Abstract: A method of providing an image on a media having a image-receiving layer and a protective overlayer, comprising the steps of providing an image on said image-receiving and providing machine-readable indicia on said protective overlayer by varying the temperature of a thermal head used to apply said protective overlayer.

Abstract: A method of providing an image on a media having a image-receiving layer and a protective overlayer, comprising the steps of providing an image on said image-receiving and providing machine-readable indicia on said protective overlayer by varying the temperature of a thermal head used to apply said protective overlayer.

Abstract: An indicator device captured between couplers of ends of firehose sections that point to the source of the firehose and to safety. The preferred embodiment includes gasket-like annular body which fits over the male threads of the male coupler and is captured between annular ends of the abutting male and female coupler bodies. Direction pointing fingers, integral with the annular body, point backward toward the hose section to which the male coupler is attached and are angularly oriented to fit between longitudinal lugs of the male coupler.

Abstract: Printing apparatus for printing an image on a selected surface, includes a print head for printing the image, respective supports for the print head that allow the print head to translate left and right along an x-axis and to translate up and down along a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis to move the print head over the selected surface, and respective supports for the print head that allow the print head to translate forward and rearward along a z-axis perpendicular to the x-and y-axes and to swing in a plurality of curves from the z-axis in order to adjust the print head for surface variations on the selected surface.

Abstract: Non-toll calls originating from payphones may be blocked. An intelligent node is provided within the telecommunications network to identify whether a non-toll call originated from a payphone. The intelligent node may apply a number of different criteria to determine whether to block a non-toll call that is determined to have originated from a payphone. The intelligent node may be customized to apply criteria based upon customer request. The customer may also identify additional processing that is to be performed when a call is to be blocked.

Abstract: This present invention provides users with secure transparent electronic communication, allowing them to send and receive encrypted and/or signed messages with little or no user involvement. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a user with e-mail security via automated hierarchical techniques for transparently sending and receiving secure messages, and lowers the burden on administrators. The present invention can include a server in a local network that acts as a proxy between a user and an open communications network, thereby providing transparent transmission and receipt of secure messages for the user. This could be used for sending and receiving secure e-mail or for securing instant messaging (IM). A server according to the present invention can intercept unsecured messages from a user, automatically transform those messages into secured messages, and transmit those secure messages to the intended recipients.

Abstract: This present invention provides users with secure transparent electronic communication, allowing them to send and receive encrypted and/or signed messages with little or no user involvement. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a user with e-mail security via automated hierarchical techniques for transparently sending and receiving secure messages, and lowers the burden on administrators. Such a system can also manage cryptographic keys and certificates for the users, and creates such keys and certificates for the users when necessary. A server according to the present invention can intercept unsecured messages from a user, automatically transform those messages into secured messages, and transmit those secure messages to the intended recipients. The server can also automatically transform messages after the recipient sends a digital identity to the server and downloads the software necessary for transforming the secured messages back into readable messages (i.e.

Abstract: This present invention provides users with secure transparent electronic communication, allowing them to send and receive encrypted and/or signed messages with little or no user involvement. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a user with e-mail security via automated hierarchical techniques for transparently sending and receiving secure messages, lowers the burden on administrators, and allows for a public key infrastructure (PKI) to be dynamically constructed and operated. Such a system can also manage cryptographic keys and certificates for the users, and create such keys and certificates for the users when necessary. The server can also receive an indication that a user has been properly authenticated, check whether the user has a cryptographic key, and automatically create a key if the user does not have one, thereby automatically registering the user within a community and allowing the user to transparently send and receive secure electronic messages.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved sustained release drug delivery device comprising a drug core, a unitary cup, and a permeable plug.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for water softening utilising magnetic pulses is provided. The magnetic pulses are presented to a volume of water within a water conduit 6 or water container over a predetermined time period with a relaxation time period between successive predetermined time periods of action upon the volume of water. The magnetic pulses are in the range 1.6 to 6.8 KHz and generally presented in a manner whereby the frequency is ramped in discrete frequency shifts over fixed time periods through the predetermined time period in order to facilitate greater water softening action. Normally, each frequency harmonic is initiated by an initiation spike of enhanced magnetic strength.

Abstract: A powder mixing system and mixer for mixing cement used in cementing oil wells or other similar dry powder mixtures. The mixer is provided with a central recirculation jet and with annularly located alternating recirculation and mix water jets that discharge into the mixing chamber of the mixer in an overlapping fashion to effectively wet dry cement introduced into the mixing chamber. The mix water jets are formed from a set of slots provided both in a rotatable element and from another set of slots provided in a stationary portion so that when the rotatable element rotates, the size of mix water jets is adjusted. Two inlet elbows attach to the inlet of the central recirculation jet to cause the flow from the jet to rotate in a diverging pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are dried laminated multi-layered cereal pieces, especially R-T-E breakfast products, and methods of preparation. In particular, the cereal pieces are characterized by a highly laminated structure comprising a multiplicity of generally horizontal thin parallel layers numbering at least four to 20 each of—100-500 micrometers (“&mgr;m”) thickness fabricated from cooked cereal dough with interstitial voids between the layers. The pieces can vary in shape and range from bite-sized to biscuit-sized. The interstitial void spaces between layers average 0.8 millimeters. This laminated structure creates cereal pieces having a distinctive texture and appearance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site. The method and apparatus includes predicting an area of coverage of the site by at least one GPS satellite, determining a condition of reduced coverage as a function of the predicted area of coverage, displaying the area having reduced coverage on a terrain map, and placing a pseudolite at a location at the site to provide coverage in the area having reduced coverage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising in order an imaging layer, an upper oriented polymer sheet, a laminating adhesive layer in contact with said upper polymer sheet and also in contact with a lower oriented polymer sheet, and a positioning adhesive in contact with the lower side of said lower polymer sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing water hyacinths. The system of the present invention utilizes a transfer mechanism and grapple to collect hyacinth material from a body of water. The collected material is then passed to a transport for delivery to a header unit and grapple. The header unit grapple then retrieves the hyacinth material and delivers it to a collection bin for processing. The chopped hyacinth material is thereafter discharged for subsequent use as a biomass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing an image on a large surface area or walkway provides for imagewise marking of the surface with a color marking solution, to form a visible image on the surface during an image recording mode of a marking engine. A vehicle supports the marking engine and includes a drive that engages the surface at plural locations and moves the marking engine relative to the surface. The marking engine is located outboard of an area defined by lines connecting the plural locations so that during operation of the marking engine during the image recording mode the drive does not engage areas of the surface that have been previously imagewise marked.

Abstract: A slush beverage maker is provided that is easy to assemble and disassemble, has few parts, and is easy to operate. The slush beverage maker has a mixing chamber for receiving ingredients to make a slush beverage. An auger is received within the mixing chamber to mix the ingredients. An ice drum is received within the auger in the mixing chamber. An ice blade is disposed in the ice drum to stir the ice mixture received by the ice drum when making a slush beverage. A hand crank is connected to both the auger and the ice blade to rotate both simultaneously. A blowby area in the mixing chamber outside the auger provides continuous flow of the slush beverage mixture, thereby avoiding freezing the auger within the mixture. Moreover, the ice blade speeds up the heat transfer between the slush beverage mixture and the ice mixture, thereby decreasing the time required to make a slush beverage.

Abstract: An inside quote and a liquidity quote are generated for a security. The inside quote is a conventional best bid and best offer with associated size or number of shares at each price. The liquidity quote is priced outside the best bid and offer and includes the size or number of limit orders priced between the respective bid and offer prices of the inside quote and the liquidity quote. Firm trader or investor interest that is not reflected in limit orders is also included in the size of the liquidity quote. The firm interest may be anonymous. Updates to the liquidity quote occur on a less frequent basis than the inside quote. A bunching parameter helps to determine the liquidity quote update frequency.

Abstract: Events that occur over time or that otherwise have a time component are analyzed to identify one or more sets of causal factors that influence the aging distribution of the event. Data records that record the events are associated with patterns, where each pattern is associated with a group of data records that have one or more causal factors in common. The pattern having a metric indicative of an aging distribution influenced by the causal factors. In this way, the causal factors associated with the selected pattern are identified as having an influence on the aging distribution of the event. The method may be repeated to identify additional combinations of causal factors. In one example, the invention is applied to the problem of determining causal factors of problematic AR.