Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to monitor a container associated with an item. According to one embodiment, an indication that a container has been opened is received. For example, the container may transmit a signal when a person opens the container to access an item. Based on the received indication, ownership of the item may be transferred and/or another item may be provided (e.g., to the person who opened the container). According to other embodiments, item quality information, item warranty information, and/or security information are determined based on the received indication. According to still other embodiments, a sender receives a notification based on the indication or the indication is recorded as an acceptance of an agreement. In yet another embodiment, the indication is used to verify that the container was opened in accordance with an item requirement.

Abstract: Data communication between a data sender and at least one data recipient is facilitated when the data recipient is associated with a telephone number that can not be used to access the user with a telephone call. An invention receives the telephone number associated with the data destination (data recipient) and receives an indication that data is to be communicated. The invention uses the telephone number to determine at least one characteristic of data destination/recipient. The invention also receives at least one characteristic of the data to be communicated that enable the data to be communicated to the data receiver/recipient.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to monitor a container associated with an item. According to one embodiment, an indication that a container has been opened is received. For example, the container may transmit a signal when a person opens the container to access an item. Based on the received indication, ownership of the item may be transferred and/or another item may be provided (e.g., to the person who opened the container). According to other embodiments, item quality information, item warranty information, and/or security information are determined based on the received indication. According to still other embodiments, a sender receives a notification based on the indication or the indication is recorded as an acceptance of an agreement. In yet another embodiment, the indication is used to verify that the container was opened in accordance with an item requirement.

Abstract: Data communication between a data sender and at least one data recipient is facilitated when the data recipient is associated with a telephone number that can not be used to access the user with a telephone call. An invention receives the telephone number associated with the data destination (data recipient) and receives an indication that data is to be communicated. The invention uses the telephone number to determine at least one characteristic of data destination/recipient. The invention also receives at least one characteristic of the data to be communicated that enable the data to be communicated to the data receiver/recipient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for thermal imagining are described. An apparatus includes a rotatable radial scanning antenna. The systems and methods provide advantages in that fires can be detected, and their positions determined, over substantial distances and through obscurants such as smoke and/or rain.

Abstract: A chipper wherein the rotary head has its rotational axis inclined slightly from being normal relative to a log's transport axis and a stationary guide plate, disposed centrally within the knives in the head, parallels such axis to support the side of a log.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a variable volume film drum with a proportionally variable length conduit path for directing and controlling the flow of fluids introduced into the drum. The center conduit path is comprised of interconnecting conduit reels also used to hold the film. Each conduit reel has an internal conduit path, one end of which forms an outwardly extending flange or male portion and the distal end forms a receiving or female portion. As the volume of the container is varied to accommodate more or less reels, the conduit path formed by the interconnected reels is proportionally altered. The conduit reels are further connected to a fluid inlet tube in the film drum to complete an integral path for the introduction of fluids into the drum.