Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A method of establishing rules for device interaction in an environment having a plurality of devices where each device performs one or more unique functions within the environment with the one or more functions of each device being associated with various states, the method comprising:
observing at one or more devices change of state activity among the plurality of devices through receiving a change of state message that is transmitted to the one or more devices;
learning a set of rules at the one or more devices based upon observing the change of state activity; and
applying the learned set of rules at the one or more devices to automatically control changes of state of devices within the plurality of devices.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the learned set of rules at the one or more devices comprises controlling the activity of one device based on the learned rules of the one device.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the learned set of rules at the one or more devices comprises controlling one device based on the learned rules of a different device.
4. A method of establishing rules for device interaction in an environment having a plurality of devices where each device performs one or more unique functions within the environment with the one or more functions of each device being associated with various states, the method comprising:
detecting a change of state at a first device;
in response to detecting the change of state, broadcasting a change of state message to the plurality of devices, the message including an indication of the change of state and an identification of the first device;
receiving the change of state message at the plurality of devices;
detecting a change of state at a second device subsequent to receiving the change of state message; and
creating a rule at the second device that includes the detected change of state of the second device associated with the change of state of the first device received in the change of state message.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising subsequent to creating the rule and at a reception by the second device of the change of state message indicating the change of state of the first device, applying the rule to automatically perform the detected change of state of the second device.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first device performs VCR functions and the second device performs TV functions.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the change of state of the first device includes playing a tape, wherein the change of state of the second device includes tuning to channel 3, and wherein the rule created at the TV is that the TV automatically tunes to channel 3 when the TV receives a message that the VCR is beginning to play a tape.
8. A method of establishing rules for device interaction in an environment having a plurality of devices where each device performs one or more unique functions within the environment with the one or more functions of each device being associated with various states, the method comprising:
detecting a change of state at a first device;
in response to detecting the change of state at the first device, monitoring at the first device for a change of state message from one or more of the plurality of devices;
detecting a change of state at a second device subsequent to detecting the change of state at the first device;
in response to detecting the change of state at the second device, broadcasting a change of state message to the plurality of devices, the message including an indication of the change of state and an identification of the second device;
as a result of monitoring at the first device, receiving the change of state message from the second device at the first device; and
creating a rule at the first device that includes the detected change of state of the first device associated with the change of state of the second device received in the change of state message.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising at a detection of the change of state at the first device subsequent to creating the rule, applying the rule to thereby direct a message to the second device, the message including a notification related to the detected change of state of the first device and an identification of the first device.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first device performs functions of a VCR and the second device performs functions of a TV, and wherein the rule created by the VCR is that when the VCR begins playing a tape, the VCR should direct a message to the TV that it should tune to channel 3.
11. A method of establishing rules for device interaction in an environment having a plurality of devices where each device performs one or more unique functions within the environment with the one or more functions of each device being associated with various states, the method comprising:
sending a request from a first device to a second device, the request specifying that the second device provide rules to the first device;
receiving the request from the first device at the second device;
in response to receiving the request, retrieving the rules from memory of the second device and transmitting the rules to the first device;
receiving the transmission of the rules at the first device; and
in response to receiving the transmission of rules, storing the rules in memory of the first device.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising applying the rules of the first and second device to control changes of state of the plurality of devices.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the rules comprises controlling the activity of the first device based on the learned rules of the first device.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the rules comprises controlling a third device based on the rules of the first device.
15. A device for establishing rules for device interaction in an environment having a plurality of devices where each device performs one or more unique functions within the environment with the one or more functions of each device being associated with various states, the device comprising:
a transmitter;
a receiver;
a memory;
components that acquire the various states upon performing the one or more unique functions of the device;
a state sensor that is operably coupled to one or more of the components to recognize a current state of the device; and
a processor in communication with the transmitter, receiver, memory, and state sensor, the processor being configured to observe change of state activity among the plurality of devices through receiving a change of state message that is obtained by the receiver and by receiving change of state signals from the state sensor, learn a set of rules based upon observing the change of state activity, store the set of rules in the memory, and apply the stored set of rules to automatically control changes of state of devices within the plurality of devices.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor applies the stored set of rules by interacting with the components to control changes of state of the device.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the processor applies the stored set of rules by transmitting signals to the plurality of devices other than the device to control the changes of state of the plurality of devices.
18. The device of claim 15, wherein the components perform the function of a TV.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the learned rules include a rule to tune to channel 3 when a change of state message is received from a VCR indicating that the VCR is beginning to play a tape.
20. The device of claim 18, wherein the learned rules include a rule to send a change of state message to a stereo to mute the stereo when the TV is has a change of state to power on.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

II. We claim that carbage is the only trash receptacle that may be built into or added to a vehicle after market that is collapseabe to completely hide from view (in full collapsed position) and may be expanded to desired height and need.
III. We claim that carbage may be built in to vehicle at time of manufacturer andor be attached to a vehicle aftermarket.

1. An intermediate construction of an integrated circuit comprising:
a) a semiconductive substrate;
b) a raised mandril over the substrate, the raised mandril being raised out from the substrate and having at least one edge substantially perpendicular to the substrate and having at least one beveled edge; and
c) a layer of structural material forming an edge defined feature on the at least one perpendicular edge.
2. The construction of claim 1, wherein the bevel is less than or equal to about 45\xb0.
3. The construction of claim 1, wherein the raised mandril comprises four edges, including two edges perpendicular to the substrate and two beveled edges.
4. The construction of claim 1, wherein the structural material is conductive.
5. The construction of claim 1, further comprising a step at the at least one perpendicular edge from the substrate to the raised mandril.
6. The construction of claim 3, further comprising a step at each of the four edges from the substrate to the raised mandril.
7. The construction of claim 1, wherein the structural material layer comprises a substantially uniformly thick layer.
8. An intermediate construction of an integrated circuit comprising:
a) a semiconductive substrate;
b) a raised mandril over the substrate, the raised mandril being raised out from the substrate and having at least one edge substantially perpendicular to the substrate, at least one beveled edge, and a step parallel to the substrate; and
c) a layer of structural material forming an edge defined feature on the at least one perpendicular edge, but not on the beveled edge or the step.
9. The construction of claim 8, wherein the edge defined feature extends to a full lateral extent of the perpendicular edge.
10. The construction of claim 8, wherein the edge defined feature extends to a full vertical extent of the perpendicular edge.
11. The construction of claim 8, wherein the bevel is less than or equal to about 45\xb0.
12. The construction of claim 8, wherein the raised mandril comprises four edges, including two edges perpendicular to the substrate and two beveled edges.
13. The construction of claim 8, wherein the structural material is conductive.
14. The construction of claim 8, further comprising a step at the at least one perpendicular edge from the substrate to the raised mandril.
15. The construction of claim 12, further comprising a step at each of the four edges from the substrate to the raised mandril.
16. The construction of claim 8, wherein the edge defined feature comprises a substantially uniformly thick layer.
17. An intermediate construction of an integrated circuit comprising:
a) a semiconductive substrate;
b) a raised mandril over the substrate, the raised mandril being raised out from the substrate and having at least one edge perpendicular to the substrate and at least one beveled edge; and
c) a layer of structural material forming an edge defined feature on the at least one perpendicular edge, the edge defined feature extending to a full lateral extent of the perpendicular edge.
18. The construction of claim 17, wherein the edge defined feature extends to a full vertical extent of the perpendicular edge.
19. The construction of claim 17, wherein the bevel is less than or equal to about 45\xb0.
20. The construction of claim 17, wherein the raised mandril comprises four edges, including two edges perpendicular to the substrate and two beveled edges.
21. The construction of claim 17, wherein the structural material is conductive.
22. The construction of claim 17, further comprising a step at the at least one perpendicular edge from the substrate to the raised mandril.
23. The construction of claim 20, further comprising a step at each of the four edges from the substrate to the raised mandril.
24. The construction of claim 17, wherein the edge defined feature comprises a substantially uniformly thick layer.

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 dog kennel for use with a truck cap mounted atop a pickup truck bed having a pair of opposed side rails, said dog kennel comprising:
a first floor panel connected to a second floor panel for pivotal movement relative thereto, said first and second floor panels being movable between a planar extended configuration and a folded storage configuration;
a first side support bracket attached to a free end of said first floor panel and a second side support bracket attached to a free end of said second floor panel for supporting said first and second floor panels, respectively, atop the side rails of the truck when said first and second floor panels are at said extended configuration;
a center floor panel situated intermediate said first and second floor panels for displacing said first and second floor panels from one another and defining a horizontal axis, said first and second floor panels being pivotally coupled to said center floor panel and movable about said horizontal axis;
a center front panel connected to said center floor panel and extending upwardly therefrom so as to define a vertical axis; and
first and second front panels pivotally coupled to said center front panel for separately operable movement about said vertical axis between front panel extended and storage configurations.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The dog kennel as in claim 1 further comprising:
a first floor panel fastener slidably mounted to said first floor panel for releasably engaging said center floor panel when said first floor panel is at said extended configuration; and
a second floor panel fastener slidably mounted to said second floor panel for releasably engaging said center floor panel when said second floor panel is at said extended configuration, whereby said first and second floor panel fasteners selectively hold said first and second floor panels at said extended configuration.
5. The dog kennel as in claim 1 further comprising first and second front panel fasteners coupled to respective floor panels and separately movable between extended configurations engaging respective front panels and retracted configurations displaced from said respective front panels.
6. The dog kennel as in claim 1 wherein said first and second front panels each define a door opening; and
said dog kennel further comprising a pair of door coverings mounted to respective first and second front panels for covering said door openings.
7. The dog kennel as in claim 6 wherein each respective door covering is a folding-gate door movable between open and closed configurations.
8. The dog kennel as in claim 6 wherein each respective door covering is a wire grate door that is pivotally movable between open and closed configurations.
9. The dog kennel as in claim 1 further comprising a partition coupled to said center floor panel, whereby to define separate interior kennel spaces.
10. The dog kennel as in claim 1 further comprising a partition pivotally coupled to a respective floor panel and selectively movable between vertical and horizontal configurations.
11. The dog kennel as in claim 1 further comprising:
a center back panel connected to said center floor panel opposite said center front panel and extending upwardly therefrom; and
first and second back panels coupled to said center back panel, said first and second back panels having configurations substantially similar to configurations of said first and second front panels, respectively.
12. A dog kennel for use with a truck cap mounted atop a pickup truck bed having a pair of opposed side rails, said dog kennel comprising:
a frame structure having a center floor panel defining a horizontal axis and a center front panel extending upwardly from said center floor panel defining a vertical axis;
a first floor panel and a second floor panel pivotally coupled to opposed edges of said center floor panel for movement about said horizontal axis between a planar extended configuration and a folded storage configuration;
a first side support bracket connected to said first floor panel and a second side support bracket connected to said second floor panel for supporting said first and second floor panels, respectively, atop the side rails of the truck when said first and second floor panels are at said extended configuration;
a first front panel and a second front panel pivotally coupled to opposed edges of said center front panel for separately operable movement about said vertical axis between front panel planar extended and folded storage configurations.
13. The dog kennel as in claim 12 further comprising first and second floor panel fasteners mounted to first and second floor panels, respectively, said first and second floor panel fasteners being separately movable between locked configurations extending from said respective floor panels and released configurations retracted within said respective floor panels, said first and second floor panel fasteners being separately movable to said locked configurations for receipt into complementary receptacles defined by said center floor panel, whereby to releasably hold said first and second floor panels at said extended configuration.
14. The dog kennel as in claim 12 further comprising first and second front panel fasteners coupled to respective floor panels and separately movable between extended configurations engaging respective front panels and retracted configurations displaced from said respective front panels.
15. The dog kennel as in claim 12 wherein said first and second front panels each define a door opening; and
said dog kennel further comprising a pair of door coverings mounted to respective first and second front panels for covering said door openings.
16. The dog kennel as in claim 15 wherein each door covering is a folding-gate door movable between open and closed configurations.
17. The dog kennel as in claim 15 wherein said door covering is a wire grate door that is selectively movable between open and closed configurations.
18. The dog kennel as in claim 15 wherein each of said pair of door coverings is movable between open and closed configurations; and
said dog kennel further comprising means connected to said pair of door coverings for selectively moving said each of said door coverings between said open and closed configurations from a position remote from said door coverings.
19. The dog kennel as in claim 12 further comprising a partition coupled to said center floor panel, whereby to define separate interior kennel spaces.
20. The dog kennel as in claim 12 further comprising:
a center back panel connected to said center floor panel opposite said center front panel and extending upwardly therefrom; and
first and second back panels coupled to said center back panel, said first and second back panels having configurations substantially similar to configurations of said first and second front panels, respectively.
21. A dog kennel for use with a truck cap mounted atop a pickup truck bed having a pair of opposed side rails, said dog kennel comprising:
a first floor panel connected to a second floor panel for pivotal movement relative thereto, said first and second floor panels being movable between a planar extended configuration and a folded storage configuration;
a first side support bracket attached to a free end of said first floor panel and a second side support bracket attached to a free end of said second floor panel for supporting said first and second floor panels, respectively, atop the side rails of the truck when said first and second floor panels are at said extended configuration; and
a partition pivotally coupled to a respective floor panel and selectively movable between vertical and horizontal configurations;.