155results about How to "Maintain freshness" patented technology

A method and system for providing efficient menu services for an information processing system that uses a telephone or other form of audio user interface. In one embodiment, the menu services provide effective support for novice users by providing a full listing of available keywords and rotating house advertisements which inform novice users of potential features and information. For experienced users, cues are rendered so that at any time the user can say a desired keyword to invoke the corresponding application. The menu is flat to facilitate its usage. Full keyword listings are rendered after the user is given a brief cue to say a keyword. Service messages rotate words and word prosody. When listening to receive information from the user, after the user has been cued, soft background music or other audible signals are rendered to inform the user that a response may now be spoken to the service. Other embodiments determine default cities, on which to report information, based on characteristics of the caller or based on cities that were previously selected by the caller. Other embodiments provide speech concatenation processes that have co-articulation and real-time subject-matter-based word selection which generate human sounding speech. Other embodiments reduce the occurrences of falsely triggered barge-ins during content delivery by only allowing interruption for certain special words. Other embodiments offer special services and modes for calls having voice recognition trouble. The special services are entered after predetermined criterion have been met by the call. Other embodiments provide special mechanisms for automatically recovering the address of a caller.

A method and system for providing efficient menu services for an information processing system that uses a telephone or other form of audio user interface. In one embodiment, the menu services provide effective support for novice users by providing a full listing of available keywords and rotating house advertisements which inform novice users of potential features and information. For experienced users, cues are rendered so that at any time the user can say a desired keyword to invoke the corresponding application. The menu is flat to facilitate its usage. Full keyword listings are rendered after the user is given a brief cue to say a keyword. Service messages rotate words and word prosody. When listening to receive information from the user, after the user has been cued, soft background music or other audible signals are rendered to inform the user that a response may now be spoken to the service. Other embodiments determine default cities, on which to report information, based on characteristics of the caller or based on cities that were previously selected by the caller. Other embodiments provide speech concatenation processes that have co-articulation and real-time subject-matter-based word selection which generate human sounding speech. Other embodiments reduce the occurrences of falsely triggered barge-ins during content delivery by only allowing interruption for certain special words. Other embodiments offer special services and modes for calls having voice recognition trouble. The special services are entered after predetermined criterion have been met by the call. Other embodiments provide special mechanisms for automatically recovering the address of a caller.

A method and system for providing efficient menu services for an information processing system that uses a telephone or other form of audio user interface. In one embodiment, the menu services provide effective support for novice users by providing a full listing of available keywords and rotating house advertisements which inform novice users of potential features and information. For experienced users, cues are rendered so that at any time the user can say a desired keyword to invoke the corresponding application. The menu is flat to facilitate its usage. Full keyword listings are rendered after the user is given a brief cue to say a keyword. Service messages rotate words and word prosody. When listening to receive information from the user, after the user has been cued, soft background music or other audible signals are rendered to inform the user that a response may now be spoken to the service. Other embodiments determine default cities, on which to report information, based on characteristics of the caller or based on cities that were previously selected by the caller. Other embodiments provide speech concatenation processes that have co-articulation and real-time subject-matter-based word selection which generate human sounding speech. Other embodiments reduce the occurrences of falsely triggered barge-ins during content delivery by only allowing interruption for certain special words. Other embodiments offer special services and modes for calls having voice recognition trouble. The special services are entered after predetermined criterion have been met by the call. Other embodiments provide special mechanisms for automatically recovering the address of a caller.

A method and system for providing efficient menu services for an information processing system that uses a telephone or other form of audio user interface. In one embodiment, the menu services provide effective support for novice users by providing a full listing of available keywords and rotating house advertisements which inform novice users of potential features and information. For experienced users, cues are rendered so that at any time the user can say a desired keyword to invoke the corresponding application. The menu is flat to facilitate its usage. Full keyword listings are rendered after the user is given a brief cue to say a keyword. Service messages rotate words and word prosody. When listening to receive information from the user, after the user has been cued, soft background music or other audible signals are rendered to inform the user that a response may now be spoken to the service. Other embodiments determine default cities, on which to report information, based on characteristics of the caller or based on cities that were previously selected by the caller. Other embodiments provide speech concatenation processes that have co-articulation and real-time subject-matter-based word selection which generate human sounding speech. Other embodiments reduce the occurrences of falsely triggered barge-ins during content delivery by only allowing interruption for certain special words. Other embodiments offer special services and modes for calls having voice recognition trouble. The special services are entered after predetermined criterion have been met by the call. Other embodiments provide special mechanisms for automatically recovering the address of a caller.

An automatic vending machine for fruit juice and a control method thereof. The vending machine includes a main body having both a fruit storage unit for storing fresh fruit in a refrigerated state and a fruit feeding unit for feeding stored fresh fruit in the main body; a rotary arm unit having two rotary arms that rotate in opposite directions such that the fresh fruit, fed by the fruit feeding unit, is seated and held by the two rotary arms; a fruit cutting unit installed below the rotary arm unit and having a blade for cutting the fruit, held by the two rotary arms, into two pieces when the fruit is moved downwards; a fruit crushing unit installed below the fruit cutting unit and having two crushing bars, which are placed vertically and crush the fruit pieces held by the two rotary arms to make fruit juice when the two rotary arms holding the respective fruit pieces are rotated downwards and move downwards; and a control unit for recognizing an input bill or an input coin and controlling the vending machine in accordance with manipulation of a user.

A network system manages hierarchical service and content distribution via a directory enabled network to improve performance of the content delivery network with a hierarchical service network infrastructure design. The network system allows a user to obtain various Internet services, especially the content delivery service, in a scalable and fault tolerant way. In particular the network system is divided into 4 layers, each layer being represented and managed by a service manager with back up mirrored managers. The layer 4 service manager is responsible for management of multiple content delivery networks (CDNs). The layer 3 service manager is responsible for management of one CDN network that has multiple data centers. The layer 2 service manager is responsible for management of one data center that has multiple server farms or service engine farms. The layer 1 service manager is responsible for all servers in a server farm. Each server of the server farm can be connected by a LAN Ethernet Switch Network that supports the layer 2 multicast operations or by an Infiniband switch.

A hermetically sealable dispenser for measuring and dispensing predetermined amounts of a granular product without breakage of the product. The dispenser comprises a container which can be filled with the product, and a flexible, rotatable, paddle wheel fixed within the container. The spacing between paddles of the paddle wheel form measuring compartments. The dimensions of the paddle wheel are such that the wheel forms a hermetic seal near one end of the container. A lid is provided to seal the upper end of the container such that the product is stored in an air-tight compartment prior to dispensing.

A refrigerator includes a deodorizer disposed in a cold air circulation path for deodorizing an atmosphere in the refrigerator. The deodorizer includes discharging means for producing ozone and ultraviolet rays by means of high-voltage discharge and a photocatalyst module for decomposing an odor component and injurious matter contained in the atmosphere by means of photocatalyst.

A mist atomizer is arranged in a first cooling duct including an outlet for vegetable compartment and an inlet for vegetable compartment. The mist atomizer is arranged near a gap of a lower basket and an upper basket. A refrigerator capable of efficiently collecting transpired moisture from stored food, sufficiently humidifying the interior of the basket, and having higher freshness maintaining property is provided.

A bottle cap having a filling function for an object to be brewed is interconnected to a container's spout, including an outer cover cap and an inner sleeve, in which the outer cover cap has a top plate, an outer ring body and an inner ring body, both of which are extended from the top plate, and between which a spacing room is formed. According to the invention, the inner sleeve is fitted to an outer circumferential edge of the inner ring body, such that a storage room for storing an object to be brewed is formed between the inner ring body and the inner sleeve having a bended edge abutted against a side face of the spout. In addition, a sectional trough is arranged at one side far away the bended edge of the inner sleeve. Thereby, when the outer cover cap moves toward the container, the storage room will be opened to make the object to be brewed automatically filled into the container.

A bottle cap for universal retrofitting to one of a number of pre-existing beverage containers containing a beverage and having a removed cap and threaded aperture, having at least one container portion for containing at least one dispensable material, a threaded portion for receiving the threaded aperture and creating, when threaded, a water-tight assembly; and a bag containing the dispensable material located in the container portion. Upon screwable attachment of the threaded aperture into the cap, the threaded aperture parses at least a portion of the bag to permit feeding of the material into the beverage. A plurality of such caps is also shown packaged for commercial sale. The material contained in the cap is selected from the group consisting of vitamins, medicaments, teas, flavors, concentrates and water-soluble food material. Also shown is a universal cap further having a moveable aperture assembly creating an open, fluid-flowing state and a closed, fluid-stopped state, having a top portion containing a drinking aperture and an elongated, moveable fluid-flowing portion. In accordance with another aspect of a dissolvable membrane encloses dispensable material in the cap, and the membrane dissolves upon contact with fluid in a fluid container to release the dispensable material into the fluid.

A freezing and thawing apparatus includes a freezing and thawing treatment tank for filling freezing and thawing treated water, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators for oscillating ultrasound different in frequency in the freezing and thawing treatment tank, a treated water cooler for cooling the freezing and thawing treated water, and an ultrasonic vibrator controller for controlling the ultrasonic vibrators.

Disclosed are packaging systems and methods useful in extending the storage-life of foodstuff such as fresh fish. The packaging systems and methods can be used to transport or store the foodstuff for an extended period of time. The packaging systems preferably use a fuel cell to maintain a reduced oxygen level in the environment surrounding the foodstuff.

Reusable sleeve closures comprising a flexible thin sleeve of film grade plastic which seals the nozzle of a partially used sealant, mastic or caulk-dispensing cartridge or squeeze tube to substantially retard the hardening of the remaining tube contents. The plastic film provides a vapor barrier against exit of water or organic solvent from the sealant composition, and / or retards diffusion of oxygen that could cause the composition to set. The film is preferably somewhat stretchable and without creep over time, so that the sleeve provides an extremely tight seal for a substantial distance along the nozzle, e.g. film grade polyolefin or polyvinylidene chloride copolymer plastic film. The sleeve length is preferably long enough to provide a head space for a visual and tactile indicator of content condition. Sleeves may be packaged with the cartridge, or provided after-market. A 4-mil film polyolefin sleeve preserves water-based acrylic caulk over 9 months.

The present invention provides a formulation which may be utilized in agricultural practice that is eco-friendly and effective as plant growth promotion agent, soil improvement agent, bactericide and insecticide agent, disease and harmful insect prevention agent, and is suitable for organic farming. The formulation of the present invention is comprised of a Morinda citrifolia product or extract. The formulation of the present invention may be applied to fruit vegetables, leafy vegetables, root vegetables, grains as well as flowers and shrubs, increasing the amount of yield and extending freshness period after harvest. Further, the present invention relates to antifungal and antibacterial activity of processed Morinda citrifolia products, as well as from various fractions of extracts from these processed products and the Morinda citrifolia L. plant, and related methods to determine mean inhibitory concentrations. In particular, the present invention relates to ethanol, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts from Morinda citrifolia L. and their inhibitory activities on common fungi and bacteria and the identification of mean inhibitory concentrations.

An apparatus may be utilized for sealing a vessel and for providing various mechanisms for preserving and maintaining freshness of the vessel's contents. In one embodiment, the apparatus prevents a premature oxidation process by enabling a vessel to be filled with contents without compromising the seal of the vessel. Further, the apparatus eliminates the necessity of opening the vessel during the dispensing process, thereby maintaining the vessel's seal while emptying the vessel's contents. The apparatus may be initially purged of ambient air and oxygen prior to filling the vessel with contents further reducing premature oxidation by reducing a substance's oxygen contact as substances initially enter the vessel. The apparatus enables venting of excess gas, thereby preventing over-pressurization of the vessel's structure and over-pressurization of the contents within the vessel. The apparatus regulates the flow of incoming gas, whereby gas is introduced at a consistent rate preventing disruption of the contents.

A bottle cap for universal retrofitting to one of a number of pre-existing beverage containers containing a beverage and having a removed cap and threaded aperture, having at least one container portion for containing at least one dispensable material, a threaded portion for receiving the threaded aperture and creating, when threaded, a water-tight assembly; and a bag containing the dispensable material located in the container portion. Upon screwable attachment of the threaded aperture into the cap, the threaded aperture parses at least a portion of the bag to permit feeding of the material into the beverage. A plurality of such caps is also shown packaged for commercial sale. The material contained in the cap is selected from the group consisting of vitamins, medicaments, teas, flavors, concentrates and water-soluble food material. Also shown is a universal cap further having a moveable aperture assembly creating an open, fluid-flowing state and a closed, fluid-stopped state, having a top portion containing a drinking aperture and an elongated, moveable fluid-flowing portion.

A container assembly outfits a wide mouth container and thereby enables a user to single-handedly grasp and transfer the container. The container assembly comprises a lid portion and a content cover. The lid portion comprises at least one rim-locking portion and at least one hand-grippable flange. The rim-locking portion(s) are inwardly adjacent to the hand-grippable flange(s). A spillage basin may be formed inwardly adjacent to the rim-locking portion(s). The content cover contacts and covers container contents. The content cover also comprises a spillage basin and is displaceable intermediate a rim portion and a bottom portion of the container, and thus be said to ride upon the container contents as the volume of container contents changes. The spillage basins collect and retain spillage for easing spillage cleanup. The content cover is outfitted with certain structure for easing removal of the content cover and the container contents.

A method for dynamically interlinking documents within a collection, comprising downloading documents within said collection; generating a reverse index and a content signature database of said collection, selecting for each document within said collection, a list of words within to convert into search links, based on the said content signature database, and displaying search results based on said reverse index.

Disclosed are compositions that comprise one or more N-acylethanolamine compounds for maintaining the freshness and appearance of cut flowers, floral products, decorative foliage, fruits, and other plant cuttings. More specifically, the present invention provides methods for treating and storing cut flowers, Christmas trees, fruits, and other severed plant parts that preserve the appearance, freshness, fragrance and / or aesthetic qualities of the botanical products. Using the disclosed compositions, the shelf life of cut flowers was substantially prolonged, in many cases 2 to 5 times longer than untreated flowers, with the treated flowers or foliage appearing healthy and viable, and without wilting, dehydration, leaf drop, or visible signs of senescence. Likewise, treatment of ornamental coniferous plants with the anti-senescent compositions delayed deterioration and leaf drop, while extending the overall appearance and quality of the plants and plant cuttings.

A party tray kit comprises a variety of ready-to-eat foods of sufficient quantity for a plurality of individuals that are sealed within a serving tray and ready to serve. The party tray kit also includes a carrier. The carrier includes a compartment for the serving tray and a compartment for a variety of condiments and relishes in ready-to-use packets. The party tray kit can be kept under refrigeration for a considerable period of time. In use, the party try kit is removed from refrigerated storage, the serving tray is removed from the kit and a releasable lidding film is removed from the serving tray. In one exemplary embodiment, the party tray kit may include a selection of cold-cuts and cheeses. When this embodiment is used, the serving tray may be presented to a gathering of individuals who can consume the various food items and condiments as desired.

Universal lids, as well as methods of making and using the same, are provided. Universal lids of the invention are compliant and to accommodate multiple different sizes of containers, such that they may effectively cover at least two different containers that differ from each other in terms of size of the opening of the container. In certain embodiments, the lids are fabricated from a compliant material. In certain embodiments, the lids include an undercut. Embodiments of the lids include one or more of a detector component, e.g., for detecting temperature, time, etc.; a gas permeable component, e.g., for allowing certain gases to pass into and out of the sealed container; etc.

A refrigerator having a vegetable storage chamber for maintaining freshness of vegetables stored therein for a long time and minimizing nutrient degradation of the vegetables. When a large quantity of vegetables are stacked and stored in the vegetable storage chamber, sufficient light reaches the vegetables located at inner and lower parts of the vegetable storage chamber, thereby facilitating photosynthesis of the vegetables. The refrigerator includes the vegetable storage chamber to store vegetables, light emitting diodes (LEDs) to irradiate light onto the vegetables stored in the vegetable storage chamber so that the vegetables photosynthesize, and a control unit to receive data corresponding to types of the stored vegetables and to control the LEDs so that the LEDs emit light, having characteristics corresponding to the types of the stored vegetables, onto the vegetables.

An eco-friendly fertilizer that acts as a plant growth promotion agent, soil improvement agent, bactericide and insecticide agent, disease and harmful insect prevention agent and the like, and is suitable for organic farming. The fertilizer contains extract from fruits, leaves, stems, seeds and / or roots of the Yaeyama Aoki and increases the amount of yield and extends the freshness period after harvest when applied to fruits, vegetables, leafy vegetables, root vegetables, grains as well as flowers and shrubs.

A fryer for business use is provided which can prevent degradation of cooking oil, secure a good cooking environment and improve a work efficiency. To this end, the fryer of this invention comprises: a water tank 32, 82 to store water; an oil tank 9, 51 arranged above the water tank to store the cooking oil in contact with the stored water in the water tank; a heater 13, 52 arranged in an oil layer in the oil tank; and an oil delivery pipe 10, 61 through which to draw the cooking oil in the oil layer by a pump 29, 64 and release it onto a bottom of the water tank 32, 82; wherein the released cooking oil rises through the water layer and flows into a lower part of the oil layer.

Provided are a novel polypropylene resin composition, a gas permeable film comprising the same and provided with satisfactory optical characteristics (transparency, gloss and see throughness) as well as an excellent gas permeability (water vapor, oxygen and ethylene gas) without damaging a rigidity and a vegetable and fruit freshness long term-maintaining method using the above gas permeable film for a wrapping film. The polypropylene resin composition described above comprises 40 to 95% by weight of a propylene polymer (A) and 5 to 60% by weight of an ethylene / propylene / butene random copolymer (B) having a butene content of 3 to 40% by weight and an ethylene content of 10 to 30% by weight, wherein a ratio (etaB / etaA) of an intrinsic viscosity etaB of the component (B) described above to an intrinsic viscosity etaA of the component (A) described above falls in a range of 0.5 to 1.3; and the etaB described above falls in a range of 0.5 to 3.0 dl / g. The gas permeable film described above is a single layer or multilayer film comprising at least one layer of a film of the polypropylene resin composition described above and having a thickness of 10 to 100 mum, and it has the following characteristics: (1) a permeability TH2O of water vapor is 9 to 50 g / m2.24 h (based on JIS Z 0208), (2) a permeability TO2 of oxygen is 600 to 12500 nmol / m2.s.100 kPa (based on JIS K 7126-A) and (3) a permeability Tethylene of ethylene gas is 600 to 22500 nmol / m2.s.100 kPa (based on JIS K 7126-A).