Abstract: Computing systems and methods for facilitating consumer transactions in retail and other establishments include communication interfaces adapted to couple a computing system to a plurality of third party phones or other mobile electronic devices, storage components adapted to store user information, participating merchant information, or any combination thereof, and processors in communication with the communication interfaces and storage components. The processors are adapted to facilitate the automatic wireless checkins of third party users of the third party phones or other mobile electronic devices at participating merchants. Such automatic wireless checkins take place when the third party phones or mobile electronic devices are simply present at the participating merchants, without any affirmative activity by the users at the participating merchants.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for checking many users in to a location using a Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) beacon. The provided systems and methods may allow a BLE beacon to facilitate a check in with a remote server that processes check ins and then disconnect from the device used to check in. The device may be assigned a unique identifier that may be broadcast from the device during the check in so that the BLE beacon can quickly scan for the identifier and connect with the device based on the identifier to provide content and other information to the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed which may allow a merchant to wirelessly transmit accepted forms of payment using a beacon installed in the merchant location or near the merchant location. A consumer having a device capable of receiving the wireless transmission may receive the accepted forms of payment and have them displayed on a screen of the device. The device may also send the accepted forms of payment to a remote server that has issued the consumer a programmable credit card such that the remote server can program the credit card based on the forms of payment accepted by the merchant.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating wireless connections using a Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) beacon installed at a location. In particular, the provided systems and methods may facilitate wireless connections by providing credentials for accessing a wireless network at the location when a user checks in to the location using a user device in communication with the BLE beacon. The provided systems and methods may further facilitate wireless connections by establishing a Wi-Fi Direct connection with the user device to quickly provide content to the user device while at the location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for checking many users in to a location using a Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) beacon. The provided systems and methods may allow a BLE beacon to facilitate a check in with a remote server that processes check ins and then disconnect from the device used to check in. The device may be assigned a unique identifier that may be broadcast from the device during the check in so that the BLE beacon can quickly scan for the identifier and connect with the device based on the identifier to provide content and other information to the device.

Abstract: Computing systems and methods for facilitating mobile transactions are disclosed. An example method includes: detecting, via a hardware communication interface, a user check-in request based at least on a communication exchange between a user device and a signaling device at a location. The communication exchange corresponds to a proximity of the user device to the signaling device. The method further includes: determining a user identifier associated with the user device based at least on the user check-in request; and transmitting one or more promotional items to the user device based at least on the user identifier.

Abstract: One or more Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) beacons in communication with a remote server that provides check in capabilities and payment capabilities may be installed at a location. The BLE beacons may connect with a user's mobile device when the user enters the location and allow the user to check in to the location and authorize payments to be made at the location. Once the user is checked in to the location, the user may be provided with additional functionality, benefits, offers, and applications related to the location and facilitated by the check in. Further, the user may be pre-checked in into a next location when the user is at a current location.

Abstract: An apparatus for blanching segmented avocados uses a conveyor system for transporting the avocados from one end of a blanching chamber to an opposite end, the conveyor system having a perforated conveyor belt positioned on two or more drive rollers for transporting the avocados into and out of the blanching chamber and driven by a drive mechanism. The blanching chamber includes a shroud overlying the conveyor belt and in longitudinal alignment in relation thereto to at least partially enclose steam produced from a bath underlying the conveyor belt and in longitudinal alignment with the shroud and the conveyor belt. During use, the steam is at least partially enclosed by the shroud thereby exposing the segmented avocados positioned on the perforated conveyor belt to steam and blanching the avocados in the blanching chamber at a blanching pressure, at least a portion of which is not sealed from atmosphere.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided which allow for the management of multiple beacons using a network-connected primary beacon in communication with the multiple beacons. The primary beacon may be in communication with the other beacons in the network using a low power wireless technology, such as Bluetooth® low energy (BLE). The primary beacon may receive updates and content from a server over a network to which the primary beacon is in communication, and then send the received updates and content to the other beacons. Moreover, the other beacons may periodically provide updates or collect information and provide this information to the primary beacon, which can then send the updates or collected information to the server for storage and/or analysis.

Abstract: One or more Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) beacons in communication with a remote server that provides check in capabilities and payment capabilities may be installed at a location. The BLE beacons may connect with a user's mobile device when the user enters the location and allow the user to check in to the location and authorize payments to be made at the location. Once the user is checked in to the location, the user may be provided with additional functionality, benefits, offers, and applications related to the location and facilitated by the check in. Further, the user may be pre-checked in into a next location when the user is at a current location.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for checking many users in to a location using a Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) beacon. The provided systems and methods may allow a BLE beacon to facilitate a check in with a remote server that processes check ins and then disconnect from the device used to check in. The device may be assigned a unique identifier that may be broadcast from the device during the check in so that the BLE beacon can quickly scan for the identifier and connect with the device based on the identifier to provide content and other information to the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing concurrent secure elements on a mobile device to coordinate with an application or “app” running on the mobile device and an appropriate communications protocol for conducting transactions using the mobile device include: informing, by the processor, the reader device of a preferred app and a communication protocol usable by the preferred app; receiving, by the processor, information about which apps and communication protocols are supported by a reader for processing a transaction; locating, by the processor, a secure element supporting an app and a communication protocol supported by the reader; channeling the communication protocol for the specific configuration of the app and the supporting secure element; activating the secure element that supports the app; and processing, with the activated secure element, using the supported app and communication channel, the transaction with the reader.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for configuring a user device to provide a preferred payment method for payments. When a user carries their device into a store, the device may receive information from a beacon at the store that informs the device that the user is at the store. The user device may the use the information to determine which of several payment methods will provide a maximum benefit to the user if used for a payment at that store. The benefits to the user may include points, store rewards, miles, cash back rewards or other rewards associated with a particular payment method that, at a particular time or location provide more benefit to the user than other payment methods. The user device may be configured to provide the preferred payment method prior to a communication between the user device and a point of sale device of the store.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing concurrent secure elements on a mobile device to coordinate with an application or “app” running on the mobile device and an appropriate communications protocol for conducting transactions using the mobile device include: informing, by the processor, the reader device of a preferred app and a communication protocol usable by the preferred app; receiving, by the processor, information about which apps and communication protocols are supported by a reader for processing a transaction; locating, by the processor, a secure element supporting an app and a communication protocol supported by the reader; channeling the communication protocol for the specific configuration of the app and the supporting secure element; activating the secure element that supports the app; and processing, with the activated secure element, using the supported app and communication channel, the transaction with the reader.

Abstract: Computing systems and methods for facilitating mobile transactions are disclosed. An example method includes: detecting, via a hardware communication interface, a user check-in request based at least on a communication exchange between a user device and a signaling device at a location. The communication exchange corresponds to a proximity of the user device to the signaling device. The method further includes: determining a user identifier associated with the user device based at least on the user check-in request; and transmitting one or more promotional items to the user device based at least on the user identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing concurrent secure elements on a mobile device to coordinate with an application or “app” running on the mobile device and an appropriate communications protocol for conducting transactions using the mobile device include: informing, by the processor, the reader device of a preferred app and a communication protocol usable by the preferred app; receiving, by the processor, information about which apps and communication protocols are supported by a reader for processing a transaction; locating, by the processor, a secure element supporting an app and a communication protocol supported by the reader; channeling the communication protocol for the specific configuration of the app and the supporting secure element; activating the secure element that supports the app; and processing, with the activated secure element, using the supported app and communication channel, the transaction with the reader.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating wireless connections using a Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) beacon installed at a location. In particular, the provided systems and methods may facilitate wireless connections by providing credentials for accessing a wireless network at the location when a user checks in to the location using a user device in communication with the BLE beacon. The provided systems and methods may further facilitate wireless connections by establishing a Wi-Fi Direct connection with the user device to quickly provide content to the user device while at the location.

Abstract: A method for producing an avocado food product with a reduced instance of pathogens, the method comprising: (a) removing the pip and peel from an avocado leaving the flesh of the avocado; (b) macerating the avocado flesh; (c) exposing the avocado flesh to an atmosphere comprising steam for a predetermined time; wherein the steam is generated at or greater than about atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing concurrent secure elements on a mobile device to coordinate with an application or “app” running on the mobile device and an appropriate communications protocol for conducting transactions using the mobile device include: informing, by the processor, the reader device of a preferred app and a communication protocol usable by the preferred app; receiving, by the processor, information about which apps and communication protocols are supported by a reader for processing a transaction; locating, by the processor, a secure element supporting an app and a communication protocol supported by the reader; channeling the communication protocol for the specific configuration of the app and the supporting secure element; activating the secure element that supports the app; and processing, with the activated secure element, using the supported app and communication channel, the transaction with the reader.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided which allow for the management of multiple beacons using a network-connected primary beacon in communication with the multiple beacons. The primary beacon may be in communication with the other beacons in the network using a low power wireless technology, such as Bluetooth® low energy (BLE). The primary beacon may receive updates and content from a server over a network to which the primary beacon is in communication, and then send the received updates and content to the other beacons. Moreover, the other beacons may periodically provide updates or collect information and provide this information to the primary beacon, which can then send the updates or collected information to the server for storage and/or analysis.