Abstract: This application relates to a method for increasing the utility and usage efficiency of locally scanned tags including of one or multi-dimensional bar codes, Near Field Communication (NFC) tags, and tags employing other sensory means. My method uses scanner sensed information about at least one of relative orientation, relative position or relative motion, between scanner and local tag when scanning it, to provide a means for directly selecting one of a plurality of predefined scanner activity requests. Prior to this method a single tag scan action always directly resulted in the same scanner activity request. This method can be embodied as the subsystem out of which an efficient single or multiple level scanner activity request selection interface can be advantageously implemented for a wide range of scanner based applications. Typical mobile smart phones and warehouse and retail scanners are examples of scanner device categories that may employ this method.

Abstract: A pyroelectric infrared body sensing switch circuit comprises an amplification circuit, a delay unit, an execution unit, and an infrared detection circuit comprising one or more pyroelectric infrared detection elements. A power unit comprises first and second power circuits. Each of the first and second power circuits receives AC power and supplies DC power through RC voltage reduction, full-wave rectification, filtration, and voltage stabilization. The first power circuit supplies power to the execution unit and the second power circuit supplies power to the infrared detection circuit, the amplification circuit, and the delay unit. A signal outputted from the infrared detection circuit is inputted to the amplification circuit. A signal outputted from the amplification circuit controls the activation of the delay unit. A signal output from the delay unit controls the execution unit.

Abstract: An analog ballistic system calculator for long range shooting is constructed of a pair of rugged, waterproof rotatable transparent discs superimposed over a base member on one side and a single transparent rotatable disc on the opposite side of the base. The hand held calculator device provides a wind speed and direction and air temperature adjusted calculator device for long distance rifles.

Abstract: Embodiments related to methods and systems for determining support for a memory card, where the memory card is accessible to a card reader and the card reader is in communication with an accessing device. One embodiment comprises transmitting a first test command to the memory card, receiving a response to the first test command, and determining that the response to the first test command indicates that a card type is not supported by a plurality of card drivers. In response to said determining, at least one additional test command specific to a card type supported by a selected card driver is automatically transmitted, and if the response is successful, the selected card driver, which was previously determined not to support the card type of the memory card, is indicated to support the card type of the memory card.

Abstract: A card can be used to make a payment or to gain access to a secure facility. The card embeds a chip, a passive circuit, and an antennae that receives frequencies upon which the chip executes corresponding payment and access applications. The passive circuit powers the chip upon being energized by an external circuit that emits the frequencies. The card docks into a card dock having a user interface. The user interface has buttons which, when particularly engaged, permits reception of one of the frequencies that energizes the passive circuit to power the chip for the execution of the corresponding application.

Abstract: A system and method for auto-calibrating a barcode scanning tunnel to determine the orientation of one or more cameras with respect to a range finder and a conveyor belt comprises providing a scanning tunnel having a moveable surface, at least one range finder having an orientation, at least one camera having an orientation and at least one calibration object having at least one indicia disposed in a predetermined relationship to one or more features of the at least one calibration object, capturing at least one image of the at least one calibration object by the at least one camera, electronically detecting the at least one calibration object at least one indicia and the one or more object features and electronically calculating at least one component of the at least one camera orientation with respect to the moveable surface in response to information obtained from the image and the at least one calibration object at least one indicia.

Abstract: The invention relates to an invention for the central monitoring of the operation of automated banking machines (ATM). The operating signals from actuators (31) and sensors (32) of an automated banking machine (ATM) are used to assemble operating characteristics of the actuators (31) and sensors (32) into data records from operating signal patterns (by time segments. These data records are transmitted from the automated banking machine (ATM) to a central monitoring device (20) in which the operating signal patterns are compared with operating signal patterns from corresponding earlier time segments. A trend toward a change in operating characteristics can be ascertained for the respective actuator (31) or sensor (32), which trend can be used for early replacement of said actuator or sensor.

Abstract: A system, computer product and method are provided for a card issuer providing a prepaid gift card to a purchaser, the gift card usable by a recipient of the card to pay merchants who participate in a financial network. The method includes receiving a payment of a predetermined amount, and loading the predetermined amount received from the purchaser into the prepaid gift card. The method further includes activating the loaded prepaid gift card, the activated prepaid gift card being usable by the recipient for paying any of the merchants in the financial network until the predetermined amount loaded in the prepaid gift card is exhausted, and being usable by the recipient to obtain a benefit beyond what is purchased from at least some of the merchants in the financial network.

Abstract: An apparatus for marking predetermined known overhead positional locations within a coordinate space, for viewing by an image acquisition system. The apparatus comprises a plurality of marker tags, grouped in one or more rows, each row having an axis, each row being supported by a row support. Each marker tag comprises an optically opaque, dark colored corrugated substrate, substantially rectangular in shape. A label having a unique machine-readable barcode symbology printed thereon is positioned centrally on the substrate so that a dark colored border of the substrate surrounds the label. Each row support comprises a first support cord and a second support cord. The first support cord supports a first lateral edge of the marker tags in a row group in a fixed, spaced-apart positional arrangement. The second support cord supports the second lateral edge of the marker tags in the row in a slidable support arrangement.

Abstract: A hand-operated document processor includes a base for receiving a document containing magnetic ink character data to be read and recognized. A manually operated moving magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) subsystem includes a MICR read head and is attached to the base such that movement of the subsystem causes the MICR read head to pass over the magnetic ink character data on the document. MICR reading and recognition logic receives the signal from the MICR read head. A speed limiting device includes a viscous damper, and is connected to the MICR subsystem. The viscous damper provides a resistance load when the MICR subsystem is moved across the document being processed. The resistance load increases as the operator increases the speed of the MICR subsystem to encourage the operator to maintain a constant scanning rate over the length of the document.

Abstract: A system made up of a portable information terminal mountable on a shopping cart for providing product and advertising information while the cart is moved inside a store and an external memory device connectable to the portable information terminal, the external memory device including a memory housing, a non-volatile memory storing data in the memory housing, and a first electrical connector projecting from the housing for allowing a processor to access the stored data; the portable terminal including a terminal housing including a display, a processor in the terminal housing for causing the display to display product information and advertisements, and a second electrical connector inside the housing complementary to the first electrical connector for connecting an external memory device to the processor, the terminal housing including a passage providing access to the second electrical connector from outside the terminal housing and at least one door recessed in the passage shiftable from a first position

Abstract: Embodiments related to methods and systems for determining support for a memory card, where the memory card is accessible to a card reader and the card reader is in communication with an accessing device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of automating arrival and departure procedures in an airport, by which the forgery of a passport, the identity of a passport bearer, the arrival or departure permission according to a result of arrival and departure examinations, and the carry-on of prohibited items on the plane are automatically checked. The apparatus for automating arrival and departure procedures according to the present invention includes an exit gate, a departure automation apparatus, and may further include an entrance gate and a scanner. In the apparatus for automating arrival and departure procedures according to the present invention, a departure area entry procedure, a security screening procedure, and a departure examination procedure for departure passengers, which are conventionally performed separately in different areas, may be incorporated in the same area and performed therein.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible that devices are triggered by RF signals and the owner of the RF chip responsible for the triggering can receive a financial compensation for this. Hereto a method and a system for triggering a first-device by a RF signal and logging the triggering are presented. The system comprises a RF chip of a first party. The first device comprises communication means for receiving a RF signal from the RF chip and communication means for communicating with a network or server of a second party.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for efficiently authenticating a document (e.g. a credit card) having a magnetic stripe are provided. The magnetic field at different points of the magnetic stripe are measured, e.g., by a checkout scanner to create a magnetic signature. Digital samples of the measurements may be transformed into coefficients of continuous basis functions, e.g., a Fourier transform. These coefficients are then compared to reference values (e.g. corresponding coefficients) to produce a measure of the authenticity of the document. The number of coefficients used can advantageously be smaller than the number of digital samples without compromising accuracy, thus using less bandwidth between a scanner and an authentication entity.

Abstract: A transaction product includes a plurality of puzzle segments, four skin components, and a machine-readable account identifier. The four skin components each couple and form a hinge between at least two of the plurality of puzzle segments such that the transaction product is configured to be successively folded about the plurality of hinges to undergo a closed chain of transformations from an initial configuration to a plurality of intermediate configurations and back to the initial configuration. The four skin components are each positioned on an external surface of the transaction product when the transaction product is in the initial configuration. The machine-readable account identifier is coupled to at least one of the puzzle segments and links the transaction product to an account or record for tracking a value associated with the transaction product.

Abstract: A system and method of scanning machine-readable symbols with a signal source modulated by a local oscillator to create by heterodyne mixing upconverted signals at the sum and difference frequencies of the local oscillator frequency and the frequency of the time-varying reflectance off the scanned symbols is disclosed. The reflected heterodyned signal is detected by a receiver. Ambient noise is filtered out from the reflected signal, and the received signal at the sum and difference frequencies is processed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for switching between internal and external antennas. In some implementations, a system includes an antenna, a connector, and a housing. The antenna is configured to communicate wirelessly transactions with transaction terminals. The connector is connected to the antenna and configured to connect a transaction card to the antenna in response to at least insertion in the housing. The housing enclosing at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the connector and including one or more elements that form an opening for receiving the transaction card. In addition, the housing is substantially rectangular and includes a first portion with a first thickness and a second portion with a second thickness different from the first thickness and at least the thickness of the transaction card.

Abstract: A method for authorizing device interaction includes requesting, from a connected device, authorization data from a remote service. At the connected device, authorization data is received and then passed with an authorization prompt to a user interface device. From the connected device, a user interface device response to the prompt is passed to the remote service. At the connected device, authorization setting data is received and stored. The authorization setting data has a value determined according to the user interface device response and is useable by the connected device to determine authorization for subsequent connected device interaction with the remote service.

Abstract: A method of transferring funds to a personalized portable storage medium using a kiosk, includes the acts of receiving funds comprising a batch of loose mixed coins in a coin receiving area of the kiosk, processing the coins in a coin processing module, determining a total value of the funds using a controller, displaying the total value of the funds to a user of the kiosk, and permitting the user to select a desired graphic from amongst a plurality of available graphic selections using via a user input device. The method also includes the acts of printing, using a printing device, the user-selected graphic on a portable storage medium print area, the portable storage medium comprising a storage medium bearing data to which a value relating to the total value is associated and dispensing the portable storage medium bearing the user-selected graphic to the user, the portable storage medium having a first value relating to the total value.