Abstract: A method and system for monitoring greenhouse gas emission from a vehicle. The vehicle is monitored for greenhouse gas emission, which includes identifying a running total of greenhouse gas emitted by the vehicle into an external environment that is external to the vehicle and activating a payment triggering condition when the emission exceeds the expected total. Satisfaction of a payment triggering condition that triggers collection of a required payment pertaining to the identified running total of greenhouse gas emitted is detected. Responsive to detecting the satisfaction of the payment triggering condition the required payment is computed as a function of the stored running total of greenhouse gas emitted.

Abstract: A method for installation capacities of a hybrid energy generation system is disclosed. The hybrid energy generation system may include a plurality of power systems. According to the environment factors and practical requirements of the installation site, the mechanism of the present invention may find the golden ratio of the installation capacities among the different power systems. Furthermore, the present invention may obtain the combination of installation capacities associated with the minimum recovery period, thereby further decreasing the installation cost and the efficiency of the hybrid energy generation system.

Abstract: A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface.

Abstract: Methods for using a liner in a waste sorting and disposal system are provided. The liner includes an internal space and an opening that provides access to that internal space. In some embodiments, the liner may also include a machine-readable identification key that is configured to identify a type of waste that the liner may receive. In some embodiments, the machine-readable key is optical, color-coded, alphanumeric or graphical. The liner can include one or more closure members to allow a user to securely seal the liner when it is removed from the container. In some embodiments, the liner can include a flange, lip, hook or other protrusion to secure its position relative to a container.

Abstract: A system for managing mineral interests includes at least one database for storing data records relating to oil and gas mineral interest. A server enables generation of a graphical user interface at a plurality of locations over an open network. The graphical user interface enables creation and editing of data records stored in the at least one database from the plurality of locations and the editing may occur over the open network. The graphical user interface further enables viewing of data records from the plurality of locations over the open network.

Abstract: A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface.

Abstract: An electronic settlement system for mineral production, distribution, and sales includes a plurality of modules and a processor for using information from those modules to effect a settlement between the parties involved in the production, distribution, and sales of minerals. The modules for information sufficient to perform the settlement includes: payor module, well tax module, mineral owner module, division order module, gathering system and gas plant module, wellhead price module, mineral lease and agreement module, product movement and balancing module, mineral ownership and book entry and netting module.

Abstract: A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with a plurality of white walls in order to perform a visual analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The visual analysis inspects the LCD screen of the mobile phone to determine if the LCD screen is damaged. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface.

Abstract: The system enables one to securely recycle an electronic device in a publicly accessible location. In particular, the embodiment described may be used by a mobile phone owner to submit his/her mobile phone for recycling via an electronic kiosk and receive compensation in some form. The compensation might be dispersed via cash, voucher, credit or debit card, or other magnetic or electronic transaction methods.

Abstract: A computer-based method and apparatus for identifying hazardous materials based on observable physical properties and signs and systems of exposure to the hazardous materials. The observable physical properties are obtained by preprocessing plain language data to obtain normalized descriptors and modifiers pertaining to a plurality of properties and signs and symptoms. The normalized descriptors and signs and symptoms are presented to a user in lists for comparison with a sample in the field. Tightly integrated with identifying the hazardous materials are obtaining response data, obtaining controlled materials of which the hazardous materials may be precursors, and predicting reactions of pairs of hazardous materials. The preferred embodiments of the invention are particularly useful to responders to a hazardous waste incident.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to generate an energy consumption index are disclosed. In one described example, a method to generate an energy consumption index is disclosed, the method including measuring resources consumed at a home associated with a first person and calculating a home energy value indicative of the resources consumed at the home and measuring resources consumed by the person while located outside the home and calculating an out of home energy value indicative of the resources consumed by the person while located outside the home. The example method further includes identifying goods purchased by the person and calculating a purchase energy value indicative of the resources associated with the purchased goods, and generating an energy consumption index associated with the person based on the home energy value, the out of home energy value, and the purchase energy value.

Abstract: A centralized database system for supporting transactions in property. The central database is accessed by system users over a public network such as the Internet. The central database forms a title registry recording the entitlements of the users, who are a defined group, to perform prescribed actions in relation to electronically created records. The electronically created records represent a strictly defined series of rights and obligations in relation to underlying property with one record being created for support of one transaction. The users become entitled by virtue of their designation to prescribed roles by a previously entitled user. Designation of a user to a prescribed role in a record takes place by means of a system user sending an electronic instruction to the database, these electronic instructions being referred to as registry instructions or title registry instructions.

Abstract: Methods involve adding sorbent components, such as calcium oxide, alumina, and silica, as well as optional halogens as part of environmental control. Use of the sorbents leads to significant reductions in sulfur and mercury emissions that otherwise would result from burning coal. Use of the sorbents leads to production of waste coal ash that, while higher in mercury, is nevertheless usable as a commercial product because the mercury in the ash is non-leaching and because the coal ash has a higher cementitious nature by virtue of the increased content of the sorbent components in the ash. Thus, the methods involve adding powders having qualities that lead to the production of a cementitious coal ash while at the same time reducing emissions from a coal burning facility.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for integrating travel and expense management. The present invention enables an entity to integrate not only data that matches exactly, but also determine the likelihood that data that does not match exactly nevertheless corresponds to each other. The system comprises: a network; at least one terminal coupled to the network; and at least one server coupled to the network. The server comprises a program that includes: retrieving travel data records corresponding to travel requests; retrieving expense data records reflecting expense transactions; comparing the expense data records to the travel data records; and determining a likelihood that the expense data records match the travel data records.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying, reporting, and evaluating a presence of a solid, liquid, gas, or other substance of interest, particularly a dangerous, hazardous, or otherwise threatening chemical, biological, or radioactive substance. The system comprises one or more substantially automated, location self-aware remote sensing units; a control unit; and one or more data processing and storage servers. Data is collected by the remote sensing units and transmitted to the control unit; the control unit generates and uploads a report incorporating the data to the servers; and thereafter the report is available for review by a hierarchy of responsive and evaluative authorities via a wide area network. The evaluative authorities include a group of relevant experts who may be widely or even globally distributed.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system for customizing a plurality of hospitality site amenities based on a stored user profile. Certain check-in procedures are reduced or eliminated. Hospitality sites are able to provide a guest with an abundance of personalized services without a corresponding increase in staff size. Guests experience customized hotel amenities, environments, and media renderings.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for systems, apparatuses, and methods for collaborative watershed restoration projects, which may include one or more restoration actions involving a variety of different stakeholders that, when completed, provides a positive contribution to the ecological health of at least one watershed. The identified restoration actions may be a comprehensive list of actions recognized as addressing limiting factors that may exist in a watershed. Ecological outcomes may drive stakeholder involvement in collaborative watershed restoration projects. While the system provides transparency to the projects that are being funded, stakeholder confidence may benefit from additional assurances provided through a certification that the projects are satisfactorily completed.

Abstract: A tool which provides counsel with a data collection mechanism to guide them through various steps in the litigation process and directs counsel and/or legal assistants to determine what information is required. The tool provides a “Discovery Generator” that is available to capture counsel's potential discovery requests, which are linked to existing document and form production tools for facilitated production of discovery. The tool informs the user of the percentage of progress of the required information that has been entered. The tool provides an analytical framework that captures the judgment of seasoned practitioners to provide a comprehensive analysis of the legal, factual, and business aspects of the lawsuit. The tool provides methodologies that quantify subjective analyses through the use of weighted measuring schemes. The tool provides a decision tree structure underlying the various steps of the methodology activated by user's answers to queries to aid in the capture and analysis of information.

Abstract: A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface.

Abstract: A system and method that optimizes use of renewable energy sources using modern satellites and telemetry to reduce the impact of renewable energy limitations. Location data corresponding to the device is retrieved using GPS technology and a GPS receiver which is located proximate to the device. Renewable energy generators are identified and include generation parameters that indicate the efficiency and output of the devices. Environmental energy factors are retrieved based upon the location data. The amount of available renewable energy is calculated based upon the environmental factors and the renewable energy generation parameters corresponding to each of the renewable energy generators. A travel plan that contains the user's travel intentions can be used. The travel plan indicates future location data as well as device idle time. Collected energy can fuel batteries and can also be used to provide hydrogen to a hydrogen fuel cell.