Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120243166 | MEDIA CONTENT DEVICE CHASSIS WITH INTERNAL EXTENSION MEMBERS - A media content receiving device, such as a set top box, includes a chassis that incorporates a heat bridge, a heat shield or both. The heat bridge may take the form of a structural wall coupled to, but preferably integrated with, the chassis to facilitate conductive heat transfer into a chassis panel. The heat bridge may be configured to receive heat radiated from a chip having a die to be cooled. The heat shield may take the form of a wall-type structure protruding from a chassis panel. For example, the heat shield may extend from a top panel of the chassis in a fin-like or flange-like manner to provide a thermal barrier between adjacent electrical components arranged on a circuit board. While the heat shield protects the adjacent component from potential thermal damage or degradation, it may also operate to transfer heat into the chassis. | 09-27-2012 |
20120246717 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURELY STORING MEDIA CONTENT EVENTS ON A FLASH MEMORY DEVICE - Systems and methods are operable to securely store media content events on a flash memory device. An exemplary embodiment receives user-provided authorization information, compares the received user-provided authorization information with authorization information associated with the flash memory device, and permits access to a flash memory of the flash memory device when the received user-provided authorization information corresponds to the authorization information. | 09-27-2012 |
20120250256 | MEDIA DEVICE HAVING A PIEZOELECTRIC FAN - A media device includes at least one piezoelectric fan selectively located to draw or urge air past one or more electrical components, such as an integrated circuit chip. Preferably, the piezoelectric fan is located within a channel milled or otherwise formed in the chip, however the fan may be located proximate the channel yet in fluid communication therewith. The piezoelectric fan operates to convectively cool the electrical component and may also prevent heat that has been generated by the electrical component from moving toward another electrical component within the media device. Thus, the configuration and location of the piezoelectric fan may advantageously cool one component while preventing heat energy from building up around one or more other components mounted nearby. | 10-04-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090145964 | SWIPE CARD AND A METHOD AND SYSTEM OF MONITORING USAGE OF A SWIPE CARD - A swipe card and a method and system of monitoring usage of a swipe card. The swipe card includes a substrate forming a body of the card, a magnetic strip for storing accessible account information and a swipe counter. The swipe counter detecting and accessibly storing a count of the number of times the magnetic strip is swiped. The swipe counter can include a piezo-electric element. The swipe counter can include a capacitive element for storing pulses of energy generated when the magnetic strip is swiped. The swipe counter can include a micro-electromechanical system for recording select physical movement of the card. The swipe card can further include a swipe analyzer for detecting and accessibly storing descriptive information associated with at least one transaction associated with each swipe, wherein the swipe analyzer is operatively coupled to the magnetic strip. | 06-11-2009 |
20090159679 | Ultra Low-Power User Authentication Device for Financial Transactions - A low-power device is adapted to authenticate a user desiring to conduct a financial transaction includes an input device, a computing device, and a power source. The input device is adapted to input user information. The computing device is operatively coupled to the input device, adapted to compare the input user information to stored user information, and authenticate the user based on the comparison. The power source provides power to at least the input device. The power source is adapted to obtain power from thermal energy, light energy, and/or electromagnetic energy, which is derived from the user and/or an ambient environment. A method of authenticating a user desiring to conduct a financial transaction includes inputting input user information, comparing the input user information to stored user information, authenticating the user based on the comparison, and performing the inputting using power obtained from thermal energy, light energy, and/or electromagnetic energy. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164314 | MERCHANT SPECIFIED USAGE SCHEME IN FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS - The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to enabling a merchant to specify whether other entities or employees thereof should benefit from a usage scheme, such as discounts, incentives, promotions, rewards, or the like, implemented by the merchant. A transaction device holds information associating the transaction device with an entity. The information associating the transaction device with the entity is verified against stored merchant identification code to determine whether the holder of the transaction device should receive the benefit of the usage scheme. | 06-25-2009 |
20090164366 | PAYMENT VOUCHER GENERATION FOR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS - The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to consummating a financial transaction using payments vouchers. A merchant code associated with a merchant is received by a financial institution terminal, which verifies the merchant code against a stored code. A payment voucher is generated in response to the verification. The voucher includes an encoded message that indicates the voucher is authentic. | 06-25-2009 |
20090171835 | Multiple Payment Transaction Systems - A system and method of conducting multiple payment transactions is disclosed. The system and method allow a consumer to make contributions to selected groups based upon the consumer's financial activity. The invention could be used by a consumer to identify beneficiaries and can be used by merchants and payment network providers to provide donations. | 07-02-2009 |
20100287083 | Detecting modifications to financial terminals - A method of detecting unauthorized modifications of financial terminals includes receiving an electromagnetic profile from the terminal, comparing the received profile to a stored profile, and determining whether unauthorized modifications have been made based on the comparison. The determination may be based on a correlation coefficient and the method may include transmitting a stimulus profile in an active mode. A system for detecting unauthorized modifications to financial terminals includes a receiver to receive the emitted profile and a computing device. The computing device compares the received profile to the stored profile to determine whether unauthorized modifications have been made. The system may also include a transmitter to transmit a stimulus profile in an active mode, wherein the received profile is emitted by the financial terminal in response to the stimulus profile. The system may also be incorporated in the financial terminal. | 11-11-2010 |
20140025513 | TOUCH SCREEN SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR MULTIPLE CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS - Systems and methods for operating a touch screen for contactless payments are described. In an embodiment, a process includes detecting the presence of multiple proximity payment devices in contact with a touchable surface of a touch screen, displaying a payment option menu for multiple consumers associated with the proximity payment devices, and detecting selection of payment amounts. The process includes reading payment account data from the multiple proximity payment devices, providing the payment account data to a processor, and transmitting the payment account data and the payment amounts associated with the multiple proximity payment devices to a payment server computer. The process may also include receiving one or more payment authorization messages associated with the proximity payment devices, and displaying the payment authorization message(s). | 01-23-2014 |
20140180911 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT - A system, method, apparatus, means and computer program products for establishing, monitoring and maintaining spending controls in a payment system are provided. | 06-26-2014 |
20140372300 | SMART CARD ELECTRONIC WALLET SYSTEM - Methods, systems and apparatus for conducting offline transactions utilizing an electronic wallet that includes a reserve purse and a separate received purse. In an embodiment, the process includes a payment device receiving a value for use in conducting offline transactions from an issuer bank computer, and then storing the value in a reserve purse of an electronic wallet. The method also includes receiving a second value from a second payment device, and storing the second value in a received purse of the electronic wallet. The payment device is operable to transmit at least a portion of the value stored in the reserve purse to a merchant device to consummate an offline purchase transaction or to a consumer payment device to consummate an offline payment transaction. The second value can be transferred from the received purse to the reserve purse only when the payment device goes online to an issuer bank. | 12-18-2014 |
20150046323 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCAL EVALUATION OF COMPUTER - A method of evaluating a software status of computer equipment comprises the following steps. Firstly, a local data connection is initiated between a mobile computing device and the computing equipment to be evaluated. Following this, a transaction is performed between the mobile computing device and the computing equipment. During this transaction, information is exchanged between the mobile computing device and the computing equipment relating to a current software status of the computing equipment or a preferred software status. This allows the current software status of the computing equipment can be evaluated. Suitable mobile computing devices and computing equipment are also provided. | 02-12-2015 |