Abstract: A combustion-resistant branch assembly for an artificial tree, the branch assembly including a first branch portion including a first rod having a main portion intermediate a first end portion and a second end portion; a first group of sub-branches attached to the first branch portion, each sub-branch of the first group of sub-branches including a member having a first end portion; and a first winding, including a combustion-resistant strand, wrapped about the first end portion of the first rod of the first branch portion and the first end portion of each sub-branch of the first group of sub-branches, thereby attaching the first group of sub-branches to the first branch portion.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for handing off a user conversation between computer-implemented agents. One of the methods includes receiving, by a computer-implemented agent specific to a user device, a digital representation of speech encoding an utterance, determining, by the computer-implemented agent, that the utterance specifies a requirement to establish a communication with another computer-implemented agent, and establishing, by the computer-implemented agent, a communication between the other computer-implemented agent and the user device.

Abstract: A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for handing off a user conversation between computer-implemented agents. One of the methods includes receiving, by a computer-implemented agent specific to a user device, a digital representation of speech encoding an utterance, determining, by the computer-implemented agent, that the utterance specifies a requirement to establish a communication with another computer-implemented agent, and establishing, by the computer-implemented agent, a communication between the other computer-implemented agent and the user device.

Abstract: A light string includes an illumination device, a first wire, a second wire, soldering material, and transparent adhesive. The illumination device includes two soldering portions. The conductors of the first wire and the second wire are partially exposed to form a first soldering section and a second soldering section. Soldering material is used to attach the first soldering section and the second soldering section to the two soldering portions. The transparent adhesive forms a layer over, and covers, the illumination device, the first soldering section and the second soldering section, and extends to partially cover other portions of the first wire and the second wire.

Abstract: A decorative light string including a first group of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, a second plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, and a third plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other. The first, second, and third groups of lights are electrically connected in series. A first wire stabilizer is located between the first group of lights and the second group of lights, and a second wire stabilizer is located between the second group of lights and the third group of lights. The first and second wire stabilizers secure wire ends forming first and second gaps in the wiring of the light string.

Abstract: A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion.

Abstract: A multi-sectional artificial tree with internal and external power wiring for distributing and controlling power to a network of lights. The tree includes multiple tree sections, each tree section with a set of power wires inside a tree trunk, and a network of lighting wires outside the trunk. The network of lighting wires includes a tree-section wire network with a large gauge wire supplying power to groups of lights strings on branches on the tree trunk. Each group of branches has a branch-level lighting network with multiple connectors in series, and that connects to one connector of the tree-section wire network. Each branch-level lighting network powers multiple light strings connected in series, one light string per branch. The wires of the light strings are small gauge, and are connected by the branch-level connectors by a small-wire-to-large-wire connector.

Abstract: Application-level data in a storage system are evaluated. For example, a backup analysis tool retrieves a backup object stored in the storage system. The backup analysis tool reconstructs an application object from the backup object. The backup analysis tool accesses the first application object according to a native application format associated with the first object.

Abstract: A decorative lighting assembly comprises a first power wire electrically connected to a first power contact and a second power wire electrically connected to a second power contact. The first power wire and the second power wire cooperate to surround a display area of the decorative lighting assembly. Lamp assemblies are distributed across the display area. The lamp assemblies include a first row of lamp assemblies aligned along a first line, a second row aligned along a second line, a third row aligned along a third line, and a fourth row of lamp aligned along a fourth line. A first cord is disposed along a first zig-zag path connecting the lamp assemblies in the first row with the lamp assemblies in the second row. Intermediate wires are disposed along a second zig-zag path connecting the lamp assemblies in the second row with the lamp assemblies in the third row.

Abstract: A dual-color light string comprising a first insulated electrical wire cord, a second insulated electrical wire, two light-emitting diode devices (LED devices) and transparent glue. The first insulated electrical wire is partially exposed to form a first soldering section. The second insulated electrical wire is partially exposed to form a second soldering section. The two LED devices are respectively electrically connected to the first soldering section and the second soldering section, and the directions of bias of the two LED devices from the first soldering section to the second soldering section are opposite to each other; The transparent glue covers the two LED devices, the first soldering section and the soldering section, extends to partially cover a first insulating layer of the first insulated electrical wire and a second insulating layer of the second insulated electrical wire.

Abstract: A decorative light string for draping on an external structure, comprising a plurality of decorative-lighting wires, each of the plurality of decorative-lighting wires including an outer insulation layer, one or more conductors, and one or more reinforcing strands; and a plurality of lamps electrically connected to one another by the plurality of decorative-lighting wires.

Abstract: A tangle-resistant decorative lighting assembly, comprising: a main portion including a plurality of wires and connectors, including first and second connectors and first and second lighted-extension portions extending transversely from the main portion. The first lighted extension portion including: a first connector configured to detachably connect to the first connector of the main portion, a first plurality of wires connected to the first connector, and a first plurality of lamp assemblies connected to the first plurality of wires. The second lighted-extension portion including: a second connector configured to detachably connect to the second connector of the main portion, a second plurality of wires connected to the second connector, and a second plurality of lamp assemblies connected to the second plurality of wires. The first connector of the main portion comprises a lock portion configured to engage with a lock portion of the first connector of the first lighted-extension portion.

Abstract: A light string includes an illumination device, a first wire, a second wire, soldering material, and transparent adhesive. The illumination device includes two soldering portions. The conductors of the first wire and the second wire are partially exposed to form a first soldering section and a second soldering section. Soldering material is used to attach the first soldering section and the second soldering section to the two soldering portions. The transparent adhesive forms a layer over, and covers, the illumination device, the first soldering section and the second soldering section, and extends to partially cover other portions of the first wire and the second wire.

Abstract: A solution is provided that can be used in a communication node. A case is provided that supports a card module. The card module includes a circuit board with a front edge and a rear edge and includes a chiclet mounted adjacent the front edge. A housing can be pressed onto the circuit board and chiclet and be retain the housing in place. A transformer box is provided is provided on the circuit board between the housing and the rear edge. A POE card can be mounted on the circuit board between the transformer box and the housing.

Abstract: Application-level data in a storage system are evaluated. For example, a backup analysis tool retrieves a backup object stored in the storage system. The backup analysis tool reconstructs an application object from the backup object. The backup analysis tool accesses the first application object according to a native application format associated with the first object.

Abstract: A decorative light string for draping on an external structure, comprising a plurality of decorative-lighting wires, each of the plurality of decorative-lighting wires including an outer insulation layer, one or more conductors, and one or more reinforcing strands; and a plurality of lamps electrically connected to one another by the plurality of decorative-lighting wires.

Abstract: A solution is provided that can be used in a communication node. A case is provided that supports a card module. The card module includes a circuit board with a front edge and a rear edge and includes a chiclet mounted adjacent the front edge. A housing can be pressed onto the circuit board and chiclet and be retain the housing in place. A transformer box is provided is provided on the circuit board between the housing and the rear edge. A POE card can be mounted on the circuit board between the transformer box and the housing.

Abstract: A tangle-resistant decorative lighting assembly, comprising: a main portion including a plurality of wires and connectors, including first and second connectors and first and second lighted-extension portions extending transversely from the main portion. The first lighted extension portion including: a first connector configured to detachably connect to the first connector of the main portion, a first plurality of wires connected to the first connector, and a first plurality of lamp assemblies connected to the first plurality of wires. The second lighted-extension portion including: a second connector configured to detachably connect to the second connector of the main portion, a second plurality of wires connected to the second connector, and a second plurality of lamp assemblies connected to the second plurality of wires. The first connector of the main portion comprises a lock portion configured to engage with a lock portion of the first connector of the first lighted-extension portion.