Abstract: Pad that mounts on the bar of a barbell and spreads forces exerted by the bar over a larger area of the shoulders, neck, and/or chest of a person upon which the bar is resting. The pad has an elongated body of resilient, highly compressible injection molded EVA foam having an annular cross section, an inner surface that grips the bar and holds the pad in place on the bar, and an outer surface with an ogee curvature that conforms to the contour of the shoulders, neck, and/or chest of the person using the barbell.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for Kalman filtering for grid computing telemetry and workload management is disclosed. The method includes monitoring telemetry data at a node of a grid computing engine with a Kalman filter, determining whether the monitored telemetry data is outside of a bounds of a predictive model of the Kalman filter, signaling an error condition for the node if the monitored telemetry data is outside of the bounds, and addressing the error condition by correcting a problem experienced at the node corresponding to the error condition. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for creating, managing, and using a database comprising scoring data may involve receiving input signals from a measurement device, the input signals being representative of antler measurement data, calculating scoring data using various scoring methods, storing the scoring data in the database, creating customized trophy certificates containing the scoring data, and displaying summary lists of the scoring data in response to user queries of the database.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for Kalman filtering for grid computing telemetry and workload management is disclosed. The method includes monitoring telemetry data at a node of a grid computing engine with a Kalman filter, determining whether the monitored telemetry data is outside of a bounds of a predictive model of the Kalman filter, signaling an error condition for the node if the monitored telemetry data is outside of the bounds, and addressing the error condition by correcting a problem experienced at the node corresponding to the error condition. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stain removal kit that includes a pad impregnated with a substantially dry cleaning composition is provided. The pad is placed into a sealed, water-impermeable, sealable container. The pad is removable after opening and activating with warmed water. The pad may then be applied to fabric to remove a stain. A method for removing a stain from synthetic fibers is also disclosed. The method generally involves placing heated water into the container for a period of time to allow the pad to absorb the water and to create liquefied cleaning composition in the pad. The pad is then placed onto a stained area of a synthetic fabric for a period of time sufficient for the cleaning composition to act on the stain and the pad. The stain is thereby wicked away.

Abstract: A wide-dispersal package cap includes a rim and a domed portion formed within the rim and mounted thereto. The domed portion includes a plurality of orifices each having an internal opening and an external opening relative to a thickness of the domed portion. The orifices are formed spaced apart from one another through the domed portion at an angle, such that the external opening of a particular orifice is off-set from the corresponding internal opening, to thereby enhance wide-dispersal of contents of a package to which the cap is attached.

Abstract: An antler scoring system for enabling efficient and accurate measurement of antlers. The antler scoring system includes a housing, a wheel member rotatably attached to the housing, a central processing unit within the housing in communication with the wheel member, a ruler extendably positioned within the housing, and an idler roller positioned within the neck of the housing opposite of the wheel member with the ruler positioned between thereof. When the idler roller is engaged, the ruler is measured by the wheel member. The ruler preferably includes an engaging member that has a side opening for receiving a portion of the ruler during measuring of the antler circumference and inside spread.

Abstract: An antler scoring system for enabling efficient and accurate-measurement of antlers. The antler scoring system includes a housing, a wheel member rotatably attached to the housing, a central processing unit within the housing in communication with the wheel member, a ruler extendably positioned within the housing, and an idler roller positioned within the neck of the housing opposite of the wheel member with the ruler positioned between thereof. When the idler roller is engaged, the ruler is measured by the wheel member. The ruler preferably includes an engaging member that has a side opening for receiving a portion of the ruler during measuring of the antler circumference and inside spread.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for issuing credit as payment in a consumer transaction which eliminates the need for a traditional credit card while also minimizing any potential for fraud or theft. The present invention responds to a request for issuing a credit transaction number that is made concurrent with a particular transaction. The credit transaction number is then randomly generated and made valid only for the requested transaction, and automatically ages a short period of time after the request. The credit transaction numbers are continually recycled for subsequent requests irrespective of the customer identity. The request can be made from a mobile communication device such as PCS telephone, or from a personal computer using an electronic commerce program.

Abstract: An antler scoring system for enabling efficient and accurate measurement of antlers. The antler scoring system includes a housing, a wheel member rotatably attached to the housing for measuring lengths and diameters, a central processing unit within the housing in communication with the wheel member for calculating measurements and a final score, a keypad for entering in manual measurements, and a ruler extendably positioned within. The user first utilizes the wheel member to measure the length of the main beams, each tine length, and the circumference between each tine. The user then utilizes the ruler to measure the inside spread between the main beams which is entered into the keypad. The central processing unit combines the total measurements to generate a final score based upon one or more antler scoring systems such as BOONE & CROCKET, SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL, and BUCKMASTERS TROPHY RECORDS.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for issuing credit as payment in a consumer transaction which eliminates the need for a traditional credit card while also minimizing any potential for fraud or theft. The present invention responds to a request for issuing a credit transaction number that is made concurrent with a particular transaction. The credit transaction number is then randomly generated and made valid only for the requested transaction, and automatically ages a short period of time after the request. The credit transaction numbers are continually recycled for subsequent requests irrespective of the customer identity. The request can be made from a mobile communication device such as PCS telephone, or from a personal computer using an electronic commerce program.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for interactively simulating a plurality of telecommunications services operates in response to a user sending a message from his client computer across a data network to a server requesting to download on one of the service simulation programs. In response to the message from the client, the server provides the requested telecommunications service simulation program. The program provided by the server is downloaded and executed by the client. The downloaded program provides the user with an interaction experience representative of the selected one of the plurality of telecommunications services. This interaction experience may include additional communication between the service simulation program and the server. Additionally, the service simulation program provides guidance to the user in using and configuring both the service simulation program and, potentially, the actual telecommunications service to which the user has subscribed.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a series of electronic forms that are related to completing a task. The apparatus includes a computer system in which one or more databases are stored. The computer system displays a list of tasks that can be selected by a customer service representative. Each task has associated with it a series of forms that must be completed. Each form includes a plurality of fields, each of which has an associated database. A code segment associated with each field processes data as it is entered into the field and stores the data in the field's associated database. The system also provides a task map indicating the forms that must be completed to finish a given task, as well as the forms that have already been completed.