Patents by Inventor Viren R. Balar
Viren R. Balar has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10373235Abstract: A pay-at-the-table device is augmented to include an imaging sub-system having one or more image-capture components. A front-facing image sensor records video, or takes still photos. A wide view image sensor/lens captures a view of an entire table (or some portion thereof). When table images are captured by the imaging system, image post-processing is used to ensure that any details that can identify the individual patrons are masked or otherwise obscured; in this way, only generic demographic data (e.g., number of patrons, gender, approximate age, etc.) is captured, and all such data is maintained anonymously and without reference to any payment or other information that might provide the restaurant with the patron's true identity. The image-capture components may also include image sensors enable events (e.g., drinks needing refills, entrée arrival, etc.) to be monitored. An infrared image sensor captures thermal data, which can identify the temperature of the prepared food.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: TABLETOP MEDIA, LLCInventors: Viren R. Balar, Kevin C. Mowry, Jeffrey E. Taylor, Christopher M. Wellheuser, Vernon Y. Franklin
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Patent number: 10296767Abstract: A user terminal comprising: i) a display module comprising a display screen and an interface circuitry for receiving a user input; and ii) a magnetic stripe reader configured to detect a magnetic secure transmission (MST) signal received by the user terminal and, in response to the detection, to launch a real-time application in the user terminal. In one embodiment, the real-time application displays a message on the display module of the user terminal. In another embodiment, the real-time application transmits data to a third-party vendor associated with the MST signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Tabletop Media LLCInventors: Vernon Franklin, Viren R. Balar
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Patent number: 10102519Abstract: An advanced removable battery module for use in a portable user interface terminal. The battery module comprises a power circuitry module comprising at least one rechargeable battery cell and charging circuitry configured to charge the at least one rechargeable battery cell. The battery module also comprises a communication and encryption circuitry module. The communication and encryption circuitry module comprises a first wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a second module of the user terminal, a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote terminal separate from the user terminal, and at least one payment transaction interface configured to receive payment information from a user of the user terminal.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Tabletop Media LLCInventors: Viren R. Balar, Austen Mulinder, Christopher M. Wellheuser, Vernon Y. Franklin, David C. Perez, Jeffrey E. Taylor
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Publication number: 20180150658Abstract: A user terminal comprising: i) a display module comprising a display screen and an interface circuitry for receiving a user input; and ii) a magnetic stripe reader configured to detect a magnetic secure transmission (MST) signal received by the user terminal and, in response to the detection, to launch a real-time application in the user terminal. In one embodiment, the real-time application displays a message on the display module of the user terminal. In another embodiment, the real-time application transmits data to a third-party vendor associated with the MST signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2017Publication date: May 31, 2018Inventors: Vernon Franklin, Viren R. Balar
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Patent number: 9940611Abstract: A new terminal is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing (primary) Wi-Fi network within an operating environment at a restaurant location. The location includes a data management server (DMS) for managing the local operations of devices operating there. The device being installed at the location is auto-configured into the primary Wi-Fi network by being provided with a default Wi-Fi profile that only enables the device to be activated on an activation Wi-Fi network also available at the location. Once the device activates to the Wi-Fi activation network, it requests activation onto the primary Wi-Fi network from a cloud-based data center. The data center requests an activation password from the local DMS. The local DMS generates an activation bundle, which is then returned and eventually instantiated on the device to complete the activation. Once activated, the device updates its Wi-Fi profile to now executed on the primary Wi-Fi network.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Tabletop Media, LLCInventors: Viren R. Balar, James T. Row, II, Bryan E. Campbell, Kevin C. Mowry, Tiegang Li, Jeffrey E. Taylor
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Publication number: 20170249677Abstract: A table-side device is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing customer POS system within an operating environment, irrespective of the particular operating characteristics of the POS system. In one embodiment, this is achieved by providing a middleware component that executes in the POS system, preferably in the form of an agent that interfaces each table-side device to the POS system for one of: order entry and update, check management, and payment handling. The POS agent is associated with a plug-in component, which is uniquely associated with the particular POS system. The POS agent preferably includes a communication interface through which table-side devices issue requests to the POS system through the plug-in component. The agent middleware enables the single service provider system to interoperate with various types of POS systems irrespective of the underlying differences in implementation among these various third party POS systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Viren R. Balar, Vernon Y. Franklin, Kevin Mowry, David C. Perez, Scott A. Rudy
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Patent number: 9676207Abstract: A table-side hospitality device includes an integral printer mechanism, such as a thermal printer. The device comprises a general purpose processing unit on which a mobile- or embedded-device operating system, such as Android, executes. A control program (the device application) executing on the processing unit facilitates ordering, order management, invoicing and payment. When the application needs to print, it interacts with the printer directly, preferably using the general purpose input-output (GPIO) bus of the processor. In particular, during the print operation, the processor (via the general purpose I/O) outputs, as a set of control signals, a bit-map of the desired graphics (text, images, or the like), and these control signals drive the printer directly without requiring a dedicated micro-controller or OS-specific printer drivers.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Tabletop Media, LLCInventors: Viren R. Balar, Christopher M. Wellheuser, Jeffrey E. Taylor, Kevin C. Mowry, Tiegang Li
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Publication number: 20170084984Abstract: A user terminal comprising: i) a housing; ii) a main radio frequency (RF) antenna disposed within an interior of the housing; and iii) a boost antenna mounted on an exterior of the housing and in close proximity to the main RF antenna. The first antenna segment of the boost antenna is configured to be magnetically coupled to the main RF antenna and a second antenna segment of the boost antenna is configured to be magnetically coupled to an antenna of a wireless device disposed close to the housing. The first antenna segment magnetically couples to RF signals transmitted to and received from the main RF antenna in a first direction. The second antenna segment magnetically couples to RF signals transmitted to and received from the RF antenna of the wireless device in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are substantially orthogonal to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Applicant: Tabletop Media LLC d/b/a ZioskInventors: John KAJANDER, Viren R. BALAR
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Publication number: 20160314454Abstract: An advanced removable battery module for use in a portable user interface terminal. The battery module comprises a power circuitry module comprising at least one rechargeable battery cell and charging circuitry configured to charge the at least one rechargeable battery cell. The battery module also comprises a communication and encryption circuitry module. The communication and encryption circuitry module comprises a first wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a second module of the user terminal, a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote terminal separate from the user terminal, and at least one payment transaction interface configured to receive payment information from a user of the user terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: October 27, 2016Applicant: TABLETOP MEDIA LLC D/B/A ZIOSKInventors: Viren R. BALAR, Austen MULINDER, Christopher M. WELLHEUSER, Vernon Y. FRANKLIN, David C. PEREZ, Jeffrey E. TAYLOR
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Publication number: 20160125381Abstract: A new terminal is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing (primary) Wi-Fi network within an operating environment at a restaurant location. The location includes a data management server (DMS) for managing the local operations of devices operating there. The device being installed at the location is auto-configured into the primary Wi-Fi network by being provided with a default Wi-Fi profile that only enables the device to be activated on an activation Wi-Fi network also available at the location. Once the device activates to the Wi-Fi activation network, it requests activation onto the primary Wi-Fi network from a cloud-based data center. The data center requests an activation password from the local DMS. The local DMS generates an activation bundle, which is then returned and eventually instantiated on the device to complete the activation. Once activated, the device updates its Wi-Fi profile to now executed on the primary Wi-Fi network.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: Tabletop Media LLC d/b/a ZioskInventors: Viren R. BALAR, James T. ROW, II, Bryan E. CAMPBELL, Kevin C. MOWRY, Tiegang LI, Jeffrey E. TAYLOR
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Publication number: 20160092965Abstract: A pay-at-the-table device is augmented to include an imaging sub-system having one or more image-capture components. A front-facing image sensor records video, or takes still photos. A wide view image sensor/lens captures a view of an entire table (or some portion thereof). When table images are captured by the imaging system, image post-processing is used to ensure that any details that can identify the individual patrons are masked or otherwise obscured; in this way, only generic demographic data (e.g., number of patrons, gender, approximate age, etc.) is captured, and all such data is maintained anonymously and without reference to any payment or other information that might provide the restaurant with the patron's true identity. The image-capture components may also include image sensors enable events (e.g., drinks needing refills, entrée arrival, etc.) to be monitored. An infrared image sensor captures thermal data, which can identify the temperature of the prepared food.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicant: Tabletop Media LLC d/b/a ZioskInventors: Viren R. Balar, Kevin C. Mowry, Jeffrey E. Taylor, Christopher M. Wellheuser, Vernon Y. Franklin
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Patent number: 9264241Abstract: A new table-side device is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing (primary) Wi-Fi network within an operating environment at a restaurant location. The location includes a data management server (DMS) for managing the local operations of devices operating there. The device being installed at the location is auto-configured into the primary Wi-Fi network by being provided with a default Wi-Fi profile that only enables the device to be activated on an activation Wi-Fi network also available at the location. Once the device activates to the Wi-Fi activation network, it requests activation onto the primary Wi-Fi network from a cloud-based data center. The data center requests an activation password from the local DMS. The local DMS generates an activation bundle, which is then returned and eventually instantiated on the device to complete the activation. Once activated, the device updates its Wi-Fi profile to now executed on the primary Wi-Fi network.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2014Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Tabletop Media LLCInventors: Viren R. Balar, James T. Row, Bryan E. Campbell, Kevin C. Mowry, Tiegang Li, Jeffrey E. Taylor
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Publication number: 20150134441Abstract: A table-side device is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing customer POS system within an operating environment, irrespective of the particular operating characteristics of the POS system. In one embodiment, this is achieved by providing a middleware component that executes in the POS system, preferably in the form of an agent that interfaces each table-side device to the POS system for one of: order entry and update, check management, and payment handling. The POS agent is associated with a plug-in component, which is uniquely associated with the particular POS system. The POS agent preferably includes a communication interface through which table-side devices issue requests to the POS system through the plug-in component. The agent middleware enables the single service provider system to interoperate with various types of POS systems irrespective of the underlying differences in implementation among these various third party POS systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2013Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Viren R. Balar, Vernon Y. Franklin, Kevin Mowry, David C. Perez, Scott A. Rudy
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Publication number: 20140192795Abstract: A new table-side device is seamlessly and securely integrated to an existing (primary) Wi-Fi network within an operating environment at a restaurant location. The location includes a data management server (DMS) for managing the local operations of devices operating there. The device being installed at the location is auto-configured into the primary Wi-Fi network by being provided with a default Wi-Fi profile that only enables the device to be activated on an activation Wi-Fi network also available at the location. Once the device activates to the Wi-Fi activation network, it requests activation onto the primary Wi-Fi network from a cloud-based data center. The data center requests an activation password from the local DMS. The local DMS generates an activation bundle, which is then returned and eventually instantiated on the device to complete the activation. Once activated, the device updates its Wi-Fi profile to now executed on the primary Wi-Fi network.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: TableTop Media, LLCInventors: Viren R. Balar, James T. Row, Bryan E. Campbell, Kevin C. Mowry, Tiegang Li, Jeffrey E. Taylor
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Publication number: 20140139866Abstract: A table-side hospitality device includes an integral printer mechanism, such as a thermal printer. The device comprises a general purpose processing unit on which a mobile- or embedded-device operating system, such as Android, executes. A control program (the device application) executing on the processing unit facilitates ordering, order management, invoicing and payment. When the application needs to print, it interacts with the printer directly, preferably using the general purpose input-output (GPIO) bus of the processor. In particular, during the print operation, the processor (via the general purpose I/O) outputs, as a set of control signals, a bit-map of the desired graphics (text, images, or the like), and these control signals drive the printer directly without requiring a dedicated micro-controller or OS-specific printer drivers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Tabletop Media, LLCInventors: Viren R. Balar, Christopher M. Wellheuser, Jeffrey E. Taylor, Kevin Mowry, Tiegang Li
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Patent number: D713447Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2013Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: TableTop Media, LLCInventors: Viren R. Balar, John E. Regal, Mark Daniel Staller, Jacob C. Baum, Christopher Alan Roberson
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Patent number: D772335Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Taletop Media LLCInventors: Manish Mantrawadi, Viren R. Balar, Anthony R. Austin
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Patent number: D871500Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Tabletop Media LLCInventor: Viren R. Balar
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Patent number: D958733Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Tabletop Media LLCInventor: Viren R. Balar