In accordance with some embodiments, a physical game element such as a wagering chip or a playing card may be utilized to implement a promotion scheme on an electronic game table (e.g., using RFID or optical imaging technology). During a game it may be determined whether the element is associated with special functionality (e.g., entitles the player to a payout multiplier, special payout table, bonus prize or other benefit). The special functionality may have been previously associated with the element or associated with the element during the game (e.g., dynamically and/or randomly). In accordance with some embodiments a player is not able to readily discern the special functionality by a physical inspection of the physical game element and is only notified of the special functionality once the physical game element is used in a qualifying action (e.g., during a wager at an electronic game table).

A cabinet that can control the distribution of products that can optionally include medications. The cabinet can have a user interface that receives information about a user and the user's identity can then be authenticated. The cabinet can accept a user's request to dispense a product and, if the user is approved, the cabinet can dispense a quantity of product to the approved user.

An orthopaedic surgical instrument system includes an orthopaedic surgical instrument tray and an orthopaedic surgical instrument that is configured to be positioned in the instrument tray. The orthopaedic surgical instrument system also includes a machine-readable optical label that is associated with the instrument. The system is configured to determine a duration of use of the instrument based on whether the machine-readable optical label is detected.

An information processing apparatus (10), having a function of registering a product to be checked out, includes an image recognition unit (110) that recognizes, by using an image associated with depth information indicating a depthwise distance of a product included in an imaging range, a size or shape of the product within the image, a code acquisition unit (122) that acquires a product identification code of a product to be checked out, a size/shape information acquisition unit (130) that acquires size/shape information linked with the acquired product identification code, and a determination unit (140) that determines, by calculating a difference between the size or shape of the product recognized from the image and the size/shape information acquired using the product identification code, whether the difference satisfies a predetermined reference.

A slip processing device includes: an imaging unit that images an object; a barcode scanner that reads a barcode; and a processor configured to perform the following: causing the barcode scanner to scan a barcode on a slip to obtain an identification information on the slip; determining whether the obtaining of the identification information has succeeded; when the obtaining of the identification information has succeeded, causing the imaging unit to image the slip to obtain a slip image; and causing the identification information that has been obtained and the slip image that has been obtained to be stored in association with each other in a storage unit.

The present invention includes methods and apparatus for the automated provision of goods through the use of scanning systems. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for automatically conveying which goods are being ordered, where the goods will be picked up, an associated method of payment, kitchen fulfillment, item tracking, and automatic delivery by a dispenser apparatus. In preferred embodiments, the present invention is applied to the automated ordering and pick-up of food items at a fast food restaurant and delivery to a food dispenser at a customer location.

Systems, software, and methods for processing a package for shipping to a recipient are described. The system includes a user device and a package intake device. The user device includes software that allows a user to connect with other users to make the user's address available to the other users including any updates due to moves or travel. The user device also features a transmission device for transmitting recipient information of a recipient selected from a list of recipients displayed on the user device. The package intake device includes a computer, a receiving device for receiving the recipient information transmitted by the user device, and a package recognition device for analyzing the package to determine one or more package criteria. The package intake device determines a type for the package and an identity of a shipper selected to deliver the package based on the one or more package criteria.

An accounting device according to an embodiment includes an input device that receives an instruction to start a job. A first display device includes a first screen facing a first direction towards a person who operates the input device. A change machine includes a depositing port for receiving money and a dispensing port for dispensing money. A second display device includes a second screen facing a second direction different from the first direction and towards a person who deposits money into the depositing port or receives money from the dispensing port. When the instruction received by the input device is to start a predetermined job that is different from the accounting transaction and that includes depositing money into the change machine or dispensing money from the change machine, the processor causes information supporting execution of the predetermined job to be displayed on the second screen.

The present disclosure describes various systems and methods for object tracking and locating. An example method includes: receiving, from a first mobile device, a first input identifying a first location inside an establishment; receiving, from the first mobile device, a second RFID scan of an RFID tag affixed to a second mobile object; creating, in accordance with the first scan and the second RFID scan, a database relationship that identifies the second mobile object as being located at the first location inside the establishment; and storing the database relationship at a computer server system. The first input may include a first scan of a first tag affixed to the first location inside the establishment. The first scan may include an optical scan, and the first tag includes an encoded image.

A data reading system and method for constructing a three-dimensional model of an item passing through a read zone of the data reading system, the system including a plurality of light transmitters each operable to generate a light curtain across the read zone. As the items interrupt each of the light curtains, a height measurement of the item is obtained. Thereafter, the data reading system combines the height measurement data from each of the light curtains taken at various times, and generates a three-dimensional model of the item based on the obtained data.