Abstract: In a method for advanced identification of a customer, a customer may remotely place an order, intending to later go to a store to pick up the ordered item. The store may have a pick-up area (e.g., at the back of the store) where the customer can go to pick up the ordered item. To save the customer time, the customer may be identified when she enters the store so that an employee can obtain her ordered item and have it ready to pick up by the time the customer walks through the store and arrives at the pick-up area.

Abstract: Techniques for utilizing trusted hardware components for mitigating the effects of equivocation amongst participant computing devices of a distributed system are described herein. For instance, a distributed system employing a byzantine-fault-resilient protocol—that is, a protocol intended to mitigate (e.g., tolerate, detect, isolate, etc.) the effects of byzantine faults—may employ the techniques. To do so, the techniques may utilize a trusted hardware component comprising a non-decreasing counter and a key. This hardware component may be “trusted” in that the respective participant computing device cannot modify or observe the contents of the component in any manner other than according to the prescribed procedures, as described herein. Furthermore, the trusted hardware component may couple to the participant computing device in any suitable manner, such as via a universal serial bus (USB) connection or the like.

Abstract: Techniques for utilizing trusted hardware components for mitigating the effects of equivocation amongst participant computing devices of a distributed system are described herein. For instance, a distributed system employing a byzantine-fault-resilient protocol—that is, a protocol intended to mitigate (e.g., tolerate, detect, isolate, etc.) the effects of byzantine faults—may employ the techniques. To do so, the techniques may utilize a trusted hardware component comprising a non-decreasing counter and a key. This hardware component may be “trusted” in that the respective participant computing device cannot modify or observe the contents of the component in any manner other than according to the prescribed procedures, as described herein. Furthermore, the trusted hardware component may couple to the participant computing device in any suitable manner, such as via a universal serial bus (USB) connection or the like.

Abstract: A single-use lancet device is provided for drawing capillary blood samples. The device includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion and a trigger carried by the upper portion of the body. The trigger is movable between a first raised position wherein the device is cocked and a second depressed position wherein the device is fired. A needle assembly is provided which is movable between a cocked position and a striking position. A free-floating drive spring is provided for moving the needle assembly from its cocked position to its striking position. A bounceback spring is integrally molded with the needle assembly and includes a pair of generally V-shaped spring arms. A trigger bar has a first position wherein it holds the needle assembly in its cocked position, and the trigger bar has a second position wherein it allows the needle assembly to move to its striking position as the drive spring expands.

Abstract: A device that deters and repels birds from landing on masts, spreaders, rigging and attached apparatus of sailboats, as well as towers and outriggers of power boats. The device generates an intermittent, quiet vibration that is transmitted to the boat. The combination of intermittent vibration and movement of the device results in stimuli that are unpleasant for birds. Birds attempting to perch upon a sailboat are deterred by the movement of the device and are otherwise repelled by the unsettling vibration transmitted through those parts of the boat usually used as perches.

Abstract: A single-use lancet device is provided for drawing capillary blood samples. The device includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion and a trigger carried by the upper portion of the body. The trigger is movable between a first raised position wherein the device is cocked and a second depressed position wherein the device is fired. A needle assembly is provided which is movable between a cocked position and a striking position. A free-floating drive spring is provided for moving the needle assembly from its cocked position to its striking position. A bounceback spring is integrally molded with the needle assembly and includes a pair of generally V-shaped spring arms. A trigger bar has a first position wherein it holds the needle assembly in its cocked position, and the trigger bar has a second position wherein it allows the needle assembly to move to its striking position as the drive spring expands.

Abstract: A device that deters and repels birds from landing on masts, spreaders, rigging and attached apparatus of sailboats, as well as towers and outriggers of power boats. The device generates an intermittent, quiet vibration that is transmitted to the boat. The combination of intermittent vibration and movement of the device results in stimuli that are unpleasant for birds. Birds attempting to perch upon a sailboat are deterred by the movement of the device and are otherwise repelled by the unsettling vibration transmitted through those parts of the boat usually used as perches.