Abstract: A method for digitally notifying customers of a utility. The method includes receiving real time digital user data from a utility using an application programming interface in communication with a processor and a network, and storing the real time digital user data in a dynamic information database in communication with the processor. At least one message is transmit from the utility through the application programming interface to a first group of user contact devices before transmitting the message to a second group of user contact devices. Response information is received from each user contact device.

Abstract: A personal cleansing composition exhibiting enhanced skin feel (i.e., enhanced skin softness, reduced skin irritation, reduced residue, and reduced greasy, tacky, or tight skin feel), enhanced foaming and lather, and good cleansing, more specifically, a personal cleansing composition comprising a mixture of alpha sulfonated alkyl esters or sulfonated fatty acids, or salts thereof, with an alkyl sulfoacetate or ethoxylated alkyl sulfoacetate, or salts thereof, secondary surfactants, and optional additives.

Abstract: An extending vertical wall is provided that secures to the rear edge of a shelf assembly inside a refrigerator compartment. The vertical wall comprises a vertical panel with two downwardly protruding legs. The legs removably reside within sockets included in the rear edge of the refrigerator shelf assembly. When the vertical wall is attached to the refrigerator shelf assembly, the vertical wall prevents items placed on the shelf from toppling off the back edge of the shelf assembly. At the user's discretion, the vertical wall may be quickly and easily removed from the shelf assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the wall is a formed retainer having an inserted U-shape such that the legs are received in the shelf sockets.

Abstract: An extending vertical wall secures to the rear edge of a shelf assembly inside a refrigerator compartment. The vertical wall comprises a vertical panel with two downwardly protruding legs. The legs removably reside within sockets included in the rear edge of the refrigerator shelf assembly. When the vertical wall is attached to the refrigerator shelf assembly, the vertical wall prevents items placed on the shelf from toppling off the back edge of the shelf assembly. At the user's discretion, the vertical wall may be quickly and easily removed from the shelf assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the wall is a formed retainer having an inserted U-shape such that the legs are received in the shelf sockets.

Abstract: A method to provide a digital notification and response to groups of users comprising storing user contact data for at least one group of users, user selected priority information, and user selected grouping information in a dynamic information database, and using an administrator interface to form at least one message. An administrator initiates transmission of the message simultaneously to a first group of user contact devices for all users in the at least one group of users, then simultaneously to a second group of user contact devices, using the user selected priority information. The administrator interface is used to ensure each user is contacted on the first group of user contact devices before the second group of user contact devices. Responses are received from the user contact devices indicating the devices that received the message and when insufficient user contact device information exists to contact the user contact devices.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for installing a processor into electronic communication with a socket. The land grid array socket connector includes a socket housing secured to a circuit board and an array of upwardly extending pins for electronic communication with contact pads on the processor. The socket connector provides a carriage configured to receiving the processor through a lateral opening and support a perimeter edge of the processor. A mechanical linkage couples the carriage and the socket housing for substantially vertically translating the processor relative to the socket. A plurality of alignment features upwardly extends from the socket housing along the perimeter of the array of pins. Each of the alignment features has an inwardly-facing tapered surface for registering the edge of the processor and biasing the processor into a position where the array of contact pads are aligned with the array of pins as the processor is lowered.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for installing a processor into electronic communication with a socket. The land grid array socket connector includes a socket housing secured to a circuit board and an array of upwardly extending pins for electronic communication with contact pads on the processor. The socket connector provides a carriage configured to receiving the processor through a lateral opening and support a perimeter edge of the processor. A mechanical linkage couples the carriage and the socket housing for substantially vertically translating the processor relative to the socket. A plurality of alignment features upwardly extends from the socket housing along the perimeter of the array of pins. Each of the alignment features has an inwardly-facing tapered surface for registering the edge of the processor and biasing the processor into a position where the array of contact pads are aligned with the array of pins as the processor is lowered.

Abstract: A method to provide a digital notification and response to groups of users comprising storing user contact data for at least one group of users, user selected priority information, and user selected grouping information in a dynamic information database, and using an administrator interface to form at least one message. An administrator initiates transmission of the message simultaneously to a first group of user contact devices for all users in the at least one group of users, then simultaneously to a second group of user contact devices, using the user selected priority information and transmitting the message through at least two industry standard gateways simultaneously. The administrator interface is used to ensure each user is contacted on the first group of user contact devices before the second group of user contact devices using the user selected priority information.

Abstract: A refrigerator water filter assembly is provided in the ceiling of a refrigerator and is adapted to hinge downwardly from the ceiling for changing the filter cartridge. The cartridge is normally partially recessed within the ceiling so as to minimize the use of space in the food compartment of the refrigerator. The filter assembly includes a base mounted in the refrigerator ceiling, a manifold pivotally mounted on the base, a filter cartridge attached to the manifold, and a cover pivotally mounted on the manifold so as to be movable between open and closed positions. When the cover is opened, the filter cartridge is angled downwardly from the ceiling for easy grasping by a person for replacement of the cartridge.

Abstract: A digital notification and response system utilizes an administrator interface to transmit a message from an administrator to a special needs contact device and responders contact devices. The system comprises a dynamic information database that includes member contact data, priority information, response data, and grouping information. The administrator initiates distribution of the message based upon grouping information, priority information, and the priority order. The message is transmitted through at least two industry standard protocols simultaneously to groups of contact devices based upon priority information. Once the message is received by the contact device, the contact device transmits a response through the industry standard protocol back to the dynamic information database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of interacting with a user, the method involving: enabling a user to post an electronic note with user specified contents; enabling the user to associate the electronic note with a location within a domain with a metric; and publishing the electronic note on a web page that enables people to access its contents.

Abstract: A school-wide notification and response system utilizing an administrator interface to transmit a message from an administrator to contact devices for parents, employees, and students associated with a school. The system includes an interface with a translator, a call me feature, and a call in feature enabling a customer service representative to use the system to send a message to users. The system has a dynamic information database that includes parent, employee, and student contact data, priority information, and response data. The administrator initiates distribution of the message based upon grouping information, priority information, and the priority order. The message is transmitted through at least two industry standard gateways simultaneously to selected group contact devices based upon priority information. Once the message is received by the contact devices, the contact devices then transmit a response through the industry standard gateways back to the dynamic information database.

Abstract: Security is provided in a wireless communication system in a moving vehicle, e.g. an aircraft, by requiring user input of one or more security codes for validation before the system permits communication. One code, a security access code (SAC), corresponds to the vehicle travel segment (e.g. flight) and is given to the passenger(s) in transit, e.g. after the aircraft reaches a particular altitude. The second type of possible code, a personal identification number (PIN), is given to the passenger after baggage check-in. The PIN code would be correlated to the passenger and/or seat assignment. The use of either or both codes helps prohibit connectivity for mobile phone handsets or other wireless devices stored in the cargo bay or in other baggage. PIN use enables associated data systems to report the seat number or location of all parties engaging in wireless communications within the vehicle.

Abstract: Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system with a display device to perform the functions of: accepting search criteria from a user, the search criteria including a free-text query and a domain identifier, the domain identifier identifying a domain in a metric vector space; in response to accepting the search criteria from the user, obtaining a plurality of sets of document-location tuples from a corpus of documents, each document-location tuple satisfying the free-text query and a subdomain identifier identifying a subdomain within the identified domain; displaying on the display device a visual representation of the domain identified by the domain identifier; and displaying a plurality of visual indicators representing the document-location tuples.

Abstract: Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system with a display device to perform the functions of: accepting search criteria from a user, the search criteria including a free-text query and a domain identifier, the domain identifier identifying a domain in a metric vector space; in response to accepting the search criteria from the user, obtaining a set of document-location tuples from a corpus of documents, each document-location tuple satisfying the search criteria, and at least one document associated with a document-location tuple comprises a location-data file, the location-data file including an image of a metric vector space; displaying on the display device a visual representation of the domain identified by the domain identifier; and displaying a visual indicator based on the image of the metric vector space and overlaying the visual representation of the domain identified by the domain identifier.

Abstract: Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system with a display device to perform the functions of: obtaining a text string apparently corresponding to a name of a location; obtaining coordinates for the location; displaying a plurality of text phrases that contain the text string in a plurality of contexts; and accepting user input indicating which text phrases refer to the location. In some embodiments, the program further causes the computer system to perform the functions of assigning a confidence score to the text string and accepting user input that changes the confidence score. The assigned confidence score can be, e.g., 0 or 1. In some embodiments, the program further causes the computer system to perform the functions of displaying an image of the location identified by the coordinates while displaying the plurality of text phrases.

Abstract: Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system with a display device to perform the functions of: displaying an image of a region of a metric vector space; obtaining a set of pixel extents in the image that contain apparent textual annotations; for each pixel extent of the set, obtaining a confidence score that the pixel extent actually contains a textual annotation; and displaying the set of pixel extents in a ranked list based on the corresponding confidence scores. In some embodiments, the program further causes the computer system to perform the functions of, for at least one pixel extent of the set, at least one of automatically generating a text string based on the apparent textual annotation, and accepting user input entering a text string based on the apparent textual annotation.

Abstract: A dual purpose physical rehabilitation orthopedic and physical fitness exercise device for use within physical therapy facilities. The rehabilitation and exercise device includes a frame hosting a hydraulic or pneumatic system means for applying variable levels of resistance for specified exercise regimens; an activating assembly including a torsion bar, indexed platen, exercise arm assembly and a lever to act against hydraulic/pneumatic pressurized cylinders. The exercise arm assembly includes equally spaced ports and locking pins to allow altering the active length of the arm. Further, the platen contains ports, radially positioned around its facial surface to permit adjusting the angular displacement of the exercise arm through 90° either side of the horizontal. The platen also has inscribed degree indexes to define angular displacement from preset azimuth during the exercise routine.

Abstract: Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system with a display device to perform the functions of: accepting search criteria from a user, the search criteria including a free-text query and a domain identifier, the domain identifier identifying a domain in a metric vector space; in response to accepting the search criteria from the user, obtaining a plurality of sets of document-location tuples from a corpus of documents, each document-location tuple satisfying the free-text query and a subdomain identifier identifying a subdomain within the identified domain; displaying on the display device a visual representation of the domain identified by the domain identifier; and displaying a plurality of visual indicators representing the document-location tuples.

Abstract: Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system with a display device to perform the functions of: accepting an initialization request from a user to initialize an interface with a location-related search engine; in response to accepting the initialization request from the user, obtaining illustrative search criteria based on a location-related search performed by a prior user interfacing with the location-related search engine, the illustrative search criteria including a free-text query and a domain identifier, the domain identifier identifying a domain in a metric vector space; obtaining a set of document-location tuples from a corpus of documents, each document-location tuple satisfying the illustrative search criteria; displaying on the display device a visual representation of the domain identified by the domain identifier; and displaying a plurality of visual indicators representing the set of document-location tuples.