Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating payments with a mobile device are described. The methods include detecting a location of a mobile device, receiving identifying information from a user through the mobile device when the mobile device is near at least one merchant, generating a payment code, transmitting the payment code to the mobile device, receiving the payment code and a payment request from a merchant, and processing the payment request.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage medium (10) comprising an information layer (11) including transparent and non-transparent areas in which the information is stored, and a magnetizable layer (12) intended to contain at least one magnetized area, which is temporarily created when a light spot is transmitted by a corresponding transparent area of the information layer. The present invention also relates to a reading device for reading information on such a storage medium (10). Said reading device comprises an optical element (23) for generating an array of light spots from an input light beam (21), a light spot being intended to temporarily create the magnetized area in the magnetizable layer (12) when passing through the corresponding transparent area of the information layer (11), and a magnetic sensor (24) comprising an array of sensor elements for detecting the at least one magnetized areas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for storing information on a storage device (100) by depositing electromagnetic material (104) in a pattern on a sensor surface (106) of the storage device, the pattern representing the information to be stored. The storage device (100) comprises an array of sensor elements (101) that are sensitive to electromagnetic material (104) within a near field working distance (105). The read-out is done by a resistance measurement which relies on a magneto resistance phenomenon detected in a multilayer stack of the sensor elements (101). The storage device (100), comprising the deposited pattern of electromagnetic material (104), is a Read Only Memory device. The deposition of the pattern is, for example, possible by scanning a depositing unit (403), e.g. a printer head, in a line-by-line motion across the sensor surface (106), resulting in a Printed Magnetic ROM.

Abstract: A memory device has an information plane (32) for storing data bits in a magnetic state of an electro-magnetic material at an array of bit locations (31). The device further has an array of electro-magnetic sensor elements (51) that are aligned with the bit locations. The information plane (32) is programmable or programmed via a separate writing device (21). The writing device provides at least one beam of radiation (26) for heating the electro-magnetic material at the bit locations to a programming temperature. The magnetic state of the bit locations is programmed by applying a magnetic field during said heating of selected bit locations via the beams of radiation. Hence the memory device provides a magnetic read-only memory (MROM) that cannot be (re-)programmed without the proper writing device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical record carrier with layer stack comprising a reflector or heat sink layer, a recording layer, and at least one ruthenium (Ru) interlayer arranged between said reflector or heat sink layer and said recording layer. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing such a record carrier. In particular, Ru thin films may form a top or cover layer, a bottom or seed layer, or may be interleaved within reflector or heat sink layers. The Ru layer(s) lead to a modified microstructure and/or smoothness of the recording stack, so that the carrier-to-noise level can be improved during readout.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a domain expansion storage medium and processing method for processing a storage medium to obtain an improved readout performance. The magnetic properties of a storage layer (50) of the storage medium are altered by an ion beam projection lithography using a stencil mask to define magnetic domains and/or track patterns and/or servo patterns. Thereby, replication accuracy, speed and readout performance can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a domain expansion storage medium and processing method for processing a substrate (40) of such a storage medium with improved efficiency. The surface structure of a substrate of the storage medium is processed by an ion beam projection lithography using a stencil mask to define magnetic domains in a storage layer (50) and/or track patterns and/or servo patterns. Thereby, replication accuracy and speed can be improved.

Abstract: Reference magnetic elements or bits with a range of magnetic volumes smaller than the minimum size used for actual data storage are written or patterned in the data storage device. The reference elements or bits have dimensions such that their magnetization will relax in a shorter time than that of the minimum expected relaxation time of the storage elements or bits. Probing of the magnetization of the reference elements or bits allows the detection of the probable onset of magnetization relaxation in the storage elements or bits therefore signaling that the re-writing (re-magnetizing) of the storage elements or bits is necessary. Such a scheme can be organized over rows, columns, or sectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magneto-optical storage medium (200) and specifically a domain expansion storage medium. The medium (200) comprises a magnetic storage layer (107) for long term information storage and a thereto magnetically coupled magnetic reproduction or read-out layer (111), wherein an enhanced magnetic domain may be generated during read out. The magnetic layers (107, 111) are separated by a non-metallic or metallic, non-magnetic or magnetic layer (109) and at least one metal layer (201, 203), such as Palladium or Platinum, is located adjacent to the magnetic reproduction layer (111). Preferably this metal layer (201, 203) is located on each side of the magnetic reproduction layer (111). The metal layer(s) (201, 203) provides increased heat dissipation and Kerr effect thereby permitting increased data density of the magneto-optical storage medium (200).

Abstract: An optical recording and reading system for use with an optical data storage medium (5) is described. The system comprises the medium (5) having a recording stack (9), formed on a substrate (8). The recording stack (9) is suitable for recording by means of a focused radiation beam (1) with a wavelength ? in air. The recording stack (9) has a first optical surface (6) most remote from the substrate (8). An optical head (3), with an objective (2) having a numerical aperture NA>0.8 and from which objective (2) the focused radiation beam emanates (1) during recording, is (2) arranged on the recording stack (9) side of said optical data storage medium (5). The objective has a second optical surface (7) closest to the recording stack (9), and is adapted for recording/reading at a free working distance dF of smaller than 50 ?m from the first optical surface (6).