Abstract: A ribbon comprises a substrate, and a plurality of seals on the substrate. Different seals detune in response to differing tensile loads. At least one of the seals comprises a surface acoustic wave (SAW) radio frequency identification (RFID) seal.

Abstract: A ribbon comprises a substrate, and a plurality of seals on the substrate. Different seals detune in response to differing tensile loads. At least one of the seals comprises a surface acoustic wave (SAW) radio frequency identification (RFID) seal.

Abstract: A ribbon comprises a substrate, and a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) seals on the substrate. Different RFID seals detune in response to differing tensile loads.

Abstract: A ribbon comprises a substrate, and a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) seals on the substrate. Different RFID seals detune in response to differing tensile loads.

Abstract: A system and method for containing and restricting spread of infectious diseases within hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities by cataloguing and delimiting movement of patients, medical staff, employees, visitors, contractors and other personnel attending or on-site. The system also provides for tracking and cataloguing contaminated medical apparatus, medicine trolleys, food trolleys, medical gas stations, laundry baskets and other mobile or movable medical equipment or facility equipment to prevent spread of the infectious disease or viral entities. According to another aspect, the system includes a poling or supervisory network for auditing the presence or absence of patients, medical staff and other personnel; and medical apparatus, movable equipment or other facility equipment.

Abstract: A method for separating bitumen from crude oil sands comprises subjecting crude oil sands to vibration selected to cause bitumen to separate from crude oil sands and filtering the separated bitumen from the crude oil sands.

Abstract: A system and method for containing and restricting spread of infectious diseases within hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities by cataloguing and delimiting movement of patients, medical staff, employees, visitors, contractors and other personnel attending or on-site. The system also provides for tracking and cataloguing contaminated medical apparatus, medicine trolleys, food trolleys, medical gas stations, laundry baskets and other mobile or movable medical equipment or facility equipment to prevent spread of the infectious disease or viral entities. According to another aspect, the system includes a poling or supervisory network for auditing the presence or absence of patients, medical staff and other personnel; and medical apparatus, movable equipment or other facility equipment.

Abstract: A communications system comprises a record management system storing personal records relating to individuals registered with the record management system and a wireless device carried by at least one of the registered individuals. The wireless device provides an identifier signifying that the individual is registered with the record management system.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification seal comprises an antenna including a main antenna portion and at least one break-away portion and an RFID tag coupled and tuned to the antenna. The RFID tag outputs a signature in response to a scanning signal when tuned to the antenna.

Abstract: A product dispensing unit comprises a housing, at least one main balun antenna within the housing and at least one product holder within the housing. The at least one product holder holds RFID tagged product to be dispensed from the housing. At least one supplementary antenna is positioned adjacent the product holder to cause RFID tags on the product to oscillate when excited by the main balun antenna.

Abstract: A communication system (10) comprises at least two communication networks (20, 22) over which communications between physical devices (14) connected to the communication networks are to be carried out. The communication networks (20, 22) implement different protocols for messaging. A communication server (12) acts between the communication networks. Messages between the communication networks pass through the communication server. The communication server includes a knowledge base (286) storing protocol conversion information. The communication server (12) accesses the protocol conversion information in the knowledge base (286) upon receipt of a message and converts the protocol thereof to a protocol compatible with the communication network to which the message is being sent.

Abstract: An inventory-tracking unit associated with a storage unit holding items to be dispensed includes a card reader to read an access card issued to a user and a recorder to record data from items removed from the storage unit. A processor communicates with a sensor in the storage unit and with the card reader and recorder. The sensor provides item data to the processor that is associated with items removed from the storage unit. The processor compares item data received from the sensor with the data recorded by the recorder to detect coincidence. The processor generates a transaction upon coincidence of item data received from the sensor with the recorded data. A communications interface transmits the transaction to a remote site.

Abstract: A cashierless shopping store includes a plurality of shopping carts into which selected items to be purchased are placed by shoppers. Each of the shopping carts includes a weight detector to measure the weight of items placed therein and a transmitter to transmit the measured weights over a wireless communications link. A portable wireless shopping terminal accompanies each of the shopping carts. Each shopping terminal reads item price and item weight data from each selected item to be purchased and receives the measured weight of each selected item transmitted over the wireless communication link by the transmitter. The shopping terminal compares the read item weight data with the transmitted measured weight to determine if the read item weight data and the transmitted measured weight for each selected item correlate.

Abstract: A non-contact capacitive proximity detector includes a sensing plate and detection circuitry electrically coupled to the sensing plate. The detection circuitry comprises an oscillator electrically connected to the sensing plate and signal conditioning circuitry electrically connected to the oscillator. The signal conditioning circuitry includes a coupling capacitor C.sub.1, an envelope demodulator, a first comparator, a delay circuit and a second comparator. When an object is within a predetermined proximity to the sensing plate, the capacitance of the capacitor constituted by the sensing plate and the proximal object is at a level which causes the oscillator to generator an oscillating signal having a sufficient magnitude. The oscillating signal generated by the oscillator is applied to the envelope demodulator by way of the coupling capacitor. The envelope demodulator generates an envelope of the oscillating signal and applies the envelope to he first comparator.

Abstract: A financial transaction terminal includes an outer casing including a keypad to allow financial transaction data to be entered. A card reader is accommodated by the outer casing to receive and read a credit, debit or smart card. A processor is within the outer casing and is in communication with the keypad and the card reader. The processing means generates a financial transaction request in response to financial transaction data input by the keypad and read by the card reader. An RF transceiver including a rotatable antenna is in communication with the processor to transmit the financial transaction request to a remote location.