Abstract: A method including performing, at a mobile device being used by a consumer, an identity authentication of the consumer. The method also can include receiving, at the mobile device, first information from a point-of-sale terminal at a store of a merchant. The first information can include a merchant identifier, a transaction identifier, and a payment amount. The merchant identifier can be associated with the merchant. The payment amount can be for one or more items to be purchased from the merchant by the consumer in a transaction. The transaction identifier can be associated with the transaction.

Abstract: A modular sign may comprise a base portion and an upright portion. The base portion may include an upright portion aperture in a top surface of the base. The upright portion may include an interlocking portion forming a lower end of the upright portion. The interlocking portion is configured to be inserted into the upright portion aperture of the base portion.

Abstract: An automated manufacturing system that includes a self-contained through-skin sensor for determining the location of an underlying aperture in a support structure suited to mount a skin or surface. In an embodiment, the sensor includes a sensor disposed in a housing and configured to determine a location of an aperture disposed in an adjacent surface through electromagnetic, x-ray, ultrasonic or other means. The sensor further includes an alignment assembly having an alignment orifice disposed in the housing and configured to be maneuvered in an x-y plane within the housing. The sensor also includes a vacuum pump system, a local battery and a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to control first and second actuators to maneuver the alignment orifice within the x-y plane to be co-axially located with the aperture in response to the sensor signal.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for presenting content based on information detected in real time includes: receiving first information corresponding to detection of at least attendance at a physical location; selecting, in real time with the detection, at least one winning bid based on the first information, the at least one winning bid conditioned on the first information meeting an attendance criterion; and providing at least one winning content item associated with the selected winning bid to a content presentation device at the physical location.

Abstract: The present invention provides for novel metabolic pathways to reduce or eliminate glycerol production and increase product formation. More specifically, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a deletion of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol and/or regulate glycerol synthesis and one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in one or more engineered metabolic pathways to convert a carbohydrate source, such as lignocellulose, to a product, such as ethanol, wherein the one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes is activated, upregulated, or downregulated.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide a closed loop power control system including adaptively adjusting the desired target SINR over time so as to ultimately achieve a feasible SINR. In one implementation, a method is provided of optimizing uplink closed loop power control in a RAN in which one or more base stations each service a plurality of mobile stations, including: determining a power level for each mobile station for its respective uplink transmissions, including measuring a current achieved SINR for each mobile station; and for each mobile station, adjusting the power level to be sufficiently high to meet desired transmission characteristics but not so high as to cause unnecessary interference with transmissions from other mobile stations, by adjusting a desired target SINR based on factors selected from the following: current and prior achieved SINRs, current and prior interference measurements, and current and prior transmission power control commands.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing information via a computer network are provided. A data processing system can identify a cluster that includes a plurality of online content items having a semantic or user similarity. The data processing system determines a plurality of cluster placement criteria of the cluster, and receives content configured for display with a web page. The content can be associated with the cluster based on the semantic or user similarity. A cluster placement criterion of the plurality of cluster placement criteria can be selected based on a quality metric of the selected cluster placement criterion, and the selected cluster placement criterion can be provided as a supplemental criterion used to select the content for display with the web page.

Abstract: One example system for enabling NFC communications with a wearable biosensor includes a biosensor applicator including a housing defining a cavity configured to receive and physically couple to a biosensor device, and to apply the biosensor device to a wearer; a first applicator coil antenna physically coupled to the housing and defined within a first plane; and a second applicator coil antenna physically coupled to the housing and defined within a second plane substantially parallel to and different from the first plane, the second applicator coil antenna positioned coaxially with respect to the first applicator coil antenna, wherein the first applicator coil antenna is configured to wirelessly receive electromagnetic (“EM”) energy from a transmitter coil antenna of a remote device and provide at least a first portion of the received EM energy to the second coil antenna; and a biosensor device including a biosensor coil antenna defined within a third plane substantially parallel to and different than the fir

Abstract: A football helmet is disclosed that includes a shell constructed of fiber reinforced epoxy resin, a liner made from expanded polypropylene, an impact absorbing layer situated between the liner and the shell, and a face guard. The impact absorbing layer is constructed from either expanded polypropylene or a viscoelastic polymer encased in a suitable thin yet resilient and elastic membrane. An optional impact absorbing band is also shown disposed around the inner periphery of the liner and encircling the player's head. The impact absorbing band serves to reduce impact forces occurring from side helmet impact with objects or players.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for gender classification by applying feature learning and feature engineering to face images. The method includes conducting feature learning on a face image comprising feeding the face image into a first convolution neural network to obtain a first decision, conducting feature engineering on a face image, comprising the steps of automatically detecting facial landmarks in the face image, transforming the facial features into a two-dimensional matrix, and feeding the two-dimensional matrix into a second convolution neural network to obtain a second decision, computing a hybrid decision based on the first decision and the second decision, and classifying gender of the face image in accordance with the hybrid decision.

Abstract: An illuminator includes a semiconductor emitter chip, e.g. a VCSEL chip, configured for emitting a light beam. A polarization-selective element is optically coupled to the semiconductor emitter chip for defining a polarization state of the emitted light beam. A beam redirecting optic is coupled to the polarization-selective element for receiving and at least one of collimating or redirecting the emitted light beam. The polarization-selective element, e.g. a polarization-selective optical feedback element for VCSEL, defines a polarization state of the emitted light beam, thereby stabilizing output optical power of light beam propagated through the beam redirecting optic. A light beam of a constant optical power and a well-defined polarization state may be used as an illumination source for an eye-tracking system.

Abstract: A seed delivery device that includes an enclosed container inside which is encapsulated one or more plant seeds and a medium. The medium may comprise one or more particulate materials, one or more aqueous materials, or a combination of one or more particulate materials and aqueous materials. The specific gravity of the entire device is greater than the specific gravity of water. The seed delivery devices may be used to address the planting of seeds in conditions where water is or may become present.

Abstract: An integrated display and ventilation assembly includes a display screen and a first air register. The first air register is displaceable between a first stowed position concealed behind the display screen and a first deployed position projecting from behind the display screen. A related method of ventilating a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing wireless network communications between a plurality of remote devices and a site controller are provided. Each network and the site controller communicates using a communications protocol adapted to allow remote devices and the site controller to independently control the communication path for transmissions sent by each device. In some embodiments, remote devices can collect and store information about other remote devices and available communication paths for optimum data transmission. Also, in some embodiments, remote devices can quickly join a preexisting network by communicating with a site controller and/or other remote devices. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

Abstract: Wireless communications for selecting an uplink carrier for a random access procedure are described. A base station may configure a wireless device with one or more uplink carriers associated with a downlink carrier of a cell. The one or more uplink carriers may comprise at least a normal uplink (NUL) carrier and a supplemental uplink (SUL) carrier. The wireless device may measure one or more downlink reference signals and channel occupancy level(s) of an NUL and/or an SUL. The wireless device may select one of an NUL or an SUL for a random access procedure, for example, based on a signal strength of the one or more downlink reference signals and/or the channel occupancy level(s).

Abstract: An improved container system is capable of automatically aligning or orienting each container to face in a particular orientation. This allows the container to automatically face forward when it is stored, thus having, for example, the label face forward. Then a user will be more quickly able to find a particular container holding the contents the user is looking for. In a specific implementation, the container system is a spice rack.