Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for improving the handling and interaction of charge events in a business using services of a multi-tenant computing platform, such as accounting, CRM, ERP, and the like. Embodiments are directed to implementing and using a charge record to enable efficient use of charges originating from multiple sources to generate reports and forecasts for multiple other services and/or recipients. In one embodiment, the charge record defines a single-source of data which enables maintaining critical business information in synchronization through a single repository of data. One aspect is to define a single abstraction, the charge record, which all sources can create. Thus, instead of multiple relationship between multiple sources and multiple processes, a charge record provides a single data point for a charge such that charges sources and processes that utilize data from the charge sources may interact using a single type of data record.

Abstract: A merchandise holder, e.g., a drink coaster or a food placemat, is used to facilitate the purchase of food or beverage placed on the holder. A customer may use a mobile device to scan a QR code on a merchandise holder to purchase a beverage. Further, the merchandise holder may include an RFID scanner to keep track of the food or beverages consumed by the customer. The RFID scanner of the merchandise holder may scan RFID tags attached to the food or beverages consumed by the customer. A payment account of the customer may be associated with the merchandise holder to pay for the food or beverages placed on the holder. Accordingly, a customer may use the merchandise holder to order, keep track of, and pay for the food or beverages consumed by the customer.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for gathering data concerning harvests. Data tickets are generated at a point of origination (i.e., the field), local storage, processing, or a customer location. Data tickets may also be generated for supplies delivered to the field. Implements attached to a vehicle in the field (e.g., a tractor) may provide data over a vehicle communication bus about how a field processing task was performed. Data may be extracted from the bus to use in preparing a field processing ticket, possibly in combination with manual entry from field personnel. A harvest data tracking system, based on data tickets, may be used to track the complete life cycle of crop production.

Abstract: A point-of-sale system includes a stand that supports a tablet computer. The tablet computer can run a merchant application to provide the typical functionality for a point-of-sale system. The stand can be rotatable to face either the merchant or the customer. The stand can incorporate a card reader. The tablet computer can be connected through a hub to other peripheral components, such as a controllable cash drawer, a printer and/or a bar code reader. The cash drawer can include a slidable drawer having sliding rails that are hidden from a top view of the drawer.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a peer-to-peer consensus system and method for achieving consensus in tracking transferrable digital objects. The system achieves consensus on a shared ledger between a plurality of peers and prevents double spending in light of network latency, data corruption and intentional manipulation of the system. Consensus is achieved and double spending is prevented via the use of the most committed stake metric to choose a single consensus transaction record. A trustable record is also facilitated by allowing stakeholders to elect a set of trusted non-colluding parties to cooperatively add transactions to the consensus record. The voting mechanism is a real-time auditable stake weighted approval voting mechanism. This voting mechanism has far reaching applications such as vote directed capital and providing a trusted source for data input into a digital consensus system. The system further enables digital assets that track the value of conventional assets with low counterparty risk.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for making purchases at a merchant point-of-sale (POS) device using a mobile device. Transaction information may be communicated from the POS device to the mobile device and an authorization from the purchaser to proceed with the transaction returned to the POS device from the mobile device. After authorization, the POS device may communicate the transaction information together with an identifier of the mobile device to a financial institution to process payment. The financial institution may confirm the transaction with the purchaser at the mobile device using the identifier of the mobile device. Upon receiving a confirmation response from the mobile device, the financial institution may then transfer funds from a purchaser account to a merchant account.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering variable pricing of data usage to a user device operated by a user is disclosed. The system includes a server configured with a usage monitor configured to identify the user and monitor usage patterns of the user device. The server has a pricing policy engine configured to generate pricing information based on at least one of the identity of the user and the usage patterns. The pricing policy engine is configured to transmit the pricing information to the user device. The user device is configured with a usage controller having a user interface configured to receive a delay preference selection identifying at least one delay tolerant application. The usage controller is configured to receive pricing information from the pricing policy engine and to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on the delay preference selection and the pricing information.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a point-of-sale (POS) system, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of making secure payments using a mobile device in addition to a POS terminal that may be an insecure payment device exposed to various tamper attempts under certain circumstances. The mobile device is involved in a trusted transaction between a central financial entity, e.g., a bank, and the payment terminal, such that the insecure payment terminal may be further authenticated based on rolling codes, two-way or three-way authentication, or an off-line mode enabled by incorporation of the mobile device. Although either of the mobile device and the payment terminal provides limited security, a POS system incorporating both of them demonstrates an enhanced level of security.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for identifying an item to be purchased during a checkout process includes an operation unit configured to receive user inputs, a display unit configured to display a series of user interfaces generated during the checkout process, an imaging unit configured to capture an image of the item to be purchased and generate image data thereof, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to select an operational mode from a plurality of operational modes including a first mode and a second mode and to control the display unit to display a first screen including one or more user-selectable candidates according to a first layout when the selected mode is the first mode, and a second screen including one or more user-selectable candidates according to a second layout that is the same as the first layout when the selected mode is the second mode.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a self-checkout apparatus comprises a reading module configured to read information of a wireless tag from a commodity attached with the wireless tag and housed in a storage room, and a data processing module configured to carry out sales registration and checkout processing of the commodity of which the wireless tag information is read by the reading module; wherein the reading module includes, inside the storage room, an antenna section for reading the information of the wireless tag from the commodity housed in the storage room, and a moving section for changing communication range of the antenna section with the wireless tag.

Abstract: Terminals connected to a POS terminal can execute appropriate processes using functions of a browser. A POS system 1 has a first tablet terminal 101 that runs a browser; a second tablet terminal 102 that runs a browser; and a POS control device 11 that is communicatively connected to the first tablet terminal 101 and the second tablet terminal 102, and has a communication unit 20b that sends data received from the browser running on the first tablet terminal 101 to the browser running on the second tablet terminal 102.

Abstract: A computing device identifies a plurality of containers that are collocated at a facility via a network. Each container of the plurality of containers comprises an electronic device integrated into the container without interfering with a content of the container, the electronic device comprising a receiver, a display and speakers. The computing device transmits messages comprising activation signals to electronic devices of the plurality of containers that are collocated at the facility. The messages cause the electronic devices of the plurality of containers to activate, display images using the display and output audio via the speakers together as a group.

Abstract: A payment processing system for mobile point-of-sale transactions from a mobile point-of-sale (POS) terminal including a payment card reader having a card interface configured to read data from a payment card, the payment processing system configured to process a request from a merchant to provide financing for a purchase by a buyer (e.g., a second merchant). The payment processing system is further configured to calculate financing terms including an approved purchase amount and repayment terms for the approved purchase amount, to transmit the financing terms to the merchant for presentation to the buyer via the mobile POS terminal, to receive an acceptance of the financing terms from the buyer, to transmit the approved purchase amount to the merchant, and to receive payment from the buyer according to the repayment terms.

Abstract: The technical field includes machine, manufacture, process, and product produced thereby, as well as necessary intermediates, which pertain to power sources, units thereof, computer systems used to facilitate operation of one or more power sources.

Abstract: This disclosure includes methods for displaying tips to hosts in a reservation system. The reservation system collects viewing data upon receiving viewing requests from potential guests to view a listing in the reservation system. The reservation system associates the viewing data with the listing. The reservations system applies a set of conditional expressions and calculations to the viewing data of the listing to compare the listing to a peer group of similar listings for each time interval in an evaluation time range. In some embodiments, a GUI is presented to the host of the subject listing comprising a histogram of the number of views of the subject listing, an indication of the number of views of the peer group of the subject listing, and region for displaying tips to the host of the subject listing.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to solicit an appraisal for each of a plurality of media programs presented by the media processor for composing a proposal to update one or more operational features of the media processor according to one or more consumer preferences determined from one or more supplied appraisals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for root cause analysis and early warning of inventory problems. The system includes a server coupled with a database and configured to access the data describing inventory policy parameters of a supply chain network, the data describing one or more demand patterns and one or more replenishment patterns of the supply chain network, and the data describing the supply chain network comprising a plurality of entities, each entity configured to supply one or more items to satisfy a demand. The server is further configured to optimize the inventory policy parameters for each of the one or more items according to the one or more demand patterns and the one or more replenishment patterns and store the optimized inventory policy parameters in the database for each of the one or more items.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed innovations provide systems and methods for automatically locating and retrieving digital supplemental materials and counterparts of rendered documents. These systems and methods are especially useful when the provider or copyright holder of the digital document charges a fee for access to the digital materials. Some embodiments solve the technical problem of allowing a user to access restricted digital content associated with a rendered document via a search string captured from the rendered document. Some embodiments further provide automatic intermediation to gain access to protected digital materials.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may include determining whether a computing device accessing an online application marketplace is associated with a particular business entity registered with the online application marketplace. The method may further include identifying applications that were selected by a representative of the particular business entity to be identified to users whose devices are determined to be associated with the particular business entity. The method may still further include providing data for displaying the applications and a control for downloading executable code for at least one of the applications, receiving an indication that the control has been selected by the user to download the executable code for the applications, and providing the executable code for the at least one of the applications.