Abstract: A pill packet dosage tracking and gating device is provided. The device includes a container, a gate, and a controller. The container includes a reservoir configured to hold a stream of pill packets and an extraction channel configured to guide the passage of the stream of pill packets from the reservoir out of the container. The gate is disposed in the extraction channel and is configured to vertically transition from a closed position blocking extraction of a pill packet of the stream of pill packets and an open position allowing extraction of a pill packet. The controller is configured to monitor the extraction of pill packets and control the transition of the gate from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A modular furniture system capable of being arranged in different configurations in a settee area of a bowling center, for example, is disclosed. The furniture system includes at least one modular furniture element with a fastening mechanism which includes a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly of the fastening mechanism includes an engaging element which extends through at least one component of the first assembly and attaches to a component of the second assembly of an adjacent modular furniture element.

Abstract: Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating a program with participating merchants and consumers are described. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a wish list of a user. The wish list may include items or services sold by merchants participating in the program. The wish list may be published to the merchants participating in the program. A location of the user may be determined, and an offer from one of the participating merchants may be received, where the offer is based on the location of the user. A total cost of the offer may be calculated by analyzing the offer. The user may be notified of the offer and the total cost.

Abstract: Price searching via a mobile device reading display screen graphics is provided. A system for obtaining pricing information comprises at least one subsystem that electronically reads a price of a product using a mobile device scanning a display screen, at least one subsystem that searches for other available products and price data to compare to the electronically read price and product data, at least one subsystem that compares the price data of the other products to the electronically read price data, and at least one subsystem that presents purchase options based upon results of the comparison of the price and product data.

Abstract: A security gate actuator includes a main ball screw, a main ball nut, a drive shaft stage, and at least a drive ball. The main ball screw may further include a circular channel disposed on an outer surface of the main ball screw. The main ball nut may be disposed on the main threads of the main ball screw and configured to translate rotational motion of the main ball screw to linear motion of the main ball nut. The drive shaft stage may include a drive shaft end and a drive shaft tube attached to the drive shaft end, the drive shaft end coupled to the main ball nut. The drive ball may be disposed in the circular channel of the main ball screw and push against the drive shaft tube to translate the rotational motion of the main ball screw to rotational motion of the drive shaft tube.

Abstract: A system includes a monitoring device coupled to a vehicle. The monitoring device includes a processor. The monitoring device also includes an output interface coupled to the processor that communicates information to a driver of the vehicle. The monitoring device further includes a communication interface coupled to the processor. The processor receives, via the communication interface, sensor information relating to operating the vehicle. The processor also receives, via the communication interface, a risk factor relating to operating the vehicle based at least in part on the sensor information. The processor further outputs, via the output interface, an adjustment to an insurance premium of the driver, an adjustment to an insurance deductible of the driver, or a payment amount of the driver, based at least in part on the risk factor.

Abstract: Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tire-wear detection sensor for a vehicle having a telematics system and tires including a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and an RF antenna in electronic communication with the sensors, and capable of transmitting the temperature signal and the pressure signal to the telematics system.

Abstract: The present subject matter provided is a “real-time” (versus batch) process that utilizes a financial or insurance institution's customer's personal computer to gather “up-to-the-minute” competitor product premium pricing information that can be used by the customer and the customer's financial or insurance institution for competitive product premium pricing comparison. One way to provide pricing information is to use an aggregation vendor to transmit and receive online pricing information from competitors. Another way to provide pricing information is to use the customer's computer to transmit data and to request a price quote. An applet or other type of software may be loaded onto a computer being used by the customer to facilitate the transmission and reception of pricing information. A central repository may be used to collect and store pricing information to provide online quotes as well as monitor for pricing changes of competitors.

Abstract: Techniques are described for adjusting policy characteristics based on a determined similarity between routes. A similarity metric may be determined indicating the similarity between a first route followed by a vehicle and/or driver and a second (e.g., previous) route followed by the vehicle and/or driver. A similarity metric may indicate the similarity in movements, and changes in movement, exhibited by the vehicle on the routes. The similarity metric may be determined through analysis of real time data collected by in-vehicle sensor(s), mobile user device(s), external sensors or other data sources. Based on the similarity metric, a premium, a deductible, a price, or other characteristic(s) of a policy may be determined. In some examples, policy characteristics may be adjusted (e.g., in real time) based on the analysis according to changing risk conditions if a driver is following routes that are dissimilar from typical routes.

Abstract: Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for secure access to data actions. In one embodiment, a request to perform an action on electronic data is received from a client device. Primary authentication information is received from the client system, a secondary device, or both. The request is authenticated by: in response to the primary authentication information matching the expected primary authentication of the user profile associated with the primary authentication information, providing expected secondary authentication information to supplement the primary authentication to the client system, the secondary device, or both; receiving inputted secondary authentication information from the client system, the secondary device, or both; and authenticating the request only when the inputted secondary authentication information matches the expected secondary authentication information.

Abstract: The blade support apparatus relates to capturing and stabilizing airfoils such as helicopter blades to enable ground transport without requiring removal of airfoils or blades with the blade support apparatus and blades in a protective container. The blade support apparatus captures and stabilizes helicopter blades utilizing a support frame with vertical and radial adjustable supports. These supports have contoured padded cradles and means of adjusting the height and angle of the cradles to match the profile being captured. The blade support apparatus enables loading, transport, and unloading of the airfoils for transport in a separate blade container which may either be stand alone or attaches to a helicopter transport apparatus. An alternate embodiment utilizes a support frame which is vertically and radially adjustable. Within the support frame are the same contoured padded swivel cradles which also adjust to the height and angle of the profile being captured.

Abstract: Techniques provided herein relate to electronic authentication on public systems. A backend system receives at least one electronic data action request from a publicly available client system that is shared amongst a plurality of users. At least a portion of the primary authentication information is received from a secondary device separate from the publicly available client system. The electronic data action request is authenticated by determining if the primary authentication information matches expected primary authentication information that is expected to complete the electronic data action request. Performance of the electronic data action request is facilitated when the primary authentication information matches the expected primary authentication information.

Abstract: Described herein is a flexible piezoresistive switch sensor responding only to a minimum threshold compression deformation force. The switch sensor comprises a non-porous housing that separates an external environment from an internal environment; one or more decoupled electrodes comprising or formed of a flexible conductor; a non conductive insulating spacer layer enforcing the one or more decoupled electrodes in bending or twisting forces, while allowing electrode coupling due to compression; a piezoresistive layer decoupled from the electrodes via the insulating spacer layer; and an elastomeric polymer layer comprising one or more buckling or spring elements configured to separate a minimum required compression force on the piezoresistive layer and the non-conductive insulating layer.

Abstract: Price searching and intelligent shopping lists on a mobile device is provided. A system for providing a shopping list comprises at least one subsystem that receives input data containing product identification information, at least one subsystem that determines location information of a product identified by the product identification information, and at least one subsystem that determines a proposed route from a particular location to a location of the product identified by the location information.

Abstract: Downhole drilling vibration analysis uses an angular rate sensor on a drilling assembly. During drilling operations, the sensor measures the angular rate of the drilling assembly. Processing circuitry is operatively coupled to the angular rate sensor and is configured to determine whether torsional type vibrations are occurring during drilling based on the angular rate data. Drilling operations can then be modified to overcome or mitigate the torsional type vibrations.

Abstract: Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to activating a blanking programming mode, such as fixed blanking (FB) or floating blanking (FLB), for example, for at least one user-selectable light curtain segment proximally connected to a distal-most segment in a string of cascaded light curtain segments. In an illustrative example, the selective activation may be initiated in response to a request signal from a remote request generator. The remote request generator may, in some examples, communicate the request signal to initiate the programming mode via a wireless communication link. In some embodiments, a request interface module may receive the request signal while releasably plugged into a terminal end of the distal-most segment. In various implementations, the remote selective activation may advantageously empower operators to rapidly configure cascaded light curtain systems that require programming modes for functions such as, for example, FB, FLB, or reduced resolution.