Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking sales and providing sales channel credit are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method may include creating as sales order for the purchase of one or more products. The method may also include adding the product(s) to the sales order. Further, the method may include creating a transaction number representing a sales channel and the product(s). The method may also include assigning the transaction number representing the sales channel to the sales order. Further, the method may include storing the sales order.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the generation, display and capture of a data set with a broadcast signature are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method may include receiving a first data set and at least one second data set. The method may also include generating an encoded first data set for display and generating at least one encoded second data set for display, wherein the at least one encoded second data set is mathematically encrypted. Further, the method may include displaying the encoded first data set and displaying the at least one encoded second data set.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic mode changing for a mobile point of sale computing device are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a system comprises a mobile computing device. The system also comprises a carrying unit being attached to the mobile computing device. Further, a force detecting device is configured to detect application of a force from the carrying unit and to change an operational mode of the mobile computing device based on detection of the application of the force from the carrying unit. In another embodiment, a method comprises detecting an application of a force from a carrying unit to a force detecting device is provided. The method further changes an operational mode of a mobile computing device based on detecting the application of the force from the carrying unit.

Abstract: Printers and printer systems for printing images on paper in different configurations and for dispensing printed paper in different directions are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a printer includes a body defining openings. A printing unit is positioned within the body and can receive an instruction for printing an image. In a first print mode, the printing unit can print the image on the paper in a first configuration and dispense the paper in a first direction through one of the openings of the body. In the second print mode, the printing unit can print the image on the paper in a second configuration and dispense the paper in a second direction through another of the openings of the body. A sensing component can determine whether the printer is in the first print mode or the second print mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for managing multiple objects in an object zone. The system comprises multiple machine-readable object identification tags configured to be respectively attached to the multiple objects; a storage unit moving through the object zone to store the selected objects which are respectively attached with the machine-readable object identification tags; at least one machine-readable storage unit identification tag attached to the storage unit; and multiple spaced reading units capable of remotely reading the multiple machine-readable object identification tags and the at least one machine-readable storage unit identification tag, wherein the objects attached with the machine-readable object identification tags within a predefined spatial range defined based on the at least one machine-readable storage unit identification tag are associated with the storage unit. A method thereof and a storage unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interaction with objects to implement a retail function are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system may be implemented by a computing device and a wearable detection device. The detection device may obtain data associated with a user part and an object. For example, the detection device may be an image capture device, such as a camera, that captures one or more images of a retail item and interaction of a user's finger with the item. The computing device may implement a retail function manager operable to receive data associated with a user part and an object. For example, the detection device may communicate to the computing device image data representative of the interaction of the user's hand or finger with the retail item. Further, the retail function manager may implement a retail function based on the interaction of the user part and the object.

Abstract: A hard disc drive (HDD) of a larger native capacity is clipped to emulate a smaller capacity drive by allocating storage space in tracks in at least both a radially innermost region and radially outermost region of the platter(s). During normal operation, when data is written to or read from the clipped HDD, the actuator arm will move through its entire, normal range of motion, as the read/write heads seek tracks in both the radially inner and outer regions of the platter(s). In some embodiments, storage space is also allocated from tracks in regions interposed between the inner and outer regions. In one embodiment, all tracks on the platter(s) are divided into regions of substantially equal data storage capacity, and the storage space is allocated for the clipped HDD is divided substantially evenly across all the regions.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for initiating a service call for a hardware malfunction in a POS system, the POS system having a POS controller domains, the POS controller domain composed of a POS controller and one or more POS terminals, the POS controller operatively coupled to a service dispatcher for a hardware service provider, that include: detecting, by a POS operating system installed on the POS controller, a hardware error within the POS controller domain, the hardware error described by hardware error data; notifying, by the POS operating system, a system administrator of the detected hardware error in dependence upon the hardware error data; generating, by the POS operating system, a service request message in dependence upon the hardware error data; and transferring, by the POS operating system, the service request message to the service dispatcher, the service dispatcher initiating a service call by the hardware service provider.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided, in a data processing system, for retrieving and utilizing item information to perform a transaction. The mechanisms receive an identification of an item present in a detection field of the item identification system. A determination is made as to whether valid item information for the item is present in a cache of the data processing system in response to detecting the item as being present in the detection field of the item identification system. If valid item information is present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from the cache. If valid item information is not present in the cache, the valid item information is retrieved from a remotely located cloud computing system. The transaction is performed based on the valid item information.

Abstract: A method for item scanning in a shopping cart includes detecting a change in a weight of one or more items within a shopping cart. The weight is sensed by a weight sensor disposed in the shopping cart. Each of the one or more items includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The method includes switching an RFID reader to an active state and scanning RFID tags of the one or more items with the RFID reader in response to detecting the change in weight. The RFID reader is disposed on the shopping cart. The method includes switching the RFID reader to an inactive state subsequent to scanning the RFID tags with the RFID reader. The method includes determining an inventory of the one or more items based on information from the scanned RFID tags. The inventory includes an item quantity and an item identity.

Abstract: Environmental condition control and monitoring systems and methods are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method includes determining a condition profile of an object. Further, the method includes identifying the object within an environment. The method also includes determining whether the environment meets a requirement defined by the condition profile of the object. The method also includes controlling environment conditioning equipment based on whether the environment meets the requirement.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obscuring payment card industry (PCI) data are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving a file including first and second financial numbers. The method also includes compressing the second financial number. Further, the method includes determining a link for addressing the first financial number. The method also includes replacing the second financial number in the file with the compressed, second financial number and the link.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing modifiable files grouped into themed directories for presentation of web content are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes grouping a plurality of modifiable files into one or more directories for use by a World Wide Web application. Further, the method includes associating a unique theme with the one or more directories. The method also includes processing the files based on the theme for presenting web content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for reconfiguring application comprising a plurality of base code components at startup. A control application first retrieves the plurality of base components responsive to receiving a command to execute the application program. Prior to beginning execution, however, the control application replaces a selected base code component with another code component, and then subsequently replaces that newly inserted code component with yet another code component. Whether any given code component is to be replaced at startup is determined based on an annotation included in the code components. Once the application program has been reconfigured to include the appropriate code components, the application program is executed.

Abstract: Embodiments provide techniques for creating and managing accumulator tables for use in generating reports for a business entity. Embodiments include identifying a report for a business entity. A plurality of data fields are determined across two or more database tables that are used to generate the report. Embodiments include creating an accumulator table and populating the accumulator table with data values for all of the plurality of data fields. Upon receiving, from a point of sale system, an indicator of an occurrence of a business event for the business entity, an instance of the report is automatically generated using the populated accumulator table.

Abstract: Embodiments provide techniques for detecting and managing a loss of connection with a remote server. Embodiments include, upon transmitting a request to a remote web server, initiating a timer configured to expire after a predetermined period of time. Additionally, upon determining that the timer has expired before a response message corresponding to the request has been received from the remote web server, a request for remote web application content is transmitted to a local web server. Embodiments receive placeholder content from the local web server and output the placeholder content for display. Embodiments further include receiving a redirect message from the local web server, specifying address information corresponding to a second remote web server from which the remote web application content can be retrieved.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing purchase transactions associated with a discount document having an unrecognized identifier are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving an identifier of a document associated with a discount. The method also includes receiving user input that associates the identifier with a purchase transaction. Further, the method includes applying the discount to the purchase transaction. The method also includes processing an audit of the purchase transaction based on the document.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method is implemented by a server in a server cluster. A request received from a client includes a session identifier (ID) identifying a session between the client and the server, and a correlation ID that is linked to the request. If the correlation ID is not included in an individual server-specific session microcache for the session, the request is processed to determine a response, the response is added to the session microcache, and the response and an indication of the correlation ID are sent to the client. If the correlation ID and a response to the request are stored in the session microcache, the response and an indication of the correlation ID are re-sent to the client. The session ID and session microcache are transferred to another of the plurality of servers in the server cluster to continue the session.

Abstract: A method for providing navigation information to a user, the method including: inputting identification associated with the user into one terminal of a plurality of terminals distributed throughout an area visited by the user, each terminal being located in a kiosk and operating in kiosk mode; inputting a destination; computing a route from the kiosk to the destination; and presenting the route as the navigation information to the user.