Abstract: A system and method for forming a cavern in a formation beyond a cased wellbore utilizes a locator to position a perforating gun in the wellbore for forming axially aligned, spaced-apart perforations through the casing. The locator has a stationary portion, run in and anchored in the wellbore below a zone of interest. The perforating guns have a moveable portion of the locator at a downhole end and are run in and coupled with the stationary portion. Where two or more guns are used to form the perforations, the guns are indexed relative to one another for forming the offset perforations. The guns are tripped from the wellbore and a wash tool having a moveable portion of the locator at a downhole end is run in and coupled in the wellbore. The locator acts to delimit a reciprocation of the wash tool along the space-apart perforations for delivering a non-abrasive fluid therethrough for forming the cavern.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for generating a discrete forecasted staff report. The method commences with the definition of a set of shifts, each shift having daily and weekly time segments. Using these shifts, “baseline staff” coverage in then inputted into a work schedule to thereby meet, represent, or otherwise define an employer's current staff. Similarly, “projected staff” coverage is then determined in anticipation of meeting, representing, or otherwise defining a future staffing demand. With both “baseline staff” and “projective staff” in place, variance between the two is then calculated discretely throughout the work schedule for each daily and weekly time segment. The forecasted staff report is then generated such that the staffing information provided therein (such as, hiring suggestions) is composed as a function of preferably both (a) the variance and (b) at least one predefined staffing constraint.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for mediating user communications. A user persona manager maintains one or more user profiles and manages user interactions with other parties and with service providers based on user preferences associated with the user profile or profiles selected for a particular interaction. The persona manager receives a single set of user authentication information to establish the user identity, and provides previously stored information to other parties and service providers as appropriate, and otherwise conducts user interactions involving communications initiated by or on behalf of the user. The persona manager also examines interactions initiated by others, selects user profiles appropriate to the interactions, and routes and responds to the interactions based on information stored in the user profiles.

Abstract: A mobile device in, or at, a vehicle sends a vehicle status message to a remote host upon occurrence of a trigger event, such as turning off the vehicle's engine. The remote host processes the vehicle status message and determines whether it can access, or find, content that is associated with location information contained in the vehicle status message. If so, the remote host forwards the content in a content message to a user device, which may or may not be the device that transmitted the vehicle status message. The remote host typically associates the user device with the vehicle, or mobile device therein, from which the vehicle status message emanated. Thus, the user device receives content corresponding to the location of the vehicle when the trigger event occurred. The content may include advertising, product promotion, tourist information, weather, traffic, or other information relevant to the trigger event occurrence location.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an emergency contact service are disclosed. The emergency contact system monitors presence off users with respect to various user devices in order to determine at which devices each user is present. An emergency message is then transmitted to devices at which the user is present. The emergency contact service is then capable of receiving a confirmation message to confirm receipt of the emergency message. The emergency contact service can track the users by retrieving location information, such as a GPS location, associated with a device at which a user is present. The emergency contact service can then identify whether a user in is the vicinity of an emergency location, and transmit an emergency message to the user is the user is in the vicinity of the emergency location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an option for sender paid data delivery to an endpoint device in a communications network are disclosed. For example, the method sends a request for a content by a subscriber using the endpoint device, receives a plurality of delivery options, wherein one of the plurality of delivery options comprises an option to have a content provider pay for a delivery of the content, selects one delivery option from the plurality of delivery options, and receives the content based upon the one delivery option selected from the plurality of delivery options.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an emergency contact service are disclosed. The emergency contact system monitors presence off users with respect to various user devices in order to determine at which devices each user is present. An emergency message is then transmitted to devices at which the user is present. The emergency contact service is then capable of receiving a confirmation message to confirm receipt of the emergency message. The emergency contact service can track the users by retrieving location information, such as a GPS location, associated with a device at which a user is present. The emergency contact service can then identify whether a user in is the vicinity of an emergency location, and transmit an emergency message to the user is the user is in the vicinity of the emergency location.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an emergency contact service are disclosed. The emergency contact system monitors presence off users with respect to various user devices in order to determine at which devices each user is present. An emergency message is then transmitted to devices at which the user is present. The emergency contact service is then capable of receiving a confirmation message to confirm receipt of the emergency message. The emergency contact service can track the users by retrieving location information, such as a GPS location, associated with a device at which a user is present. The emergency contact service can then identify whether a user in is the vicinity of an emergency location, and transmit an emergency message to the user is the user is in the vicinity of the emergency location.

Abstract: A device can be assembled by a coupling. The device includes first and second body members and positioning structure. The first and second body members are designed to be coupled relative to each other. The positioning structure is designed to provide an interface between the first and second body members, and to position the first and second body members relative to each other via first, second, and third contact areas. The first, second, and third contact areas are each substantially linear and are collectively configured to receive loads, and to limit positioning of the first and second body members relative to each other with regard to five degrees of freedom. A fourth contact area between the first and second body members is designed to limit positioning of the first and second body members relative to each other in a sixth degree of freedom, in a first translational direction.

Abstract: A slide through shelf is provided. A slide through shelf is illustrated mounted to a vertical retail wall. A slide through shelf as disclosed allows a user to selectably position the slide through shelf's supports in an infinite number of configurations. The slide through shelf may be quickly assembled to accommodate different types of loading and may be adjusted to provide customized product partitioning.

Abstract: A mobile sensor system and method for managing inventory of a store includes at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner for receiving readings from RFID tags, at least one external sensors for detecting at least one external events other than RF signals from the RFID tags, and a processor configured to update an RFID database for storing the readings from the RFID tags, wherein the update is based on a correlation function of the readings from the RFID tags and the external events detected at the at least one external sensors.

Abstract: These teachings generally comprise interrogating a plurality of RFID tags and receiving corresponding responses from various ones of these tags. A corresponding plurality of end user-perceivable indications are then provided to thereby inform an end user of the RFID tag reader with respect to a completeness level of the reading activity. By one approach, this can comprise providing only one such end user-perceivable indication for each of the tags notwithstanding that a given one of the plurality might respond to the interrogation more than once. This can further comprise, if desired, only providing such end user-perceivable indications for responses from those of the plurality of RFID tags that comprise a previously identified RFID tag of interest. These indications can comprise any of an audible sound, a visual alert, and/or a haptic sensation.

Abstract: A user device application transmits the device's location and unique identifier with a message requesting location information that corresponds to a vehicle associated with the user device's unique identifier. The application sends the request message over a communication network to a central computer. The central computer obtains location information corresponding to the vehicle from a device proximate the vehicle. The central computer compares the locations of the user device and telematics device and generates a location differential value corresponding to the distance between them. If the differential value meets predetermined criteria, the central computer causes an action, for example forwarding the location information corresponding to the vehicle to the requesting user device. Or, the central computer sends the requesting device a request denied message. The central computer may also deny the request when the vehicle is moving, or if the user device has requested the vehicle's location too frequently.

Abstract: A method using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for managing a promotional merchandise display at locational spots in a store includes providing a locational spot in the store with a locational RFID tag uniquely identifying the locational spot, providing the locational spot with the promotional merchandise display associated with merchandise RFID tags, wherein each of the merchandise RFID tags uniquely identifies one or more products in the promotional merchandise display, scanning for radio frequency signals from the locational RFID tag and the merchandise RFID tags at or near the locational spot, transmitting information obtained from the scanning to a server, analyzing the information at the server for a determination of whether the promotional merchandise display is in compliance with a promotional display plan; and if not, generating a notice to the store, the notice including information relating to the locational spot and the promotional merchandise display.

Abstract: An RFID Point-of-Sale system for completing a sale transaction to a customer of a plurality of items associated with a plurality of unique RFID tags at a store includes an arrangement of a plurality of RFID tag scanners for detecting the plurality of unique RFID tags associated with the plurality of items, and a checkout platform including a transaction panel, wherein a list of the plurality of items is displayed on the transaction panel based on a matching of the detected plurality of unique RFID tags with information stored in an inventory database.

Abstract: Systems and methods for employing histological and physiological biometric markers that are substantially unique to an individual in order to activate a device, participate in a transaction, or identify himself or herself, wherein at least one biometric marker is obtained by one or more electrical contacts on the surface of the skin. A biometric identification of an individual is obtained by a heartbeat waveform, which is acquired by one or more direct electrical contacts. A mechanism for biometric authentication is used that includes one or more electrodes, an electrical signal receiver, a memory module, and a processing module.

Abstract: A fitting, and an aircraft incorporating such a fitting, comprises a band-like clasp which surrounds and is clamped to the aircraft wing, with a streamlined structure affixed for mounting an external load to the underside of an aircraft wing.

Abstract: A device can be assembled by a coupling. The device includes first and second body members and positioning structure. The first and second body members are designed to be coupled relative to each other. The positioning structure is designed to provide an interface between the first and second body members, and to position the first and second body members relative to each other via first, second, and third contact areas. The first, second, and third contact areas are each substantially linear and are collectively configured to receive loads, and to limit positioning of the first and second body members relative to each other with regard to five degrees of freedom. A fourth contact area between the first and second body members is designed to limit positioning of the first and second body members relative to each other in a sixth degree of freedom, in a first translational direction.

Abstract: A slide through shelf is provided. A slide through shelf is illustrated mounted to a vertical retail wall. A slide through shelf as disclosed allows a user to selectably position the slide through shelf s supports in an infinite number of configurations. The slide through shelf may be quickly assembled to accommodate different types of loading and may be adjusted to provide customized product partitioning.

Abstract: A mobile sensor system and method for managing inventory of a store includes at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner for receiving readings from RFID tags, at least one external sensors for detecting at least one external events other than RF signals from the RFID tags, and a processor configured to update an RFID database for storing the readings from the RFID tags, wherein the update is based on a correlation function of the readings from the RFID tags and the external events detected at the at least one external sensors.