Abstract: A table-side device is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing customer POS system within an operating environment, irrespective of the particular operating characteristics of the POS system. In one embodiment, this is achieved by providing a middleware component that executes in the POS system, preferably in the form of an agent that interfaces each table-side device to the POS system for one of: order entry and update, check management, and payment handling. The POS agent is associated with a plug-in component, which is uniquely associated with the particular POS system. The POS agent preferably includes a communication interface through which table-side devices issue requests to the POS system through the plug-in component. The agent middleware enables the single service provider system to interoperate with various types of POS systems irrespective of the underlying differences in implementation among these various third party POS systems.

Abstract: A table-side device is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing customer POS system within an operating environment, irrespective of the particular operating characteristics of the POS system. In one embodiment, this is achieved by providing a middleware component that executes in the POS system, preferably in the form of an agent that interfaces each table-side device to the POS system for one of: order entry and update, check management, and payment handling. The POS agent is associated with a plug-in component, which is uniquely associated with the particular POS system. The POS agent preferably includes a communication interface through which table-side devices issue requests to the POS system through the plug-in component. The agent middleware enables the single service provider system to interoperate with various types of POS systems irrespective of the underlying differences in implementation among these various third party POS systems.

Abstract: A table-side hospitality device includes an integral printer mechanism, such as a thermal printer. The device comprises a general purpose processing unit on which a mobile- or embedded-device operating system, such as Android, executes. A control program (the device application) executing on the processing unit facilitates ordering, order management, invoicing and payment. When the application needs to print, it interacts with the printer directly, preferably using the general purpose input-output (GPIO) bus of the processor. In particular, during the print operation, the processor (via the general purpose I/O) outputs, as a set of control signals, a bit-map of the desired graphics (text, images, or the like), and these control signals drive the printer directly without requiring a dedicated micro-controller or OS-specific printer drivers.

Abstract: A data processing system is provided for determining specific digital content for displaying on a restaurant table top display unit corresponding to a specific time point of a consumption cycle. In particular, the said data processing system is provided for recording inputs and their associated time stamps from a table top unit, reading a current time from a digital clock, performing calculations on the said inputs, time stamps, and the current time, based on a predetermined algorithm, producing a calculated index; storing a plural of digital contents tagged with tagging indexes; selecting specific digital content with its associated tagging index matching said calculated index for displaying on a signage unit.

Abstract: A system for tracking and dispensing medical items (830) includes one or more computers and associated data stores including information concerning authorized users, patients, medical items that have been prescribed for patients, medical items available, storage locations for medical items and events associated with receiving, dispensing and providing medical items to patients. The system also provides for tracking medications from time of receipt by a pharmacy, through storage and compounding therein, to the storage locations from which the medical items are taken to be administered, to dispensing to medical personnel for administration and finally to patients. Further, returning, restocking and other activities affecting the disposition of medications are also tracked to assure that reliable information is recorded concerning the disposition of medical items.

Abstract: Methods and devices for end-user generation of content previews including selecting digital content stored on a communications device, and generating a content preview on the communications device from the digital content selected based on content transcoding information. In one embodiment, a mobile wireless communications device (300) includes a content preview generator (340) for generating content previews from content stored in memory based on content transcoding information, and a transmitter (380) for sharing the content previews with other mobile wireless communications devices, for example, in peer-to-peer communications.

Abstract: A wireless communication system (100) capable downloading media objects (336) to a mobile device (102) from content sources (104, 106, 108) is provided. At least one server (300) includes a memory (306) that stores a download descriptor (334), associated with a media object (336), which includes multiple server identifiers (408, 410, 412), and a network interface (302) that transmits to the mobile device (102), via a wireless communication link, the download descriptor (334). The mobile device (102) has a wireless transceiver (202) that receives the download descriptor (334) and a processor (304) that selects a particular server identifier of the multiple server identifiers (408, 410, 412). The wireless transceiver (202) of the mobile device (102) retrieves the media object (336) from a server associated with the particular server identifier.

Abstract: There is provided a communication device, and a method thereof, for managing access to protected content. The communication device comprises an application (302), a trusted file system service (316), a trusted agent (318) and a trusted content renderer (320). The application (302) requests performance of an action for the protected content (306). The trusted file system service (316) identifies the protected content (306) to the application (302). The trusted agent (318) identifies rights associated with the protected content (306) to the application (302). The trusted content renderer (320) performs the action in response to determining that the application (302) is an untrusted application having sufficient rights to perform the action.

Abstract: Methods and devices for end-user generation of content previews by selecting digital content stored on a communications device, generating a content preview on the communications device from the digital content selected based on content transcoding information. In one embodiment, a mobile wireless communications device (300) includes a content preview generator (340) for generating content previews from content stored in memory based on content transcoding information, and a transmitter (380) for sharing the content previews from the mobile wireless communications device, for example in peer-to-peer communications.