Abstract: A vertically-displaceable bed platform suspended from a ceiling having a platform with two forward and two rearward engagement regions, and four pulley members each disposed an equal vertical distance from the engagement regions such that two correspond with the forward regions and two with the rearward regions. Four cables are each connected to one of the engagement regions, with a first pair of cables connected to the forward region about the corresponding forward pulleys and joining the corresponding rearward pulleys, and a second pair of cables connected to the rearward regions about the rearward pulleys to join with the first pair of cables. The joined pairs of cables are attached to a counterweight, such that downward motion of the counterweight causes an equal reduction in the four vertical distances and retraction of the platform in the direction of the ceiling to a fully retracted position.

Abstract: Method and system for the detection of suspect sales transactions in a sales environment having point of sale devices and sales locations, having a first processor for gathering record information reflecting sales transactions that have occurred in the environment, extracting from the record information a plurality of extract records relevant to suspect transactions, and converting the extract records into a form readable by the first processor; and a second processor for reading and analyzing and inputting the converted extract records, in which the second processor performs the steps of applying a plurality of exception criteria to said converted extract records to create exception records, filtering from the exception records records indicative of suspect transactions, ranking the filtered records, applying scoring table values to said ranked, filtered records to create scored records, and outputting the scored records; and a report generator for generating reports from the scored records reflecting suspec

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system includes sat least two pairs of two confrontingly opposed, columnar arrays. Each of the pairs of columnar arrays defines a plurality of vertically spaced tray-receiving recesses. One or more platforms are provided, each vertically displaceable along and between each of the pairs of arrays. Each platform carries an extraction device operable for withdrawing a selected tray from an array recess onto the platform, and for inserting a tray supported on the platform into a vacant recess in either array. The extraction device includes a retractable/extendable pin mounted in a housing configured in a manner to provide engagement with an aperture on a side face of one of the bins to create a bin-engaged state when engaged and a bin-disengaged state when disengaged. Each device has an extended cam-follower portion that rides in a cam.

Abstract: A comfortable and breathable foot gear in the form of a sneaker/boot comprises a flexible sole constituting a lower portion of said garment, and a stretch fabric material constituting an upper portion of the foot garment that is securely attached to the flexible sole. The stretch fabric material is a weave of spun yarn material and an elastomeric material adapted to form fit about a foot placed within foot gear and capable of being stretched to form fit about the wearer's calf.

Abstract: A wearable hypermedium information retrieval system for displaying predetermined digitized data, having a computer having an I/O port; a large capacity information storage and retrieval device interfaced with the I/O port adapted to receive a memory medium containing the predetermined digitized data, the storage and retrieval device being adapted to access the data on the memory medium and to provide the data to the I/O port means, the predetermined digitized data being further organized in a hypermedium format for hypermedium access and retrieval; a virtually hands-free command control device presenting no interference to ordinary use of the hands of the user to provide input commands from the user to the computer via the I/O port means; and a headset adapted to be worn by the user and a head mounted image display supported by the headset having a virtual image display having an eye-piece adapted to be positioned in front of one eye of the user and to display video display information from the computer.

Abstract: A method for processing an image, consisting of a foreground and a background, to produce a highly compressed and accurate representation of the image, including the steps of scanning the image to create a digital image of the image, comparing the digital image against a codebook of stored digital images; matching the digital image with one of the stored digital images of the codebook; producing an index code identifying the background of the stored digital image as having matched the digital image; subtracting the stored digital image from the digital image to produce a second digital image representing the foreground of the stored digital image; and storing the second digital image with the index code.

Abstract: The semantic integration problem for merging multiple databases of very large size, the merge/purge problem, can be solved by multiple runs of the sorted neighborhood method or the clustering method with small windows followed by the computation of the transitive closure over the results of each run. The sorted neighborhood method works well under this scheme but is computationally expensive due to the sorting phase. An alternative method based on data clustering that reduces the complexity to linear time making multiple runs followed by transitive closure feasible and efficient.

Abstract: A method for processing an image, consisting of a foreground and a background, to produce a highly compressed and accurate representation of the image, including the steps of scanning the image to create a digital image of the image, comparing the digital image against a codebook of stored digital images; matching the digital image with one of the stored digital images of the codebook; producing an index code identifying the background of the stored digital image as having matched the digital image; subtracting the stored digital image from the digital image to produce a second digital image representing the foreground of the stored digital image; and storing the second digital image with the index code. Techniques are also provided to enable merge/purge of the database(s) thereby created.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring apparel, having an elongated member with a surface, a first reference point on the surface and a second marking on said surface such that the distance between said first reference point and the second marking is equal to the distance from the neck to the crotch of an average person at a particular age and a third marking on the surface such that the distance between the first reference point and the third marking is equal to the distance from the neck to the crotch of an average person at a second particular age.