Abstract: The acid-labile sub-unit (ALS) of insulin like growth factor binding protein complex in biologically pure form is described.

Abstract: Presented is a system and method of applying postage indicia to a mailpiece utilizing electromagnetic storage technology for the indicia. This method obviates the necessity of visual bar coded indicia, and greatly increases the amount of information which may be included in the postage indicia. This method also significantly reduces the physical space required on the face of a mailpiece to contain the postage indicia information, thus allowing the increased use of advertising and personal information and graphics on the mailpiece. The electromagnetic storage media may be in the form of a self-adhesive sticker or label, or may be integrated within the mailpiece or mailing label. Such integration may be accomplished through the use of embedded magnetic storage media, embedded ferromagnetic fibers, or the inclusion of ferromagnetic powder embedded in the mailpiece itself. Also provided is an apparatus for applying magnetically recordable media on a mailpiece.

Abstract: Presented is a method for authenticating mailpieces utilizing cryptographically secured or plain text indicia printed on the mailpiece as evidence of postage payment without the necessity of including recipient address information in the indicia. This reduces the physical size of the required indicia, allowing additional real estate on the face of a mailpiece to be utilized for advertising verbiage, graphics, personal messages, illustrations, etc. Counterfeiting of the indicia is deterred by maintaining a master log database of the printed indicia. The information stored in the master log database preferably associates a transaction or serial number of the printed indicia with recipient address information. Counterfeit indicia are identified through a comparison of the stored information in the master log database with information scanned from the mailpiece itself Counterfeits may also be detected by recognizing the multiple occurrences of identical indicia.

Abstract: An international cash-on-delivery (I-COD) system for completing a transaction between a seller in a first country and purchaser in a second country, wherein the seller has agreed to exchange packaged goods for a payment from the purchaser. The international delivery system includes a delivery service system, a payment system and an information system. The delivery system physically handles delivery of the packaged goods, including import and export clearing, and holding of the packaged goods in escrow at an intermediate location until payment by the purchaser. The payment system handles the flow of funds including receiving payment from the purchaser, holding the payment in escrow and distribution of the payment to the seller upon delivery of the packaged goods. The information system electronically coordinates escrow aspects of both the delivery service system, and the payment system, so as to minimize the risk of the transaction to both the seller and the purchaser.

Abstract: A system for facilitating the opening of accounts by a plurality of backend systems. The account opening system includes a front-end interface that interacts with a customer to collect customer information such as an account-type selection, billing information and pickup location information. A backend interface of the system pre-validates the customer information and routes the customer information to the backend systems for activation of the account. The backend interface also includes a monitor that determines the availability of the backend systems and a cache that stores the open account request and customer information for later routing when the backend systems are temporarily unavailable. Advantageously, pre-validation of the customer information allows the backend interface to distribute an account number to the customer in real time when the backend systems are unavailable.

Abstract: A multiple mode, personal, wireless communications system is disclosed which exists within a radiotelephone network serving general customers and provides unique additional services to a select group of customers equipped with special handsets, without impacting the general customers. The special handsets automatically switch between and operate in either analog or digital mode with the standard radiotelephone network and in an enhanced cordless mode when within range of independent pico cells, that are interconnected with the public switched telephone network. Each of the network transparent pico cells is controlled via a framework of overlay cells that operate independently of the radiotelephone network and use a unique control protocol on a relatively small number of reserved channels, with a use hierarchy that is reversed with respect to standard radiotelephone channels.

Abstract: A mechanism for removing selected food containers from a carousel situated in the refrigerated food storage compartment of an automatic hot food vending machine consisting of a rotatable selector plate which forms the bottom of the carousel and food containers can be removed from the refrigerated food storage compartment.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for controlled presentation of constructed responses through a variety of computer applications to human evaluators for assessment. The systems and methods further provide for controlled presentation of the constructed responses to minimize the influences of psychometric factors on the accuracy of the human evaluators' assessments and to maximize the ability to efficiently generate data for use in analyzing the accuracy of the human evaluators' assessments and the difficulty of the constructed response categories or questions. The systems and methods of the present invention utilize a storage means which relationally stores data regarding the human evaluators, the constructed responses, the scores awarded and the computer applications to utilize.

Abstract: A pallet for wheeled items comprises a base frame, a platform on the base frame, a first plurality of ramps on the base frame and sloping from the platform toward the base and a first end of the base frame, and a second plurality of ramps on the base frame and sloping from the platform toward the base frame and a second end of the base frame. The support, the first plurality of ramps, and the second plurality of ramps are structured and arranged so that when the first wheeled item is shifted on its wheels from the support surface along the first plurality of ramps and a second of the wheeled items is shifted on its wheels along the support surface along the second plurality of ramps, the undercarriages of the first and second wheeled items move toward the platform and the wheels of the item nest into the platform. Systems for securing items to the pallet including brackets and strapping mechanisms are also disclosed.

Abstract: A drive control unit comprises an IPv6 input unit 14 that reads the IPv6 ID of a key 4 inserted to start said control unit and inputs said ID, an authorization control unit 15 for authorizing the input ID, a basic control unit 12 comprising a ROM storing the drive control function, an engine control unit 16 that ignites and controls the engine when the authorization is normal, a drive control unit 17 that controls the drive of said unit, an interior control unit 18 that controls the interior of the unit chamber, an exterior communication control unit 19 that controls the communication with the exterior, and a LAN control unit 13 that connects and controls each unit via a LAN.

Abstract: A system 1 for providing an authentication service of a brand-name product having a micro ID chip comprises an authenticating device 2 and an ID chip management center 3 that are connected via a communication circuit 4. The authenticating device 2 reads the ID information recorded in the ID chip 6 embedded in the brand-name product. The ID chip management center 3 registers the ID number according to each brand-name product 5, and judges whether the ID number being registered matches the ID information read from the ID chip 6 of the brand-name product 5. This system enables to provide a service for authenticating the brand-name product 5 having the ID chip 6 embedded thereto.

Abstract: A method for performing the off-line programming of the movement of an industrial robot, which is dedicated to an industrial apparatus for processing. The method allows performing the off-line programming of the movement of a robot by using sequences of instructions, which adopt a relatively high level of abstraction. Therefore, it is possible to increased the operating flexibility of the robot and, at the same, to reduce programming times and costs.

Abstract: A product label 1 with an ID chip comprises a sheet-like label body 10 to be adhered to a product, and a particle-like micro ID chip 2 embedded to the label body 10 that records as product information the name of the product, the manufacturer, the price, the manufactured date, or the expiration date. Said label body 10 having the ID chip 2 embedded thereto is adhered to a product. The ID chip 2 embedded to the label body 10 will not break even when the label is bent. Due to its large memory capacity, the ID chip 2 is capable of storing a greater amount of product information.

Abstract: An improved scheduling system for scheduling, in real time, two or more customer visits (e.g. pickups, deliveries, or service visits) in response to a single request. The single request preferably specifies a date and a time window for a first customer visit, and a periodic schedule according to which the customer visit should reoccur. Accordingly, the system allows a user to use a single request to schedule a series of periodically-reoccurring customer visits. In one embodiment, responsive to the request, the system firmly schedules the first customer visit, and tentatively schedules all other customer visits in the series. Shortly before each tentatively scheduled customer visit is to occur, the system determines whether to make the tentatively scheduled customer visit in view of holidays, capacity, and cost. If so, the system firmly schedules the customer visit. If not, the system notifies the user and allows the user to reschedule the visit.

Abstract: A machine for cutting damaged ends off of rolls of wound sheet material includes a saw that moves in a circular motion about the circumference of one end of the roll of material. The circular motion of the saw is coupled with a movement of the saw radially inward toward the center of the axis of the circular movement. The roll is thereby cut in ever increasing depths about its circumference. The machine is mounted on a portable hydraulic lift and controlled by a remote controller positioned a safe distance away from the saw. The machine and the roll of material can be more easily aligned through the use of an alignment track.

Abstract: To closely simulate the experience of an end user, a software agent executes where the end user would be situated and attempts to exercise a computer resource such as a networked application or a network resource in a simulated transaction in exactly or nearly exactly the same way that the computer resource would be exercised by the end user in non-simulated transaction. The results of the simulated transaction and of other simulated transactions by other software agents are communicated to a central software system for recordation and analysis.