Abstract: A safety device for automotive vehicles (cars, buses and trucks) or rail locomotives. The device inhibits use of cellular telephones and other communication devices that run the risk of distracting a driver/operator while the vehicle is in motion. Several techniques for inhibiting use are described which can be used individually or in a complementary combinations. In one technique, a rapidly varying signal level is created local to the communication device. The variations exceed the operational limits of the system, thereby inhibiting communications. In another technique, the safety device emits radiation that interferes with the reception of signals by the communication device only within the interior of the vehicle and will not interfere with cell phones or wireless devises outside the automotive vehicle or rail locomotive.

Abstract: A portable electronic device may be configured to present information identifying a coupon or rebate offer concerning a product or service in a machine-readable format at a point of sale. The portable electronic device may additionally or alternatively be configured to electronically receive information identifying a coupon or rebate offer concerning a product or service while disposed at a first location, and to store the information in memory so that the information can be selectively retrieved from the memory and presented in a manner that enables the information to be communicated to a provider of the product or service in connection with a purchase of the product or service consummated when the portable electronic device is disposed at a second location. The portable electronic device may be further configured to, in response to the occurrence of at least one event, automatically disable a capability of the portable electronic device to present the information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an electrically-controlled illumination source, and a circuit configured to control the illumination source so as cause the light source to generate at least one sequence of light pulses that mimics those a photo-detector of a bar code reader would observe from a reflected source when reading a printed bar code symbol. In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises an electronically reconfigurable, reflective display that is insensitive to a polarization of an incident illumination source, and a circuit configured to selectively configure the display to display a bar code symbol thereon.

Abstract: A safety device for automotive vehicles (cars, buses and trucks) or rail locomotives. The device inhibits use of cellular telephones and other communication devices that run the risk of distracting a driver/operator while the vehicle is in motion. Several techniques for inhibiting use are described which can be used individually or in a complementary combinations. In one technique, a rapidly varying signal level is created local to the communication device. The variations exceed the operational limits of the system, thereby inhibiting communications. In another technique, the safety device emits radiation that interferes with the reception of signals by the communication device only within the interior of the vehicle and will not interfere with cell phones or wireless devises outside the automotive vehicle or rail locomotive.

Abstract: A method or corresponding apparatus for remote transmission of a negotiable instrument. In an example embodiment, the process provides a carrier that secures a negotiable instrument. Next, the process creates a unique identifier, associated with the carrier, and generates an electronic image of the negotiable instrument. After generating the electronic image, the process transmits the electronic image of the negotiable instrument and the unique identifier to a remote location. The negotiable instrument may be transmitted via a fax, a scanner, a device designed to transmit electronic data, other image device compatible with ITU-T recommendations T.30 or T.4, or combination thereof. The process may also verify the negotiable instrument has a valid endorsement, verify image quality of the electronic image to ensure compliance with financial industry standards, or validate any received security information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an electrically-controlled illumination source, and a circuit configured to control the illumination source so as cause the light source to generate at least one sequence of light pulses that mimics those a photo-detector of a bar code reader would observe from a reflected source when reading a printed bar code symbol. In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises an electronically reconfigurable, reflective display that is insensitive to a polarization of an incident illumination source, and a circuit configured to selectively configure the display to display a bar code symbol thereon.

Abstract: In one embodiment an apparatus includes a housing; a user authenticator, supported by the housing, that authenticates an identity of a user; at least one memory, supported by the housing, that stores transaction information for at least first and second media; and at least one output, supported by the housing, that releases at least a portion of the transaction information to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal after the user authenticator has authenticated the identity of the user. In another embodiment, a method involves steps of: storing transaction information for at least first and second media in a memory of a device; receiving as input a user's selection of one of the at least first and second media; displaying a visual indication to the user regarding which of the at least first and second media has been selected; and transferring at least a portion of the transaction information from the device to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal.

Abstract: In one embodiment an apparatus includes a housing; a user authenticator, supported by the housing, that authenticates an identity of a user; at least one memory, supported by the housing, that stores transaction information for at least first and second media; and at least one output, supported by the housing, that releases at least a portion of the transaction information to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal after the user authenticator has authenticated the identity of the user. In another embodiment, a method involves steps of: storing transaction information for at least first and second media in a memory of a device; receiving as input a user's selection of one of the at least first and second media; displaying a visual indication to the user regarding which of the at least first and second media has been selected; and transferring at least a portion of the transaction information from the device to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal.

Abstract: A portable electronic device may be configured to present information identifying a coupon or rebate offer concerning a product or service in a machine-readable format at a point of sale. The portable electronic device may additionally or alternatively be configured to electronically receive information identifying a coupon or rebate offer concerning a product or service while disposed at a first location, and to store the information in memory so that the information can be selectively retrieved from the memory and presented in a manner that enables the information to be communicated to a provider of the product or service in connection with a purchase of the product or service consummated when the portable electronic device is disposed at a second location. The portable electronic device may be further configured to, in response to the occurrence of at least one event, automatically disable a capability of the portable electronic device to present the information.