An electronic processor is operatively connected with at least one video camera, or additionally or alternatively a non-camera-based sensor, and at least one annunciator to process real time video acquired by the at least one video camera in real time to perform a hand hygiene compliance enforcement method for encouraging use of a hand sanitation station. The real time video is analyzed to determine an occupancy time interval over which a sanitation zone imaged by the real time video is occupied. Whether a hand sanitation event occurs is determined based on images of a wash station zone extracted from the real time video acquired during the occupancy time interval. The at least one annunciator is controlled to annunciate a hand hygiene compliance status based on the determination of whether a hand sanitation event occurs.

A vending machine system (the system) of the present invention includes a vending machine for selectively providing one or more items stored therein to a user, the vending machine includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) antenna, a communication module, a memory, and a controller, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled by a data transfer bus with the memory, the communication module and the RFID antenna. The system includes a user computing device, an accounting server configured to perform inventory accounting for the one or more items in the vending machine. The system also includes a transaction server configured to facilitate a transaction between the accounting server and the user computing device.

A system for data transfer between a server, a remote vending machine and a user computing device includes a remote vending machine for selectively providing an item stored therein to a user, a user computing device, an accounting server, a transaction server, and a data transfer network, wherein the vending machine comprises a door, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) antenna, a communication module, a memory, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled by a data transfer bus with the memory, the communication module and the RFID antenna. The user computing device comprises an authorization module and is configured to transfer to and receive data from the accounting server. The accounting and transaction servers, the vending machine and the user computing device are communicatively interconnected with one another by the data transfer network.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled readers and systems and methods for filtering cross reads of RFID tags and use thereof. The systems and methods may be configured to operate with mobile and/or fixed RFID readers. The systems and methods may provide for claim based filtering of cross reads based upon adjusting operating powers of RFID readers and/or antenna. The systems and methods may also be configured to apply weights to claims thereby providing efficient and/or accurate filtering of cross reads. The systems and methods may also provide for a database that may also be presented to a user to illustrate locations of inventory at any point in time or over a period of time, or to facilitate the ability of a user to physically locate inventory to be acted upon.

A point of sale (POS) device includes a nest portion and a cradle portion. The nest portion includes one or more payment card or near field communication (NFC) readers. The cradle portion couples to differently-sized interchangeable frames, which in turn help secure a mobile computing device to the cradle portion of the POS device. The mobile computing device is connected via a connector to the rest of the POS device. Payment card information read by the readers is conveyed to the mobile computing device over the connector for processing. The POS device may also include tamper detection circuitry.

A device is provided for storing elements, each element including a first wireless communication unit. The device includes at least two drawer units each including: a drawer including a bottom defining at least one location for receiving an element; for each location, at least one second wireless communication unit including an antenna having a radiation-zone field, each antenna having a first state in which the antenna is activated and a second state in which the antenna is deactivated; and a data-processing unit able to control the activation and deactivation of the antenna of each second communication unit according to a control law.

A point of sale (POS) device includes a nest portion and a cradle portion. The nest portion includes one or more payment card or near field communication (NFC) readers. The cradle portion couples to differently-sized interchangeable frames, which in turn help secure a mobile computing device to the cradle portion of the POS device. The mobile computing device is connected via a connector to the rest of the POS device. Payment card information read by the readers is conveyed to the mobile computing device over the connector for processing. The POS device may also include tamper detection circuitry.

A central hand sanitizing system (CHSS) is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of sanitizer stations (PSS) each in a plumbing network, a central sanitizer store (CSS) in communication with the PSS in the plumbing network; and a hand sanitizer solution (HSS) dispersed from the CSS to the PSS via the plumbing network and having a composition targeted to determined pathogens. The HSS comprises an ethanol, a glycerol, a hydrogen peroxide, a distilled water and an antipathogen solution of predetermined concentrations. A pulse oximeter, a fever sensor and an electronic processor communicate a status of users of respective PSS and a status of respective PSS. A central hand sanitizing method additionally includes dispersing a hand sanitizer solution (HSS) from the CSS to the PSS via the plumbing network and dispersing informational metrics regarding the PSS, CSS and HSS and users thereof to remote receivers via the electronic network.

An electronic processor is operatively connected with at least one video camera, or additionally or alternatively a non-camera-based sensor, and at least one annunciator to process real time video acquired by the at least one video camera in real time to perform a hand hygiene compliance enforcement method for encouraging use of a hand sanitation station. The real time video is analyzed to determine an occupancy time interval over which a sanitation zone imaged by the real time video is occupied. Whether a hand sanitation event occurs is determined based on images of a wash station zone extracted from the real time video acquired during the occupancy time interval. The at least one annunciator is controlled to annunciate a hand hygiene compliance status based on the determination of whether a hand sanitation event occurs.

An apparatus, including: an RFID reader system located at a first vehicle, which includes an RFID tag reader or a plurality of RFID tag readers; a processor; a database which stores information regarding a plurality of second vehicles, wherein at least one RFID tag is assigned to each of the plurality of second vehicles; and a display. The RFID reader system reads, scans, or detects, the at least one RFID tag assigned to the second vehicle or to each of the plurality of second vehicles. The processor processes data or information obtained by the RFID reader system and identifies the detected second vehicle or the detected plurality of second vehicles. The processor obtains information from the database regarding the detected second vehicle or plurality of second vehicles. The apparatus provides information regarding the detected second vehicle or the detected plurality of second vehicles on or via the display.