Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a difficulty level of a multiplayer networked game are provided herein. One exemplary method includes setting an initial difficulty level at a gaming server for a game played by a main gaming client and one or more challenger gaming clients. The method further includes sending an input request to the main gaming client and each challenger gaming client based on the initial difficulty level. The method further includes receiving main user input from the main gaming client, and challenger user input from each challenger gaming client responsive to the input request. The method also includes adjusting the initial difficulty level to an adjusted difficulty level based on the challenger user input.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a computing system for coordinating massively multiplayer games is provided. The computing system may include a data aggregation service to collect, aggregate and distribute game play data that is used by game code executed on each player's computing device to influence game flow of a shared game play experience for many thousands of remotely located players in real-time. Accordingly, game data from any player may impact and influence the game play experience of all other players. Further, each player's computing device may be event driven such that game data may be received from the game data aggregation service at a synchronized time to synchronize the shared game play experience for all players.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for a carrying case includes a latch body pivotally attached to a top cover of the case, a trigger pivotally attached to the latch body, and an actuator that pivots about the same axis as the trigger. The trigger is pivotable between a latching position for keeping the latch body closed, and a release position to allow the case to be opened. The actuator is pivotable toward and away from a nominal actuator position in which a panel of the actuator assumes a predetermined alignment with the latch body. A torsion spring biases the trigger toward the latching position, and through trigger/actuator contact biases the actuator into the nominal position. The trigger can move toward the release position while the actuator is held in the nominal position, to maintain the selected alignment for a more natural, intuitive latching mechanism closure.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for a carrying case includes a latch body pivotally attached to a top cover of the case, a trigger pivotally attached to the latch body, and an actuator that pivots about the same axis as the trigger. The trigger is pivotable between a latching position for keeping the latch body closed, and a release position to allow the case to be opened. The actuator is pivotable toward and away from a nominal actuator position in which a panel of the actuator assumes a predetermined alignment with the latch body. A torsion spring biases the trigger toward the latching position, and through trigger/actuator contact biases the actuator into the nominal position. The trigger can move toward the release position while the actuator is held in the nominal position, to maintain the selected alignment for a more natural, intuitive latching mechanism closure.

Abstract: A method is provided for updating a legend of a spatial display for use with graphical user interface of a field computer linked to one or more sensors for sensing data or information from a piece of equipment performing an agricultural operation. The method provides a field computer with a graphical user interface, at least one sensor operatively linked to the field computer, and a piece of equipment performing an agricultural operation and in operative communication with the at least one sensor for sensing data or information for display on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A system and method for generically intercepting any type of application programming interface (API) events. The API event interception system includes an intercept library and an API. The application program calls the API to process the client event generated. The API receives the request for service from the application program and determines if intercepting of events is enabled. If intercepting is enabled, the API sends the event to the intercept library. The intercept library determines that the intercept library is enabled to support the event. If the intercept library is enabled to support the event, the intercept library invokes the required event program. If the intercept library is not enabled to support the event, the intercept library returns a message instructing the API to process the event.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for automatically generating object setup scripts. A form is presented to a user in a graphical user interface. The user provides input in a set of fields within the form, which is received and validated. A set of object setup scripts are then generated based on the user input to the form. To generate the set of object setup scripts based on the user input an analysis is performed on the set of fields as a set of objects, and at least one variable is set to hold the value of the set of objects. String manipulations are used to obtain the values in the set of fields, and the values are entered into the set of object setup scripts.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may include an upper housing having a front and a back, the back including a center. A lens dial including an engagement portion may be rotatably secured relative to the upper housing. A set point operator may include a first portion that is disposed about the upper housing center as well as a second portion that is adapted to interact with the lens dial engagement portion. A mechanical movement to electrical signal converter such as a potentiometer may be disposed within the HVAC controller such that the first portion of the set point operator communicates with the potentiometer.

Abstract: A method of managing a plurality of Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone lines assigned to a VoIP Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). A VoIP call window is displayed on a display device of the VoIP CPE. A different one of a plurality of sub-windows are assigned to each of the different VoIP phone lines. The sub-windows are displayed so that they can be viewed at the same time within the VoIP call window. An indicia is displayed within each of the sub-windows that identifies with which of the VoIP phone lines each sub-window is assigned.

Abstract: Methods of managing a suite of communication services include providing a central management function configured to manage the status of a plurality of communication services including at least one IP-based communication service and at least one non-IP based communication service, receiving a status of the at least one IP-based communication service and the at least one non IP-based communication service at the central management function from the respective service, and displaying the status of at least one IP-based communication service and the status of the at least one non IP-based communication service.

Abstract: A method is provided for updating a legend of a spatial display for use with graphical user interface of a field computer linked to one or more sensors for sensing data or information from a piece of equipment performing an agricultural operation. The method provides a field computer with a graphical user interface, at least one sensor operatively linked to the field computer, and a piece of equipment performing an agricultural operation and in operative communication with the at least one sensor for sensing data or information for display on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: Medical device delivery systems, as well as related methods and components, are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods providing high performance data manipulation and searching using a novel data structure for storing data values. The data structure includes a length value in combination with a digit-string data value. The combined length and data value can be stored in a data structure that may be sorted according to standard sorting techniques. When a set of data structures is sorted, the resulting order of the data values can be employed to increase performance of the data engine. In one embodiment, the length value is stored in the end portion of the data structure and in another embodiment, the length portion is stored in the beginning portion of the data structure. Range-based searches and ambiguity checking operations are also presented herein.

Abstract: A high performance decision engine comprising a core kernel and a plurality of user-selectable plug-in components and a schema defining table and data structures, all of which are compiled into an application. Tables within the compiled application are linked to other tables in a manner such that deterministic queries are rapidly processed by the decision engine according to a traversal scheme defined by the links between tables.

Abstract: A vehicle door hinge assembly according to this invention has a hinge bracket for mounting on each of a door and a body pillar of a vehicle. Each hinge bracket has a pair of spaced-apart legs wherein the pair of legs of one hinge bracket is received within and adjacent the pair of spaced-apart legs of the other bracket when the hinge brackets are hingedly mated together. The hinge brackets have aligned holes formed through their respective pairs of legs through which a hinge pin is received to hingedly mate the two hinge brackets together. The improvement comprises the hinge pin having a threaded tip or end and one of the legs of the outer hinge bracket having a nut affixed thereto in coaxial relation to the hole formed therein, or a the hole therein being threaded, and the threaded end of the hinge pin screwed therein when the hinge pin is inserted in the holes in the respective pairs of legs of the hinge brackets to hingedly mate the hinge brackets together.