Author: claimsbot

1. A method for security screening a package, which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing a package having initial contents;
(b) providing a first image of the package showing the initial contents;
(c) sending the package to a shipping station to be shipped;
(d) scanning the package;
(e) creating a second image of the package showing the shipping contents;
(f) comparing the second image with the first image; and
(g) segregating the package if the second image differs at least a predetermined amount from the first image.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (a), an optimal packing configuration of the initial contents is determined using an optimal packing method and system and wherein the initial contents are packed in the package using the optimal packing configuration.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein in step (b), the optimal packing method and system creates the first image based on the optimal packing configuration.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image is a three-dimensional image.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image contains multiple views.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein after step (b), the first image is stored as a three-dimensional bar code which is affixed to the package.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the three-dimensional bar code contains other information such as package destination, package size and package weight.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (f), the first image and the second image are compared using a computer program having pattern recognition features.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (f), the first image and the second image are visually compared.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein after step (f), if the second image differs from the first image less than the predetermined amount, the package is shipped.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein after step (b), the first image is stored in a database spaced apart from the package and the package is provided with a tracking number and wherein in step (f), the tracking number is used to retrieve the first image from the database.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image is created when the initial contents are packed into the package.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image shows a configuration of the initial contents of the package and the second image shows a configuration of the shipping contents of the package and wherein in step (f), the configuration of the initial contents of the package is compared with the configuration of the shipping contents of the package.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein a CT scanner is provided at the shipping station and wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the CT scanner.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein an X-ray machine is provided at the shipping station and wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the X-ray machine.
16. A method for security screening a package, which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing a package having initial contents;
(b) providing a first image of the initial contents of the package;
(c) storing the first image in a storage media;
(d) sending the package to a place to be shipped;
(e) scanning the package;
(f) creating a second image of the shipping contents of the package;
(g) retrieving the first image from the storage media;
(h) comparing the second image and the first image; and
(i) segregating the package if the second image differs a predetermined amount from the first image.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein in step (a), an optimal packing configuration of the initial contents is determined using an optimal packing method and system and wherein the initial contents are packed in the package using the optimal packing configuration.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein in step (b), the first image is created based on the optimal packing configuration.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first image and the second image are three-dimensional images.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the first image and the second image contain multiple views.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein in step (b), the storage media is a three-dimensional bar code which is affixed to the package.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the three-dimensional bar code contains other information such as package destination, package size and package weight.
23. The method of claim 16 wherein in step (g), the first image and the second image are compared using a computer program having pattern recognition features.
24. The method of claim 16 wherein in step (g), the first image and the second image are visually compared.
25. The method of claim 16 wherein after step (g), if the second image differs from the first image less than the predetermined amount, then the package is shipped.
26. The method of claim 16 wherein after step (b), the storage media is a database spaced apart from the package and the package is provided with a tracking number and wherein in step (f), the tracking number is used to retrieve the first image from the database.
27. The method of claim 16 wherein the first image is created when the initial contents are packed in the package.
28. The method of claim 16 wherein the first image shows a configuration of the initial contents of the package and the second image shows a configuration of the shipping contents of the package and wherein in step (g), the configuration of the initial contents of the package is compared with the configuration of the shipping contents of the package.
29. The method of claim 16 wherein a CT scanner is provided at the shipping station and wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the CT scanner.
30. The method of claim 16 wherein an X-ray machine is provided at the shipping station and wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the X-ray machine.
31. A method for security screening a package, which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing a first image of a configuration of initial contents of the package;
(b) storing the first image in a storage media;
(c) sending the package to a shipping station;
(d) scanning the package prior to departure of the package from the shipping station;
(e) creating a second image of a configuration of the shipping contents of the package;
(f) retrieving the first image from the storage media;
(g) comparing the second image to the first image; and
(h) segregating the package if the second image differs at least a predetermined amount from the first image.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein in step (a), the first image is created when the initial contents of the package are packed in the package using an optimal packing method and system.
33. The method of claim 31 wherein a scanner connected to a computer system having pattern recognition software is provided, wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the scanner and the second image is stored in the computer system, wherein, in step (f), the first image is retrieved and stored in the computer system and wherein in step (g), the second image and the first image are compared using the pattern recognition software of the computer system.
34. A system for security screening a package, which comprises:
(a) a first computer system having a first computer program for:
(i) creating and storing a first image of a configuration of the initial contents of the package;
(b) a scanner for scanning the package to determine a configuration of the shipping contents of the package and for creating a second image of the configuration of the shipping contents of the package prior to loading of the package onto a commercial vehicle; and
(c) a means for comparing the first image to the second image to determine whether the configuration of the initial contents of the package is essentially similar to the configuration of the shipping contents of the package.
35. The system of claim 34 wherein the means for comparing the first image to the second image is a second computer system having pattern recognition software.
36. The system of claim 34 wherein the means for comparing the first image to the second image is visual comparison.
37. The system of claim 34 wherein the scanner is a three-dimensional scanner.
38. The system of claim 34 wherein the first image is stored in a three-dimensional bar code affixed to the package.
39. The system of claim 38 wherein a bar code reader is provided to retrieve information stored in the bar code.
40. The system of claim 34 wherein the first computer program encrypts the first image before storing the first image.
41. The system of claim 34 wherein the first computer program stores other information such as package size, package weight, package contents and package destination with the first image.
42. The system of claim 34 wherein the first computer system includes an optimal packing computer program which determines an optimal packing configuration for the initial contents of the package and wherein the first computer system creates the first image using data generated by the optimal packing computer program.

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 transportation unit comprising:
a transportation member having a surface with a contact angle \u03b8 relative to n-dodecane between 10\xb0 and 45\xb0 (10\xb0\u2266\u03b8\u226645\xb0) and a mirror index M between 60 and 200 (60\u2266M\u2266200); and
a cleaning member for cleaning foreign matters attached to the surface of the transportation member.
2. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member has the surface with the contact angle \u03b8 relative to n-dodecane between 10\xb0 and 45\xb0 (10\xb0\u2266\u03b8\u226645\xb0) when the surface has the mirror index M between 60 and 95 (60\u2266M\u226695), said transportation member having the surface with the contact angle \u03b8 relative to n-dodecane between 25\xb0 and 45\xb0 (25\xb0\u2266\u03b8\u226645\xb0) when the surface has the mirror index M between 95 and 200 (95\u2266M\u2266200).
3. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member is formed of a polyamide-imide.
4. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member contains carbon black in an amount between 3 weight % and 40 weight % relative to a solid component of the transportation member.
5. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member contains carbon black in an amount between 3 weight % and 40 weight % relative to a solid component of the transportation member, said transportation member having a Young’s modulus equal to or greater than 2,000 MPa.
6. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member contains an oil repellent component in an amount between 0.05 weight % and 0.30 weight % relative to a solid component of the transportation member.
7. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member contains an oil repellent component in an amount between 0.13 weight % and 0.30 weight % relative to a solid component of the transportation member.
8. The transportation unit according to claim 6, wherein said transportation member contains the oil repellent component having a fluoroalkyl group as a main chain.
9. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member is formed of a belt.
10. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member is formed of an endless belt.
11. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein said transportation member is formed of a belt, said cleaning member being arranged to abut against the belt.
12. An image forming apparatus comprising the transportation unit according to claim 1.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said transportation member has the surface with the contact angle \u03b8 relative to n-dodecane between 10\xb0 and 45\xb0 (10\xb0\u2266\u03b8\u226645\xb0) when the surface has the mirror index M between 60 and 95 (60\u2266M\u226695), said transportation member having the surface with the contact angle \u03b8 relative to n-dodecane between 25\xb0 and 45\xb0 (25\xb0\u2266\u03b8\u226645\xb0) when the surface has the mirror index M between 95 and 200 (95\u2266M\u2266200).
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said transportation member contains an oil repellent component in an amount between 0.05 weight % and 0.30 weight % relative to a solid component of the transportation member.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said transportation member contains carbon black in an amount between 3 weight % and 40 weight % relative to a solid component of the transportation member.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said cleaning member includes an elastic member.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said cleaning member includes a urethane rubber.
18. An image forming apparatus comprising the transportation unit according to claim 1; an image supporting member arranged to face the transportation member; and a transfer portion arranged on an opposite side of the image supporting member to face the transportation member.
19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said transportation member has the surface with the contact angle \u03b8 relative to n-dodecane between 10\xb0 and 45\xb0 (10\xb0\u2266\u03b8\u226645\xb0) when the surface has the mirror index M between 60 and 95 (60\u2266M\u226695), said transportation member having the surface with the contact angle \u03b8 relative to n-dodecane between 25\xb0 and 45\xb0 (25\xb0\u2266\u03b8\u226645\xb0) when the surface has the mirror index M between 95 and 200 (95\u2266M\u2266200).
20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said transportation member contains an oil repellent component in an amount between 0.05 weight % and 0.30 weight % relative to a solid component of the transportation member.

1. A method of making a mask for patterning a thin film, comprising:
a step of forming an inorganic material, which is resolvable into alkali solution, on a substrate;
a step of forming the inorganic material in a predetermined pattern; and
a step of narrowing the inorganic material with the alkali solution to form the mask.
2. The method of making the mask according to claim 1, wherein
in the step of forming the inorganic material in the predetermined pattern, the inorganic material is formed in the predetermined pattern by a photolithography method.
3. The method of making the mask according to claim 1, wherein
the step of forming the inorganic material in the predetermined pattern includes:
forming an etching stopper layer having a tolerance to etching on the inorganic material;
forming a photoresist in a predetermined pattern on the etching stopper layer by a photolithography method;
removing a portion of the etching stopper layer that is not covered by the photoresist to form the etching stopper layer in a predetermined pattern; and
removing a portion of the inorganic material by etching, the portion not being covered by the etching stopper layer in the predetermined pattern.
4. The method of making the mask according to claim 3, wherein
the portion of the inorganic material that is not covered by the etching stopper layer in the predetermined pattern is removed by reactive ion etching.
5. The method of making the mask according to claim 4, wherein
the etching stopper layer is formed of a material having a tolerance to the active ion etching.
6. The method of making the mask according to claim 3, wherein
the etching stopper layer is formed of Ni andor NiFe.
7. The method of making the mask according to claim 3, wherein
after removing the portion of the inorganic material by etching, the portion not being covered by the etching stopper layer in the predetermined pattern, the etching stopper layer is removed before narrowing the inorganic material with the alkali solution.
8. The method of making the mask according to claim 1, wherein
the inorganic material is formed of an inorganic oxide selected from Al2O3, ZnO, SnO, SnO2, PbO, PbO2, Pb3O4, MgO, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, TiO2, and WO3, or a combination of two or more of these.
9. The method of making the mask according to claim 1, wherein
in the step of forming the inorganic material, which is resolvable into the alkali solution, on the substrate, a first inorganic material of which an etching rate to the alkali solution is relatively fast, and a second inorganic material of which an etching rate to the alkali solution is relatively slow are formed in this order.
10. The method of making the mask according to claim 9, wherein
the first inorganic material is formed by a low temperature atomic layer vapor deposition method, and the second inorganic material is formed by a high temperature atomic layer vapor deposition method.
11. A method of patterning a thin film, comprising:
a step of making a mask having an inorganic material, which is resolvable into alkali solution, by the method of making the mask according to claim 1 on a substrate on which a first thin film is formed; and
a step of removing a portion of the first thin film that is not covered by the mask and of patterning the first thin film.
12. The method of patterning the thin film according to claim 11, wherein
after patterning the first thin film, the mask is removed by alkali solution.
13. The method of patterning the thin film according to claim 11, wherein
after the step of patterning the first thin film, a second thin film is formed on a portion of the substrate where the first thin film is removed and on the mask.
14. The method of patterning the thin film according to claim 13, further comprising:
a step of covering the second thin film formed on the substrate with a resist, after forming the second thin film, such that at least a portion of the second thin film formed on the mask is exposed;
a step of removing a portion of the second thin film that is formed on the mask and that is exposed from the resist to expose a portion of the mask;
a step of removing the mask with alkali solution to form a space between the first thin film and the resist; and
a step of removing the second thin film formed on the mask and attached to the resist as well as the resist.
15. The method of patterning the thin film according to claim 14, wherein
the step of removing the second thin film attached to the resist includes removal of attachments attached on the mask in the step of patterning the first thin film.
16. A method of manufacturing a micro device, comprising:
a step of patterning a thin film using the method according to claim 11.
17. A method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head, comprising:
a step of forming a lamination film, which is on a substrate, of which electrical resistance changes according to an external magnetic field;
a step of forming an inorganic material, which is resolvable into alkali solution, on the lamination film;
a step of forming the inorganic material in a predetermined pattern;
a step of narrowing the inorganic material with the alkali solution to form a mask; and
a step of removing a portion of the lamination film that is not covered by the mask.

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 comprising:
receiving a device having a storage containing data corresponding to an account identifier and data associated with a voice portal;
establishing a connection with a server associated with the voice portal;
upon establishing the connection, providing to the server the data corresponding to the account identifier; and
upon confirmation by the server that the account identifier corresponds to an active subscriber account, enabling the user to perform selected operations of the voice portal using voice input commands based on limitations, if any, associated with the active subscriber account.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling includes:
outputting to the user a confirmation message.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected operations include at least one of:
accessing an address book;
making a call;
hearing the voice input commands; or
sending a text message or an email.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving includes:
receiving any one of a credit card, a calling card, or an electronic pass.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving includes at least one of:
reading a magnetic strip of the device,
communicating with the device electronically, and
reading the device through wireless communication.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing to the server the data associated with the voice portal.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
determining the server associated with the voice portal based on the data associated with the voice portal.
8. A system comprising:
a voice portal service coupled to a communications network and configured to provide a subscriber with the ability to perform selected operations using voice input commands transmitted over the communications network based on limitations, if any, associated with an active subscriber account of said subscriber;
a voice portal server configured to store subscriber account information related to the voice portal service;
a card reader configured to receive information from a device having a storage containing data corresponding to an account identifier and data associated with a voice portal;
a validation unit coupled to the card reader to receive the information and configured to establish a connection with the voice portal server and provide the data corresponding to the account identifier after establishing the connection; and
an audio unit coupled to the communication network and configured to provide audio communications to and from the communications network;
wherein the voice portal server is further configured to receive the data corresponding to the account identifier, authorize access to the voice portal service when the account identifier corresponds to the active subscriber account, and deny access to the voice portal service when the account identifier does not correspond to the active subscriber account, and
wherein the validation unit enables access to the voice portal service via the audio unit when the voice portal server has authorized access.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the audio unit provides a confirmation message when access has been authorized and a denial message when access has been denied.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the selected operations include at least one of:
accessing an address book;
making a call;
hearing the voice input commands; or
sending a text message or an email.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the device includes any one of a credit card, a calling card, or an electronic pass.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein the card reader includes at least one of:
a facility to read a magnetic strip of the device;.
a facility to communicate with the device electronically; and
a facility to read the device through wireless communication.
13. The system of claim 8, wherein the validation unit is further configured to provide the data associated with the voice portal to the voice portal server.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the validation unit is further configured to determine the voice portal server based on the data associated with the voice portal.
15. An apparatus comprising:
a reader configured to read from a device having a storage containing data corresponding to an account identifier and data associated with a voice portal,
a validation unit coupled to the reader to receive the data corresponding to the account identifier and the data associated with the voice portal, and configured to establish a connection with a server associated with the voice portal, provide to the server the data corresponding to the account identifier; and upon confirmation by the server that the account identifier corresponds to an active subscriber account, connect the voice portal to the user; and
an audio unit coupled to a communication network and configured to enable the user to perform selected operations of the voice portal using voice input commands based on limitations, if any, associated with the active subscriber account.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the audio unit is capable of outputting a confirmation message.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the selected operations include at least one of:
accessing an address book;
making a call;
hearing the voice input commands; or
sending a text message or an email.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device includes any one of a credit card, a calling card, or an electronic pass.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reader includes a facility configured to do at least one of:
read a magnetic strip of the device;
communicate with the device electronically; and
read the device through wireless communication.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the validation unit is further configured to provide the data associated with the voice portal to the server associated with the voice portal.
21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the validation unit is further configured to determine the server associated with the voice portal based on the data associated with the voice portal.