Abstract: Image-based processing of sources of financial information for financial transactions is provided. A device is enabled to acquire one or more images including a representation of a source of financial information. The device can validate the source, independent of the financial information in a preliminary analysis. If the source is validated, one or more images are used to acquire the financial information. The financial information is then validated. If the financial information is valid, authorization of the financial transaction can be initiated.

Abstract: A system and/or method may be provided to silently authenticate a user. An example method of silently authenticating a user includes receiving a set of device characteristics from a user device and identifying, based on the set of device characteristics, the user device. The method also includes determining whether to trust the user device and determining whether the user device is associated with a user that was previously authenticated. The method further includes in response to determining to trust the user device and that the user device is associated with the user that was previously authenticated, authenticating the user based on the previous authentication.

Abstract: Image-based processing of sources of financial information for financial transactions is provided. A device is enabled to acquire one or more images including a representation of a source of financial information. The device can validate the source, independent of the financial information in a preliminary analysis. If the source is validated, one or more images are used to acquire the financial information. The financial information is then validated. If the financial information is valid, authorization of the financial transaction can be initiated.

Abstract: A system and/or method may be provided to silently authenticate a user. An example method of silently authenticating a user includes receiving a set of device characteristics from a user device and identifying, based on the set of device characteristics, the user device. The method also includes determining whether to trust the user device and determining whether the user device is associated with a user that was previously authenticated. The method further includes in response to determining to trust the user device and that the user device is associated with the user that was previously authenticated, authenticating the user based on the previous authentication.

Abstract: Image-based processing of sources of financial information for financial transactions is provided. A device is enabled to acquire one or more images including a representation of a source of financial information. The device can validate the source, independent of the financial information in a preliminary analysis. If the source is validated, one or more images are used to acquire the financial information. The financial information is then validated. If the financial information is valid, authorization of the financial transaction can be initiated.

Abstract: A system and/or method may be provided to silently authenticate a user. An example method of silently authenticating a user includes receiving a set of device characteristics from a user device and identifying, based on the set of device characteristics, the user device. The method also includes determining whether to trust the user device and determining whether the user device is associated with a user that was previously authenticated. The method further includes in response to determining to trust the user device and that the user device is associated with the user that was previously authenticated, authenticating the user based on the previous authentication.

Abstract: A system and/or method may be provided to silently authenticate a user. An example method of silently authenticating a user includes receiving a set of device characteristics from a user device and identifying, based on the set of device characteristics, the user device. The method also includes determining whether to trust the user device and determining whether the user device is associated with a user that was previously authenticated. The method further includes in response to determining to trust the user device and that the user device is associated with the user that was previously authenticated, authenticating the user based on the previous authentication.

Abstract: A system and/or method may be provided to silently authenticate a user. An example method of silently authenticating a user includes receiving a set of device characteristics from a user device and identifying, based on the set of device characteristics, the user device. The method also includes determining whether to trust the user device and determining whether the user device is associated with a user that was previously authenticated. The method further includes in response to determining to trust the user device and that the user device is associated with the user that was previously authenticated, authenticating the user based on the previous authentication.

Abstract: A system and/or method may be provided to silently authenticate a user. An example method of silently authenticating a user includes receiving a set of device characteristics from a user device and identifying, based on the set of device characteristics, the user device. The method also includes determining whether to trust the user device and determining whether the user device is associated with a user that was previously authenticated. The method further includes in response to determining to trust the user device and that the user device is associated with the user that was previously authenticated, authenticating the user based on the previous authentication.

Abstract: The collapsible waterfowl decoy disclosed herein includes a vertical support and a horizontal support. The horizontal support includes a three-way joint which allows the horizontal support to be disposed on the vertical support through parallel ports in the three-way joint. A pin is disposed within a perpendicular port of the three-way joint. The horizontal support further includes rigid tubing that is inserted into a perpendicular port of the three-way joint. Elastic cordage is disposed around the pin and through the rigid tubing to apply elastic tension between the rigid tubing and the perpendicular port of the three-way joint.

Abstract: The collapsible waterfowl decoy disclosed herein includes a vertical support and a horizontal support. The horizontal support includes a three-way joint which allows the horizontal support to be disposed on the vertical support through parallel ports in the three-way joint. A pin is disposed within a perpendicular port of the three-way joint. The horizontal support further includes rigid tubing that is inserted into a perpendicular port of the three-way joint. Elastic cordage is disposed around the pin and through the rigid tubing to apply elastic tension between the rigid tubing and the perpendicular port of the three-way joint.

Abstract: A bag containing foods, particularly foods to be re-heated or cooked and/or bakery products which are pre-baked and/or need to be re-baked, with an essentially closed bottom end and an opposing opening end, comprises a front wall and a rear wall that are attached to each other, at least in one or more sections, directly or through side walls, in the region of their side edges and bottom edges. The front wall and/or the rear wall and optionally also at least one side wall, preferably all side walls, comprise or are made of glassine paper and/or cellulose paper with a single- or double-sided fluorine coating.

Abstract: A robot gripper attachment for use with conventional robotic platforms, the gripper having opposed claw members, each claw member in turn having a plurality of elongate projections. An inward facing surface of each projection is chamfered, defining an interior gripping surface. This gripping surface may be further provided with a friction material for increased grip. One or more cameras and sensors may be utilized to aid operation by providing the operator with information about depth, distance, and positioning.

Abstract: Image-based processing of sources of financial information for financial transactions is provided. A device is enabled to acquire one or more images including a representation of a source of financial information. The device can validate the source, independent of the financial information in a preliminary analysis. If the source is validated, one or more images are used to acquire the financial information. The financial information is then validated. If the financial information is valid, authorization of the financial transaction can be initiated.

Abstract: A method of closing a vessel includes using a flexible sealing device to form a seal between two container components of the vessel. The method also includes closing the vessel by locking together the two container components using a locking mechanism capable of bearing an end pressure load against the vessel when the vessel is in operation. The seal is formed and the vessel is closed so that the sealing device bears substantially none of the end pressure load when the vessel is in operation. This method can be adapted to work in relation to many vessel designs and both high and low pressure and temperature conditions.

Abstract: An exemplary mobile mattress sensor system is described, the system includes a pressure sensing pad and a computer device having an associated display operable to receive signals from the pressure sensing pad and cause the display a body map associated with the received signals. The mobile mapping system further includes a power source for powering the computer device, and a cart for transporting the pressure sensing pad, computer device, and power source. The mobile body mapping system allows a user to transport the mobile body mapping system throughout a store to test and generate body maps for different mattresses. Further, many different mattresses may be uniquely tested for a particular user with a single pressure sensing pad (as opposed to having multiple pressure sensing pads and computing devices for each mattress or a small set of “test” beds including pressure sensing pads and computing devices).

Abstract: Two male guides protrude up from a dock and the bottom of a portable computer is formed with parallel female channels configured to receive the guides in a drop-down docking configuration. Accordingly, a user can slide the portable computer side-to-side across the male guides until the guides are tactiley detected by the user to be in the channels. The user then slides the portable computer back until the computer connector drops into engagement with the dock connector.