International Business Machines Corporation

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation

Jeff David Thomas

Richard Hunter Harris

Robert Andrew Myers

Paul Daniel Kangas

James Gabriel Brewington

Dean Frederick Herring

P Daniel Kangas

Kevin Hunter Vorhees

Herbert Gene Leonard

Brad Matthew Johnson

Robert Thomas Cato

Timothy Wayne Crockett

Dennis Crompton

George Hufford, Iii

David John Steiner

David Campbell Brower

Stacy Leigh Bongrazio

Jeffrey John Smith

Vincent Charles Conzola

John David Landers, Jr

Chiu-Jung Tsen

Norman Bruce Desrosiers

Kimberly Wood

William L Talley

Paul Morton Wilson

Danny H Addison

Hye Suk Makley

Stacy Arrington

Duane Scott Miller

Robert Dean Yoder

Sharon Corinne Freedman

Roger Kenneth Abrams

Hye Suk Chi

Douglas E Alexander

Fred David Parnell

John A Hibbard

Alecia Ellison

Phillip McLamb

Zong-Han You

Cheng-Hong Chen

Wen-Yao Nien

Computing device docking systems are disclosed. According to an aspect, a computing device docking system includes a docking station component having an opening defined within a surface. The system includes a pin including a body and an end having a member extending laterally from the body. The end of the pin is receivable within an opening of a computing device component for attaching the computing device component to the docking station. The pin is moveable within the opening between a first position and a second position. In the first position, at least a portion of the body and at least a portion of the member is positioned within the opening of the docking station component. In the second position, at least a portion of the body is within the opening and the member is outside of the opening of the docking station component.

Computing device docking systems

A display screen assembly is provided. The display screen defines a channel for allowing selective engagement of the display screen. A mount assembly is provided and includes a base for supporting the display screen assembly about a support surface, and a locking assembly that selectively engages the channel to thereby lock the mount assembly to the display screen.

Display screen assembly having a selectively engageable mount assembly

Printers and printer systems for printing images on paper in different configurations and for dispensing printed paper in different directions are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a printer includes a body defining openings. A printing unit is positioned within the body and can receive an instruction for printing an image. In a first print mode, the printing unit can print the image on the paper in a first configuration and dispense the paper in a first direction through one of the openings of the body. In the second print mode, the printing unit can print the image on the paper in a second configuration and dispense the paper in a second direction through another of the openings of the body. A sensing component can determine whether the printer is in the first print mode or the second print mode.

Printers and printer systems for printing images on paper in different configurations and for dispensing printed paper in different directions

Methods and systems for controlling wireless identification tag activation are disclosed. An example method includes controlling a first wireless identification read cell to activate a first set of wireless identification tags within a first communication range. Further, the method includes controlling a second wireless identification read cell to activate a second set of wireless identification tags within a second communication range during activation of the first set of wireless identification tags and subsequent to initially activating the first set of wireless identification tags. The first communication range overlaps with the second communication range.

Control of wireless identification tag activation

Methods and systems for coordinating transmission of data from wireless identification tags are disclosed. According to an aspect, a wireless identification tag includes a communication module configured to wirelessly transmit data in response to receipt of an instruction. The wireless identification tag also includes a timer configured to communicate the instruction to the communication module for transmission of the data within a timeslot based on a stored first identifier of the wireless identification tag. Further, the timer module is configured to receive second identifier. The timer module is also configured to change the first identifier based on the second identifier.

Coordination of transmission of data from wireless identification tags

Multi-mode computing systems for point of sale transactions are disclosed. According to an aspect, a computing system includes a first housing and a processing device disposed in the first housing. A user interface and a first input/output interface is integrated with the first housing and in communication with the processing device. The first input/output interface is configured to receive power for delivery to the processing device. A second housing is configured to carry the first housing. An attachment mechanism is configured to selectively attach together the first housing and the second housing for carry of the first housing. A second input/output interface is configured to be communicatively coupled to the first input/output interface when the first housing and the second housing are attached. A power source is connected to the second input/output interface for delivery of power to the processing device via the first input/output interface.

Multi-mode computing systems for point of sale transactions

Methods and systems for identifier sequencing of wireless identification tags are disclosed. According to aspect, a method includes receiving identifiers of wireless identification tags from each of a plurality of wireless identification read cells. The method also includes determining whether identifiers received from one or more of the wireless identification read cells are not contiguous. Further, the method includes communicating, to the wireless identification read cells, other identifiers having a contiguous sequence for re-sequencing identifiers of the wireless identification tags within the communication range of the wireless identification read cells in response to determining that one or more of the wireless identification read cells have identifiers that are not contiguous.

Identifier sequencing of wireless identification tags

A point of sale system and method are disclosed wherein a shopping bag has one or more RFID loop type antenna. An example system includes a bag holder for securing the shopping bag while items are placed in it. Multiple bag holders may be incorporated on a carousel, which can be rotated to move an empty bag to a filling station at the checkout counter, and to move filled bags to an open area for the customer or cashier to retrieve the filled shopping bags. An RFID reader in communication with the bag holder uses one of the RFID loop antennas to read the RFID tags on the items placed in the bag. In a shopping bag having more than one RFID loop antenna, the RFID system controller may monitor the impedance of each RFID loop antenna and dynamically select one of the RFID loop antennas on the shopping bag as a function of the impedances.

RFID scanning system and shopping bag with integrated RFID loop antenna

A merchandise security tag device for use in a merchandise monitoring system is provided. The merchandise security tag device may be configured to display at least one predetermined optical validation image in response to a signal received from a validation scanning process of the merchandise monitoring system. The validation scanning process may verify that the article of merchandise has been paid for by the customer. The optical validation image may be within the visible spectrum and may be verified by a store employee.

Merchandise security tag for an article of merchandise

Processing purchasing items is provided. A broadcast television signal is received at a television system. The broadcast television signal contains data indicating that an item in the broadcast television signal is being offered for sale. A visual cue is presented in association with the item being presented in the television system in response to receiving the data. In response to receiving a user input to purchase the item, a purchase request process is sent to a seller of the item to purchase the item using personal information needed to purchase the item stored in the television system.

Purchasing items in a program

A computer implemented method, computer program product and a data processing system acoustically monitor an internal data processing system component. The internal data processing system component is selected for diagnosis. The internal data processing system component is within the data processing system and has an associated microphone located proximate to the component. The microphone associated with the internal data processing system component is enabled, and an acoustic signal for the internal data processing system component is identified. An exemplar fingerprint for the internal data processing system component is then identified from storage. A determination is then made as to whether the acoustic signal deviates from the exemplar fingerprint by more than a defined statistical variance. If the acoustic signal deviates from the exemplar fingerprint by more than a defined statistical variance, the acoustic signal and an identity of the internal data processing system component is stored in a failure log and a failure notification is triggered.

Microphone diagnostic inside system with voip alerting and monitoring

A system for securing purchased items, includes: an enclosure for holding items selected by a user; a personal shopping system (PSS) further comprised of an input/output device, a scanner, software, and security features for securing the items selected by the user and placed in the enclosure; wherein the PSS is in electrical signal communication with a server; wherein the PSS is mechanically attached to the enclosure; wherein the user identifies themselves to the PSS; wherein the security features activate one of a series of visual indicators and alarms in response to various states and relationships between the enclosure, the items, and the user; and wherein the intensity, level, and duration of the series of visual indicators and alarms varies in response to the various states and relationships between the enclosure, the items, and the user.

System and method for shopping cart security

A locking connector for engaging a Universal Serial Bus ('USB') receptacle, including: a connector housing having a locking cam opening on one side of the connector housing, the connector housing split along a longitudinal axis of the locking connector forming a connector housing gap on the same side of the connector housing as the locking cam opening; a locking cam surface positioned within the locking cam opening in contact with the connector housing; and a pivotable locking cam actuating lever connected to a top of the locking cam surface, the locking cam actuating lever having a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking cam surface in a rotated position expanding the connector housing when the cam actuating lever is in the locked position, the locking cam surface in a relaxed position with the connector housing not expanded when the cam actuating lever is in the unlocked position.

Locking connector for engaging a USB receptacle

A method and apparatus are disclosed for managing power to a group of connectors. The individual power limits of the connectors may be selectively increased while still complying with a group power limit. In one embodiment, a group of electronic connectors disposed on a host device each include a power portion and a data portion. A mechanical barrier is moveable into a blocked position for physically blocking at least the power portion of one or more of the electronic connectors while the other electronic connectors in the group remain unblocked. A power controller automatically increases an individual power limit of one or more of the unblocked electronic connectors in response to the mechanical barrier being in the blocked position.

Connector blocking with automatic power management and balancing

A system for sensing paper on a paper roll includes an ultrasonic transducer positioned to be in contact with an outer surface of the paper roll; a transmitter circuit in communication with the ultrasonic transducer, the transmitter circuit providing a transmit signal to the ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer generating an ultrasonic signal in response to the transmit signal; a receiver circuit in communication with the ultrasonic transducer, the receiver circuit providing a received signal indicative of an ultrasonic return echo from the paper roll, the ultrasonic return echo resulting from the ultrasonic signal interacting with the paper roll; and a processor circuit, in communication with the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit, that determines an amount of paper remaining on the paper roll in response to the transmit signal and the receive signal, the processor providing an output signal when the amount of paper remaining falls below a threshold.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Jeff David Thomas