Abstract: An information system architecture and a computer program for achieving full video quality, high camera density, and high-reliability in a digital video surveillance system. The architecture couples encoders/decoders for H.264 hardware-based video compression and video encoding/decoding directly to Blade Servers to achieve high camera density and high quality. The computer program manages system failover to redundant components for high reliability.

Abstract: The present invention features a Product Information System (PISYS) which presents advertising and product information to grocery shoppers. The system includes one or more shopping carts with a bar code scanner to read Universal Product Codes (UPCs) from merchandise. An artificial intelligence system presents advertising and general product information. The system determines the shopper's tastes from choices which the shopper expresses explicitly and from characterizations which it infers by examining the shopper's buying habits. When the shopping session is complete, the PISYS shopping cart transfers relevant information to a PISYS check-out counter, which transfers it directly to an in-house central computer. Because a PISYS shopping cart interacts with a shopper at the very moment he is making a purchase decision, it provides the most effective means for advertising.

Abstract: The present invention features a system for recognizing a string of handwritten characters automatically using a graphic input. This invention is expected to have several applications, such as affecting postal ZIP codes and the dollar amount location on bank checks. For postal applications, the device includes an identification strip for identifying the sender, a receiver, a source or a destination of material such as packages or mail. The identification strip can be part of a postage stamp, label, envelope, etc., and has a reserved region with a plurality of entry guide outlines, each designating one alphanumeric character or digit of a ZIP code. Disposed on each entry guide outline surface is a pattern that is not machine-readable. The pattern includes line segments upon which a letter, number or symbol may be inscribed. The line segment in each entry guide outline acts as a trace-over guide for the inscriber, wherein the letter, number or symbol inscribed conforms to a machine-readable character.