Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a system comprising one or more subsystems, which can be practiced alone or in combination, which together allow for monitoring of groundwater, rock, and casing for production flow and leakage of hydrocarbon fluids. A flow measurement subsystem measures flow of hydrocarbons in the horizontal casing string. A well mechanical integrity monitoring subsystem monitors the mechanical integrity of the natural gas production well, including the junctures of a completed well. An aquifer monitoring subsystem directly monitors water aquifer(s) underneath and surrounding a natural gas production well or pad, including monitoring wells or existing water wells. A communication subsystem is used to communicate measurements taken downhole to the surface. The present invention may be used to enhance the production from a gas bearing shale formation, mitigate liability associated with hydrocarbon migration, and monitor for a loss of mechanical integrity of a well.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for determining when a set of RFID tags on a set of stacked objects belongs to a same defined subset of stacked objects (“set identification”).

Abstract: The present invention is a safety and business productivity system having the following components. One or more cameras capture video data having attribute data, the attribute data representing importance of the cameras. One or more video analytics devices process the video data from one or more of the cameras and detect primitive video events in the video data. A correlation engine correlates two or more primitive video events from the video analytics devices weighted by the attribute data of the cameras used to capture the video data. An alerting engine generates one or more alerts and performs one or more actions based on the correlation performed by the correlation engine.

Abstract: A beverage and method of preparing a beverage comprising various combinations of flower essences designed for human consumption to treat emotional, mental and physical illnesses while providing hydration. In one illustrative embodiment of the method herein, a beverage is first formed by mixing a flower essence tincture with a diluent. A preservative flavoring and sweetener may also be added to the mixture. The beverage is then added to an empty container to form a filled container and then sealed to form a beverage product. The filled container may be sealed by, without limitation, applying a vacuum to the beverage therein, and/or capping an opening of the filled container. The capping may include applying a cap to the container, such as plastic or metallic cap. The container may be a plastic, glass or metallic bottle.

Abstract: The present invention allows for an easy-to-use, web-based, schema-less database system that provides organizations the ability to organically model, store, and access information in an iterative and evolutionary manner. Users are encouraged to grow and explore the information domain intuitively. One embodiment is a method of collaboratively managing an entity-relationship database, including: displaying an entity-relationship graph to a first user, and creating a new relationship in the database in response to an input from said first user. Then, displaying an updated entity-relationship graph to a second user, and creating a second new relationship in the database in response to an input from the second user. Finally, assigning a voting weight to one or more relationships in the database in response to an input from a voting user, and disambiguating two or more relationships based on the voting weight from the voting user.

Abstract: An integrated parking information system is disclosed. The system includes a collection system and a means for collection of parking data, and an information provision system and a method for the provision of parking information, for instance, enabling a driver to know exactly which city parking rules and fines apply for any given street parking space, as well as other associated information. The system can notify members about available parking spots through a GPS application that is integrated with phones & in dash navigation systems. The system can provide alerts to protect members against parking violations.

Abstract: A collapsible box that provides access through both its top and front side, said box comprising sets of interior and exterior sidewalls, said interior sidewalls folding inward along a hinge and said exterior sidewalls folding along a hinge that runs along a bias. Said box capable of being made from either flat sheet material or molded parts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for generating “clean” electricity from carbonaceous material, and producing high-pressure CO2 which can be easily sequestered or utilized for a beneficial purpose, such as fuel production. This method utilizes a reformation process that reforms carbonaceous fuel with superheated steam into a high-pressure gaseous mixture that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. This high-pressure gas exchanges excess heat with the incoming steam from a boiler. Once cooled, the high-pressure gas goes through a CO2 separator, after which the CO2-rich gas is sequestered underground or beneficially re-used. The remaining hydrogen-rich gas is used to generate power in a power generation subsystem, such as a gas turbine or a fuel cell. Therefore, carbon-free power is produced from coal, biomass, natural gas, or another carbon-based feedstock.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for generating quotations from a reference document on a touch sensitive display device or other handheld device, including the following steps: (a) providing a reference document; (b) displaying the reference document; (c) capturing an image of a portion of the reference document; (d) editing the captured portion of the reference document; and (e) generating a quotation comprising an image quotation and a bibliographical reference to a referenced portion of the reference document. The present invention may be used in Apple iPhones®, hand-held devices that inspectors may use to quote reference documents to substantiate statements of problems found during industrial inspections, and in other purposes.

Abstract: The present invention is a video surveillance, storage, and alerting system having the following components. One or more surveillance cameras capture video data having attribute data, the attribute data representing importance of the surveillance cameras. One or more video analytics devices process the video data from one or more of the surveillance cameras and detect primitive video events in the video data. A network management module monitors network status of the surveillance cameras, and the video analytics devices, and generates network events reflective of the network status of all subsystems. A correlation engine correlates two or more primitive video events from the video analytics devices weighted by the attribute data of the surveillance cameras used to capture the video data, and network events from the network management module weighted by attribute data of device corresponding to the network event.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cylindrical, single-component two-stage regulator for controlling a pressure and a flow rate of a gas. The regulator includes a housing for holding the two stages having an ingress adapted for connection to a source of gas at a high input pressure and an egress adapted for supplying gas at a lower output pressure than the high input pressure; a first stage for reducing the pressure of the gas from the high input pressure to a fixed intermediate pressure; and a second stage for reducing the pressure of the gas from the fixed intermediate pressure to the lower output pressure and regulating the flow rate of the gas out of the egress. One application of the present invention is for use in scuba (Self-Contained Under-water Breathing Apparatus) applications, where it replaces the traditional two-component user-adjustable regulator. The regulator may be made out of stainless steel, and is small enough to fit into a user's mouthpiece.

Abstract: An audio surveillance, storage, and alerting system, including the following components: One or more audio sensory devices capture audio data having attribute data representing importance of the audio sensory devices. One or more audio analytics devices process the audio data to detect audio events. A network management module monitors network status of the audio sensory devices and generates network events reflective of the network status of all subsystems. A correlation engine correlates two or more events weighted by the attribute data of the device used to capture the data. Finally, an alerting engine generates one or more alerts and performs one or more actions based on the correlation performed by the correlation engine. This invention may be used to help fight crime and help ensure safety procedures are followed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a breakthrough in the art of chromatography allowing 1) larger scale of operation; 2) faster processing time; 3) disposability; 4) reduction of media/resin expenses; and 5) a reduction of capital equipment investment. In this invention, the chromatography column is replaced by a module that consists of two or more interconnected tangential flow filters and static mixers. The chromatography resin flows through this module in a single pass, while similar operations to a regular chromatographic process are performed on the resin (binding, washing, elution, regeneration, and equilibration). The buffers for these operations are pumped into the module in a countercurrent direction to the flow of resin, and permeate solutions from later stages are recycled back into previous stages. This creates concentration gradients in the permeate solutions of the tangential flow filters in the countercurrent direction to resin flow, thus saving buffer volume and increasing process efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for generating quotations from a reference document on a touch sensitive display device or other handheld device, including the following steps: (a) receiving a first input from a user designating a first point in a captured image of the reference document to define a first corner of a crop rectangle; (b) receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the captured image to define a second corner of the crop rectangle, wherein the first input is released before the second input is initiated; (c) cropping the captured image from the first point to the second point of the crop rectangle when the second input is released to generate an image quotation; and (f) generating a quotation data object comprising the image quotation and a bibliographical reference to a referenced section of the reference document which contains the image quotation. After the image quotation has been cropped, it may be annotated using a similar two-touch method.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for continuous, single-pass countercurrent tangential chromatography having multiple single-pass modules. A single-pass binding step module is used for binding product from an unpurified product solution with a resin slurry. A single-pass washing step module is used for washing impurities from the resin slurry. A single-pass elution step module for eluting an output of the washing step module is used as purified product solution. A single-pass regeneration step module is used for regenerating the resin slurry. In the current invention, the resin slurry flows in a continuous, single-pass through each of the single-pass modules, and one or more of the single-pass modules comprise two or more stages with permeate flow directed countercurrent to resin slurry flow within that single-pass module. The present invention replaces conventional column chromatography and may be made disposable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cylindrical, single-component two-stage regulator for controlling a pressure and a flow rate of a gas. The regulator includes a housing for holding the two stages having an ingress adapted for connection to a source of gas at a high input pressure and an egress adapted for supplying gas at a lower output pressure than the high input pressure; a first stage for reducing the pressure of the gas from the high input pressure to a fixed intermediate pressure; and a second stage for reducing the pressure of the gas from the fixed intermediate pressure to the lower output pressure and regulating the flow rate of the gas out of the egress. One application of the present invention is for use in SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) applications, where it replaces the traditional two-component user-adjustable regulator. The regulator may be made out of stainless steel, and is small enough to fit into a user's mouthpiece.

Abstract: A reformation power plant generates clean electricity from carbonaceous material and high pressure CO2 which can be easily sequestered or utilized for a beneficial purpose, such as fuel production. The reformation power plant design utilizes a reformation process that reforms carbonaceous fuel with super-heated steam into a high-pressure gaseous mixture that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. This high-pressure gas exchanges excess heat with the incoming steam from a boiler and continues onward to a condenser. Once cooled, the high-pressure gas goes through a methanol separator, after which the CO2-rich gas is sequestered underground or beneficially re-used. The remaining hydrogen-rich gas is combusted through a gas turbine. The gas turbine provides power to a generator and also regenerative heat for the boiler. Finally, the generator converts mechanical energy into electricity, which is transferred to the electric grid.

Abstract: The present invention is a natural gas steam reforming method for generating an output gas mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, including the following steps. (1) Combusting a portion of the natural gas with an oxidizing agent to generate heat, superheated steam, and a gas mixture of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. (2) Steam reforming the gas mixture with additional superheated steam under steam-rich conditions to transform a remaining portion of the natural gas into carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. (3) Water-gas-shifting any residual carbon monoxide into additional carbon dioxide and additional hydrogen by utilizing a water-gas-shift catalyst downstream of the steam reforming step, thereby producing an effluent gas mixture that is predominantly carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for determining when a set of RFID tags on a set of objects belongs to a same defined subset of objects (“set identification”).