Abstract: The present invention is a vehicular audio/cellular telephone system including a vehicular audio system and cellular telephone. In a first embodiment, the vehicular audio system including an AM/FM radio, cassette player, CD player, or combinations of these, integrates a detachable cellular telephone including a transceiver, rechargeable battery, and small non-directional antenna. When integrated into the vehicular audio system, the cellular telephone uses the vehicle's power source and external antenna.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of stabilizing soil and controlling dust from soil. The invention also relates to disposing of unwanted waste waters produced in purifying water. The method of the present invention includes applying waste water containing 0.15% by weight of the salts of NaCl, CaCl.sub.2, MgCl.sub.2 and mixtures thereof to soil to control dust and effect soil stabilization.

Abstract: A supersmart card system is provided for authorizing transactions between a transaction card user and a merchant. The supersmart card system includes a plurality of conventional transaction cards such as a debit cards, credit cards, or phone service cards, and a transaction authorization device. The transaction authorization device is user-carried and constructed to be separate and apart from the transaction card. The transaction authorization device includes logic means for storing data relating to the identity of the transaction card user and data relating to the authorization of transactions between a user and financial institutions or service providers. Preferably, the transaction authorization card also includes means enabling a user to select a particular transaction card for processing a transaction.

Abstract: The present invention is a vehicular audio/cellular telephone system including a vehicular audio system and cellular telephone. In a first embodiment, the vehicular audio system including an AM/FM radio, cassette player, CD player, or combinations of these, integrates a detachable cellular telephone including a transceiver, rechargeable battery, and small non-directional antenna. A recorder means, typically in the form of the cassette player, is provided to record communications over the cellular telephone. When integrated into the vehicular audio system, the cellular telephone uses the vehicle's power source and external antenna.

Abstract: The container closure device for attachment to a container includes a substantially planar sidewall segment having a front surface, rear surface and plurality of sides. Formed through the sidewall segment from the front surface to the rear surface is an orifice for permitting the contents of a container to pass through. The container closure device further includes a flap which extends from the top of the sidewall segment by means of a hinge or the like. The hinge permits the flap to fold upwardly to keep the orifice unobstructed, or fold downwardly to cover and obstruct the orifice. The container closure device is attached to a container by an adhesive means.

Abstract: This invention relates to fire suppressant compositions and methods of preparing and using such compositions. The compositions consist of water, at least about 5% by weight of a fire retardant salt, which includes at least 1.5% by weight of ammonium thiosulfate. These compositions may contain other optional functional components such as corrosion inhibitors, suspending agents, coloring agents, antimicrobials and stabilizers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing satellite proximity operations such as inspection, recovery and life extension of a target satellite through operation of a "Satellite Inspection Recovery and Extension" ("SIRE") spacecraft which can be operated in the following modes (teleoperated, automatic, and autonomous). The SIRE concept further consists of those methods and techniques used to perform certain (on-orbit) operations including, but not limited to, the inspection, servicing, recovery, and lifetime extension of satellites, spacecraft, space systems, space platforms, and other vehicles and objects in space, collectively defined as "target satellites". The three basic types of SIRE proximity missions are defined as "Lifetime Extension", "Recovery", and "Utility". A remote cockpit system is provided to permit human control of the SIRE spacecraft during proximity operations.

Abstract: A cellular communications system is provided have both satellite nodes and surface nodes for providing mobile cellular communications services for a plurality of mobile user units. The surface and satellite nodes are fully integrated by a network controller for providing service over large areas. In the alternative, each user unit includes link control means permitting the user unit to designate the mode of communications, either satellite node communications or ground node communications. In addition, multiple beam, relatively high gain antennas are disposed in the satellite nodes to establish satellite cells having enough gain in the satellite part of the system such that a user unit need only comprise a small, mobile handset with a non-directional antenna for communications with both ground nodes and satellite nodes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for measuring the creative value added to a communication, such as an advertisement in the media of print, television or radio. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a quantitative measure of the creative value added to a communication. To this end, a communication test sample is compared to a creativity neutral control which is a communication which intentionally lacks any creativity.

Abstract: A computerized air traffic voice interactive simulator is provided for simulating the communications between a pilot and an air traffic controller. The air traffic voice interactive simulator includes an audio input means, central processing unit and audio input means. The central processing unit interprets and evaluates verbal responses received from a user through the audio input means for selecting an appropriate audio message for production on the audio output means. The audio messages are selected to provide feedback and interactive communication with a user so as to simulate dialog between a pilot and air traffic controller.

Abstract: A gum-thickened fire retardant composition with improved stability and/or corrosion resistance contains a fire retardant salt, a gum thickener, an aqueous liquid carrier and at least one non-toxic water-soluble additive which is at least onecarboxylic acid or salt thereof, having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted carbon chain containing conjugated unsaturation, and X is hydrogen or a metal.The additive component is present in an amount effective to improve the stability of said composition and/or reduce the corrosivity of the composition to iron. Preferred compositions containing the combination of at least one compound in which R is a phenyl group, especially sodium benzoate, and at least one compound in which R is a carbon chain containing unconjugated unsaturation, especially sorbic acid.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery is provided with an overcharge protection circuit which is particularly adapted for nickel metal hydride battery packs to be used in conventional charging adapters suitable for NI-CAD battery packs. The battery pack includes a microprocessor which measures the voltage across the electrical contacts of the battery pack. Upon reaching peak charge, the microprocessor increases the voltage appearing across the battery pack contacts. After a predetermined time period as measured by the microprocessor, the microprocessor decreases the voltage appearing across the battery pack terminals to exceed the change in voltage to which the charging adapter responds to terminate a high rate of charging.

Abstract: A cellular communications system is provided have both satellite nodes and surface nodes for providing mobile cellular communications services for a plurality of mobile user units. The surface and satellite nodes are fully integrated by a network controller for providing service over large areas. Multiple beam, relatively high gain antennas are disposed in the satellite nodes to establish satellite cells having enough gain in the satellite part of the system such that a user unit need only comprise a small, mobile handset with a non-directional antenna for communications with both ground nodes and satellite nodes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a plumbing tool for temporarily plugging a pipe which normally contains fluid or gas under pressure. The plumbing tool includes an elongate threaded rod having proximal and distal ends. A hollow elongate sleeve is disposed around the threaded rod. Similarly, a cylindrical gasket is disposed around the rod between the hollow sleeve and a gasket stop located at the distal end of the elongate rod. The plumbing tool further includes an arcuate handle extending proximally from the proximal end of the elongate threaded rod. The arcuate handle is configured to include a radius sufficiently great to permit valves to be telescopically communicated along the entire length of the arcuate handle and along the length of the hollow elongate sleeve.

Abstract: A method for in-vivo detection of premalignant oral lesions and oral carcinomas includes the step of applying to oral tissue a non-toxic dye other than toluidine blue O, selected from compounds having structure ##STR1## and ionic derivatives thereof, wherein R.sup.1 is H, or lower alkyl group or N(R.sup.3)2, R.sup.2 is N, S or O, and R.sup.3 is H or a lower alkyl group.

Abstract: A cellular communications system is provided having both surface and satellite nodes which are fully integrated for providing service over large areas. Two-way adaptive power control and signal quality monitoring and power control responsive thereto are provided for controlling the power output levels of transmitters to the minimum necessary for satisfactory communications. Each transmission includes a code representative of the transmitter output power level. Receivers compare this code to the received signal strength and adjust their associated transmitter power output level accordingly. Bit error rate and SNR are monitored by receivers to develop a measure of signal quality. A signal quality code is transmitted to remote units and transmission output power level is adjusted in response. Timing signals are provided by one or more nodes to obtain user position information.

Abstract: A shoe with a spring between the upper and lower surfaces of the sole. The spring is a V-shaped composite assembly, including an upper plate underlying at least a the heel of the wearer's foot and lower plate integrally joined to the upper plate at the apex of the V-shaped spring assembly.