Abstract: Techniques are described for use in selectively authorizing proposed transactions under certain circumstances, such as when payments for the transactions are not assured. In some situations, when payments to a merchant from customers are not assured for proposed item acquisition transactions involving those customers, determinations are made to authorize and proceed with at least some of those proposed transactions in an automatic and selective manner without the assurance of receiving the payments for the selected transactions. For example, a selective determination of whether to authorize a proposed transaction may be made based on analyzing information about the proposed transaction (e.g., about the item(s) involved in the transaction, a payment amount of the transaction, the customer(s) involved in the transactions, etc.) and on information regarding other prior transactions.

Abstract: A carriage locking system for a device comprising a housing having a power cord receptacle. The system includes a carriage moveable in the housing. A power cord for the insertion into the power cord receptacle is also included. A carriage latch is moveable between a latched position to prevent movement of the carriage and an unlatched position allowing for movement of the carriage. The system further comprises a sensor operative to detect the presence of the power cord in the receptacle and operatively associated with the carriage latch such that the carriage latch moves to the unlatched position when the power cord is inserted in said power cord receptacle and the carriage latch moves to the latched position when the power cord is removed from the power cord receptacle.

Abstract: A carriage locking system for a device comprising a housing having a power cord receptacle. The system includes a carriage moveable in the housing. A power cord for the insertion into the power cord receptacle is also includes. A carriage latch is between a latched position to prevent movement of the carriage and an unlatched position allowing for movement of the carriage. The system further comprises a sensor operative to detect the presence of the power cord in the receptacle and operatively associated with the carriage latch such that the carriage latch moves to the unlatched position when the power cord is inserted in said power cord receptacle and the carriage latch moves to the latched position when the power cord is removed from the power cord receptacle.