Abstract: A chiller for a container such as a wine bottle is disclosed. The chiller includes an insulated reservoir. Located within the reservoir are one or more reusable cold storage packs, known as freezer bricks. The bricks define a cooling ring that conforms to the interior of the container and define an annular gap between an exterior surface of the ring and an interior surface of the reservoir. An impeller is located at the bottom of the reservoir. The combination of ring and impeller establishes a vertical recirculation pattern that achieves rapid chilling.

Abstract: A check-in method for airlines allows passengers to use Short Message Service (SMS) to check-in themselves and baggage. A passenger requests to check-in via SMS from practically anywhere and not limited to the airport. After receipt of the request, a confirmation message is sent back to the passenger's registered mobile phone number by SMS. The system will ask the passenger for, and receive from the passenger, the number of bags they intend to check-in for the flight. The passengers can in some embodiments drop the baggage off without any required further action. The system issues an SMS-based cryptographically secure code, such as a bar-code boarding pass to the passenger once the baggage (if any) is successfully transferred and registered to existing baggage management systems through the process above. This code, when scanned, recognized and authenticated provides identification and security clearance for the passenger to board the aircraft.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for using a plurality of knowledge acquisition approaches to provide a solution to a task. The method includes providing at least one input parameter to define the task and at least one solution parameter to define the solution. A determination is made whether to use a Task-Method-Knowledge approach or a Structure-Behavior-Function approach for processing the task and the task is processed based on the input parameter. If the determined approach is the Task-Method-Knowledge approach, the processing may include determining whether a first portion of the task should be processed independently and whether to use the Task-Method-Knowledge approach or the Structure-Behavior-Function approach for processing the first portion. If the determined approach is the Structure-Behavior-Function approach, the processing may include determining whether a second portion of the task should be processed using the Task-Method-Knowledge approach.

Abstract: A diversion grenade (200) comprising: a transparent body (102) in which is located one or more charges of flash material (104); an internal power supply (114); a control circuit (126) that is responsive to one or more inputs, the control circuit (126) producing one or more output signals; and an external user operated trigger (110) for initiating a user input for activating the grenade (200). The grenade (200) may also include tracer lights (122) and sound emitters (201).

Abstract: A computer mouse 10 has magnetic orientation features. It comprises a body 11 in which is located a mechanism 13 for sensing the x and y movement of the body and a compassing device 16 for determining the magnetic orientation of the body. The mouse has a processor 40 for receiving and processing x and y movement data and magnetic orientation data. The processor sends the processed data to a transmitter 15 located in the body. The transmitter is wireless and sends signals based on the x and y data and the magnetic orientation data in real time.

Abstract: A shoe, soap or other article incorporates an integrated circuit having a first and a second input gate, and one or more outputs that can serve to supply power to a like number of light sources, like LEDs. The first input gate is responsive to a motion signal and acts to cause the integrated circuit to deliver a pattern of power signals to the one or more outputs. The second input gate is responsive to a second motion signal, the second motion signal actually being two or more motion signals occurring at a pre-determined frequency that the integrated circuit detects. The second input gate logically acts to cause the integrated circuit to alternate between a sleep mode and an active mode. The first input gate is disabled by the integrated circuit when the integrated circuit is in sleep mode.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system is disclosed. There are three major parts of the system—the proximity reader (200) mounted in the taxi (201), the host system (202) at a central location (203) and the data replication facility. The vehicular system (10) is essentially a computer having inputs and outputs. The inputs to the system (10) include, for example, passenger identification information (11) which is supplied by a sensor (12) which communicates with a wireless smart card (13), which is carried by a passenger (14). In its most rudimentary form, the smart card (13) transmits a unique identification number. In more sophisticated embodiments, the smart card (13) may also transmit biometric information such as fingerprint information or facial image information. The passenger (14) may also be requested to input a PIN number to a keypad (15) mounted on the exterior of the vehicle (16).