations of the register files are supported by each instruction and different configurations are operable simultaneously during a single instruction execution. For example, with separate files of the size 32×32 supported configurations of 128×32 bit s, 64×64 bit s and 32×128 bit s can be in operation each cycle. Single width, double width, quad width operands are optimally supported without increasing the register file size and without increasing the number of register file read or write ports.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable medium, and apparatus for tracking the direction of a moving item by laser bar code scanners are disclosed. In particular, the method includes the following steps at a first sample in time. Those steps include sensing video transitions reflected off packaging graphics of the moving item by a pair of scan planes, counting the number of video transitions sensed by each scan plane of the pair of scan planes, and determining if the moving item intersects each of the scan planes by comparing the counted number of video transitions for each scan plane of the pair with a predetermined threshold at the first sample. At a second sample in time, the above steps are repeated and the method includes the additional step of evaluating the direction of movement of the moving item from changes observed from the first sample and the second sample.

Abstract: Systems and processes for more accurate mortgage scoring are described. A proportional hazards model is employed in which not only the occurrence of an event, but also the time to an event such as default of a loan, is considered. In this approach, a hazard rate can be viewed as the chance that an observation will experience an event in the next instant. There are two components to the response, and a binary variable is utilized to indicate whether the event was observed or not, and a time variable. As a result, the number of loans used for modeling is greatly increased, and the time it takes to observe the event, a valuable piece of information in itself, is included in the process. In addition, nonlinear effects are advantageously modeled in a continuous fashion using hat functions to map a series of independent variables. This approach typically yields smaller prediction errors near boundary points.

Abstract: An improved manifold array (ManArray) architecture addresses the problem of configurable application-spacific instruction set optimization and instruction memory reduction using an instruction abbreviation process thereby further optimizing the general ManArray architecture for application to high-volume and portablke battery-powered type of products. In the ManArray abbreviation process a standard 32-bit ManArray instruction is reduced to a smaller length instruction format, such as 14-bits. An application is first programmed using the full ManArray instruction set using the native 32-bit instructions. After the application program is completed and verified, an instruction-abbreviation tool analyzes the 32-bit application program and generates the abbreviated program using the abbreviated instructions. This instruction abbreviation process allows different program-reduction optimizations tailored for each application program. This process develops an optimized instruction set for the intended application.

Abstract: A system and method of transferring information between a first software application and a second software application which employ an isolation layer. The system includes a client computer system provided by a first seller of computer systems, including a client software application, and a server computer system provided by a second seller of computer systems different from the first seller of computer systems, including a server software application which provides information from the server computer system to the client computer system. The system additionally includes isolation layer software, either at the client computer system or at the server computer system, which facilitates communication between the client software application and the server software application to transfer the information.