Abstract: Machine-Learning Model (MLM) build technique is provided. Build instructions are normalized into a cloud-independent format. Each cloud identified in the instructions is assigned a specific adapter. The adapter translates the normalized format into a cloud-specific format and the adapters interact with configuration Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) of the specific cloud to process the instructions in the cloud-specific format. As the adapters interact with the corresponding APIs, output feedback from the APIs is live streamed within an interface to a developer that provided the instructions for monitoring the builds simultaneously being configured on multiple clouds. When the build instructions complete with the APIs on the clouds, the user is presented an option to initiate an orchestrator that loads, initiates, and trains the MLM as a unique instance of the MLM on each cloud.

Abstract: A system and method for converting an environmental signal surrounding the checkout terminal to a transmission signal is disclosed. The system verifies the accuracy of the transaction at the checkout terminal by analyzing the transmission signal produced by a signal transmission device, which activates upon a detection of a predetermined environmental signal caused around the vicinity of the checkout terminal. The detection of the predetermined environmental signal is performed by a sensor apparatus placed at the checkout terminal which monitors and senses environmental signals during the transaction of an item being purchased at a store.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, software, and devices for edge system health monitoring and auditing. One embodiment, in the form of a method includes performing a system audit over a first network of devices deployed within the facility to determine a status of each respective device. This embodiment further includes determining an overall system status for the facility based on results of the system audit including consideration of a status of each of the devices deployed within the facility and storing data representative of the overall system status of the facility. This embodiment also transmits at least a portion of the data representative of the overall system status of the facility over a second network to a facility system status monitoring application which may then present a single indicator of the overall system status or health.

Abstract: Item images and item information for an item identified as being associated with a potential theft during a transaction at a transaction terminal are sent in real time to an alert controller of a management terminal. The item images and item information with transaction details are presented on a display for resolution by a clerk operating the management terminal. A timer is also set and a confidence score calculated representing a confidence level that the item is the subject of theft. When the timer expires and there is still no resolution provided by the clerk a decision is made as to whether to interrupt the transaction processing on the transaction terminal for assistance or whether to permit the transaction to complete on the transaction terminal based on the calculated confidence score.

Abstract: Examples of a system and method for transacting media at a self-service terminal (SST), are generally described. A method may include receiving a PIN on a user interface component of a media interface aperture cover. The method may include causing the media interface aperture cover to retract to dispense or receive media through a media interface aperture.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, software, and data structures for context-aided machine vision. For example, one method embodiment includes identifying a customer in a shopping area and maintaining an item bin in a computing system of data identifying items the customer has picked up for purchase. This method further includes receiving an image of the customer holding an item and performing item identification processing on the image to identify the item the customer is holding. The item identification processing may be performed based in part on a stored shopping history of the customer indicating items the customer is more likely to purchase. The identified item is then added to the item bin of the customer.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring patterns of commands provided by a self-service terminal controller, identifying potential fraud in the monitored patterns of commands, and suspending operation of a dispenser of the self-service terminal responsive to the identification of potential fraud.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for interacting with a consumer ledger. The systems and methods include: receiving a copy of the consumer ledger from one of a plurality of miners; adding a transaction to the consumer ledger; and transmitting the consumer ledger to the plurality of miners for conformation.

Abstract: A consumer is identified engaged in an activity at a specific physical location. A context is formulated for the consumer based on the activity, the location, preferences associated with the consumer, and a history associated with the consumer. A natural language voice-based assistance session is initiated with the consumer. The session follows the consumer as the consumer travels and remains engaged in the activity. In an embodiment, the session is seamlessly maintained and is seamlessly transferred from a plurality of different devices as the consumer is engaged in the activity and travels. In an embodiment, the session is initiated without the consumer requesting the session.

Abstract: An identity of a customer within an establishment is authenticated using a variety of captured biometric features obtained from sensors and/or video. Video capturing movements/interactions of the customer is analyzed in real time to identify the customer's behavior and actions. Any staff of the establishment who interact with the customer are identified from the video. Transaction data and other data retained for the customer by the establishment are aggregated and linked with the video and the customer identity. The linked data is analyzed in combination with the customer behavior and actions to determine responses within the establishment to customer-initiated transactions. In an embodiment, the customer is authorized to perform at least one transaction within the establishment based on the authenticated identity and linked data without a presentation by the customer of an identification card, a Personal Identification Number (PIN), a password and/or verification by a staff member.

Abstract: A vison-based self-checkout terminal is provided. Purchased items are placed on a base and multiple cameras take multiple images of each item placed on the base. A location for each item placed on the base is determined along with a depth and the dimensions of each item at its given location on the base. Each item's images are then cropped, and item recognition is performed for each item on that item's cropped images with that item's corresponding depth and dimension attributes. An item identifier for each item is obtained along with a corresponding price and a transaction associated with items are completed.

Abstract: A base transaction User Interface (UI) is provided that provides transaction processing for transactions at transaction terminals. The base UI can be customized through independent and decoupled customization/extension files, which provide specific UI customizations for UI screen content, UI screen styles, UI screen views, UI screen workflows, and UI screen resource functionality. Customizations or extensions are achieved without modifying the base UI. The customizations or extensions are dynamically obtained during execution of the base UI from the corresponding files and processed by the base UI as user-defined custom overrides.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, software, apps, and visualizations for floorspace management. In particular, some embodiments leverage mobile shopping and other technologies to identify when and where a customer selects items within a retail space and completes the purchase. This data is then stored and visualizations are generated from this data for areas and periods. Such embodiments enable identification of well-performing and under-performing areas of retail space based on criteria pertinent to the particular user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing one item of media at a time from an item of media container. The apparatus includes a movable element locatable in an abutting relationship with an elected item of media in a media container and disposed to vibrating against the elected item of media to permit the elected item of media to be subsequently be removed alone from the container.

Abstract: Images captured for components of a device are monitored for changes by evaluating a first region of interest in the images. Periodically, a command is sent to the device to move one or more of the components to a known position or state. A certain component or set of components associated with being moved based on the command is evaluated in a second region of interest in the images to determine if the corresponding component or set of components is in the known position or state within the images. When the corresponding component or set of components is not identified from the images in the known position or state, a security alert is raised for the device and security operations are processed on the host device.

Abstract: Biometric features are derived from security data associated with a subject. The security data is obtained from a security device. A biometric value is calculated from the biometric features. The biometric value is anonymized to an identifier associated with the subject. The identifier is integrated with event data associated with a security system. In an embodiment, the security device is a Personal Identification Number (PIN) pad integrated into a transaction terminal, the security data is fingerprint data, which is read from a finger of the subject placed on a fingerprint reader integrated into the PIN pad, and the biometric value is a PIN calculated from fingerprint data during a transaction at the transaction terminal. In an embodiment, the security device is a security camera, the security data is a secure video stream, and the biometric features are facial features of the subject in the secure video stream.

Abstract: A site server agent monitors a site server for an event associated with an update process that spans multiple resources associated with multiple systems. The agent hands the monitoring off to a remote connected systems manager when a state associated with the event does not change to an expected value within a configured period of time or based on a configured condition. Connected systems manager continues to monitor the state and elevates the event to a level two incident after a second configured period of time or based on a second configured condition. When the state has still not changed after a third configured period of time or based on a third configured condition, a level one incident is generated in an incident management system associated with the site for support staff to immediately investigate the update process and resources of the systems.

Abstract: A user makes a request from a requesting device for access to a secure operation associated with a network-based service. A first biometric authentication is processed for the request and at least one second scope-based authentication is processed for the request based on an analysis of a physical environment for the requesting device. A determination is made based on at least the first biometric authentication and the scope-based authentication whether the secure operation can be: processed on behalf of the user by the network-based service, not processed at all, or processed only if requested from a specific medium/channel associated with a specific device, which may or may not be the requesting device.

Abstract: A consumer is identified at a transaction terminal. A natural-language voice chatbot is initiated for the transaction. The chatbot is configured with store information for a store associated with the terminal and, optionally, with preferences registered to the consumer. A natural language voice dialogue using, at least the store information, is initiated between the chatbot and the consumer while the consumer is at the terminal and during the transaction. The consumer may order store items from the store and pay for the items through the dialogue. In an embodiment, the items ordered are delivered to the terminal where the consumer is located.

Abstract: Inter-microservice communications are managed through in-memory connection routing. A sending microservice writes a message over a port associated with the connection. The message is routed directly to one or more receiving microservices associated with the connection over their ports associated with the connection. The message may be converted to a different format or multiple different formats through plugins processed when the message is received over the sending microservice's port and before the converting messages are routed over the receiving microservices' ports. The inter-microservice communications are hardware and platform independent or agnostic, such that the microservices associated with the connection can be processed on different hardware and different platforms from one another.