Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed including a semi-automated canister distribution system comprising a cabinet system including a cabinet having at least one compartment having a door, and a system controller in communication with the cabinet system and having computer processor(s) executing instructions that cause the computer processors to: receive inventory data indicative of a number of canisters in the cabinet system; receive a data element indicative of details of a purchase transaction; determine that the purchase transaction can be satisfied based on the details of the purchase transaction and the inventory data; transmit, after determining that purchase transaction can be satisfied, signals to the cabinet system indicative of instructions to change the door between a locked and unlocked state; and receive signals from the cabinet system indicative of a number of substantially full propane canisters removed and/or a number of empty propane canisters placed in the cabinet.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed including a semi-automated canister distribution system comprising one or more cabinet systems, comprising: a cabinet having at least one compartment having at least one door having an open position and a closed position with a locked state and an unlocked state; a human-machine interface in communication with a cabinet controller configured to: receive first signals from the human-machine interface indicative of entry of a data element indicative of details of a transaction; and transmit second signals to the one or more cabinet indicative of instructions to change at least one of the at least one door between the locked state and the unlocked state; and a unit detection device configured for transmitting third signals indicative of removal of one or more substantially full propane canisters from the cabinet and placement of one or more substantially empty propane canisters in the cabinet.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed including a semi-automated canister distribution system comprising a first and a second cabinet system having a first and second door, respectively; a remote controller device configured to: receive information indicative of a transaction from a user for a return of a first canister and pickup of a second canister stored in the second cabinet system; and transmit signals to change the first and second doors from the locked state to the unlocked state; unit detection device(s); and a remote display configured to receive a real-time visual feed from the unit detection device(s).

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed including a semi-automated canister distribution system comprising one or more cabinet systems, comprising: a cabinet having at least one compartment having at least one door having an open position and a closed position with a locked state and an unlocked state; a human-machine interface in communication with a cabinet controller configured to: receive first signals from the human-machine interface indicative of entry of a data element indicative of details of a transaction; and transmit second signals to the one or more cabinet indicative of instructions to change at least one of the at least one door between the locked state and the unlocked state; and a unit detection device configured for transmitting third signals indicative of removal of one or more substantially full propane canisters from the cabinet and placement of one or more substantially empty propane canisters in the cabinet.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed including a semi-automated propane canister distribution system for distributing and exchanging propane canisters, comprising a system controller; one or more cabinet system having a cabinet controller and a cabinet with a first compartment separated from a second compartment, the first compartment having a first door and the second compartment having a second door, the first door and the second door having an open position and a closed position with a locked state and an unlocked state; a detection device; a remote display; and a remote controller device in communication with the system controller and/or the cabinet controller.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed including a semi-automated propane canister distribution system for distributing and exchanging propane canisters, comprising a system controller; one or more cabinet system having a cabinet controller and a cabinet with a first compartment separated from a second compartment, the first compartment having a first door and the second compartment having a second door, the first door and the second door having an open position and a closed position with a locked state and an unlocked state; a detection device; a remote display; and a remote controller device in communication with the system controller and/or the cabinet controller.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed including a semi-automated propane canister distribution system for distributing and exchanging propane canisters, comprising a system controller; one or more cabinet system having a cabinet controller and a cabinet with a first compartment separated from a second compartment, the first compartment having a first door and the second compartment having a second door, the first door and the second door having an open position and a closed position with a locked state and an unlocked state; a detection device; a remote display; and a remote controller device in communication with the system controller and/or the cabinet controller.

Abstract: Featured are methods for the direct microscopic visualization of samples (9) using a image intensifier (140) that intensifies low levels of visible light and converts far-red or near-infra-red light to visible light. Also featured are devices and systems for use in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided that allows a party to submit multiple requests for management activities to a telecommunications device in a single submission. The telecommunications device includes a network interface for communicating with the party to allow the party to submit the multiple requests in a single submission. The network interface downloads content for the party to select and downloads a program that aggregates the selections of the party into a suitable data structure. The data structure holds multiple requests for management activities in the telecommunications device and is transmitted to the telecommunications device in a single submission.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for centralizing text message storage and processing in a computer controlled process system. The method minimizes the memory storage requirements overall and also minimizes the memory required to reference a text message within an inter-task message in a multi-tasked software operating system. A Text Reference Method (TRM) defines different formats to reference texts in a single word. These formats flexibly allow for several types of text message handling so that memory is optimized and processing overhead is minimized. The TRM permits partitioning of text databases by type but maintains a central management philosophy in order to reduce duplicate text messages and maintain consistency in text usage. A global standardized access method is presented for use by disparate tasks in a system.