Abstract: Techniques for providing a plurality of incentives for a product during a loyalty transaction are provided. A group of eligible incentives for a product are determined and one or more of the eligible incentives are selected and applied to the loyalty transaction. The techniques include determining a plurality of incentives that are eligible for application to the transaction, the eligibility based on at least one product; determining one or more incentives from the plurality of incentives to apply to the transaction; and applying the determined one or more incentives to the transaction.

Abstract: A system for providing distributed control to process transactions is disclosed. The system includes a service provider system having associated therewith a number of rules and a number of meta-rules, a point of service device having associated therewith a number of rules and a number of meta-rules, and a portable device having associated therewith a number of rules and a number of meta-rules. The portable device uses its associated rules to determine an outcome for a transaction. If the portable device is unable to determine the outcome for the transaction, the portable device uses its associated meta-rules to either determine whether one or more of its associated rules can be altered locally in order to determine the outcome or request the point of service device to help determine the outcome using the rules and meta-rules associated with the point of service device.

Abstract: A method for generating a terms and conditions (T&C) statement for a transaction is disclosed. The method includes: using a portable device to conduct the transaction, the portable device having portable device information; determining if a terms and conditions statement is needed for the transaction based on the portable device information; dynamically generating the terms and conditions statement for the transaction; and outputting the generated terms and conditions statement.

Abstract: A system for facilitating image management for portable devices is disclosed. The system includes a host configured to maintain information relating to a first portable device and a second portable device and an interface device configured to communicate with the host and the first and second portable devices. The interface device includes control logic configured to: determine whether the first portable device is valid for image synchronization using information provided by the host; and if it is determined that the first portable device is valid for image synchronization, record an image of the first portable device, determine whether the second portable device is valid for image synchronization, and download an image of the first portable device to the second portable device if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image synchronization.

Abstract: A portable consumer device is disclosed. The portable consumer device includes a body and a computer readable medium coupled to the body. The computer readable medium comprises a data string including one or more wildcard values. The data string is specifically associated with the consumer. For example, the data string may represent one or more products that the consumer prefers to use.

Abstract: A network centric system that enables participation by any number of entities including sponsors, issuers, merchants, portable devices, and acceptance point devices in one or more loyalty programs is provided. Any combination of entities may be specified for different loyalty programs.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing notification to user in an interactive television system includes: a customer premise equipment capable to receive information from a data communication network and transmit an alert signal in response to receiving the information; and a notification device capable to receive the alert signal and to provide notification to a user in response to the alert signal.

Abstract: An interface for a digital video disk system utilizing a small number of pins which allows a requesting device to initiate data requests and which avoids the phenomenon of lock-up.

Abstract: A multiplane TEE probe is provided in which an aluminum sheet is embedded in the acoustic lens in front of the transducer to dissipate heat which accumulates in the lens. The embedded aluminum foil sheet in front of the transducer helps reduce such heat buildup by spreading out heat which develops at hot spots and conducting the heat trapped in the lens material to a heatsink mass behind the transducer and away from the patient contacting surface of the probe. A mylar sheet covers the front of the transducer. The inner surface of the mylar sheet is aluminized. This aluminum layer in the inner surface of the cover serves a like purpose.

Abstract: A multiplane TEE probe is provided in which rotation of the ultrasonic transducer is motor controlled. The motor is controlled to rotate the transducer either clockwise or counterclockwise, and at either a high rotational speed or a low rotational speed. The motor is also automatically controlled to drive the transducer to a predetermined home position. The transducer tip of the probe is detachably connected to the gastroscope tube. An aluminum sheet is embedded in the acoustic lens in front of the transducer to dissipate heat which accumulates in the lens. The gastroscope tube includes an articulating section formed of a plurality of matching cylindrical links which form alternating pivot axes from one link to the next. The pivot range of each link with respect to an adjoining link is controlled by opposing limit stops orthogonally located with respect to the pivot points of the links.