Abstract: A method for protecting personal space in a multi-user virtual environment includes the steps of generating an avatar for a target user in the multi-user virtual environment, determining a relationship score between the target user and a peer user, creating a personal space around the avatar of the target user, wherein the dimensions of the personal space is computed based on the relationship score with the peer user, detecting the peer user's avatar crossing the boundary of the personal space, and applying rules to the peer user to restrict his/her interactions with the target user.

Abstract: An entertainment system includes circuitry configured to receive input signals from at least a first input device and a second input device, where each input signal corresponds to a control in one of the input devices, determine whether each input signal is included in a respective control subset allocated to the input device from which the input signal was received, determine if each input signal is an input signal to be utilised based on whether it is included in the respective control subset, treat input signals to be utilised from any of the input devices as input signals from the same single input device, and determine, according to a predetermined control scheme, a process to be executed based on the input signals to be utilised, and where the respective control subsets each comprise at least one control not found in the other control subsets, and the respective control subsets together comprise a full complement of controls for an input device.

Abstract: The present invention addresses to a system consisting of one or more pipes of low flexural rigidity (upper and intermediate extension pipes), connected to a thicker pipe section (lower extension pipe) by means of a varied cross-section pipe (conical profile) and further an adapter shaped like a helmet of a bend stiffener of a flexible riser, to enable, without operational losses, the use of rigid risers in Stationary Production Units (SPUs) initially designed to receive only flexible risers, therefore not having specific supports for rigid risers. The low flexural rigidity of the pipe is achieved through the correct selection of specific materials, preferably by using a titanium alloy that has a low modulus of elasticity and a high yield strength compared to steel.

Abstract: Composite acoustic panels are provided which may usefully be employed for aircraft interior panel assemblies. The composite acoustic panels may include a core member defining opposed surfaces, and a pair of exterior face sheets each attached to a respective one of the opposed surfaces of the core member. At least one of the face sheets may be microperforated. The core member comprises an adjacent plurality of tubular channels extending through a thickness dimension of the core member between the opposed surfaces thereof, while predetermined adjacent ones of the tubular channels are filled with a material to define a series of filled tubular channels which are adjacent to a region of open tubular channels. Certain ones of the open tubular channels may be partially filled with an acoustic dampening material. Discontinuous viscoelastic layers may be positioned so as to overlay central regions of the adjacent plurality of the open tubular channels which are bounded by an array of the filled tubular channels.

Abstract: Composite acoustic panels are provided which may usefully be employed for aircraft interior panel assemblies. The composite acoustic panels may include a core member defining opposed surfaces, and a pair of exterior face sheets each attached to a respective one of the opposed surfaces of the core member. At least one of the face sheets may be microperforated. The core member comprises an adjacent plurality of tubular channels extending through a thickness dimension of the core member between the opposed surfaces thereof, while predetermined adjacent ones of the tubular channels are filled with a material to define a series of filled tubular channels which are adjacent to a region of open tubular channels. Certain ones of the open tubular channels may be partially filled with an acoustic dampening material. Discontinuous viscoelastic layers may be positioned so as to overlay central regions of the adjacent plurality of the open tubular channels which are bounded by an array of the filled tubular channels.