Patents Examined by Daniel Stcyr
  • Patent number: 7347367
    Abstract: A system and method of verifying item placement on a security scale. The system includes a computer for receiving incremental weight signals from a security weight scale, wherein some of the incremental weight signals are unrelated to placement of items on the security weight scale, and an item detector for detecting movement of the item from a scanner following scanning of the item and for generating an item detection signal, wherein the computer ignores the incremental weight signal unless it receives the item detection signal within a predetermined time period preceding receipt of the incremental weight signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel F. White
  • Patent number: 7344085
    Abstract: Multilayer expansion card for connecting an apparatus or device to an electronic apparatus, particularly for association to a mother card of a Personal Computer. The card comprises a first part, intended principally for connection, having a thickness coherent with the requirements of size for connection to the standard slots of the mother card, and a second part, intended principally for the management of the card functions and for processing, and hence the electronics, having a greater thickness with respect to the first part in order to contain a correspondingly greater number of layers intended for the management of a high density of electronic-type signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Eurotech SpA
    Inventor: Mauro Rossi
  • Patent number: 7337964
    Abstract: The present invention is an ink-based electronic voting apparatus that generates a paper ballot for every voter. The voter marks a ballot with a probe as he/she would with a conventional ink-based system. In one embodiment, the paper ballot is situated underneath the surface of an input board electrically connected to a computer. A vote is cast when the probe is depressed onto the ballot at a designated input point. The electrical interaction between the probe and the input board generates a vote signal for recording and causes ink to be released from the probe to mark a corresponding spot on the paper ballot. As such, votes are electronically recorded for fast tabulation while paper ballots are generated for manual and/or optical scanner recounts to safeguard against computer errors and tampering. Furthermore the voting apparatus has a built-in mechanism to prevent undervoting and overvoting and thus increases valid votes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Hawkins, Ping Shao
  • Patent number: 7337972
    Abstract: The present invention provides for widening a single bar (18) of a bar code without spoiling the readability of the bar code symbol. Further, the present invention provides for writing at least one sufficiently small letter, icon or other character within a single bar (24, 26) or space (22) of a bar code symbol without spoiling the symbol's readability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: International Barcode Corporation
    Inventor: Allen Lubow
  • Patent number: 7334739
    Abstract: Coded data for disposal on or in a surface, the coded data being arranged in accordance with at least one layout having n-fold rotational symmetry about a center of rotation, where n is at least two, the layout including n identical sub-layouts rotated 1/n revolutions apart about the center of rotation, each sub-layout encoding a codeword formed from a number of data elements, the sub-layout defining the position of the data elements, and including rotation-indicating data that distinguishes that sub-layout from at least one other sub-layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7336856
    Abstract: A method for selecting an optimum delay length in a polarization mode dispersion (PMD) compensator configured with a constant-length delay line and deployed in an optical communication system. The optimum delay length depends on the data modulation format, bit rate, and/or signal bandwidth and is preferably selected such that outage probability in the communication system is at a minimum. System performance of a PMD compensator configured with a constant-length delay line having the optimum length approaches that of a PMD compensator configured with a variable-length delay line. The method extends the application range of constant-length delay line PMD compensators while reducing the cost of implementing high-performance PMD compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert Haunstein, Chongjin Xie
  • Patent number: 7334728
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for interactively providing product and related information to a user based upon product identification information, such as a UPC code, and enabling the user to engage in various transactions related to the product. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system informs and educates the user about a particular product or service which the user is interested in and enables the user to efficiently purchase the product or service. The system is also configured to offer personalized transactional benefits to the user based on the amount and/or type of personal information that is provided by the user. According to one aspect, a mobile device with a camera can be used as the means for reading and processing product and service identifying indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Williams Patent Licensing PLC Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Peter Williams
  • Patent number: 7325743
    Abstract: A housing for a hand-held scanner has an upper surface having a front portion and a rear portion, a lower surface having a front portion and a rear portion, side surfaces between the upper and lower surfaces and a first groove in the lower surface between the front portion and rear portion for receiving a finger of a hand holding the housing during use. The side surfaces have second grooves therein extending from the first groove towards the rear portion of the upper and lower surfaces a sufficient distance to receive the tips of at least two fingers of a hand holding the housing during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alistair Hamilton, Sudhir Bhatia, Philip Swift, Chinh-Hung Jwo
  • Patent number: 7325744
    Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for storing an electronic memory card. The apparatus, in one embodiment, is a memory card holder configured to removably retain a memory card within the cavity of a housing. The memory card holder may include a housing that resembles a recognizable electronic device (such as a PDA, a digital camera, or the like) but is natively inoperative as an electronic device, a cavity formed within the housing, and a retaining mechanism positioned within the cavity to removably retain a memory card. The memory card holder may further include an aperture integrally formed in the housing for attaching the housing to an object, such as a key chain, bag, string, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Arthur James Porter
  • Patent number: 7322514
    Abstract: Methods are described for identifying and authenticating goods. A code or checksum based on information or an image relating to a good is derived and associated with a barcode to include on a label. The label is scanned by a recipient to authenticate the goods. Scanable codes are provided based on an image by distilling an image into its hue components and using a grid to create a pattern. The pattern is readable by a scanner to obtain a code directly, or by consulting a look-up table. The code, barcode, digital barcode or scanable code can be included on a label or tag, such as an RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Barcode Corporation
    Inventor: Allen Lubow
  • Patent number: 7322521
    Abstract: A Universal Ticket Transport (UTT) 10, 150 may be configured to read from and write to many types of magnetically encoded tickets 20 currently used in fare collection systems. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical insertion interface and automated movement along a transport path 18 for tickets 20 of varying thicknesses that are presented at a range of different angles 40, 42 into and exiting from the UTT 10, 150. The UTT 10, 150 includes a mechanical assembly 156, 158 which may be rotated, and the belts 22, 24, 152, 154 and rollers 30, 32, 34, 36 reconfigured, to accommodate tickets 20 having top-face or bottom face magnetic stripes. The belt subassemblies A, C and the magnetic head subassembly B are configurable across a width W of the UTT 10, 150 to process tickets 20 having magnetic stripes which are offset from a center line 86.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: Graham H. Hilton, Paula Miller, Thomas Busch-Sorensen, Richard A. Pearson
  • Patent number: 7322515
    Abstract: Controlling electronic withdrawals by a drawee including receiving in the drawee from a withdrawal device a withdrawal request, where the withdrawal request includes a withdrawal device identifier, a drawer identifier, and a withdrawal amount; retrieving from storage in computer memory of the drawee data representing limitations on electronic withdrawals for the drawer, wherein the limitations include a limitation on drawer location; and authorizing, by the drawee, an electronic withdrawal in dependence upon the limitations, including the limitation on drawer location. In typical embodiments, the limitations on electronic withdrawals may include limitations on withdrawal type account, withdrawal period, and maximum withdrawal amount. In typical embodiments, the limitation on drawer location may include a geographic area that includes one or more locations of withdrawal devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann Marie Keohane, Gerald Francis McBrearty, Shawn Patrick Mullen, Jessica Murillo, Johnny Meng-Han Shieh
  • Patent number: 7320433
    Abstract: A coded marker in a magnetomechanical resonant electronic article identification system, includes a plurality of ductile magnetostrictive elements or strips based on an amorphous magnetic alloy ribbon with improved magnetomechanical resonance performance. The coded marker takes full advantage of the improved magnetomechanical properties, and an electronic article identification system utilizes the coded marker. The improved encodable and decodable marker/identification system is capable of identifying considerably larger number of articles than conventional systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Metglas, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryusuke Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7318549
    Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (15). The user interface includes a card reader (16), receipt printer opening (30), cash dispensing opening (38), and deposit accepting opening (40). Multicolor light emitting devices (17, 31, 41, 43) are adjacent to and associated with a respective location where a user interacts with a particular transaction function device of the machine. One or more machine controllers (64) are selective to control the output color and duration of each light emitting device responsive to programming associated with the controller and an operative condition of the associated transaction function device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Zachary Utz, Kenneth Turocy, Jim Booth, Natarajan Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 7316354
    Abstract: An automated storage system provides a two-way wireless interface between an operator and the computer and database system that identifies where items are located. Accordingly, while the operator is located adjacent a storage unit, the operator can query the database system for an item location via speech input and receive audio output of that location. As a result, the operator does not need to remember the location information while traveling between the computer and the storage unit and the operator is able to perform multiple operations with the storage unit without returning to the computer in-between each operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Vocollect, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Davis
  • Patent number: 7316348
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for interfering with an unauthorized device attempting to acquire user identification information at a cash dispensing automated banking machine. The apparatus includes an emitter for emitting radiation at one or more frequencies to interfere with actual or suspected radiation transmitted from an unauthorized device in a proximity of the banking machine. The radiation may be substantially continually emitted or emitted responsive to a user supplying input to the machine. The radiation may be emitted over a plurality of frequencies within a frequency range associated with unauthorized devices. Additionally, the machine may include a sensing device for monitoring the nature and quality of unauthorized radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Natarajan Ramachandran, Jeffery M. Enright, Dale H. Blackson
  • Patent number: 7311249
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting a PIN-enabled stored value account refund transaction is provided. A refund request is received, wherein the refund request is for a stored value account having an associated value purchased in a previous transaction, and the refund request comprises a PIN associated with the stored value account. The refund request may be received by a central processor from a merchant terminal at the request of a customer. The central processor or merchant terminal determine whether any of the associated value has been previously redeemed. A refund amount is determined. The refund amount may be provided to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: e2interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Merrill Brooks Smith, Phillip Craig Graves
  • Patent number: 7311257
    Abstract: A card reader for reading data from a data card includes a support. A light source is supported by the support and is configured to emit light toward the data card. A sensor is supported by the support and is configured to sense the data being carried by reflected light from the data card. A translucent cover is mounted to the support and defines recesses in which the light source and sensor are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7311256
    Abstract: Computer software which includes code configured to create a printer label format based on a printed label that has been scanned. The code is configured to scan a label by either using a plurality of different types of scanners, or by using a single piece of hardware which can perform a plurality of different types of scans. Then, the scanned label is used to generate a label format. The label format created from the scanned label is thereafter useable to print labels similar in format to the label which was scanned. Preferably, barcodes are recognized as barcodes, and not just as graphics. Preferably, a user is prompted, via a visual display, to confirm that the scanned objects have been correctly characterized and the user can change any of the characterizations made by the software. The user can link any object to a variable field, and can add embedded printer-specific non-printing control codes to the label format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventor: Karl Torchalski
  • Patent number: RE40071
    Abstract: A multi-plane scanner having a dual plane scanner with a horizontal window and a vertical window and a load cell/weigh platter weighing apparatus such that the weigh platter itself is a dual plane object with vertical and horizontal sections. The size and orientation of the planes of the weigh platter correspond to the size and orientation of the scan windows of the dual plane scanner, and each plane of the weigh platter has a transparent area (typically central), or “platter window”, corresponding to a respective scan windows of the scanner for allowing transmission of scanned optical beams and optical barcode signals through each of the planes of the weigh platter. The platter is sufficiently rigid to permit accurate weighing whether the object being weighed is placed solely on the horizontal section of the platter or in part on the vertical section. The vertical and horizontal sections of the platter are sealed together to prevent passage of debris therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Datalogic Scanning, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Svetal, Mohan LeeLaRama Bobba, Matt D. Schler, Gary J. Oldham