Abstract: A geo-coded database stores advertiser records which include location information. Received search requests are matched with database records based on location information in the search requests and the record location information. In this manner, a user can search for information on a local basis and receive only the most relevant local search results.

Abstract: Task management systems and methods are provided. A task can be assigned and delivered electronically to a person, an assignee, whom is responsible for completing the task without the person having to register or setup an account with any task management service. The assignee receives the task as an email with several embedded hyperlinks that allow the assignee to accept, decline edit or complete the task. Specific roles and permissions can be assigned to each e-mail associated with an assigned task. When the task event is created, each e-mail address referenced in the To line refers to an assignee, and each assignee has read/write access to the task. Each e-mail address referenced in the CC line of the task event only has read access to the task. Assignees can be reminded of their tasks. Tasks can be assigned to multiple recipients, which can be beneficial for team-based projects.

Abstract: A film-forming composition for use in preparing water-soluble films that are rapidly dissolving under cold water conditions, the composition comprising a water soluble polymer material such as polyvinyl alcohol and a principal solvent, typically diol(s) or derivative of a diol. Films made from the film-forming compositions may be used to encapsulate a variety of compositions for subsequent release into an aqueous medium. Encapsulated compositions can include various laundry detergents and additives, fabric care compositions such as fabric softening compositions and dishwashing detergents among others. When used to encapsulate compositions, the solvent system used in the film-forming composition will have at least one common solvent material as the solvent system used in the encapsulated composition to improve film dissolution and to prevent problems associated with solvent migration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating an aqueous electroplating bath solution. The method comprises continuously agitating the solution; adjusting the pH of the solution, adjusting the temperature of the solution while adding an amount of hydrogen peroxide sufficient to promote dissolution of the hydrogen peroxide and generation of hydroxyl radicals; and adding an amount of an iron-containing compound so as to increase the rate of dissolution of the hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals so as to oxidize the organic compounds; whereby the total amount of organic carbon compounds in the solution is reduced. The apparatus comprises a treatment vessel, a pump for transferring a portion of the solution from the vessel to a mixing tank and for transferring a second portion of the solution to a heat exchanger for heating or cooling the second portion of the solution and a pump for transferring hydrogen peroxide to the vessel.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and system for distributing multiband wireless communications signals. Downlink RF signals in a plurality of downlink frequency bands are received and then combined into a combined downlink RF signal at the main unit. The combined downlink RF signal is subsequently split into multiple downlink RF-parts, which are converted to multiple downlink optical signals and optically transmitted to the remote units. At each remote unit, a delivered downlink optical signal is first converted back to a downlink RF-part which is subsequently separated into a plurality of downlink RF-groups by frequency band. Each downlink RF-group is individually conditioned (e.g., filtered and amplified). The individual-conditioned downlink RF-groups are then combined and transmitted to a dedicated downlink antenna.

Abstract: An information retrieval system and method employing spatially selective features. A geo-coded database stores advertiser records which include location information. Received search requests are matched with database records based on location information in the search requests and the record location information. In this manner, a user can search for information on a local basis and receive only the most relevant local search results.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating an aqueous electroplating bath solution. The method comprises continuously agitating the solution; adjusting the pH of the solution, adjusting the temperature of the solution while adding an amount of hydrogen peroxide sufficient to promote dissolution of the hydrogen peroxide and generation of hydroxyl radicals; and adding an amount of an iron-containing compound so as to increase the rate of dissolution of the hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals so as to oxidize the organic compounds; whereby the total amount of organic carbon compounds in the solution is reduced. The apparatus comprises a treatment vessel, a pump for transferring a portion of the solution from the vessel to a mixing tank and for transferring a second portion of the solution to a heat exchanger for heating or cooling the second portion of the solution and a pump for transferring hydrogen peroxide to the vessel.

Abstract: The chemical and/or physico-chemical determination of the ageing of a motor oil is very expensive and requires measuring methods which cannot be carried out on board a motor vehicle. The determination of only one oil condition parameter, for example the viscosity, only enables conditional statements to be made with respect to oil quality since conflicting effects may exist to varying degrees in this case. According to the invention, oil quality can be determined by a quartz base coated with a sensitive layer. The sensitive layer has a surface or volume which is adapted to an oil component and is suitable for the repeated incorporation and release of the oil component according to the concentration thereof. When the oil component is present, it is incorporated in the sensitive layer causing the resonant frequency of the layer to decrease via a mass effect or causing an effective increase of the component thickness or mass.