Abstract: A wireless system for providing services and time-critical information about places and events to mobile computers and their users proximate to their current locations or potential destinations within enclosed areas, urban landscapes, and open areas, including travel distances and transit times, entertainment, merchants' messages, area attractions, communications, current locations of system users, and traffic congestion information and user-generated information from bar-coded objects and digital photographs of scenes and other materials. Included is a combination low-radiation dosage-reception handset for wireless communications which includes bar-code reader and digital camera peripheral devices for mobile computers, a bracket for interfacing a mobile computer with radio to external systems, and methods for improving the operations of computer reception, search, and display of such information for the edification, efficiency, and enjoyment of computer users.

Abstract: An extensible, programmable digital electronic network (14A") originates from a network node (FIG. 1), including a base node microcomputer (90) and a network interface (71C), and is operatively connected to a power supply (61), and at least one separate, network communicating circuit or network node (21), which is connected to at least one application device (21A). Enclosing cases of the network components includes an access sensor (8, 18C, and 22F, respectively) and power storage units (24G, 18B, and 22H, respectively) for fail-safe functions. The application device is programmably controlled by the base node microcomputer, a network security main program (100), a separate circuit or node, and a node security main program (130) to cause the network to selectably effect control of a device, for example, upon loss of network integrity, such that the network and node, respectively, enter programmably secure conditions (125, 155).

Abstract: Containers which can be quickly erected comprising a pair of main panels (44 and 45) connected by a joining tension means (56) and an articulated stretcher means (48, 49, and 50) for pushing apart said pair of main panels in opposition to said tension means, said stretcher panel is stable in only two configurations, namely collapsed or erected. Inexpensive, quickly erectable containers for different uses which incorporate similar structural elements can be produced and include trash containers, scoop-front receptacles, shrub and plant pots, shelters for eqipment and organisms, fluid containers, and open-top containers for the collection and portioning of bulk foods.