Abstract: An Internet billing method comprises establishing an agreement between an Internet access provider and a customer, and an agreement between the Internet access provider and a vendor, wherein the Internet access provider agrees with the customer and the vendor to bill the customer and remit to the vendor for products and services purchased over the Internet by the customer from the vendor. The provider creates access to the Internet for the customer. When the customer orders a product or service over the Internet from a vendor, transactional information transmitted between the customer and the vendor is also transmitted to the provider. The provider then bills the transaction amount to the customer and remits a portion of the transaction amount to the vendor, keeping the differential as a fee for providing the service. As a result of this method, there is no need for any customer account numbers or vendor account numbers to be transmitted over the Internet, thereby maintaining the security of that information.

Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may he used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of managing a mutual fund brokerage wherein subscribers, intending to purchase mutual fund portions in at least one mutual fund, enter into a service contract with the mutual fund brokerage. Each subscriber pays to the brokerage a subscription charge and the brokerage maintains a separate portfolio of mutual fund portions for each subscriber and a separate subscriber account balance including payments of subscription charges received from each subscriber. The brokerage executes a number of mutual fund portion purchase/sell transactions on behalf of a trading subscriber with a target mutual fund selected by the trading subscriber. The improvement relates to not charging front-end or back-end loaded commissions, together with the rebating of trailer fees from no-load funds where all service fees received by the brokerage from each paying mutual fund are apportioned pro rata for each portion of said paying mutual fund in each subscribers portfolio.

Abstract: An Internet billing method comprises establishing an agreement between an Internet access provider and a customer, and an agreement between the Internet access provider and a vendor, wherein the Internet access provider agrees with the customer and the vendor to bill the customer and remit to the vendor for products and services purchased over the Internet by the customer from the vendor. The provider creates access to the Internet for the customer. When the customer orders a product or service over the Internet from a vendor, transactional information transmitted between the customer and the vendor is also transmitted to the provider. The provider then bills the transaction amount to the customer and remits a portion of the transaction amount to the vendor, keeping the differential as a fee for providing the service. As a result of this method, there is no need for any customer account numbers or vendor account numbers to be transmitted over the Internet, thereby maintaining the security of that information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for the statistical analysis, display and dissemination of financial data over an information network such as the Internet and WWW. The present invention utilizes resampled statistical methods for the analysis of financial data. Resampled statistical analysis provides a meaningful and reasonable statistical description of financial information, which typically escapes modeling using parametric methods (i.e. assumptions of a Gaussian distribution). The present invention provides at least a GUI that provides functionality for user input of statistical queries, a statistical computation engine that performs statistical analysis of financial data and a graphical rendering engine that generates graphical display of statistical distributions generated by the statistical computation engine. According to one embodiment, the present invention employs a parallel processing architecture to speed generation of the resampled statistics.

Abstract: Upon providing a network photograph service, a prompt service can be provided to a customer without losing the advantage thereof such as ease of understanding where to access and collective data management. A service center receiving an order of a printing service and a minilab or a special laboratory spread across a plurality of places are able to communicate through a network. The center server in the service center selects and assigns the laboratory for printing the ordered picture in response to an order information transferred from a customer via the network so that the printing processing can be carried out by the laboratory specified by the customer instead of the center server.

Abstract: An electronic money storage apparatus includes that an amount of remittance p is determined on a remitting side and a receiving side. A remitting apparatus obtains a remitter's transaction fee x and an amount y to be stored in a transaction fee storage area. The remitting apparatus obtains a sum of p and x, i.e., p+x from an electronic money storage area, divides the sum into an amount y to be stored on the remitting side and an amount remained p+x−y, stores y in a transaction fee storage area, and sends p+x −y to the receiving side.

Abstract: An element which can be plugged into an electronic data processing (EDP) device, for receiving a user card which is equipped with components, including at least one of a processor and/or data memory, a frame having an exterior form, which is designed to accommodate the user card, a first interface for transferring data between the element and the EDP device, and a second interface formed by contacts on the user card and on the frame, for transferring data to and from the user card. The exterior form of the frame is that of a diskette so that it can be inserted into a diskette station of an EDP device. The first interface between the element and the EDP device is designed in a standard fashion, so that data can be transferred using a standard read/write device already present in the diskette station of the EDP device.

Abstract: Air cooled x-ray generating apparatus is provided with a unitary vacuum enclosure having a rotating anode target and a cathode assembly for generating x-rays. The cathode assembly may be placed within the vacuum enclosure through an opening in the top wall thereof, and comprises a disk which completely covers this opening. The unitary vacuum enclosure and the disk form a radiation shield. A plurality of fins are disposed on the exterior side wall of the vacuum enclosure, and a shroud is attached to the fins to provide additional protection of ambient against radiation. The cathode assembly may be placed through a side wall of the vacuum enclosure. The additional protection against excessive radiation in this design is provided by a shielding member placed in proximity to the anode target. The shielding member extends from the side wall of the enclosure and is substantially parallel to the top wall.

Abstract: A scanning system and method of data reading in which the scanning system is provided with a dithering assembly that is compact, easy to assemble, and configured to protect the more delicate scanning components, such as flexures, from damage due to external mechanical shock. In a preferred construction, the dithering assembly includes a dither mount and a mirror mount, each mount having an arm adapted to matingly engage one another. In particular, the dither mount arm may include a socket configured to receive a ball member protruding from the mirror mount arm.

Abstract: A system for synchronization of the angular position of a rotating optical assembly in a bar code scanner having a rotating optical assembly. The optical assembly is rotated by a motor which produces a fixed number of pulses per rotation, the pulses occurring at equal intervals such that each pulse indicates a degree of angular rotation of the motor. The pulses are continuously monitored and counted. Timing is simultaneously monitored. A synchronization label is placed in the scanner such that light directed through the rotating optical assembly will strike the synchronization label and be reflected back to the rotating optical assembly when the rotating optical assembly is at a particular angular position, thus establishing an initial angular position of the rotating optical assembly. Once the initial angular position is established, timing is continuously monitored and pulses are continuously monitored and counted.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus which reduces operator workload at a checkout counter and configured to be inexpensive to manufacture. In particular this optical scanning apparatus is designed so that an operator can scan merchandise without tilting these commodities. Therefore, to use this optical scanning apparatus the operator spots the bar code and slides the merchandise along the checkout counter. The optical scanning apparatus emits laser scanning patterns from the side of the counter and parallel to its surface as well as from above. Therefore whether the bar code is located on the side or top of the merchandise the apparatus is able to read it without tilting the merchandise. This is particular useful when dealing with liquid products, such as beverages or soups, and delicate products, such as cakes. In the case of liquid products, tilting them would run the risk of spilling them on the counter. In the case of delicate products, tilting them runs the risk of disturbing their appearance.

Abstract: A data well arrangement is for storing data and for interfacing with a writing implement having a writing end with a writing tip and data transfer end with a data transfer tip. The data well arrangement has a housing with an inlet opening for receiving an end of the implement. A data reader is in the housing for facing the data transfer tip to exchange data with the implement when the data transfer end of the implement is received in the opening. A shutter in the housing is engageable with an engagement portion of the implement for moving of shutter between a writing end storage position in which the data reader is inaccessible, and an interface position in which the data reader is accessible to the data transfer tip with the shutter being engaged by the engagement portion of the implement, only when the data transfer end is received in this opening.

Abstract: A helical-scanning type of X-ray CT apparatus includes a dolly 15 and a gantry body 7 mounted on the dolly 15. The dolly 15 is capable of translation relatively to a patient 5 lying on a tabletop 3. An X-ray tube 9 and an X-ray-detector 11 opposing the X-ray tube 9 are rotatably accommodated in the gantry body 7. In operation, the helical scanning operation of the X-ray CT apparatus is carried out by combining the translation of the dolly 15 with the rotation of the X-ray tube 9.

Abstract: The invention relates to a memory card of the type comprising a card body (1) having an integrated circuit (2) embedded in one face thereof, with said face carrying a conductor pattern (3) made up of a plurality of conductive areas (4) and of associated conductive tracks (5). According to the invention, a reinforcing element (10) implemented in the form of a closed ring is disposed in the thickness of the card body (1), in register with the zone occupied by the integrated circuit (2) so as to stiffen locally the zone of the card which carries the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium, and methods of making and reading the same, including on at least a portion of a substrate an irreversible recording layer which contains an irreversible recording material undergoing an irreversible change of saturation magnetization upon heating. The invention involves the steps of previously heating the irreversible recording layer to form an initial heated region in which a plurality of heated bars whose saturation magnetization has been irreversibly changed are arrayed in a bar code pattern, and converting unheated bars disposed between the heated bars into a heated state for changing the array pattern of heated bars, thereby recording the information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated teller machine including a secure enclosure (25) within which is a secure autoteller subsystem (24) comprising a currency dispenser (30) and a depository (32) for the deposit of currency, cheques or other financial instruments. The secure enclosure (25) encloses an input data port (24a), a hub (26) in data communication with the input port, and a plurality of downstream ports (29,31) in data communication with the hub. The currency dispenser and depository are in data communication with the downstream ports respectively. A hub controller (34) is in data communication with the input port to control data communications from the hub to the downstream ports, the hub controller being adapted to authorize access from the hub to the downstream ports in response to an exchange of authentication codes between the hub controller and the input port.

Abstract: A parcel (4) installation for preparing purchase orders comprising at least an optical reading device (5) for reading bar codes. The parcels (4) are put together from products distributed in storage sectors and identified by bar codes. The device includes switches (57a, 57b) for obtaining a first, so called gun, reading mode allowing reading bar codes identifying the parcel (4) and a second, so called hand-free, reading mode for reading bar codes born by the products passing in front of the reader (53) while with the device operates in the second reading mode. Preferably, the device also includes an affixed or movable screen (52) for displaying the data read and guiding the operator.

Abstract: A smart card is provided having a removable integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is mounted on a semiconductor chip assembly which is locked within the smart card. The semiconductor chip assembly is configured so that once it is locked in place, it may only be removed with a special tool. The special tool allows the locking mechanisms holding the semiconductor chip assembly within the smart card to be disengaged. Attempts to remove the semiconductor chip assembly without the special tool may result in damage to one or both of the semiconductor chip assembly and the smart card. The semiconductor chip assembly may be mounted through the side of the smart card or through one of the faces. A security label applied to the smart card and the semiconductor chip assembly provides additional security with a visual indication of tampering with the semiconductor chip assembly.

Abstract: A frequency division multiplexed bar code scanner system includes a plurality of radiation sources for simultaneously providing a plurality of source beams, and a modulator circuit for modulating the intensity of each source beam at a different frequency. The source beams are combined and directed along a path to a bar code to be read; the return combined reflected light patterns are amplitude modulated by the bar code and are detected and the amplitude modulation of at least one of these patterns is detected to obtain a representation of the bar code read. The phase shift between the source beam and at least one of the reflected light patterns is used to determine the distance to the barcode bearing object. Distance information may be used to improve barcode reading performance.