International Business Machines Corporation

Michael Joseph Johnson

Donald J Ashley

Kimberly Lynn Gajda

Jessica King Snead

John M Lauffer

Chi Shih Chang

David R Thomas

Leonard J Hitchcock

Robert Tod Thorpe

Craig Neal Johnston

A radio frequency identification (RFID) checkout system includes a reader, a first RFID tag, and a second RFID tag. The first tag is configured to be attached to an item selected to not be read by the reader, and the second tag is configured to be attached to an item selected to be read by the reader. Upon items being positioned within the reader, the reader reads the tags to determine if the first tag is present within the reader. The reader is enabled to complete a checkout transaction if no first tags are detected within the reader during the reading. The first tag includes an attachment base, an extension portion connected to the attachment base, and a RFID antenna connected to the extension portion. The extension portion is movable relative to the attachment base between at least a first position and a second position, and the extension portion extends away from the attachment base in the first position.

RFID checkout system with tags

A system and method for scanning goods and loading the goods into receptacles by a user includes a scanner and a plurality of loading stations. The scanner scans the goods, and the scanned goods are placed on the loading stations. Each loading station separately obtains a weight of the goods within each respective loading station. In response to each of the weights obtained by all of the plurality of loading stations exceeding a predetermined first weight, the self-checkout system is configured to initiate a first alarm detectable by the user, and in response to the first alarm being initiated, the self-checkout system is configured to prevent additional goods from being scanned by the scanner. In response to each of the weights obtained by all of the plurality of loading stations being below or substantially at a predetermined second weight, the self-checkout system is configured to allow additional goods to be scanned by the scanner after the first alarm is initiated. A computer program product to operate the system is also included.

Self-checkout system with plurality of capacity-detecting loading stations

In a method and system for providing location-based targeted information without requiring location sensing, items are scanned while the customer shops. The sequences in which items are scanned are collected and analyzed to determine the next probable item for a currently scanned item. The next probable item will generally be physically near the currently scanned item. Information for a next probable item correlating to a currently scanned item can then be displayed to the customer. In this manner, location-based targeted information can be provided without requiring location sensing. This significantly reduces the cost of the system.

Method for offering location-based targeted discounts without requirement for location sensing

A detection system includes a fixed-position transmitter and a mobile unit. The transmitter digitally transmits a data packet including angle information associated with the transmitter, and the mobile unit includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted data packet. The mobile unit is configured to detect a plurality of data packets from a single transmitter, the plurality of data packets including non-identical angle information. The mobile also determines new angle information from the non-identical angle information in the plurality of data packets and determines a location of the mobile unit relative to the transmitter using the new angle information. Also, the mobile unit is configured to indicate information associated with the determined location to a user.

Location system with swept digital beacon

A generic protocol layer class (GPLC) having send and receive procedures and a common data buffer in which the sent or received data is placed and acted upon by each protocol layer implemented with the GPLC. Instead of copying the data packet passed to it by a higher or lower protocol layer implemented with the GPLC, a protocol layer implemented with the GPLC acts upon the common data buffer by moving a start pointer and an end pointer along the data contained in the common data buffer prior to its invoking of the next higher or lower protocol layer implemented.

Generic network protocol layer with supporting data structure

Disclosed is a method for preparing a disk drive of a computing system for test, including the steps of recording a plurality of test files to a partition of the disk drive until a free space of the partition is less than a predetermined value; and thereafter deleting a portion of the plurality of test files from the partition. A computer program product including a computer readable medium carrying a program for preparing a disk drive of a computing system for test, the computer program product having code for recording a plurality of test files to a partition of the disk drive until a free space of the partition is less than a predetermined value; and code for deleting a portion of the plurality of test files from the partition.

Disk fragmentation test system

An apparatus and method to construct programs for use in multiple-language environments. A subroutine is described to provide for reference to a translation table but maintain the self-documenting feature of direct coding. Also disclosed is an extractor program, which is capable of automatically creating a translation table based upon default values to be used for messages. Finally, the disclosed invention also provides a superior method of handling errors in translation table files by providing for a default message.

System for national language support and automated translation table

A system and method for allowing a user to characterize an application are disclosed. In one aspect, the method and system allow a user to characterize a database engine. The database engine utilizes a particular interface for communicating with an application. The method and system include determining a query spectrum including plurality of queries corresponding to a plurality of query types. The plurality of query types are chosen such that any possible query can be classified as being of one query type. The plurality of queries is compatible with the particular interface. The method and system include running the query spectrum on the database engine and determining a time taken to run each of the plurality of queries on the database engine. In another aspect, the method and system are for characterizing the application. In this aspect, the method and system include characterizing the database engine using a query spectrum including a first plurality of queries compatible with the particular interface. The first plurality of queries has a plurality of query types. The method and system further include providing a second plurality of queries characteristic of the application. The second plurality of queries have a portion of the plurality of query types and are compatible with the particular interface. The method and system further include calculating a run time taken to run the second plurality of queries on a portion of the plurality of database engines based on the portion of the plurality of query types and characterization of the plurality of database engines.

Method and system for characterizing applications for use with databases having structured query language interfaces

A transformer comprises a printed circuit board having elongated conductors printed thereon, a ferrite core having a bottom mounted onto the printed circuit board and a flex circuit. The flex circuit comprises a dielectric sheet and elongated conductors printed on both faces of the sheet. The flex circuit is contoured around a top and sides of the core. The conductors of the flex circuit are surface bonded to respective conductors of the printed circuit board to form a series of primary windings and a series of secondary windings around the core. Provision of the upper portions of the windings by means of the flex circuit is economical because it does not require handling of discrete conductor portions.

Transformer formed in conjunction with printed circuit board

Two controlled current gate drives are provided for driving parallel P and N channel pass devices, so that the rise time of the voltage at one gate of the pass devices overlaps with the fall time of the other to reduce capacitive signal coupling of the signal applied to an FET gate to the FET source and drain. Low-level current sources drive the gates of the pass devices with opposite polarities. A current mirror is used to control the currents provided by the gate drives to control the tradeoff between switching speed and switching noise coupling.

Electronic switch having programmable means to reduce noise coupling

A matched pair of npn transistor configured as emitter followers provide high impedance isolation for input error voltage busses in the current share circuitry used with parallel connected current programmed dc to dc converters. The matched emitter followers offer the bus isolation of buffer amplifiers but do not add the detrimental offset voltage to the input error signals. Trimmable current sinks are connected to the emitters of the transistors to guarantee equal VBE drops. Slight intentional unbalancing can be introduced using the current sources to improve stability. The current share circuitry equalizes main FET switching currents not load currents reducing FET stresses. A programmable differential amplifier is provided which can accommodate different regulator output voltages. Diagnostic circuitry monitors share circuitry operation.

Current share circuit for DC to DC converters

A slope compensation circuit for use with current-programmed switching DC to DC converters is provided which allows operation of the switching converters in the 1-2 MHz range. The circuit avoids feedback of an output voltage which includes the effects of a partially discharged slope capacitor without adding unnecessary delay by using a switch to bypass the discharging slope capacitor and coupling an input stage of the slope compensation circuit to an output driver. A delay in feeding back the output of the slope compensation circuit is provided to assure that the bypassing switch has settled.

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Michael Joseph Johnson