Abstract: Respiratory protective device detection using optical tagging and image processing includes receiving one or more infrared images of a user. An optical tag is detected within the one or more infrared images. The optical tag is disposed on a respiratory protective device. A notification is generated indicating that the user is wearing a respiratory protective device in response to detecting the optical tag within the one or more infrared images. Respiratory protective device detection also may include detecting eyes of the user within the one or more infrared images, determining a distance between the optical tag and the eyes of the user within the one or more infrared images, and comparing the distance with a threshold distance. The notification can indicate whether the respiratory protective device is covering a nose of the user based on the comparing.

Abstract: A single camera can be used to determine a height of an object. The camera captures an image of the object against a reflective surface backdrop. The distance from the camera and the reflective surface, combined with the distance between the object and the reflection of the object, can be used to determine the distance from the object and the reflective surface.

Abstract: Biometric authorization is provided for a passive secure data card. An additional layer of security may be provided in the form of a biometric password. Session timing may be enforced to limit opportunities of third parties to snoop transmitted information while providing ample time to complete the card transaction. Biometric retries may be enforced to limit opportunities of third parties to hack the biometric security.

Abstract: A method for improving position beacon tracking using spatial probabilities is provided. A beacon identity recognition device receives a central probability file from a remote data processing system to form a local probability file. The device receives a current position beacon identity. The device compares current position beacon identity to a previous beacon identity stored in the local probability file to form a comparison. The device determines if the current position beacon identity is valid based on the comparison. The device transmits a valid position beacon identity to the remote data processing system. The device updates the local probability file and then combines a weighted version of the local probability file with a new copy of the probability file from the remote data processing system to form a combined probability file. The combined probability file is then sent to the remote data processing system and replaces the existing probability file.

Abstract: An identification and verification security badge is disclosed. The badge includes a keypad that allows the entry of user information that is monitored and verified by a processor within the badge. The processor compares an inputted personal identification number with one that is stored within a memory within the badge. When a match is found, an access code is transmitted that includes at least a badge identification code that uniquely identifies the badge. The badge also includes an on-body sensor that determines the status of the badge with respect to a user. When the sensor determines that the badge is not in close proximately to the user, then transmission from the badge is inhibited. In another aspect, when a transition from one state of the badge sensor to another state is determined, the personal identification number is required to be entered.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring inventory. Inventory items are positioned between a camera and a surface having an optically identifiable and distinct characteristic. The camera obtains an image of the inventory items present, any exposed portion of the surface, or both. The amount of the exposed surface is used to determine an amount of the inventory items that are present or missing. Furthermore, the optically identifiable characteristic may be a uniform characteristic, such as color or texture, or a set of discrete elements, such as stickers, barcodes, structural features of the shelf, a pattern of lines or shapes, or combinations thereof. Optionally, the optically identifiable characteristic is unique to the location of the shelf associated with the inventory items. Inventory or non-inventory items incorrectly positioned over the exposed surface may be excluded from the amount of the expected inventory item being determined if the item does not match the visual attributes of the expected inventory item.

Abstract: A mobile inventory robot system generates an inventory map of a store and a product database when a mobile inventory robot is manually navigated through the store to identify items on shelves, a location for each of the items on the shelves, and a barcode for each of the items. The system performs inventory of the items by navigating through the store via the inventory map, capturing a shelf image, decoding a product barcode from the captured shelf image, retrieving a product image for the decoded product barcode from the product database, segmenting the captured shelf image to detect an image of an item on the shelves, determining whether the detected image matches the retrieved image and, if not, setting an out-of-stock flag for an the item.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer program product for obtaining the location of, for example, a mobile device. An image of a target in a defined space is obtained, the target encoding data from which its location in the defined space may be determined. The position of a reference point in the image which represents the location of, for example, a mobile device, is determined relative to the target. The location of the mobile device in the defined paces is then determined by combining the location of the target in the defined space with an appropriately scaled version of the relative position of the reference point to the target in the image.

Abstract: The present invention provides for processing voice data. The vocalic of at least one word associated with the electronic voice signal is elongated. The magnitude of at least one consonant spike of the at least one word associated with the electronic voice signal is increased. Through the emphasis of the consonants, intelligibility of speech is increased.

Abstract: An identification and verification security badge is disclosed. The badge includes a keypad that allows the entry of user information that is monitored and verified by a processor within the badge. The processor compares an inputted personal identification number with one that is stored within a memory within the badge. When a match is found, an access code is transmitted that includes at least a badge identification code that uniquely identifies the badge. The badge also includes an on-body sensor that determines the status of the badge with respect to a user. When the sensor determines that the badge is not in close proximately to the user, then transmission from the badge is inhibited. In another aspect, when a transition from one state of the badge sensor to another state is determined, the personal identification number is required to be entered.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring inventory. Inventory items are positioned between a camera and a surface having an optically identifiable and distinct characteristic. The camera obtains an image of the inventory items present, any exposed portion of the surface, or both. The amount of the exposed surface is used to determine an amount of the inventory items that are present or missing. Furthermore, the optically identifiable characteristic may be a uniform characteristic, such as color or texture, or a set of discrete elements, such as stickers, barcodes, structural features of the shelf, a pattern of lines or shapes, or combinations thereof. Optionally, the optically identifiable characteristic is unique to the location of the shelf associated with the inventory items. Inventory or non-inventory items incorrectly positioned over the exposed surface may be excluded from the amount of the expected inventory item being determined if the item does not match the visual attributes of the expected inventory item.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for managing remote authorization of transactions. The process suspends a transaction at a first location in response to detecting the occurrence of an override condition. The process then sends a request for authorization to a user operating a remote computing device at a second location to form a requested authorization. The remote computing device includes a verification device for capturing a requested authorization provided by the user of the remote computing device. The process then receives the requested authorization from the user of the remote computing device in response to sending the request. The process then authenticates the requested authorization in response to receiving the requested authorization, and allows the completion of the suspended transaction if the requested authorization is authenticated.

Abstract: A mobile inventory robot system generates an inventory map of a store and a product database when a mobile inventory robot is manually navigated through the store to identify items on shelves, a location for each of the items on the shelves, and a barcode for each of the items. The system performs inventory of the items by navigating through the store via the inventory map, capturing a shelf image, decoding a product barcode from the captured shelf image, retrieving a product image for the decoded product barcode from the product database, segmenting the captured shelf image to detect an image of an item on the shelves, determining whether the detected image matches the retrieved image and, if not, setting an out-of-stock flag for an the item.

Abstract: A method for improving position beacon tracking using spatial probabilities is provided. A beacon identity recognition device receives a central probability file from a remote data processing system to form a local probability file. The device receives a current position beacon identity. The device compares current position beacon identity to a previous beacon identity stored in the local probability file to form a comparison. The device determines if the current position beacon identity is valid based on the comparison. The device transmits a valid position beacon identity to the remote data processing system. The device updates the local probability file and then combines a weighted version of the local probability file with a new copy of the probability file from the remote data processing system to form a combined probability file. The combined probability file is then sent to the remote data processing system and replaces the existing probability file.

Abstract: The system generally comprises a probe device, a computing device, an electronic media, a presentation device, and a suitable medium as a specimen. The probe is manipulated over the specimen and information from the probe is transmitted to the computing device. The computing device uses the probe information to identify the image and probe position on the specimen. Based upon the specimen and position of the probe on the specimen, electronic media is presented simulating an output of a real tool used to inspect an actual specimen. The hand manipulation of the probe coordinated with the display of the electronic media provides the visceral experience normally encountered by a user of the real tool. In one embodiment, the probe is a camera and the specimen an image identified by examination of an image feature database. In an alternative embodiment, the probe is a finger.

Abstract: A limited tracking system and associated method that enable the use of personal encoded identification media to limit access to tracking information. The tracking system provides concurrent time-limited access to a large number of people, objects, information, services, and other resources, and has particular applicability to credit cards, dining cards, telephone calling cards, health cards, driver's licenses, video store cards, car access cards, building access cards, computer access cards, and like identification badges or cards. The tracking system includes a transmitter module incorporated in a badge, and a receiver module incorporated in a secure server. The transmitter module contains an encryptor and a watch crystal that keeps track of time, such that the encryptor encrypts the current time with the user's private key, and periodically transmits the encrypted current time to the receiver module, as a code list.

Abstract: Smart cards systems that are utilized in biometric authentication are slow in processing and have the cards themselves have the added disadvantage of being misplaced or lost. Moreover, storing biometric data (on a database) over a network poses security issues that in extreme instances can be compromised. Significant security can be achieved if the biometric templates are stored locally in a portable device. A user can use the portable device to either transmit wirelessly the stored biometric for authentication purposes, or a user can locally measure a biometric using the portable device and match it against a biometric which is also stored locally (in the portable device).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adapting a single computer to drive at least two displays is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for adapting a single computer to drive at least two displays is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a controller, coupled between a user input device such as a computer, the controller for providing a control signal according to a user input; and a video switcher, for selectively providing a signal from the computer to one of at least two video displays in response to the control signal. In another embodiment, a method of presenting information on at least two displays communicatively coupled to a computer is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of intercepting a user input to the computer, and directing a video output signal from the computer to one of at least two video displays according to the intercepted video input.

Abstract: A digital pen that has a writing tip includes an ultrasonic (US) transducer on a pen body that generates frames of US pulses toward a receiver base in response to an infrared (IR) synchronizing signal from the base. The first pulse of a frame is adjusted by a modulo of the US period &tgr; when the time of arrival (TOA) of the first pulse varies from an expected TOA by more than one-half &tgr;. The TOAs of successive ith pulses in the frame, which are one wavelength apart from each other, are adjusted forward in time by subtracting from each pulse TOA (i−1)&tgr;, and then several of the adjusted pulse TOAs in a single frame are averaged together to determine a frame TOA. The frame TOAs from plural receivers on the base are then triangulated to determine a pen position for that frame, with the pen positions being input to a handwriting recognition module.

Abstract: A digital pen that has an ink writing tip includes a laser on a pen body that directs light toward paper across which the writing tip is stroked. A CMOS camera or CCD is also mounted on the pen body for detecting reflections of the laser light, referred to as “speckles”. A processor in the pen body determines relative pen motion based on the speckles. A contact sensor such as an FSR on the pen body senses when the tip is pressed against the paper, with positions being recorded on a flash memory in the pen body when the contact sensor indicates that the pen is against the paper. The memory can be later engaged with a handwriting recognition device to correlate the positions to alpha-numeric characters. Ordinary paper can be used, but, if desired, special bar-coded paper can also be used, so that the recorded positions can be tagged with a page number, form field, and absolute position on the page.