Abstract: A method for forming and installing a retaining ring comprises: feeding a wire in a linear path into a forming die having a circular bore; forming, using the forming die, the wire into a formed ring having a ring shape; transferring the formed ring from the forming die to a transfer puck; and installing the formed ring, as a retaining ring, in a tube of a product assembly. The formed ring is maintained in a constrained state between forming in the forming die and installation in the product assembly. A system for forming and installing a retaining ring into a product assembly includes a forming die configured to form a wire into a formed ring having a ring shape; and a transfer puck to transfer the formed ring from the forming die. The formed ring is maintained in a constrained state from forming through installation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of processing sensitive information over VoIP. The method provides a method of processing, by a call processor, a media call comprising the steps of: receiving a first signalling stream from a first entity; creating a second signalling stream to a second entity; forwarding signals received from the first signalling stream to the second signalling stream; receiving a third signalling stream from the second entity; creating a fourth signalling stream to the first entity; and forwarding signals received on the third signalling stream to the fourth signalling stream; the first signalling stream containing instructions to set up a media call between the first entity and the second entity such that media is transmitted over a first media stream from the first entity to the second entity and a media is transmitted over a second media stream from the second entity to the first entity without intervention by said call processor.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing particulate matter from an enclosure having an internal space and an opening into the internal space, comprising: a cover positionable adjacent the opening so that the cover covers the opening; a gas source external to the internal space; an inlet conduit that in use extends through the cover and is adapted to direct gas from the gas source to at least one gas outlet within the internal space whereby particulate matter within the internal space is dislodged and entrained in gas within the internal space; a source of partial vacuum adapted to maintain a partial vacuum within the enclosed space and to draw gas and particulate matter entrained therein from the internal space firstly through an outlet conduit and then through a particulate matter separation means comprising at least one filter; a sensor for sensing concentration of particulate matter in gas leaving the enclosed space; a display adapted to provide to a user information on concentration of particulate matter leaving the in

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for removing particulate matter from an enclosure having an internal space and an opening into the internal space. The apparatus includes: a cover positionable over the opening; an inlet conduit that extends through the cover and is adapted to direct gas from a gas source to a gas outlet within the internal space so that particulate matter within the internal space is dislodged. Gas and entrained particulate matter is drawn from the internal space firstly through an outlet conduit and the particular matter is separated. Concentration of particulate matter in gas leaving the enclosed space is sensed and its value displayed to an operator so that operation can continue until a satisfactory value of the concentration is achieved. The gas outlet may be comprised in an elongate lance that is passed through the cover and can be manipulated by a user. The lance may display data.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing particulate matter from an enclosure having an internal space and an opening into the internal space, comprising: a cover positionable adjacent the opening so that the cover covers the opening; a gas source external to the internal space; an inlet conduit that in use extends through the cover and is adapted to direct gas from the gas source to at least one gas outlet within the internal space whereby particulate matter within the internal space is dislodged and entrained in gas within the internal space; a source of partial vacuum adapted to maintain a partial vacuum within the enclosed space and to draw gas and particulate matter entrained therein from the internal space firstly through an outlet conduit and then through a particulate matter separation means comprising at least one filter; a sensor for sensing concentration of particulate matter in gas leaving the enclosed space; a display adapted to provide to a user information on concentration of particulate matter leaving the inter

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems and methods for monitoring and managing the supply and use of electric power and related resources and for monitoring and managing electric power consumption by individual persons. One embodiment, for example, is directed to a system for distributing and monitoring usage of energy comprising at least one power distribution unit, connectable to an energy source and to one or more energy-consuming devices, and adapted to monitor energy distribution from the energy source through the or each power distribution unit. The system may also include at least one server in communication with the at least one power distribution network via a data network, adapted to receive through the data network data on energy distributed by the or each power distribution unit to the energy-consuming devices.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and memory comprising executable instructions that cause the processor to effectuate operations. The operations include determining that a network resource has been implemented using a network element indicated by a data structure of a graph database comprising a network inventory. The operations also include establishing a first level model based on at least the data structure and a second level model indicative of the network resource. The operations include defining a topology of the second level model, wherein the topology comprises the first level model. The operations also include defining a persona associated with the first level model, the persona linking the first level model to the second level model.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to provision name-servers. An example system disclosed herein includes a name-server evaluator to determine capacities of the plurality of name-servers, a provisioner to compute profile assignment values based on a plurality of subscriber identifiers, and an assignor to assign the subscriber identifiers to one of the plurality of name-servers based on the profile assignment values and the capacities.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing the sodium content of a water containing dissolved sodium ions, particularly a water with a sodium ion content of at least 100 ppm. Examples of such waters are effluents such as acid mine drainage and river waters. The method includes the steps of: (i) removing sodium, calcium and magnesium ions from the water by contacting the water with a cation exchange resin/s to capture sodium, calcium and magnesium ions thereon, (ii) treating the cation exchange resin/s of step (i) with nitric acid to produce an eluant containing sodium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions nitrate ions and nitric acid, (iii) adding a carbonate to the eluant to precipitate the calcium and magnesium ions as calcium and magnesium carbonates; (iv) separating the precipitated carbonates from the eluant; and (v) treating the eluant from step (iv) to obtain a sodium and/or potassium nitrate product.

Abstract: Exercise equipment can be used in a wide range of settings by a wide range of users of varying strengths and abilities to gain strength, fitness and mobility using an internally variable resistance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing ENUM records is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a broker having a detection element that detects a Resource Record (RR) submission made by an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), and a comparison element that retrieves from an object-oriented data storage element a zone associated with the RR, identifies a Domain Name Server (DNS) responsible for processing said zone, compares the zone with a volatile memory of the DNS, and updates the volatile memory according to one or more differences detected. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing the sodium content of a water containing dissolved sodium ions, particularly a water with a sodium ion content of at least 100 ppm. Examples of such waters are effluents such as acid mine drainage and river waters. The method includes the steps of: (i) removing sodium, calcium and magnesium ions from the water by contacting the water with a cation exchange resin/s to capture sodium, calcium and magnesium ions thereon, (ii) treating the cation exchange resin/s of step (i) with nitric acid to produce an eluant containing sodium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions nitrate ions and nitric acid, (iii) adding a carbonate to the eluant to precipitate the calcium and magnesium ions as calcium and magnesium carbonates; (iv) separating the precipitated carbonates from the eluant; and (v) treating the eluant from step (iv) to obtain a sodium and/or potassium nitrate product.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provision network resource records are described. An example method includes creating a statement representative of a plurality of numbers to be provisioned to a plurality of users via an iterative process; and, for each iteration of the iterative process, generating an instance of the statement to form a resource record by replacing a first character in a domain name segment of the statement with a first version of a respective one of the numbers; replacing a second character in a resource identifier segment of the statement with a second version of the respective one of the numbers different than the first version; and storing the instance of the statement as a resource record in connection with the respective one of the numbers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to provision name-servers. An example system disclosed herein includes a name-server evaluator to determine capacities of the plurality of name-servers, a provisioner to compute profile assignment values based on a plurality of subscriber identifiers, and an assignor to assign the subscriber identifiers to one of the plurality of name-servers based on the profile assignment values and the capacities.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provision network resource records are described. An example method includes creating a statement representative of a plurality of numbers to be provisioned to a plurality of users via an iterative process; and, for each iteration of the iterative process, generating an instance of the statement to form a resource record by replacing a first character in a domain name segment of the statement with a first version of a respective one of the numbers; replacing a second character in a resource identifier segment of the statement with a second version of the respective one of the numbers different than the first version; and storing the instance of the statement as a resource record in connection with the respective one of the numbers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provision network resource records are described. An example method of provisioning a plurality of resource records in a telephone number mapping system includes receiving first and second inputs to define a range of numbers corresponding to a plurality of resource records; creating an object in a first server, the object having one or more attributes to represent the plurality of resource records; and automatically provisioning the plurality of resource records in a second server based on the one or more attributes of the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a network is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network device having a controller element to modify a communication parameter of the network device based on a policy of the communication system, wherein the policy is generated based at least in part on a client request to modify the communication system and a policy template retrieved according to a policy identification communicated over the Internet by an operations support system. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a storage furniture unit (20) for use in conjunction with a furniture item (40) providing a worksurface (42), the storage furniture unit (20) having a first storage portion (22) which is arranged below the worksurface (42) in use, and a second storage portion (24) which is arranged above the worksurface (42) in use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to provision name-servers. An example system disclosed herein includes a name-server evaluator to determine capacities of the plurality of name-servers, a provisioner to compute profile assignment values based on a plurality of subscriber identifiers, and an assignor to assign the subscriber identifiers to one of the plurality of name-servers based on the profile assignment values and the capacities.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to provision name-servers. An example method disclosed herein includes associating a plurality of ranges of threshold numbers with respective ones of a plurality of name-servers, computing a number based on an identifier for a plurality of subscribers, locating at least one of the plurality of ranges of threshold numbers corresponding to the computed number, and assigning a plurality of name server records for the plurality of subscribers to at least one of the plurality of name-servers corresponding to the located one of the plurality of ranges of threshold numbers.