International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

P Daniel Kangas

Gregory J Boss

John Elbert Moore, Jr

Andrew R Jones

Kevin Charles Mcconnell

Jeff David Thomas

Seiichi Idei

Toshiro Hiromitsu

Dean Frederick Herring

David John Steiner

Daniel M Ranck

James Michael Dupuy

An apparatus, system, and method for emulating a computer expansion card. The apparatus includes an edge connector comprising a plurality of pin fingers, the edge connector conforming with a first connector type and a socket connector configured to receive a computer expansion card conforming with a second connector type. The apparatus further includes a PCB comprising a logic adapter configured to convert a first set of signals associated with the first connector type into a second set of signals associated with the second connector type.

Expansion card adaptation

Systems and methods are provided for managing power to devices in a virtual power delivery network, using a centralized power allocation controller. The method of managing power consumption of a plurality of devices includes receiving device information from one or more devices connected in a virtual power delivery network. The method further includes managing power consumption of the one or more devices in the virtual power delivery network based on the received device information.

Managing electrical power in a virtual power delivery network

Systems and methods are provided for managing power to devices in a network, using a centralized power allocation controller. The method of managing power consumption of a plurality of devices includes receiving scheduled upcoming calendar events and/or activities from one or more of a plurality of devices connected in a network. The method further includes centrally managing power consumption of a device of the plurality of devices in the network based on the scheduled upcoming calendar events and/or activities.

Power management and priority charging assignments

A system and methods for delivering power to a multitude of portable electronic devices is provided. More specifically, the system and methods provide for powering different portable electronic devices through a central charging device. The method of delivering a power supply to a plurality of portable electronic devices includes determining a power requirement for each of the portable computing devices and supplying the power requirement to each of the portable computing devices in a daisy chain configuration using a central power device.

Peer to peer power management

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

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 system and method are disclosed for navigating an electronic document using a touch-sensitive display screen with gestures that are reminiscent of physically handling the pages of a conventional, bound document. A user may temporarily bookmark one or more selected pages by touching the touchscreen with a finger when the pages are displayed, to mimic using a finger to hold a selected page of a conventional, bound document. Predefined gestures may be specified with different functions, such as returning to a bookmarked page or removing a bookmark.

Touchscreen gestures for virtual bookmarking of pages

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

A security system for inventory automatically detects removal of inventory items from an area or areas protected with security sensors. A person removing the item then scans an identifying code of the item, such as its bar code or radio-frequency identification ('RFID') tag, with a device such as a portable shopping assistant device; if the item is not scanned in an appropriate manner, such as within a particular a time period, then theft of the item may be suspected. Information for completing a purchase transaction can be sent from the portable shopping assistant device. In this manner, items can be purchased directly from the protected areas.

Security system for inventory

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.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

P Daniel Kangas