Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the processing of information acquired by sensors within an environment are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a system includes multiple sensors configured to acquire information about an environment. The system may also include computing devices that are each operatively connected to a respective one of the sensors. Further, each computing device may be configured to determine an object and/or action within the environment based on the acquired information. The system may include a processing manager configured to determine whether a first computing device among the plurality of computing devices does not have predetermined resource availability for determining the object and/or action. The processing manager may control the first computing device to communicate the information to a second computing device for determining the one of the object and action in response to determining that the first computing device does not have the predetermined resource availability.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the processing of information acquired by sensors within an environment are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a system includes multiple sensors configured to acquire information about an environment. The system may also include computing devices that are each operatively connected to a respective one of the sensors. Further, each computing device may be configured to determine an object and/or action within the environment based on the acquired information. The system may include a processing manager configured to determine whether a first computing device among the plurality of computing devices does not have predetermined resource availability for determining the object and/or action. The processing manager may control the first computing device to communicate the information to a second computing device for determining the one of the object and action in response to determining that the first computing device does not have the predetermined resource availability.

Abstract: A network of cameras is disposed throughout a store, such as a grocery store, for example. The cameras are positioned so as to monitor the products available in the store, as well as the entrances and exits to and from the store. Customers are identified as they enter the store, and their movements throughout the store are tracked. The cameras capture images of the products selected by the customer and then send those images to a computer server. The server identifies each product selected by the customer, maintains a total price for all products selected by the customer, and automatically debits the customer's account for the total price upon detecting the customer leaving the store.

Abstract: A network of cameras is disposed throughout a store, such as a grocery store, for example. The cameras are positioned so as to monitor the products available in the store, as well as the entrances and exits to and from the store. Customers are identified as they enter the store, and their movements throughout the store are tracked. The cameras capture images of the products selected by the customer and then send those images to a computer server. The server identifies each product selected by the customer, maintains a total price for all products selected by the customer, and automatically debits the customer's account for the total price upon detecting the customer leaving the store.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling reliable verification of items being purchased using a self checkout system. The self checkout system is equipped with a verification mark dispenser and verification mark detectors that respectively dispenses a mark on an item as the item is being scanned for purchasing and then verifies, by detecting the mark on the item, that the item being bagged (or passed through the tunnel) is the same item that was scanned. When a customer scans an item for purchase, and if purchase transaction is successful, a mark (made of a non-reactive but detectable material or ink) is placed on the exterior packaging of the item. When the item is placed in the tunnel, the detector, sensitive to the activation of the specific marking and located at or in the tunnel, detects the marking on the item. If the activated marking is not detected by the detector, an alert condition is triggered.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling reliable verification of items being purchased using a self checkout system. The self checkout system is equipped with a verification mark dispenser and verification mark detectors that respectively dispenses a mark on an item as the item is being scanned for purchasing and then verifies, by detecting the mark on the item, that the item being bagged (or passed through the tunnel) is the same item that was scanned. When a customer scans an item for purchase, and if purchase transaction is successful, a mark (made of a non-reactive but detectable material or ink) is placed on the exterior packaging of the item. When the item is placed in the tunnel, the detector, sensitive to the activation of the specific marking and located at or in the tunnel, detects the marking on the item. If the activated marking is not detected by the detector, an alert condition is triggered.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for detecting false purchases is disclosed. The method includes detecting a motion across a product identifier in a self-service terminal and monitoring for a product identifier. In response to failing to detect the product identifier, an alert signal is transmitted.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods which facilitate use of a commercial transaction system by service employees and by customer users. The system responds to the presence and motions of a user to effectuate selection of elements for the transaction—such as selection of products or services—and validation of payment.

Abstract: File system views are created for each application executed by a user, where this user-specific view comprises operating system files needed to run the application and file system changes made with this application for this user. Changes made to the file system during execution are allowed (in accordance with the user's permissions), but by default, those changes are not visible to other applications or to other users. Optionally, a user or administrator may specify that one or more file system views are to be accessible from other views. The view-specific isolation of file system changes applies also to system files and meta-data alterations that might be made to the operating system. In one alternative approach, file system views may be created for an application without regard to individual users, where that application's view is then used for all users who execute the application.

Abstract: Associating and/or disassociating a mobile point-of-sale scanner device with a particular shopper. Shoppers may be identified, for example, using biometrics or by scanning a loyalty card. As an example of using biometrics, the shopper's fingerprint may be scanned as a trigger of the scanner is activated to scan an item's barcode. The fingerprint is preferably transmitted, along with the scanned barcode, to a server or other device for comparison to previously-stored information. The scanner is then automatically associated with the shopper to whom the fingerprint corresponds. In another embodiment, scanned loyalty card information is preferably transmitted (optionally, along with a scanned barcode), such that the scanner is then automatically associated with the shopper to whom the loyalty card corresponds.

Abstract: A location-based service includes detecting the relative motion of an on-site resource, such as a shopping cart, in addition to detecting the absolute position of the on-site resource, and displaying information on the on-site resource. The displayed information is based upon the detected relative motion and the detected absolute position. The relative motion is tracked and a position on a floor plan is deduced. This deduced position is adjusted, for example, synchronized or reset, as a function of and in response to the detected absolute position.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for detecting false purchases is disclosed. The method includes detecting a motion across a product identifier in a self-service terminal and monitoring for a product identifier. In response to failing to detect the product identifier, an alert signal is transmitted.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for system for drawing consumer attention to selectively broadcast marketing messages, such as advertisements, store events, and coupons, to a wireless computer mounted on a shopping cart in a store is disclosed. The method comprises positioning a short-range transmitter in a predetermined product area in a store and storing one or more marketing messages in said short-range transmitter, wherein said one or more marketing messages are associated with one or more specific products located in said predetermined product area. The method further comprises using an alert signal to notify a user of an availability of said one or more marketing messages and transmitting said one or more marketing messages to a wireless computer.

Abstract: A method and system for wirelessly coupling a computer with a peripheral device. The peripheral device is initially docked to a docking port in the computer. The computer then listens for identifiers from all peripheral devices within range of the computer, including the identifier for the peripheral device that is presently docked with the computer. The computer then instructs the docked peripheral device to stop sending its identifier. By a process of deduction, the computer is able to identify the docked peripheral device. The step of stopping the docked peripheral device from sending the peripheral device's identifier is preferably controlled by monitoring whether the computer is charging a battery in the docked peripheral device. Thus, the docked peripheral device transmits its identifier only when it is charging its battery.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling reliable verification of items being purchased using a self checkout system. The self checkout system is equipped with a verification mark dispenser and verification mark detectors that respectively dispenses a mark on an item as the item is being scanned for purchasing and then verifies, by detecting the mark on the item, that the item being bagged (or passed through the tunnel) is the same item that was scanned. When a customer scans an item for purchase, the purchase transaction is processed and, if the item is successfully purchased (i.e., transaction confirmed), a mark (made of a non-reactive but detectable material or ink) is placed on the exterior packaging of the item. When the item is placed in the tunnel, the detector, sensitive to the activation of the specific marking and located at or in the tunnel, detects the marking on the item.

Abstract: A shopping environment process includes determining when a shopper is in proximity to an item by detecting a wireless transmission from a shopper device associated with the shopper. A purchase price of the item is determined based in part on the identity of the shopper. A graphical interface of a shelving device associated with the item then displays the purchase price. The interface enables the shopper to purchase the item. The item is then included in a virtual shopping cart associated with the user if the user purchases the item. The shopper device may include a card reader enabling the shopper to associate with the shopper device by swiping a loyalty card. The shelving device can communicate with a customer database server by sending a wireless communication to an intermediate shelving device and transmitting the communication from the intermediate shelving device to a repeater device connected to a wired network.

Abstract: A method and system for wirelessly coupling a computer with a peripheral device. The peripheral device is initially docked to a docking port in the computer. Detecting the docking event, the computer then turns on the docked peripheral device and listens for identifiers from all peripheral devices within range of the computer, including the identifier for the peripheral device that is presently docked with the computer. The computer then instructs the docked peripheral device to turn off, thus preventing the docked peripheral device from broadcasting its identifier. By a process of deduction, the computer is able to identify the docked peripheral device. In a preferred embodiment, the docked peripheral device subsequently is wirelessly associated only with the computer to which that peripheral device was initially docked.

Abstract: A location-based service includes detecting the relative motion of an on-site resource, detecting the absolute position of the on-site resource, and tracking the position of the on-site resource. The position is tracked by deriving a deduced position based on the detected relative motion and adjusting the deduced position as a function of and in response to the detected absolute position. According to one embodiment, the on-site resource can be a shopping cart and the tracking includes recording a travel pattern of the shopping cart as it moves through a site floor plan such that the travel pattern is reproducible. Preferably, the recorded travel pattern includes travel patterns within an aisle in the site floor plan such that the recorded patterns include travel along the length of the aisle and travel having components which are perpendicular to the length of the aisle.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring location based service emitter infrastructure. Beacon data is stored, the beacon data transmitted by beacons in an area and detected by a client device that is moved along a path at the location. The beacon data along the path of the client device is analyzed to determine whether any of the detected beacons have failed.

Abstract: A method and system for managing complex payload using on a point of sale (POS) printer is described. The complex payload includes a plurality of commands. The method and system include organizing at least a portion of the commands into a single entity. The single entity corresponds to more than one command, though need not contain all of the commands. The method and system also include providing a payload identifier corresponding to the single entity. The payload identifier indicates a correspondence between the commands for the single entity and the single entity.