Abstract: A bundle of public counters and a corresponding bundle of private counters are created and transmitted to a user device. The user device receives a request and processes the request without accessing a secure element processor on the user device. The user device calculates a security code using the private counter and a number. The user device transmits the calculated security code and one of the bundle of public counters in response to the request. A receiver of the response to the request determines the validity of the public counter and looks up the corresponding private counter using the public counter. The receiver determines the validity of the security code by recomputing it using the private counter and the number.

Abstract: A bundle of public counters and a corresponding bundle of private counters are created and transmitted to a user device. The user device receives a request and processes the request without accessing a secure element processor on the user device. The user device calculates a security code using the private counter and a number. The user device transmits the calculated security code and one of the bundle of public counters in response to the request. A receiver of the response to the request determines the validity of the public counter and looks up the corresponding private counter using the public counter. The receiver determines the validity of the security code by recomputing it using the private counter and the number.

Abstract: Vehicles and methods of navigating vehicles comprise at least three receiver antennae configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from one or more RF-transmitting antennae coupled to an object, receiver circuitry coupled to the receiver antennae to acquire the RF signals and to determine timing information from the acquired RF signals, memory storing information related to fixed distances between each receiver antenna and each other receiver antenna, a processor configured to determine a relative position of the vehicle with respect to the one or more RF-transmitting antennae based on the stored information related to the fixed distances between each receiver antenna and each other receiver antenna and on the timing information determined by the receiver circuitry, and a control system configured to control operation of the vehicle in response to the relative position of the vehicle with respect to the one or more RF-transmitting antennae determined by the processor.

Abstract: Controlled radical initiators, reaction mixtures containing the controlled radical initiators and various ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and polymeric materials formed from the reaction mixtures are provided. The controlled radical initiators are bis-dithiocarbamate or bis-dithiocarbonate compounds with a single carbon atom between the two dithiocarbamate or dithiocarbonate groups. Polymeric materials such as homopolymers, random copolymers, and block copolymers can be prepared using the controlled radical initiators.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for making multiple aseptic fluid interconnections in parallel with an integral clamping mechanism and elastomeric fluid sealing gasket to provide an initial fluid tight seal while removing sealing tape tabs and a final fluid tight seal after sealing tape tabs are removed. The clamping mechanism comprises a hinge coupling and a first set of snap-fit locks to maintain the initial fluid tight seal and a second set of snap-fit locks to maintain the final fluid tight seal.

Abstract: Vehicles and methods of navigating vehicles comprise at least three receiver antennae configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from one or more RF-transmitting antennae coupled to an object, receiver circuitry coupled to the receiver antennae to acquire the RF signals and to determine timing information from the acquired RF signals, memory storing information related to fixed distances between each receiver antenna and each other receiver antenna, a processor configured to determine a relative position of the vehicle with respect to the one or more RF-transmitting antennae based on the stored information related to the fixed distances between each receiver antenna and each other receiver antenna and on the timing information determined by the receiver circuitry, and a control system configured to control operation of the vehicle in response to the relative position of the vehicle with respect to the one or more RF-transmitting antennae determined by the processor.

Abstract: Controlled radical initiators, reaction mixtures containing the controlled radical initiators and various ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and polymeric materials formed from the reaction mixtures are provided. The controlled radical initiators are bis-dithiocarbamate or bis-dithiocarbonate compounds with a single carbon atom between the two dithiocarbamate or dithiocarbonate groups. Polymeric materials such as homopolymers, random copolymers, and block copolymers can be prepared using the controlled radical initiators.

Abstract: An input device, an optical coupler having a receiver, a processor, and one or more light emitting diodes, a light conductive material such as a bundle of optical fibers, and a connector connecting the optical coupler to the light conductive material such as a bundle of fiber optic fibers is provided. The receiver receives data from the input device that relates to lighting effects having predetermined routine or graphic patterns. The processor converts the data into instructions for the light emitting diodes to form the predetermined graphic patterns, color routines and intensities. The light emitting diodes produce light for transmission through the connector to the light conductive material such as a bundle of fiber optic fibers so that the bundle of fiber optic fibers can produce the predetermined light patterns, routines, intensities or graphic patterns.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a prepaid payment system comprises a user account that can be utilized to complete a purchase transaction with a merchant. A delayed processing window is introduced between a time when the merchant receives a payment approval notification from the payment system and a time when the payment system transmits a payment request to an issuer of a funding account associated with the user's payment system account. The payment system utilizes a user's stored value account maintained by the payment system to satisfy the requirements of a prepaid program, and therefore processes the payment request received from the merchant and transmits the payment approval notification without obtaining prior authorization from the issuer of the funding account. The payment system submits one or more payment requests for the funding transaction at a time after the completion of the purchase transaction between the user and the merchant.

Abstract: Inferring purchase intent using non-payment transaction signals predicts whether a payment transaction has been completed based on non-payment information. An account system that operates outside of the payment path does not take part in and the approval of a financial transaction between the user and the merchant system, distributes an offer to the user. The user completes a financial payment transaction with the merchant and the account system determines whether a trigger event has occurred. The user performs an action or enters information using the user computing device, and the user computing device transmits an indication of the action to the account system. In another example, the account system receives notification from another system or device. The account system determines whether the action is a trigger event and the predictive model determines whether the user completed a financial transaction and/or redeemed the distributed offer.

Abstract: Identifying the geolocation of POS terminals using non-payment events to predict when the geolocation of a computing device at a time when the device detects events corresponds to the geolocation of the terminal. The device monitors for pre-selected events and transmit data to the account system. The account system determines a frequency of the events and it reaches a pre-defined threshold, the account system identifies the location of the terminal by identifying the common geolocation of the events. The identified geolocation is saved so that when a user then enters the location and transmits event data to the account system, the system can compare the geolocation of the event data to the saved geolocation to determine whether the computing device is located at the terminal. If the computing device is located at the terminal, the account system transmits offers or other content for display and use at the identified terminal.

Abstract: A system for translational navigation of an immersive virtual reality environment is provided. The system includes a head mounted display having a field of view of the immersive virtual reality environment displayed on a display of the head mounted display and at least one sensor for detecting an orientation of the head mounted display. The system includes a user input control for translating input from a user into a velocity of the user in a single direction within the immersive virtual reality environment. A control module is provided in communication with the user input control and head mounted display for limiting movement of a user through the virtual reality environment to a direction corresponding to a center of the field of view when a velocity input is detected from the user input control.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a prepaid payment system comprises a user account that can be utilized to complete a purchase transaction with a merchant. A delayed processing window is introduced between a time when the merchant receives a payment approval notification from the payment system and a time when the payment system transmits a payment request to an issuer of a funding account associated with the user's payment system account. The payment system utilizes a user's stored value account maintained by the payment system to satisfy the requirements of a prepaid program, and therefore processes the payment request received from the merchant and transmits the payment approval notification without obtaining prior authorization from the issuer of the funding account. The payment system submits one or more payment requests for the funding transaction at a time after the completion of the purchase transaction between the user and the merchant.

Abstract: Identifying the geolocation of POS terminals using non-payment events to predict when the geolocation of a computing device at a time when the device detects events corresponds to the geolocation of the terminal. The device monitors for pre-selected events and transmit data to the account system. The account system determines a frequency of the events and it reaches a pre-defined threshold, the account system identifies the location of the terminal by identifying the common geolocation of the events. The identified geolocation is saved so that when a user then enters the location and transmits event data to the account system, the system can compare the geolocation of the event data to the saved geolocation to determine whether the computing device is located at the terminal. If the computing device is located at the terminal, the account system transmits offers or other content for display and use at the identified terminal.

Abstract: Tracking systems and methods for obtaining position coordinates of transmitters are provided. One or more transmitters send multiple carrier signals to multiple receivers, where the time difference of arrival of the multiple carrier signals are used to determine the location of each transmitter. Accuracy is obtained by using phase information of multiple carrier frequencies for time difference of arrival measurements. The accuracy obtained by a receiver depends on the quality of the received carrier signal; a received carrier signal may become distorted by the presence of multipath interference. By using multiple signals with different frequencies, the system can screen or compensate for multipath effects. This screening can be accomplished either through various signal-sampling techniques or by averaging the signals received at the receiver. Because signals with different frequencies have different multipath experiences, a computer can analyze and compensate for “good” and “bad” signals.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a prepaid payment system comprises a user account that can be utilized to complete a purchase transaction with a merchant. A delayed processing window is introduced between a time when the merchant receives a payment approval notification from the payment system and a time when the payment system transmits a payment request to an issuer of a funding account associated with the user's payment system account. The payment system utilizes a user's stored value account maintained by the payment system to satisfy the requirements of a prepaid program, and therefore processes the payment request received from the merchant and transmits the payment approval notification without obtaining prior authorization from the issuer of the funding account. The payment system submits one or more payment requests for the funding transaction at a time after the completion of the purchase transaction between the user and the merchant.

Abstract: Using discretionary data fields to secure transactions comprises a payment system employing a server configured to associate a payment account of a user with a user computing device, the payment account comprising a payment account identifier that identifies the payment account, and establish a authentication challenge and an corresponding challenge response. The payment system receives a first payment authorization request originating from a merchant computing system comprising the payment account identifier, data associated with the payment account identifier, and a request to fund a transaction using the payment account, wherein the data associated with the payment account identifier comprises a challenge response provided by the user computing device located in a discretionary data field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically assessing a resolution of an optical sensor. An image is obtained from the sensor. The obtained image is thresholded to generate a binary image of black and white pixels using a first threshold value. A target area is selected from the binary image. The first threshold value is increased to generate a second threshold value. The target is thresholded using the second threshold value. At least one pixel is tagged at a center of the target area. Pixels surrounding a tagged pixel are processed, tagging white pixels. If a tagged pixel is at an edge of the target area, an orientation of an object in the target area is determined based on that edge. And, if no pixel is tagged at the edge of the target area, the second threshold value is decreased and the thresholding, tagging, and processing steps are repeated.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for assessing a resolution of an optical sensor. An image is obtained from the optical sensor. A target area is selected from the image. The selected area is subjected to a thresholding process to generate a binary image. Pixels at a center of the binary image are tagged. The remaining pixels of the binary image are looped through, where pixels that are not already tagged, are touching a tagged pixel, and are of the same color of previously tagged pixels are tagged. A plurality of distances associated with each corner of the binary image is calculated from the corner to the nearest tagged pixel in a row or column of pixels. At least two shortest distances of the calculated plurality of distances are selected to determine an orientation of an object defined by the tagged pixels in the generated binary image.

Abstract: Vehicles and methods of navigating vehicles comprise at least three receiver antennae configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from one or more RF-transmitting antennae coupled to an object, receiver circuitry coupled to the receiver antennae to acquire the RF signals and to determine timing information from the acquired RF signals, memory storing information related to fixed distances between each receiver antenna and each other receiver antenna, a processor configured to determine a relative position of the vehicle with respect to the one or more RF-transmitting antennae based on the stored information related to the fixed distances between each receiver antenna and each other receiver antenna and on the timing information determined by the receiver circuitry, and a control system configured to control operation of the vehicle in response to the relative position of the vehicle with respect to the one or more RF-transmitting antennae determined by the processor.