Abstract: A grill oiler for applying oil to a grill comprising a handle attached to an applicator body. An applicator sleeve envelopes an applicator surface. The applicator surface is releasably attached to the applicator body such that the applicator sleeve may be easily replaced when worn or excessively soiled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for determining the necessary departure time to allow for an on-time or desired arrival time at a particular location over a particular route based on the evaluation of historic, present, and predicted road conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for emotion-based game character manipulation are provided. Each character is associated with a table of quantified attributes including emotional attributes and non-emotional attributes. An adjustment to an emotional attribute of a game character is determined based on an interaction with another game character. The emotional attribute of the first game character is adjusted, which further results in an adjustment to a non-emotional attribute of the first game character. The behavior of the first game character is then determined based on the adjusted non-emotional attribute.

Abstract: A client computer hosts a virtual private network tool to establish a virtual private network connection with a remote network. Upon startup, the virtual private network tool collects critical network information for the client computer, and sends this critical network information to an address assignment server in the remote network. The address assignment server compares the critical network information with a pool of available addresses in the remote network, and assigns addresses for use by the client computer that do not conflict with the addresses for local resources. The address assignment server also provides routing information for resources in the remote network to the virtual private network tool. The virtual private network tool will postpone loading this routing information into the routing tables of the client computer until the client computer requests access to a specific resource in the remote network.

Abstract: An apparatus for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network includes a network interface, a controller, and memory. The interface receives a series of multicast data packets. The controller identifies one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network requesting data corresponding to the series of multicast data packets and determines that the effective unicast rate for one or more unicast data packets exceeds a minimum data rate of the series of multicast data packets using an 802.x protocol. The memory stores instructions that may be executable by a processor. Upon execution of the instructions by a processor, the received series of multicast data packets is converted into one or more unicast packets, the execution and conversion occurring in response to instructions received from the controller. A system for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network implements such an apparatus in the context of an access point.

Abstract: A metallic shaping plate located in the interior housing of a wireless device is disclosed. The metallic shaping plate may influence a radiation pattern being generated by a horizontal antenna array. The result may be an increase in the gain of the array.

Abstract: A logic module for an FPGA includes a LUT formed from an N-level tree of 2:1 multiplexers. Each of the N inputs to the LUT is connected to the select inputs of the multiplexers in one level of the tree. Each of the data inputs at the leaves of the tree is driven by a configuration memory cell that produces either a logic 0 or a logic 1. The output of the single multiplexer at the last level of the tree forms a Y output and is coupled to one input of an XOR gate and to the select input of a two-input carry multiplexer. The 0 input of the carry multiplexer is coupled to a G input. A CI input is coupled to the other input of the XOR gate and to the 1 input of the carry multiplexer.

Abstract: A method of making a treating wash includes mixing brass granules with acetone, mixing carbon nanotube material, iron pyrite granules and copper granules in the acetone brass mixture, and straining the liquid from the remaining solid material. Methods of treating materials such as brass granules, iron pyrite granules, carbon nanotube material, and brass granules comprises washing the materials in the treating wash, followed by straining and drying the materials.

Abstract: A label and a method for providing a label to a user is described. The label may be a mailing label to be placed on letters or parcels. The label includes information such as postage, delivery address, return address, and a barcode for tracking delivery information. A user may request both a label and postage in what, to the user, appears to be a single computerized connection on a single internet web-page. A postage indicia is provided through a postage provider with whom the user has a deposit or credit. The label itself may be generated through a label-generating application hosted or generated by an entity separate from the postage provider.

Abstract: A game system and method includes a symbol area having a plurality of symbols in a first orientation. The symbols in one or more pay lines may be compared to predefined payout patterns to determine a first payout. The symbols area and corresponding plurality of symbols may then be rotated to a second orientation or configuration. In the second orientation/configuration, the symbols in the one or more pay lines may be compared again to the predefined payout patterns to determine a second payout. Alternatively or additionally, a pay line and/or a payout pattern may change in response to the rotation. Rotation might only be activated if a rotation symbol is included in the plurality of symbols in the symbol area and/or in particular position in the symbol area. A player might also be permitted to pay for the ability to rotate the symbol area.

Abstract: There is provided a cryptographic round dater and its method of use. By capturing customer profile information and encoding the information on a label affixed to the customer's submitted mailpiece, fraudulent or criminal use of the mail may be deterred by providing traceability to the source of the mail piece. The information attached to the mailpiece may be both human readable and machine readable, said machine readable portion being optionally encrypted to protect the privacy and security of the encoded information. Further benefit is provided by allowing the handling of a mailpiece to be traced, allowing for effective remediation or investigation in the event of an unauthorized use of mail.

Abstract: A suspension has a holding element to which an arm is rotatably fastened, wherein a coupling element is provided which is rotatable around the holding element independently of the arm and which forms a security against rotation.

Abstract: A delay line compensated for process, voltage, and temperature variations, includes a delay locked loop (DLL) configured to delay a digital signal by the clock period of the digital signal, the DLL including a DLL delay line arranged as a plurality of cascaded sub-delay lines each sub-delay line providing one of a plurality of delay quanta in response to a digital control signal. A fractionating circuit is configured to generate a digital delay line control signal that is a fraction of the digital control signal. A digital delay line is arranged as a plurality of cascaded sub-delay lines each sub-delay line providing one of a plurality of delay quanta in response to the digital delay line control signal.

Abstract: A method for processing a value-added electronic transmission, which includes obtaining user identification information (110), conveying software (120) to the user, where the software enables the user to selectively send electronic transmissions to intended recipients via a mediation site, and associating with the mediation site at least one value-added processing service, including carrier indication, sender indication, transmission identification, guaranteed delivery, address verification, address correction, archiving, and transmission security. The method further includes billing the user (140) for service rendered through the mediation site.

Abstract: A highly compact loudspeaker system having a spherical housing produces time and phase coherent sound waves in an omnipresent manner throughout a spatial listening environment. Within is a relatively low frequency sound driver and a relatively high frequency sound driver. The spherical housing has upper and lower hemispherical halves. The upper half is hollow and has holes through its surface over most of its surface. The lower half forms a sound compression propagation vacuum chamber for the low frequency driver. Mounted within the lower half is a crossover network conventionally connected to the sound drivers. Acoustic foam lines the interior wall surface of the lower half. The low frequency sound driver is mounted inverted, into the open end of the lower half, and then sealed air tight, at a lowered atmospheric pressure, while the high frequency sound driver is mounted upwardly, affixed to the backside of the low frequency driver.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus comprises selectable antenna elements including a plurality of dipoles and/or a plurality of slot antennas (“slot”). Each dipole and/or each slot provides gain with respect to isotropic. The dipoles may generate vertically polarized radiation and the slots may generate horizontally polarized radiation. Each antenna element may have one or more loading structures configured to decrease the footprint (i.e., the physical dimension) of the antenna element and minimize the size of the antenna apparatus.

Abstract: Utilizing line-of-sight volumes in a game environment comprises calculating a line-of-sight vector defined by the position of a game camera and the position of a character in the game environment, determining whether one of a set of predetermined game elements intersects the line-of-sight vector, and if the line-of-sight vector is intersected, replacing the game element with its corresponding line-of-sight volume. In one embodiment, a line-of-sight volume is a grid volume that has the same size and shape as it corresponding game element. The line-of-sight volume allows a user to substantially view the character in the game environment.

Abstract: A second memory stores data in units of segments. An assignment control circuit sets up a buffer space as a logical address space. A buffer space is formed as a set of at least one segment. A state storage circuit stores association between a buffer space and segments as segment assignment information. An address conversion circuit refers to segment assignment information to convert a logical address into a physical address. A segment queue stores a free segment and a buffer queue stores a free buffer. The state storage circuit includes a plurality of register groups each of which includes a plurality of segment registers. A register group is associated with one of the plurality of buffer spaces. A range number identifying a range of logical addresses in the associated buffer space is set up in a segment register.

Abstract: A method of making a treating wash includes mixing brass granules with acetone, mixing carbon nanotube material, iron pyrite granules and copper granules in the acetone brass mixture, and straining the liquid from the remaining solid material. Methods of treating materials such as brass granules, iron pyrite granules, carbon nanotube material, and brass granules comprises washing the materials in the treating wash, followed by straining and drying the materials.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a heat-exchange section including a first group of tubes and a second group of tubes alternating with the first group of tubes. The first and second groups of tubes are in contact with a heat-conductive medium. In one structure, a first inlet manifold at a first end of the heat-exchange section is fluidly coupled to first ends of the first group of tubes. A first outlet manifold is isolated from the first inlet manifold and is fluidly coupled to first ends of the second group of tubes. A second inlet manifold at a second end of the heat-exchange section is fluidly coupled to second ends of the second group of tubes. A second outlet manifold is isolated from the second inlet manifold and is fluidly coupled to second ends of the first group of tubes.