Abstract: An intelligent door lock system is provided with a position sensing device configured to be coupled to a drive shaft of a lock device. The position sensing device senses position of the drive shaft and assists in locking and unlocking a lock of a lock device. An engine is provided with a memory coupled to the positioning sensing device. A circuit is coupled to the engine and an energy source is coupled to the circuit. A device converts energy into mechanical energy and is coupled to the circuit, positioning sensing device and the drive shaft. The device that converts energy is coupled to the energy source to receive energy from the energy source.

Abstract: The time required to review or playback multi-media program material can be controlled to reduce the time required to review a program. Segments of the program are indexed to mark their beginning and/or end. By detecting segments in the program material, segments can be selectively played back that are of interest to a viewer with other segments being skipped over.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic device (100) for directing fluid flow to generate thrust comprising a thrust control shroud (130) disposed about a central axis (210) of said fluid dynamic device (100) for directing a fluid flow between an upstream fluid intake region (220) and a downstream fluid exit region (222), forming a fluid exit area, of said shroud (130) to generate thrust wherein a displacement of said fluid exit region (222) of said shroud (130) with respect to said central axis (210) results in a translation of said fluid exit area (222) such that the level of shear stress induced in that part of the shroud (130) disposed laterally to the direction of translation of the shroud (130) is minimized.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting website activity. According to an example embodiment, the system receives event-level data representing visitor activity on a client website, infers attribution of one or more metrics to at least one navigation entity based on the visitor activity, and provides reports based on the inferred attribution.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting website activity. According to an example embodiment, the system receives event-level data representing visitor activity on a client website, infers attribution of one or more metrics to at least one navigation entity based on the visitor activity, and provides reports based on the inferred attribution.

Abstract: Disclosed in one aspect is a valve comprising (a) a valve body having a poppet valve chamber with an axis running there through; (b) a seat having a seat sealing surface, and a outer-seat surface, the seat located axially within the poppet valve chamber; and (c) a poppet having a poppet sealing surface, the poppet being located axially within the poppet valve chamber; wherein a poppet-seat interface is created between at least a portion of the seat sealing surface and at least a portion of the poppet sealing surface, the poppet-seat interface being at an angle ? of from 20 to 90° to the axis. In one embodiment the seat is removable, allowing the geometry of at least the poppet head surface and/or the seat inside surface, which defines a fluid flow-path cross-section, to be tailored.

Abstract: An airborne craft is provided comprising an aerodynamic lifting device having a radial drum fan and a thrust vectoring shroud. The radial drum or vertical axis fan comprises a fan with a rotor, the rotor having a rotational axis and comprising a plurality of rotor blades disposed in an annular ring about the rotational axis and a driving means for the rotor such that, on operation of the driving means, lift is generated.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic device (100) for directing fluid flow to generate thrust comprising a thrust control shroud (130) disposed about a central axis (210) of said fluid dynamic device (100) for directing a fluid flow between an upstream fluid intake region (220) and a downstream fluid exit region (222), forming a fluid exit area, of said shroud (130) to generate thrust wherein a displacement of said fluid exit region (222) of said shroud (130) with respect to said central axis (210) results in a translation of said fluid exit area (222) such that the level of shear stress induced in that part of the shroud (130) disposed laterally to the direction of translation of the shroud (130) is minimised.

Abstract: Disclosed in one aspect is a valve comprising (a) a valve body having a poppet valve chamber with an axis running there through; (b) a seat having a seat sealing surface, and a outer-seat surface, the seat located axially within the poppet valve chamber; and (c) a poppet having a poppet sealing surface, the poppet being located axially within the poppet valve chamber; wherein a poppet-seat interface is created between at least a portion of the seat sealing surface and at least a portion of the poppet sealing surface, the poppet-seat interface being at an angle ? of from 20 to 90° to the axis. In one embodiment the seat is removable, allowing the geometry of at least the poppet head surface and/or the seat inside surface, which defines a fluid flow-path cross-section, to be tailored.

Abstract: A system and method of data acquisition and transmission for use in a channel for conveying liquid and/or gas, such as a wellbore. The system includes one or more of data acquisition modules for acquiring data relating to conditions adjacent the module and transmitting the data to a terminal collection station or adjacent data acquisition module via an electromagnetic signal. Each data acquisition module is configured to transmit the signal such that an element of the channel adjacent the data acquisition module acts as a waveguide.

Abstract: An airborne craft is provided comprising an aerodynamic lifting device having a radial drum fan with an operating region intermediate the power loading (“y”) asymptotic region and the disc loading (“x”) asymptotic region of a power loading—disc loading characteristic for the lifting device. The radial drum or vertical axis fan comprises a fan with a rotor, the rotor having a rotational axis and comprising a plurality of rotor blades disposed in an annular ring about the rotational axis and a driving means for the rotor such that, on operation of the driving means, lift is generated.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic device including a shroud disposed about a central axis and having an upstream fluid intake region and a downstream fluid exit region, the shroud directing fluid flow between the upstream fluid intake region and the downstream fluid exit region. The shroud is configured so that, at least during some operating conditions of the fluid dynamic device, at least a portion of fluid exiting the fluid exit region is directed towards the central axis.

Abstract: An airborne craft is provided comprising an aerodynamic lifting device having a radial drum fan and a thrust vectoring shroud. The radial drum or vertical axis fan comprises a fan with a rotor, the rotor having a rotational axis and comprising a plurality of rotor blades disposed in an annular ring about the rotational axis and a driving means for the rotor such that, on operation of the driving means, lift is generated.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting website activity. According to an example embodiment, the system receives event-level data representing visitor activity through navigation entities on a client website, infers attribution of one or more metrics to at least one navigation entity based on the visitor activity, and provides online reports to the client based on the inferred attribution.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing website activity. According to an example embodiment, the system receives event-level data representing visitor session activity on a client website; attributes characteristic information of the event-level data associated with each visitor's session to at least one of a plurality of visitor segments, stores results of the attributed information aggregated according to visitor segment prior to a client-requested analysis of the event-level data, and provides online reports based on the resultant data in response to a client-requested analysis of the event-level data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of establishing and maintaining a defined benefit plan for a party. A user interface is associated with a computer system for requesting and receiving employment information from the party through the user interface. The computer system automatically determines an eligibility of the party for the defined benefit plan using the employment information. Demographic information and economic information from the party is requested and received through the user interface. The computer system automatically determines a current year maximum contribution for the defined benefit plan using the demographic information and the economic information. The computer system automatically structures the defined benefit plan from the current year maximum contribution for the party. The computer system automatically generates at least one application file for the defined benefit plan.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of establishing and maintaining a defined benefit plan for a party. A user interface is associated with a computer system for requesting and receiving employment information from the party through the user interface. The computer system automatically determines an eligibility of the party for the defined benefit plan using the employment information. Demographic information and economic information from the party is requested and received through the user interface. The computer system automatically determines a current year maximum contribution for the defined benefit plan using the demographic information and the economic information. The computer system automatically structures the defined benefit plan from the current year maximum contribution for the party. The computer system automatically generates at least one application file for the defined benefit plan.

Abstract: An appraisal system obtains reliable information relating to subjective property characteristics of a property and quantifies the contributions of such subjective characteristics on the value of the property. An appraiser enters subjective property information regarding a subject property into the appraisal system, which evaluates other properties using property data obtained from property databases to identify comparable properties. Key condition data for the comparable properties is extracted from subjective property characteristics available from the real estate property data. The key condition data for both the subject property and the comparable properties is catagorized and assigned condition scores based on the characteristic's impact on the property valuation. The condition scores for each property are combined into composite condition scores, which can be quantifiably compared with property characteristics to assist in selecting comparable properties.

Abstract: In support of an appraisal process, comparable properties are ranked using an algorithmic approach that considers multiple property characteristics of multiple properties to find and order the most similar properties to a subject property. In one implementation, a deterministic linear dissimilarity algorithm is used to compare multiple characteristics of multiple properties, relative to a subject property. An appraiser can also weight various characteristic categories to emphasize features the appraiser believes to be most important in the appraisal. The appraiser can therefore customize the weightings associated with such property characteristic categories to reflect local valuation relationships.

Abstract: The time required to review or playback multi-media program material can be controlled to reduce the time required to review a program. Segments of the program are indexed to mark their beginning and/or end. By detecting segments in the program material, segments can be selectively played back that are of interest to a viewer with other segments being skipped over.