Abstract: A pay-at-the-table device is augmented to include an imaging sub-system having one or more image-capture components. A front-facing image sensor records video, or takes still photos. A wide view image sensor/lens captures a view of an entire table (or some portion thereof). When table images are captured by the imaging system, image post-processing is used to ensure that any details that can identify the individual patrons are masked or otherwise obscured; in this way, only generic demographic data (e.g., number of patrons, gender, approximate age, etc.) is captured, and all such data is maintained anonymously and without reference to any payment or other information that might provide the restaurant with the patron's true identity. The image-capture components may also include image sensors enable events (e.g., drinks needing refills, entrée arrival, etc.) to be monitored. An infrared image sensor captures thermal data, which can identify the temperature of the prepared food.

Abstract: An advanced removable battery module for use in a portable user interface terminal. The battery module comprises a power circuitry module comprising at least one rechargeable battery cell and charging circuitry configured to charge the at least one rechargeable battery cell. The battery module also comprises a communication and encryption circuitry module. The communication and encryption circuitry module comprises a first wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a second module of the user terminal, a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote terminal separate from the user terminal, and at least one payment transaction interface configured to receive payment information from a user of the user terminal.

Abstract: A table-side hospitality device includes an integral printer mechanism, such as a thermal printer. The device comprises a general purpose processing unit on which a mobile- or embedded-device operating system, such as Android, executes. A control program (the device application) executing on the processing unit facilitates ordering, order management, invoicing and payment. When the application needs to print, it interacts with the printer directly, preferably using the general purpose input-output (GPIO) bus of the processor. In particular, during the print operation, the processor (via the general purpose I/O) outputs, as a set of control signals, a bit-map of the desired graphics (text, images, or the like), and these control signals drive the printer directly without requiring a dedicated micro-controller or OS-specific printer drivers.

Abstract: An advanced removable battery module for use in a portable user interface terminal. The battery module comprises a power circuitry module comprising at least one rechargeable battery cell and charging circuitry configured to charge the at least one rechargeable battery cell. The battery module also comprises a communication and encryption circuitry module. The communication and encryption circuitry module comprises a first wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a second module of the user terminal, a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote terminal separate from the user terminal, and at least one payment transaction interface configured to receive payment information from a user of the user terminal.

Abstract: A pay-at-the-table device is augmented to include an imaging sub-system having one or more image-capture components. A front-facing image sensor records video, or takes still photos. A wide view image sensor/lens captures a view of an entire table (or some portion thereof). When table images are captured by the imaging system, image post-processing is used to ensure that any details that can identify the individual patrons are masked or otherwise obscured; in this way, only generic demographic data (e.g., number of patrons, gender, approximate age, etc.) is captured, and all such data is maintained anonymously and without reference to any payment or other information that might provide the restaurant with the patron's true identity. The image-capture components may also include image sensors enable events (e.g., drinks needing refills, entrée arrival, etc.) to be monitored. An infrared image sensor captures thermal data, which can identify the temperature of the prepared food.

Abstract: A table-side hospitality device includes an integral printer mechanism, such as a thermal printer. The device comprises a general purpose processing unit on which a mobile- or embedded-device operating system, such as Android, executes. A control program (the device application) executing on the processing unit facilitates ordering, order management, invoicing and payment. When the application needs to print, it interacts with the printer directly, preferably using the general purpose input-output (GPIO) bus of the processor. In particular, during the print operation, the processor (via the general purpose I/O) outputs, as a set of control signals, a bit-map of the desired graphics (text, images, or the like), and these control signals drive the printer directly without requiring a dedicated micro-controller or OS-specific printer drivers.

Abstract: A low voltage BiCMOS output driver that is operable in a mixed voltage signal environment is provided which comprises a pull-up transistor and blocking circuitry operable to block current flow from the mixed voltage signal environment through the BiCMOS output driver to its supply voltage source.

Abstract: Described is an architecture for translating between ECL and TTL/CMOS signal levels in which the control signal applied to the translating circuitry is of the same type as the output signal of the device in which the architecture is used.