Author: claimsbot

1-4. (canceled)
5. A method for reproducing a color barcode, comprising:
scanning a color information portion which is a part of the color barcode and represents a color information including information about what color is used for color tiles of the color barcode,
retrieving the color information by decrypting the scanned color information portion,
scanning a data portion which is a part of the color barcode, includes the several color tiles and represents data,
relating each color of the color tiles of the data portion to each color of the color information retrieved by the retrieving step,
printing the color barcode including the color information portion and the data portion with the color according to the result of the relating step and the color information.
6. The method for reproducing color barcode of claim 5, wherein the color information includes information about what Pantone\u2122 color is used for the color tiles.
7-8. (canceled)
9. A color barcode reproducing apparatus, comprising:
a scanning device which scans a color information portion which is a part of the color barcode and represents a color information including information about what color is used for color tiles of the color barcode, and scans a data portion which is a part of the color barcode, includes the several color tiles and represents data,
a retrieving device which retrieves the color information by decrypting the scanned color information. portion,
a relating device which .relates each color of the color tiles of the data portion to each color of the color information retrieved by the retrieving device,
a printing device which prints the color barcode including the color information portion and the data portion with the color according to the results of the relating device and the color information retrieved by the retrieving device.
10. The color barcode reproducing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the color information includes information about what Pantone\u2122 color is used for the color tiles.
11-19. (canceled)

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An engine comprising:
a cylinder block having at least one cylinder;
a cylinder head coupled to the cylinder block and covering an open end of the at least one cylinder, the cylinder head having a port communicating with the cylinder; and
a rotary valve cooperating with the port to intermittently seal the port, with said rotary valve comprising a rotor rotatable relative to the port, a member disposed between the rotor and the port, with the rotor acting on the member to intermittently seal the port as the rotor rotates
wherein the member is substantially stationary relative to the port and is substantially slidable relative to the rotor.
2. A valve comprising:
a housing having a port;
an actuator movable relative to the housing; and
a flexible member disposed between the housing and the actuator, the actuator acting on the flexible member so that the flexible member intermittently seals the port as the actuator moves;
wherein the actuator has a housing-facing surface that is formed with a discontinuity, the discontinuity cooperating with the flexible member to allow the flexible member to move away from the port as the actuator moves and the discontinuity passes over the port.
3. The valve of claim 2, wherein the valve is configured as a rotary valve and the actuator is a rotor, wherein the housing has a rotor-facing surface through which the port extends, the rotor-facing surface defining a cone shape.
4. The valve of claim 3, wherein the rotor has a housing-facing surface, the housing-facing surface defining a cone shape.
5. The valve of claim 4, wherein the flexible member is adapted to conform to the cone-shaped surface of at least one of the rotor-facing surface and the housing-facing surface.
6. The valve of claim 2, wherein the valve is configured as a rotary valve and the flexible member is disc-shaped.
7. The valve of claim 2, wherein the flexible member is adapted to buckle into the discontinuity, thereby forming a wave that moves along the flexible member as the actuator moves.
8. The valve of claim 2, wherein the flexible member and the port define a sealing interface, and wherein flexible member and actuator define a low-friction interface.
9. The valve of claim 8, wherein at least one of the actuator and flexible member is coated with a low-friction material.
10. The valve of claim 8, wherein at least one of the actuator and flexible member is formed of a low-friction material.
11. The valve of claim 2, wherein the flexible member comprises shim stock.
12. The valve of claim 2, wherein the actuator has a housing-facing surface, the housing-facing surface comprising an undulated surface.
13. The valve of claim 2, wherein a periphery of the port comprises a valve seat.
14. The valve of claim 13, wherein the housing has a actuator-facing surface through which the port extends and wherein the valve seat is raised relative to the actuator-facing surface.
15. The valve of claim 13, wherein the valve seat is a component that is separate from the housing.
16. The valve of claim 15, wherein the valve seat and the housing comprise different materials.
17. The valve of claim 15, wherein the valve seat floats relative to the housing.
18. The valve of claim 2, wherein the port has an adjustable opening size.
19. The valve of claim 2, wherein the flexible member is substantially stationary relative to the housing and is substantially sliclable relative to the actuator.
20. The valve of claim 2, wherein the valve is configured as a rotary valve and the actuator is a rotor, wherein the rotor comprises a body and a pressure plate coupled to the body, with the pressure plate pressing on the flexible member as the rotor rotates.
21. The valve of claim 20, wherein the pressure plate is pivotally connected to the rotor.
22. The valve of claim 20, wherein the pressure plate comprises an undulated surface facing the flexible member.
23. The valve of claim 22, wherein the pressure plate comprises a plurality of cut-outs to define the undulated surface.
24. The valve of claim 20, wherein the pressure plate is coated with a low friction material on a surface facing the flexible member.
25. The valve of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is formed of a material comprising plastic or metal.
26. The valve of claim 2, wherein the actuator is built directly into the flexible member and comprises piezoelectric actuators.
27. The valve of claim 2, further comprising a feature for providing lubrication, the feature selected from a group consisting of: a lubrication supply port located in the housing, a lubrication supply port located in the actuator, grooves located on the flexible member, grooves located on the housing, and grooves located on the actuator.
28. The valve of claim 2, wherein the housing includes a lip configured to maintain the flexible member located between the actuator and the housing.
29. The valve of claim 2, wherein the housing includes a plurality of ports and further wherein the flexible member intermittently seals each of the plurality of ports.
30. A rotary valve comprising:
a housing having a cone-shaped surface;
a port extending through the cone-shaped surface;
a rotor rotatable relative to the housing and shaped to cooperate with the cone-shaped surface of the housing; and
a sealingsliding interface disposed between the housing and the rotor and adapted to conform to the cone-shaped surface of the housing, with the sealingsliding interface intermittently sealing the port as the rotor slidingly rotates over the interface.
31. An engine comprising:
a cylinder block having at least one cylinder;
a cylinder head coupled to the cylinder block and covering an open end of the at least one cylinder, the cylinder head having a port communicating with the cylinder, wherein a periphery of the port comprises a valve seat; and
a rotary valve cooperating with the port to intermittently seal the port, with said rotary valve comprising a rotor rotatable relative to the port, a member disposed between the rotor and the port, with the rotor acting on the member to intermittently seal the port as the rotor rotates.
32. The engine of claim 31, wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine.
33. The engine of claim 31, wherein the rotary valve comprises a housing coupled to the cylinder head.
34. The engine of claim 33, wherein the housing has a valve port communicating with the port of the cylinder head.
35. The engine of claim 34, wherein the valve port comprises a valve seat against which the member seals.
36. The engine of claim 31, wherein the valve defines a boundary between a side of the engine having a relatively high pressure and a side of the engine having a relatively low pressure, wherein the rotary valve is arranged relative to the cylinder block and the cylinder head so that the relatively high pressure aids in sealing the member against the port.
37. The engine of claim 31, wherein the member is adapted to buckle, thereby forming a wave that moves along the member as the rotor rotates.
38. The engine of claim 31, wherein the member and the port defines a sealing interface and wherein member and rotor defines a low-friction interface.
39. The engine of claim 31, wherein at least one of the rotor and the member is coated with a low-friction material.
40. The engine of claim 31, wherein at least one of the rotor and the member is formed of a low-friction material.
41. The engine of claim 31, wherein the member comprises shim stock.
42. The engine of claim 31, wherein the rotor has a member-engaging surface, the member-engaging surface comprising an undulated surface.
43. The engine of claim 31, wherein the valve seat is adapted to float relative to the port.
44. The engine of claim 31, wherein the port has an adjustable opening size.
45. The engine of claim 31, wherein the rotary valve is constructed and arranged to provide variable valve timing.
46. The engine of claim 31, wherein the member is substantially stationary relative to the port and is substantially slidable relative to the rotor.
47. The engine of claim 31, wherein the rotor comprises a body and a pressure plate coupled to the body, with the pressure plate pressing on the member as the rotor rotates.
48. The engine of claim 47, wherein the pressure plate is pivotally connected to the rotor.
49. The engine of claim 47, wherein the pressure plate comprises an undulated surface facing the member.
50. The engine of claim 49, wherein the pressure plate comprises a plurality of cut-outs to define the undulated surface.
51. The valve of claim 47, wherein the pressure plate is coated with a low friction material on a surface facing the member.
52. A valve comprising:
a housing having a housing surface and a port extending to the housing surface;
a valve seat on the housing surface disposed about the port;
a flexible membrane constructed and arranged to maintain rolling contact with the housing surface, such that the valve is closed when a portion of the flexible membrane is rolled into contact with the valve seat and such that the valve is opened when the portion of the flexible member is rolled from the valve seat; and
an actuator comprising a rotor in sliding contact with the flexible membrane, the actuator adapted to move the flexible member in rolling contact with the housing surface.
53. The valve of claim 52, wherein the valve is configured as a rotary valve and wherein the housing surface is cone-shaped.
54. The valve of claim 52, wherein the valve is configured as a rotary valve and wherein the housing surface is cylinder-shaped.
55. The valve of claim 52, wherein the valve is configured as a rotary valve and wherein the housing surface is disk-shaped.
56. The valve of claim 52, wherein the valve is configured as a rotary valve and wherein the housing is sphere-shaped.
57. The valve of claim 52, wherein the valve seat is raised relative to the housing surface.
58. The valve of claim 57, wherein the valve seat is adapted to float relative to the housing surface.
59. The valve of claim 52, wherein the rotor is adapted to conform to the housing surface.
60. The valve of claim 59, wherein the rotor includes a pressure plate.
61. The valve of claim 59, wherein the rotor comprises multiple, flexible fingers in sliding contact with the flexible member.
62. The valve of claim 61, wherein a first portion of the flexible fingers contact the flexible member along a first line of contact, and further wherein a second portion of the flexible fingers contact the flexible member along a second line of contact.
63. The valve of claim 61, wherein the flexible fingers contact the flexible member at multiple lines of contact.
64. The valve of claim 52, wherein the actuator includes at least one magnet adapted to move the flexible member in rolling contact with the housing surface.
65. The valve of claim 64, wherein the magnets comprise an array of magnets adapted to rotate a rotor in sliding contact with the flexible member.
66. The valve of claim 64, wherein magnets comprises an array of electromagnets that are selectively magnetized to rotate a rotor in sliding contact with the flexible member.
67. The valve of claim 64, wherein the flexible member comprises magnetizable material and further wherein the magnets move the flexible member in rolling contact with the housing surface.
68. The valve of claim 64, wherein the at least one magnet comprises at least one of an electromagnet and permanent magnet.
69. A valve comprising:
a housing having a port;
an actuator movable relative to the housing; and
a flexible member disposed between the housing and the actuator, the actuator acting on the flexible member so that the flexible member intermittently seals the port as the actuator moves
wherein the flexible member is substantially stationary relative to the housing and is substantially slidable relative to the actuator.
70. The valve of claim 69, wherein the valve is configured as a rotary valve and the actuator is a rotor, wherein the housing has a rotor-facing surface through which the port extends, the rotor-facing surface defining a cone shape.
71. The valve of claim 69, wherein the actuator has a housing-facing surface that is formed with a discontinuity, the discontinuity cooperating with the flexible member to allow the flexible member to move away from the port as the actuator moves and the discontinuity passes over the port.
72. The valve of claim 69, wherein the actuator has a housing-facing surface, the housing-facing surface comprising an undulated surface.

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media collectively storing instructions that, when executed, cause one or more computers to collectively perform a method of conducting transactions at a venue independent of a point of sale system, the instructions comprising:
a first set of instructions for generating a website, the website corresponding to a particular merchant venue and responsive to a first mobile computing device; and
a second set of instructions comprising a mobile application program executable on a second mobile computing device;
wherein the website is operable to:
check in a user to the particular merchant venue responsive to check in information transmitted from the first mobile computing device,
transmit an indicator to the application program that the user has checked in at the particular merchant venue,
receive an amount of a currency owed by the user from the application program, transmit the amount to the first mobile computing device,
receive a payment instruction from the first mobile computing device for paying at least the amount, and
initiate a financial transaction between the user and the merchant paying the at least the amount from the user to the merchant; and

wherein the mobile application program is operable to:
responsive to the indicator, display an indication that the user has checked in,
receive the amount of a currency owed by the user as input from the second mobile computing device,
transmit the amount of a currency owed by the user to the website, and
upon completion of the financial transaction, receive an indicator that the user has paid at least the amount of a currency owed.
2. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the website is further operable to receive at least one payment card number, and to transmit the at least one payment card number in association with the financial transaction.
3. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the website is further operable to receive multiple payment card numbers, and to transmit the multiple payment card numbers for persistent storage.
4. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 3, wherein the website is further operable to allow the first mobile computing device to select from among the multiple payment card numbers so as to receive an indication of a selected card number from among the multiple payment card numbers, and to initiate the financial transaction using the selected card number.
5. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the amount of a currency is a first amount, and the payment instruction comprises an instruction for paying a second amount of the currency, the second amount being greater than the first amount.
6. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise a third set of instructions for generating a content manager in electronic communication with the mobile application program, the content manager operable to receive the indicator that the user has checked in, to transmit the indicator to the mobile application program, to receive the amount of currency owed from the mobile application program, to transmit the amount of currency owed to the website, and to transmit the indicator that the user has paid to the mobile application program.
7. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise a third set of instructions for generating a content manager, the content manager operable to receive information corresponding to the particular merchant venue, and to initiate generation of the website using the received information corresponding to the particular merchant venue.
8. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein the information corresponding to the particular merchant venue comprises at least one of a merchant logo, graphics, color scheme, and merchant text content.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein the content manager is further operable to perform at least one of:
initiating an application for a secondary merchant identification for conducting the financial transaction, and
initiating a request for gateway credentials corresponding to the merchant venue.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein neither the website nor the mobile application program is operable to communicate electronically with the point of sale system.
11. A method of conducting transactions at a merchant venue, the method comprising:
receiving, at a website and from a first mobile computing device located at a merchant venue, a check-in request to check in at the merchant venue;
in response to the receiving, transmitting, to a second computing device located at the merchant venue, an indicator that the user has checked in;
receiving, from the second computing device, an amount of currency owed;
transmitting to the website the amount of currency owed;
receiving, through the website and from the first mobile computing device, an instruction to carry out a financial transaction using a specified payment card number so as to pay at least the amount of currency owed;
initiating the financial transaction with the specified payment card number;
receiving a notice of completion of the financial transaction; and
transmitting, to the first mobile computing device and to the second computing device, an indicator that the financial transaction was completed.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, through the website, the payment card number.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving, through the website, the payment card number further comprises receiving multiple payment card numbers.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, through the website, a selection from among the multiple payment card numbers, so as to designate the specified payment card number.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the instruction to carry out a financial transaction is an instruction to pay an amount of currency greater than the amount of currency owed.
16. The method of claim 11:
wherein the transmitting, to a second computing device located at the merchant venue further comprises transmitting, to a content manager program in electronic communication with the second computing device, the indicator that the user has checked in; and
wherein the receiving, from the second computing device, an amount of currency owed further comprises receiving, at the content manager program, the amount of currency owed.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving information corresponding to the merchant venue, and initiating generation of the website using the received information corresponding to the merchant venue.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information corresponding to the particular merchant venue comprises at least one of a merchant logo, graphics, color scheme, and merchant text content.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
initiating an application for a secondary merchant identification for conducting the financial transaction, and
initiating a request for gateway credentials corresponding to the merchant venue.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein neither the first mobile computing device nor the second computing device is a part of a point of sale system.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. Method for determining a spatial quality index of regionalised data and intended for determining a priori anomalistic data and accordingly assess the quality of the measurements or of the digital processing which have generated said data, comprising the following operational phases:
a first phase for identifying the first order statistical anomalies from a set of raw regionalised data, this identification including a rendering said data stationary by a preliminary extraction of the spatial drifts of said data and the determination of the associated first order stationary residue so that the value of the average of the residual data is reasonably constant in space, the anomalies being identified and examined on the first order residue so as to provide a first order anomaly criterion,
a second phase for identifying the second order statistical anomalies with extraction of the components of first order residue regarded as anomalistic and components of first order residue regarded as coherent in space,
setting up a quantified relation between any combination of the estimated values of the anomalistic components of the first andor second order and any combination of the estimated values of the coherent components of the first andor second order.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the setting up of the quantified relation is embodied for each regionalised data element taken individually.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said quantified relation is a ratio.
4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said quantified relation is the ratio between the estimated value of the second order anomalistic component and the estimated value of the coherent component is the sum of the first and second order coherent components.
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said it includes the localisation of the spatial anomalies on the basis of the values of the SQI of each regionalised data element.
6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said identification phases are carried out by geostatistical estimation in a non-stationary model for the first phase and in a stationary model for the second phase.
7. Method according to claim 1, wherein obtaining first order stationary residue, on which it is possible to calculate and modelise a variogram, is carried out via a non-stationary estimation of the spatial drift.
8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the interpretation of said variogram in terms of anomalistic and coherent components results in the estimation by a stationary model of the second order anomalistic component.
9. Method according to claim 1, wherein said identification phases use:
the definition of the krigeage surrounding area adapted to the estimation of each of said anomalistic and coherent components,
the estimation by factorial krigeage of the anomalistic and coherent components of the residue.
10. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in each of said stages, a 3D visual control of the analysis is carried out by firstly an interpolation on a grid file of any irregularly sampled variable originating from a point file, and secondly by means of a colour code associated with the value of the interpolated variable.
11. Method according to claim 1, wherein the extraction of a drift ensuring the stationary state of the residue stationary is effected via least error squares polynomial adjustment.