Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques and systems to enable customers to make secure electronic payments to entities (e.g., merchants, vending machines, etc.). The entities may be at brick-and-mortar locations or other locations where the entities are “offline” and may not readily receive payments from customers that have payment accounts stored and managed by a host. In various embodiments, a customer may direct the host to transfer a payment to a merchant after the customer and merchant exchange a code that includes a payment instruction. The code may be used in place of usernames, passwords, or other personal information and may be difficult for others (e.g., bystanders, etc.) to intercept. After the exchange of the code, the customer may authorize the host to a transfer payment to the merchant based on the payment instruction.

Abstract: A method and system utilizes an interface for the blind and low vision passengers in a touch screen passenger information module (PIM). The PIM is enabled to operate in at least two modes. A low vision mode provides different user input framework on the touch screen as well as appropriate audio prompting. The interface enables a blind or low vision person to interact with the PIM easily, including using the PIM to pay for the fare. The low vision mode can be initiated by the passenger.

Abstract: An article dispensing machine capable of performing an inventory audit of a portion of the inventory and automatically pausing the inventory audit in response to a customer transaction request and method for performing the same are shown. After completing the customer request, the article dispensing machine resumes the inventory auditing process. The article dispensing machine thereby remains available for customer use during the inventory auditing process.

Abstract: A localization service may be provided to manage distribution of content including text overlays according to language codes. In some examples, the language codes include regional identifiers and language identifiers. The localization service may provide the content including translated text overlays for reproduction by client devices in accordance with descriptive data associated with the images. In some examples, the descriptive data may describe the text overlays, placement of the text overlays with respect to the content, and characteristics of the text overlays.

Abstract: A method and system for providing order placement and inventory control, integrating customers and suppliers and using both real-time and historical data to provide an automated process for the management of inventory. Various embodiments of this invention can include such features as automatic order placement, usage factor analysis, waste factor analysis, inventory analysis and reconciling of inventory data.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing execution of programs. In some situations, program execution is managed for multiple users using excess program execution capacity of one or more computing systems. In some such situations, excess or otherwise unused program execution capacity may be made available to execute programs on a temporary basis, such that the programs executing using the excess program execution capacity may be terminated at any time if other preferred use for the excess program execution capacity arises. The excess program execution capacity may in some situations be provided in conjunction with other dedicated program execution capacity that is allocated to particular users, such as to use unused dedicated capacity of some users as excess capacity for other users. In some situations, the techniques are used in conjunction with a fee-based program execution service that executes multiple programs on behalf of multiple users of the service.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing a portable consumer device (e.g., a plastic card) that includes a coupon code and an account number (e.g., embedded on a magnetic stripe or a chip) where the portable consumer device is configured to apply a coupon to goods and services purchased at a merchant (e.g., store). Upon identifying the goods and services under a particular category specified by the coupon code (e.g., healthy food category), a user may pay for a predetermined portion (e.g., 50%) of the goods and services under the particular category using the portable consumer device. The user may pay for the remaining portion using a benefits card (e.g., state benefits card). As such, by allowing the user to pay for the predetermined portion using the portable consumer device, the user has incentive to purchase goods and services that fall under the particular category.

Abstract: Distribution of electronic documents is described, including receiving an electronic document to be distributed, identifying whether a destination identifier is associated with a destination account among a known group of customer accounts, routing the electronic document, and calculating a fee associated with delivery of the electronic document based on whether the destination account is among the known group of customers and a set of billing rules. The set of billing rules may specify a discounted fee for routing an electronic document to each of a known group of customer accounts. In other aspects, the set of billing rules may specify a discounted fee for routing an electronic document to a first group of the known group of customer accounts and specify a standard fee for a second group of the known group of customer accounts.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for creating a savings plan for a user. During operation, the system receives demographic data associated with the user. Next, the system determines average spending for pre-selected spending categories for a set of users with similar demographic data to the user. The system then receives financial data associated with the user. After that, the system analyzes the financial data to create a comparison of how spending by the user in the pre-selected categories compares to average spending for the set of users with similar demographic data. Finally, the system uses the comparison to facilitate a savings plan for the user.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for generating and maintaining a catalog of belongings for a user. The method includes the steps of receiving image data from a user, the image data containing images of one or more items of belonging; identifying one or more items from the image data, determining information regarding the identified one or more items, and adding at least one of the identified one or more items and information regarding the at least one of the identified one or more items to a catalog of belonging for the user.

Abstract: An inventory control system and method determines an inventory condition of objects stored in the system. Embodiments include a storage container including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects; an image sensing device to capture image data of the container, including image data of the plurality of storage locations and a target area that includes an individual object storage location having less than the plurality of storage locations; a data storage device for storing the image data of the container; and a data processor. The processor receives initial image data representing an initial image of the plurality of storage locations, and image data representing an image of the target area captured subsequent to the initial image; modifies the initial image data based on the image data of the target area to generate adjusted image data; and stores the adjusted image data in the data storage device.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for changing a financial account after initiating a payment using a proxy object, such as a proxy card, are disclosed. The proxy card is associated with multiple financial accounts, such as accounts associated with credit cards, debit cards, and pre-paid gift cards. A consumer presents the proxy card to a merchant to make a payment, and the merchant swipes the proxy card and processes the payment by sending transaction information to a financial system. A computer system associated with the financial system selects a payment account associated with the proxy card to use for the payment, and an authorization for the transaction is obtained. Later, the consumer is given a limited time within which he may change the financial account used for the payment, such as by using his mobile device to select a different account associated with the proxy card to use to obtain funds for the payment.

Abstract: A financial transaction system includes a governing host having a database for registering parties wishing to perform a financial transaction and processing the financial transaction. A discrete point-of-sale (POS) terminal interfaces with one party wishing to initiate a financial transaction with another party. The discrete POS terminal has a local transaction process for initial validating and enforcing of business rules governing the transaction with the one party and generating a transaction key confirming that the transaction is authorized on validating the transaction with the governing host. A facilitator device reads the transaction key on being supplied with same by the one party and communicates with the governing host to complete the transaction using a facilitator POS terminal. The discrete POS terminal is located separately and can be accessed and operated independently by the one party offline of any point-of-sale activity involving the facilitator POS terminal and the facilitator device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for managing consumer savings initiated from a payment card transaction is included. The payment card transaction involves a cardholder and a payment card of the cardholder. The method uses a computer device in communication with an issuing bank. The computer device includes a memory. The method includes receiving, by the computer device, transaction data associated with the payment card transaction. The transaction data separately identifies a payment amount and a savings amount. The savings amount is an amount the cardholder selects to save. The method also includes identifying, by the computer device, a savings account number associated with the cardholder. The method further includes transmitting the savings amount and the savings account number to the issuing bank for recording as a savings accrual for the cardholder. The issuing bank is the issuer of the payment card.

Abstract: A security fingerprint architecture is disclosed. A security fingerprint comprises one or more behavioral factors which store a history of events associated with one or more users. The data in the security fingerprint is exposed by one or more modes, each of which determines the conditions that data in the security fingerprint may be accessed. Security fingerprints support a number of primitive operations that allow set operations to be performed. Security fingerprints may be used in for authentication, advertising, and other operations either alone, or in conjunction with third party data sources. An exemplary platform of security fingerprints built upon a cellular infrastructure is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to obtain transaction confirmation are described. One example method includes emulating a payment method using a close-proximity communication device of a mobile device, establishing a close-proximity communication link using the close-proximity communication device of the mobile device, transferring payment information from the mobile device using the close-proximity communication device, switching the close-proximity communication device of the mobile device to an information receiving communication mode, and receiving a transaction confirmation at the close-proximity communication device of the mobile device. Other implementations are possible.

Abstract: A high-velocity scanned item distribution apparatus and method are presented. The high-velocity scanned item distribution apparatus permits bagging operations for multiple purchase transactions to occur in parallel. Overlapping the bagging operation of multiple purchase transactions allows the scanning and payment operations of the purchase transactions to continue at higher speeds. In addition, point of sale terminals with high-velocity item scanners are allowed to function at higher speeds.

Abstract: A payment card reader connected to an audio port of a mobile computing device may include a card interface, the card interface configured to read data from a payment card; a TRRS connector to couple the payment card reader with the mobile computing device; and an audio interface circuit coupled with the TRRS connector. The audio interface circuit may include a communication circuit configured to transmit data to and receive data from the mobile computing device via the TRRS connector and an energy harvesting circuit configured to receive an audio signal via the TRRS connector, to harvest energy from the audio signal, and to provide energy to other components of the card reader.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for processing customer authentication for an order. A merchant device displays a name of a customer and an image of the customer who submitted a selection of items to purchase from a merchant operating the merchant device. The merchant device can obtain the name and image from a server before or after the merchant device received a list of the selected items. The merchant device can display the name and image. Display of the name and image may or may not be triggered by a notification that the customer device is at the merchant device. The merchant device receives an input from the merchant indicating that a customer who claims the name matches the image. The merchant device approves purchase of the selected items by the customer. The merchant device then submits a total price of the selected items to a server for processing.

Abstract: The present invention includes: acquiring inventory information related to the number of stock of a product, from a product storage means which stores the inventory information and acquiring a product image showing an image related to the product, from a product image storage means which stores the product image (S1), generating a web page for causing the product image which changes in response to the number of stock to be displayed on a terminal device and transmitting the generated web page to the terminal device to display (S3 to S7).