Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method of providing an incentive for a customer to purchase non-fuel products or services at a store that sells the products or services and fuel. The system detects that the customer purchased a number of non-fuel products or services in a first visit to the store, and provides the customer with a first reward entitling the customer to a first amount of free fuel. The system then detects that the customer purchased a number of non-fuel products or services in a second visit to the store, and provides the customer with a second reward entitling the customer to a second amount of free fuel. The customer is identified during a subsequent fueling transaction, and the system dispenses an amount of free fuel to the customer equal to the total of the first and second amounts of free fuel.

Abstract: A forklift safety sensor and control system for preventing unsafe wear on the bottom surface of the fork. A fork height sensor detects when the fork is below a predefined threshold height at which the bottom surface is in close proximity to the ground or is in contact with the ground. The sensor sends a height signal to a system controller. In response, the controller sends a lockout signal to a lockout device, which prevents the forklift's drive mechanism from moving the forklift relative to the ground. The controller may also send an alert to the driver. When the fork is raised above the threshold height, the lockout is removed.

Abstract: A sanitizing applicator for applying a liquid sanitizer to a surface. The sanitizer may be a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC)-based or chlorine-based sanitizer containing positively charged ions at an effective concentration level for killing a predefined percentage of microbes present on the surface. The applicator includes a breakable internal reservoir for retaining a quantity of the sanitizer, and a positively charged nonwoven fabric covering the reservoir. The fabric is constructed using a positively charged binder to bind together the strands of the fabric, and is optionally treated with a positively or neutrally charged surfactant. The positive charge of the fabric prevents the fabric from neutralizing the positively charged ions in the sanitizer when the breakable internal reservoir is broken and the sanitizer is applied to the fabric.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted generator is powered by relative wind produced by the combination of ambient wind and motion of the vehicle, or by movement of water when mounted on the hull of a water-borne vehicle. A rigid cylindrical housing forms an enclosed interior chamber. Wind asymmetrically enters the chamber through an inlet located on one side of a central longitudinal drive shaft, and exits through an outlet located at the top of the housing. A spiraling parabolic deck forms a floor of the interior chamber, and spirals around the central longitudinal shaft from the bottom of the housing to the outlet at the top. A turbine mounted on the drive shaft within the outlet converts energy of the exiting wind to mechanical energy. An electrical generator converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy for recharging a battery or powering an electric motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating and dispensing gift cards for an associated merchant. A customer enters a value for the gift card through a customer input pad, and pays for the card by swiping a credit card through a credit card reader. After authorization is received, a card transporter pulls a serialized gift card from a card stock hopper. The card transporter then moves the card to a gift card inspector, which determines whether the serial number of the gift card can be properly read. If not, the bad card is deposited in a bad card bin. If the serial number can be properly read, the card transporter moves the card to a good card dispenser, which dispenses the gift card to the customer.

Abstract: A microcomputer array and method having a hyper-scalable, real-time monitoring and debug architecture in which several microcomputers are cascaded together into a single, more powerful unit. A cascaded instruction pipeline and related control circuitry allow a plurality of subprocessors or “proto-processors” to be cascaded with the instruction pipeline of a head processor or “nucleus processor” thereby creating an array of processors. The proto-processors may operate independently performing peripheral functions until a cascaded instruction takes priority and causes one or more proto-processors to perform the cascaded instruction and send the results to the nucleus processor. The processors may be microcomputers or Digital Signal Processors (DSPs).

Abstract: A multi-mode paging system and method of selectively paging an individual through one of a plurality of paging mechanisms. An indication of a paging mechanism for each individual to be paged is stored in a memory device. When an input is received from a user to page the individual, a control processor retrieves the indication of a paging mechanism for the individual to be paged and determines which of the plurality of paging mechanisms is to be utilized to page the individual. The individual may be selectively paged through an on-premises paging system, a wide area paging system, or a telephone such as a cellular telephone. An autodialer may be remotely located and connected by a wireless link to the processor, or the system may dial out using a wireless subscriber unit.

Abstract: A lottery-type ticket having a winner indication that enables a player to quickly determine whether the ticket is a winning ticket. The ticket may be a scratch-off ticket or a break-open ticket. The winner indication may be hidden under a scratch-off zone or behind a pull-tab window that is independent and separated from the playing area. Alternatively, the winner indication may be proximate to one or more game indicia that are each hidden under a scratch-off zone or behind a pull-tab window. Speed of play is increased by enabling the player to determine whether the ticket is a winning ticket by either scratching off a single scratch-off zone or opening a single pull-tab window.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for protecting a computer system by providing an improved password to prevent unauthorized access to the computer system. The apparatus of the present invention generally comprises a password controller capable of comparing a received password attempt with a stored password. The stored password of the present invention comprises a time envelope that comprises at least one password segment comprising: 1) an entry event; 2) a predetermined time interval following the entry event; and 3) a terminating signal to mark the end of the password segment. Access to the computer system is authorized when password segments of a password attempt match the corresponding password segments of the stored password. The stored password of the present invention generally comprises groups of computer readable characters separated by time intervals of variable length.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling data unit communications between a sender and a receiver, and flexibly responding to a potential data loss event. Data to be sent are divided into data units and transmitted from the sender to the receiver. The receiver acknowledges correct receipt of the data units by returning acknowledgment data units to the sender. If the receiver fails to receive a data unit, the sender retransmits the data unit using a flow control procedure using adaptive parameters and the acknowledgment data units. If the receiver then correctly receives and acknowledges the data unit, the sender determines whether the data unit was correctly received as a result of the original transmitting step or the retransmitting step. If the former (i.e., the original transmitting step), an excessive delay response procedure is selectively performed. If the latter (i.e., the retransmitting step), a data unit loss response procedure is selectively performed.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling preparation of a plurality of food items on a cooking apparatus such as a grill. A food order consisting of the plurality of food items is input to a controller which retrieves cooking times for the items from a database. A primary fire item (PFI) is determined as the item with the longest cooking time. A display screen near the cook has a surface that is laid out in a grid pattern representing the cooking surface of the grill. An icon associated with the PFI is then displayed in a position corresponding to the item's intended position on the grill. Time delays are calculated for displaying subsequent icons so that, by placing the food items on the grill when each icon is displayed, the preparation of the food items is completed simultaneously.

Abstract: A temperature tag and system for sensing and reporting an internal temperature reading inside a container. The temperature tag mounts on an outside surface of the container, and a shaft with a temperature sensor extends through the side of the container and senses the internal temperature reading. A plurality of readings may be recorded at a predefined sampling rate and stored in a data memory. The temperature tag then sends the temperature readings to a reader device that presents the temperature readings to a user. The reader device may trigger the temperature tag to send the temperature readings with a signal such as an infrared (IR) signal, a radio frequency (RF) signal, and the like. The temperature readings may be analyzed in the temperature tag, the reader device, or may be downloaded to a computer to determine if an alarm condition exists.

Abstract: A multi-function customer satisfaction survey device, system and method. A plurality of stackable tip trays in a restaurant each include a survey device and a calculator. Survey questions are presented on a display screen, and a survey keypad is used by the customer to enter responses. The responses are stored in a memory in the tray. The trays stack on a base unit that simultaneously collects the responses from the stacked trays, simultaneously programs the stacked trays with survey questions, and simultaneously recharges a battery in each tray.

Abstract: A device and method for training a shooter to shoot with improved accuracy. A picture of a target is fixedly mounted in front of a sight on a bow or gun. The picture is mounted in a stationary position which visually aligns an aiming point in the sight with the center of the picture when the shooter is in a shooting position. The shooter then shoots a plurality of shots in a safe direction while looking through the sight and focusing on the stationary mounted picture. In this manner, the shooter's subconscious mind is trained to keep the sight aligned with an actual target while shooting.

Abstract: A system and method of scheduling radio resources in a packet-switched wireless communications network. A plurality of data packets from a plurality of users are placed in a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) queue and are sequentially selected and analyzed for transmission. If a selected packet has an instantaneous radio channel quality (C/I) greater than a historical channel quality value, the packet is transmitted. If the instantaneous C/I is not greater than the historical value, it is determined whether the selected packet has been held for longer than a threshold time period. If so, the selected packet is transmitted. If neither condition is met, the selected packet is temporarily held in its position in the queue while analyzing the next packet for transmission. If no packets qualify for transmission, the packet in the first position is transmitted. After each transmission, the analysis starts again at the head of the queue.

Abstract: A restaurant cleaning towel made from a substrate such as a woven, nonwoven, or knit fabric. A sanitizer release polymer composition comprising at least one cationic (or alternatively, nonionic) surfactant is bound to the surface of the towel. Preferably, the cationic surfactant is present in the sanitizer release polymer composition in an amount of about 1 to about 10 weight percent, based on a total weight of the composition. The composition may also include at least one nonionic co-surfactant in combination with the cationic surfactant. The towel also includes a color label on its surface to identify the area of the restaurant in which the cleaning towel is to be utilized. The towel may optionally include an international icon, a tactile label, and/or a label in a plurality of languages identifying the area where the towel is to be utilized.

Abstract: An article for sanitizing a surface with a sanitizing solution while maintaining the concentration level of a sanitizer in the sanitizing solution at an effective concentration level. A substrate that absorbs and holds the sanitizing solution is treated with a sanitizer release polymer composition. The substrate may be a woven, nonwoven, or knit fabric, a foam or sponge, or the like. The sanitizer release polymer composition may include a cationic or nonionic surfactant or binder that is operable to maintain the concentration level of the sanitizer at the effective level during prolonged periods of use.