Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a sales and use tax analysis and reconciling system that includes an item and ontology restriction interface, an item and ontology restriction engine, a sales and use tax application program interface, a sales and use tax engine, a sales and use tax accounting engine, and an item and ontology restriction engine. The item and ontology restriction interface can receive point of sale transaction data and process a transaction message, and the item and ontology restriction engine can transmit the transaction message to an item and ontology restriction analysis engine for analysis. The sales and use tax application program can transmit totaled transaction data. From this data, a sales and use tax engine can create fund split and electronic fund transfer instructions for an acquirer gateway, and the sales and use tax can be reconciled and sent to a funding source.

Abstract: A communication system for controlling remote devices within a vehicle is provided. The communication system includes a master module for generating a command message, and a remote module for executing the command message and generating a response message. A data bus provides bidirectional communication between the master module and the remote module. The communication system also includes a message frame for communicating data between the master module and the remote module, the message frame includes the command message generated by the master module for execution by the remote module, and the message frame includes the response message generated by the remote module for providing feedback to the master module.

Abstract: A particulate feed comprising a first particle type and a second particle type is separated by providing a separation apparatus having a separation vessel having a top and a bottom, and wherein the separation vessel includes inwardly sloping side walls. A magnet structure has a first pole positioned exterior of and adjacent to each of the side walls of the separation vessel, and a second pole positioned above the separation vessel. A mixture of the particulate feed and a ferrofluid is introduced into the separation vessel, and the particulate feed is separated into a first particle fraction comprising a majority of the first particle type, which sinks in the separation vessel, and a second particle fraction comprising a majority of the second particle type which floats in the separation vessel.

Abstract: A communication system for controlling remote devices within a vehicle is provided. The communication system includes a master module for generating a command message, and a remote module for executing the command message and generating a response message. A data bus provides bidirectional communication between the master module and the remote module. The communication system also includes a message frame for communicating data between the master module and the remote module, the message frame includes the command message generated by the master module for execution by the remote module, and the message frame includes the response message generated by the remote module for providing feedback to the master module.

Abstract: The invention provides a starter for a motor vehicle of the kind having an inductive winding composed of coils, each forming a magnetic pole of the inductor, in which each coil has a conductor of large cross section wound flat so as to form concentric contiguous turns, and in which the innermost turn of the coil is extended by a folding in the conductor which extends radially towards the outside of the coil, substantially in the plane of the turns and straddling them, wherein, in the area of straddling of the turns, the folding is of a reduced dimension along the axis of the turns so that the axial thickness of the coil in this area is reduced.

Abstract: A link apparatus in a node of a multinode, collision-resolution, multiplexing communications system connected between a microcontroller (MCU) that receives measurand data from an input device such as a sensor and an integrated driver and receiver (IDR) for assuming some of the functions of the MCU in delivering and receiving messages to and from a single-wire bus communications network. The MCU contains firmware for converting the measurand data into data bytes, the link apparatus and the MCU contain circuits for effecting a SPI transfer and the link apparatus contains additional circuits for converting each bit of the message bytes into variable pulse width modulated (VPWM) bits. The VPWM bits get converted into J1850 symbols before being placed on a single- wire communications bus. Circuits are provided in the link apparatus for checking arbitration of the protocol and data symbols communicated over the bus.

Abstract: A link apparatus in a node of a mulitinode, collision--resolution, multiplexing communications system connected between a microcontroller (MCU) and a integrated driver and receiver (IDR) of the node for assuming some of the functions of the MCU in delivering and receiving messages to and from a signal-wire communications bus. The link apparatus provides circuits for automatically prepending a start-of-frame to a message being placed on the bus after determining that the conditions on the bus are suitable for transmitting messages. The link apparatus also contains circuits for determining when a node has won arbitration over another node competing for time on the bus.

Abstract: A symbol encoder and decoder device for use with a microcontroller and a transceiver (forming a node) for encoding and decoding defined symbols made up of digital bits of various lengths and for transferring to and recovering symbol messages on a single wire bus of a multi-node multiplexed data link.