Abstract: A device receives, from a user device, a request to generate a verification code for a transaction associated with a user of the user device, and receives user profile information associated with a transaction card to be used for the transaction. The device generates a random verification code for the transaction based on the request and the user profile information, and authenticates the random verification code, based on the user profile information, to generate an authenticated random verification code. The device provides the authenticated random verification code to the user device, and receives transaction information, including the authenticated random verification code, from a merchant device associated with the transaction. The device validates the transaction based on the transaction information, and provides, to the merchant device associated with the transaction, information indicating that the transaction is validated.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a security tag. The security tag can include a tamper assembly having a clutch mechanism capable of affixing the security tag to a merchandise item and a locking device for inserting into the clutch mechanism. An insertion of the locking device into the clutch mechanism causes a transmission of a closed signal indicating a closed status for the security tag, and a displacement of the locking device causes a transmission of an open signal indicating an open status for the security tag.

Abstract: Computing systems and methods for facilitating merchant controlled point of sale (“POS”) transactions in retail and other establishments. These systems and methods include communication interfaces adapted to connect a computing system to remotely located devices having information regarding a plurality of third-party financial service providers, one or more storage components adapted to store merchant information, third-party financial service provider information, or both, and one or more processors in communication with the communication interfaces and storage components. Such processors facilitate merchant controlled point of sale transactions that involve receiving terms of or evaluating criteria of a transaction between a purchaser and the merchant and then selecting a particular third-party financial service provider from a plurality of possible providers to facilitate processing the transaction for the merchant based upon the specific terms or criteria of the transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating customer transaction test data that simulates real world customer transaction data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include (1) generating an account type reference file defining a plurality of account types; (2) generating a transaction type reference file defining a plurality of transaction types; (3) generating a plurality of customer test data records based on at least one of the plurality of parameters, wherein each customer test data record comprises a plurality of data fields, the data in each data field having a format that simulates real-world data; (4) verifying a uniqueness of each of the plurality of customer records; (5) generating a random number of accounts for each customer test data record based on the account type reference file; and (6) generating a random number of transactions for each account based on the transaction type reference file.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating detection and payment of a product. The product has a radio frequency tag attached thereon and the system comprises: two or more scanners attachable to a container for holding the product, wherein each scanner is configured to: (i) receive tag identification data from the tag when the tag is within communication range of the scanner; (ii) generate a signal that is associated with the tag identification data and a time of receipt of the tag identification data; and a computer server communicatively coupled with the two or more scanners, wherein the computer server is configured to: (i) receive the signals from the two or more scanners; and (ii) determine an identity of the product and a presence of the product in the container based on the signals, wherein the presence of the identified product is used for facilitating payment of the product.

Abstract: A system, method and devices are provided for conducting retail transactions, and more particularly for transacting business with customers and clients where the point of transaction occurs at a retail facility, such as a retail banking or drug store facility. The present system, method and devices are implemented to manage logistics in retail facilities, such as retail banking and drug store establishments, that have drive-up service, and to survey and report transactional data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for enabling mobile device-based item acquisition and tracking. One exemplary method performed on a mobile device comprises entering a wireless scan mode, detecting a signal from a tag associated with an item in a first area and in proximity to the tag, presenting information associated with the tag, and adding the information to a list. The method further comprises detecting a second tag in a second area, and sending the list to a second device. A second exemplary method performed by a processing terminal comprises receiving the list from a mobile device, entering a wireless scan mode, detecting a signal from a tag associated with an item in proximity to the tag, determining whether the item associated with the detected tag is present on the received list, and enabling the mobile device to complete a transaction to purchase the item.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for performing inventory management using RFID technology. The system includes a box for receiving one or more items containing RFID tags. Items are scanned against a baseline content data to confirm all items are present and whether any items have expired. The box has security features to prevent unauthorized access to its contents and create an audit trail of access. Access to the box may be granted when a user presents an authorized RFID-enabled card, wrist band, or other item. Multiple locking features provide for additional security. Scanning, authorization, and notification functions may be controlled locally by a processing unit contained within the box itself or remotely by an outside server.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for a label position determination. A label position determination system can include labels mounted on the front face of the shelving units. The labels can include conductive patterns on the back face of the label. The conductive patterns of the labels can be electrically coupled with electrically conductive wires extending along a front face of a shelf. The system can further include a controller coupled to with electrically conductive wires, configured to transmit electrical pulses through the electrically conductive wires. The controller can determine at least one of: an identity of each of the labels mounted to the front face, whether a label has been mounted at an incorrect location on the front face of the shelf, or whether a label is missing from the front face of the shelf based on a response to the electrical pulse.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus includes a reading unit that reads an identifier of at least one predetermined object and a display that includes a first display, which displays the identifier read by the reading unit, and a second display, which displays management information including an information item that identifies the object and an information item that indicates whether the identifier of the object has been read by the reading unit.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to item identifier assignment. For example, a processor may create a mass serialization scheme to provide a list of item identifiers to allow a subset of the identifiers to be knocked out. Each item identifier may associated with multiple containers, and each container may include two item identifiers relating to the sequence of item identifiers included within the container.

Abstract: A method of operating a point-of-sale (POS) system (1), the POS system comprising a POS terminal (3) having a software module (17, 21) thereon for enabling a retailer to process transactions within a transaction environment, and a peripheral device (5, 7) in communication with the POS terminal (3), the POS system (1) further comprising a driver software module (40) installed between the POS terminal (3) software module (17, 21) and the peripheral device (5, 7), the method comprising: receiving, at the driver software module (40), data sent between the software module (17, 21) and the peripheral device (5, 7) in communication with the POS terminal (3); communicating with a further device (44, 60, 64) in dependence on the data received at the driver software module (40); receiving modified data from the further device (44, 60, 64); and outputting the modified data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display apparatus including a display, a communicator comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate with an external apparatus, input circuitry configured to receive an input; and a controller configured to control a display to display an image based on a received broadcast signal, to generate a shopping list including information about selected goods based on an input selecting goods in the image displayed based on the broadcast signal, and to control the communicator to send the external apparatus detailed information about at least one of the goods included in the shopping list, the information including corresponding state information if the state information is received from the external apparatus. Thus a user may select goods in a TV program and be provided a shopping list including detailed information of selected goods.

Abstract: A system that provides a technical catalog is provided. The system defines items including metadata used by a fulfillment solution to drive service order fulfillment, where each item is used by the fulfillment solution to fulfill an order. The system further stores the items within the technical catalog, where the technical catalog includes a data store that stores metadata, and where the technical catalog defines a structure of the items. The metadata defines the key entities and behavioral elements used to specialize service order fulfillment capabilities such as service order orchestration, service order design and assign, etc. The system further designs the fulfillment solution to use an item to fulfill an order. The system further generates the fulfillment solution using the item.

Abstract: A computing system operates according to a method including: processing representations of housing structures with open locations for physically locating computing resources, a physical layout of the open locations, and characteristics of the structures and the resources to generate designated locations for optimally placing or allocating the computing resources in the open locations. The designated locations are generated based on analyzing multiple possible allocation or placement combinations of the computing resources into the open locations as an optimization function.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. A mobile device can be configured to receive information from local sensor nodes, such as parking sensor nodes, in the vicinity of the mobile device. In a parking application, the mobile device located in a moving vehicle can be configured to locate available parking based upon the information received from the parking sensor nodes. In other embodiments, the mobile device can be utilized in a retail establishment in conjunction with a remote server to display eye-level image data taken at various locations throughout the retail establishment. The eye-level image data can include products displayed throughout the retail establishment and can be augmented with one or more indicators that indicate product placement locations associated with the products.

Abstract: A system and method for offer targeting is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for offer targeting may comprise: providing a plurality of offers and a plurality of groups, wherein each group comprises one or more accounts; maintaining an offer counter for each of the plurality of groups; and assigning the plurality of offers, in a predetermined order, to the plurality of groups by repeating the following steps: (1) assigning an offer to one or more groups, wherein the one or more groups are selected from groups that are pre-qualified for the offer based on a plurality of business rules, and the selection of the one or more groups is based at least in part on the offer counters of the one or more groups; (2) incrementing offer counters associated with the one or more groups; and (3) sorting the plurality of groups based on the incremented offer counters.

Abstract: A payment terminal, including: a display, an input device configured to generate input signals indicative of a user input, a payment instrument reader configured to receive payment instrument data from a financial payment instrument, a secure processor connected to the payment instrument reader, a main processor connected to the display, the main processor separate and distinct from the secure processor, a secure input processor connected to the input device and the secure processor, wherein the secure processor is operable between an unsecured mode, wherein the secure processor sends input coordinates based on the input signals received from the secure input processor to the main processor; and a secured mode, wherein the secure input processor ceases input coordinate forwarding to the main processor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a photovoltaic module and a photovoltaic system including the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module includes a solar cell module having a plurality of solar cells, an inverter to convert DC power from the solar cell module to AC power, a cable to output the AC power from the inverter, and an infrared (IR) communication unit to transmit, at least one of voltage information of the solar cell module, current information of the solar cell module, voltage information of the inverter, and current information of the inverter, to an adjacent first photovoltaic module, an external gateway, or an external IR communication device. Thereby, communication with an external terminal can be easily performed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing coupons in a point of sale terminal includes receiving electronic coupon data representing a machine-readable coupon code. The coupon code is associated with a coupon presented by a customer at a retail point of sale. The method further includes receiving electronic coupon validation data representing at least one valid coupon code and/or at least one fraudulent coupon code. The method further comprises determining whether the coupon is valid based on the coupon code and the valid coupon code(s) and/or the fraudulent coupon code(s), and identifying the coupon as accepted or invalid based on the determination of whether the coupon is valid.

Abstract: The invention concerns an information display system in a sales area, comprising: —a support (2) comprising a module (15) managing electronic shelf labels and connection lines (40) linking the management module to the receiving space; and —a plurality of electronic shelf labels (6) housed in the receiving space of said support, wherein the electronic shelf labels (6) are connected to the connection lines (40) via connectors (63), and wherein the electronic shelf labels (6) are managed by the management module.

Abstract: A system and method includes receiving a plurality of orders having one or more items, separating the orders by load number and due times, batching the separate orders into different commodities, generating an optimized pick path through a retail store to pick the one or more items according to an optimization algorithm that generates the optimized pick path based on item location of the one or more items within the batched orders of the different commodities, obtaining a store map, the store map being indicative of a layout of the retail store, transmitting a representation of the store map and the optimized pick path to the user device, and displaying the store map overlaid with the optimized pick path on a graphical display of the user device.

Abstract: There is provided a communication terminal including a transmission controller configured to allow transmission of, to a verification target device, authentication information for authenticating the verification target device based on first information acquired from an information processing device, and a verification unit configured to verify validity of the verification target device based on a response to the authentication information and second information acquired from the information processing device, the second information being associated with the first information.

Abstract: Described is a multiple-camera system and process for determining an item involved in an event. For example, when a user picks an item or places an item at an inventory location, image information for the item may be obtained and processed to identify the item involved in the event and associate that item with the user.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and implementations of an online item searching platform having a store-to-store interface are disclosed. At least some versions of the disclosed systems enable a user to perform purchase and pickup transactions for items across multiple remote stores. The disclosed systems may enable a user to separately navigate hierarchical menus, perform text searches, and navigate favorites bars to find and select items for purchase.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for reading and decoding ID features located on a surface of a curved, sloped and/or annular object, such as a tire moving on a conveyor. A plurality of 3D sensors are operatively connected to a vision system processor. The sensors are calibrated by calibration parameters to generate a stitched-together 3D image of a field of view in a common coordinate space. A motion conveyance (e.g. a conveyor) causes the object and the 3D sensors to move in relative motion, and the conveyance provides motion information to the vision system processor. An ID finder locates ID features within a version of the 3D image and a decoder (e.g. an OCR reader) generates data from the ID features. The ID finder can locate a trained portion of the ID and the search for variable code elements at a known orientation relative to the trained portion.

Abstract: Workers are given guidance about which goods are to be picked up out of a storage unit. A warehouse system is provided, which includes: position information obtaining means for searching, in a storage unit, in which a plurality of articles of goods each including an identification code section are stored, the position of the identification code section that is related to the identification code of one of the plurality of articles of goods that is an object to be worked on, and obtaining information of this position; and position guidance means for giving guidance to a worker about the position of the article of goods that is the object to be worked on, based on the information obtained by the position information obtaining means.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are described that relate to location-based indications. An apparatus may include a frame, a sensing device, and a computing device. The frame may include a first set of members spaced apart and oriented in a first direction. At least one member of the first set of members may include an indicator area. The frame may also include a second set of members spaced apart and oriented in a second direction. At least two members of the second set of members may extend between the first set of members to define a container receiving area. The sensing device may be disposed adjacent to the container receiving area and configured to detect movement of containers with respective to the container receiving area. The computing device may be communicatively coupled to the sensing device and configured to cause presentation of indicators within the indicator area.

Abstract: This disclosure describes interactive data processing systems configured to facilitate selection by a human associate of tentative results generated by an automated system from sensor data. In one implementation, an event may take place in a materials handling facility. The event may comprise a pick or place of an item from an inventory location, movement of a user, and so forth. The sensor data associated with the event is processed by an automated system to determine tentative results associated with the event. In some situations, an uncertainty may exist as to which of the tentative results accurately reflects the actual event. The system may then determine whether the event is to be merged with one or more temporally and spatially proximate events and, if so, the sensor data and tentative results for the merged event is sent to a human associate. The associate may select one of the tentative results.

Abstract: Provided is a method of localizing rack-mounted computing devices, the method comprising: receiving, with a direct current (DC) power bus or via an Ethernet control network or data network, a request from a control unit for a rack computing device location; generating, with a sensor, output signals conveying information related to a location of the rack-mounted computing device; and sending, with the direct current (DC) power bus or via an Ethernet control network or data network, location information of the rack-mounted computing device.

Abstract: An RFID-enabled retail carriage basket, which may be placed within a retail carriage or may be integrated into a retail carriage, such as a shopping cart. The RFID-enabled retail carriage basket may have a base with a near-field radio-frequency antenna, and sidewalls arranged around the perimeter of the base. RF-reflecting material may be attached to the lower part of the carriage basket, on the outside of the base and along the lowest parts of the sidewalls. RF-mitigating material may be attached to the remaining parts of the sidewalls. The RFID-enabled retail carriage basket may be connected to a host device, which may control scanning of the basket that may be performed by the antenna. If desired, the RFID-enabled retail carriage basket may be provided in the lower basket of a double-basket shopping cart and configured to scan both the upper and the lower basket with the antenna.

Abstract: In an illustrative system and method for disbursing resources includes (i) receiving a user request for a coupon, the user request including user criteria; (2) matching the received user criteria with a target audience criteria; (3) transmitting a coupon to a user, the coupon including a unique password based upon a match of the received user criteria and the target audience criteria; (4) receiving a request for registration of the unique password of the coupon with the user; (5) receiving a request for validation of the unique password of the coupon; and (6) authorizing the user to access the network resource associated with the coupon upon validation of the unique password.

Abstract: A barcoded indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, the barcoded indicator including a first barcode including a first plurality of barcode bars and at least a first colorable area, at least a second barcode including a second plurality of barcode bars and at least a second colorable area, and at least one interposed line extending between the first barcode and the second barcode, the interposed line being capable of preventing a barcode reader from reading parts of the first barcode and of the second barcode as part of a single barcode.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for monitoring the containment of an epidemic in relation to a location-based restriction using an anonymized database of spending records. The system measures the effectiveness of a restriction by analyzing the spending records of individuals in the population and identifies transaction trends that relate to the restriction and correlates them to the effectiveness of the restriction. Based on the identified transaction trends, the system calculates the effectiveness and analyzes the restrictions according to expected trends and models of epidemic spread by geography. The system utilizes the measured effectiveness and predictive analysis to generate notifications if the effectiveness does not meet prescribed requirements and to recommend corrective action.

Abstract: Systems and a method are provided for use with a shopping cart in a store. A system includes Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, including item RFID tags associated with items for sale and reference RFID tags associated with various aisles in the store, for providing RFID data. The system further includes a RFID reader, operatively coupled to the shopping cart, and configured to the read RFID data from the item RFID tags and the reference RFID tags, extract features from the RFID data, identify any of the items having feature values associated therewith greater than a threshold amount as inside-cart items to be processed during an automatic checkout, and perform the automatic checkout on only the inside-cart items.

Abstract: Dimensioning systems may automate or assist with determining the physical dimensions of an object without the need for a manual measurement. A dimensioning system may project a light pattern onto the object, capture an image of the reflected pattern, and observe changes in the imaged pattern to obtain a range image, which contains 3D information corresponding to the object. Then, using the range image, the dimensioning system may calculate the dimensions of the object. In some cases, a single range image does not contain 3D data sufficient for dimensioning the object. To mitigate or solve this problem, the present invention embraces capturing a plurality of range images from different perspectives, and then combining the range images (e.g., using image-stitching) to form a composite range-image, which can be used to determine the object's dimensions.

Abstract: A method of initiating a banking transaction at a banking terminal is provided. The method includes optically capturing machine readable identification data of the banking terminal by a mobile device of a customer. A terminal identifier of the banking terminal is determined based on the machine readable identification data. Account information and the terminal identifier are transmitted from the mobile device for delivery to a server. The account information is associated with the customer and stored in the mobile device. The method also includes the step of transmitting the account information from the server to the banking terminal using the terminal identifier and receiving a customer transaction request from the customer at the banking terminal.

Abstract: Multi-dimensional barcodes at a product include service identifiers for the product so that an end user with a portable information handling system captures an image of the multi-dimensional barcode and extracts the service identifiers to obtain service information from a service network location. For example, a service identifier embeds a URL that links to a video demonstrating how to assemble the product. As another example, a service identifier links to a service network location and includes a unique identifier so that an end user retrieves warranty or purchase information for the product.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing inventory. The methods comprise: generating sensor data by an Electronic Smart Tag (“EST”); processing, by the EST or a computing device remote from the EST, the sensor data to transform the same into information specifying at least one of a first person's intention with regard to an item to which the EST is coupled and the first person's interest in the item; generating a notification or a recommendation relating to inventory management, based on at least one of the first person's intention with regard to the item and the first person's interest in the item; and providing the notification or recommendation to a second person.

Abstract: Techniques related to presentation of consumer-specific maps are disclosed. The techniques involve accessing, with a search engine module, from at least one database, map data defining a layout of a retail facility, product data identifying products for sale at the retail facility, location data defining a location of the products, purchase data relating to products previously purchased by a specific consumer, and promotion data identifying promotions available for the products. A processor analyzes the data and correlates promotions with the products previously purchased by the specific consumer. The processor generates a map of the layout of the retail facility that is presentable on a display of a computing device. The map indicates with respect to the layout the location of the products previously purchased by the specific consumer and the promotions correlated with the products previously purchased by the specific consumer.

Abstract: There is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a system and method are provided to enable mobile fuel management, the system including a mobile communications device, with an integrated Bluetooth capability, the device running an application that includes a file with instructions to execute commands to enable mobile fuel management; a fuel dispenser, with an integrated BLAP device; and a fuel station computer system, communicatively connected to a computing cloud, and associated with a dispenser database, the computer system running code to execute commands to enable mobile fuel management; wherein the fuel dispenser executes fuel dispensing only after a matching between the mobile communications device and the fuel dispenser.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing product strength or brand strength by determining shopper decision behavior during a shopping trip. Specifically, shopper behavior can be analyzed to determine whether a shopper's decision to purchase an item occurred at-shelf or pre-shelf. Aggregating decision data across many shoppers over time can then be used to generate analytics regarding the strength of a product or brand. The analysis can then be used to make recommendations to manufacturers or retailers about how to strengthen the product or brand. A deployment of cameras and mobile signal sensors can be utilized to recognize shoppers and track their behavior. Demographics information can also be estimated about the tracked shoppers. The visual and mobile signal trajectories can be fused to form a single shopper trajectory, then associated with Point of Sale (PoS) data. This results in a dataset describing the shopping trip for each tracked shopper.

Abstract: An item stowed at an inventory location may rest on a surface such as a shelf or may be supported above the surface. The item may exhibit a footprint that is representative of a physical perimeter of the item. For example, the footprint may be an edge of a shadow cast by the item. Information about a size and shape of a footprint associated with a particular item may be stored. An optical sensor array may acquire sensor image data indicative of the footprint of one or more of the items stored at an inventory location. A quantity of items at the inventory location may be determined by comparing the sensor image data with the stored data.

Abstract: A “no-touch” mobile checkout experience frees consumers from the need to manually locate and activate a mobile payment application in order to complete a transaction. The consumer simply brings his mobile device within close range of an interface console, which in various embodiments prompts the device to launch an application that causes display of a payment token without user action. If the consumer's device is not NFC-capable, the interface console can read a displayed token optically in the usual fashion.

Abstract: A technique for managing parking of vehicles at a lower cost is disclosed. A parking management system includes a terminal device and a server device. The terminal device includes: a storage unit that stores user information; a reading unit that reads identification information of a parking space from a code associated with the parking space, and a transmission unit that transmits, to the server device, parking position information which includes the stored user information and the read identification information. The server device includes: a receiving unit that receives the parking position information from the terminal device; and an identifying unit that identifies a position where a vehicle is parked and a user of the parked vehicle, based on the received parking position information.

Abstract: Assisted manual mail sorting system for assisting an operator in manual sortation of mailpieces in a sorting station including a plurality of destination bins, the system comprising a headset wearable by the operator and connected to a computer comprising an image analysis software for extracting from an image of one of the mailpieces, a name, an address or other relevant information and a sorting application for determining a corresponding relevant destination bin, the headset comprising: a high resolution camera for capturing the image of the mailpiece, a transparent display for signalling to the operator the relevant destination bin where the article is to be placed by highlighting or overlaying a visual artifact on a view of the sorting station while the operator is looking at the sorting station.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for automated object recognition and checkout at a retail kiosk is provided. The system includes a controller configured with a processor and a memory to control operations of the automated retail checkout system. The system further includes an imaging device in communication with the controller and configured to create multiple electronic images of an object, such as a product for purchase. The system also includes an object recognition device in communication with the controller and the imaging device. The processor may execute software to receive electronic images from the imaging device, extract at least one feature from the images, and recognize the object based on a predetermined model being applied to the extracted feature from the images. The system also includes a display device to display an indication of the recognized object from the object recognition device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a variable data capture process at a data capture device comprising a data capture module and a trigger mechanism is provided. In operation, the data capture device detects an initial activation of the trigger mechanism. In response to the activation, data capture is initiated at the data capture module. A continued activation of the trigger mechanism subsequent to the initial activation is also detected. Following the detection of the continued activation of the trigger mechanism, the device identifies an obtained gesture and performs a data capture operation based on the identified gesture.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for product storage location identification. Reconfigurable lights can be mounted to product storage locations and one or more of the lights can be illuminated to identify a particular storage location, such as for placement or pick up of a product. The system described herein can utilize radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips or tags to identify products and storage locations. So configured, the system can identify which storage location a particular product is in or can identify where a particular product should be placed.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing shopper switching behavior over multiple shopping trips. Specifically, shopper behavior can be analyzed to generate a shopper behavior profile. Aggregating profile data across many shopping trips over time can then be used to generate analytics regarding the shopper's behavior regarding switching between products or brands and whether the shopper's purchase decisions occurred at-shelf or pre-shelf. Further, the data can be aggregated across many shoppers The analysis can then be used to make recommendations to manufacturers or retailers about how to influence shoppers to switch to a brand from a competitor, or to prevent a shopper from switching to a competitor. A deployment of cameras and mobile signal sensors can be utilized to recognize shoppers and track their behavior. Demographics information can also be estimated about the tracked shoppers.