Abstract: A system and method are provided for making automatic meal recommendations. A user rates his likes and dislikes regarding various factors/characterizations of food, and identifies any dietary restrictions (e.g., avoid sodium, allergic to peanuts). Illustrative factors include types of cuisine (e.g., Italian), type of food (e.g., seafood, vegetarian), method of preparation (e.g., broiled), specific foods or food components (e.g., hamburger, mustard), etc. A user rating of 1 indicates a “like,” ?1 indicates a “dislike.” Some number of preconfigured meals (including snacks) is characterized similarly. A characterization may comprise a 1 for factors that the meal contains or matches, and 0 for factors it does not match. For each factor, a meal's value is multiplied by the user's value, and the products for each factor are added to produce a rank for that meal for the user. Any number of meals may be recommended.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for real-time call control. When a call is received at a telephone server for a service subscriber, the server identifies the subscriber and retrieves information that will allow the server to contact the subscriber via instant messaging. An instant message is sent to the subscriber, and includes any number of options for controlling or handling the call. The options may be presented as hyperlinks, or the selected option may be returned in another instant message. The subscriber selects an option and communicates it to the server, which effects the selected option. The server may establish an audio connection between the server and the subscriber's computer or communication device (to allow the parties to talk), may transfer the call to another number, play a message for the caller (which may be pre-recorded or recorded in real-time), record a voicemail (which the subscriber may screen), etc.

Abstract: A bagging apparatus includes a bag support for thermoplastic merchandise bags in a bag pack, a bag opener holding open a bag mouth of the bags, a scale weighing items placed in the bag and a first indicator displaying information related to weight of items placed in the bag. The apparatus includes an item counter determining the number of items in the bag and a mechanism determining the volume of items in the bag. A second indicator signals when the counter reaches a predetermined item count. A third indicator signals when the mechanism indicates a predetermined volume is reached. A bag counter determines the number of bags removed from the apparatus. Circuitry transmits the weight-related, volume and item count information to a computer program for tracking the information for each bag filled. The circuitry also interfaces with a bag inventory system and generates bagger performance tracking information for each user.

Abstract: A computer game paradigm is used to train trainees in the skill of packing shopping bags. A number of items appearing on a conveyor in the computer game are packed into one or more bags in accordance with user input gestures of the trainee using graphical user interface techniques. The trainee is able to rotate items to make them fit within a bag in relation to positions of other items already within the bag. In addition, the trainee is able to move items within the bag to occupy different positions within the lateral boundaries of the bag. The computer game can be served through a computer network, such as the Internet or a LAN, as an applet or otherwise active web page. Accordingly, the trainee can practice or completely self-teach the skills of bagging from the comfort and convenience of any computer connected to such a network.

Abstract: Uniform particles are produced by introducing a laminar stream of a core liquid into a laminar flowing body of an immiscible sheath liquid. The core liquid or the sheath liquid, or both liquids, can contain one or more materials dispersed (dissolved or suspended) in them from which the uniform particles are formed. The two liquids and the dispersed material are expelled from a nozzle to form a liquid jet. The liquid jet is disturbed at a uniform, periodic rate to form liquid droplets which contain a uniform amount of the core liquid, the sheath liquid and the dispersed material. The droplets are collected and held in a catch liquid until the core and the sheath liquid in each droplet have diffused into the catch liquid leaving the uniform particles formed from the dispersed materials. There can be more than one sheath liquid which can also contain one or more materials dispersed in it.

Abstract: Uniform particles are produced by introducing a laminar stream of a core liquid into a laminar flowing body of an immiscible sheath liquid. The core liquid or the sheath liquid, or both liquids, can contain one or more materials dispersed (dissolved or suspended) in them from which the uniform particles are formed. The two liquids and the dispersed material are expelled from a nozzle to form a liquid jet. The liquid jet is disturbed at a uniform, periodic rate to form liquid droplets which contain a uniform amount of the core liquid, the sheath liquid and the dispersed material. The droplets are collected and held in a catch liquid until the core and the sheath liquid in each droplet have diffused into the catch liquid leaving the uniform particles formed from the dispersed materials. There can be more than one sheath liquid which can also contain one or more materials dispersed in it.