Abstract: Location of a mobile unit is determined by a combined probability, derived from a first probability for possible locations based on a current sample of radio signal characteristics and a second probability that a unit has moved from a prior location or probable location to each possible location.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are provided for fabrication of a self contained key pad module having a top cover and a bottom cover. The top cover and the bottom cover encapsulate and/or sandwich a stack of keypad components via an over mold procedure that is performed around the stack. The packed stack between the top cover and the bottom cover can include a flex member, an electro luminous panel, and a silicone membrane with a plurality of keys thereupon.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining the location of a first wireless device (e.g., a mobile unit) within a wireless network comprising a plurality of second wireless devices (e.g., access points). The method includes identifying an overlap area corresponding to the intersection of RF ranges for the one or more second wireless devices then computing a set of signal strength values, each associated with a measure of RF signal strength (e.g., RSSI) received by the plurality of second wireless devices from the first wireless device. A decision metric is evaluated for a plurality of locations within the overlap area based on the set of signal strength values. The location of the first wireless device is determined by selecting, from the plurality of locations, a location having the optimum value of the decision metric within the overlap area. The decision metric may utilize a minimum mean square error (MMSE) calculation.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a transceiver and a probe. The transceiver is connected to a first antenna and a second antenna. The first and second antennas are configured to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The first and second antennas are configured to exhibit a polarized diversity. The probe re-establishes the polarized diversity when the polarized diversity has been disrupted.

Abstract: Wireless switch licenses are assigned on a cluster basis rather than being limited to individual switches. A switch cluster is made up of two or more wireless switches that each having an assigned number of licenses. Each of the wireless switches is configured to establish the switch cluster with the other wireless switches, and to verify the identity of each other wireless switch in the switch cluster during operation. License restrictions are enforced based upon a total number of licenses for the switch cluster so that the sum of the numbers of licenses assigned to the wireless switches in the cluster are available for use even if one or more of the other wireless switches in the cluster become unavailable.

Abstract: An imaging system for use in an bar code reader for imaging a target bar code. The imaging system includes a 2D sensor array generating a series of image frames and The sensor array can be selectively operated in a rolling shutter mode of operation or a pseudo global shutter mode of operation. The imaging system further includes an imaging lens assembly to focus light from the field of view onto the sensor array and an image analysis system for analyzing the series of image frames generated by the sensor array for image brightness and, based on image brightness, operating the sensor array in a selected one of the rolling shutter mode of operation and the pseudo-global shutter mode of operation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transaction processing. The apparatus may be a transaction terminal including a keypad, a circuit for interacting with the transaction customer and a link communicatively connecting the keypad and the customer-interaction circuit. The cashier may interact with the keypad, while the customer (and not the cashier) may interact with the customer-interaction circuit. The link may communicate a dollar amount for the transaction between the keypad and the customer-interaction circuit. Accessories for the keypad may include a check reader, a display or a receipt printer. Accessories for the customer-interaction circuit may include a smart-card reader, a magnetic-strip reader and biometric readers. The customer-interaction circuit may include a port for connection to a remote service provider. That port may be the only remote-access port in the transaction terminal.

Abstract: A method for pre-authentication in a wireless network is disclosed. The method begins by receiving, from a mobile client device, an Ethernet pre-authentication frame having an Ethernet address corresponding to a destination infrastructure device in the wireless network. Based upon a network mapping table, the method determines an internet protocol (IP) address that is mapped to the Ethernet address of the destination infrastructure device. The Ethernet pre-authentication frame is encapsulated inside an IP packet having the IP address. Then, the method routes the IP packet to the destination infrastructure device across WLANs with a different VLAN or subnetwork boundary in the wireless network.

Abstract: In a network which includes a first subnet which includes a home wireless switch which includes at least one first interface, and a second subnet which includes a current wireless switch, a method is provided for applying a first set of original security policies associated with the at least one first interface to a packet transmitted from a particular wireless communication device after the particular wireless communication device roams from the first subnet to the second subnet. A method is also provided for applying a first set of original security policies associated with the at least one first interface to a packet being transmitted to a particular wireless communication device after the particular wireless communication device roams from the first subnet to the second subnet.

Abstract: Automatic Security Compliance Assessment (ASCA) systems and methods are provided for automatically generating and determining a security rating for a plurality of Settings Objects (SOs), where each of the SOs define particular configurations of subsystems of a wireless computing device. Each SO collectively defines a collection of Values specified for Configurable Attributes that can be used to define a different configuration for a particular subsystem associated with a particular Setting Class that is used to guide the creation of that particular SO. The server can store a group of security rating templates, each of which includes the information needed to determine an expected security rating for any SOs created per a particular Settings Class. For any combination of device settings, the resultant SOs can be used to generate an expected security rating.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for defining the illumination field of view of a barcode reader. The method includes (1) generating an illumination with an illumination source; (2) directing the illumination with an illumination lens to pass through an aperture to generate an illumination pattern directed toward a target object and to define an illumination field of view with the aperture; and (3) focusing light reflected from the target object onto a photosensor array with an imaging lens in an imaging system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing current pulses to the illumination source in an imaging scanner. The method includes: (1) sensing a current supplied from a current port to obtain a current-monitoring signal; (2) controlling a charge current provided to a storage capacitor based on the current-monitoring signal; (3) measuring a parameter related to a voltage across the storage capacitor; and (4) generating a driving current for the illumination source by the illumination driver circuit, if the parameter is above a predetermined threshold value, to provide a driving current for a illumination source in an imaging scanner.

Abstract: Automatic Security Compliance Assessment (ASCA) systems and methods are provided. The disclosed systems and methods can automatically determine whether all of the devices in an enterprise network comply with security policies or standards, and can automatically take remedial or corrective action to bring those devices into compliance with security policies or standards if they are determined not to be in compliance. The disclosed systems and methods can automatically ensure that all of the devices in an enterprise network remain in compliance with the security policies or standards, and automatically create records that establish whether each of the devices are in compliance and regularly update those records over time so that the enterprise can quickly and easily provide evidence of compliance and/or corrective actions taken to bring devices into compliance if required to do so.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading a target object with an image reader that includes an illumination source that illuminates an area corresponding to an indicia area when the imager is acting within an operating range of the indicia, a two-dimensional array sensor capable of collecting data from a captured image corresponding to an image reflected from the indicia area by the illumination source when the imager is acting within the operating range of the indicia, a starting coordinate located substantially about the center of the captured image, and a processing source including a search routine originating at the starting coordinate capable of analyzing the captured image by employing a plurality of scan paths associated to an algebraic equation.

Abstract: A variable focus imaging lens assembly for an imaging system of an imaging-based bar code reader for imaging and decoding a target bar code. The lens assembly includes an automatic focusing system for energizing a drive mechanism and imaging system to move a movable lens from the predetermined position along its path of travel and generate a series of image frames; analyzing one or more image frames of the series of image frames to determine a region of interest, the region of interest including an image of a target bar code; analyzing the region of interest in subsequent image frames of the series of image frames to determine an amount of blurring; selecting an image frame from the series of image frames having blurring less than a threshold amount of blurring; and utilizing a decoder to decode the image of the target bar code in the selected image frame.

Abstract: An assembly for collecting light from indicia includes a chassis having a port through which the light from the indicia passes, and walls bounding an interior compartment. A self-retaining frame constituted of an optical material is non-adhesively mounted within the compartment in an assembled position. The frame has an integral lens optically aligned with the port in the assembled position for optically modifying the light passing through the port, and a plurality of legs in gripping frictional interference engagement with the walls in the assembled position. A sensor is optically aligned with the lens, for sensing the light optically modified by the lens.

Abstract: A dual polarization antenna system includes a dipole antenna oriented along a first plane (e.g., a horizontal plane), and a monopole antenna oriented along a second plane (e.g., a vertical plane) orthogonal to the first plane, wherein the monopole antenna is referenced to a V-null point of the dipole antenna.

Abstract: A system to generate a template of a fingerprint input image is described. The system provides for smoothing the input image, forming a binary image from it, and further processing the binary image to extract the minutia of the fingerprint. The minutiae are stored in the template, in the form of locations of each minutia in relation to all other minutiae. The system includes optional identification and verification steps, which compare the template generated according to the system with templates stored in a fingerprint database.

Abstract: An antenna includes a dipole radiator region forming a series resonant tank having a first quality factor value Q1, and a loop compensator/radiator region integral with the dipole region and forming a parallel resonant tank having a second quality factor value Q2 that is substantially equal to Q2. The antenna may be a conductive sheet antenna (e.g., comprising copper tape) having a generally “A” shaped structure with a discontinuity in a middle segment.