Abstract: A method of delivering printed images to a recipient, includes the steps of electronically transmitting digital images and image locator information from a location remote from and over a communication channel to a central receiving agency which stores such images and locator information in memory; and identifying a particular stored image in the memory using the corresponding image locator information and the location of one or more recipients and printing locations corresponding to each of the recipients. The method further includes transmitting the identified particular stored image in the memory to the printing location of each of the recipients; and printing the image at the printing location of each of the recipients and delivering the printed image in a package to the location corresponding to of each of the recipients.

Abstract: A method of delivering printed images to a recipient, includes the steps of electronically transmitting digital images and image locator information from a location remote from and over a communication channel to a central receiving agency which stores such images and locator information in memory; and identifying a particular stored image in the memory using the corresponding image locator information and the location of one or more recipients and printing locations corresponding to each of the recipients. The method further includes transmitting the identified particular stored image in the memory to the printing location of each of the recipients; and printing the image at the printing location of each of the recipients and delivering the printed image to the location corresponding to of each of the recipients.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a printed or scanned embedded image is disclosed that utilizes a prediction of the effect of a print or scanning process on the embedded message based upon characteristics of the printer or scanner. These values are measured directly at the time of authentication and compared to the predicted. Based on the comparison a decision is made regarding authenticity.

Abstract: A method for detecting failures in a natural gas returning radiation from the pipeline; determining that there is a failure in the pipeline when the spectral or thermal signature indicates that there is a plume of escaping natural gas from the pipeline emitted from a failure; and indicating to a customer that a failure in the pipeline has been detected at a predetermined coordinate position.

Abstract: A solid immersion lens device and method of making. A solid immersion lens device is provided having a plurality of solid immersion lenses. The solid immersion lenses are provided in a predetermined pattern and secured so as to cause them to be in a fixed position with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method of printing hardcopy images, includes electronically transmitting a plurality of digital images and information identifying the locations of a plurality of recipients from a remote location over a communications channel to a central receiving agency; storing the plurality of digital images and the information identifying the locations of a plurality of recipients in a memory at the central receiving agency; a user selecting a recipient and selecting a particular stored digital image from the plurality of digital images, and authorizing the printing of the particular stored digital image; using the information identifying the location of the recipient to select a local printing station for the recipient from a plurality of local printing stations; transmitting the particular digital image to the selected local printing station; and printing the particular stored digital image at the selected local printing station to produce a hardcopy image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining whether a postal object has been exposed to a predetermined level of radiation. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is a postage stamp including a radiation detection portion comprising a radiation sensitive material having a first characteristic and a visually observable second characteristic when exposed to a predetermined level of radiation, the first characteristic differing from the second characteristic.

Abstract: A method for predicting or monitoring the economic value of an agricultural commodity, the method includes the steps of remotely obtaining a image data; analyzing the remote image for a predetermined characteristics; using the analysis to determine a viability of the agricultural commodity; and transmitting the viability data to an interested party.

Abstract: A solid immersion lens device and method of making. A solid immersion lens device is provided having a plurality of solid immersion lenses. The solid immersion lenses are provided in a predetermined pattern and secured so as to cause them to be in a fixed position with respect to each other.

Abstract: A solid immersion lens device and method of making. A solid immersion lens device is provided having a plurality of solid immersion lenses. The solid immersion lenses are provided in a predetermined pattern and secured so as to cause them to be in a fixed position with respect to each other.

Abstract: A medium for displaying information thereon, the medium includes a substrate; and visible information formed from a plurality of colors displayed on the substrate; wherein at least one of the colors includes at least one visible colorant and at least one invisible colorant which invisible colorant is imperceptible to the human eye and which is not present in a reproduction therefrom for detecting counterfeiting or forgery.

Abstract: A method for superimposing graphic representations of ground locations onto images of ground locations after detecting the presence of material failure(s) or failures in man-made structures in such ground locations including providing an image sensor spaced remotely from the ground and which sequentially captures a number of images of various ground locations to provide digital images of such ground locations; processing captured digital images to determine the presence of a potential material failure in a man-made structure in accordance with predetermined coordinate positions which locate the man-made structures in one or more of the captured digital images; identifying reference points in the ground locations corresponding to the same reference points in the graphic representations of the ground location; and superimposing the graphic representation with the reference points onto at least one of the captured digital images.

Abstract: A method of producing an animated electronic message in which at least a portion of a fee associated with producing the animated electronic message is paid for by a sponsor. The method comprises the steps of a user accessing a database which includes at least one sponsor message and software for producing the animated electronic message; the user using the software to produce the animated electronic message; the user agreeing to use the sponsor message which will provide a credit for some of the fee for producing the animated electronic message; and attaching the sponsor message and the animated electronic message which is sent to one or more recipients. In a further embodiment, a sponsor coupon is distributed with the sponsor message and the animated message. In a still further embodiment, the sponsor message is animated. In yet a further embodiment, the credit for some of the fee is paid by the sponsor to a service provider or to the user.

Abstract: A receiver for receiving a water-based colorant image transferred by a stamp or the like, including an image receiving structure having a support; an information receiving layer which contains recorded information, such information receiving layer being formed over the support; and a clear hydrophobic protective layer formed over the information receiving layer; and a hydrophilic layer formed over the information receiving layer and selected so as to be able to receive a water-based colorant image.

Abstract: A method for capturing at least one image of an existing man-made structure and for detecting the presence of failure(s) in such existing man-made structure including: providing a detectable material on the surface or in an existing man-made structure so that portions of the detectable material will be present in the failure(s) of the existing man-made structure; providing an image sensor and which captures at least one image of the existing man-made structure and identifies failure(s) due to the existence of the detectable material in the failure(s) to provide at least one digital image; and processing the captured digital image(s) to provide a visual image of the existing man-made structure to determine the presence of failure(s) in the existing man-made structure.

Abstract: An integral image element includes at least one display control parameter that is stored in a storage mechanism located in a data code field of the integral image element. The display control parameter is read by an information reading device of a dynamic display unit that controls the display of the integral image element based on the display control parameter. The display control parameter or parameters stored on the integral image element may include a frame rate parameter, a sound parameter, a scent parameter and an illumination parameter.

Abstract: A method of forming authentic user viewable images on a receiver to which a series of viewable images such as postal stamps are adapted to be transferred including providing a receiver, and forming a series of authentic user viewable marks on the receiver prior to transfer of the series of images onto such receiver.

Abstract: A method of forming authenticated images on image areas of a receiver to form a series of viewable images such as postal stamps including moving a colorant donor element having a plurality of transferable colorants into transferable relationship with the receiver, the colorant donor element includes a representation of an image and marks which authenticate the image having colorant over such representation and marks; and transferring colorants onto the receiver in accordance with the representation and marks in the colorant donor element to form authenticated images in the receiver.

Abstract: An amorphous upconversion phosphor comprising barium fluoride a combination of rare-earth fluorides including yttrium and lanthanum and dopants, and a waveguide thereof on a substrate selected to have a refractive index lower than a thin film of the phosphor material or any other substrate with an appropriate buffer layer of lower refractive index that the film wherein infrared radiation is converted into visible or visible and ultra violet light. The amorphous upconversion phosphor is deposited at temperatures low enough to permit integration into semiconductor materials.

Abstract: A printing member that can be imaged directly using a laser and is image erasable, the printing member includes a writing surface composed of a non-porous zirconia ceramic ZrO.sub.2 that is alloyed with a secondary oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, a rare earth oxide, and combinations thereof, the zirconia alloy being a non-porous ceramic and having a density of from about 5.6 to about 6.2 g/cm.sup.3 ; and an erasable bar-code printed onto the writing surface.