Patent Publication Number: US-2023136763-A1

Title: Dynamic display for terminal lane indicator

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional application that claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 63/240,599 entitled “Modular, Portable, and Reconfigurable Interactive Displays, Terminals, and Peripherals with Interface and Store-Wide and Customer-Specific Automated Assistance, Managing, and Monitoring,” filed on Sep. 3, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Traditional checkout lane indicators for self-service terminals (SSTs) only provide alerts on statuses of the SSTs using three color light codes. The three different light codes have to be learned and remembered by associates of a store and sometimes leads to misinterpretation. Shoppers may also read these color codes incorrectly, which can detract the shoppers from using the SSTs or cause shoppers to use SSTs that are out of service. The status messaging is also not always straight forward, has to be decoded, and can create confusion with associates and shoppers. 
     Retailers want to use the physical space associated with the lane indicators for purposes of enticing customers to use the SSTs. Increased usage of SSTs provides a variety of benefits to both the customers and the retailers. The retailers do not have to staff customer-assisted point-of-sale (POS) terminals for checkouts and the customers experience decreased checkout times, hence increasing customer flow through the store. 
     Physical space required for SSTs is also challenging for the retailers and most SSTs have a larger footprint than retailers would like. As a result, retailers would like to be able to use some of the physical space required by their SSTs for multiple purposes. Unfortunately, conventional lane indicators have limited and restricted functionality, and their existing functionality is confusing to both customers and retail associates. 
     SUMMARY 
     In various embodiments, a dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, a system for operating the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device and a method for operating the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device are presented. The dynamic display terminal lane indicator device includes two displays or one contiguous display with a display surface between 180 degrees and 360 degrees. The dynamic display terminal lane indicator device also includes at least one status light strip. The dynamic display terminal lane indicator device is attached to a status pole and interfaced to the two displays or the contiguous display and the one or more status light strips. The dynamic display terminal lane indicator device is interfaced to an SST. The SST controls the color and/or effects for the one or more light strips based on a status of the SST and the SST uses predefined rules to control the media played on the two display or the single contiguous displays. When the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device includes two displays, media played on the two displays can be synchronized or can be associated with different media such that each display plays its own unique media selection. In an embodiment, the status light strips, and the media played can be controlled by a server indirectly through the host SST or directly through wireless transceivers of the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  is a diagram of a self-service terminal (SST) with a dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  1 B  are diagrams of the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  1 C  are diagrams of additional dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  1 D  are diagrams of still other dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  1 E  is a diagram of a bank of SSTs, each SST includes its own dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  1 F  is a diagram that illustrates a casher-assisted mode of operation for an SST having a dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  1 G  is a diagram that illustrates an example architecture of a motherboard for a printed circuit board (PCB) of a dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  1 H  is a diagram that illustrates an example architecture for an interface board of a dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram of a system for operating a dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram of a method for operating the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, conventional lane indicator lights are limited in functionality, confusing, and occupy valuable physical space associated with SSTs in retail stores. As will be demonstrated herein and below, an SST is interfaced to a dynamic display terminal lane indicator device. The dynamic display terminal lane indicator device includes two independent displays that can be synchronized with one another or operated independently of one another. Alternatively, includes a single contiguous display that wraps around to cover a display area nearly 360 degrees. The dynamic display terminal lane indicator device further includes one or more status lights corresponding to states of its corresponding host SST. The SST can control what is being displayed on the one or more displays of the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device. In an embodiment, a server can control the one or more displays of the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device. 
     In an embodiment, the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device includes a single motherboard and a single interface board for the one or more displays. In an embodiment, a single port on a printed circuit board (PCB) for the SST is connected via a corresponding cable to a single port on an interface board of the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device to establish a wired connection between the SST and the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device. In an embodiment, the one or more displays are light-emitting diode (LED) displays, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, and/or electronic in (E-Ink) displays. In an embodiment, the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device is connected and interfaced to its host SST via one or more wireless transceivers on the motherboard of the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device and one or more wireless transceivers of the host SST. 
     The dynamic display terminal lane indicator device (herein after referred to as just “indicator device”) can have a variety of configurations, functions, and options. These configuration, functions, and options are now discussed with reference to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 H,  2 , and  3   . 
       FIG.  1 A  is a diagram  100 A of an SST  200  with an indicator device  111 A, according to an example embodiment. In an embodiment, the indicator device  111 A includes two displays, a first display  111 B representing a left-facing display and a second display  111 C representing a right-facing display as shown in the middle diagram of  FIG.  1 B . The sizes and dimensions of the two displays  111 B and  111 C can be manufactured based on an apparatus  110  that holds or elevates the two displays  111 B and  111 C above an SST  120 . 
     As shown in diagram  100 A, the apparatus  110  that holds the two displays  111 B and  111 C is an SST status indicator pole  113 . The two displays  111 B and  111 C are enclosed and held within a framed element or framed member  114  situated substantially at a top of the indicator pole  113 . The interface port to the indicator device  111 A can be located within the apparatus  110  at a location within the framed element  114  that is adjacent to the pole  113 . One or more additional ports for one or more status indicator light strips  112  can also be situated adjacent to the interface port. In this way, the indicator device  111 A can be attached to the pole  113  and interfaced directly to the SST  120  and one or more status indicator light strips  112  within the framed element  114  of pole  113 . The light indicator strips  112  can be manufactured within the pole  113  or attached to an outer surface of the pole. Cabling for the light strips  112  can run inside pole  113  and a cable to the PCB port connection of the SST  120  can run inside pole  113  to the appropriate connection inside a housing of the SST  120 . 
     It is noted that the above discussed configuration can be achieved in a variety of other manners. For example, no cable connection is needed between the indicator device  111 A and the SST  120  when the connection is wireless via wireless transceivers of both the SST  120  and the indicator device  111 A. In this instance, just the light strips  112  would include cabling through the pole  113 . However, the light strips  112  themselves can include wireless transceivers, such that no cabling is needed at all to interface both the SST  120  and the light strips  112  to the indicator device  111 A. 
     The SST  120  includes a variety of accessory modules and peripheral devices. For example, the SST  120 , as configured in  FIG.  1 A , includes a touch display  121 ; a bioptic scanner  122 A with a vertical scanner  122 B and a horizontal scanner  122 C; a receipt printer  123 ; a combined card reader and keypad  124 ; a media dispenser/accepter  125  with a media acceptor/dispenser chute  125 B, a coin acceptor/dispenser chute  125 C, and a near field communication (NFC) wireless transceiver; a bag well with an integrated bag weigh scale  126 , and an accessory module side shelf  127 . The indicator device  111 A is also a peripheral of the SST  120  and under the control of the host device of the SST  120  via the wired or wireless connection as discussed above. 
     It is to be noted that similar to the indicator device  111 A, the SST  120  can be configured with more peripherals and/or accessory modules or less peripherals and/or accessory modules from what is illustrated in  FIG.  1 A . For example, the SST  120  does not have to include the combined card reader and keypad  124  as the card reader can be integrated into a bottom of touch display  121  and the touch display  121  can provide a touch-based keypad on transaction interface screens. As another example, SST  120  can include an optional handheld scanner. 
       FIG.  1 B  are diagrams  100 B of the indicator device  111 A, according to an example embodiment. Leftmost diagram of indicator device  111 A illustrates the first or left-facing display  114  which is presenting text and graphical images indicating that the host SST  120  or lane for the SST  120  is open. The middle diagram of indicator device  111 A illustrates the second or right-facing display  111 C which is presenting text and graphics indicating the the corresponding host SST  120  only accepts cash payments. The rightmost diagram of indicator device  111 A again illustrates the second of right-facing display  111 C and presents graphics indicating that the lane can accept payments by card, phone, and/or cash. Each of the views of the indicator device  111 A includes an apparatus  110  similar to what was discussed above with  FIG.  1 A , namely indicator device  111 A is enclosed within framed element  114  on a top portion of pole  113 . 
       FIG.  1 C  are diagrams  100 C of additional indicator device  111 A, according to an example embodiment. Leftmost diagram illustrates an indicator device  111 A showing the left-facing display  111 B along with two separate and distinct light strips  112 A and  112 B; the apparatus to which indicator device  111 A is different from what has been shown above in that the framed element  114  is situated down by an offset amount from a top portion of pole  113 . The middle diagram illustrates a flag shaped configuration of the apparatus  110  and framed element  114  includes a single or four separate light sources  112 C that surround all portions of framed element  114 . 
     In the middle diagram the displayed “1” on display  111 B can be used to indicate an assigned SST lane number for the corresponding host SST. Alternatively, the displayed “1” can be used to indicate that there is currently 1 customer processing a transaction on the assigned SST so as to inform any next customer that there is only a 1 person wait for the next customer to process their self-service transaction on the assigned SST. In an embodiment, the displayed “1” can represent a wait time in minutes before a next customer has access to the assigned SST. 
     The rightmost diagram illustrates a flag shaped configuration of apparatus  110  and a single contiguous ticker-tape display  111 D as indicator device  111 A. Thus, in an embodiment illustrated by the rightmost diagram the indicator device  111 A is a single contiguous long display  111 D that contiguously displays text and graphics in a reading order from left to right for greater than 180 degrees on two sides such that as displayed information leaves one side of display device  111 D it moves to the next side of display device  111 D. 
       FIG.  1 D  are diagrams  100 D of still other indicator device  111 A, according to an example embodiment. Rightmost diagram illustrates a contiguous single display  111 D framed in a circle shape such that framed element  114  is not visible to an onlooker. The text, images, graphics, and/or video moves from left to right for 360 degrees around the display  111 D. The non-visible framed element  114  includes a top, a bottom or both a top and a bottom of the circle display  111 C and is interfaced to pole  114  at a location adjacent to pole  114 . There is also a single light strip  112 . Leftmost diagram illustrates indicator device  111 A with the left-facing display  111 B visible. Again, framed element  114  is non-visible to an onlooker and a single and larger light strip  112 D is situated on top of a top portion of display  111 A. 
       FIG.  1 E  is a diagram  100 E of a bank of SSTs,  120  each SST  120  includes its own indicator device  111 A, according to an example embodiment. An aisle is illustrated with customers at SSTs  120 , the right-facing displays  111 C are visible based on the view depicted of the aisle. The light strip  112  is adjacent to an end of the indicator device  111 A so as to appear to be an end of the indicator device  111 A. 
       FIG.  1 F  is a diagram that illustrates a casher-assisted mode of operation for an SST  120  having an indicator device  111 A, according to an example embodiment. An additional display can be added to the SST  120  on the side facing the cashier and the SST  120  is placed in a cashier-assisted mode of operation where a cashier shown on the righthand side of  FIG.  1 F  can perform cashier-assisted transaction on behalf of customers shown on the lefthand side of  FIG.  1 F . In the cashier-assisted mode of operation the SST  120  operates as a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The customer is facing the left-facing display  111 B and the cashier is facing the right-facing display  111 C. The text, graphics, images, video, and/or information presented on the left-facing display  111 B to the customer can be the same as or different from the text, graphics, images, video, and/or information presented on the right-facing display  111 C to the cashier. 
       FIG.  1 G  is a diagram  100 G that illustrates an example architecture of a motherboard for a printed circuit board (PCB) of an indicator device device  111 A, according to an example embodiment. The motherboard includes two port connections to the displays  111 B and  111 C at the top of the motherboard. Optionally, the motherboard on the righthand side includes one or more wireless transceivers. It is noted that the layout and components illustrated on the motherboard can vary as can the options selected for memory and the processor. Thus, the architecture is presented as one embodiment as other embodiments are foreseeable. 
       FIG.  1 H  is a diagram  100 H that illustrates an example architecture for an interface board of an indicator device  111 A, according to an example embodiment. The interface board illustrates on the righthand side two ports for connecting two light strips  112  and a single port at the bottom of the interface board for connection to a corresponding port on the SST  120 . It is noted that additional ports can be provide for additional light strips  112  or there can just be a single light strip port. Furthermore, there can be a port for audio or other ports not specifically illustrated in  FIG.  1 H . Thus, the architecture is presented as one embodiment as other embodiments are foreseeable. 
     In an embodiment, indicator device  111 A includes interface ports for a single status light strip  112  or  112 A- 112 D or two or more status light strips  112  and  112 A- 112 D. Each status light strip  112  and  112 A- 112 D can be a single-colored light or support a series of different color lights. The size, dimensions, and locations of the status strip lights  112  and  112 A- 112 D can vary and can their locations around and on pole  113 , framed element  114 , and indicator device  111 A. 
     In an embodiment, indicator device  111 A includes two displays situated back-to-back. In an embodiment, the indicator device  111 A includes a single contiguous display whose displayable surface extends beyond 180 degrees to two sides of status pole  113  or extends 360 degrees in a circle arrangement. 
     In an embodiment, status light strip  112  and  112 A- 112 D offer or convey additional information when lit, the information can be color coded to identify when an associate is requested and the display surface of the display(s) of the indicator device can show a graphic such as an icon, making clear that an associated is needed for intervention at a given SST  120 . As another example, when there is a media jam or a receipt paper jam, the status light strip  1112  and  112 A- 112 D will indicate an appropriate color while dual displays  111 B and  111 C of an indicator device  111 A shows a graphical illustration conveying the problem with the media or paper jam. 
     In an embodiment, when SSTs  120  are in normal use with normal statuses, the indicator device will display information, graphics, video, and/or text letting shoppers know which SSTs  120  are “Cash Payment Only,” “Card Payment Only,” “Open,” “Busy,” and can display tentative wait times for the customers to have access to the corresponding SST  120  for self-checkout. In an embodiment, as stores seek to entice and upsell to customers, promotional material can be displayed on the indicator devices  111 A, as well as seasonal messages and infinite relevant merchandising content including from sponsoring brands. Attention from shoppers is more likely to be on dynamic messaging on displays  111 B,  111 C, and/or  111 D than on static color changes associated with conventional status indicator devices. This can help in making customer queueing less burdensome, while increasing efficiency, speed of customer checkout flow as messaging is clear as to which SST  120  to user and when. The color displays  111 B,  111 C, and  111 D can vary in size depending on the intended use and for the desired visibility. Tests have shown positive results in using animated graphics to guide shoppers and/or using marketing material. 
     The displays  111 B,  111 C, and  111 D are under the control of the SST  120 , meaning that they are under software control of the SST  120 . This can mean that the nature of the lead-through can change on some SSTs  120  purely for branding, e.g., colored lights  112 ,  112 A- 112 D and displays  111 B,  111 C, or  111 D are used to reflect the retailer&#39;s brand. On other colored lights  112 ,  112 A- 112 D and displays  111 B,  111 C, and  111 D can be used to provide additional guidance (e.g., this SST lane only accepts cards, this one accepts cash, along with using the light strips  112 ,  112 A- 112 D to provide additional guidance as to how to use the SST lane). Each SST  120  is fully customizable with respect to how its indicator device  111 A is operated in a given checkout area. 
     In an embodiment, a server can control one or more of the displays  111 B,  111 C, and/or  111 D of the indicator device  111 A. This can be achieved directly through a wireless connection or can be achieved through the host SST  120  of tine indicator device  111 A with the host SST  120  acting as a proxy between communication from the server to the indicator device  111 A. 
     In an embodiment, the indicator device  111 A includes at least one wireless transceiver that permits another device to connect to at least one display  111 B or  111 C and stream a video or a set of images that plays on display  111 B or  111 C in a loop that repeats. The wirelessly connecting device can be a server, a different SST  120  from the host SST  120 , a storage device, a video camera, and/or a mobile device. In the case of the video camera the video can be provided from the camera as a live video feed of a particular area of the store, parking lot of the store, or entrance to the store that does not loop but rather streams the live feed for playing directly on the display  111 B or  111 C. In an embodiment, the host SST  120  can change the video camera from an originally connected video camera to a different video camera that captures a different area of the store. 
     In an embodiment, the motherboard of the indicator device  111 A includes at least one universal serial bus (USB) port. A video or an image slide show maintained on a USB thumb drive can be inserted into the port causing at least one display  111 B or  111 C to play the video or the image slide show in a loop. 
       FIG.  2    is a diagram of a system  200  for operating an indicator device, according to an example embodiment. It is to be noted that the components are shown schematically in greatly simplified form, with only those components relevant to understanding of the embodiments being illustrated. 
     Furthermore, the various components (that are identified in  FIG.  2   ) are illustrated and the arrangement of the components is presented for purposes of illustration only. It is to be noted that other arrangements with more or fewer components are possible without departing from the teachings of operating an indicator device, presented herein and below. 
     System  200  includes a a terminal  210 , a terminal indicator device  220  (herein referred to as “indicator device  220 ,” and an optional server  230 . Terminal  210  includes one or more processors  211  and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (hereinafter just “medium”)  212 , which includes executable instructions for a transaction manager  213  a first display manager  215 , and optionally a second display manager  216 . The instructions when provided to processor  211  cause processor  211  to perform the operations discussed herein for  214 - 216 . 
     Indicator device  220  includes a first integrated display  221 , optionally a second integrated display  222 , a status light controller  223 , a display controller  224 , and optionally one or more wireless transceivers. Optional server  230  includes at least one processor  231  and a medium  232 , which includes instructions for a terminal manager  233  and a terminal indicator device manager  234 . The instructions when provided to processor  231  cause processor  231  to perform operations discussed herein for  233  and  234 . 
     During operation of terminal  210 , the terminal can be idle and not performing transaction because it is offline or has not customers performing any transactions at the moment. The terminal  210  can also be actively engaged in a transaction with a customer. Transaction manager  214  reports statuses of the terminal  210  to first display manager  215  and/or second display manager  216 . The statuses can include, actively processing a self-service transaction, actively processing a cashier-assisted transaction while in a cashier-assisted mode of operation, idle but available, an attendant requested for an active transaction, a malfunction was detected such as a media or paper jam, unable to process a card payment for an activate transaction, offline and unavailable, etc. 
     Display manager  215  and/or display manager  216  identify the status of a given terminal  210  and uses predefined rules to resolve what is to be displayed on a two-display indicator device  220  or a single greater than 180-degree display indicator device  220 . The rules include colors for each of the available status light strips  112  or  112 A- 112 D, text, graphics, images, and/or videos to convey the information associated with the corresponding status. It can also be that the status is reflected via the light strip colors and via the presentation on one display  111 B or  111 C of the indicator device  220  while the second display  111 C includes text, graphics, images, and/or video completely unrelated to the existing status, such as promotional information, fun facts, historical information of the store, item information for a promoted item, advertisements, etc. It can also be that a two-display indicator device  220  is synchronized with one another such that what is displayed on display  111 B is simultaneously displayed on display  111 C. 
     Display managers  215  and/or  216  can receive the rules that determine the colors of the status light strips  112 ,  112 A- 112 D through terminal manager  233 . Terminal manager  233  can also send updates to the rules to managers  215  and/or  216 . 
     To control the color and effects of the status light strips  112 ,  112 A- 112 D display manager(s)  215  and/or  216  send an instruction to status light controller  223 . This causes terminal indicator device  220  to send signals to each of the one or more status light strips  112 ,  112 A- 112 D to cause the color changes and/or effects, such as blinking, strobing, blinking at predefined rates, etc. 
     To control the graphics, text, images, and/or video on the one or more displays of indicator device  220 , managers  215  and/or  216  stream or provide a file to display controller  224  to play or present the stream of media or the media file. With a two-display indicator device  220 , the stream or file is identified with a first display identifier, a second display identifier, or both a first display identifier and a second display identifiers when the two displays are to be synchronized with the same media stream or media file. Controller  224  plays the media stream or the media file on a single display or on both displays based on the provided display identifiers. In an embodiment, first display manager  215  managers media played on the first integrated display  221  through controller  225  and manager  216  independently and separately managed media played on second integrated display  222  through controller  225 . 
     In an embodiment, and perhaps when a given terminal is in an idle state, terminal indicator device manager  234  of server  230  can stream media or send media files directly to controller  224 . This can be done through managers  215  and/or  216  acting as a proxy or can be done through optional wireless transceivers  225  of indicator device  220 . Again, a two-display indicator device  220  can receive same media to play on both displays  221  and  222  or receive different media that is to be played separately each of the displays  221  and  222 . In an embodiment, the terminal indicator device manager  234  can also change the color of the light strips  112 ,  112 A- 112 D using managers  216  as a proxy and/or using wireless transceivers  225  to communicate the color and effects desired to status light controller  223 . 
     In an embodiment, terminal  210  operates in a self-service mode of operation during which transaction manager  214  processes self-service checkout transactions for customers. The terminal  210  can switch to a cashier-assisted mode of operation during which a cashier performs cashier-assisted transactions for customers using transaction manager  214 . This was illustrated in  FIG.  1 F  above. 
     In an embodiment, indicator device  220  includes a single PCB motherboard with one, two, or more light strip ports for controlling the status light strips  112 ,  112 A- 112 D. Two light strip ports where shown in the motherboard architecture of  FIG.  1 G . In an embodiment, indicator device  220  includes a single interface board that includes a single interface port to connect with a host SST  120 . This was shown in the interface board architecture of  FIG.  1 H . 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram of a method  300  for operating the dynamic display terminal lane indicator device, according to an example embodiment. The software module(s) that implements the method  300  is referred to as an “SST indicator device manager.” The SST indicator device manager is implemented as executable instructions programmed and residing within memory and/or a non-transitory computer-readable (processor-readable) storage medium and executed by one or more processors of a host device. The processor(s) of the device that executes the SST indicator device manager are specifically configured and programmed to process the SST indicator device manager. The SST indicator device manager has access to one or more network connections during its processing. The network connections can be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless. 
     In an embodiment, the device that executes the SST indicator device manager is SST  120  or terminal  210 . In an embodiment, the SST indicator device manager is one or more of display manager  215  and/or display manager  216 . 
     At  310 , the SST indicator device manager identifies a status change for an SST  120  or  210 . The status can be any of the above-referenced terminal statuses. At  320 , the SST indicator device manager obtains a media selection based on rules associated with the status change. That is, the SST indicator device manager maintains a set of rules corresponding to light colors and/or light effects for status light strips  112  and/or  112 A- 112 D. The rules also identify media selections that include text, graphics, images, animation, and video associated with each status. 
     At  330 , the SST indicator device manager instructs a terminal indicator device peripheral  111 A and/or  220  to control one of a color or an effect presented by a status light  112  and/or  112 A- 112 D from a status pole  113  situated above the SST  120  and/or  210  based on the status. The terminal indicator device peripheral  111 A and/or  220  attached to the status pole  113  in any of the manners discussed above with  FIGS.  1 A- 1 F . 
     At  340 , the SST indicator device manager instructs the terminal indicator device peripheral  111 A and/or  220  to play the media selection relevant to the status change on at least one display  111 B and/or  111 C of the terminal indicator device peripheral  111 A and/or  220  based on the status change. 
     In an embodiment, at  340 , the SST indicator device manager instructs the terminal indicator device peripheral  111 A and/or  210  to play a second media selection that is not relevant to the status on a second display  111 B of the terminal indicator device peripheral  111 A and/or  220  while the media selection of  330  plays on a first display  111 C of the terminal indicator device peripheral  111 A and/or  220 . This illustrates that the two displays  111 B and  111 C of indicator device  111 A and/or  220  can be separately and independently controlled and can play different media selections on each display  111 B and  111 C. 
     It should be appreciated that where software is described in a particular form (such as a component or module) this is merely to aid understanding and is not intended to limit how software that implements those functions may be architected or structured. For example, modules are illustrated as separate modules, but may be implemented as homogenous code, as individual components, some, but not all of these modules may be combined, or the functions may be implemented in software structured in any other convenient manner. 
     Furthermore, although the software modules are illustrated as executing on one piece of hardware, the software may be distributed over multiple processors or in any other convenient manner. The above description is illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of embodiments should therefore be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In the foregoing description of the embodiments, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting that the claimed embodiments have more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Description of the Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate exemplary embodiment.