Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media are disclosed for passive liveness detection using artificial intelligence. Example implementations may receive an image of a person's face; generate a cropped version of that image; generate two different embeddings using two convolutional neural networks that are fed the image and the cropped image, respectively; generate a combined embedding that is a concatenation of the two embeddings; and generate, based on the combined embedding, an output indicating whether the facial portion corresponds to a live person. In addition, systems, devices, and methods for multi-factor authentication for transaction processing are provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for fingerprint capture and verification are described. A camera is utilized to capture a set of images at a first resolution. A focal length for at least one object in the plurality of images is verified to be greater than a minimum focus threshold. The images are converted to corresponding binary images. A finger is identified in the one or more binary images. A still image of the finger is captured at a second and higher resolution. Image processing filters are applied to the still image to generate a fingerprint image which is transmitted to an application server for verification.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for fingerprint capture and verification are described. A camera is utilized to capture a set of images at a first resolution. A focal length for at least one object in the plurality of images is verified to be greater than a minimum focus threshold. The images are converted to corresponding binary images. A finger is identified in the one or more binary images. A still image of the finger is captured at a second and higher resolution. Image processing filters are applied to the still image to generate a fingerprint image which is transmitted to an application server for verification.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for multi-factor authentication for transaction processing are provided. A point-of-transaction device captures customer information, biometric data, and images of identification documents and transmits the information to a transaction information server which receives the transaction request, queries one or more storage records to confirm the identity of the customer to the transaction and to determine whether the customer is authorized to engage in the transaction. The point-of-transaction device communicates a transaction identifier code and at least a portion of the transaction request to a transaction authority. The transaction authority transmits a confirmation signal to the point-of-transaction device based on the transaction identifier code and the transaction request.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for transaction processing are provided. A point-of-transaction device transmits a transaction request to a transaction information server. The transaction information server receives the transaction request, queries one or more storage records to confirm the identity of the customer to the transaction and to determine whether the customer is authorized to engage in the transaction. The transaction information server further establishes a record that ties the customer's identity to the transaction. If so, the transaction information server establishes a transaction identifier code and communicates the code to the point-of-transaction device. The point-of-transaction device communicates the transaction identifier code and at least a portion of the transaction request to a transaction authority. The transaction authority transmits a confirmation signal to the point-of-transaction device based on the transaction identifier code and the transaction request.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for secure transaction processing are provided. A point-of-transaction device may receive a selection of transaction parameters to establish and store a security rule. The point-of-transaction device may then receive a transaction request and confirm that the transaction request complies with the security rule. The point-of-transaction device may forward the security rule and the transaction request to a transaction security server that stores the security rule and further verifies that the transaction request complies with the security rule. The transaction security server may also forward at least a portion of the transaction request to a third party that further confirms an identity of the customer.

Abstract: A software application means comprising a social network for lending and borrowing funds and including a controller that provides a platform for contracting and funds transfer and whereby users bid in an auction platform either to lend or borrow. A means for creating and facilitating a chit fund whereby a group of users submit funds into a large fund after which bidding commences for a lesser amount than the final total value of the sum of user fund submissions and the lowest bidder receives the value of his bid, or in the alternative a prize with a set value that is analogous to the final total value of the user funds.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a herd of animals. Each of multiple sensors are attached to one of the animals and is in peer-to-peer communication with another of the sensors to define a dynamically network arrangement of sensors. A base station is in communication with at least one of the sensors to access the networked arrangement of sensors. A central system is in communication with the base station and has instructions to monitor a position of the herd with data collected by the sensors.

Abstract: A client-server arrangement permits recruitment and control of client peripherals to be effected from the server side is described. A client server system has a server device, a client device, and a peripheral device. The client device is in communication with the server device. The peripheral device is in communication with the client device. The client device has a port server to convert data between an IP format and a non-IP format. The peripheral device exchanges data with the port server in the non-IP format. The server device includes a computational device to exchange data with the port server in the IP format.

Abstract: An e-wallet service allows a consumer to retrieve a list of merchants selling goods and services specified by the consumer, see reviews by other consumers who conducted transactions with the merchants on the retrieved list; select a merchant from the retrieved list and an account to pay for a staged transaction and a corresponding token for the staged transaction with the selected merchant, conduct the staged transaction with the merchant by the submission of the token to the merchant as form of payment; and use the token, after conducting the staged transaction with the selected merchant, to gain access to a social media portal and input the consumer's opinion about the selected merchant's performance of the staged transaction.

Abstract: Embodiments of a bioremediation system and bioremediation methods provide for automatically measuring the progress of a bioremediation effort and automatically adjusting the bioremediation. In embodiments, one or more bioremediation stations are deployed in the geographic area associated with the bioremediation. The bioremediation stations provide measurement of important environment characteristics that help determine the progress of the bioremediation. Each set of data from each bioremediation station can be integrated into a single comprehensive assessment of the bioremediation across a portion or all of the geographical area. If an adjustment needs to be made to the bioremediation, a control message can be sent to the bioremediation station that can then automatically make the adjustment.

Abstract: Methods and system are described for monitoring an environment. Acoustic data collected from microphones distributed within the environment are received. Sound sources are identified from the received acoustic data as generative of sound detected by the microphones. An acoustic scene of the environment is characterized by application of acoustic-scene characterization rules to the received acoustic data. The acoustic scene of the environment is identified as anomalous according to parameter values deviant from a set of parameter values defining nonanomalous acoustic scenes. A remedial response to the environment is initiated in response to identifying the acoustic scene of the environment as anomalous.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a herd of animals. Each of multiple sensors are attached to one of the animals and is in peer-to-peer communication with another of the sensors to define a dynamically network arrangement of sensors. A base station is in communication with at least one of the sensors to access the networked arrangement of sensors. A central system is in communication with the base station and has instructions to monitor a position of the herd with data collected by the sensors.

Abstract: Methods and systems monitor a state of a fluid-distribution system. Sensors are distributed spatially within the fluid-distribution system. Each sensor is in peer-to-peer communication with another sensor to define a dynamically networked arrangement of sensors within the fluid-distribution system. The sensors have an illumination source, a light detector, and a controller to measure a photometric parameter. A base station is provided in communication with the sensors to access the networked arrangement of sensors. A central system is provided in communication with the base station and has programming instructions to identify an abnormality in the fluid-distribution system from data collected by the sensors.

Abstract: Methods and systems monitor a state of a fluid-distribution system. Sensors are distributed spatially within the fluid-distribution system. Each sensor is in peer-to-peer communication with another sensor to define a dynamically networked arrangement of sensors within the fluid-distribution system. The sensors have an illumination source, a light detector, and a controller to measure a photometric parameter. A base station is provided in communication with the sensors to access the networked arrangement of sensors. A central system is provided in communication with the base station and has programming instructions to identify an abnormality in the fluid-distribution system from data collected by the sensors.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for compiling a customer profile. A database that includes identification information for customers is maintained. Customers who physically visit a first entity are identified from the information maintained in the database. Some of those customers execute a transaction with the first entity and some of those customers do not execute a transaction with the first entity.

Abstract: A client-server arrangement permits recruitment and control of client peripherals to be effected from the server side is described. A client server system has a server device, a client device, and a peripheral device. The client device is in communication with the server device. The peripheral device is in communication with the client device. The client device has a port server to convert data between an IP format and a non-IP format. The peripheral device exchanges data with the port server in the non-IP format. The server device includes a computational device to exchange data with the port server in the IP format.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a state of an environment. Sensors are distributed spatially within the environment, with each sensor measuring one of the measured parameters at its spatial location. A controller receives data collected from each of the sensors. The controller identifies the occurrence of an event at at least one of the sensors. The controller extracts derived parameters from the collected data. The controller determines a cross-correlation of the extracted parameters over the sensors. The controller identifies an abnormality in the environment from the determined cross-correlation.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for authorizing a customer to perform transactions with a self-service device. A first set of biometric data regarding the customer is extracted from a verification instrument. A second set of biometric data is extracted directly from at least one feature of the customer. Textual data regarding the customer is extracted from the verification instrument. The first and second sets of biometric data are compared to determine whether they are derived from a single individual. If so, customer identification information is recorded.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for compiling a customer profile. A database that includes identification information for customers is maintained. Customers who physically visit a first entity are identified from the information maintained in the database. Some of those customers execute a transaction with the first entity and some of those customers do not execute a transaction with the first entity.