Abstract: A low voltage yard decoration system uses a power supply and cable, previously intended only for lighting systems, to improve safety, facilitate installation, and increase utility of various decoration designs. The low voltage decorations are an alternative to decorations requiring direct connection to an AC outlet. Where decorations contain lamps, a switch in each decoration allows on-off control of lamps from within the decoration itself. Decorations may also contain electric motors, and these too may be switched from within the decoration. Decoration units attach to the low voltage cable using connectors containing contacts which pierce the insulation of the cable. No tools are required for installation. Decorations may be added to existing low voltage lighting systems or installed as a standalone system. A timer may be present in each decoration, to initiate switching on or off of lamps or motors within the decoration.

Abstract: A method for maintaining security of a retail terminal having a docking station and a portable computer includes the computer-implemented steps of receiving an unlocking attempt to unlock the portable computer from the docking station; determining whether the unlocking attempt is valid; and unlocking the portable computer from the docking station if the unlocking attempt is valid. A multi-functional retail terminal is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for transmitting data over a transmission channel from a base station to one of a plurality of remote terminal devices including the steps of storing in a first table the communication channels for each of the terminal devices which were open for the last communication to the terminal device, selecting from the first table a communication channel which was successful in communicating to the said one of a plurality of remote terminal devices and transmitting data over the selected communication channel.