Abstract: A multi-application smart card has a persistent storage unit. The persistent storage unit stores data and/or information that indicates which application is to be run the next time the smart card is inserted into a terminal. The persistent storage unit may indicate the same application, a different user-selected application, or an application-selection application is to be run next. Alternatively, the persistent storage unit may indicate the next application on a predefined list as the application to be run next. An application-selection terminal allows a user to manually select the user-selected application. The terminal may initiate communication with the smart card by sending a special, predefined signal to the smart card.

Abstract: A data processing terminal sends control commands to an external device to control the external device. The data processing terminal has a control command sending unit and an external device determining unit. The control command sending unit is used to send a control command to the external device. The external device determining unit is used to determine a type of the external device according to a response returned by the external device in response to the control command. Therefore, the data processing terminal is capable of determining the type of an external device such as a bar code reader connected thereto and of converting a control command in a predetermined format into one in another format, so that the data processing terminal can employ a single program to control bar code readers which use different command systems.

Abstract: A scanning device incorporates a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The laser diode may be mounted directly on an Si substrate which is adapted for movement to produce a scan pattern. A collimating lens may be directly mounted on the emitting surface of the laser. A plurality of lasers may be mounted on the substrate and operated in sequence without movement of the substrate to produce the effect of a scan. A single, variable-focal length lens is employed to focus each beam of the VCSEL at a different distance. The scanning device emits visible or invisible light towards a target such as a bar code and a detector (mounted on the same or an adjacent substrate) senses the light reflected by the target to produce data which is decoded for further processing. A VCSEL uses low current and emits light from a relatively large area so that a relatively large amount of light is emitted for relatively small heat generation.

Abstract: A bar code scanner is equipped with a keyboard emulation mechanism so as to provide an enhanced interface to a keyboard controller port of a computing device such as a personal or laptop computer. The keyboard emulation mechanism eliminates the necessity of connecting an actual computer keyboard to the port by responding to the computing device's standard power-on diagnostic procedure as if it were effectively an electrical equivalent of a computer keyboard. The keyboard emulation mechanism can also be equipped to detect a keyboard inhibit signal at the keyboard controller port. If the keyboard emulation mechanism detects a keyboard inhibit signal while a data byte is being transmitted to the keyboard controller port, the keyboard emulation mechanism retransmits this data byte to the keyboard controller port. The data byte may specify a scan code corresponding to a keyboard key press or all or part of a decoded bar code.

Abstract: The intermingling of bar code data and typed-in data in a keyboard-wedge configuration is prevented through the use of a message-based keyboard inhibit procedure implemented by the bar code scanner. In this manner, both the typed-in data and the bar code data will remain uncorrupted, even if the keyboard data is being entered substantially simultaneously with the scanning and/or decoding of bar code data. This message-based keyboard inhibit procedure tests for any communication in progress between the keyboard and PC. If no communication is in progress, the bar code scanner places a switching mechanism into a first state so as to disable communications between the keyboard and a keyboard controller port of a PC (personal computer), thereby inhibiting the keyboard. The bar code scanner then transmits the decoded bar code to the PC as a sequence of data bytes. The bar code scanner also implements any communications that are required between the PC and the keyboard during this time.

Abstract: A method of operating a retail terminal having a signal transmitter associated therewith includes the step of detecting an intervention-needed activity and generating an intervention-needed control signal in response thereto. The method also includes the step of operating the signal transmitter so as to transmit a personnel-request signal in response to generation of the intervention-needed control signal. The method further includes the step of receiving the personnel-request signal with a signal receiver associated with an audible message generating device. Moreover, the method includes the step of generating an audible message that is communicated to retail personnel with the audible message generating device in response to receipt of the personnel-request signal. A retail terminal is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a conventional method which defines an authentication key for each record, as the number of the records is increased in an access right management for records in a memory of an IC card, the number of the types of authentication keys is also increased to require a larger memory area for storing the authentication keys, thus causing lower memory efficiency. In order to solve such a problem, terminal types (ex. “0H”-“7H”) are defined for interrogators, so that only the number of authentication keys equal to the number of the terminal types are stored. Each record has the number of access permission bits equal to the number of the terminal types, and specifies terminal types, to which an access is permitted, by setting the bits ON or OFF.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is method and device system for entering and retrieving information in the surface layer of objects made of solid matters. The information is entered with a (concentrated) beam directed to the surface and having a power density selected to induce permanent change at least in the surface layer of the material's structure in a way that the power density of the beam is smaller that the power density of the beam causing visible deformation, but bigger than that of the beam that causes (within the order of magnitude of the beam's diameter) inhomogeneities commensurable with the structural inhomogeneities generally present in the material. The invention can be used for all materials, the structure or internal stress of which can be modified with high energy density surface treatment (at the location of the treatment) (specially with the local laser treatment of ferromagnetic material).

Abstract: An interface module for the operation of a chip card for data exchange between the chip card and a microprocessor system. The interface module includes circuits for communicating with the microprocessor system, communicating with the chip card in accordance with data and control instructions received from the microprocessor system, generating and/or controlling the chip card supply voltage, and for generating a clock signal which modified with respect to a clock frequency for the chip card from the clock pulse of a piezoelectric crystal oscillator. The interface module enable the microprocessor system to immediately control the chip card without the interconnection of another microprocessor.

Abstract: In a conventional method which defines an authentication key for each record, as the number of the records is increased in an access right management for records in a memory of an IC card, the number of the types of authentication keys is also increased to require a larger memory area for storing the authentication keys, thus causing lower memory efficiency. In order to solve such a problem, terminal types (ex. “0H”-“7H”) are defined for interrogators, so that only the number of authentication keys equal to the number of the terminal types are stored. Each record has the number of access permission bits equal to the number of the terminal types, and specifies terminal types, to which an access is permitted, by setting the bits ON or OFF.

Abstract: A scanner for optically scanning coded symbologies including a signal processing unit for pre-processing the scanned symbology information and a hardware symbology locating unit. An analog signal related to the reflectivity of the different portions of the coded symbology is obtained and is converted to digital gray-scale. The portion of the analog signal which corresponds to the substrate reflectance (absolute contrast) is removed, and the available dynamic range of the analog to digital converter is used only for the information-bearing portion of the signal (relative contrast). Since all of the decodable information is ultimately encoded in binary form, the information-bearing portion of the signal is retained. The hardware symbology locating unit includes a plurality of shift registers, each of which derives a value from an input seed which is based upon the width of a detected coded symbology element. The value of a subsequent input seed is compared to the values generated from a prior input seed.

Abstract: A retail terminal assembly includes a portable communication device for use by retail personnel. The assembly also includes a signal transmitter for transmitting a personnel-request signal to the portable communication device. The assembly further includes a processing unit electrically coupled to the signal transmitter. Moreover, the assembly includes a memory device electrically coupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to (a) detect an intervention-needed activity and generate an intervention-needed control signal in response thereto, and (b) operate the signal transmitter so as to transmit the personnel-request signal in response to generation of the intervention-needed control signal. A message is communicated to the retail personnel by the portable communication device in response to receipt of the personnel-request signal by the portable communication device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a chip card associated with RF transmission means. Said chip card comprises on each surface high permeability zones arranged so as to concentrate the flux generated by the RF transmission means onto a sensor coil. To ensure the proper functioning of the system, the transmission means generate flux lines parallel to the surface of the chip card.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically wedging data received from one or more automatic data collection (“ADC”) devices on an ADC device platform into a destination application based upon wedging criteria. A dynamic wedge receives data from one or more ADC devices and automatically wedges the data into applications based upon user-provided data characteristics or a predetermined set of rules. Applicable wedging criteria used to route data include those that are user-composed and those that pertain to firmware or software characteristics. The dynamic wedge may comprise an ADC data server, ADC device handlers, ADC protocol handlers, and a wedging grid for retaining wedging directives. The ADC data server receives wedging directives from local and remote client applications and stores the wedging directives in the wedging grid. When data arrives from an ADC device, the ADC data server analyzes the data to determine its characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method of flexibly loading an application and its associated data from an application provider onto an IC card. The application and its associated data is divided into segments which can each fit into the input buffer of an Integrated circuit card. Each segment is transmitted separately and the Integrated circuit card then stores the segment in an available space in the IC card's memory. The segments can be placed in non-contiguous memory in order to reduce memory fragmentation.

Abstract: Reading sections (21a, 21b) wherein disks (10a, 10b) bearing barcodes are installed, are provided, and code sensors (23a, 23b) for reading out these barcodes are provided in the reading sections (21a, 21b). When a player rotates a disk (10a, 10b) installed on a turntable (22a, 22b), the barcode is read out by the code sensors (23a, 23b), and parameters are set respectively on the basis of this barcode. Thereafter, if the player rotates the disk (10a, 10b) while simultaneously operating the buttons (25a-27a, 25b-27b), this combination is input as a command, and the game is developed accordingly. Thereby, it is possible to provide an information storage medium, information reproduction device, game machine, and information reproduction method, whereby code, such as barcode, or the like, can be used effectively.

Abstract: Premium point services offered by different retailers require each user to possess a plurality of cards for dealing with different applications. An electronic pocketbook system made of a display device and an IC card is provided to store diverse kinds of application information such as amount information and point information into a single IC card. Portions of the application information to be displayed are stored in a predetermined format into a predetermined area inside the IC card. This allows the same program of the display device to display various kinds of application information successively using a common program, and without having to an application specific program.

Abstract: A portable card reader is designed to be carried in a wallet or purse. In a first embodiment, the card reader has an electromagnetic head that reads information from a magnetic strip of a card. In a second embodiment, information is read from the card by an array of Hall sensors. In a further embodiment, the card reader uses a magnetic sensor based on magnetoresistive sensing of magnetic transitions of a magnetic stripe, suitable for use with small, portable electronic devices. In each embodiment, the information read from the card may be converted to a sequence of electronic bursts of predetermined frequency, preferably in the audible or ultrasound range. The sound signals are output by a speaker to the microphone of a telephone. The signal is then transmitted over the telephone lines to a remote receiver. The receiver then converts the sound bursts into signal pulses which can be read using the computer software of a conventional card reader.

Abstract: A bill transaction machine for transacting a bill include a port for delivering bills inputted by a user or discharging bills to a user, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, and a plurality of accepting boxes for accepting bills and disposed in stacked manner in a vertical direction. Each of the accepting boxes is mounted detachably in a horizontal direction and a bill transport path is provided for transporting bills between the plurality of accepting boxes and the port while passing the bills through the bill discriminating unit. Each of the accepting boxes each take in bills under travel on the bill transport path or deliver bills to the bill transport path with the accepting boxes being disposed in the same direction as a transport direction of the transport path. The accepting boxes and the transport path are increasable or decreasable in a vertical direction.

Abstract: The present invention features an enclosure for a credit card reader. The enclosure has a top cover for protecting and enclosing the card reader and a base disposed below the card reader, enclosing the bottom surface thereof. The top cover need not be used. The base is configured to allow debris to be conveyed below the card reader. An aperture is formed between the top cover and the base. The aperture is aligned with the card slot opening of the card reader so that a user can insert a credit card into, and withdraw the credit card from, the card reader. The base of the enclosure is disposed at an angle relative to the horizontal for facilitating conveyance of debris to the rear of the enclosure. The base also has an outlet at its rear for allowing debris to fall out of the enclosure, preventing blocking of the card reader by debris. The enclosure can be used with an improved credit card reader for processing bent, bowed, or warped credit or smart cards.