Abstract: According to one embodiment, a merchandise reading apparatus is equipped with a storage chamber formed of a radio wave shielding member and a reading apparatus which reads information of a radio tag from merchandise attached with the radio tag and stored in the storage chamber, and at least a part of the storage chamber is formed of a light transmitting member.

Abstract: A dynamic transaction card and methods for providing improved security during transactions are described. The dynamic transaction card can attempt to connect wirelessly to a mobile device. The dynamic transaction card can then send a transaction request to a backend system, including whether the connection to the mobile device was successful. The backend system can then calculate a fraud score based on the connection response, among other things. The backend system may approve or deny the transaction request from the dynamic transaction card based on the fraud score.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing optimal reading conditions for a machine-readable symbol reader. A machine-readable symbol reader may selectively control reading conditions including lighting conditions (e.g., illumination pattern), focus, decoder library parameters (e.g., exposure time, gain), etc. Deep learning and optimization algorithms (e.g., greedy search algorithms) are used to autonomously learn an optimal set of reading parameters to be used for the reader in a particular application. A deep learning network (e.g., a convolutional neural network) may be used to locate machine-readable symbols in images captured by the reader, and greedy search algorithms may be used to determine a reading distance parameter and one or more illumination parameters during an autonomous learning phase of the reader.

Abstract: A user requests a package delivery from a package delivery system. The package delivery system provides the user with a machine-readable code for display at the delivery location. An aerial delivery device receives, from the package delivery system computing device, information associated with the delivery location of the package. The information comprises information matching the information in the machine-readable code associated with the delivery location and a delivery address. The delivery device secures the package for transporting to the delivery location and transports the package to the delivery address. The delivery device locates the machine-readable code on a display at the delivery address and verifies that the information from the machine-readable code is associated with the package. The delivery device deposits the package on the display.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, processes, computer program code and means for conducting transactions are described which allow a first party to a transaction to identify a second party to a transaction.

Abstract: Apparatus, method and system of lighting device including a lighting apparatus and a shade cover removably mounted to the lighting apparatus. The system comprises a light-emitting diode flat-panel ceiling light having a base frame, at least one light-emitting diode, and a light guide panel; and a shade cover. The base frame includes a quick-connect adapter through which the shade cover is removably mounted to the base frame without changing the light-emitting diode flat-panel ceiling light.

Abstract: A self-checkout method includes an image recognizing system performing a first recognition process on at least a product placed on a checkout conveyor to obtain an item information corresponding to the at least a product from a product database; performing a second recognition process for positioning a first product of the at least a product to determine a position of the first product relative to the checkout conveyor when the image recognizing system fails to recognize the first product based on the first recognition process; controlling an indicating light to markedly label the first product when the position of the first product is determined, and stopping running the checkout conveyor; and resuming running the checkout conveyor after the first product is removed or when no product cannot be recognized by the first recognition process.

Abstract: A wireless device is enabled to provide offers. The wireless device receives card data for a financial account card and stores the card data in a memory associated with the wireless device. Responsive to using the card data in a transaction at a first merchant location, the wireless device receives transaction line-item data from a computing system associated with the first merchant location. The wireless device determines merchant information for a second merchant location and determines an offer associated with the second merchant location based on the line-item data and the merchant information for the second merchant. The wireless device presents the offer when the wireless device is near the second merchant location.

Abstract: A conductive structure comprising: a plurality of conductive devices; a first conductive spring sheet, comprising a first connecting point; and a second conductive spring sheet, comprising a second connecting point. Each of the conductive devices comprises a first conductive end and a second conductive end. The second conductive end is connected to the second connecting point, and the first conductive end is connected to the first connecting point corresponding to the second connecting point to which the second conductive end is connected.

Abstract: Method of producing wire inlaid on a support and inlaid wire obtained. The invention relates to an antenna for radiofrequency transponder, said antenna comprising conducting wire portions which are to a major extent inlaid and conducting wire portions which are to a minor extent non-inlaid on a plane support. The antenna is characterized in that said wire portions which are to a minor extent non-inlaid extend over or cross at least one favoured fold line and/or one fold line predefined according to a standardized folding resistance test. The invention also relates to a portable electronic object comprising said antenna and a corresponding method of production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transponder tag (10) that is operable by a mobile telephone, a mobile telephone for operating such a transponder tag (10), a method of operating the transponder tag (10), and a method for detecting the presence of a portable object. The transponder tag comprises a receiving unit (20) for receiving a wireless input signal. The transponder tag (10) is configured to obtain energy (EG) from the received input signal and to use the energy (EG) obtained from the input signal for transmitting by way of a wireless short-range connection a wireless output signal (SSR) that corresponds to a tag information (ITG) of the transponder tag (10). The receiving unit (20) is configured to receive a wireless input signal (STUP) at a frequency of at least one uplink band of a mobile telephone network.

Abstract: A dynamic transaction card that includes a transaction card having a number of layers, each of which may be interconnected to one another. For example, a dynamic transaction card may include an outer protective layer, a core layer, a potting layer, a touch sensor layer, a display layer (including, for example, LEDs, a dot matrix display, and the like), a microcontroller storing firmware, Java applets, Java applet integration, and the like, an EMV™ chip, an energy storage component, one or more antennas (e.g., Bluetooth™ antenna, NFC antenna, and the like), a power management component, a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), a chassis, and/or a card backing layer, which may include a back protective layer. The antennas may be mounted on the protective layers, which may be laminated to the core layer, and connected to the core layer onto a printed circuit board (PCB) using conductive epoxies.

Abstract: A wireless parking meter with an improved antenna location is described. The antenna may be located within a covering protruding from the top of the parking meter, allowing radio frequency (RF) signals to be transmitted through a portion of the parking meter with high permittivity to the RF signals. Additionally or alternatively, the antenna may be located within the parking meter housing above a lower parking meter mechanism housing so that RF signals can be transmitted through the dome covering of the parking meter, which may have a high permittivity to the RF signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method allowing authentication of a service using a service initiating terminal and a service authorization terminal. The method includes sending, by the service initiating terminal, service information to the service authorization terminal, receiving, by the service initiating terminal, a service authorization code corresponding to the service information sent by the service authorization terminal. The method also includes generating, by the service initiating terminal, service authentication information according to the service information and the service authorization code, and uploading the service authentication information to a server for processing the service after authenticating the service authorization code.

Abstract: A tamper-proof barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of time and temperature thresholds following actuation thereof, including a first barcode including a first colorable area and being machine-readable before exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, a second barcode including a second colorable area and not being machine-readable before exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, a coloring agent located at a first location on the indicator, a coloring agent pathway operative to allow the coloring agent to move, at a rate which is at least partially a function of time, from the first location to the first and second colorable areas simultaneously for simultaneous coloring thereof upon exceedance of the time and temperature thresholds, thereby causing the first barcode to become unreadable and at the same time causing the second barcode to become machine-readable, and a tamper-proof actuator element operative to actuate the indicator.

Abstract: An over torque detection system includes a mechanical torque sensor and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The mechanical torque sensor includes first and second contact elements and a moveable element coupled to the first contact element. In a normal operational state the moveable element is in contact with the second contact element and creates an electrical pathway between the first and second contact elements and when in over torque operational state the movable element moves such that it does not contact the second contact element. The RFID tag is connected to the first contact element and the second contact element such that when the mechanical torque sensor is in the normal operation state the RFID tag does not transmit information, and when the mechanical torque sensor is in the over torque operation state the RFID tag does transmit information.

Abstract: A method is provided for interacting with audience members in an event, each of the potential attendees having available thereto a unique identifier. The method comprises creating, for an attendee, a unique ID (UID) on a mobile wireless device (MWD) by the steps of inputting to the MWD one of the unique identifiers, combining the obtained unique identifier with a UID time stamp at the time of creation of the UID; receiving with a server on a first wireless channel communications from the MWD; registering the UID at the physical location of the event; generating a visual query; displaying on the MWD response indicators; receiving at the server from the registered attendee a response, to the query over the first wireless channel; and storing in a database on the server the received response in association with the displayed query.

Abstract: A method of scanning an object may include determining that an object is proximately positioned relative to a scanning volume of a presentation scanner in response to receiving at least one object presence signal prior to scanning a code indicia positioned on the object. At least one object sensory indicator device may be activated in response to determining that the object is proximately positioned relative to the scanning volume so as to indicate that the object is proximate to the scanning volume to a user. A second level of detection and location feedback may be provided for code indicia within the scanning volume.

Abstract: A blockchain-based method includes: receiving, by a smart label via accessing a block of a blockchain stored on a computer system, a cold chain requirement for a product, wherein the smart label is affixed to a package containing the product, the cold chain requirement for the product is specified and stored by a manufacturer of the product in the block of the blockchain; storing, by the smart label, the cold chain requirement in a memory of the smart label; receiving, by the smart label, from a temperature sensor a temperature of the product, wherein the temperature sensor is affixed to the package containing the product; comparing, by the smart label, the temperature of the product with a temperature range of the product specified in the cold chain requirement; and adding, by the smart label, the temperature of the product and a time at which the temperature of the product is received by the smart label, to the blockchain, if the temperature of the product is outside of the temperature range specified in th

Abstract: Innovations in the area of presentation of location-related actions and location information are presented. For example, an application calls an operating system to generate a location card. The location card can show a map of a location as well as additional information about the location and one or more action indicators. With an action indicator, a user can launch an application to perform an action related to the location immediately and directly from the location card. Depending on usage scenario, an application can specify different actions to be represented with action indicators in a location card. At the same time, location cards supported by the operating system provide a consistent way to expose location information and location-related actions to users.