Abstract: A utility for enabling real-time, point-to-point communications over computer networks between users having dynamically assigned Internet Protocol addresses includes the ability to identify incoming communications, and, based on the identity of the incoming communication, selectively responding. In one embodiment, an information profile contained within an incoming signal is compared to a plurality of information profiles contained within the personal directory of a user, and if a match occurs, the notification signal associated with the matched profile is generated. In an alternative embodiment, the information profile contained within the incoming communication includes an identifier of a notification signal which is used to select from a number of predefined notification signals resident within the user's private directory.

Abstract: Industrial waste water, containing impurities which poison or otherwise inhibit bacterial forms employed in biological treatment of waste water, is purified by a process which comprises subjecting the waste water to a biological treatment process in the presence of activated carbon or fuller's earth. A gas containing molecular oxygen is distributed within the liquid mixture during treatment to provide oxidation means. Despite the presence of the poisonous or inhibiting impurities, the process efficiently reduces the biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and total organic content of the waste water in an unusually rapid manner, and removes material not normally removed by the biological treatment alone.