Abstract: An electromechanical switch is described, which comprises a conductive body and a plurality of carbon nanotubes being separate to each other, each of the carbon nanotubes being connected to at least one common terminal electrode with at least one of its ends, wherein in an open state of the switch each of the carbon nanotubes substantially projects along a surface of the conductive body and keeps up a gap to said surface, and wherein in a closed state of the switch at least one carbon nanotube is bend in a direction of the surface to close an electrical contact between said terminal electrode and the conductive body. The size of the gap between the respective carbon nanotube and the surface is different for each one of the plurality of carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A monitoring device for a tracking system is described. The device includes a: communication circuit for communication with radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on an article to-be transported by the vehicle, and a-position system (PS) circuit for determining vehicle location. The device includes a control circuit having a microprocessor and a memory, and electrically connected to the communication and PS circuits. The microprocessor acquires tag data and location in memory, and operates the communication circuit to: interrogate tag, operate the PS circuit to determine vehicle location, and associate tag data with vehicle location The device includes an alarm electrically connected to the microprocessor. The device determines, approximates, distance from the tag to device, based on received signal strength, or time delay in receiving the tag's response, and activates the alarm if a distance threshold from tag to device is exceeded. This threshold is lower than the maximum range of the tag.

Abstract: Systems and methods for responding to a risk of damage caused by a natural event are presented. A method presented includes checking a sensor system database on a regular period for an occurrence of a natural event. If the natural event has occurred, a determination can be made as to whether the natural event is of sufficient strength and proximity to an infrastructure item to create a potential hazard to the infrastructure item. If so, a map of the severity of the natural event can be obtained from the sensor system database and compared to a database of infrastructure items. The database includes a fragility index associated with each infrastructure item. A customized checklist can then be generated for inspection of the infrastructure item.

Abstract: A system and method for processing mailpieces within a mail transportation and distribution system includes first and second distribution centers, and an electronic parcel compartment facility located near the second center. Data, about the mailpiece and recipient, is acquired from the mailpiece. Destination information for a compartment facility is associated with the mailpiece. The information is compared with a registered customer database. A re-routing instruction is ascertained from the customer data. The second center is ascertained. The mailpiece is sorted in the first center based on the destination. Data about the mailpiece and destination is transmitted to a second data processor of the second center. The mailpiece is transported to the second center. Information identifying the mailpiece is acquired with a reading device. The destination is determined based on information identifying the mailpiece, which is sorted based on the destination. The information is transmitted to a mobile device.

Abstract: There is provided a method for locating a terminal device in a network system, at least one network having several cells that are combined to form one or more tracking areas. The one or more tracking areas are combined to form an equivalent area. An exemplary method comprises transmitting a locating message from the terminal device to a network when the terminal device enters an equivalent area. Locating messages are also transmitted from the terminal device to the network at predetermined time intervals. The method also comprises indicating via the locating messages a sub-area of an equivalent area in which the terminal device is located during the transmission of a locating message. The method additionally comprises storing at least the sub-area indicated in a most recently received locating message by the network. The method further comprises transmitting at least a first terminal device tracking call by the network within the stored sub-area in order to locate the terminal device.

Abstract: A system and method for organization and analysis of complex and dynamically interactive time series is disclosed. One example comprises a processor based system for relational analysis of physiologic signals for providing early recognition of catastrophic and pathologic events such as pathophysiologic divergence. The processor is programmed to identify pathophysiologic divergence of at least one of first and second physiologic parameters in relationship to the other and to output an indication of the divergence. An object-based method of iterative relational processing waveform fragments in the time domain is described wherein each more complex waveform object inherits the characteristics of the waveform objects from which it is derived. The first physiologic parameter can be the amplitude and frequency of the variation in chest wall impedance or nasal pressure and the second parameter can be a measure or indication of the arterial oxygen saturation.

Abstract: There is provided a gripper system for stacked packaged goods. An exemplary gripper system comprises a first gripper unit for gripping a package by a front surface of the package. The exemplary gripper system further comprises a second gripper unit for gripping the package by a second surface that is at a right angle to the front surface, the second gripper unit having a drive device associated therewith, the second gripper unit being adapted to be moved out of a starting position in which the second gripper unit and the drive device as seen from the gripping side of the first gripper unit, are arranged behind the first gripper unit, into a gripping position in which the first gripper unit is positioned for gripping the package by its front surface and the second gripper unit is positioned for gripping the package by its second surface.

Abstract: A picture quality when reducing the brightness or the contrast of the picture on a plasma panel shall be improved. For this purpose there is provided a driving apparatus including brightness/contrast control means for receiving video input data for modifying the video levels of the video input data in accordance with external adjustment data and for outputting modified video data. First power measurement means measure a power level of the modified video data and supply a first power level. Second power measurement means measure a power level of the video input data and supply a second power level. Generator means generate a third power level comprised between the first power level and the second power level or equal to the larger one to data processing means. The data processing means calculate the maximum number of sustain pulses per frame applicable to the modified video data on the basis of the third power level and control the display of the modified video data on the plasma display panel.

Abstract: A network node provides an Internet service executed in a server for Internet marketplace users. An outer connector receives a request initiated in a user computer, and transmits to the user computer a result from the provider server. The service is requested via an Internet marketplace website on a server connected to the user computer. The outer connector is adapted to change the format of the request and the result for the Internet marketplace. A transformation unit is connected to the outer connector, and adapted to ascertain a provider server for the service based on the request, and addressing the request to the provider server. The node comprises a unit adapted to verify user authorization to access the service, based on an Internet marketplace profile. An inner connector is connected to the transformation unit for transmitting the request to, and receiving the result from, the provider server.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for sorting mailpieces in which a mailpiece is diverted into a sorting compartment of a sorting machine as a function of a sorting code associated with the mailpiece, where several sorting code ranges are each associated with a sorting compartment. An exemplary method comprises associating at least one first sorting code range with at least another sorting code range which is a subrange of the first sorting code range and checking consecutively for the sorting code ranges associated with each other whether the sorting code belongs to the sorting code range. The exemplary method further includes diverting the mailpiece into the sorting compartment that is associated with the last sorting code range for which the sorting code belongs to the sorting code range.