Abstract: Systems and methods which provide postage indicia using mobile communication handsets are shown. According to embodiments, users are enabled to introduce mail pieces into a mail delivery stream which are accepted as having activated, value comprising postage indicia associated therewith without the use of traditional metering systems, processor-based postage generation and printing systems, or even printers. Instead, a token comprising substantially unique identification information identifying a mail piece is activated as an activated token having postage value associated therewith using mobile communication handsets, such as a smart phone, network enabled personal digital assistant, etc. according to embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: Systems and methods which provide a shipping service resale platform enabling single shipper account access to multiple shipping service rate schedules are disclosed. Shipping service rate optimization is facilitated for a shipper using a single shipper account of embodiments of the invention, whereby the shipper is enabled to utilize rates available from various rate schedules, such as may include reseller negotiated rates, shipping service provider published rates, etc., according to embodiments. The shipper is enabled to establish, manage, and maintain a single shipper account for use in purchase and payment of shipping services which implicate different shipping service provider payment mechanisms, different shipping service resellers, and/or different shipping service providers.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention would project a route and a delivery schedule for relevant mail pieces and would monitor carrier recorded tracking events for those mail pieces to determine whether or not actual tracking events are following the projected route and the projected schedule, and/or whether or not issues that might impact their delivery and/or their delivery schedule, may have arisen along their projected route; such exemplary embodiments would provide an alert to the relevant user(s) and/or other authorized parties and/or relevant carrier(s) and would facilitate user interaction by the relevant user(s) and/or parties to provide intercept and/or rescue and/or confiscation instructions; exemplary embodiments would facilitate automatic interfaces with the relevant carriers and delivery services for the subject mail piece to resolve rescue, item loss, insurance coverage, postage refund, intervention and/or confiscation instructions and issues.

Abstract: A target device operating on a first operating system can receive an incremental update for a second operating system and store in a first data set a snapshot of the second the second operating system based on the incremental update. The target device may then export an image of the second operating system to a second data set and boot into the second image. The target device may receive operating system updates, build operating system images in the background, and boot into the updated operating system when the process is complete. Storing snapshots of the incremental updates and previous operating system images allows for reversion to old operating systems.

Abstract: A system of two or more implantable medical devices is configured to establish a wireless link between the two or more implantable medical devices and a device external to a body of a patient while the two or more implantable medical devices are implanted in the body of the patient.

Abstract: Exemplary flexible thin film solid state lithium ion batteries (10) and methods for making the same are disclosed. An exemplary flexible solid state thin film electrochemical device (10) may include a flexible substrate (12), first (14) and second electrodes (18), and an electrolyte (16) disposed between the first (14) and second electrodes (18). The electrolyte (16) is disposed on the flexible substrate (12). The first electrode (14) is disposed on the electrolyte (16), and the second electrode (18) having been buried between the electrolyte (16) and the substrate (12).

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention would project a route and a delivery schedule for relevant mail pieces and would monitor carrier-recorded tracking events for those mail pieces to determine whether or not actual tracking events are following the projected route and the projected schedule, and/or whether or not issues that might impact their delivery and/or their delivery schedule, may have arisen along their projected route; such exemplary embodiments would provide an alert to the relevant user(s) and/or other authorized parties and/or relevant carrier(s) and would facilitate user interaction by the relevant user(s) and/or parties to provide intercept and/or rescue and/or confiscation instructions; exemplary embodiments would facilitate automatic interfaces with the relevant carriers and delivery services for the subject mail piece to resolve rescue, item loss, insurance coverage, postage refund, intervention and/or confiscation instructions and issues.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes a first unit including a generator, and a second unit including an electrode assembly, the second unit being detachably connectible to the first unit such that radio frequency power can be conveyed to the electrode assembly, wherein the second unit firstly includes a passive electrical identification component having a parameter of a finite non-zero value indicative of a characteristic of the electrode assembly, and the second unit additionally includes an output circuit adapted to generate an identifiable characteristic signal, the first unit firstly including a sensing circuit for determining the value of the electrical identification component so as to identify the second unit when the second unit is connected to the first unit, and the first unit additionally including means for receiving the identifiable characteristic signal from the output circuit when the second unit is connected to the first unit.

Abstract: ‘NC4’ is a new and distinct variety of pear tree (Pyrus communis), selected from seedlings produced as the result of a cross between female parent ‘Concorde’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,192) and male parent ‘Red Williams’ (not patented). ‘NC4’ is distinguished by its fruit, the skin color of which is red-purple at harvest, turning to red-orange upon ripening.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will provide methods and systems for automatic tracking and reporting of refunds for parcels for which the United States Postage Service (the “USPS”) fails to provide delivery to the designated delivery address by a guaranteed delivery date. Various embodiments of the present invention will automatically detect a parcel for which a delivery date has been guaranteed, but for which the USPS failed to make delivery by the guaranteed delivery date. For such guaranteed delivery failures, various embodiments of the present invention will display an online report to the user, or will send an electronic report of the failure, such as by electronic mail (“email”), to the user that printed the corresponding USPS Express Mail postage, or will otherwise notify the user of, or make available to the user information regarding, such failures.

Abstract: Systems and methods which provide a shipping service resale platform enabling single shipper account access to multiple shipping service rate schedules are disclosed. Shipping service rate optimization is facilitated for a shipper using a single shipper account of embodiments of the invention, whereby the shipper is enabled to utilize rates available from various rate schedules, such as may include reseller negotiated rates, shipping service provider published rates, etc., according to embodiments. The shipper is enabled to establish, manage, and maintain a single shipper account for use in purchase and payment of shipping services which implicate different shipping service provider payment mechanisms, different shipping service resellers, and/or different shipping service providers.

Abstract: One disclosed sleeve assembly disposed within a base pipe includes a first sleeve portion having a first shear resistance for resisting movement of the sleeve assembly with respect to the base pipe, and a second sleeve portion moveable with respect the first sleeve portion and having a second shear resistance for resisting movement of the second sleeve portion with respect to the first sleeve portion, the second shear resistance being greater than the first shear resistance.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electrosurgical system is described, the system including an electrosurgical generator and an electrosurgical instrument connected to the generator by means of a cable. A radio frequency signal is supplied to the electrosurgical instrument at an operating frequency, and the voltage of the radio frequency signal is monitored at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of a resonant circuit established by the electrosurgical instrument together with the cable. The monitored voltage is capable of indicating the initiation of arcing from the electrosurgical instrument, such that the voltage of the radio frequency signal can be adjusted in response to the monitored voltage at the resonant frequency. The magnitude of the monitored voltage is an indication of the degree of arcing. An electrosurgical system including an arc detector is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for setting a down hole tool include a base pipe having an interior and defining a port that communicates with a pressure chamber positioned outside of the base pipe. A sleeve is positioned in the interior to substantially block the port and to prevent substantial fluid communication between the interior and the pressure chamber. The sleeve includes a first portion having a first shear resistance for resisting movement of the first portion with respect to the base pipe. The sleeve also includes a second portion having a second shear resistance for resisting movement of the second portion with respect to the first portion. Movement of the first portion with respect to the base pipe in response to overcoming the first shear resistance exposes the port to permit fluid communication between the interior and the pressure chamber for setting the down hole tool.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for printing unactivated tokens which can be activated into valid postage indicia at a later time. Monetary liability for postage indicia value is postponed until the token is activated into a postage indicium; thus, the token does not have value and is not valid until activated into indicium. Consequently, a user is not made monetarily liable for printed tokens unless the tokens are activated into postage indicia.

Abstract: A lithium metal thin-film battery composite structure is provided that includes a combination of a thin, stable, solid electrolyte layer [18] such as Lipon, designed in use to be in contact with a lithium metal anode layer; and a rapid-deposit solid electrolyte layer [16] such as LiAlF4 in contact with the thin, stable, solid electrolyte layer [18]. Batteries made up of or containing these structures are more efficient to produce than other lithium metal batteries that use only a single solid electrolyte. They are also more resistant to stress and strain than batteries made using layers of only the stable, solid electrolyte materials. Furthermore, lithium anode batteries as disclosed herein are useful as rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will provide methods and systems for automatic tracking and reporting of refunds for parcels for which the United States Postage Service (the “USPS”) fails to provide delivery to the designated delivery address by a guaranteed delivery date. Various embodiments of the present invention will automatically detect a parcel for which a delivery date has been guaranteed, but for which the USPS failed to make delivery by the guaranteed delivery date. For such guaranteed delivery failures, various embodiments of the present invention will display an online report to the user, or will send an electronic report of the failure, such as by electronic mail (“email”), to the user that printed the corresponding USPS Express Mail postage, or will otherwise notify the user of, or make available to the user information regarding, such failures.

Abstract: A safety latch including a track channel and a slider plate. The track channel is structured to be secured adjacent a face plate of a latch bolt assembly of a door and to support the slider plate. The track channel presents a first latch bolt opening. The first latch bolt opening is sized and positioned such that when the track channel is secured to the face plate a latch bolt of the latch bolt assembly can be extended and retracted through the first latch bolt opening. The slider plate presents a second latch bolt opening and being is shiftable relative to the track channel between a first position in which the second latch bolt opening is aligned with the first latch bolt opening and a second position wherein the latch bolt is held retracted behind the slider plate.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide computer systems and methods for customizing computer-based value-bearing items, such as, for example, customizing a computer-based postage-indicia-bearing item such as exemplary image-customized computer-based postage label 1 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, depicted in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 1, the exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear an image 2 that would be provided by a corresponding user, namely by the user that orders the customized computer-based postage label. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear a human-readable indication of the country 4 for which the postage is approved. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable indication of an amount of postage 5. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable identifier 6 and a machine-readable set of information 7.

Abstract: ‘NC4’ is a new and distinct variety of pear tree (Pyrus communis), selected from seedlings produced as the result of a cross between female parent ‘Concorde’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,192) and male parent ‘Red Williams’ (not patented). ‘NC4’ is distinguished by its fruit, the skin overcolor of which is purple at harvest, turning to red and orange-red upon ripening.