Abstract: A roasting and glazing apparatus comprising a housing, a bowl assembly having a bowl support and a roaster bowl, an agitator rotatably mounted within the roaster bowl, a heater to heat the roaster bowl, and a cantilever arm disposed external to the housing. The cantilever arm, when moved, moves the roaster bowl between fully lowered and fully raised positions. A first piston is coupled to the bowl support and provides, when engaged, a counterforce to the weight of the bowl assembly. The first piston is engaged at least during the raising of the roaster bowl. A second piston provides a counterforce during the lowering of the roaster bowl from a partially lowered position to the fully towered position. The second piston is not engaged during lowering of the roaster howl from the fully raised position to the partially lowered position After producing roasted and glazed nuts using the apparatus, the roaster bowl is raised to facilitate removal of the roasted and glazed nuts, and then the roaster bowl is lowered.

Abstract: A roasting and glazing apparatus comprising a nut roaster housing, a roaster bowl within the nut roaster housing, an agitator rotatably mounted within the roaster bowl and including at least two blades to mix a mixture of nuts and sugar during roasting, a heater within the housing for heating the roaster bowl, and a cover mounted on the roaster bowl, sized to cover the roaster bowl, and including a water reservoir that includes at least one metering hole to allow water placed within the reservoir during glazing to flow into the roaster bowl at a predetermined, measured rate of flow. The measured flow results in well coated glazed nuts and prevents the formation of a large burst of steam, thus protecting the operator against being scalded during glazing of the roasted nuts, as well as providing other benefits.

Abstract: A method of steam cleaning a roaster bowl, such as one used in a roasting/glazing apparatus, in which an electronic technique is employed to determine, during cleaning, whether water is boiling within the roaster bowl. The method entails adding water into a roaster bowl having sugar adhered thereto and placing a cover on top of the roaster bowl. A steam vent is formed between the cover and the roaster bowl. The method further comprises heating the roaster bowl and then electronically determining whether the water within the roaster bowl has reached a boiling point (i.e., is boiling). After electronically determining that the water is boiling, the water remains boiling for an amount of time sufficient to cause the internal surface of the roaster bowl and the cover to be properly steam cleaned. The water in the roaster bowl (with sugar dissolved therein) is then poured out.

Abstract: An apparatus/method of cleaning a roaster bowl having a pouring lip and a cover (e.g., sugar or other coating is adhered to the bowl, its pouring lip and the cover). Water is added to the roaster bowl and the cover is placed over the roaster bowl. An appropriately sized and located steam vent is disposed between the cover and roaster bowl, adjacent to the bowl's pouring lip. The roaster bowl is heated to boil the water to produce steam that dissolves the sugar adhered to the roaster bowl and to the underside of the cover. Steam exiting the bowl via the vent condenses on the pouring lip to dissolve the sugar that is adhered to the pouring lip, and the sugar-laden steam drips back into the bowl thus cleaning the pouring lip.

Abstract: A method of producing roasted and glazed nuts comprising the steps of providing a roaster apparatus having a roaster bowl, placing water and a mixture of nuts and sugar in the roaster bowl, mixing the water and the mixture, heating the roaster bowl while mixing to produce roasted and sugar coated nuts, adding water to the roaster bowl to produce roasted and glazed nuts, and lifting a cantilever arm coupled to the roaster's housing to raise the roaster bowl from a fully lowered position to a raised position. A first piston coupled to the bowl support is engaged during the raising of the roaster bowl to provide a counterforce to the bowl assembly's weight. The method further comprises removing the roasted and glazed nuts from the roaster bowl when in the raised position, lowering the cantilever arm to lower the roaster bowl from the raised position to a partially lowered position, and then lowering the cantilever arm to lower the roaster bowl to the fully lowered position.

Abstract: A method of roasting nuts comprises placing water and a mixture of nuts and sugar in a roaster bowl, mixing the water and mixture, heating the roaster bowl during mixing to roast and sugar coat the nuts, covering the roaster bowl with a cover after roasting and sugar coating, adding water to a reservoir disposed within the cover wherein the reservoir includes at least one metering hole, flowing through the metering hole, from the reservoir to the roaster bowl, the water added to the reservoir, glazing the nuts during the flowing of water into the roaster bowl from the reservoir, and removing the cover from the roaster bowl after glazing the nuts. The measured flow of water through the reservoir results in well coated glazed nuts and prevents the formation of a large burst of steam, thus protecting the operator against being scalded during glazing of the roasted nuts, as well as providing other benefits.

Abstract: A roasting and glazing apparatus comprising a roaster housing, a roaster bowl disposed within the roaster housing for receiving a mixture of nuts and sugar, an agitator rotatably mounted within the roaster bowl for mixing the mixture, and a heater controlled to selectively heat the roaster bowl. The agitator includes at least two blades for mixing the nut/sugar mixture during a roasting or glazing operation. The agitator also includes a central hub and each of the blades extends from the central hub and includes a respective substantially vertical component and a respective horizontal component. Each horizontal component has a bottom surface that is disposed adjacent to the floor of the roaster bowl, and the bottom surface extends upward from its front edge to its rear edge at a relief angle of at least 5° relative to the roaster bowl floor.

Abstract: A method of providing enhanced mobile communications services through collecting, analyzing, and utilizing cellular network data is described. The method configures an intelligence engine based on a set of rules. The method receives the set of rules through a user interface or generates the set of rules through performing an analysis on the network data by the intelligence engine. The method receives network data events and correlates the received network data events. The intelligence engine determines an action in response to a correlated network data event. The action includes sending a text message or email containing an offer to a mobile communications services subscriber, or updating a database. The method then performs the action.

Abstract: Methods for bioremediation of environmental media contaminated with at least one perchlorate compound. A Pseudomonas consortium of P. putida strain B, P. putida strain E, and P. fluorescens strain G was provided to contaminated water, soil, etc. under conditions to result in bioremediated water, soil, etc. In embodiments, the method is used ex-situ, e.g., in a reactor vessel, or is used in-situ.

Abstract: Methods for bioremediation of environmental media contaminated with at least one perchlorate compound. A Pseudomonas consortium of P. putida strain B, P. putida strain E, and P. fluorescens strain G was provided to contaminated water, soil, etc. under conditions to result in bioremediated water, soil, etc. In embodiments, the method is used ex-situ, e.g., in a reactor vessel, or is used in-situ.

Abstract: Methods for bioremediation of environmental media contaminated with at least one perchlorate compound. A Pseudomonas consortium of P. putida strain B, P. putida strain E, and P. fluorescens strain G was provided to contaminated water, soil, etc. under conditions to result in bioremediated water, soil, etc. In embodiments, the method is used ex-situ, e.g., in a reactor vessel, or is used in-situ.

Abstract: A method of providing enhanced mobile communications services through collecting, analyzing, and utilizing cellular network data is described. The method configures an intelligence engine based on a set of rules. The method receives the set of rules through a user interface or generates the set of rules through performing an analysis on the network data by the intelligence engine. The method receives network data events and correlates the received network data events. The intelligence engine determines an action in response to a correlated network data event. The action includes sending a text message or email containing an offer to a mobile communications services subscriber, or updating a database. The method then performs the action.

Abstract: A method of utilizing mobile communication roaming data is described. The method receives a roaming data authorization from a user to allow using roaming data related to the user. The method receives roaming data related to the user from a set of mobile network operators. The method receives an information request related to the user. The method performs an analysis on the roaming data related to the user to retrieve the requested information. The method then sends a response containing the requested information.

Abstract: A system and method for computerized metering, rating, billing and managing of account balances on an end computing device is disclosed herein wherein the end device may facilitate such processing whether the device is connected or is not connected to a network. The end device, furthermore, initiates communications with a host processor to obtain updated algorithms, rating tables and other accouterments necessary or desired to meter, rate, and process payments for transaction events. The end device initiates communications with the host processor or another end device to facilitate the synchronization of usage for pricing plans that span one or more devices.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for a digital rights management system which enforces license rights by incorporating a decryption key in a license rights package that further includes an account number associated with a primary consumer. The digital rights management system also includes a mechanism for renewing/updating the license by charging the account number associated with a primary consumer. This way, the consumer may transfer the license rights package along with the digital content to any personal devices he likes but he is discouraged from freely disseminating the license package as uses by other consumers will be debited against his package or, if renewed/extended, charged against his account.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for a digital rights management system which enforces license rights by establishing an account domain of registered consumer devices which may each receive a decryption key to be used to decode digital content bought by any of the devices within the account domain. Such system further enables the decentralization of content sharing by establishing a network of trusted intermediate devices to manage licenses on end devices for a central rights provider.