Abstract: Data carriers (such as RFID tags) are formed into clusters of data carriers. Each cluster has at least one bridge data carrier that can communicate with a bridge data carrier of another cluster, thereby allowing data carriers in each cluster to communicate directly or indirectly with each other using a stochastic communication protocol method. Direct tag-to-tag communication capability is provided between data carriers in each cluster and/or between clusters. The data carriers can backscatter and modulate a carrier wave from a source, thereby using the backscattered and modulated carrier wave to convey data to each other.

Abstract: Data carriers (such as RFID tags) are formed into clusters of data carriers. Each cluster has at least one bridge data carrier that can communicate with a bridge data carrier of another cluster, thereby allowing data carriers in each cluster to communicate directly or indirectly with each other using a stochastic communication protocol method. Direct tag-to-tag communication capability is provided between data carriers in each cluster and/or between clusters. The data carriers can backscatter and modulate a carrier wave from a source, thereby using the backscattered and modulated carrier wave to convey data to each other.

Abstract: Data carriers (such as RFID tags) are formed into clusters of data carriers. Each cluster has at least one bridge data carrier that can communicate with a bridge data carrier of another cluster, thereby allowing data carriers in each cluster to communicate directly or indirectly with each other using a stochastic communication protocol method. Direct tag-to-tag communication capability is provided between data carriers in each cluster and/or between clusters. The data carriers can backscatter and modulate a carrier wave from a source, thereby using the backscattered and modulated carrier wave to convey data to each other.

Abstract: Lender anonymity securities lending where trade criteria associated with a security owned by a client are determined. Bids for the security are monitored by a first entity. A trade related to the security is executed by accepting a best bid from the monitored bids based on the trade criteria. An identical trade related to the security is automatically executed with a second entity. A second identical trade as the trade related to the security is automatically executed with inter-dealer brokers without any knowledge of the first entity. The first entity may be a banking division of a financial institution and the second entity may be a broker/dealer division of a financial institution. Complete anonymity is provided to the client from the inter-dealer brokers since the trade executed automatically with the second entity is put into a separate trading book maintaining a firewall between the client and the inter-dealer brokers.

Abstract: A data request from a requesting device is received at a network of wireless sensor nodes. The data request is then forwarded through the network of wireless sensor nodes to a source wireless sensor node, where data responsive to the data request is generated. A reply including the responsive data is then forwarded along at least two communication paths through the network of wireless sensor nodes back to the requesting device.

Abstract: A wireless sensor network includes a network sink node and a plurality of cluster nodes. The cluster nodes are configured to pass communications upstream and downstream. Each cluster node has a communication range, or coverage area. A cluster node is configured to communicate with sensor nodes within the coverage area of cluster node. The sensor nodes are configured to register with at least one cluster node. The cluster nodes are configured to register with the network sink. Identifiers for the sensor nodes may be dynamically generated. Identifiers for the cluster nodes may be dynamically generated.

Abstract: A wireless sensor network includes a network sink node and a plurality of cluster nodes. The cluster nodes are configured to pass communications upstream and downstream. Each cluster node has a communication range, or coverage area. A cluster node is configured to communicate with sensor nodes within the coverage area of cluster node. The sensor nodes are configured to register with at least one cluster node. The cluster nodes are configured to register with the network sink. Identifiers for the sensor nodes may be dynamically generated. Identifiers for the cluster nodes may be dynamically generated.

Abstract: A data request from a requesting device is received at a network of wireless sensor nodes. The data request is then forwarded through the network of wireless sensor nodes to a source wireless sensor node, where data responsive to the data request is generated. A reply including the responsive data is then forwarded along at least two communication paths through the network of wireless sensor nodes back to the requesting device.

Abstract: Lender anonymity securities lending where trade criteria associated with a security owned by a client are determined. Bids for the security are monitored by a first entity. A trade related to the security is executed by accepting a best bid from the monitored bids based on the trade criteria. An identical trade related to the security is automatically executed with a second entity. A second identical trade as the trade related to the security is automatically executed with inter-dealer brokers without any knowledge of the first entity. The first entity may be a banking division of a financial institution and the second entity may be a broker/dealer division of a financial institution. Complete anonymity is provided to the client from the inter-dealer brokers since the trade executed automatically with the second entity is put into a separate trading book maintaining a firewall between the client and the inter-dealer brokers.

Abstract: Data carriers (such as RFID tags) are formed into clusters of data carriers. Each cluster has at least one bridge data carrier that can communicate with a bridge data carrier of another cluster, thereby allowing data carriers in each cluster to communicate directly or indirectly with each other using a stochastic communication protocol method. Direct tag-to-tag communication capability is provided between data carriers in each cluster and/or between clusters. The data carriers can backscatter and modulate a carrier wave from a source, thereby using the backscattered and modulated carrier wave to convey data to each other.

Abstract: A method of making a color display device and color display device are provided for the display of metallic or special effect pigmented paint using commercially available or the manufacturer's paint. In the method provided herein, the metallic or special effect pigmented paint is sprayed onto a web behind a knife or onto a first roller which is a part of a roller roller coater.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a paint color sample display device for the illustration of paint colors and a method for making such a color display device. The color display device may be a color fan deck which displays color on each side of the blades of the fan deck. The fan blades include a painted polymeric film laminated to both sides of a base paper to form a painted film/base paper/painted film laminate for the fan blades.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of high speed manufacture of swatch bearing sheets wherein each sheet is directed through various operating stations via sequentially releasing a suction force from an endless vacuum belt conveyor while sequentially pulling the sheet onto another endless vacuum belt conveyor with a suction force to allow for substantially continuous engagement of the sheet with the endless vacuum conveyors during the manufacture and inspection of the sheets.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a painted color sample display device for the comparative illustration of paint color. The invention also is directed to a method for making such a color display device. The color card or display device of the invention displays a plurality of paint colors with color swatch layers which partially overly each other. The plurality of paint coated color swatch layers are in stacked overlapping relation. A top swatch layer partially overlies a first immediate swatch layer below the top layer swatch. The first intermediate layer overlies a second intermediate layer below the first intermediate layer. Each of the layers are hingedly joined at the top and do not completely cover the painted swatch layer below. This permits the viewer to view the paint color on each of the swatch layers.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder comprises a memory space having a predetermined data field for storing a destination address identifying a location on the Internet corresponding to the RFID transponder. The Internet address may further comprise an e-mail address or Uniform Resource Locator (URL). In an embodiment of the invention, a computer network comprises a client computer having an application executing thereon, an RFID tag having a memory containing an Internet address corresponding to the RFID tag, and an RFID reader connected to the client computer and adapted to communicate with the RFID tag. The RFID reader recovers the Internet address from the RFID tag and provides the Internet address to the client computer. The client computer thereby communicates with the location defined by the Internet address corresponding to the RFID tag using the application. A host server is connected to the client computer, and may be further connected to the Internet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus use an in-line printer to print on chips or swatches mounted on an underlying substrate such as a sheet or web of paper or paperboard. The chips may have varying heights due to variations of thickness of the paint on the chip and/or adhesive mounting the chips to the substrate. The sheets are continuously moving through the chip mounting machine and the printing machine which are synchronized to operate at the same speed. In the illustrated apparatus, conveyor pushers push the sheets through the chip mounting machine and through the printer machine and resilient strips on the printing roller form a nip with an underlying anvil roller to grip and hold the chips against shifting to prevent smearing of the ink as the sheets are pushed through the nip between the printing cylinder and the anvil roller. An in-line trimming apparatus such as die cutter may cut the chips to size and/or shape as to provide rectangularly mounted chips with arcs, curves, circles, etc.

Abstract: The color card or display device of the invention has one or more paint color swatches or chips which are removable from a base and are repositionable and adhesively affixable to another substrate remote from the color card or display device. The color card with repositionable paint swatches provides swatches which may be remounted onto furniture, walls, other samples and fabrics to aid the consumer of the color to select the color on the swatch and match it with other colors and the environment for which the color is intended.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for high speed manufacture of swatch bearing sheets wherein each sheet is directed through various operating stations via a single set of sheet engaging members. Individual sheets are removed from a stack of sheets at a feeding station. The sheets are aligned into a predetermined position for feeding to the sheet engaging members. A single set of sheet engaging members directs each sheet through an adhesive applying station where glue spots are placed on the sheets at predetermined locations. Each sheet is then advanced by the same set of sheet engaging members through one or more swatch applying stations where swatches are applied to the glue spots on the sheets. The sheets are then discharged from direction via the sheet engaging members at a disengaging station. The sheets are then fed through a pressing station to firmly adhere the swatches to the glue spots on the sheets.

Abstract: A data collection device is provided for reading barcodes, matrix codes, acoustical tags, radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags, and other data carriers. The data collection device includes components to determine an actual position of the data collection device with respect to a target data carrier. The data collection device further includes visual indicators to indicate the determined actual position relative to an optimal position of the data collection device relative to the target data carrier. The determined actual position can be at least one of an actual distance or an actual orientation of the data collection device relative to the target data carrier.

Abstract: A scaffold includes two or more legs and an expandable platform assembly having at least two shelves. At least one of the shelves slides in a lengthwise direction in relation to the others.