Abstract:
A system, method, and program of the invention enables a separating region to be displayed adjacent to at least one side of a problem menu choice within a menu list in a user interface. The problem menu choice may be any menu choice that has the potential for causing undesirable effects if it is inadvertently selected by a user, such as by overshooting a desired menu choice with a displayed pointer. The separating region creates a non-selectable area that buffers the problem menu choices from the other menu choices. The user is notified if the user moves the displayed pointer into the separating region. The notification may include any one or more of the following: i) changing the rate of movement of the displayed pointer, ii) causing the displayed pointer to change in appearance, and iii) causing an audible sound. The separating region may be partitioned into zones wherein certain characteristics of the notification is dependent upon the zone location of the displayed pointer. In addition, the displayed pointer may change in appearance or a tone may sound at various frequencies, pitches or volumes dependent upon the location of the displayed pointer in the separating region or within one of its zones. In a further embodiment, the displayed pointer decreases its rate of movement as it passes through a separating region towards a problem menu choice, and increases its rate of movement as it enters into a selectable area of the problem menu choice.
Abstract:
A method of obtaining, recording and using the denomination and the serial number of bills received into cash registers from purchasers, and using computer automation to dispense other bills from the cash registers to make change. Enhanced accounting, security and efficiency for cash transactions is provided by electronically associating bills with information describing the purchases and, optionally, transmitting electronically this information to the purchaser. Optical character recognition is used to identify the denomination and serial number of each bill. Optionally, a cashier may enter a duress code into the register to initiate a silent alarm signal, identify the serial numbers of each bill dispensed under duress, or mark an invisible ink onto each bill dispensed under duress. The method also enables determining whether each bill received is counterfeit or stolen.
Abstract:
A system and method are presented for sending a message from one telephone to another by transmission of a short code. A set of message units stored within the receiving telephone is assigned to a set of codes which may be transmitted. The receiving telephone is a code-compatible telephone configured to detect an incoming code and forward the corresponding message unit to an output device associated with the code-compatible telephone. A message unit may comprise an entire message, or a portion of a message, such that multiple message units are combined to form a message. The message units may be alphanumeric or non-alphanumeric. An alphanumeric message unit contains multiple alphanumeric characters, while a non-alphanumeric message unit may contain graphical or auditory information. An alphanumeric or graphic message unit is forwarded to a display screen on the code-compatible telephone if the corresponding code is received. An auditory message unit is instead forwarded to the telephone's loudspeaker. The codes may be transmitted using dual-tone-multi-frequency (DTMF) tones, digital signals, or other signals convertible to a form detectable by the code-compatible telephone. Transmission of codes to a code-compatible telephone may be used in one-way or two-way non-spoken communication by telephone, which may be useful for people with hearing and/or speech impairment, or for people in an environment in which spoken telephone communication is difficult or undesirable.
Abstract:
A method, system, and program for indicating a reaction response associated with the content of a communication to provide a context for the communication are provided. The content of a communication and the reaction responses to a communication provide the context for a communication. Varying portions of the content of a communication are analyzed to identify a particular reaction response associated with each of the varying portions of content. During a display of the content of the communication, a color within any of the varying portions indicates the associated reaction response. A reaction response may indicate a sender's intended response or an anticipated or actual response of a recipient. The colors may be added to a proposed communication and edited by a sender to achieve a particular desired response.
Abstract:
A method, system, and program for providing consumer healthy habits incentives are provided. A consumable item, consumed by an individual, is detected. A health factor is detected for the consumable item. An electronic incentive is selected for the individual according to the health factor, such that the individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items. An electronic incentive may be further specified according to the personal health history, exercise history and consumption history of an individual.
Abstract:
Creating a dynamic food order for a traveler is provided. A food order is received from the traveler. A determination is made as to whether a real-time itinerary for the traveler has changed. In response to a change in the real-time itinerary, the food order is adjusted based on the real-time itinerary and preferences stored in the traveler's profile to form an adjusted food order.
Abstract:
A method, system, and program for providing consumer healthy habits incentives are provided. A consumable item, consumed by an individual, is detected. A health factor is detected for the consumable item. An electronic incentive is selected for the individual according to the health factor, such that the individual is encouraged to consume a healthy selection of consumable items. An electronic incentive may be further specified according to the personal health history, exercise history and consumption history of an individual.
Abstract:
A method, system, and program for responding to recipient ratings of wirelessly broadcast electronic works are provided. A secondary player receives a wireless broadcast of an electronic work from a primary player. Next, responsive to a playback of the electronic work from the secondary player, the secondary player requires a recipient of the electronic work to rate the electronic work. Then, responsive to the recipient rating the electronic work or an automatic rating selection made based on the recipient's preferences, the options available to the recipient may be dynamically adjusted. First, responsive to the recipient rating the electronic work with a favorable rating, the secondary player triggers a purchase offer for the electronic work when the secondary player is connected to a network providing access to a purchase server. Second, responsive to the recipient rating the electronic work, the secondary player transfers the rating to the primary player, such that the primary player is enabled to dynamically adjust a next electronic work selection for broadcast based on the rating for the previously broadcast electronic work.
Abstract:
A system and method for preventing credit card fraud by comparing the location of a given transaction with the location of a predetermined communication device is provided.
Abstract:
A method, system, and program for tracking locally broadcast electronic works are provided. According to one aspect of the invention, a sending player locally broadcasts an electronic work. In particular, the local broadcast may be a wireless broadcast creating an ad-hoc radio system. At least one recipient player receives the localized broadcast of the electronic work and accepts a distribution cookie for tracking distribution of the electronic work. The at least one recipient player updates the distribution cookie with tracking information about the broadcast of the electronic work, including ratings by users at the second player and purchase of the broadcast electronic work. Each of the at least one recipient players may in turn become a sending player that broadcasts the electronic work to other recipient players and requires the other recipient players to accept a copy of the distribution cookie updated by the second player. Then, responsive to detecting a network connection to a statistics server, the at least one recipient player provides the distribution cookie to the statistics server, such that localized broadcast distribution of the electronic work is tracked.