Patents Examined by Daniel Walsh
  • Patent number: 9652758
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for providing compensation for using a mobile payment service. The method may commence with receiving payment information associated with a user. The method may include generating a unique code encoding the payment information and providing the generated unique code to the user. The method may continue with receiving a deposit amount associated with a purchase related to the user. The purchase may be made via the mobile payment service. The method may further include receiving a notification about a further purchase of the user via the mobile payment service. The notification may include at least the unique code and a product barcode. The product barcode may be associated with the further purchase. The method may further include providing a compensation from the deposit amount to the user. The compensation may be associated with a payment amount associated with the further purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventors: Dylan T X Zhou, Tiger T G Zhou, Andrew H B Zhou
  • Patent number: 9646188
    Abstract: An imaging reader has near and far imagers for imaging targets to be read over a range of working distances. A default imager captures a minor portion of an image of the target, and rapidly determines its light intensity level. The exposure and/or gain values of the default imager are set to predetermined values based on the determined light intensity level. If the target is not decoded by the default imager, then the exposure and/or gain values of another imager are set to predetermined values based on the exposure and/or gain values that were previously set for the default imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harry E. Kuchenbrod, Chinh Tan, David P. Goren
  • Patent number: 9646300
    Abstract: A method for facilitating mobile device payments, multimedia capture, calling, and messaging may include providing a payment, multimedia capture, calling, and messaging interface on a display of a mobile and wearable device and sensing a haptic input of the user via the haptic control and the one touch service. In response to the haptic input, a cloud-based application associated with the mobile and wearable device may be activated. The haptic input may be analyzed to determine a duration of the haptic input. Based on the duration of the haptic input, an operation may be selected from the list of predetermined operations to be performed by the cloud-based application. The predetermined operations include at least a payment operation, a multimedia capture operation, a calling operation, and a messaging operation. The method may include operably connecting the mobile and wearable device to a cloud storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: WORLD AWARD ACADEMY, WORLD AWARD FOUNDATION, AMOBILEPAY, INC.
    Inventors: Tiger T G Zhou, Dylan T X Zhou, Andrew H B Zhou, Zhou Tian Xing, Mary M Z Xi
  • Patent number: 9633389
    Abstract: Techniques for allowing customer to order goods on-line or remotely and to pick-up the goods at a desired location or store are disclosed. The techniques include receiving a customer order. The location for delivery of the item with a customer order. The customer order includes at least one good and an associated customer identification number, e.g., a customer motor vehicle license plate number. The techniques further includes capturing images of the license plates of motor vehicles as the motor vehicles enter an order pick-up area located at the store, and if the associated customer motor vehicle license plate number matches one of the received motor vehicle license plate numbers from the optical character recognition unit, delivering the customer order to the motor vehicle associated with the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    Inventors: David Jon Carr, Richard Mark Ramsden
  • Patent number: 9619794
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for providing compensation for using a mobile payment service. The method may commence with receiving payment information associated with a user. The method may include generating a unique code encoding the payment information and providing the generated unique code to the user. The method may continue with receiving a deposit amount associated with a purchase related to the user. The purchase may be made via the mobile payment service. The method may further include receiving a notification about a further purchase of the user via the mobile payment service. The notification may include at least the unique code and a product barcode. The product barcode may be associated with the further purchase. The method may further include providing a compensation from the deposit amount to the user. The compensation may be associated with a payment amount associated with the further purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventors: Tiger T G Zhou, Andrew H B Zhou, Dylan T X Zhou
  • Patent number: 9600832
    Abstract: Provided is a method for advertising and retailing products and services in cloud gaming environments. A game provider may configure its cloud gaming environment to display third party advertisement before, during, or after the game. The advertisement may be in the form of timeout screens, banners, gaming objects, prizes, and other forms associated with typical cloud gaming environments. Third party advertisers benefit from additional advertisement exposure in these cloud gaming environments, which tend to be dynamic and interactive, and target new audience. Advertisement interaction levels may be measure to determine effectiveness and, for example, to collect certain fees from advertisers. An interaction level of interaction may be determined based on a number of clicks on advertisement objects, duration of exposure to the advertisement, a number of players, and various other factors. Game providers may modify their cloud gaming environments to improve these interaction levels and, as a result, collect more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Dylan T X Zhou
  • Patent number: 9594993
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for creating a 2D barcode. In an embodiment, the method includes: embedding primary information that can be read by a 2D-barcode-reader in a primary information pattern, and embedding secondary information that is made difficult to reproduce without alteration in a visible pattern. In an embodiment, the visible pattern is embedded within the barcode in at least one area that does not contain any primary information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SCANTRUSH SA
    Inventors: Justin Picard, Paul Landry
  • Patent number: 9576285
    Abstract: Methods and systems for messaging, calling, and one blink, one-touch, and one gesture payments and buying via mobile and wearable devices are disclosed. An exemplary system comprises a database in communication with a processor, the processor configured to provide a haptic control associated with the system. The haptic control is shown on a display of a mobile and wearable device overlapping other visual elements. The haptic control provides mode selection elements associated with a payment, messaging, and calling modes. The processor receives a selection of the payment mode via the mode selection elements from a user. Upon the selection, context is extracted from the display. Based on the context, a payment transaction type which the user intends to perform is determined. The payment transaction type includes a payment receiving transaction and a payment sending transaction. Based on the determining, a transaction request is sent to a financial institution using the extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Dylan T X Zhou
  • Patent number: 9563890
    Abstract: Mobile device payments using barcodes are displayed on mobile devices and scanned by merchants at checkout counters. When a customer is ready to tender a payment to a merchant, instead of using a credit card, cash, or check, the customer activates an application on his mobile device. The mobile device includes or obtains information about the payment system of this merchant. Furthermore, the mobile device includes or obtains information about the customer/mobile device user and then uses these two pieces of information to generate and display a barcode that encodes customer payment information specific to this merchant. The barcode is scanned by one scan or one touch at the checkout counter and processed to retrieve customer records from a database of the payment processing system. These records are then used to transfer funds between the merchant and customer, obtain discounts, and/or perform other retail transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Dylan T X Zhou
  • Patent number: 9542583
    Abstract: Provided is an optical information reading device that can reduce an installation load on a user, and can accurately read a code provided to each of various workpieces. A polarized illumination light source includes light emitters that irradiate the workpiece with illumination light through a polarization filter. A non-polarized illumination light source includes light emitters that irradiate the workpiece with illumination light without through a polarization filter. An imaging element is provided with a polarization filter having a polarization direction different from a polarization direction of the polarization filter of the light emitters. Either of the polarized illumination light source and the non-polarized illumination light source is used in accordance with the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Hidezumi Nagata, Taichi Tajika, Yusuke Otsubo
  • Patent number: 9514131
    Abstract: A medication container encoding, verification and identification method is provided that includes receiving data characterizing a medication, generating an identifier encapsulating the data and applying an identifier to a medication container such that it is automatically readable by a medication device. Related apparatus, systems, methods and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: CRISI Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter John Bochenko, Stephen Michael Prince, Winthrop De Childers, Joseph M. Calabro, Wallace S. Halliday, Mark Van Veen
  • Patent number: 9514344
    Abstract: Systems and methods for data reading are disclosed wherein one or more images of an item bearing an optical code are captured and the captured images are analyzed to determine whether the item has a reflective surface or not. Based on such a determination, operating parameters of the system, such as one or more of: the amount of time dedicated to 1D code decoding and the amount of time dedicated to 2D code decoding, the order in which 1D code and 2D code decoding are performed, termination of a decoding operation, restarting an image capture and decoding operation, and image preprocessing may be automatically adjusted by the system to decode an optical code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Datalogic ADC, Inc.
    Inventors: WenLiang Gao, Alan J. Guess
  • Patent number: 9507974
    Abstract: Indicia-reading systems that interface with a user's nervous system include a device with electrodes capable of detecting electromagnetic signals produced in the brain or skeletal muscles of a user. The systems also include a computer with a processor and memory. The computer is configured to monitor the electromagnetic signals that are detected by the electrodes. The computer is also configured to perform operations in response to certain monitored electromagnetic signals. The computer may be an indicia-reading device configured to acquire indicia information in response to certain detected electromagnetic signals. The computer may also be a vehicle-mounted computer configured to sound an alarm in response to certain detected electromagnetic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Todeschini
  • Patent number: 9489604
    Abstract: An optically variable device uses a data storage layer with a nano-optical bit system to store data. The optically variable device encodes the data using spectral signatures (such as colors) as variables. In some embodiments, the optically variable device uses angle multiplexing to store machine-readable data and an image. The optically variable device can be used as a secure data storage medium for a large volume of data. The storage capacity can be increased by increasing the number of color variables and by introducing additional variables such as intensity and polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: IE-9 Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Sasan Vosoogh-Grayli, Siamack Vosoogh-Grayli
  • Patent number: 9489671
    Abstract: Systems and methods for multimedia capture and payment transactions are provided. A system comprises a payment and multimedia capture means and a cloud-based application. The payment and multimedia capture means is configured to communicate with an external device, transmit key data from the payment and multimedia capture means to the external device. The cloud-based application is configured to receive the key data from the external device, provide a payment and multimedia capture interface on a display of the external device, receive haptic input via the haptic control, analyze the haptic input to determine a duration of the haptic input, select an operation based on the duration, and perform the selected operation. The operation include a payment operation and a multimedia capture operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew H B Zhou, Tiger T G Zhou, Dylan T X Zhou
  • Patent number: 9480832
    Abstract: There is provided a tube connector for connecting between a fluid sampling tube and a fluid analyzer, the tube connector includes an end face adapted to identify the tube connector, said end face comprising a reflecting surface having one or more reflective regions adapted to reflect light at a predetermined range of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd.
    Inventors: Joshua Lewis Colman, Zion Botesazan, Gal Itzhak
  • Patent number: 9477853
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an incremental information object (IIO) from an information object (IO). The method includes analyzing an IO to identify code, wherein the IO is made up of a number of tiles, and wherein the tiles make up a code. The method also includes confirming the code. If the code is successfully confirmed, the method further includes modifying the IO by adding binary information IO the IO through the use of color scales that are not recognizable by an optical IO reader, generating a new progressive code comprising a bitstream, and overwriting the bitstream on the tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven J Simske, A. Marie Vans
  • Patent number: 9460948
    Abstract: A package is provided for use with a track-and-trace data management system. The package comprises a base defining a plurality of compartments, each compartment containing an item, and a cover enclosing the compartments to retain each item inside a respective compartment. Each item carries a unique item code, and the package includes at least one unique security code. The relationship between the unique item code and the at least one unique security code is maintained by the data management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Suorsa, John B. Holz, Joseph D. Roth
  • Patent number: 9430727
    Abstract: A data storage device serving as a portable card, magnetically encodeable card, or a magnetic credit card is shown. The data storage device includes a substrate having at least one surface. A high density, magnetically coercive material layer is disposed on or is deposited on the substrate for storing magnetic signals. The magnetically coercive material may have an axis of magnetization that is oriented in a predetermined direction relative to the at least one surface of the substrate. A layer of non-magnetically material is disposed on the substrate for defining an exchange break layer. A relatively hard, abradeable protective coating is formed on the magnetic material layer and has a thickness between a maximum thickness that materially attenuates magnetic signals passing between the magnetic material layer and a transducer and a minimum thickness enabling the protective coating to be abraded by usage in an ambient natural atmosphere operating environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: UltraCard, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Mann, Bert D. Cook, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9418267
    Abstract: A modular shelf for an integrated display structure that addresses the mutually important, yet unrelated issues of inventory control, shelf labeling and point of purchase advertising. The modular shelf has a non-metallic low density core, a molded frame secured along the outer perimeter of the core, a thermoplastic or resinous sheet secured to each of the top face and the bottom face of the core, and a plurality of antennae embedded within at least one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet. An RF or other electronic transceiver is electrically connected to the antennae secured within a cavity of the rear molded member, and a power and communications connects the RF transceiver with a front video display panel and with power and communications components in a support base of a shelf gondola.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ground Star LLC
    Inventor: Gary L. Josey