Abstract: The general intra prediction process is unnecessarily complicated with inclusion of the reference sample filtering. This application provides solutions for this problem. A method for intra prediction is provided. The method includes: during an intra predicted sample generation stage, obtaining a filtering indication, which indicates whether a filtered value or an unfiltered value of reference samples of the current coding block will be used. When the value of the filtering indication is true, a prediction sample is generated by using the filtered value of the reference samples based on the planar mode. When the value of the filtering indication is false, a prediction sample is generated by using the unfiltered value of the reference samples based on the planar mode. As a result, the reference sample filtering stage can be fully removed or can be combined with other stage.

Abstract: Techniques are described for generating user interface components corresponding to services performed by merchants and periods of time for performing the services. The techniques may include a payment processing service determining service information associated with services performed for merchants for whom the payment processing service has processed payments. In examples, a duration-identification model may be trained using at least one of employee-management data, appointment data, or catalog data. The duration-identification model may be applied to stored transaction data to determine duration information associated with the service(s) performed by the merchants. Based on the service information and duration information, user interface components may be generated without user input from a user. The user interface components may correspond to the service and periods of time for performing the services.

Abstract: A point of sale (POS) device includes an output device such as a speaker, a display screen, or a network interface. The POS device also includes a secure enclosure housing a secure processor and tamper detection circuitry for detecting attempts to tamper with the secure enclosure. Use of the output device is shared between the secure processor and a main processor via a switch that is controlled by the secure processor. The secure processor can switch control of the output device from the main processor to itself and can output an output dataset via the output device in a number of scenarios. These scenarios include the secure processor detecting an attempt to tamper with the secure enclosure, the secure processor recognizing that the main processor is behaving suspiciously, or the secure processor wanting to output sensitive information. The output dataset may include visual data, audio data, or network data.

Abstract: Disclosed sensors, sensor controllers, and sensor control methods enhance transducer performance using a model-based equalization method that can be performed in the field. One illustrative method for operating a piezoelectric-based sensor includes: sensing a response of a piezoelectric transducer as a function of frequency; deriving parameter values of an equivalent circuit for the piezoelectric transducer from the response; using a squared magnitude of the equivalent circuit's transfer function to determine a system level selectivity; and adapting at least one operating parameter of the sensor based on the system level selectivity. One illustrative controller for a piezoelectric transducer includes: a transmitter that drives the piezoelectric transducer; a receiver that senses a response of the piezoelectric transducer; and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver to calibrate the transducer using the foregoing method.

Abstract: A system includes a secondary computing device not owned by a user, a hardware processor, a memory and instructions that cause the processor to generate a transient wallet identifier (ID) for a transient mobile wallet, the transient mobile wallet being of limited duration, and provide a configuration user interface the user, presenting configuration information for the transient mobile wallet. The processor also identifies a usage specification for the transient mobile wallet defining allowed uses for the transient mobile wallet. The processor also activates the transient mobile wallet on the secondary computing device, receives a payment transaction approval request, compares the payment transaction data to the usage specification, determines that the payment transaction data is non-conforming, and transmits a rejection message for the first payment transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhanced video encoding identify patterns in sequences of raw digital video frames to extract features and identify the type of content represented by the extracted features. The system simulates many outcomes of encoding the sequence of digital video frames by using various different encoding strategies to find the relative best encoding strategy for each sequence of frames. As the encoder processes video, it passes digital video frames to a modeling system which determines whether the video, or video having that same type of content, has been previously observed by the system. The system then selectively applies a saved encoding strategy that had been determined by the system to be particularly suitable for encoding the same sequence of video frames or that same type of content.

Abstract: A security system includes a surveillance device that monitors a predetermined event and captures images in a monitor scene; and a controller that controls the surveillance device and transmits the captured images. The surveillance device adjusts image capture amount, image transmit amount, image transmit order or image resolution when the predetermined event is detected and an object is detected on the captured images.

Abstract: An endoscope processor includes a processor that can be connected to an endoscope including a moving mechanism of a focusing lens included in an objective optical system and an image pickup apparatus. The processor is configured to determine whether or not a transition has been made from a screening state to a proximity state based on positional information of the focusing lens and an image in a proximity determination mode when a variation in an image height in an effective image range with control of the moving mechanism is 1% or less, and when it is determined that a transition has been made to the proximity state, the processor is configured to end the proximity determination mode and control the moving mechanism in an autofocus mode.

Abstract: A financial close automation (FCA) system receives or retrieves account data from one or more enterprise resource planning products (ERPs). The FCA examines the balance sheet for a given account and determines whether the account is auto-certifiable, and whether the unknown balance is below a threshold amount. If the answer to either inquiry is no, the FCA generates a task for the general ledger owner to provide an explanation for the discrepancy. A task is the created for a manager to review the provided explanation. If the manager does not approve of the provided explanation, additional information may be required. Once the manager approves the provided explanation for the discrepancy, the account is certified. If the account is auto-certifiable and the unknown balance is below the threshold amount, the account is auto-certified.