Abstract: A decoding system has a decoding engine running on a mobile device. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card, accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of a first party's financial transaction card, and detects a read of the first party's financial transaction card. The transaction engine receives as its input decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine, and serves as an intermediary between the first party and a second party, so that the first party does not have to share his/her financial transaction card information with the second party. A social network is in communication with the transaction engine.

Abstract: A novel infant child restraint system that includes a base having a height adjustment to allow the base to assume one of a plurality of positions and inclinations when mounted to the vehicle seat. Additionally, in certain embodiments the base is formed to have a recessed knee-receiving area, into which the user can place their knee when tightening the vehicle's restraint system around the base. The base and car seat are removably attached in interlocking relation using a novel connection mechanism that is not susceptible to premature or improper release due to forces, regardless of the direction of such forces. This mechanism is independent of the car seat handle. Furthermore, this connection mechanism includes a simple manual disconnect or release system, to allow quick removal of the seat from the base.

Abstract: A decoding system includes a decoding engine running on a mobile device that decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. The decoding engine accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of the first party's financial transaction card until the signals reach a steady state, detects the read once the incoming signals are in a steady state, identifies peaks in the incoming signals and digitizes the identified peaks in the incoming signals into bits. A transaction engine runs on the mobile device and is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives as its input decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine, and serves as an intermediary between the first party and a second party, so that the first party does not have to share his/her financial transaction card information with the second party.

Abstract: A decoding system has a decoding engine running on a mobile device. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card, accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. A transaction engine runs on the mobile device and is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives as its input decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine, and serves as an intermediary between the first party and a second party, so that the first party does not have to share his/her financial transaction card information with the second party. The decoding system is configured to be coupled and decoupled to a card reader with wake-up electronics.

Abstract: A decoding system has a decoding engine running on a mobile device. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. The decoding engine accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of the first party's financial transaction card. A transaction engine runs on the mobile device and is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives as its input decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine. A user interaction engine is configured to utilize a touch screen of the mobile device. A first party or second party can input at least one of numbers, characters, and signatures by touching the touch screen.

Abstract: A decoding system has a decoding engine running on a mobile device. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. The decoding engine accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of the first party's financial transaction card. A transaction engine runs on the mobile device and is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives as its input decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine. At least a portion of a first party's financial card information or information relative to a first party's financial account is used to create a mobile device payment application on the mobile device.

Abstract: A decoding system has a decoding engine running on a mobile device. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card, accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of a first party's financial transaction card, and detects a read of the first party's financial transaction card. The transaction engine receives as its input decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine, and serves as an intermediary between the first party and a second party, so that the first party does not have to share his/her financial transaction card information with the second party. A social network is in communication with the transaction engine.

Abstract: A decoding system with a decoding engine running on a mobile device decodes signals produced from a read of a buyer's financial transaction card, accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of a buyer's financial transaction card until the signals reach a steady state, detects the read of the buyer's financial transaction card once the incoming signals are in a steady state, identifies peaks in the incoming signals and digitizes the identified peaks in the incoming signals into bits. A transaction engine runs on the mobile device and is coupled to the decoding engine. A payment system is in communication with the transaction engine and with a buyer's financial transaction card institution or a first party's financial account. The payment system includes identifying information of second parties qualified by the payment system to conduct business with the payment system.

Abstract: A decoding system, with a decoding engine, runs on a mobile device. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. The decoding engine accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of the first party's financial transaction card until the signals reach a steady state, identifies peaks in the incoming signals and digitizes the identified peaks into bits. A transaction engine is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives, as its input, decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine, and serves as an intermediary between the first party and a second party. The first party does not have to share his/her financial transaction card information with the second party. The transaction engine is configured to be coupled to a payment system and a first party's financial transaction card institution or a first party's financial account.

Abstract: A decoding system runs on a mobile device and is coupled to a payment system. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. A transaction engine runs on the mobile device and is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives as its input decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine. A payment system, in communication with the transaction engine, includes at least one of, a user database, a product database, and transaction database.

Abstract: A decoding system with a decoding engine running on a mobile device The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a buyer's financial transaction card, accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of a buyer's financial transaction card until the signals reach a steady state, detects the read of the buyer's financial transaction card once the incoming signals are in a steady stat, identifies peaks in the incoming signals and digitizes the identified peaks in the incoming signals into bits. A transaction engine runs on the mobile device and is coupled to the decoding engine. A payment system is in communication with the transaction engine and with a buyer's financial transaction card institution or a first party's financial account. The payment system includes identifying information of second parties qualified by the payment system to conduct business with the payment system.

Abstract: A novel infant child restraint system that includes a base having a height adjustment to allow the base to assume one of a plurality of positions and inclinations when mounted to the vehicle seat. Additionally, in certain embodiments the base is formed to have a recessed knee-receiving area, into which the user can place their knee when tightening the vehicle's restraint system around the base. The base and car seat are removably attached in interlocking relation using a novel connection mechanism that is not susceptible to premature or improper release due to forces, regardless of the direction of such forces. This mechanism is independent of the car seat handle. Furthermore, this connection mechanism includes a simple manual disconnect or release system, to allow quick removal of the seat from the base.

Abstract: A method of paying a second party is provided. A first party accesses the names of one or more qualified second parties. The second parties (i) have an association with the payment service, and (ii) if they do not have an established association with the payment service have established one prior to payment. The first party has an association with the payment service. A tab is opened by the first party that can be selected by the second party at any geographic location of a first party's mobile device. The second party is only able to charge a first party's financial account when the first party's mobile device is within a defined geographic area. The tab is a relationship between the first party, payment service and second party. The second party can engage in a financial transaction when the first party is within the defined geographic area.

Abstract: A method of paying a second party is provided. A first party accesses the names of one or more qualified second parties. The second parties (i) have an association with the payment service, and (ii) that if they do not have an established association with the payment service have established one prior to payment. The first party has an association with the payment service. A tab is opened by the first party that can be selected by the second party at any geographic location of a first party's mobile device. The second party is only able to charge a first party's financial account when the first party's mobile device is within a defined geographic area. The tab is a relationship between the first party, the payment service and the second party. The second party can engage in a financial transaction when the first party is within the defined geographic area.

Abstract: A method and system for generating and/or performing music in real time can include receiving one or more audio signals, receiving one or more virtual instrument trigger signals, and selecting one or more plug-ins and/or one or more virtual instruments. A processing scheme may be selected from a set of operations. The received audio signals and instrument trigger signals are processed in real time as a function of the selected plug-ins, virtual instruments and processing scheme, and outputted in real time as music signals.

Abstract: A precessing fan system includes a fan blade connected to a precessing drive train. The precessing drive train is connected to a first support at one end and pivotably connected to a second support at another end. The precessing drive train includes a single motor having a drive shaft driving both the fan blade and orbital gearing. The orbital gearing causes precession of the drive shaft and is connected to the first support. The orbital gearing includes a gear reduction that is coupled to the drive shaft, a pinion that is coupled to the gear reduction and a ring gear coupled to the pinion. The ring gear is connected to the first support. A planetary gearing system is used for the pinion and the ring gear.

Abstract: A method for generating and/or performing music in real time includes receiving one or more audio signals, receiving one or more virtual instrument trigger signals, and selecting one or more plug-ins and/or one or more virtual instruments. A processing scheme is selected from a set of operations. The received audio signals and instrument trigger signals are processed in real time as a function of the selected plug-ins, virtual instruments and processing scheme, and outputted in real time as music signals.

Abstract: A method of paying a second party is provided. A first party accesses the names of one or more qualified second parties. The qualified second parties are second parties that, (i) have an association with the payment service, and (ii) second parties that if they do not have an established association with the payment service then they have established one prior to payment. The first party has an association with the payment service. A tab is opened by the first party that can be selected by the qualified second party at any geographic location of a first party's mobile device. The qualified second party is only able to charge a first party's financial account when the first party's mobile device is within a defined geographic area. The tab is a relationship between the first party, the payment service and the qualified second party, The qualified second party can engage in a financial transaction with the first party is within the defined geographic area.

Abstract: A method is provided for conducing on-line purchases using a mobile device. A first party visits a second party on-line entity. The first party accesses a second party on-line entity. The first party is already registered with the payment service or becomes registered prior to the conclusion of completing a transaction. The mobile device is configured to communicate with the payment service. The first party considers conducting a transaction with the second party on-line entity. The second party on-line entity is registered with the payment service, or in response to the first party's desire to transact with the second party on-line entity, the second party on-line entity becomes registered with the payment service. The first party enters personal identifying information that is sent to the payment service. In response, the first party receives a push notification to the first party's mobile device that enables the first party to complete the transaction with the second party on-line entity.

Abstract: A method of transferring funds to and/or from a first party's financial account is provided. A first party's financial account information is entered with a single initial entry to the payment service. Funds are transferred to and/or from the first party's financial account using the payment service. The first party is registered with the payment service, or becomes registered prior to transferring funds to and/or from the financial account using the payment service. For future uses of the first party's financial account to transfer funds to and/or from the first party's financial account, the first party's financial account information need not be entered again with the payment service.