Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the optimized delivery of one or more advertisements from a group of advertisements. The method of the present invention comprises receiving a request for one or more advertisements and retrieving advertisements responsive to the request received. Click through data associated with the one or more advertisements is retrieved and is normalized using a normalization algorithm. The normalized click through data is used to assign weights to the one or more advertisements. Tracking codes are generated for the one or more advertisements to track user interactions with a given advertisement. Advertisements are distributed according to the one or more advertisements' associated weights with associated tracking codes in one or more formats to one or more locations through which advertising may be conducted.

Abstract: Laundry facility management system comprises a laundry service device, controlled by an operating control; and a local controller connected to the service device and a central controller, connected together for the transfer of information between them. The local controller stores a current device rate, representing current cost of service provided by the connected service device, and reads a card identifier provided on and uniquely identifying a presented service card Local controller requestor derives from a read card identifier and from the current device rate an authorization request, and transmits it to the central controller. The central controller receives an account balance payment message providing a particular card identifier and a payment value, and stores account balance signals for at least one account, each account being uniquely indexed by a particular card identifier.

Abstract: Electrical power consumption is saved in a low-cost scanner for reading bar code symbols by oscillating one of the scanner components either by mechanical power alone or by a low-power electrical drive.

Abstract: The scan direction of at least one scan line is changeable in a scanner for reading bar code symbols by selectively reversing a drive.

Abstract: An indicia printing/verifying apparatus and an indicia scanning method are disclosed, in which a scanner is shifted in the line feed direction while indicia is scanned by the scanner so that even the indicia having a small length in the line feed direction can be completely scanned by the scanner without decreasing the printing/verifying speed of the apparatus.

Abstract: A laser-scan bar code reader is mounted in a hand-held unit operable in two modes. In one mode the hand-held unit may be mounted in a fixed position in a terminal in which case the data generated from the bar code reading operation is transferred immediately to the terminal and the reader is powered continuously from the terminal unit. In the other mode, the hand-held unit is separated from the terminal and held manually, in which case the data from bar code reading is stored in a local memory to be later transferred to the terminal when the hand-held unit is again inserted into the terminal. A battery in the hand-held unit is charged when the unit is mounted in the terminal, then powers the hand-held unit while operating remote from the terminal. The power for battery charging and the data transfer are accomplished without direct connections between the hand-held unit and the terminal.

Abstract: Emitted light of a light emitting device (3) placed interiorly of a transparent cylindrical member (1) is reflected by a flat mirror (8) formed on an end of the transparent cylindrical member (1), then the reflected light is focused on a bar code (41) to be detected by an elliptical mirror (11) formed on the side (11A) of the cylindrical member (1), and reflected light from the bar code (41) is converged on a light receiving device (2) disposed interiorly of the cylindrical member (1) by a convex lens (9) which is formed on the other end of the transparent cylindrical member (1).

Abstract: A noncontact IC card comprises a data transmit-receive circuit for transmitting and receiving data without contact, a detection circuit for detecting a trigger signal in a signal received by the data transmit-receive circuit, a data processing circuit connected to the data transmit-receive circuit for processing the data, a clock generating circuit for supplying a clock signal to the data processing circuit, an actuating circuit for actuating the clock generating circuit in response to the detection of the trigger signal by the detection circuit, and a battery for supplying electric power to each of the above circuits.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording analysis of a reagent test strip having a plurality of color blocks for testing different constituents of a fluid, comprises a reference panel having a plurality of visually distinguishable and calibrated color areas or spots, a plurality of first lights for designating the testing of a different constituent or parameter, a plurality of second lights each located adjacent a different color spot, a cavity or space adjacent groups of color spots, detection optical detector for detecting the presence of the reagent strip positioned in the space, and a microcomputer for recording and storing test results and having means for directing sequential testing of the different parameters and for turning the lights on and off during the sequential testing. The apparatus includes switches for signaling the microcomputer to record and store the test data and for turning the apparatus on and off. The invention includes a process for operating the apparatus.

Abstract: A photographic film is provided with bar codes indicating frame numbers attached to respective frames of the photographic film and a specific bar code indicating a specific part thereof. The specific bar code is located before or after the specific part of the photographic film. Each frame number bar code is read to determine the decimal frame number of each frame of the photographic film. If the bar code attached to the last frame is not read, it is determined that the bar code not read indicates a frame number for the last frame by reading the specific bar code before or after the fault in reading the bar code of the last frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical card reader that detects any relative inclination of the card by measuring the relative motion of the optical tracks themselves. The optical card reader comprises a card holding portion, an optical head having the ability follow data tracks on the optical card, and a detector that measures the angle of inclination of the optical card from a tracking signal generated from a one-dimensional relative movement of the card holder and the optical card.

Abstract: A data-track accessing apparatus effectively eliminates external disturbance components from a track-deviation signal and correctly locates an objective track at an extremely fast speed. The apparatus includes an actuator which transfers a light beam in a direction of traversing tracks, a track-deviation detecting circuit which detects an amount of track deviation when the light beam traverses the tracks, a binary-coding circuit which converts the detected track-deviation signal into a binary-coded signal, an external-disturbance-component removal circuit which removes external disturbance components from the binary-coded track-deviation signal, and a speed-discriminating circuit which discriminates the moving speed of the light beam into multiple stages based on an output signal from the removal circuit.

Abstract: A receipt generator which produces written receipts at locations remote to the location of use for a conventional charge-card activated system is disclosed. The charge-card activated system provides a telecommunications service and maintains billing records which are supplied at predetermined intervals, such as daily, to a receipt transmission computer. The receipt transmission computer communicates with a personal profile database that associates charge-card numbers with phone numbers assigned to the remote locations. Printing devices, such as facsimile machines, couple to phone lines at these remote locations. The receipt transmission computer identifies, through an examination of charge-card identifiers, particular ones of the billing records for which personal profile database entries exist. The receipt transmission computer then formats a text file for such records.

Abstract: An optical pickup using a fiber type SHG, an optical information recording carrier and an information recording and reproducing apparatus. In the optical pickup, the primary ray which was removed in conventional arrangements is utilized thereby the same pickup can be used not only for an optical disk of a high density but also for an optical disk of a usual record density. To raise the recording density of the information recording carrier the laminated structure is utilized to record information. Two rays having different wavelengths are directed onto the record layer and onto the recordable layer of the optical disk, and the information recording and reproducing apparatus performs the reproducing of information as well as error detection and record/reproduction of information, so that a novel reproduction mode is realized.

Abstract: A phase-lock control circuit suitable for an optical disk apparatus of a sample-servo format scheme includes an injection-synchronized control loop in addition to a normal phase-lock loop control loop. The phase-lock loop control loop includes a phase-comparator, a low-pass filter, a voltage-controlled oscillator, i.e., a VCO, a frequency-dividing counter, and a decoder. The phase-comparator detects a phase difference between a clock pit pulse signal and a feedback pulse signal supplied through the frequency-dividing counter and the decoder. The VCO is oscillated to compensate for the phase difference and generates a reference clock signal.

Abstract: A separation type optical pickup device divided to a fixed optical unit and a movable optical unit. The device comprises an optical output system for emitting an optical beam arranged in the fixed unit. An optical detection system is arranged in the fixed unit. A focusing system is arranged in the movable unit for forming an optical spot on an information record medium. A deflection member is arranged in the fixed unit for deflecting and guiding the beam emitted from the optical output system to the movable unit. The member has a deflection surface which is universally rotatable about a deflection point thereof. An optical axis adjuster mechanism is arranged in the fixed unit for shifting and adjusting the optical output system in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis thereof.

Abstract: A system for collecting data relating to medical specimens includes a hand-held terminal incorporating a bar code reader and a keyboard for receiving information for identifying a medical specimen and a medical specimen source, an internal memory within the hand-held terminal for storing information including information identifying medical specimens and corresponding medical specimen sources, and application software operating within the hand-held terminal responsive to the input devices and the internal memory for verifying that the medical specimen identified by the received information should properly be collected from the medical specimen source identified by the received information. An LCD display, LEDs and an audible signal indicate whether the medical specimen identified by the received information should properly be collected from the medical specimen source identified by the received information.

Abstract: The invention provides an improvement of the conventional laser driving circuit mainly including a control logic circuit, a reproducing power producing circuit, and a recording power producing circuit for preventing a recording film of a disk from being damaged by a laser in a reproducing mode. The improved respect is addition of a voltage monitoring circuit and a bypass transistor for an abnormal signal. The voltage monitoring circuit monitors a voltage drop caused in the control logic circuit and supplies a voltage abnormality indicating signal, thereby causing the bypass transistor to be conductive for allowing the abnormal signal to be flown therethrough.

Abstract: An integrated system for image processing of documents generated in shipping transactions includes a central transaction processing facility, which receives images of shipping transaction documents. The document images may be captured by scanners at a plurality of remote stations or they may be telefaxed directly to the processing facility by the individual shippers. A central shipping transaction database is maintained on a host computer, for example, along with appropriate applications for processing the transaction data and invoicing the transactions. The system includes a plurality of image processing stations, at which key operators may view the images of shipping documents according to predetermined workflow queues and, based on the images of the documents, enter transaction data into the shipping transaction database. The system allows for printing of transaction invoices from the data in the database along with a hard copy of any shipping document images which are to accompany the invoices.

Abstract: A system is set forth which is particularly adapted for use in drive-through, fast food establishments by which a patron make his/her own selections and pay for the order with a credit card. The system includes a panel having a plurality of touch responsive switches each or several corresponding to a particular item, e.g., food, to be selected. The system recognizes the patron's credit card and account and, thereafter, the patron enters his/her selections at the panel. The selections are reproduced at, for example, the main building for filling of the order and may also be displayed at the panel for verification of the selections by the patron. After the order is complete, a credit voucher and receipt are generated at the panel and are provided to the patron, and the account is debited in the amount of the order. The patron signs the voucher accepting the credit terms represented thereby and presents the signed voucher in exchange for the order.