Abstract: Ordering and purchasing processes are integrated into a messaging session between a user device and a merchant server. Within the messaging session, a dialogue is established between the user device and the merchant server. The merchant server obtains user information in order to communicate with a service provider to establish a transaction with an account associated with the user device. The merchant server obtains order information from the user device by interpretation of the dialogue, and creates an order. The user requests payment, and receives a payment link from the merchant server in order to make a transaction. The user provides payment information including identification of the account associated with the user device for the transaction to the merchant server. Once these actions have taken place, the merchant server uses the order information and the payment information to enable the transaction to be performed using the account.

Abstract: With a virtual/augmented reality environment management server, first and second computer display devices associated with first and second remote client computing devices are caused to each display first and second avatars in at least one of a virtual reality environment and an augmented reality environment. The avatars represent first and second human users of the remote client computing devices. At the virtual/augmented reality environment management server, data is obtained indicating that a predetermined gesture sequence has occurred between the avatars; in reliance on the data, the virtual/augmented reality environment management server causes an authentication/transaction management server to take at least one action outside the at least one of a virtual reality environment and an augmented reality environment; and causes a confirmation at the first and second remote client computing devices, that the action taken in reliance on the data indicating that the predetermined gesture sequence has occurred.

Abstract: Provided are an identity broker system and method for managing a national digital identification of a citizen. In one example, the method includes receiving, from a user device, an identity sharing request of a citizen including an identification of a service provider with which to share the identity, determining one or more digital identification credentials of the citizen that are to be shared with the service provider based on the identity sharing request, receiving an authorization from the citizen via the user device, the authorization including an approval for sharing the one or more digital identification credentials of the citizen with the service provider, and receiving the one or more digital identity components of the citizen from an identity record providing device, and transmitting the one or more digital identification credentials of the citizen to a service provider device based on the identification of the service provider.

Abstract: A multi-merchant portal that enables a user to access e-commerce stores is provided. Each e-commerce store has respective merchant categories browsable by the user at a customer device through the portal, each merchant category comprising products available for purchase from a respective merchant. In response to receiving a request from the customer device to switch access of the user browsing a selected merchant category of the first merchant in a first e-commerce store, to a second e-commerce store, the portal determines a system category corresponding to the selected merchant category using mapping data mapping merchant categories to system categories and then determines a destination merchant category of the second merchant in the second e-commerce store corresponding to the determined system category using mapping data mapping the system categories to the merchant categories. The portal switches user's access to the destination merchant category in the second e-commerce store.

Abstract: An indication is obtained of interaction of a putative human user with a computing device. Responsive to the indication, presentation of a haptic pattern to the putative human user is facilitated; the pattern is not amenable to machine perception. Prompting of the putative human user to input information indicative of human perception of the pattern is facilitated. Information input by the putative human user is obtained responsive to the prompting. When the information input by the putative human user indicates that the putative human user is an actual human user, the interaction is permitted to continue. Haptic techniques are also provided for access control and/or to defend against malevolent web sites which masquerade as legitimate web sites.

Abstract: An enhanced smart refrigerator (ESR) for automatically populating a virtual shopping cart is provided. The ESR stores a purchase log including a purchase history of a target product. The ESR determines a current interval between a most recent delivery date and a proposed next delivery date based on the purchase history of the target product, and calculates a purchase propensity for the target product based on the current interval and the purchase history of the target product, and automatically adds the product to the virtual shopping cart for submission to a party for purchase of the target product if the purchase propensity meets a first criteria.

Abstract: A web site map of an external site, including information permitting determination of at least one pertinent location on the site, is obtained at a rules engine. At least one rule specifying peripheral behavior in a region adjacent the at least one pertinent location on the site is also obtained at the engine. Furthermore, an indication that a peripheral device corresponding to the at least one rule is being used to browse the site is also obtained at the engine. Instructions corresponding to the at least one rule specifying the peripheral behavior in the region adjacent the at least one pertinent location on the site are dispatched from the rules engine to the peripheral device. The instructions are configured to cause a stimulus to a user of the peripheral device prior to the user attempting to consummate an action on the web site.

Abstract: With a virtual/augmented reality environment management server, first and second computer display devices associated with first and second remote client computing devices are caused to each display first and second avatars in at least one of a virtual reality environment and an augmented reality environment. The avatars represent first and second human users of the remote client computing devices. At the virtual/augmented reality environment management server, data is obtained indicating that a predetermined gesture sequence has occurred between the avatars; in reliance on the data, the virtual/augmented reality environment management server causes an authentication/transaction management server to take at least one action outside the at least one of a virtual reality environment and an augmented reality environment; and causes a confirmation at the first and second remote client computing devices, that the action taken in reliance on the data indicating that the predetermined gesture sequence has occurred.

Abstract: According to one aspect there is provided a consumables preparation area comprising an electronically stored consumables inventory update initiator, said update initiator: comprising one or more of: a barcode scanner, a quick response (QR) code scanner, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader, a scanner configured for optical character recognition (OCR) and digital scales; and being configured for use within the dwelling or establishment in which said consumables are to be transformed for use. According to another aspect there is provided a method of updating an electronically stored consumables inventory using such a consumables preparation area.

Abstract: An indication is obtained of interaction of a putative human user with a computing device. Responsive to the indication, presentation of a haptic pattern to the putative human user is facilitated; the pattern is not amenable to machine perception. Prompting of the putative human user to input information indicative of human perception of the pattern is facilitated. Information input by the putative human user is obtained responsive to the prompting. When the information input by the putative human user indicates that the putative human user is an actual human user, the interaction is permitted to continue. Haptic techniques are also provided for access control and/or to defend against malevolent web sites which masquerade as legitimate web sites.

Abstract: A web site map of an external site, including information permitting determination of at least one pertinent location on the site, is obtained at a rules engine. At least one rule specifying peripheral behavior in a region adjacent the at least one pertinent location on the site is also obtained at the engine. Furthermore, an indication that a peripheral device corresponding to the at least one rule is being used to browse the site is also obtained at the engine. Instructions corresponding to the at least one rule specifying the peripheral behavior in the region adjacent the at least one pertinent location on the site are dispatched from the rules engine to the peripheral device. The instructions are configured to cause a stimulus to a user of the peripheral device prior to the user attempting to consummate an action on the web site.

Abstract: Ordering and purchasing processes are integrated into a messaging session between a user device and a merchant server. Within the messaging session, a dialogue is established between the user device and the merchant server. The merchant server obtains user information in order to communicate with a service provider to establish a transaction with an account associated with the user device. The merchant server obtains order information from the user device by interpretation of the dialogue, and creates an order. The user requests payment, and receives a payment link from the merchant server in order to make a transaction. The user provides payment information including identification of the account associated with the user device for the transaction to the merchant server. Once these actions have taken place, the merchant server uses the order information and the payment information to enable the transaction to be performed using the account.

Abstract: Provided are an identity broker system and method for managing a national digital identification of a citizen. In one example, the method includes receiving, from a user device, an identity sharing request of a citizen including an identification of a service provider with which to share the identity, determining one or more digital identification credentials of the citizen that are to be shared with the service provider based on the identity sharing request, receiving an authorization from the citizen via the user device, the authorization including an approval for sharing the one or more digital identification credentials of the citizen with the service provider, and receiving the one or more digital identity components of the citizen from an identity record providing device, and transmitting the one or more digital identification credentials of the citizen to a service provider device based on the identification of the service provider.

Abstract: A system comprising customer premises equipment including a reverse power supply unit and an access node to which the customer premises equipment is connected for permitting telephony devices connected to the customer premises equipment to make and receive telephone calls via the customer premises equipment and the access node. The reverse power supply unit is suitable for supplying electrical power from the customer's premises to an access node via a twisted copper pair, the reverse power supply unit including a power consumption signature detector operable to detect if the power drawn from the reverse power supply unit corresponds to a signature power consumption pattern indicative of a telephony device being in or transitioning into an off-hook state when connected directly to the reverse power supply unit and not being connected via a current limiting interface.

Abstract: A multi-merchant portal that enables a user to access e-commerce stores is provided. Each e-commerce store has respective merchant categories browsable by the user at a customer device through the portal, each merchant category comprising products available for purchase from a respective merchant. In response to receiving a request from the customer device to switch access of the user browsing a selected merchant category of the first merchant in a first e-commerce store, to a second e-commerce store, the portal determines a system category corresponding to the selected merchant category using mapping data mapping merchant categories to system categories and then determines a destination merchant category of the second merchant in the second e-commerce store corresponding to the determined system category using mapping data mapping the system categories to the merchant categories. The portal switches user's access to the destination merchant category in the second e-commerce store.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of vocally categorising a user includes receiving, by a sound data input, a vocalisation by the user and determining, by a processor coupled to the data input, a plurality of individual confidence scores by comparing the received vocalisation to vocalisations of a plurality of respective individuals stored in a memory to which the processor is communicatively coupled. Each of the individual confidence scores represents a probability that the user is a respective one of the plurality of individuals, and each of the stored vocalisations is stored in association with a corresponding category selected from a plurality of categories. The method further comprises determining, by the processor, from the plurality of individual confidence scores and respective associated categories, a plurality of category confidence scores, where each category confidence score represents a probability that the user belongs to a respective one of the plurality of categories.

Abstract: A method for transmitting line item data from an electronic receipt comprising storing a plurality of receipt data entries affiliated with a consumer account based on a consumer identifier. The method comprises storing a plurality of merchant identifiers affiliated with one or more product data files for products sold by a merchant. The method further receives a transaction message for a payment transaction using the consumer identifier via a payment network and executes a query on the electronic receipt database from a first consumer device to identify one or more products purchased in the payment transaction. The method generates an electronic receipt displaying purchase information for the one or more products and links the purchase information on the electronic receipt to the product data file for the one or more products for transmittal.

Abstract: An enhanced smart refrigerator (ESR) for automatically populating a virtual shopping cart is provided. The ESR stores a purchase log including a purchase history of a target product. The ESR determines a current interval between a most recent delivery date and a proposed next delivery date based on the purchase history of the target product, and calculates a purchase propensity for the target product based on the current interval and the purchase history of the target product, and automatically adds the product to the virtual shopping cart for submission to a party for purchase of the target product if the purchase propensity meets a first criteria.

Abstract: A system comprising customer premises equipment including a reverse power supply unit and an access node to which the customer premises equipment is connected for permitting telephony devices connected to the customer premises equipment to make and receive telephone calls via the customer premises equipment and the access node. The reverse power supply unit is suitable for supplying electrical power from the customer's premises to an access node via a twisted copper pair, the reverse power supply unit including a power consumption signature detector operable to detect if the power drawn from the reverse power supply unit corresponds to a signature power consumption pattern indicative of a telephony device being in or transitioning into an off-hook state when connected directly to the reverse power supply unit and not being connected via a current limiting interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of training a DSL link while transmitting data over a powerline connection. If the powerline connection causes interference on the DSL link then this will be present during the line training, giving a more robust set of line parameters.