Abstract: An intelligent venue system and/or method operate by: transmitting a wireless beacon associated with a service location of a venue; detecting a client device at the venue, wherein the client device is detected in response to an automated reply signal generated by the client device in response to the wireless beacon; establishing an association between the client device with a transaction at the venue; wherein once the association is established, the client device emits feedback to the user of the client device indicating the association; and communicating with the client device to facilitate payment for the transaction based on payment information previously associated with the user.

Abstract: A pay-at-the-table device is augmented to include an imaging sub-system having one or more image-capture components. A front-facing image sensor records video, or takes still photos. A wide view image sensor/lens captures a view of an entire table (or some portion thereof). When table images are captured by the imaging system, image post-processing is used to ensure that any details that can identify the individual patrons are masked or otherwise obscured; in this way, only generic demographic data (e.g., number of patrons, gender, approximate age, etc.) is captured, and all such data is maintained anonymously and without reference to any payment or other information that might provide the restaurant with the patron's true identity. The image-capture components may also include image sensors enable events (e.g., drinks needing refills, entrée arrival, etc.) to be monitored. An infrared image sensor captures thermal data, which can identify the temperature of the prepared food.

Abstract: A user terminal comprising: i) a display module comprising a display screen and an interface circuitry for receiving a user input; and ii) a magnetic stripe reader configured to detect a magnetic secure transmission (MST) signal received by the user terminal and, in response to the detection, to launch a real-time application in the user terminal. In one embodiment, the real-time application displays a message on the display module of the user terminal. In another embodiment, the real-time application transmits data to a third-party vendor associated with the MST signal.

Abstract: An advanced removable battery module for use in a portable user interface terminal. The battery module comprises a power circuitry module comprising at least one rechargeable battery cell and charging circuitry configured to charge the at least one rechargeable battery cell. The battery module also comprises a communication and encryption circuitry module. The communication and encryption circuitry module comprises a first wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a second module of the user terminal, a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote terminal separate from the user terminal, and at least one payment transaction interface configured to receive payment information from a user of the user terminal.

Abstract: A new terminal is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing (primary) Wi-Fi network within an operating environment at a restaurant location. The location includes a data management server (DMS) for managing the local operations of devices operating there. The device being installed at the location is auto-configured into the primary Wi-Fi network by being provided with a default Wi-Fi profile that only enables the device to be activated on an activation Wi-Fi network also available at the location. Once the device activates to the Wi-Fi activation network, it requests activation onto the primary Wi-Fi network from a cloud-based data center. The data center requests an activation password from the local DMS. The local DMS generates an activation bundle, which is then returned and eventually instantiated on the device to complete the activation. Once activated, the device updates its Wi-Fi profile to now executed on the primary Wi-Fi network.

Abstract: A table-side hospitality device includes an integral printer mechanism, such as a thermal printer. The device comprises a general purpose processing unit on which a mobile- or embedded-device operating system, such as Android, executes. A control program (the device application) executing on the processing unit facilitates ordering, order management, invoicing and payment. When the application needs to print, it interacts with the printer directly, preferably using the general purpose input-output (GPIO) bus of the processor. In particular, during the print operation, the processor (via the general purpose I/O) outputs, as a set of control signals, a bit-map of the desired graphics (text, images, or the like), and these control signals drive the printer directly without requiring a dedicated micro-controller or OS-specific printer drivers.

Abstract: A user terminal comprising: i) a housing; ii) a main radio frequency (RF) antenna disposed within an interior of the housing; and iii) a boost antenna mounted on an exterior of the housing and in close proximity to the main RF antenna. The first antenna segment of the boost antenna is configured to be magnetically coupled to the main RF antenna and a second antenna segment of the boost antenna is configured to be magnetically coupled to an antenna of a wireless device disposed close to the housing. The first antenna segment magnetically couples to RF signals transmitted to and received from the main RF antenna in a first direction. The second antenna segment magnetically couples to RF signals transmitted to and received from the RF antenna of the wireless device in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are substantially orthogonal to each other.

Abstract: An advanced removable battery module for use in a portable user interface terminal. The battery module comprises a power circuitry module comprising at least one rechargeable battery cell and charging circuitry configured to charge the at least one rechargeable battery cell. The battery module also comprises a communication and encryption circuitry module. The communication and encryption circuitry module comprises a first wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a second module of the user terminal, a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote terminal separate from the user terminal, and at least one payment transaction interface configured to receive payment information from a user of the user terminal.

Abstract: A new terminal is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing (primary) Wi-Fi network within an operating environment at a restaurant location. The location includes a data management server (DMS) for managing the local operations of devices operating there. The device being installed at the location is auto-configured into the primary Wi-Fi network by being provided with a default Wi-Fi profile that only enables the device to be activated on an activation Wi-Fi network also available at the location. Once the device activates to the Wi-Fi activation network, it requests activation onto the primary Wi-Fi network from a cloud-based data center. The data center requests an activation password from the local DMS. The local DMS generates an activation bundle, which is then returned and eventually instantiated on the device to complete the activation. Once activated, the device updates its Wi-Fi profile to now executed on the primary Wi-Fi network.

Abstract: A pay-at-the-table device is augmented to include an imaging sub-system having one or more image-capture components. A front-facing image sensor records video, or takes still photos. A wide view image sensor/lens captures a view of an entire table (or some portion thereof). When table images are captured by the imaging system, image post-processing is used to ensure that any details that can identify the individual patrons are masked or otherwise obscured; in this way, only generic demographic data (e.g., number of patrons, gender, approximate age, etc.) is captured, and all such data is maintained anonymously and without reference to any payment or other information that might provide the restaurant with the patron's true identity. The image-capture components may also include image sensors enable events (e.g., drinks needing refills, entrée arrival, etc.) to be monitored. An infrared image sensor captures thermal data, which can identify the temperature of the prepared food.

Abstract: A new table-side device is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing (primary) Wi-Fi network within an operating environment at a restaurant location. The location includes a data management server (DMS) for managing the local operations of devices operating there. The device being installed at the location is auto-configured into the primary Wi-Fi network by being provided with a default Wi-Fi profile that only enables the device to be activated on an activation Wi-Fi network also available at the location. Once the device activates to the Wi-Fi activation network, it requests activation onto the primary Wi-Fi network from a cloud-based data center. The data center requests an activation password from the local DMS. The local DMS generates an activation bundle, which is then returned and eventually instantiated on the device to complete the activation. Once activated, the device updates its Wi-Fi profile to now executed on the primary Wi-Fi network.

Abstract: A new table-side device is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing (primary) Wi-Fi network within an operating environment at a restaurant location. The location includes a data management server (DMS) for managing the local operations of devices operating there. The device being installed at the location is auto-configured into the primary Wi-Fi network by being provided with a default Wi-Fi profile that only enables the device to be activated on an activation Wi-Fi network also available at the location. Once the device activates to the Wi-Fi activation network, it requests activation onto the primary Wi-Fi network from a cloud-based data center. The data center requests an activation password from the local DMS. The local DMS generates an activation bundle, which is then returned and eventually instantiated on the device to complete the activation. Once activated, the device updates its Wi-Fi profile to now executed on the primary Wi-Fi network.

Abstract: A table-side hospitality device includes an integral printer mechanism, such as a thermal printer. The device comprises a general purpose processing unit on which a mobile- or embedded-device operating system, such as Android, executes. A control program (the device application) executing on the processing unit facilitates ordering, order management, invoicing and payment. When the application needs to print, it interacts with the printer directly, preferably using the general purpose input-output (GPIO) bus of the processor. In particular, during the print operation, the processor (via the general purpose I/O) outputs, as a set of control signals, a bit-map of the desired graphics (text, images, or the like), and these control signals drive the printer directly without requiring a dedicated micro-controller or OS-specific printer drivers.