Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a visible symbol or other indicium on a tab portion of a beverage container. The method comprises the steps of advancing a tab stock material through a series of tab-forming stations. The tab portion is at least partially formed from the tab stock at each of the tab-forming stations. The advancement of the tab stock is dwelled or halted while the tab is formed. The tab stock is accelerated from dwell to resume advancement of the tab stock material between the stations. A selected portion of the tab is irradiated with light energy to form the visible indicium. The apparatus comprises a plurality of tab-forming stations, each tab-forming station at least partially forming the tab from a tab stock. A conveyor or track mechanism is configured to advance the tab stock from one tab-forming station to another. An etching apparatus is associated with the conveyor and tab-forming stations to selectively etch the symbol on the tab.

Abstract: A system and method are described for digitally processing a stationery order and for selecting an optimum fulfillment site for fulfilling the stationery order. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: providing an end user with a set of selectable stationery templates, the stationery personalization engine receiving an indication that an end user has selected a particular one of the stationery templates; collecting personalization data from the user, the personalization data including personalized messages, one or more stationery formatting options selected by the user, and names and addresses of stationery recipients; applying the personalization data to the stationery templates to generate a personalized stationery design; identifying a set of eligible fulfillment sites for printing the stationery design based on a first set of variables; and identifying an optimal fulfillment site from the set of eligible fulfillment sites based on a second set of variables.

Abstract: A system and method are described for digitally processing a stationery order and for selecting an optimum fulfillment site for fulfilling the stationery order. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: providing an end user with a set of selectable stationery templates, the stationery personalization engine receiving an indication that an end user has selected a particular one of the stationery templates; collecting personalization data from the user, the personalization data including personalized messages, one or more stationery formatting options selected by the user, and names and addresses of stationery recipients; applying the personalization data to the stationery templates to generate a personalized stationery design; identifying a set of eligible fulfillment sites for printing the stationery design based on a first set of variables; and identifying an optimal fulfillment site from the set of eligible fulfillment sites based on a second set of variables.

Abstract: A system and method are described for digitally processing a stationery order and for selecting an optimum fulfillment site for fulfilling the stationery order. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: providing an end user with a set of selectable stationery templates, the stationery personalization engine receiving an indication that an end user has selected a particular one of the stationery templates; collecting personalization data from the user, the personalization data including personalized messages, one or more stationery formatting options selected by the user, and names and addresses of stationery recipients; applying the personalization data to the stationery templates to generate a personalized stationery design; identifying a set of eligible fulfillment sites for printing the stationery design based on a first set of variables; and identifying an optimal fulfillment site from the set of eligible fulfillment sites based on a second set of variables.

Abstract: Caller identification information is conveyed to the called party in manners other than through the display of textual information on a display screen. The caller ID information may be provided as musical tones where the characters of the caller ID information are mapped to the musical tones being output, such as various musical notes and length of the note. The caller ID information may be provided as a light pattern where the characters of the caller ID information are mapped to the elements of the light pattern being output, such as colors, period of light, and flashes. The caller ID information may be provided as tactile patterns where the characters of the caller ID information are mapped to the elements of the tactile pattern being output, such as producing vibration patterns or Braille characters. The called party may then recognize the caller from the conveyed caller ID information.

Abstract: A system and method are described for digitally processing a stationery order and for selecting an optimum fulfillment site for fulfilling the stationery order. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: providing an end user with a set of selectable stationery templates, the stationery personalization engine receiving an indication that an end user has selected a particular one of the stationery templates; collecting personalization data from the user, the personalization data including personalized messages, one or more stationery formatting options selected by the user, and names and addresses of stationery recipients; applying the personalization data to the stationery templates to generate a personalized stationery design; identifying a set of eligible fulfillment sites for printing the stationery design based on a first set of variables; and identifying an optimal fulfillment site from the set of eligible fulfillment sites based on a second set of variables.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a visible symbol or other indicium on a tab portion of a beverage container. The method comprises the steps of advancing a tab stock material through a series of tab-forming stations. The tab portion is at least partially formed from the tab stock at each of the tab-forming stations. The advancement of the tab stock is dwelled or halted while the tab is formed. The tab stock is accelerated from dwell to resume advancement of the tab stock material between the stations. A selected portion of the tab is irradiated with light energy to form the visible indicium. The apparatus comprises a plurality of tab-forming stations, each tab-forming station at least partially forming the tab from a tab stock. A conveyor or track mechanism is configured to advance the tab stock from one tab-forming station to another. An etching apparatus is associated with the conveyor and tab-forming stations to selectively etch the symbol on the tab.

Abstract: Feedback is provided to customers based on the use of transactional accounts. The feedback may be of various forms such as a coupon or lottery number resulting from use of a particular transactional account to make a purchase. Other forms of feedback include purchase related feedback such as current sale prices at a merchant based on use of a particular transactional account or items previously purchased from a merchant when using the particular transactional account. The feedback may be of other forms as well such as transactional account information such as the current interest rate applicable to the current purchase or the remaining balance after the purchase is complete.

Abstract: Caller identification information is conveyed to the called party in manners other than through the display of textual information on a display screen. The caller ID information may be provided as musical tones where the characters of the caller ID information are mapped to the musical tones being output, such as various musical notes and length of the note. The caller ID information may be provided as a light pattern where the characters of the caller ID information are mapped to the elements of the light pattern being output, such as colors, period of light, and flashes. The caller ID information may be provided as tactile patterns where the characters of the caller ID information are mapped to the elements of the tactile pattern being output, such as producing vibration patterns or Braille characters. The called party may then recognize the caller from the conveyed caller ID information.

Abstract: A wiring harness fire protection device for wrapping about wiring harnesses of major aircraft components and on electrical wiring, cables and conduit of electrical systems in motor vehicles and residential and commercial buildings for providing heat, fire and mechanical protection for the wiring includes a flame resistant fabric covering in roll form and preferably composed from material or products known as NOMEX r or KEVLAR r with the protection device in roll form being wrapped around the wiring harness and cut as needed.

Abstract: A system for monitoring broadcast channels, includes a device for receiving a plurality of broadcast channels, a central search engine operable to search the received channels for a match with a pre-stored profile, a central memory connected to the search engine for storing the profile, and a plurality of user terminals connected to the search engine over a network. The search engine is responsive to commands from the user terminals to store the profiles to be searched in the memory in association with the identity of the user terminal from which the command was received. A device sends an alert signal over the network when a match is found with a pre-stored profile to the user terminal associated with the pre-stored profile. The alert signal identifies the broadcast channel matching the pre-stored profile.

Abstract: A method of organizing electronic documents for storage and subsequent retrieval, involves storing a summary structure describing the structure of summary records associated with each document. Each structured summary record has at least one descriptor field representative of a characteristic of the document. Predefined field entries identify a characteristic of the document. Predefined keyword criteria associated with the field entries are stored. Each document is analyzed to build a text index listing the occurrence of unique significant words in the document. The text index is compared with the keyword criteria to determine the appropriate field entry for the document. For example, one descriptor field might related to topic, which could have the field entries of “financial” or “sports”. The preponderance of certain keyword criteria, such as “money” or “shares” would identify the document with the financial topic.