Abstract: A security bin and a security bin controller are described that measure fullness or height of secure contents in a security bin; listen to radio beacons over a short-range radio to determine a bin distance from a first radio, such as by measuring received radio power; determine one of three bin security states: home, caution or warning; and then broadcast a status message, warning message or alarm message over long-range radio, dependent on both the fullness of the bin and the security state. Embodiments include shredder bins, adapted to receive secure or confidential documents. Status messages may be used to initiate a search for a lost bin or to schedule bin service. Embodiments include measuring rate-of-fill. Alarm messages may be responsive to both bin location and fill volume. Embodiments and use of a controller include waste bins, including industrial or medical waste.

Abstract: A computer can receive an alarm event data that results from detection of an event by an alarm system. The alarm event data comprises an identifier for the alarm system. In response to receiving the alarm event data, the computer can access a service subscription account associated with security services for the alarm system. Based on information maintained in the service subscription account, the computer can determine whether a processing service fee is associated with an action of forwarding the alarm event data to a central monitoring station or a mobile computing device associated with the service subscription account. If a processing service fee is associated with the forwarding action, the computer can record the alarm event data and the processing service fee in a record to support a creation of an invoice and forward the alarm event data to the central monitoring station or the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.

Abstract: A computer can receive an alarm event data that results from detection of an event by an alarm system. The alarm event data comprises an identifier for the alarm system. In response to receiving the alarm event data, the computer can access a service subscription account associated with security services for the alarm system. Based on information maintained in the service subscription account, the computer can determine whether a processing service fee is associated with an action of forwarding the alarm event data to a central monitoring station or a mobile computing device associated with the service subscription account. If a processing service fee is associated with the forwarding action, the computer can record the alarm event data and the processing service fee in a record to support a creation of an invoice and forward the alarm event data to the central monitoring station or the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.

Abstract: A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.

Abstract: A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.

Abstract: A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.

Abstract: A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network.

Abstract: Reference electrodes for potentiometric measurement of pH and ion concentration typically use mercury calomel or silver/silver chloride element combined with a saturated solution of potassium chloride (KCl) for the development of a stable potential with respect to a sensing electrode when immersed in solution. The salt KCl is preferred because of it is almost equitransferent and thus minimizes the diffusion potential set up between the reference solution and the solution being tested. However, reference electrodes using concentrated solutions of KCl suffer a drawback, which is its propensity to develop a creeping salt discharge that rapidly covers surfaces with KCl crystals. This “salt creep” phenomenon appears to be unique to KCl; Salt creep is a major nuisance, particularly for reference electrodes used on semi-dry surfaces such as skin.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is disclosed. The device has a first program stored in memory contained within the device and a second program stored on transposable memory which is releasably connectable to the device. The transposable memory comprises a plug-in module having a EEPROM. The second program stored on the transposable memory comprises a series of groups of instructions which are downloaded, as required, by the device and executed in order. The specific groups to be downloaded are determined by a jump table which accesses different groups of instructions in response to input signals. The instructions to be downloaded are identified by variable addresses in the jump table, and, the variable addresses are updated by means of the first program and the second program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting the fertility status of a human female subject. The onset of menstruation of the subject is noted. Daily determinations are made of the subjects eccrine sweat pH, beginning not more than 4 days following menstruation. The start of the fertile period is determined as a function of a significant decline in pH, followed by a sharp rise. The peak of this pH rise is indicative of imminent ovulation, which generally coincides with a second pH decline of variable degree. The apparatus provides provisions for automatically taking the pH readings, analysing them, and displaying to the user the daily fertility status.