1. A packaging material used for wrapping foodstuffs and for inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms in foodstuffs, said packaging material having a metal-ion sequestering agent capable of removing designated metals ions from the surfaces of said foodstuffs and from liquid extrudates of foodstuffs, wherein said sequestering agent comprises derivatized nanoparticles comprising inorganic nanoparticles having an attached metal-ion sequestrant, wherein said inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size of less than 200 nm and the derivatized nanoparticles have a stability constant greater than 1010 with iron (III), and wherein the metal-ion sequestrant is attached to the nanoparticle, by reacting the nanoparticle with a metal alkoxide intermediate of the sequestrant having the general formula:
M(OR)4-xR\u2032x;
wherein M is silicon, titanium, aluminum, tin, or germanium;
x is an integer from 1 to 3;
R is an organic group; and
R\u2032 is an organic group containing an alpha amino carboxylate, a hydroxamate, or a catechol.
2. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on a support structure.
3. A packaging material according to claim 2 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on the support structure and has a high-affinity for biologically important metal-ions comprising Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe.
4. A packaging material according to claim 2 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on the support structure and has a high-selectivity for biologically important metal-ions comprising Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe.
5. A packaging material according to claim 4 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on the support structure and has a stability constant greater than 1020 with iron (III).
6. A packaging material according to claim 4 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on the support structure and has a stability constant greater than 1030 with iron (III).
7. A packaging material according to claim 2 wherein said support structure further comprises a polymeric layer containing said metal-ion sequestering agent.
8. A packaging material according to claim 7 wherein the polymeric layer is permeable to water.
9. A packaging material according to claim 7 wherein the polymeric layer has a water permeability of greater than 1000 (cm3cm)(cm2secPa)\xd71013.
10. A packaging material according to claim 7 wherein the polymeric layer has a water permeability of greater than 5000 (cm3cm)(cm2secPa)\xd71013.
11. A packaging material according to claim 7 wherein the polymeric layer comprises one or more of polyvinyl alcohol, cellophane, water-based polyurethanes, polyester, nylon, high nitrile resins, polyethylene-polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, polystyrene, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, aqueous latexes, polyacrylic acid, polystyrene sulfonate, polyamide, polymethacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene or polyacrylonitrile.
12. A packaging material according to claim 7 wherein the metal-ion sequestering agent comprises 0.1 to 50.0% by weight of a polymer in the polymeric layer.
13. A packaging material according to claim 7 further comprising a barrier layer wherein the polymeric layer is between the surface of the packaging material and the barrier layer and wherein the barrier layer does not contain the derivatized nanoparticles.
14. A packaging material according to claim 13 wherein the barrier layer is permeable to water.
15. A packaging material according to claim 13 wherein the barrier layer has a water permeability of greater than 1000 (cm3cm)(cm2secPa)\xd71013.
16. A packaging material according to claim 13 wherein the barrier layer has a thickness in the range of 0.1 microns to 10.0 microns.
17. A packaging material according to claim 13 wherein the barrier layer comprises one or more of polyvinyl alcohol, cellophane, water-based polyurethanes, polyester, nylon, high nitrile resins, polyethylene-polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, polystyrene, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, aqueous latexes, polyacrylic acid, polystyrene sulfonate, polyamide, polymethacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene or polyacrylonitrile.
18. A packaging material according to claim 13 wherein microbes cannot pass or diffuse though the barrier layer.
19. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said packaging material is made of glass, metal, plastic or paper.
20. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said packaging material comprises a plurality of layers having an outer layer having sequestering agent.
21. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said packaging material comprises a plurality of layers comprising an outer barrier layer for contact with said foodstuff and an inner layer having said sequestering agent, said inner layer having a first side adjacent said barrier layer, said barrier layer allowing liquid to pass through to said inner layer.
22. A packaging material according to claim 21 wherein a second outer layer is provided on a second side of said inner layer.
23. A packaging material according to claim 22 wherein said second outer layer is a second barrier layer that also allows liquid to pass through to said inner layer.
24. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size of less than 100 nm.
25. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size of less than 50 nm.
26. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said inorganic nanoparticles comprise silica oxides, alumina oxides, boehmites, titanium oxides, zinc oxides, tin oxides, zirconium oxides, yttrium oxides, hafnium oxides, clays, or alumina silicates.
27. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said inorganic nanoparticles have a specific surface area of greater than 100 m2g.
28. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said sequestering agent is integrally formed as a part of said material.
29. A packaging material according to claim 28 wherein said packaging material is formed as rigid or semi-rigid structure for holding of said foodstuff.
30. A packaging material according to claim 29 wherein said rigid or semi-rigid structure is substantially in the shape of tray having a substantially continuous outer raised periphery.
31. A packaging material according to claim 1 wherein said packaging material is in the form of a flexible sheet that can be wrapped about said foodstuff.
32. A packaging material used for wrapping foodstuffs and for inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms in foodstuffs, said packaging material having a metal-ion sequestering agent capable of removing designated metals ions from the surfaces of said foodstuffs and from liquid extrudates of foodstuffs, wherein said sequestering agent comprises derivatized nanoparticles comprising inorganic nanoparticles having an attached metal-ion sequestrant, wherein said inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size of less than 200 nm and the derivatized nanoparticles have a stability constant greater than 1010 with iron (III), and wherein said metal-ion sequestrant is attached to the nanoparticle by reacting the nanoparticle with a silicon alkoxide intermediate of the sequestrant having the general formula:
Si(OR)4-xR\u2032x;
wherein x is an integer from 1 to 3;
R is an alkyl group; and
R\u2032 is an organic group containing an alpha amino carboxylate, a hydroxamate, or a catechol.
33. A packaging material according to claim 32 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on a support structure.
34. A packaging material according to claim 33 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on the support structure and has a high affinity for biologically important metal-ions Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe.
35. A packaging material according to claim 33 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on the support structure and has a high selectivity for biologically important metal-ions Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe.
36. A packaging material according to claim 35 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on the support structure and has a stability constant greater than 1020 with iron (III).
37. A packaging material according to claim 35 wherein said sequestering agent is immobilized on the support structure and has a stability constant greater than 1030 with iron (III).
38. A packaging material according to claim 32 wherein said packaging material is made of glass, metal, plastic or paper.
39. A packaging material according to claim 32 wherein said packaging material comprises a plurality of layers having an outer layer having sequestering agent.
40. A packaging material according to claim 32 wherein said packaging material comprises a plurality of layers comprising an outer barrier layer for contact with said foodstuff and an inner layer having said sequestering agent, said inner layer having a first side adjacent said barrier layer, said barrier layer allowing liquid to pass through to said inner layer.
41. A packaging material according to claim 40 wherein a second outer layer is provided on a second side of said inner layer.
42. A packaging material according to claim 41 wherein said second outer layer is a second barrier layer that also allows liquid to pass through to said inner layer.
43. A packaging material according to claim 32 further comprising a support comprising a polymeric layer containing said metal-ion sequestering agent.
44. A packaging material according to claim 43 wherein the polymeric layer is permeable to water.
45. A packaging material according to claim 43 wherein the polymeric layer has a water permeability of greater than 1000 (cm3cm)(cm2secPa)\xd71013.
46. A packaging material according to claim 43 wherein the polymeric layer has a water permeability of greater than 5000 (cm3cm)(cm2secPa)\xd71013.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for classifying devices that communicate with a femto node for providing services thereto, comprising:
monitoring one or more parameters communicated by a device to the femto node;
assigning a classification to the device related to a frequency of using the femto node based in part on the one or more parameters; and
providing services to the device based on the classification.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters relate to idle-mode communications, active-mode communications, or handover of the device.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring location area update or routing area update messages from the device.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting paging messages to the device, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring responses to the paging messages.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring one or more handovers of the device to another node, and wherein the assigning the classification is based in part on the one or more handovers relative to one or more registration requests from the device.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a location area code or routing area code of the femto node, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring responses from the device based on the modifying.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a measurement control message to the device requesting periodic measurement reports, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring a number of measurement reports received from the device.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring parameters related to calls of the device at the femto node.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more parameters comprise a frequency of call initiation or termination at the femto node, a duration of one or more calls at the femto node, or a frequency of inter-call initiation times at the femto node.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring handover of the device to the femto node relative to handover of the device from the femto node.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring applications or services of the femto node used by the device.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring handover information elements regarding the device received from a node from which the device is handed over to the femto node.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing one or more pathloss measurements from the femto node to the device, wherein the monitoring one or more parameters comprises monitoring the one or more pathloss measurements over time.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising ranking the device among a plurality of devices based on the one or more pathloss measurements and additional pathloss measurements of the plurality of devices, wherein the assigning the classification is based in part on the ranking of the device among the plurality of devices.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning the classification is based in part on comparing the one or more parameters to one or more thresholds.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning the classification is based in part on comparing the one or more parameters to similar parameters monitored of other devices communicating with the femto node.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing services to the device comprises determining a transmission power or timefrequency resource allocation for the device based on the classification.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing services to the device comprises determining a set of services to provide to the device based on the classification.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing services to the device comprises determining one or more advertisements to provide to the device based on the classification.
20. An apparatus for classifying devices that communicate with a femto node for providing services thereto, comprising:
a processing system configured to:
monitor one or more parameters communicated by a device to the femto node;
assign a classification to the device related to a frequency of using the femto node based in part on the one or more parameters; and
provide services to the device based on the classification; and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processing system assigns the classification based in part on comparing the one or more parameters to a threshold or to similar parameters monitored of other devices communicating with the femto node.
22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processing system provides services to the device by determining a transmission power or timefrequency resource allocation for the device, a set of services to provide to the device, or one or more advertisements to present to the device, based on the classification.
23. An apparatus for classifying devices that communicate with a femto node for providing services thereto, comprising:
means for monitoring one or more parameters communicated by a device to the femto node;
means for assigning a classification to the device related to a frequency of using the femto node based in part on the one or more parameters; and
means for providing services to the device based on the classification.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for assigning assigns the classification based in part on comparing the one or more parameters to a threshold or to similar parameters monitored of other devices communicating with the femto node.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for providing provides services to the device by determining a transmission power or timefrequency resource allocation for the device, a set of services to provide to the device, or one or more advertisements to present to the device, based on the classification.
26. A computer program product for classifying devices that communicate with a femto node for providing services thereto, comprising:
a computer-readable medium comprising code for:
monitoring one or more parameters communicated by a device to the femto node;
assigning a classification to the device related to a frequency of using the femto node based in part on the one or more parameters; and
providing services to the device based on the classification.
27. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising code for assigning the classification based in part on comparing the one or more parameters to a threshold or to similar parameters monitored of other devices communicating with the femto node.
28. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising code for providing services to the device by determining a transmission power or timefrequency resource allocation for the device, a set of services to provide to the device, or one or more advertisements to present to the device, based on the classification.
29. A method for classifying devices that communicate with a femto node for providing services thereto, comprising:
receiving one or more parameters communicated by a device to the femto node;
assigning a classification to the device related to a frequency of using the femto node based in part on the one or more parameters; and
providing the classification to one or more femto nodes, including the femto node, for providing services to the device.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the one or more parameters relate to idle-mode communications, active-mode communications, or handover of the device.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein the assigning includes assigning the classification based in part on comparing the one or more parameters to a threshold or to similar parameters monitored of other devices communicating with the one or more femto nodes.
32. An apparatus for classifying devices that communicate with a femto node for providing services thereto, comprising:
a processing system configured to:
receive one or more parameters communicated by a device to the femto node;
assign a classification to the device related to a frequency of using the femto node based in part on the one or more parameters; and
provide the classification to one or more femto nodes, including the femto node, for providing services to the device; and
a memory coupled to the at least one processor.
33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the one or more parameters relate to idle-mode communications, active-mode communications, or handover of the device.
34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the processing system assigns the classification based in part on comparing the one or more parameters to a threshold or to similar parameters monitored of other devices communicating with the femto node.
35. An apparatus for classifying devices that communicate with a femto node for providing services thereto, comprising:
means for receiving one or more parameters communicated by a device to the femto node;
means for assigning a classification to the device related to a frequency of using the femto node based in part on the one or more parameters; and
means for providing the classification to one or more femto nodes, including the femto node, for providing services to the device.
36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the one or more parameters relate to idle-mode communications, active-mode communications, or handover of the device.
37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for assigning is further configured to assign the classification based in part on comparing the one or more parameters to a threshold or to similar parameters monitored of other devices communicating with the femto node.
38. A computer program product for classifying devices that communicate with a femto node for providing services thereto, comprising:
a computer-readable medium comprising code for:
receiving one or more parameters communicated by a device to the femto node;
assigning a classification to the device related to a frequency of using the femto node based in part on the one or more parameters; and
providing the classification to one or more femto nodes, including the femto node, for providing services to the device.
39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the one or more parameters relate to idle-mode communications, active-mode communications, or handover of the device.
40. The computer program product of claim 38, further comprising code for assigning the classification based in part on comparing the one or more parameters to a threshold or to similar parameters monitored of other devices communicating with the femto node.