Abstract: A multi-use thermal cup device is provided that includes a cup, a sensor, a thermometer, a user interface, and an electronic controller. The cup has at least one heating element disposed between its inner and outer walls. Electro-mechanical connection points are included on the outer wall of the cup and the electronic controller, which are sized to allow the controller to be connected to the cup at a distance sufficient to insulate the controller from heat dispersed from the cup. An insulating air gap is formed between the cup and the electronic controller to protect the controller from any dissipating heat. The controller is programmable to direct the power supply to the heat conductors and to control the function of any device connected to the sensor in response to information received from the sensor and the user-defined sampling parameters.

Abstract: A multi-use thermal cup device is provided that includes a cup, a sensor, a thermometer, a user interface, and an electronic controller. The cup has at least one heating element disposed between its inner and outer walls. Electro-mechanical connection points are included on the outer wall of the cup and the electronic controller, which are sized to allow the controller to be connected to the cup at a distance sufficient to insulate the controller from heat dispersed from the cup. An insulating air gap is formed between the cup and the electronic controller to protect the controller from any dissipating heat. The controller is programmable to direct the power supply to the heat conductors and to control the function of any device connected to the sensor in response to information received from the sensor and the user-defined sampling parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing data warehousing systems. According to a first embodiment, a system may include a plurality of data warehouses, and a data warehouse manager configured to extract data sets from one or more data sources for storage in one or more of the plurality of data warehouses. Each of a first subset including two or more of the plurality of data warehouses may be configured to store a respective replica of a first data set extracted by the data warehouse manager. Further, the data warehouse manager may be further configured to allow a query dependent upon the first data set to be evaluated by one of the first subset of data warehouses before each respective replica of the first data set has been stored to a corresponding data warehouse of the first subset.