Abstract: A smart tracking device, such as a cellular M2M device, is attached to a plastic pallet for monitoring, recording and reporting the location, condition and manifest record of the pallet as it moves through a supply chain for shipment of products from a manufacturer to a consumer. The cellular M2M device has a subscriber identification module (SIM) to uniquely identify the pallet with which it is associated in a cellular network. The M2M device receives and transmits data about the products on the pallet, as the pallet moves through the supply chain. Actionable data allows supply chain managers to mitigate risks and losses in the supply chain. The supply chain data is also used to provide an electronic supply chain pedigree for a product shipped on the pallet. The product supply chain pedigree is made available to a consumer in a structured format, in order to influence the consumer's purchasing decisions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a switch device that includes or is formed by a switchgear. Two sensors of the switchgear monitor two measured values and a switch of the switchgear is switched depending on these measured values. The adjustable thresholds for the measured values are displayed on a digital display integrated in the switchgear or arranged on an external input device. Both thresholds are adjusted digitally via the input device. The input device can be a commercially available smartphone with an app or a laptop.

Abstract: A smart tracking device, such as a cellular M2M device, is attached to a plastic pallet for monitoring, recording and reporting the location, condition and manifest record of the pallet as it moves through a supply chain for shipment of products from a manufacturer to a consumer. The cellular M2M device has a subscriber identification module (SIM) to uniquely identify the pallet with which it is associated in a cellular network. The M2M device receives and transmits data about the products on the pallet, as the pallet moves through the supply chain. Actionable data allows supply chain managers to mitigate risks and losses in the supply chain. The supply chain data is also used to provide an electronic supply chain pedigree for a product shipped on the pallet. The product supply chain pedigree is made available to a consumer in a structured format, in order to influence the consumer's purchasing decisions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a switch device that includes or is formed by a switchgear. Two sensors of the switchgear monitor two measured values and a switch of the switchgear is switched depending on these measured values. The adjustable thresholds for the measured values are displayed on a digital display integrated in the switchgear or arranged on an external input device. Both thresholds are adjusted digitally via the input device. The input device can be a commercially available smartphone with an app or a laptop.

Abstract: A smart tracking device, such as a cellular M2M device, is attached to a plastic pallet for monitoring, recording and reporting the location, condition and manifest record of the pallet as it moves through a supply chain for shipment of products from a manufacturer to a consumer. The cellular M2M device has a subscriber identification module (SIM) to uniquely identify the pallet with which it is associated in a cellular network. The M2M device receives and transmits data about the products on the pallet, as the pallet moves through the supply chain. Actionable data allows supply chain managers to mitigate risks and losses in the supply chain. The supply chain data is also used to provide an electronic supply chain pedigree for a product shipped on the pallet. The product supply chain pedigree is made available to a consumer in a structured format, in order to influence the consumer's purchasing decisions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for workflow decision management. Embodiments include maintaining a device state history; identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history; and identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern. The derived scenario has a tolerance. Embodiments also include identifying a workflow in dependence upon the derived scenario and executing the workflow in dependence upon the tolerance.

Abstract: A pallet structure that resists damage sustained by prior art pallets in pooled pallet distribution includes a deck and a base separated by opposed block structures spaced to accommodate fork tines, pallet jacks and other pallet moving equipment. The block structures are inset from the boundary established by the outer dimensions of the pallet. Impact guards protect the block structures against impacts that could pierce the walls of the block structures allowing foreign materials to enter an interior space of the deck, base or block structure. The impact guards surround the block structures preventing impacts from all sides. The exterior surfaces of the impact guards, at the four pallet corners, form a continuous vertical wall which extends from the top of the deck to bottom of the base.

Abstract: A data storage method and system. The method includes defining, by a computing system, a meta-object, a schema based structured definition for the meta-object, and a taxonomy with configuration data. The computing system creates content associated with the taxonomy and associates topics of the content with a logical storage room representations. Reference coordinates associated with the logical storage room representations are associated with the taxonomy. The computing system generates updated configuration data that includes the reference coordinates and a uniform resource identifier associated with the content is generated. The computing system generates an account associated with the meta-object for a user. Metering charges for usage of the account and a report associated with the account and usage are generated.

Abstract: A pallet is made from thermoformed polymeric sheets with an attached communications device. A further aspect of the present invention includes a radio frequency identification device attached to an apparatus. In still another aspect of the present invention, a communications device is incorporated into one or more sheets of a pallet or other container prior to forming. Methods of making and using a thermoformed pallet and container having a communications device are also provided.

Abstract: A data storage method and system. The method includes defining, by a computing system, a meta-object, a schema based structured definition for the meta-object, and a taxonomy with configuration data. The computing system creates content associated with the taxonomy and associates topics of the content with a logical storage room representations. Reference coordinates associated with the logical storage room representations are associated with the taxonomy. The computing system generates updated configuration data that includes the reference coordinates and a uniform resource identifier associated with the content is generated. The computing system generates an account associated with the meta-object for a user. Metering charges for usage of the account and a report associated with the account and usage are generated.

Abstract: A data storage method and system. The method includes defining, by a computing system, a meta-object, a schema based structured definition for the meta-object, and a taxonomy with configuration data. The computing system creates content associated with the taxonomy and associates topics of the content with a logical storage room representations. Reference coordinates associated with the logical storage room representations are associated with the taxonomy. The computing system generates updated configuration data that includes the reference coordinates and a uniform resource identifier associated with the content is generated. The computing system generates an account associated with the meta-object for a user. Metering charges for usage of the account and a report associated with the account and usage are generated.

Abstract: A data access control method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor from a requestor, a request for access to data. The computer processor extracts from the request, a requestor identification string associated with the requestor. The computer processor verifies a match for the requestor identification string, a service requestor identification string, a requestor software component operating process identification string, a requestor server identification string, a requestor hardware device network address and a requestor MAC address, and a requestor hardware device identification string against a plurality of registries. The computer processor generates an access point door associated with a specified logical storage room representation comprising the data. The computer processor enables access to the data via the access point door and the specified logical storage room representation based on enabling a logical lock with a logical key and a valid timestamp.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for workflow decision management. Embodiments typically include maintaining a device state history; identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history; identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern; and selecting a heuristic in dependence upon the derived scenario. In typical embodiments, the heuristic has a tolerance. Embodiments also include identifying a workflow in dependence upon the selected heuristic and executing the workflow in dependence upon the tolerance.

Abstract: A data access control method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor from a requestor, a request for access to data. The computer processor extracts from the request, a requestor identification string associated with the requestor. The computer processor verifies a match for the requestor identification string, a service requestor identification string, a requestor software component operating process identification string, a requestor server identification string, a requestor hardware device network address and a requestor MAC address, and a requestor hardware device identification string against a plurality of registries. The computer processor generates an access point door associated with a specified logical storage room representation comprising the data. The computer processor enables access to the data via the access point door and the specified logical storage room representation.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval method and system. The method includes defining, by a computing system, a meta-object, a schema based structured definition for the meta-object, and a taxonomy with configuration data. The computing system creates content associated with the taxonomy and associates topics of the content with a logical storage room representations. Reference coordinates associated with the logical storage room representations are associated with the taxonomy. The computing system generates updated configuration data comprising the reference coordinates and a uniform resource identifier associated with the content is generated. The computing system generates an account associated with the meta-object for a user. Metering charges for usage of the account and a report associated with the account and usage are generated.

Abstract: A halogen free fire resistant RF transparent polymer pallet has attenuated electrical resistance. A pallet body has a fire resistant layer and a substrate supporting the fire resistant layer. The fire resistant layer includes fire retardant materials, such as Al(OH)3, Mg(OH)2, intercalated graphite, zinc borate, and antimony oxide. The substrate is substantially free of the fire retardant materials to reduce the density and the electrical resistance of the pallet body. The fire resistant layer is substantially thinner than the substrate to lower RF distortion effects on RF transponder communications from additives and the conductive materials within an RF tracking system.

Abstract: A heating module is provided for integrating into an electrical appliance, for example in a household appliance such as a coffee machine, or in a laboratory apparatus. Said module includes at least one heating surface formed from a body, at least one heating element that comprises at least one PTC element and is fixed in the body, and a flow heater that is integrated into the heating module. The heating module is configured to be easy to mount and have a wide range of applications. In one embodiment, the body is embodied as an extruded shape having at least one tube receiving element and a tube through which a fluid flows arranged on or in the tube receiving element.

Abstract: An apparatus has a communications device associated therewith. In another aspect of the present invention, a pallet is made from thermoformed polymeric sheets with an attached communications device. A further aspect of the present invention provides a radio frequency identification device attached to an apparatus. In still another aspect of the present invention, a communications device is incorporated into one or more sheets of a pallet or other container prior to forming. Methods of making and using a thermoformed pallet and container, having a communications device, are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for workflow decision management. Embodiments typically include maintaining a device state history; identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history; identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern; and selecting a heuristic in dependence upon the derived scenario. In typical embodiments, the heuristic has a tolerance. Embodiments also include identifying a workflow in dependence upon the selected heuristic and executing the workflow in dependence upon the tolerance.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for workflow decision management. Embodiments typically include maintaining a device state history; identifying a device usage pattern in dependence upon the device state history; identifying a derived scenario in dependence upon the device usage pattern. In typical embodiments the derived scenario has a tolerance. Embodiments also include identifying a workflow in dependence upon the derived scenario; executing the workflow in dependence upon the tolerance; and identifying a user reaction to the execution of the workflow.