Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to providing pilots with timely information to allow for better decision making and improved safety during the piloting of a flight. The systems and methods described herein can employ a collection of algorithms that can take disparate information, process it, and synthesize it into meaningful information for a pilot, flight crew, other flight systems, and/or other algorithms to consume.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to providing pilots with timely information to allow for better decision making and improved safety during the piloting of a flight. The systems and methods described herein can employ a collection of algorithms that can take disparate information, process it, and synthesize it into meaningful information for a pilot, flight crew, other flight systems, and/or other algorithms to consume.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to providing pilots with timely information to allow for better decision making and improved safety during the piloting of a flight. The systems and methods described herein can employ a collection of algorithms that can take disparate information, process it, and synthesize it into meaningful information for a pilot, flight crew, other flight systems, and/or other algorithms to consume.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to providing pilots with timely information to allow for better decision making and improved safety during the piloting of a flight. The systems and methods described herein can employ a collection of algorithms that can take disparate information, process it, and synthesize it into meaningful information for a pilot, flight crew, other flight systems, and/or other algorithms to consume.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed, in part, to a system that can monitor traffic traversing a virtualized network that includes a plurality of virtual network functions (“VNFs”) that provide, at least in part, a service. The system can capture an event from the traffic. The event can involve at least one VNF, and can negatively affect at least one operational aspect of the virtualized network in providing the service. The system can create snapshot that represents a network state of the virtualized network during the event. The system can create, based upon the snapshot, a shadow network. The shadow network can include a network emulation of the network state of the virtualized network during the event. The system can determine, from the shadow network, at least one modification to at least a portion of the virtualized network that would at least mitigate negative effects of the event.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed, in part, to a system that can monitor traffic traversing a virtualized network that includes a plurality of virtual network functions (“VNFs”) that provide, at least in part, a service. The system can capture an event from the traffic. The event can involve at least one VNF, and can negatively affect at least one operational aspect of the virtualized network in providing the service. The system can create snapshot that represents a network state of the virtualized network during the event. The system can create, based upon the snapshot, a shadow network. The shadow network can include a network emulation of the network state of the virtualized network during the event. The system can determine, from the shadow network, at least one modification to at least a portion of the virtualized network that would at least mitigate negative effects of the event.

Abstract: An infusion/dispersion device includes a handle, a tube, a rod, and a basket. The handle includes a first section and a second section. The first section is rotatable with respect to the second section. The tube is connected fast with the first section of the handle. The rod is received in the tube and is connected fast with the second section of the handle. The basket includes an outer shell and an inner shell that is receivable in the outer shell. The outer shell connects fast with the tube and the inner shell connects fast with the rod such that rotation of the first section of the handle with respect to the second section of the handle results in rotation of the inner shell with respect to the outer shell.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to obtain billing data associated with a plurality of calls over a Voice Over Internet Protocol network, determine special service calls being made based on the billing data, monitor for the special service calls being associated with at least one of one calling number or one network node, and determine an undesired condition based at least in part on the special service calls being made from the one calling number or through the one network node exceeding a threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for assuring Voice over Internet Protocol service. In one embodiment, a system for assuring Voice over Internet Protocol service includes a performance management platform for collecting performance management data from a plurality of sources in a Voice over Internet Protocol network, for detecting at least one abnormal event in accordance with the collected performance management data, and for reporting a volume of traffic in the Voice over Internet Protocol network and a trouble ticketing system for generating a ticket identifying a root cause of the abnormal event(s).

Abstract: An infusion/dispersion device includes a handle, a tube, a rod, and a basket. The handle includes a first section and a second section. The first section is rotatable with respect to the second section. The tube is connected fast with the first section of the handle. The rod is received in the tube and is connected fast with the second section of the handle. The basket includes an outer shell and an inner shell that is receivable in the outer shell. The outer shell connects fast with the tube and the inner shell connects fast with the rod such that rotation of the first section of the handle with respect to the second section of the handle results in rotation of the inner shell with respect to the outer shell.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for organizing, presenting and retrieving information about items of interest in a social network of interests including a user database for storing personal attributes of a plurality of users and an interest list for each of the plurality of users, the interest list comprising a plurality of interests; a plurality of personal profiles for presenting the personal attributes in the user database and the interest lists for each of the plurality of users; and a search engine, in communication with the user database and plurality of personal profiles, for performing an interest query of the user database, the interest query returning information relevant to the interest, the information relevant to the interest comprising at least one of an additional user, a posting by an additional user relating to the interest, or an additional interest related to the interest.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for managing a Voice over IP (VoIP) network includes collecting a first set of data from a first source of network performance management data, each data item in the first set of data corresponding to a call made using the VoIP network; collecting a second set of data from a second source of network performance management data, each data item in the second set of data corresponding to a call made using the VoIP network and being of a different type than the first set of data; correlating the first set of data and the second set of data such that a data item from the first set of data is matched with a data item from the second set of data that corresponds to a common call made over the VoIP network; and outputting a performance report based on the correlating.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for managing VoIP network elements are provided. Methods include receiving call details records (CDRs) from a plurality of network elements. The received CDRs including disconnect cause codes and telephone call correlation identifiers. The received CDRs are correlated to telephone calls based on the telephone call correlation identifiers. Two CDR records are associated with the same telephone call when their telephone call correlation identifiers are the same. A master correlated CDR is created for each telephone call. The creating includes assigning a correlated disconnect cause code and classifying the telephone call. The assigning and classifying are responsive to the received CDRs associated with the telephone call. The master correlated CDR includes the correlated disconnect cause code and the telephone call classification. A threshold crossing alert (TCA) is generated in response to a threshold for the correlated disconnect cause code being reached.

Abstract: A liquid condiment dispenser is provided having a base and a storage container pivotally coupled to the base by a pivot apparatus. The storage container is hollow with an opening for accepting a condiment container. A cooling device coupled to the storage container selectively cools an interior portion of the storage container. A lid in selective engagement with the storage container selectively seals the opening of the storage container and generally confines the condiment container within the interior portion of the storage container. A dispensing tube apparatus provides two fluid ducts between an interior volume of the condiment container and an exterior atmosphere. The dispensing tube apparatus is selectively coupled to the dispensing tap that is operably coupled to the lid. The dispensing tap selectively blocks the two fluid ducts between the interior volume of the generally rigid condiment container and the atmosphere.

Abstract: A dispensing tube apparatus for a liquid condiment dispenser is provided. A cap selectively engages a port of a condiment container. The cap has first and second fluid passages passing therethrough. A vent tube is fluidly coupled to the first fluid passage and extends a first distance from a first end of the cap. A liquid tube is associated with the second fluid passage at the first end of the cap. First and second compressible tubes respectively fluidly couple to the first and second fluid passages at a second end of the cap and extend from the second end of the cap. For example, the liquid tube extends a second distance from the first end of the cap, where the first distance is greater than the second distance. The first and second compressible tubes, for example, are generally defined by a dual lumen tube that is formed of elastomeric material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that employ the use of CDRs to effectively monitor and proactively respond to network or service events that impact performance within a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a plurality of call detail records (CDRs), wherein each of the plurality of call detail records comprises a plurality of fields. The method determines a n-field rule signature from each of the call detail records (CDRs), and analyzes the n-field rule signatures from the plurality of call detail records (CDRs) for detecting at least one network performance problem.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correlating and suppressing performance alerts in a packet network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for handling alerts in a packet network includes receiving a plurality of alerts relating to one or more faults in the packet network, wherein the plurality of alerts is generated from information contained in a plurality of call detail records, correlating the plurality of alerts into one or more sets of performance alerts, each of the one or more sets of performance alerts being associated with a common one of the one or more faults, and suppressing at least one further alert relating to at least one of the one or more sets.

Abstract: A system for performing an end-to-side vascular anastomosis, including an anastomosis device, an application instrument and methods for performing a vascular anastomosis. The system is applicable for performing an anastomosis between a vascular graft and the ascending aorta in coronary artery bypass surgery, particularly in port-access CABG surgery. A first aspect of the invention includes a vascular anastomosis staple. A first configuration has two parts: an anchor member, forming the attachment with the target vessel wall and a coupling member, forming the attachment with the bypass graft vessel. The anastomosis is completed by inserting the coupling member, with the graft vessel attached, into the anchor member. A second configuration combines the functions of the anchor member and the coupling member into a one-piece anastomosis staple.

Abstract: Special service impacting events in an IP network are collected and correlated. Real-time data representing occurrence of trunk group events impacting special services in trunk groups that are in service is collected, along with call detail records recorded by network elements representing occurrence of call events impacting special services and performance measurements of network elements representing occurrence of events affecting performance of the network elements impacting the special services. The collected real-time data representing occurrence of trunk group events, collected call detail record and collected performance measurements are correlated, and alarms are generated based on the correlated data.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for managing VoIP network elements are provided. Methods include receiving call details records (CDRs) from a plurality of network elements. The received CDRs including disconnect cause codes and telephone call correlation identifiers. The received CDRs are correlated to telephone calls based on the telephone call correlation identifiers. Two CDR records are associated with the same telephone call when their telephone call correlation identifiers are the same. A master correlated CDR is created for each telephone call. The creating includes assigning a correlated disconnect cause code and classifying the telephone call. The assigning and classifying are responsive to the received CDRs associated with the telephone call. The master correlated CDR includes the correlated disconnect cause code and the telephone call classification. A threshold crossing alert (TCA) is generated in response to a threshold for the correlated disconnect cause code being reached.