| WO/1999/047916 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING SURFACES |
| JP52099886 | DIFFUSION TYPE TESTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE EXHAUST GASES |
| WO/2002/039103 | THIN FILM METAL HYDRIDE HYDROGEN SENSOR |
ELDAR, Zamir (2 Rue de la Collard, Paris, F-75013, FR)
VAGO, Gabriel (46 Cranbourne Gardens, London NW11 0JD, GB)
SAPIR, Oren (55 Hagilboa Street, Kochav Yair, 44864, IL)
DIAGNOSE ISRAEL LTD. (P.O. Box, 44862 Tzur Yigal, 12391, IL)
LANGFORD, Marian (Grantley Church Lane, Kingston Canterbury Kent CT4 6HX, GB)
ELDAR, Zamir (2 Rue de la Collard, Paris, F-75013, FR)
VAGO, Gabriel (46 Cranbourne Gardens, London NW11 0JD, GB)
SAPIR, Oren (55 Hagilboa Street, Kochav Yair, 44864, IL)
| CLAIMS 1. A method for employing canines to identify target specimens from among a stream of sets of olfactory specimens, the method comprising: for each set, Sending at least two canines to sniff a sequenced set of specimens; and If a first of the two canines gives a positive indication to at least one specimen in the set and a second of the two canines gives a negative indication to at least one specimen in said set, re-sequencing the set, repeating said sending step and deciding as to whether or not at least one specimen in the set is contaminated by combining results of both canines and both repetitions of the sending step. 2. A method according to claim 1 and also comprising, if the two canines give the same indication to the set, not repeating said sending step and deciding as to whether or not at least one specimen in the set is contaminated by combining results of both canines over the sending step. 3. A filtering system including filter apparatus formed of acetate cellulose having a density on the order of 1 g/cm_3, a diameter of a few centimeters and a length twice that. 4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said filter apparatus comprises a cylinder. 5. A filtering system according to claim 3 wherein said density comprises 0.93 g'/cm3, a diameter is on the order of 2.25 cm and the length is on the order of 4.5 cm. 6. A method for olfactory sampling of an enclosure, comprising: Passing 10 - 30% of the total volume of air in the enclosure through a filter. 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said total volume of air is derived from more than one location within the enclosure. 8. A method according to claim 6 and also comprising passing 15 - 23% of the total volume of air in the enclosure through a filter. 9. A method according to claim 6 and also comprising passing 18% of the total volume of air in the enclosure through a filter. 10. A method according to claim 6 wherein said enclosure has an open state and a closed state and wherein said passing step is performed after the enclosure has been in its closed state for at least a predetermined interval of time. 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said predetermined interval of time comprises 1 - 4 hours. 12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said enclosure's volume is between 1 - 150 cubic meters and wherein said predetermined interval of time comprises approximately 2 hours. 13. A method for collecting olfactory specimens from an enclosure, the method comprising: Pre-testing enclosures, varying in (a) at least one characteristic of air per enclosure and (b) volume per enclosure, by pumping air from each of said enclosures through a filter and determining, for each pair of enclosure characteristics including said air characteristic and said volume, an air pumping time yielding satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality; and Collecting olfactory specimens by pumping air from each of a plurality of enclosures through said filter including using, for each individual enclosure having an individual air characteristic and an individual volume, an air pumping time found during said pre-testing to yield satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality for said individual air characteristic and said individual volume. 14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said at least one characteristic of air includes Temperature. 15. A method according to claim 13 wherein said at least one characteristic of air includes humidity. 16. A method according to claim 13 wherein said pre-testing comprises pre-testing enclosures varying as to absence/presence of sub-enclosures within the enclosure and determining, for at least one triplet of enclosure characteristics including an air characteristic, a volume and a characterization of absence/presence of sub-enclosures, an air pumping time yielding satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality; And wherein said collecting comprises using, for each individual enclosure having an individual air characteristic, an individual volume, and an individual characterization of absence/presence of sub-enclosures, an air pumping time found during said pre-testing to yield satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality for said individual air characteristic, said individual volume, and said individual characterization of absence/presence of sub-enclosures. 17. A method according to claim 13 wherein a criterion for satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality comprises Detection rate. 18. A method according to claim 13 wherein a criterion for satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality comprises efficiency. 19. A system according to claim 3 and also comprising apparatus for collecting an olfactory specimen including sucking air containing the olfactory specimen through said filter apparatus. 20. A method for collecting an olfactory specimen including: providing an acetate cellulose filter; and sucking air containing the olfactory specimen through the filter. 21. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for , said method comprising: STEPS as shown and described herein. 22. A method according to any of the claims 1, 2, 6 - 18 and 20 and substantially as shown and illustrated in any of the drawings. 23. A method according to any of the claims 1, 2, 6 - 18 and 20 and substantially as described herein. 24. A system according to any of the claims 3 - 5, 19 and 21 and substantially as shown and illustrated in any of the drawings. 25. A system according to any of the claims 3 - 5, 19 and 21 and substantially as described herein. |
REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
US patent application 10/677 225 in the name of ICTS EUROPE HOLDINGS B.V is co-pending.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to olfactory analysis and more particularly to olfactory analysis using canines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various methods for collection of olfactory specimens are known. Use of canines to sniff olfactory specimens are known. US patent application 10/677 225 in the name of ICTS EUROPE HOLDINGS B.V is co-pending and was published in France.
The disclosures of all publications and patent documents mentioned in the specification, and of the publications and patent documents cited therein directly or indirectly, are hereby incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide improved apparatus and methods for collecting and analyzing olfactory samples.
There is thus provided, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a method for employing canines to identify target specimens from among a stream of sets of olfactory specimens, the method comprising, for each set, sending at least two canines to sniff a sequenced set of specimens; and, if a first of the two canines gives a positive indication to at least one specimen in the set and a second of the two canines gives a negative indication to at least one specimen in said set, re-sequencing the set, repeating said sending step and deciding as to whether or not at least one specimen in the set is contaminated by combining results of both canines and both repetitions of the sending step.
Further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, the method also comprises, if the two canines give the same indication to the set, not repeating said sending step and deciding as to whether or not at least one specimen in the set is contaminated by combining results of both canines over the sending step.
Also provided, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, is a filtering system including filter apparatus formed of acetate cellulose having a density on the order of 1 g/cm_3, a diameter of a few centimeters and a length on the order of twice that.
Further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, said filter apparatus comprises a cylinder.
Still further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, said density comprises 0.93 g'/cm3, a diameter is on the order of 2.25 cm and the length is on the order of 4.5 cm.
Also provided, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, is a method for olfactory sampling of an enclosure, comprising passing 10 - 30% of the total volume of air in the enclosure through a filter.
Further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, said total volume of air is derived from more than one location within the enclosure.
Still further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, the method also comprises passing 15 - 23% of the total volume of air in the enclosure through a filter.
Additionally in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, the method also comprises passing 18% of the total volume of air in the enclosure through a filter.
Further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, said enclosure has an open state and a closed state and wherein said passing step is performed after the enclosure has been in its closed state for at least a predetermined interval of time.
Still further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, said predetermined interval of time comprises 1 - 4 hours.
Additionally in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, said enclosure's volume is between 1 - 150 cubic meters and wherein said predetermined interval of time comprises approximately 2 hours.
Also provided, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, is a method for collecting olfactory specimens from an enclosure, the method comprising pre-testing enclosures, varying in (a) at least one characteristic of air per enclosure and (b) volume per enclosure, by pumping air from each of said enclosures through a filter and determining, for each pair of enclosure characteristics including said air characteristic and said volume, an air pumping time yielding satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality; and collecting olfactory specimens by pumping air from each of a plurality of enclosures through said filter including using, for each individual enclosure having an individual air characteristic and an individual volume, an air pumping time found during said pre-testing to yield satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality for said individual air characteristic and said individual volume.
Further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, said at least one characteristic of air includes Temperature and/or humidity.
Still further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, said pre-testing comprises pre-testing enclosures varying as to absence/presence of sub- enclosures within the enclosure and determining, for at least one triplet of enclosure characteristics including an air characteristic, a volume and a characterization of absence/presence of sub-enclosures, an air pumping time yielding satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality; and said collecting comprises using, for each individual enclosure having an individual air characteristic, an individual volume, and an individual characterization of absence/presence of sub-enclosures, an air pumping time found during said pre-testing to yield satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality for said individual air characteristic, said individual volume, and said individual characterization of absence/presence of sub-enclosures.
Further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a criterion for satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality comprises Detection rate.
Still further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a criterion for satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality comprises efficiency.
Still further in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, the system also comprises apparatus for collecting an olfactory specimen including sucking air containing the olfactory specimen through said filter apparatus.
Also provided, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, is a method for collecting an olfactory specimen including providing an acetate cellulose filter; and sucking air containing the olfactory specimen through the filter.
Also provided is a computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium or computer readable storage medium, typically tangible, having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement any or all of the methods shown and described herein. It is appreciated that any or all of the computational steps shown and described herein may be computer-implemented. The operations in accordance with the teachings herein may be performed by a computer specially constructed for the desired purposes or by a general purpose computer specially configured for the desired purpose by a computer program stored in a computer readable storage medium.
Any suitable processor, display and input means may be used to process, display e.g. on a computer screen or other computer output device, store, and accept information such as information used by or generated by any of the methods and apparatus shown and described herein; the above processor, display and input means including computer programs, in accordance with some or all of the embodiments of the present invention. Any or all functionalities of the invention shown and described herein may be performed by a conventional personal computer processor, workstation or other programmable device or computer or electronic computing device, either general-purpose or specifically constructed, used for processing; a computer display screen and/or printer and/or speaker for displaying; machine-readable memory such as optical disks, CDROMs, magnetic- optical discs or other discs; RAMs, ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical or other cards, for storing, and keyboard or mouse for accepting. The term "process" as used above is intended to include any type of computation or manipulation or transformation of data represented as physical, e.g. electronic, phenomena which may occur or reside e.g. within registers and /or memories of a computer.
The above devices may communicate via any conventional wired or wireless digital communication means, e.g. via a wired or cellular telephone network or a computer network such as the Internet.
The apparatus of the present invention may include, according to certain embodiments of the invention, machine readable memory containing or otherwise storing a program of instructions which, when executed by the machine, implements some or all of the apparatus, methods, features and functionalities of the invention shown and described herein. Alternatively or in addition, the apparatus of the present invention may include, according to certain embodiments of the invention, a program as above which may be written in any conventional programming language, and optionally a machine for executing the program such as but not limited to a general purpose computer which may optionally be configured or activated in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Any of the teachings incorporated herein may wherever suitable operate on signals representative of physical objects or substances. The embodiments referred to above, and other embodiments, are described in detail in the next section.
Any trademark occurring in the text or drawings is the property of its owner and occurs herein merely to explain or illustrate one example of how an embodiment of the invention may be implemented.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions, utilizing terms such as, "processing", "computing", "estimating", "selecting", "ranking", "grading", "calculating", "determining", "generating", "reassessing", "classifying", "generating", "producing", "stereo-matching", "registering", "detecting", "associating", "superimposing", "obtaining" or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or processor or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories, into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. The term "computer" should be broadly construed to cover any kind of electronic device with data processing capabilities, including, by way of non-limiting example, personal computers, servers, computing system, communication devices, processors (e.g. digital signal processor (DSP), microcontrollers, field programmable gate array (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.) and other electronic computing devices.
The present invention may be described, merely for clarity, in terms of terminology specific to particular programming languages, operating systems, browsers, system versions, individual products, and the like. It will be appreciated that this terminology is intended to convey general principles of operation clearly and briefly, by way of example, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to any particular programming language, operating system, browser, system version, or individual product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the following drawings:
Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of enclosures, such as vehicle enclosures, being sampled for air content e.g. in order to enable testing for presence of explosives, narcotics or the like. As shown, testing of several vehicles may be conducted in parallel. Typically, sampling stations 10 are provided, each of which is operative to sample a vehicle enclosure.
Fig. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a pair of sampling stations 10 operative to sample parallel parked vehicles 12 as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3A is a simplified isometric view illustration of the operative portion of one of the sampling stations 10 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 3B is a simplified front view illustration of the operative portion of one of the sampling stations 10 of Fig. 2 including a filter assembly 14.
Fig. 4A is an exploded view of a filter device 18 disposed interiorly of sleeve 16 in Fig. 3A.
Fig. 4B is a cut-away view of the filter device 18.
Fig. 4C is a cross-sectional illustration of connector element 20.
Fig. 4D is a simplified side sectional illustration of the connector element 20, taken along section line A- A in Fig. 4C.
Fig. 4E is a cross-sectional illustration of connector element 22.
Fig. 4F is a simplified side sectional illustration of the connector element 22, taken along section line A-A in Fig. 4E.
Fig. 5 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a method for olfactory sampling of an enclosure operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 6 A is a table of Pre-testing results, including air pumping times suitable for air whose temperature is at least 15 degree Celsius and for enclosures, varying in (a) air humidity and, (b) volume per enclosure and optionally (c) absence/presence of sub- enclosures within the enclosure and/or other characteristics of enclosures such as the type of truck bed (rigid walls vs. soft walls.
Fig. 6B is a table of Pre-testing results, including air pumping times suitable for air whose temperature is 0 - 15 degrees Celsius and for enclosures, varying in (a) air humidity and, (b) volume per enclosure and optionally (c) absence/presence of sub-enclosures within the enclosure and/or other characteristics of enclosures such as the type of truck bed (rigid walls vs. soft walls.
Fig. 6C is a table of Pre-testing results, including air pumping times suitable for air whose temperature is -10 to 0 degrees Celsius and for enclosures, varying in (a) air humidity and, (b) volume per enclosure and optionally (c) absence/presence of sub- enclosures within the enclosure and/or other characteristics of enclosures such as the type of truck bed (rigid walls vs. soft walls.
Fig. 7 A is a simplified flowchart illustration of a method for employing canines to identify target specimens from among a stream of sets of olfactory specimens.
Fig. 7B is a table summarizing results from sessions with two canines, according to the method of Fig. 7 A, including recommended outcomes for each such result.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of enclosures, such as vehicle enclosures, being sampled for air content e.g. in order to enable testing for presence of explosives, narcotics or the like. As shown, testing of several vehicles may be conducted in parallel. Typically, sampling stations 10 are provided, each of which is operative to sample a vehicle enclosure.
Fig. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a pair of sampling stations 10 operative to sample parallel parked vehicles 12 as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 A is an simplified isometric view illustration of the operative portion of one of the sampling stations 10 of Fig. 2. Fig. 3B is a simplified front view illustration of the operative portion of one of the sampling stations 10 of Fig. 2 including a filter assembly 14.. The filter assembly 14 typically includes an external sleeve 16 preventing tampering in which resides a filter device 18, one embodiment of which is described in detail herein with reference to Figs. 4A - 4F.
Fig. 4A is an exploded view of the filter device 18 of Figs. 3 A. Fig. 4B is a cutaway view of the filter device 18. As shown, the filter device 18 typically includes two connector elements 20 and 22 and a filter 24. Sampled air typically flows from the enclosures to be sampled via the connector 22, is sucked through the filter 24, and continues through connector 20. Once sampling has been effected, the connector elements 20 and 22 are typically unscrewed and filter 24 is removed and taken for analysis e.g. by canines, e.g. as described in detail below.
Fig. 4C is a cross-sectional illustration of connector element 20. Fig. 4D is a simplified side sectional illustration of the connector element 20, taken along section line A-A in Fig. 4C. Fig. 4E is a cross-sectional illustration of connector element 22. Fig. 4F is a simplified side sectional illustration of the connector element 22, taken along section line A-A in Fig. 4E.
Connector element 22 connects by a quick easy joint to a first tube 28 (Fig. 3A) that enters the enclosure, e.g. vehicle, container etc., from which air is extracted. Connector element 20 connects by a quick easy joint to a second tube 30 that connects to a pump 32 that extracts air through the connector elements 22 and 20 and into the filter 24. The two connector elements 20 and 22 are screwed together and sealed by rubber seals 34 (Fig. 4A). The connector elements are typically hollow, and their dimensions are adapted to the filter 24. The connector elements are constructed and operative to prevent the escape of air therefrom or the leakage of external odors thereinto. The connector elements are typically formed of stainless steel that is easily cleaned and completely odorless. The interior of connector elements 20 and 22 are in fluid communication with tubes 30 and 28 respectively.
The filter 24 is typically fabricated of cellulose. The specific gravity of the filter may be 0.93 g'/cm3. The diameter may be 2.25 cm and the length may be 4.5 cm. A particular advantage of filter 24 when constructed according to certain embodiments of the present invention is that the filter 24 does not need to be heated. The connector elements 20 and 22 can then be constructed e.g. of stainless steel to define a space which exactly fits the length and diameter of the filter.
Fig. 5 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a method for olfactory sampling of an enclosure operative in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. The method of Fig. 5 typically includes some or all of the following steps, suitably ordered e.g. as shown:
Step 510: maintaining enclosures whose air contents is to be pre-tested or sampled in a closed state for at least a predetermined interval of time such as 1 - 4 hours, e.g. (if enclosure's volume is between 1 - 150 cubic meters), 2 hours.
Step 515: Pre-testing enclosures, varying in (a) at least one characteristic of air per enclosure, (b) volume per enclosure and optionally (c) absence/presence of sub-enclosures within the enclosure, by pumping air from each of said enclosures through a filter and determining an air pumping time yielding satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality, at least for each pair of enclosure characteristics including said air characteristic and said volume, and optionally for at least one triplet of enclosure characteristics including an air characteristic, a volume and a characterization of absence/presence of sub- enclosures.
Step 520: collecting olfactory specimens by pumping air from a first location within each of a plurality of enclosures through said filter including using, for each individual enclosure having an individual air characteristic, an individual volume, and an individual characterization of absence/presence of sub-enclosures, an air pumping time found during said pre-testing to yield satisfactory olfactory specimen collection quality, e.g. satisfactory detection rate and/or satisfactory specimen collection efficiency, for said individual air characteristic such as temperature and/or humidity, for said individual volume and optionally for said individual characterization of absence/presence of sub- enclosures; typically air pumping time is selected such that 10 - 30% (typically 15 - 23% such as 18%) of the total volume of air in the enclosure is pumped through a filter.
Step 530: for at least one individual enclosure, pumping air from a second location within the individual enclosure which differs from the first location.
Fig. 6A is a table of Pre-testing results, including air pumping times suitable for air whose temperature is at least 15 degree Celsius and for enclosures, varying in (a) air humidity and, (b) volume per enclosure and optionally (c) absence/presence of sub- enclosures within the enclosure and/or other characteristics of enclosures such as the type of truck bed (rigid walls vs. soft walls.
Fig. 6B is a table of Pre-testing results, including air pumping times suitable for air whose temperature is 0 - 15 degrees Celsius and for enclosures, varying in (a) air humidity and, (b) volume per enclosure and optionally (c) absence/presence of sub-enclosures within the enclosure and/or other characteristics of enclosures such as the type of truck bed (rigid walls vs. soft walls.
Fig. 6C is a table of Pre-testing results, including air pumping times suitable for air whose temperature is -10 to 0 degrees Celsius and for enclosures, varying in (a) air humidity and, (b) volume per enclosure and optionally (c) absence/presence of sub- enclosures within the enclosure and/or other characteristics of enclosures such as the type of truck bed (rigid walls vs. soft walls.
Generally, provision of a large filter diameter or surface area and a long filter enhances detection of target odors but requires increased time for specimen collection
(sampling time) hence is more costly. Filter diameter and length and air temperature and humidity all affect sampling time. A longer filter, of course, entraps more particles. When the air is warmer, vapor pressure is higher such that sampling time goes down, per amount of particles required for adequate detection. The filter geometry parameter which affects canine sensing ability is generally the diameter rather than the length, assuming the canine only encounters the diameter and not the length of the filter. Large diameter filters enhance canine performance but are costly. Filter diameter is typically selected to match the dimension of the canine's nose's operative area.
Fig. 7 A is a simplified flowchart illustration of a method for employing canines to identify target specimens from among a stream of sets of olfactory specimens. The method of Fig. 7 A typically includes some or all of the following steps, suitably ordered e.g. as shown:
Step 710: Sending at least two canines to sniff a current sequenced set of target specimens from among a stream of sets of olfactory specimens. Any suitable canines may be employed, such as but not limited to German shepherds, Belgium shepherds, Dutch shepherds, Labradors, and Springer spaniels.
Step 730: If a first of the two canines gives a positive indication to at least one specimen in the set and a second of the two canines gives a negative indication to at least one specimen in said set, re-sequencing the set, repeating said sending step 720 and deciding as to whether or not at least one specimen in the set is contaminated by combining results of both canines and both repetitions of the sending step
Step 740: if the two canines give the same indication to the set, not repeating said sending step 710 and deciding as to whether or not at least one specimen in the set is contaminated by combining results of both canines over the sending step 710.
Step 750: define next set of target specimens as current set and return to step 710; if no next set then end.
In each Session, typically, 5 - 8 specimens are put out. One dog is sent to smell each of them in turn. Then a second dog is sent similarly. Each canine is typically trained such that if s/he finds one specimen to be contaminated, he does not then continue looking for more contaminated specimens and instead suitably indicates the identity of the contaminated specimen e.g. by sitting down next to it. Typically the contaminated specimen is removed and another 6 specimens are then checked.
Fig. 7B is a table summarizing results from sessions with two canines, according to the method of Fig. 7A, including recommended outcomes for each such result. As shown (lines 1 - 3), if neither dog indicate a cargo, or if only one dog does so but in only one of his two repetitions within the run, the cargo is typically cleared. If both dogs indicate a cargo (lines 4 - 6), even if one dog does so only in one of his two repetitions within a run, the cargo is typically deemed suspected. Even if both dogs indicate a cargo only in one of their two repetitions within a run, the cargo is typically deemed suspected (lines 7 - 8) or re-sampled (lines 9 - 10), depending on the precise results, as shown. Re-sampling includes drawing air again from the item e.g. enclosure being checked, and repeating the canine-checking procedure described herein since there is no definitive result (clear/suspected) from the dogs.
It is appreciated that terminology such as "mandatory", "required", "need" and "must" refer to implementation choices made within the context of a particular implementation or application described herewithin for clarity and are not intended to be limiting since in an alternative implantation, the same elements might be defined as not mandatory and not required or might even be eliminated altogether.
It is appreciated that software components of the present invention including programs and data may, if desired, be implemented in ROM (read only memory) form including CD-ROMs, EPROMs and EEPROMs, or may be stored in any other suitable computer-readable medium such as but not limited to disks of various kinds, cards of various kinds and RAMs. Components described herein as software may, alternatively, be implemented wholly or partly in hardware, if desired, using conventional techniques. Conversely, components described herein as hardware may, alternatively, be implemented wholly or partly in software, if desired, using conventional techniques.
Included in the scope of the present invention, inter alia, are electromagnetic signals carrying computer-readable instructions for performing any or all of the steps of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; machine-readable instructions for performing any or all of the steps of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; program storage devices readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform any or all of the steps of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code, such as executable code, having embodied therein, and/or including computer readable program code for performing, any or all of the steps of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; any technical effects brought about by any or all of the steps of any of the methods shown and described herein, when performed in any suitable order; any suitable apparatus or device or combination of such, programmed to perform, alone or in combination, any or all of the steps of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; electronic devices each including a processor and a cooperating input device and/or output device and operative to perform in software any steps shown and described herein; information storage devices or physical records, such as disks or hard drives, causing a computer or other device to be configured so as to carry out any or all of the steps of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order; a program pre-stored e.g. in memory or on an information network such as the Internet, before or after being downloaded, which embodies any or all of the steps of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order, and the method of uploading or downloading such, and a system including server/s and/or client/s for using such; and hardware which performs any or all of the steps of any of the methods shown and described herein, in any suitable order, either alone or in conjunction with software.
Any computations or other forms of analysis described herein may be performed by a suitable computerized method. Any step described herein may be computer- implemented. The invention shown and described herein may include (a) using a computerized method to identify a solution to any of the problems or for any of the objectives described herein, the solution optionally include at least one of a decision, an action, a product, a service or any other information described herein that impacts, in a positive manner, a problem or objectives described herein; and (b) outputting the solution.
Features of the present invention which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, features of the invention, including method steps, which are described for brevity in the context of a single embodiment or in a certain order may be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or in a different order, "e.g." is used herein in the sense of a specific example which is not intended to be limiting. Devices, apparatus or systems shown coupled in any of the drawings may in fact be integrated into a single platform in certain embodiments or may be coupled via any appropriate wired or wireless coupling such as but not limited to optical fiber, Ethernet, Wireless LAN, HomePNA, power line communication, cell phone, PDA, Blackberry GPRS, Satellite including GPS, or other mobile delivery. It is appreciated that in the description and drawings shown and described herein, functionalities described or illustrated as systems and sub-units thereof can also be provided as methods and steps therewithin, and functionalities described or illustrated as methods and steps therewithin can also be provided as systems and sub-units thereof. The scale used to illustrate various elements in the drawings is merely exemplary and/or appropriate for clarity of presentation and is not intended to be limiting.
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