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Patent No. 6637447

Beerbrella

A small umbrella which may be removably attached to a beverage container in order to shade the beverage container from the direct rays of the sun.

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Class 379/155 - At terminal station (e.g., coin paystation)


Subclass of Class 379 - Telephonic communications
Definition: Subject matter wherein the control is performed within or
No. of patents: 131
Last issue date: 07/08/2008


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NumberTitleIssue Date
7397907Multi-function general purpose transceiver
The present invention is generally directed to a system and associated method for communicating information to a predetermined location. The system includes a transmitter disposed at a first location and configured to transmit a signal containing an instruction code...
07/08/2008
7330554Volume control apparatus and method thereof
A volume control apparatus and a method enable the volume of sound output from a sound output system to be adjusted in units of an increase/decrease interval set by a user, the volume control apparatus controlling the volume of sound output from the sound output sys...
02/12/2008
7327998System and method of providing a geographic view of nodes in a wireless network
A geographic view rendering tool receives geographic location data for nodes in a wireless network and renders a geographic view displaying the nodes at their corresponding geographic locations. The geographic view may be displayed overlaying a digital map. The geog...
02/05/2008
7312721Data collector for an automated meter reading system
The invention includes an electronic utility meter, a data collector/meter and a method for communicating data in an automated meter reading system. The inventive method includes communicating data with a network and a first electronic utility meter, and communicati...
12/25/2007
7301476Dynamic self-configuring metering network
A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instr...
11/27/2007
7262709System and method for efficient configuration in a fixed network automated meter reading system
Meters are configured using either a program update method or a meter update method. In the program update method, meters associated with a specified configuration program are identified and configured with updated parameters. In the meter update method, a specified...
08/28/2007
7239250System and method for improved transmission of meter data
The system includes a number of first meters, which are typically battery powered transmit only devices. The system includes a number of two-way meters, which are operable to both transmit and receive data. The first meters transmit their data to the collector eithe...
07/03/2007
7187906Method and system for configurable qualification and registration in a fixed network automated meter reading system
A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instr...
03/06/2007
7187928Call delivery systems for roaming prepaid subscribers
The invention provides systems and methods that operate to provide seamless roaming to a prepaid subscriber in as many markets as possible. To that end, the systems of the invention include a location register (LR) that can determine the type, or class, of serving m...
03/06/2007
7184861System and method for controlling generation over an integrated wireless network
An intelligent network demand control system provides a system and method for controlling demand in an energy delivery system. The intelligent network demand control system employs a transceiver network with a plurality transceivers coupled to meters and appliances ...
02/27/2007
7181501Remote data acquisition, transmission and analysis system including handheld wireless equipment
A remote data acquisition, transmission and analysis system including handheld wireless equipment to obtain operational data and the status of remote machines is disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with the remote machines from which ope...
02/20/2007
7176807System for automatically enforcing a demand reset in a fixed network of electricity meters
Methods and systems of enforcing a demand reset in a meter that communicates via a wireless network. When billing data is received by a server, it is accompanied by a demand reset counter. The counter is compared to a counter stored on the server. If they received c...
02/13/2007
7171451Remote data acquisition and transmission system and method
A remote data acquisition and transmission system and method are disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with remote equipment from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controllers communicate with...
01/30/2007
7170425System and method for creating multiple operating territories within a meter reading system
The present invention enables multiple operating territories to be defined, named, and managed within a meter reading system. Each operating territory may correspond to a geographic sub-section of the meter reading system that is regulated by a particular regulatory...
01/30/2007
7167892System, method and apparatus for vending machine wireless audit and cashless transaction transport
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for collecting, storing and communicating vending machine transaction data. The system preferably includes an embedded data collection and storage device that, when placed inside a vending machine, will c...
01/23/2007
7145474Dynamic self-configuring metering network
A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instr...
12/05/2006
7142106System and method of visualizing network layout and performance characteristics in a wireless network
A system for visually detailing the layout of a wireless network and for providing performance statistics regarding the network. Graphical diagrams are generated in accordance with a request wherein the diagrams illustrate nodes and data collectors in the wireless n...
11/28/2006
7139616Real-time alert mechanism for monitoring and controlling field assets via wireless and internet technologies
An apparatus and system are disclosed for real-time monitoring and control of field assets. A monitoring device may be coupled to a field asset to determine the occurrence of one or more error conditions. Error conditions may be detected either as they occur or by t...
11/21/2006
7126494Remote access to electronic meters using a TCP/IP protocol suite
An electronic meter incorporates a TCP/IP protocol suite and an HTTP server to provide two-way access to the meter data. Alternatively, the TCP/IP protocol suite may be incorporated into a gateway serving multiple meters connected through a power line or wireless tw...
10/24/2006
7110512Method and apparatus for providing prepaid local telephone services
A system and method for providing prepaid dialtone services. The system includes a prepaid dialtone service center having an applications server that maintains a prepaid dialtone subscriber database including subscriber identification and service period information....
09/19/2006
7110987Secure online purchasing
In a method of purchasing online, a client device of a customer communicates a purchase selection which is received by a vendor computer system. The vendor computer system, in response, communicates a cost of the purchase selection and fund confirmation address to t...
09/19/2006
7103511Wireless communication networks for providing remote monitoring of devices
Wireless communication networks for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices are provided. Briefly, one embodiment of a wireless communication network may comprise a plurality of wireless transceivers having unique identifiers. Each of the plurality ...
09/05/2006
7103176Direct coupling of telephone volume control with remote microphone gain and noise cancellation
The present invention creates a method, apparatus and system by which a telephone unit volume control provides instantaneous coupling to and controlling of a connected telephone unit's microphone gain and noise cancellation circuitry. With this invention, an increas...
09/05/2006
7089089Methods and apparatus for retrieving energy readings from an energy monitoring device
An energy monitoring device including procedures for secure communication of data from the device is disclosed. The energy monitoring device includes a public/private key pair used to encrypt and/or digitally sign communications by the device. This allows the receiv...
08/08/2006
7086589Smart connections
The invention provides a method of controlling access to an object (16), such as a product for sale. The object (16) or its packaging (110) is secured, for example to a sales console (12,68) by use of connecting means (26). The con...
08/08/2006
7088808Network access pay telephone and conversion kit
A kit for converting an existing pay telephone to additionally provide computer network access includes an upper housing unit that latches to a lower housing of the existing telephone, and a network adapter unit which includes a network computer and a control module...
08/08/2006
7053770System and method for communicating alarm conditions in a mesh network
Each of a plurality of satellite nodes coupled to a sensing device or an actuator and logically dispersed around an access node are configured to wirelessly communicate alarm conditions. A first satellite node detects and accesses an alarm condition and then prepare...
05/30/2006
7020680System and method for monitoring and control of beverage dispensing equipment
A remote data acquisition and transmission system and method are disclosed. A plurality of application controllers are interfaced with remote beverage dispensing equipment from which operation data is acquired by the application controllers. The application controll...
03/28/2006
7013337Method and system for the optimal formatting, reduction and compression of DEX/UCS data
A method and system for communicating data between a network operations center and a remote device is described. Vending machine state information is communicated between a vending site and a network operations center using a delta scheme. A database, maintained by ...
03/14/2006
7010594System using environmental sensor and intelligent management and control transceiver for monitoring and controlling remote computing resources
The present disclosure provides a system and apparatus for the remote monitoring and control of a computing component. An intelligent management and control transceiver (IMCT) is preferably attached to a computing component to be monitored and controlled. The IMCT p...
03/07/2006
7007000Secure online purchasing
In a method of purchasing online, a client device of a customer communicates a purchase selection which is received by a vendor computer system. The vendor computer system, in response, communicates a cost of the purchase selection and fund confirmation address to t...
02/28/2006
6952872Method for reducing stress on the multi-conductor cable
The object of this invention is to provide an improved connection between a TTY keypad and an emergency call box. This is accomplished by lengthening and re-routing the multi-conductor ribbon cable that connects the TTY to the call box. Thus relieving the stress on ...
10/11/2005
6944632Method and apparatus for gathering statistical information about in-store content distribution
A digital department system is disclosed. The digital department system of the present invention includes a network management center, a network operating center that is coupled to the network management center, a multimedia server, a multicasting transmission mediu...
09/13/2005
6850607Intelligent vending system and method
An intelligent vending system such as a pay telephone provides local/remote diagnostics, fraud prevention, capability of facilitating local coin overtime operation, complete cash box accounting, and detailed reporting. Information regarding each transaction is recor...
02/01/2005
6707896Public telephone with and method for cash payment function
A public telephone with a cash payment function is connected to a server of a banking agency through a telephone network and verifies whether a card, such as a credit card, inserted by a user is available for the requested cash service and, as the result of the veri...
03/16/2004
6574320Coin release mechanism of payphone
A payphone coin release device includes a base plate fixed inside the payphone casing and having a pivotal pin extending therefrom to rotatably support thereon a driven link having two opposite arms of which one is rotatably pivoted at one end of an inter...
06/03/2003
6320946Information payphone
A payphone or coin-operated telephone that functions as an information transmittal device that dispenses user-selected information audibly to the user via the speaker in the payphone handset. A variety of information is stored in an information storage un...
11/20/2001
6317496Telephone keypad guard
This invention is a guard for preventing the vandalism of the keypad of a telephone. If the telephone is a pay telephone, the invention further prevents, thus preventing entry into the telephone money box from the upper housing area. The telephone guard, ...
11/13/2001
6304643Pay phone deposit method for limiting overpayment by a customer
A method for limiting overpayment at a coin-operated telephone is disclosed. According to the method, a customer may initiate a call by first depositing a plurality of coins and then dialing the desired number. Once the number is dialed, the phone obtains...
10/16/2001
6301344Intelligent public telephone system and method
An intelligent pay telephone provides local/remote diagnostics, fraudulent call prevention, capability of facilitating local coin overtime operation, complete cash box accounting, and call detail reporting. Information regarding each call placed from the ...
10/09/2001
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