Abstract: Described herein are examples of evaluating electromagnetic energy reflection data of security scans. In embodiments, a method to evaluate electromagnetic energy reflection data determines whether electronic information of a security scan contains an anomaly, and identifies an anomaly location in the electronic information corresponding to the anomaly. The method determines a subset of the electronic information corresponding to the anomaly location, determines anomaly attributes using the subset of the electronic information, and evaluates the anomaly attributes using a database of reference items by comparing anomaly attributes to respective reference characteristics of reference items or identity information. When a comparison meets the respective match criterion for the given reference item, the method assigns to the anomaly the respective identifier as an anomaly identifier.

Abstract: Described herein are examples of evaluating electromagnetic energy reflection data of security scans. In embodiments, a method to evaluate electromagnetic energy reflection data determines whether electronic information of a security scan contains an anomaly, and identifies an anomaly location in the electronic information corresponding to the anomaly. The method determines a subset of the electronic information corresponding to the anomaly location, determines anomaly attributes using the subset of the electronic information, and evaluates the anomaly attributes using a database of reference items by comparing anomaly attributes to respective reference characteristics of reference items or identity information. When a comparison meets the respective match criterion for the given reference item, the method assigns to the anomaly the respective identifier as an anomaly identifier.

Abstract: An improved optical sensor and methods for measuring the presence of various materials or constituents in a fluid sample uses reactive material(s) in a fluid environment. The reactive materials have optical properties that change in the presence of a target material that may be present in the environment. An optical emitter generates light that is directed to the reactive materials, and one or more optical detectors receive reflected light from one or more interfaces in the optical path between the emitter and the detector(s), one or more of the interfaces having a reactive material. The reactive material(s), emitter(s), and detector(s) are selected based on the desired target material to be sensed.

Abstract: An improved optical sensor and methods for measuring the presence of various materials or constituents in a fluid sample uses one or more reactive materials in a fluid environment. The reactive materials have optical properties that change in the presence of one or more target materials that may be present in the environment. One or more optical emitters generate light that is directed to the reactive material(s), and one or more optical detectors receive light from the reactive material(s), and the presence or absence of the target material is determined based on the light received at the optical detector(s). The reactive material(s), emitter(s), and detector(s) are selected based on the desired target material to be sensed.

Abstract: An improved optical sensor and methods for measuring the presence of various materials or constituents in a fluid sample uses one or more reactive materials in a fluid environment. The reactive materials have optical properties that change in the presence of one or more target materials that may be present in the environment. One or more optical emitters generate light that is directed to the reactive material(s), and one or more optical detectors receive light from the reactive material(s), and the presence or absence of the target material is determined based on the light received at the optical detector(s). The reactive material(s), emitter(s), and detector(s) are selected based on the desired target material to be sensed.

Abstract: An improved optical sensor and methods for measuring the presence of various materials or constituents in a fluid sample uses reactive material(s) in a fluid environment. The reactive materials have optical properties that change in the presence of a target material that may be present in the environment. An optical emitter generates light that is directed to the reactive materials, and one or more optical detectors receive reflected light from one or more interfaces in the optical path between the emitter and the detector(s), one or more of the interfaces having a reactive material. The reactive material(s), emitter(s), and detector(s) are selected based on the desired target material to be sensed.

Abstract: Groups of consenting users such as families can track where other members of the same group are under agreed upon access arrangements. The locating system can operate in a passive mode. Users do not have to actively sign-in or check-in to the locating system for the locating system to obtain individual location determination estimates. The locating system collects communications device usage information from a plurality of communications networks, e.g., landline, cellular, Wi-Fi, DSL. The locations of communication devices and infrastructure are known. Members of locating groups are associated with various communication devices detected are being used. Approximate locations of an individual member or members of a locating group are inferred from detected device usage information. A location report is generated, e.g., in a map, table, or audio format, indicating the determined location of individuals, and optionally including time tags. The report is provided to authorized members of the locating group.

Abstract: A method for operating a water cooler, wherein the water cooler includes a cooling system, a storage compartment assembly, a water dispenser assembly, and a climate control assembly including a thermostat and a control capillary, includes coupling the control capillary to the thermostat, and coupling the thermostat to the cooling system such that the thermostat controls the operational state of the cooling system. The method includes positioning the control capillary adjacent each of the storage compartment assembly and the water dispenser assembly, determining the temperature of the storage compartment assembly and the water dispenser assembly using the control capillary, and cooling the storage compartment assembly and the water dispenser assembly using the cooling system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing admission control and bandwidth allocation from a centralized network location in a communications system which supports various IP based services are described. Admission control is performed based on user interaction with a Web interface hosted by a centralized control. Users may subscribe/unsubscribe to premium (e.g., high bandwidth) services. Admission control to the premium services is controlled by the centralized control. The control interfaces with a gateway (edge) router which implements service decisions. The centralized control maintains a database of the users, links in the network, network elements, and estimates of allocated/free bandwidth on the links. In some embodiments, traffic, not under centralized control, e.g., from business switches and/or legacy gateway routers may be injected onto the network links. Load estimation methods are used to account for bandwidth consumed on the links by this injected traffic.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a unitary, self-contained apparatus for flameless heating. The device comprises a tubular container divided into heat-generating and heat utilizing zones. The source of heat employed is the exothermia of a chemical reaction, particularly of chemical reactions initiated by the presence of water. The device of the invention is, because of its particular and novel construction, especially useful for those applications requiring high caloric yields for prolonged periods of time.