Abstract: Guardrail, guardrail terminal, and support post designs that improve control of a vehicle during collisions are described. The disclosed designs also reduce the likelihood of intrusion into vehicle systems and the occupant compartment(s). Embodiments include folding and/or flattening of the guardrail and controlling the folded and flattened guardrail to avoid intrusion into the vehicle. Other embodiments include containing the guardrail in an impact head of a guardrail terminal, which also avoids vehicle intrusion.

Abstract: A lightweight mortar tube is presented herein having at least three layers: (1) a first inner bore facing layer comprised of a metal having a melting point greater than 800° C.; (2) a second thermal barrier layer comprised of a ceramic material attached to the first layer, and (3) a third outer shell layer attached to the second layer comprising of fiber reinforced composite material where the composite material is either a polymer, metal or ceramic. All of the layers are cohesively integrated with each other into a seamless wall. The improved multi-layered mortar tube described herein is lighter, yet maintains the same performance standards as comparable steel-based mortar tubes.

Abstract: An approach for caching an electronic product generally involves the use of confirmation data that indicates that an electronic product was successfully provided from a cache to a user. A request to provide an electronic product to a user is received at a cache. In response to receiving the request to provide the electronic product to the user, the cache provides electronic product to the user. If the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user, then the cache generates confirmation data that indicates that the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user. The cache may also provide the confirmation data to a confirmation recipient. The confirmation data may also specify other information, such as an identity of the user, a location of the user and/or a time at which the cache provided the electronic product to the user.

Abstract: An electromagnetic launcher having a longitudinal axis includes a pair of longitudinally extending rails; a pair of longitudinally extending insulators disposed between the rails; a bore defined by interior surfaces of the rails and the insulators; and a jacket extending around exterior surfaces of the rails and the insulators; wherein the exterior surfaces of the insulators are substantially flat and further wherein a distance between the exterior surfaces of the insulators is substantially equal to or less than a maximum thickness of the rails.

Abstract: An approach for caching an electronic product generally involves the use of confirmation data that indicates that an electronic product was successfully provided from a cache to a user. A request to provide an electronic product to a user is received at a cache. In response to receiving the request to provide the electronic product to the user, the cache provides electronic product to the user. If the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user, then the cache generates confirmation data that indicates that the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user. The cache may also provide the confirmation data to a confirmation recipient. The confirmation data may also specify other information, such as an identity of the user, a location of the user and/or a time at which the cache provided the electronic product to the user.

Abstract: An approach for caching an electronic product generally involves the use of confirmation data that indicates that an electronic product was successfully provided from a cache to a user. A request to provide an electronic product to a user is received at a cache. In response to receiving the request to provide the electronic product to the user, the cache provides electronic product to the user. If the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user, then the cache generates confirmation data that indicates that the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user. The cache may also provide the confirmation data to a confirmation recipient. The confirmation data may also specify other information, such as an identity of the user, a location of the user and/or a time at which the cache provided the electronic product to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for using cinematic montages to communicate travel progress inside a virtual environment. The invention is generally related to virtual environments, gaming environments, online communities, and interactive computing, and is specifically related to the use of cinematic montages to communicate travel progress inside a virtual environment.

Abstract: A system and method for organizing online communities and virtual dwellings in a virtual environment through the analysis of instant messenger buddy lists, online address books and other user supplied data. The invention is generally related to instant messaging systems, online gaming environments, online communities, and interactive computing, and is specifically related to the organization of online communities and virtual dwellings in a virtual environment through the analysis of Instant Messenger “Buddy Lists”, online address books and other data supplied directly by the user.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating object status in a virtual environment through the use of translucency when displaying such objects. The invention is generally related to virtual environments, gaming environments, online communities, and interactive computing, and is specifically related to the use of translucency when displaying objects in a virtual environment to indicate status of such objects.

Abstract: A system and method for integration of instant messaging and virtual environment clients. Users of instant messaging clients can participate in channel-based or conference-call-like conversations with multiple users simultaneously, without compromising the ease of use typically associated with those clients. The system allows for the integration of avatars and virtual environments via an external proxy server to manage chat sessions in the external messaging clients. The integration of avatars, virtual environments and messaging clients leverages real-world user experiences, and existing messaging clients, to provide a user model that is easier for the average user to understand and utilize.

Abstract: An approach for caching an electronic product generally involves the use of confirmation data that indicates that an electronic product was successfully provided from a cache to a user. A request to provide an electronic product to a user is received at a cache. In response to receiving the request to provide the electronic product to the user, the cache provides electronic product to the user. If the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user, then the cache generates confirmation data that indicates that the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user. The cache may also provide the confirmation data to a confirmation recipient. The confirmation data may also specify other information, such as an identity of the user, a location of the user and/or a time at which the cache provided the electronic product to the user.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for delivering search results pages to the users of a search engine, where one or more search result listings on the search results pages include items that are not included by default. The non-default items may take many forms, including but not limited to images, banners, controls, animations, and even Java applets. The non-default items may be designed to entice the search engine users to select the search result listing with which they are associated over possibly higher-ranked search result listings that contain only default items.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for delivering search results pages to the users of a search engine, where one or more search result listings on the search results pages include items that are not included by default. The non-default items may take many forms, including but not limited to images, banners, controls, animations, and even Java applets. The non-default items may be designed to entice the search engine users to select the search result listing with which they are associated over possibly higher-ranked search result listings that contain only default items.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for delivering search results pages to the users of a search engine, where one or more search result listings on the search results pages include items that are not included by default. The non-default items may take many forms, including but not limited to images, banners, controls, animations, and even Java applets. The non-default items may be designed to entice the search engine users to select the search result listing with which they are associated over possibly higher-ranked search result listings that contain only default items.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that facilitate analysis of the intended flow of logical signals between key points in a design. According to one aspect of the present invention, a comprehensive set of design verification checks may be formulated by applying predetermined properties to an annotated hardware design representation. Information regarding the intended flow of logical signals in the hardware design is received by way of annotations in a control file or annotations embedded in the hardware design representation itself. The annotations include (1) an indication of one or more variables in the representation of the hardware design through which the logical signals pass, and (2) an indication of one or more conditions under which each of the one or more variables are to be associated with each of a set of states. Checks are then automatically formulated based upon a predetermined set of properties that must hold true in order for the hardware design to operate in accordance with the intended flow.

Abstract: An approach for caching an electronic product generally involves the use of confirmation data that indicates that an electronic product was successfully provided from a cache to a user. A request to provide an electronic product to a user is received at a cache. In response to receiving the request to provide the electronic product to the user, the cache provides electronic product to the user. If the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user, then the cache generates confirmation data that indicates that the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user. The cache may also provide the confirmation data to a confirmation recipient. The confirmation data may also specify other information, such as an identity of the user, a location of the user and/or a time at which the cache provided the electronic product to the user.