Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. An isolated polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
2. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide consists of a nucleotide sequence of the formula
(R1)m-SEQ ID NO:1-(R2)n
wherein R1 and R2 are independently any nucleic acid residue, and m and n are each integers between 1 and 1000.
3. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 2 wherein the polynucleotide consists of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
4. An isolated polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
5. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 4 wherein the polynucleotide encodes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
6. An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
7. The isolated polypeptide of claim 6 wherein the polypeptide consists of an amino acid sequence of the formula
(R1)m-SEQ ID NO:2-(R2)n
wherein, at the amino terminus, R1 and R2 are independently any amino acid residue, and m and n are each integers between 1 and 1000.
8. The isolated polypeptide of claim 6 consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
9. An expression vector comprising the isolated polynucleotide of claim 4 when said expression vector is present in a compatible host cell.
10. An isolated host cell comprising the expression vector of claim 9.
11. A process for producing a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 comprising culturing the host cell of claim 10 and recovering the polypeptide from the culture.
12. A membrane of the host cell of claim 10 expressing said polypeptide.

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. An oral controlled release formulation which provides a rapid onset of therapeutic effect and a rapid drop in plasma concentration after a prolonged period of therapeutic effect, comprising a plurality of matrix particulates comprising:
a first portion of an effective dose of methylphenidate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof incorporated in a controlled release matrix,
a hydrophobic material comprising an acrylic polymer applied over the controlled release matrix in an amount sufficient to retard the release of the first portion of methylphenidate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof from the controlled release matrix;
an enteric coating applied over the hydrophobic material in an amount sufficient to substantially delay the release of said drug from said substrate until after said formulation passes through the stomach, wherein said enteric coating is derived from an aqueous dispersion comprising an acrylicmethacrylic copolymer, a plasticizer and a glidant; and
a topcoat comprising a second portion of the methylphenidate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in immediate release form; wherein the formulation provides a time to mean maximum plasma concentration of methylphenidate at about 0.5 to about 4 hours after oral administration.
2. The formulation of claim 1, wherein a unit dose comprises the matrix particulates contained within a gelatin capsule, and the second portion of the methyiphenidate or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is contained within the gelatin capsule in a form selected from the group consisting of an immediate release powder, an immediate release granulate, immediate release matrix spheroids, immediate release beads, and as a coating applied onto the surface of the enteric coated matrix particulates.
3. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the matrix particulates are compressed into a tablet.
4. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the matrix particulates are subjected to oven curing at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the acrylic polymer at a temperature from about 40 to about 500\xb0C for a time period of at least about 12 hours prior to the application of the enteric coating.
5. The formulation of claim 1, which provides a peak plasma concentration of methylphenidate which is from about 1.0 to about 2.0 times the plasma concentration of methylphenidate provided by the formulation at about 9 hours after oral administration.
6. The formulation of claim 5, wherein the duration of effect provided by methylphenidate falls below effective plasma concentrations at about 8 to about 12 hours after oral administration.
7. The formulation of claim 6, wherein the formulation provides a time to mean maximum plasma concentration at about 0.5 to about 2 hours after oral administration.
8. The formulation of claim 5, wherein the peak plasma concentration is from about 1.0 to about 1.7 times the plasma concentration of the methylphenidate provided by the formulation at about 9 hours after oral administration.
9. The formulation of claim 5, wherein the duration of effect provided by methylphenidate falls below effective plasma concentrations at about 8 to about 10 hours after oral administration.
10. The formulation of claim 9, which provides a \u201csquare wave\u201d plasma profile.
11. The formulation of claim 9, which provides an in-vitro dissolution as follows:
Time
% Methylphenidate
(hours)
Dissolved
\u20020.25
\u20020-45%
\u20021
\u20025-50%
\u20024
40-90%
\u20028
NLT 60%
12
NLT 80%.

1. A passenger occupancy alert system for use aboard a vehicle configured to be operated by a driver and having a passenger compartment, the system comprising:
a first detector for detecting the presence of a driver in the passenger compartment;
an image sensor for monitoring the passenger compartment;
a processor coupled to said first detector and to said image sensor for receiving data therefrom, said processor having an output; and
an occupancy alert generator coupled to said output for generating an alert when an operator is not present in the vehicle and a passenger is detected within the passenger compartment.
2. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 1 wherein said image sensor comprises a camera assembly.
3. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 2 wherein said camera assembly is of the type that is capable of three dimensional monitoring.
4. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 3 wherein said camera assembly is a stereoscopic camera assembly.
5. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 2 wherein said vehicle further comprises a passenger door and said passenger occupancy alert system further comprises a passenger door sensor coupled the passenger door for sensing when the passenger door is closed, said occupancy alert generator generating an alert only when the passenger door is closed.
6. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 2 wherein said occupancy alert generator generates and alert only when said first detector does not detect the presence of a driver for a predetermined period of time and a passenger is detected within the passenger compartment.
7. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 6 wherein said first detector comprises an ignition sensor for detecting when the ignition is turned off.
8. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 7 wherein the vehicle includes a driver’s side door and wherein said first detector further comprises a driver’s side door sensor for determining when the driver’s side door is open.
9. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 6 wherein said vehicle includes a driver’s seat and wherein said first detector comprises a weight sensor positioned within said driver’s seat.
10. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 6 wherein said occupancy alert generator comprises a horn.
11. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 6 wherein said occupancy alert generator comprises flashing lights.
12. A passenger occupancy alert system for use aboard a vehicle having a passenger compartment, a passenger door, and configured to be operated by a driver, the system comprising:
first detector for detecting the presence of a driver in the passenger compartment;
a stereoscopic camera assembly for monitoring the passenger compartment;
a passenger door sensor for sensing when the passenger door is open;
a processor coupled to said first detector, said camera assembly, and said passenger door sensor for receiving data therefrom, said processor having an output; and
an occupancy alert generator coupled to said output for generating an alert when, a passenger is detected within the passenger compartment, and a driver is not detected for a predetermined period of time.
13. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 12 wherein said operator detector detects when the vehicle has been turned off.
14. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 13 wherein said first detector further comprises a driver’s side door sensor for determining when the driver’s side door is open.
15. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 14 wherein said vehicle includes a driver’s seat and wherein said operator detector comprises a weight sensor coupled to the driver’s seat.
16. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 12 wherein said occupancy alert generator comprises a horn.
17. A passenger occupancy alert system according to claim 12 wherein said occupancy alert generator comprises flashing lights.
18. A method for alerting a driver to the presence of a passenger within a vehicle after the driver has left the vehicle, the vehicle including a passenger compartment, a driver’s door and a passenger door, the method comprising:
detecting the presence of the driver in the vehicle;
generating image based data of the passenger compartment;
analyzing the image based data to determine if a passenger is present in the passenger compartment; and
generating an alert if a passenger is present in the passenger compartment and a driver is not detected.
19. A method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of waiting a predetermined amount of time before generating the alert.
20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising determining when at least one door is open.

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 automating a logistics transaction using a plurality of nodes and a server in a wireless node network, comprising:
downloading, by a first of the nodes, shipment information from the server, the shipment information identifying a package for the logistics transaction, a transaction location for the logistics transaction, and an identification of a second of the nodes associated with the package, wherein the first node is associated with a shipping courier;
providing, by the first node, the shipment information to a third of the nodes, wherein the third node is part of an autonomous vehicle;
causing, by the third node, the autonomous vehicle to move from a first location to the transaction location; and
conducting, by the third node, the logistics transaction related to the package if the third node on the autonomous vehicle completes a node association with the second node associated with the package.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the logistics transaction comprises picking up the package at the transaction location after the third node associates with the second node.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein conducting the logistics transaction further comprises:
detecting, by the third node, a signal from the second node associated with the package as the autonomous vehicle approaches the transaction location;
associating the third node and the second node;
picking up the package at the transaction location; and
placing the package in a package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising deploying the autonomous vehicle from a courier transport vehicle at the first location.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
returning, by the autonomous vehicle, to the courier transport vehicle to unload the package and the second node associated with the package from the package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle; and
transmitting, by the third node, a verification message to the server, wherein the verification message confirming that the package was picked up and is on the courier transport vehicle.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the logistics transaction comprises dropping off the package at the transaction location after the third node associates with the second node.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein conducting the logistics transaction further comprises:
detecting, by the third node, a signal from the second node associated with the package as the autonomous vehicle approaches the transaction location;
associating the third node and the second node;
removing the package from a package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle; and
dropping off the package at the transaction location.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:
deploying the autonomous vehicle from a courier transport vehicle at the first location; and
loading the package into a package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle prior to causing the autonomous vehicle to move from the first location to the transaction location.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:
returning, by the autonomous vehicle, to the courier transport vehicle; and
transmitting, by the third node, a verification message to the server, wherein the verification message confirming that the package was dropped off at the transaction location and is no longer on the courier transport vehicle.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node and the third node are each a mobile master node, wherein each of the mobile master nodes is one of the plurality of nodes and is operative to communicate directly with the server in the wireless node network over a first communication path.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second node is an ID node, wherein the ID node is another node of the plurality of nodes and is operative to communicate with each of the master nodes over a shorter range communication path but is unable to communicate directly with the server.
12. A system for automating a logistics transaction related to a package, comprising:
a first of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network, the first node associated with a courier transport vehicle and operative to be in communication with a server in the wireless node network;
a second of the nodes, the second node associated with the package;
a third of the nodes, the third node integrated as part of an autonomous vehicle related to the courier transport vehicle;
wherein, the first node is operative to
download shipment information from the server, the shipment information identifying the package for the logistics transaction, a transaction location for the logistics transaction related to the package, and an identification of the second node associated with the package, and
provide the shipment information to the third node; and

wherein the third node is operative to
cause the autonomous vehicle to move from a first location proximate the courier transport vehicle to the transaction location, and
conduct the logistics transaction related to the package if the third node successfully associates with the second node associated with the package.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the logistics transaction comprises picking up the package at the transaction location after the third node successfully associates with the second node.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the third node is further operative to conduct the logistics transaction by being further operative to:
detect a signal from the second node associated with the package as the autonomous vehicle approaches the transaction location;
associate the third node and the second node;
instruct a package articulation system on the autonomous vehicle to pick up the package at the transaction location; and
instruct the package articulation system to place the package in a package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the third node is further operative to:
cause the autonomous vehicle to return to the courier transport vehicle;
instruct the package articulation system to unload the package and the second node associated with the package from the package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle into a storage area of the courier transport vehicle; and
transmit a verification message to the server, wherein the verification message confirming that the package was picked up and is on the courier transport vehicle.
16. The system of claim 12, wherein the logistics transaction comprises dropping off the package at the transaction location after the third node successfully associates with the second node.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the third node is further operative to conduct the logistics transaction by being further operative to:
detect a signal from the second node associated with the package as the autonomous vehicle approaches the transaction location;
associate the third node and the second node;
instruct a package articulation system on the autonomous vehicle to remove the package from a package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle; and
instruct the package articulation system to drop off the package at the transaction location.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the third node is further operative to transmit a verification message to the server, wherein the verification message confirming that the package was dropped off at the transaction location.
19. The system of claim 12, wherein the first node and the third node are each a mobile master node, wherein each of the mobile master nodes is one of the plurality of nodes and is operative to communicate directly with the server in the wireless node network over a first communication path.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second node comprises an ID node, wherein the ID node is another node of the plurality of nodes and is operative to communicate with each of the master nodes over a shorter range communication path but is unable to directly communicate with the server.
21. A node-enabled autonomous vehicle that conducts a logistics transaction related to a package, comprising:
an autonomous vehicle operative to move, in response to control input, from a first location to a transaction location related to the logistics transaction;
a mobile master node integrated as part of the autonomous vehicle, the mobile master node being one of a plurality of nodes in a wireless node network, wherein the mobile master node further comprises:
a node processing unit,
a node memory coupled to the node processing unit, the node memory maintaining code for execution by the node processing unit,
a short-range communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and being operative to communicate with the nodes in the wireless node network;
a longer range communication interface coupled to the node processing unit and operative to communicate directly with a server in the wireless network; and

wherein the node processing unit of the mobile master node, when executing the code maintained on the node memory, is operative to
receive shipment information generated by the server, the shipment information identifying the package for the logistics transaction, the transaction location for the logistics transaction related to the package, and an identification of the second node associated with the package,
provide a control signal to the control input of the autonomous vehicle causing the autonomous vehicle to move from the first location to the transaction location, and
automatically conduct the logistics transaction related to the package if the mobile master node successfully associates with a node associated with the package.
22. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 21, wherein the logistics transaction comprises picking up the package at the transaction location after the third node successfully associates with the second node.
23. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 22, wherein the autonomous vehicle further comprises a package payload storage and a package articulation system that is operative to place the package within the package payload storage and remove the package from within the package payload storage; and
wherein the third node is further operative to automatically conduct the logistics transaction by being operative to:
detect a signal from the second node associated with the package as the autonomous vehicle approaches the transaction location,
associate the third node and the second node, and
provide a pickup control signal to the control input of the autonomous vehicle to cause the package articulation system on the autonomous vehicle to pick up the package at the transaction location and place the package in the package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle.
24. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 23, wherein the third node is further operative to:
cause the autonomous vehicle to return to the courier transport vehicle;
provide an unload control signal to the control input of the autonomous vehicle to cause the package articulation system to unload the package and the second node associated with the package from the package payload storage of the autonomous vehicle; and
transmit a verification message to the server over the longer range communication interface, wherein the verification message confirming that the package was picked up.
25. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 21, wherein the logistics transaction comprises dropping off the package at the transaction location after the third node successfully associates with the second node.
26. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 25, wherein the autonomous vehicle further comprises a package payload storage and a package articulation system that is operative to place the package within the package payload storage and remove the package from within the package payload storage; and
wherein the third node is further operative to conduct the logistics transaction by being further operative to:
detect a signal from the second node associated with the package as the autonomous vehicle approaches the transaction location;
associate the third node and the second node; and
provide a drop off control signal to the control input of the autonomous vehicle to cause the package articulation system on the autonomous vehicle to remove the package from within the package payload storage and place the package at the transaction location.
27. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 26, wherein the third node is further operative to transmit a verification message to the server over the longer range communication interface, wherein the verification message confirming that the package was dropped off at the transaction location.
28. The node-enabled autonomous vehicle of claim 21, wherein the second node is an ID node, wherein the ID node is another node of the plurality of nodes and is operative to communicate with the mobile master node over the short-range communication interface but is unable to directly communicate with the server.