Abstract: Systems and methods for network-based ultrasound imaging are provided, which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, an ultrasound imaging system images an object with three-dimensional unfocused pings and obtains digital sample sets from a plurality of receiver elements. A sub-set of the digital sample sets can be electronically transferred to a remote server, where the sub-set can be beamformed to produce a series of two-dimensional image frames. A video stream made up of the series of two-dimensional images frames can then be transferred from the remote server to a display device.

Abstract: A container system for aging beverages in a barrel and making and using it are disclosed. The system includes a container body having a first portion and a second portion each having an inner surface. The first portion and the second portion are selectively connected to enclose the barrel and form a space between an outer surface of the barrel and the inner surfaces of the first and second portions of the container body. The container body has at least one opening for inputting into the space and withdrawing from the space a medium.

Abstract: A method for obtaining audience preference market survey data, such as a radio and/or television listening audience survey and/or supplemental data, such as bar coded data (156), from a plurality of diverse locations for accumulative processing by a remote data processor, involves recording (22, 30, 40, 42, 44, 56, 54, 52) a plurality of audio signals (46, 48, 50) at each of the diverse locations which corresponds to the ambient radio and/or television audio sound at predetermined synchronized discrete sampling times (42, 60, 64, 66, 62) or windows which are synchronized to a master recording (110) of the programs being surveyed. The sampling windows are of short duration with respect to the measurement interval. The master recording (110) audio signals frequency intervals are matched against the frequency of the diverse location audio samples to provide an indication of audience preference and tested for a correct match in a configurable filter array (120, 122, 124).

Abstract: An audio frequency based data capture tablet (26) includes a working surface (210) upon which a data collection document having marked responses is placed. A movable cursor (212, 222), which is mechanically disposed above the working surface (210), produces an audio signature indicating both its position and relative motion orthogonally. shaded bars (214, 216) along the top and sides of the tablet (26) which comprise binary encoded sections, cause a composite of audio frequencies to be produced. The intersecting members (212, 222) of the movable cursor are orthogonally disposed with the x-axis member including seven phototransistors (220) as does the y-axis member (225), with each of the phototransistors (220, 223) being uniquely associated with an audio frequency oscillator (330-342, 334-356) whose outputs are mixed and combined (400) to provide a composite audio signature; and optically alignable with the shaded bars (214, 216).

Abstract: A method for collecting market survey data from universal product type code bearing market items is provided in which a lenseless data recorder is employed for collecting the universal product type code encoded market data. The data recorder comprises a housing with the housing having an exposure aperture therein for admitting a source of light therethrough, such as ambient light or artificial light. A photographic recording medium, such as a film having photographic emulsion on opposite sides thereof to permit recording on both sides, is disposed in the housing adjacent the exposure aperture. The exposure aperture is optically alignable with the universal product type code on a market item for which the survey data is to be collected. A keyboard is provided in the housing for enabling the insertion of ancillary market survey information corresponding to the market item whose product code has been recorded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting market survey data from universal product type code bearing market items is provided in which a lenseless data recorder is employed for collecting the universal product type code encoded market data. The data recorder comprises a housing with the housing having an exposure aperture therein for admitting a source of light therethrough, such as ambient light or artificial light. A photographic recording medium, such as a film having photographic emulsion on opposite sides thereof to permit recording on both sides, is disposed in the housing adjacent the exposure aperture. The exposure aperture is optically alignable with the universal product type code on a market item for which the survey data is to be collected. A keyboard is provided in the housing for enabling the insertion of ancillary market survey information corresponding to the market item whose product code has been recorded.

Abstract: A data entry system for providing a computer readable record of historical information, such as market survey information, relating to at least one common subject, such as a particular product, having a plurality of different possible attributes, such as price, store in which purchased, etc., with the attributes having a plurality of different selectable definitions, such as different store names, different price values, etc. The system comprises at least one electrical crosspoint matrix array with each of the crosspoints having an associated indicia corresponding to one of the selectable definitions and having bit state corresponding to the absence of the associated definition and a different bit state corresponding to the presence of the associated definition.