Author: claimsbot

1. A method for monitoring an electrical power system, comprising:
receiving a first voltage measurement obtained at a first location in the electrical power system;
receiving a second voltage measurement obtained at a second location in the electrical power system;
time aligning the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement;
calculating an angle difference between the first time aligned voltage measurement and the second time aligned voltage measurement; and
using the angle difference to monitor the electrical power system.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement each comprise a respective time stamp.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first phase voltage measurement and the second phase voltage measurement are time aligned using their respective time stamps.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first voltage measurement is obtained by a first intelligent electronic device (IED) communicatively coupled to the first location in the electrical power system, wherein the second voltage measurement is obtained by a second IED communicatively coupled to the second location in the electrical power system, and wherein the first IED and the second IED are communicatively coupled to a common time reference.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement each comprise a synchrophasor.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first IED comprises an IEEE C37.118 device and the second IED comprises an IEEE C37.118 device, and wherein the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement are received by an IEEE C37.118 device.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a first measurement obtained at the first location in the electrical power system;
comparing the first measurement to a current sensitivity threshold; and
enabling monitoring of the electrical power system using the angle difference if the first measurement satisfies the current sensitivity threshold.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage measurement comprises a measurement of a three-phase voltage signal, and wherein the second voltage measurement comprises a measurement of a second three-phase voltage signal, the method further comprising:
calculating a first alpha-Clarke component using the first voltage measurement; and
calculating a second alpha-Clarke component using the second voltage measurement.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the angle difference is calculated using the first alpha-Clarke component and the second alpha-Clarke component.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage measurement comprises a measurement of a first three-phase voltage signal, and wherein the second voltage measurement comprises a measurement of a second three-phase voltage signal, the method further comprising:
calculating a first positive sequence voltage using the first voltage measurement; and
calculating a second positive sequence voltage using the second voltage measurement,
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the angle difference is calculated using the first positive sequence voltage and the second positive sequence voltage.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein using the angle difference to monitor the electrical power system comprises detecting an out-of-step (OOS) condition between the first location in the electrical power system and the second location in the electrical power system using the angle difference.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein detecting an OOS condition in the electrical power system comprises:
detecting a first angle difference that is greater than an out-of-step threshold (OOSTH); and
detecting a second angle difference that is less than a negative OOSTH;
14. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting an OOS condition in the electrical power system comprises:
detecting a first angle difference that is less than a negative out-of-step-threshold (OSSTH); and
detecting a second angle difference that is greater than a OSSTH.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising clearing an OOS condition detected in the electrical power system upon detecting an angle difference having an absolute value less than or equal to the OSSTH.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the OOSTH and the negative OOSTH are determined using one of the characteristics of the electrical power system, modeling of the electrical power system, and testing of the electrical power system.
17. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a slip frequency using the angle difference.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the slip frequency comprises one of a derivative with respect to time and a discrete derivative with respect to time of the angle difference.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising calculating an acceleration using the slip frequency.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the acceleration comprises one of a derivative with respect to time and a discrete derivative with respect to time of the slip frequency.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein using the angle difference to monitor the electrical power system comprises detecting a power swing in the electrical power system using the angle difference, the slip frequency, and the acceleration.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein detecting a power swing in the electrical power system comprises:
comparing an absolute value of the slip frequency to a first slip frequency threshold;
comparing an absolute value of the acceleration to a first acceleration threshold; and
detecting a power swing if the absolute value of the slip frequency is greater than the first slip frequency threshold, and the absolute value of the acceleration is greater the first acceleration threshold.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein detecting a power swing in the electrical power system further comprises:
comparing the absolute value of the slip frequency to a second slip frequency threshold;
comparing the absolute value of the acceleration to a second acceleration threshold; and
detecting a power swing if the absolute value of the slip frequency is greater than the first slip frequency threshold and less than the second slip frequency threshold, and the absolute value of the acceleration is greater than the first acceleration threshold and less than the second acceleration threshold.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first slip frequency threshold is 0.2 Hz, the second slip frequency threshold is approximately 10 Hz, the first acceleration threshold is approximately 0.1 Hzsecond, and the second acceleration threshold is approximately 50 Hzsecond.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first slip frequency threshold, the second slip frequency threshold, the first acceleration threshold, and the second acceleration threshold are determined using one selected from the group consisting of the characteristics of the electrical power system, modeling of the electrical power system, and testing of the electrical power system.
26. The method of claim 23, wherein detecting a power swing further comprises maintaining the slip frequency greater than the first slip frequency threshold and less than the second slip frequency threshold, and maintaining the acceleration greater than first acceleration threshold and less than the second acceleration threshold for one of a predetermined time period, predetermined number of voltage measurements, and predetermined number of clock cycles.
27. The method of claim 19, wherein using the angle difference to monitor the electrical power system comprises predicatively detecting an out-of-step (OOS) condition in the electrical power system using the angle difference, the slip frequency, and the acceleration.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein predicatively detecting an OOS condition in the electrical power system using the angle difference, the slip frequency, and the acceleration comprises;
comparing an operating point determined by the slip frequency and acceleration against a predictive OOS characteristic, and
predicatively detecting an OOS condition if the operating point is outside of the predictive OOS characteristic.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the predictive OOS characteristic comprises the sum of an acceleration offset value and a product of the slip frequency and an OOS slope constant.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the acceleration offset value and the OOS slope constant are determined using one selected from the group consisting of characteristics of the electrical power system, modeling of the electrical power system, and testing of the electrical power system.
31. The method of claim 28, wherein predicatively detecting an OOS condition in the electrical power system further comprises maintaining the operating point outside of the predictive OOS characteristic for one of a predetermined time period, predetermined number of voltage measurements, and predetermined number of clock cycles.
32. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location in the electrical power system is approximate to a sending-end generator equivalent of the electrical power system.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second location in the electrical power system is approximate to a receiving-end generator equivalent of the electrical power system.
34. A system for monitoring an electrical power system comprising a first intelligent electronic device (IED) communicatively coupled to a first location in the electrical power system to obtain voltage measurements therefrom, and a second IED communicatively coupled to a second location in the electrical power system to obtain voltage measurements therefrom, the system comprising:
a communication module communicatively coupled to the first IED and the second IED to receive voltage measurements therefrom, wherein the communication module is configured to time align the voltage measurements received from the first IED with the voltage measurements received from the second IED; and
a characterization module communicatively coupled to the communication module to calculate an angle difference between the time aligned voltage measurements received from the first IED and the second IED and to monitor the electrical power system using the angle difference.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein the voltage measurements received from the first IED and the voltage measurements received from the second IED each comprise a respective time stamp.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein the voltage measurements received from the first IED and the voltage measurements received from the second IED are time aligned using their respective time stamps.
37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first IED and the second IED are communicatively coupled to a common time reference.
38. The system of claim 34, wherein the voltage measurements received from the first IED and the voltage measurements received from the second IED comprise synchronized phasors.
39. The system of claim 38, wherein the first IED comprises a IEEE C37.118 device and the second IED comprises a IEEE C37.118 device, and wherein the communication module comprises an IEEE C37.118 device.
40. The system of claim 34, wherein the voltage measurements received from the first IED and the second IED comprise measurements of a three-phase voltage signal, and wherein the characterization module is to calculate a first set of positive sequence voltages using the voltage measurements received from the first IED, and to calculate a second set of positive sequence voltages using the voltage measurements received from the second IED.
41. The system of claim 40, wherein the characterization module is to calculate the angle difference using the first set of positive sequence voltages and the second set of positive sequence voltages.
42. The system of claim 34, wherein the voltage measurements received from the first IED comprise one selected from the group consisting of first positive sequence voltages and first alpha-Clarke components, and wherein the voltage measurements received from the second IED comprise one selected from the group consisting of second positive sequence voltages and second alpha-Clarke components.
43. The system of claim 33, wherein the characterization module is to detect an out-of-step (OOS) condition between the first location in the electrical power system and the second location in the electrical power system using the angle difference.
44. The system of claim 43, wherein the characterization module is to detect an OOS condition in the electrical power system upon detecting a first angle difference that is greater than an out-of-step threshold (OOSTH) and a second angle difference that is less than a negative OOSTH.
45. The system of claim 44, wherein the characterization module is to detect an OOS condition in the electrical power system upon detecting a first angle difference that is less than a negative out-of-step threshold (OOSTH) and a second angle difference that is greater than a OOSTH.
46. The system of claim 44, wherein the characterization module is to clear an OOS condition detected in the electrical power system upon detecting an angle difference having an absolute value less than or equal to the OSSTH.
47. The system of claim 44, wherein the OOSTH and the negative OOSTH are determined by one of the characteristics of the electrical power system, modeling of the electrical power system, and testing of the electrical power system.
48. The system of claim 33, wherein the characterization function is to calculate a slip frequency using the angle difference.
49. The system of claim 48, wherein the slip frequency comprises one of a derivative with respect to time and a discrete derivative with respect to time of the angle difference.
50. The system of claim 48, wherein the characterization function is to calculate a acceleration using the slip frequency.
51. The system of claim 50, wherein the acceleration comprises one of a derivative with respect to time and a discrete derivative with respect to time of the slip frequency.
52. The system of claim 50, wherein the characterization module is to detect a power swing in the electrical power system between the first location in the electrical power system and the second location in the electrical power system using the angle difference, the slip frequency, and the acceleration.
53. The system of claim 52, wherein the characterization module is to compare an absolute value of the slip frequency to a first slip frequency threshold, to compare an absolute value of the acceleration to a first acceleration threshold, and to detect a power swing if the absolute value of the slip frequency is greater than the first slip frequency threshold and the absolute value of the acceleration is greater than the first acceleration threshold.
54. The system of claim 53, wherein the characterization module is to compare the absolute value of the slip frequency to a second slip frequency threshold and to compare the absolute value of the acceleration to a second acceleration threshold, and is to detect a power swing if the absolute value of the slip frequency is greater than the first slip frequency threshold and less than the second slip frequency threshold, and the absolute value of the acceleration is greater than the first acceleration threshold and less than the second acceleration threshold.
55. The system of claim 54, wherein the first slip frequency threshold is 0.2 Hz, the second slip frequency threshold is 10 Hz, the first acceleration threshold is 0.1 Hzsecond, and the second acceleration threshold is 50 Hzsecond.
56. The system of claim 54, wherein the first slip frequency threshold, the second slip frequency threshold, the first acceleration threshold, and the second acceleration threshold are determined using one selected from the group consisting of characteristics of the electrical power system, modeling of the electrical power system, and testing of the electrical power system.
57. The system of claim 54, wherein the characterization module is to detect a power swing only if the absolute value of the slip frequency is maintained greater than the first slip frequency threshold and less than the second slip frequency threshold, and the absolute value of the acceleration is maintained greater than the first acceleration threshold and less than the second acceleration threshold for one of a predetermined time period, predetermined number of voltage measurements, and predetermined number of clock cycles.
58. The system of claim 50, wherein the characterization module is to predicatively detect an out-of-step (OOS) condition in the power system using the angle difference, the slip frequency, and the acceleration.
59. The system of claim 58, wherein the characterization module is to predicatively detect the OOS condition by comparing an operating point determined by the slip frequency and the acceleration against a predictive OOS characteristic, and to detect an OOS condition if the operating point is outside of the predictive OOS characteristic.
60. The system of claim 59, wherein the predictive OOS characteristic comprises a sum of an acceleration offset value and a product of the slip frequency and an OOS slope constant.
61. The system of claim 60, wherein the acceleration offset value and the OOS slope constant are determined using one selected from the group consisting of characteristics of the electrical power system, modeling of the electrical power system, and testing of the electrical power system.
62. The system of claim 60, wherein the characterization module is to predicatively detect an OOS condition in the electrical power system if the operating point is maintained outside of the predictive OOS characteristic for one of a predetermined time period, predetermined number of phase voltage measurements, and predetermined number of clock cycles.
63. The system of claim 33, wherein the first IED is communicatively coupled approximate to a sending-end generator equivalent of the electrical power system.
64. The system of claim 63, wherein the second IED is communicatively coupled approximate to a receiving-end generator equivalent of the electrical power system.
65. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause a computing device to perform a method for monitoring an electrical power system, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of first voltage measurements from a first intelligent electronic device (IED) communicatively coupled to a first location in the electrical power system to obtain voltage measurements therefrom, wherein the first location is approximate to a sending-end generator equivalent of the electrical power system;
receiving a plurality of second voltage measurements from a second IED communicatively coupled to a location in the electrical power system to obtain voltage measurements therefrom, wherein the second location is approximate to a receiving-end generator equivalent of the electrical power system;
time aligning the first plurality of voltage measurements and the second plurality of voltage measurements;
calculating an angle difference between the first time aligned voltage measurements and the second time aligned voltage measurements;
calculating a slip frequency using the angle difference;
calculating an acceleration using the slip frequency;
detecting an out-of-step (OOS) condition in the electrical power system using the angle difference;
detecting a power swing in the electrical power system using the angle difference, the slip frequency, and the acceleration; and
predicatively detecting an OOS condition in the electrical power system using the slip frequency and the acceleration.
66. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 65, wherein detecting an OOS condition comprises:
comparing the angle difference to an out-of-step threshold (OOSTH);
comparing the angle difference to a negative OOSTH; and
detecting an OOS condition if the angle difference is greater than the OOSTH or less than the negative OOSTH.
67. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 65, wherein detecting a power swing using the angle difference, the slip frequency, and the acceleration comprises:
comparing an absolute value of the slip frequency to a first slip frequency threshold and a second slip frequency threshold;
comparing an absolute value of the acceleration to a first acceleration threshold and a second acceleration threshold; and
detecting a power swing if the absolute value of the slip frequency is greater than the first slip frequency threshold and less than the second slip frequency threshold and the absolute value of the acceleration is greater than the first acceleration threshold and less than the second acceleration threshold.
68. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 65, wherein predicatively detecting an OOS condition using the slip frequency and acceleration comprises:
comparing an operating point determined by the slip frequency and the acceleration against a predictive OOS characteristic; wherein the OOS characteristic comprises a sum of a acceleration offset and a product of the slip frequency and an OOS slope constant; and
predicatively detecting an OOS condition if the operating point is outside of the predictive OOS characteristic.

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

We claim:

1. A method for performing a cash card operation at a point of sale (POS) terminal, the cash card associated with a predetermined amount of money and comprising a first card identification number, the method comprising:
receiving a second card identification number of the cash card from the POS terminal, the second card identification number able to be mapped or translated into the first card identification number;
determining an operation based on the second card identification number; and
executing the operation by accessing an account associated with the cash card.
2. A method for performing a cash card operation at a point of sale (POS) terminal, the cash card associated with a predetermined amount of money and usable in purchases over a first network with a first card identification number, the method comprising:
receiving a second card identification number of the cash card from the POS terminal through a second network, the second card identification having a format consistent with the second network that can be mapped or translated into the first card identification;
determining an operation to be made on the cash card based on the second card identification number; and
executing the operation by accessing an account associated with the cash card, the account accessible over the first network.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving the first card identification number of the cash card through a first network for purchasing an item; and
subtracting the cost of the item from the account associated with the cash card.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation is determined based on information received as a Personal Identification Number (PIN) along with the second card identification number.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation is determined based on a denomination of an amount of money received with the second card identification number.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein when the operation is determined to be activation, the account is activated by executing the operation.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein when the operation is determined to be deactivation, the account is deactivated by executing the operation.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein when the operation is determined as reloading, an amount of the reloading paid by a customer at the POS terminal is added to the account by executing the operation.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
preventing the account from exceeding the predetermined amount of money.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
preventing more than a predetermined number of attempts of reloading to the account, whether the reloading is successfully executed or not.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein when the operation is determined to be payment, an amount of a payment is subtracted from the account.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the amount of the payment includes a cost of an item purchased by a customer at the POS terminal and an additional amount of cash paid to the customer at the POS terminal.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein a user PIN entered by a customer is received along with the second card identification number, and further comprising
verifying that the user PIN is correct for the account identified by the second card identification number before executing the operation.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the user PIN is received through a second network and has a format consistent with the second network and is obtained by translating another user PIN of the cash card for the purchase over a first network.
15. A method for enabling a customer to withdraw money using a cash card at an automated teller machine (ATM), the cash card associated with a predetermined amount of money and usable in purchase over a first network with a first card identification number, the method comprising:
receiving a second card identification number of the cash card along with a User PIN from the ATM through a second network, the second card identification number having a format consistent with the second network and translatable into the first card identification number;
verifying that the User PIN is correct for an account identified by the second card identification number, the account accessible over the first network; and
subtracting an amount of money to be withdrawn from the account.
16. A method for converting currency for a cash card usable in payment over a first network, the cash card associated with a predetermined amount of money in an account, the method comprising:
receiving a card identification number of the cash card through the first network for the payment;
determining that a first currency in the payment and a second currency in the account identified by the card identification number are different;
converting a current amount of the account in the second currency into the first currency;
subtracting the payment from the current amount in the first currency; and
converting a remaining amount after subtracting of the account in the first currency into the second currency if the remaining amount exists.
17. A method for converting currency for a cash card usable in payment over a first network, the cash card associated with a predetermined amount of money in an account, the method comprising:
receiving a card identification number of the cash card through the first network for conversion into a first currency;
determining that a customer of the cash card accepts a conversion rate from a second currency in the account identified by the card identification number into the first currency; and
converting an amount of the account in the second currency into the first currency.
18. A method for enabling a customer to make a payment using a cash card at a point of sale (POS) location, the cash card associated with a predetermined amount of money and usable in purchase over a first network, the method comprising:
receiving, at the POS location, a card identification number of the cash card along with a User PIN from the customer, and transaction information from a store clerk;
creating payment-specific authentication information from the card identification number, the User PIN, and the transaction information;
transmitting, through the first network to a server managing an account associated with the cash card, the payment-specific authentication information, such that the server verifies the payment-specific authentication information and makes the payment from the account of the customer.
19. A method for performing pre-authorization of a payment from a customer to a merchant with a cash card, the cash card associated with a predetermined amount of money and usable in purchase over a first network, the method comprising:
receiving, at a server managing a first account associated with the cash card of the customer, a pre-authorization request message including payment-specific authentication information created at a time of the payment;
subtracting an amount of the payment from the first account according to the pre-authorization request;
adding at least a part of the amount subtracted from the first account to a second account of the merchant when a pre-authorization release message including the payment-specific authentication information is received at the server; and
adding at least a part of the amount subtracted from the first account to the first account when a pre-authorization cancellation message including the payment-specific authentication information is received at the server.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the payment-specific authentication information included in the pre-authorization release message or the pre-authorization cancellation message is signed by the merchant.
21. A method for performing refund of a payment from a customer to a merchant with a cash card, the cash card associated with a predetermined amount of money and usable in purchase over a first network, the method comprising:
creating payment-specific authentication information at a time of the payment;
transferring an amount of the payment from a first account associated with the cash card of the customer to a second account of the merchant according to the payment-specific authentication information;
receiving a refund message including the payment-specific authentication information with a signature of the merchant; and
returning at least a part of the amount transferred from the second account to the first account according to the refund request when the signature is verified.
22. A method for escrowing transaction between a seller and a buyer with a cash card, the cash card associated with a predetermined amount of money and usable in purchase over a first network, the method comprising:
creating payment-specific authentication information when the buyer purchases an item from the seller;
subtracting a cost of the item from a first account associated with the cash card of the buyer according to the payment-specific authentication information;
transmitting the payment-specific authentication information such that the seller receives the payment-specific authentication information after the buyer receives the item; and
adding at least a part of the cost subtracted from the first account to a second account of the seller when the payment-specific authentication information from the seller.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
creating payment-specific verification information when the buyer purchases the item from the seller; and
transmitting the payment-specific verification information such that the seller sends the item after the seller receives the payment-specific verification information.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
adding at least a part of the cost subtracted from the first account to the first account when the payment-specific authentication information is not received from the seller or a proper refund request is received from the buyer.
25. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of identities of the buyer and the seller is not required in escrowing.

1. A fastener assembly for fastening a first member to a second member, said assembly comprising:
a stud which includes a shank having a first and a second end, a head extending from said first end of said shank, said head defining a surface which is disposed adjacent to said first end of said shank; and
a plate having a first and a second face, said plate defining a non-circular slot for the reception therein of said head of said stud such that when said head is inserted through said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, said first face of said plate slidably cooperates with said surface of said head;
wherein at least one of said surface of said head and said first face of said plate includes a performed interference member such that when said head is inserted into said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, said interference member engagingly cooperates with the other of said surface of said head and said first face of said plate during the rotation to secure said stud to said plate, thereby enabling the first number to be attached to the second member.
2. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said surface of said head has a protrusion which is disposed between said head and said first face of said plate when said head is inserted through said slot, and said first face of said plate has a bump thereon which cooperates with said protrusion when said head is inserted into said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, the arrangement being such that when said head has been rotated relative to said plate, said protrusion and said bump interact with each other for locking said stud relative to said plate.
3. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said protrusion is of a half-moon shaped configuration having a ramped surface and a flat, vertical surface, such that when said head is rotated relative to said plate, said ramped surface assists in allowing the protrusion to pass over said bump, and, once so passed, said flat, vertical surface assists in ensuring said stud remains desirably locked to said plate.
4. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said surface defines a further protrusion disposed on an opposite side of said shank relative to said protrusion, and said face defines a further bump disposed on an opposite side of said slot relative to said bump so that when said head is rotated within said slot, said further protrusion and said further bump interact for assisting locking of said head relative to said plate.
5. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shank includes an externally threaded first portion, said first portion extending from said surface of said head, and a second portion extending from said first portion such that said first portion is disposed between said second portion and said surface of said head, said second portion defining a hexagonal configuration such that when said head is inserted within said slot, rotation of said head is facilitated by the provision of said hexagonal configuration of said second portion.
6. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said hexagonal configuration is disposed externally.
7. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said hexagonal configuration is disposed internally.
8. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said head includes a rectangular shaped portion and a further surface being of dome shaped configuration, said slot has a first extremity, a second extremity, a first side and a second side, and said plate includes a bridge having a first and a second side, said first side of said bridge extending from said first extremity of said slot, said second side of said bridge extending from said second extremity of said slot, said bridge being of a dome shaped configuration for the rotatable reception therein of said dome shaped surface of said head.
9. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein one of said dome shaped surface of said head and said bridge includes a dimple, and the other of said dome shaped surface of said head and said bridge includes an indent, such that when said head is inserted into said slot with said further surface of said head cooperating with said dome shaped configuration of said bridge, said dimple is located within said indent for locating said head relative to said plate.
10. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said dome shaped surface of said head includes said dimple and said dimple is disposed coaxially relative to a rotational axis of said head.
11. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said plate further includes a first stop which extends from said first side of said slot for limiting rotation of said head within said slot, and a second stop which extends from said second side of said slot for limiting rotation of said head within said slot, said first stop being disposed adjacent to said second extremity of said slot, said second stop being disposed adjacent to said first extremity of said slot.
12. A fastener assembly for fastening a first member to a second member, said assembly comprising:
a stud which includes a shank having a first and a second end, a head extending from said first end of said shank, said head defining a surface which is disposed adjacent to said first end of said shank, and a dimple extending centrally from said head; and
a plate having a first and a second face, said plate defining a non-circular slot for the reception therein of said head of said stud such that when said head is inserted through said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, said first face of said plate slidably cooperates with said surface of said head, said plate including an indent for the rotatable reception therein of said dimple such that when said head is rotated within said slot, said dimple and said indent cooperate with each other for locating said head relative to said slot;
wherein at least one of said surface of said head and said first face of said plate includes a performed interference member such that when said head is inserted into said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, said interference member cooperates with the other of said surface of said head and said first face of said plate during the rotation to secure said stud to said plate, thereby enabling the first member to be attached to the second member.
13. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said surface of said head has a protrusion which is disposed between said head and said first face of said plate when said head is inserted through said slot, and said first face of said plate has a bump thereon which cooperates with said protrusion when said head is inserted into said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, the arrangement being such that when said head has been rotated relative to said plate, said protrusion and said bump interact with each other for locking said stud relative to said plate.
14. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said surface defines a further protrusion disposed on an opposite side of said shank relative to said protrusion, and said face defines a further bump disposed on an opposite side of said slot relative to said bump so that when said head is rotated within said slot, said further protrusion and said further bump interact for assisting locking of said head relative to said plate, and wherein said protrusion and said further protrusion are each of a half-moon shaped configuration each having a ramped surface and a flat, vertical surface, such that when said head is rotated relative to said plate, said ramped surfaces assist in allowing the associated protrusions to pass over the associated bumps, and, once so passed, said flat, vertical surfaces assist in ensuring said stud remains desirably locked to said plate.
15. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said shank includes an externally threaded first portion, said first portion extending from said surface of said head, and a second portion extending from said first portion such that said first portion is disposed between said second portion and said surface of said head, said second portion defining a hexagonal configuration such that when said head is inserted within said slot, rotation of said head is facilitated by the provision of said hexagonal configuration of said second portion.
16. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein said head includes a rectangular shaped portion and a further surface being of dome shaped configuration, said slot has a first extremity, a second extremity, a first side and a second side, and said plate includes a bridge having a first and a second side, said first side of said bridge extending from said first extremity of said slot, said second side of said bridge extending from said second extremity of said slot, said bridge being of a dome shaped configuration for the rotatable reception therein of said dome shaped surface of said head.
17. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein said plate further includes a first stop which extends from said first side of said slot for limiting rotation of said head within said slot, and a second stop which extends from said second side of said slot for limiting rotation of said head within said slot, said first stop being disposed adjacent to said second extremity of said slot, said second stop being disposed adjacent to said first extremity of said slot.
18. A fastener assembly for fastening a first member to a second member, said assembly comprising:
a stud which includes a shank having a first and a second end, a head extending from said first end of said shank, said head defining a surface which is disposed adjacent to said first end of said shank; and
a plate having a first and a second face, said plate defining a non-circular slot for the reception therein of said head of said stud such that when said head is inserted through said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, said first face of said plate slidably cooperates with said surface of said head;
wherein said shank includes a first portion, said first portion extending from said surface of said head, and a second portion extending from said first portion such that said first portion is disposed between said second portion and said surface of said head, said second portion defining a surface adapted for cooperation with a tool for the rotation thereof such that when said head is inserted within said slot, rotation of said head is facilitated by the cooperation between said surface of said second portion and the tool;
wherein at least one of said head and said plate includes a dimple and the other of said head and said plate includes an indent for the rotatable reception therein of said dimple such that when said head is rotated within said slot, said dimple and said indent cooperate with each other for locating said head relative to said slot; and
wherein at least one of said surface of said head and said first face of said plate includes an interference member such that when said head is inserted into said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, said interference member engagingly cooperates with the other of said surface of said head and said first face of said plate during the rotation to secure said stud to said plate, thereby enabling the first member to be attached to the second member.
19. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein said surface of said head has a protrusion which is disposed between said head and said first face of said plate when said head is inserted through said slot, said surface defining a further protrusion disposed on an opposite side of said shank relative to said protrusion, said first face of said plate has a bump thereon which cooperates with said protrusion when said head is inserted into said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, and said face defining a further bump disposed on an opposite side of said slot relative to said bump which cooperates with said further protrusion when said head is inserted into said slot and is rotated relative to said plate, the arrangement being such that when said head has been rotated relative to said plate, said protrusion and said bump interact with each other, and said further protrusion and said further bump interact with each other, thereby locking said stud relative to said plate, and wherein said protrusion and said further protrusion are each of a half-moon shaped configuration each having a ramped surface and a flat, vertical surface, such that when said head is rotated relative to said plate, said ramped surfaces assist in allowing the associated protrusions to pass over the associated bumps, and, once so passed, said flat, vertical surfaces assist in ensuring said stud remains desirably locked to said plate.
20. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein said head includes a rectangular shaped portion and a further surface being of dome shaped configuration, said slot has a first extremity, a second extremity, a first side and a second side, and said plate includes a bridge having a first and a second side, said first side of said bridge extending from said first extremity of said slot, said second side of said bridge extending from said second extremity of said slot, said bridge being of a dome shaped configuration for the rotatable reception therein of said dome shaped surface of said head, and wherein said dome shaped surface of said head includes said dimple and said dimple is disposed coaxially relative to a rotational axis of said head.

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 identification theft proof tag and sticker method used for easily contacting an owner of missing valuables when found by a stranger comprising, in combination:
providing a plurality of tags, each tag having a tag holder with a serial number, the tags are one inch by one inch squares with a top, front, and back, the front is printed with a graphic of a production trademarked logo, the top has an aperture with approximately a \u215b inch circumference, the back contains a telephone number, a personal identification number (PIN), which is a unique set of numbers that are random for each set of tags, corresponding to a phone number that was previously registered by the owner of the tag;
manufacturing the tags using the following scheme;
submitting the tag graphic and allowing the graphic to be pre-flighted and a proof to be made;
printing variable data and PINs using standard lithography and laser printing on sheets made out of a material selected from the class of materials including PVC and Teslin;
laminating via processes selected from the class of processes including cold glue, hot glue, and hydraulic lamination with a clear PVS sheet;
die cutting the sheets into individual pieces and adding internal die cuts;
numbering the individual tags with an inkjet;
shrink-wrapping the individual pieces into batches, labeling the batches, and putting the batches in boxes;
containing within each individual tag a smart chip which holds a secure digital identity comprised of IC memory cards that holds up to four kilobytes of data, and eight-bit processor, 16 kilobytes of read-only memory, and 512 bytes of random access memory;
incorporating a cryptograph for security purposes which requires the manipulation of large numbers;
embedding a smart card with either a microprocessor card adapted to add, delete, ad otherwise manipulate information on the card or a memory-chip card adapted to only undertake a pre-defined operation;
activating the tag by a user in order to link the user and items tagged;
notifying an interactive voice response (IVR) of the receipt of the tags, registering the serial number located on each tag holder, and entering the PIN located on each tag;
providing a unique password generated by the user and entering five contact phone numbers;
entering on a web site the unique PIN number printed on the back of the tag, the user’s e-mail address for added security, a four-digit phone password, and the unique password generated by the user;
indicating where the tags were purchased and a name of an organization to which a portion of the tags’ sale will be donated are for donation;
filling out required fields indicated by the web site, entering the five contact phone numbers the user associates with the tags, and any comments relating to the contact phone numbers in the spaces provided;
reading a disclaimer and agreeing to terms and conditions provided to finish the tag activation procedure;
placing a registered tag on a valuable;
following instructions printed on the tag when finding a lost valuable by a person other than the owner;
dialing the number located on the back of the tag; and
entering the PIN located on the back of the tag when prompted to do so;
being placed in direct contact with the owner of the lost valuable to determine the preferred way to return the valuable to the owner.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including the step of applying an adhesive to the tags for allowing the tags to be used as stickers.