The patent says that an office phone might carry the message: "We appreciate your business.

The system can "contain different standard messages" about lost and found items, the patent says.

The patents say we have rights as far as the right whale swims.

"We're saying, 'It doesn't really matter what the patent says, you can have it.' "

It could also be instructions sent from the mobile device or another computer, the patent says.

The laser spot "will be visible on the ball during placement of the balls," their patent says.

The patent says the signal can also come from music playing through a small speaker in the shoe.

An alarm would sound "when a registered article is not present," the patent says.

The potential buyer would also be able to request reports on neighborhood demographics, schools, environmental issues and comparable home sales, the patent says.

Either way, the credit card would be issued to tenants by a financial institution or commercial lender, the patent says.