Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining other users that will attend an event with a user. One of the methods includes receiving, by a computer-implemented agent for a device, input from a user identifying an event, determining constraints for other users that will be invited to attend the event, determining one or more other users who meet the constraints, identifying, for each of the other users, other computer-implemented agents, each of the other agents for respective other devices, sending, to each of the other agents, a request to determine whether the respective other user of the other agent is interested in attending the event, receiving, from a first subset of the other agents, a response that indicates that the respective other user is interested in attending the event, and facilitating communication between the user and the respective other users.

Abstract: A locking artificial tree trunk including a first generally cylindrical, hollow trunk portion including an upper end, the upper end defining a notch, and a second generally cylindrical trunk portion including a body portion, a lower end having an insertable portion, and an upper end. The locking artificial tree trunk also includes a coupling mechanism having a body portion and an upper portion having a tab, and defining a channel for receiving the insertable portion of the lower end of the second trunk portion. The body portion is inserted substantially into the upper end of the first trunk portion with the tab of the upper portion aligned with the notch, thereby preventing rotation of the coupling mechanism within the upper end of the first trunk portion.

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: 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: An artificial tree having a first tree section including a trunk and a trunk electrical connector, the trunk electrical connector including a first pair of electric terminals and a second pair of electrical terminals; and a second tree section including a trunk, a trunk electrical connector, and a light string, the trunk electrical connector in electrical connection with the light string and including a first pair of electric terminals and a second pair of electrical terminals. The first tree section is configured to electrically connect to the second tree section, such that the first pairs of electrical terminals of the first and second tree sections conduct power of a first type and the second pairs of electrical connectors of the first and second tree sections conduct power of a second type.

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: 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 light string for artificial trees and lighted decorative sculptures. The light string includes a wiring assembly with first and second parallel electrical conductors that extends substantially parallel to said first electrical conductor, electrical insulation comprising polyvinyl chloride that extends along said central axis and encases said first electrical conductor and said second single electrical conductor, and a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) assemblies encapsulated by a translucent material, each LED assembly including a housing, an LED mounted to the housing, each LED assembly electrically connected to, and mechanically in between, the first conductor and the second conductor so as to exert a lateral force on the first and second conductors thereby causing the first and second conductors to bend in a direction transverse to the central axis.

Abstract: An artificial tree that includes a tree trunk, branches on the tree trunk, a power circuit and a shaped light string. The shaped light string is on the branches, is in electrical connection with the power circuit and includes a pair of parallel wires and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) assemblies electrically connected to the wires, the LED assemblies oriented to direct a maximum intensity of light in a first direction. The shaped light string defines multiple of lighting sections, that extend from a main portion of the shaped light string and include a first longitudinally-extending portion of the wires, a second longitudinally-extending portion of the wires, the second portion being adjacent to, and in contact with, the first portion, an LED assembly adjacent the first and second portions, and a bend forming an end portion of the lighting section.

Abstract: A lighted artificial tree including a first trunk body, a second trunk body, a first electrical connector inside the first trunk body, and a second electrical connector inside the second trunk body. The first trunk body is keyed to the second trunk body such that the first trunk body is rotationally locked to the second trunk body. The first electrical connector is keyed to the second electrical connector such that the first electrical connector is rotationally locked to the second electrical connector.

Abstract: A reinforced wire for decorative lighting, the wire defining a central longitudinal wire axis and including: a longitudinally-extending reinforcing strand, the reinforcing strand comprising one or more fibers comprising a polymer material and defining a reinforcing-strand axis; a plurality of conductor strands wound about the reinforcing strand, each of the plurality of conductor strands defining a conductor strand axis; and an outer insulating layer adjacent to, and covering, one or more of the conductor strands. The reinforcing strand in cross section normal to the wire axis defines an asymmetrical shape.

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: An artificial tree that includes a first trunk body having a first elongated projection that extends axially from a first end toward a second end and forms a first keyway; a first electrical connector anchored within the first end of the first trunk body; a second trunk body, including a second elongated projection that extends axially, the second elongated projection forming a second keyway, the second elongated projection configured to be received by the first keyway; and a second electrical connector anchored within a first end of the second trunk body. The second elongated projection is received by the first keyway, and first and second electrical terminals of the first electrical connector make electrical connection with first and second electrical terminals of the second electrical connector, when the first end of the first trunk body is coupled to the first end of the second trunk body.

Abstract: A reinforced wire for decorative lighting, the wire defining a central longitudinal wire axis and including: a longitudinally-extending reinforcing strand, the reinforcing strand comprising one or more fibers comprising a polymer material and defining a reinforcing-strand axis; a plurality of conductor strands wound about the reinforcing strand, each of the plurality of conductor strands defining a conductor strand axis; and an outer insulating layer adjacent to, and covering, one or more of the conductor strands. The reinforcing strand in cross section normal to the wire axis defines an asymmetrical shape.

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: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining other users that will attend an event with a user. One of the methods includes receiving, by a computer-implemented agent for a device, input from a user identifying an event, determining constraints for other users that will be invited to attend the event, determining one or more other users who meet the constraints, identifying, for each of the other users, other computer-implemented agents, each of the other agents for respective other devices, sending, to each of the other agents, a request to determine whether the respective other user of the other agent is interested in attending the event, receiving, from a first subset of the other agents, a response that indicates that the respective other user is interested in attending the event, and facilitating communication between the user and the respective other users.

Abstract: A tree trunk system for an artificial decorative tree includes a first trunk body defining a first central axis extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the distal end having an insertable portion defining a plurality of channels, and a second trunk body having a proximal end configured to receive the insertable portion of the first trunk body and having a protuberance extending radially inward. When the trunk bodies are coupled, thereby preventing rotation of the first trunk body relative the second trunk body, about the common central axis.

Abstract: A dual-output power adapter for a lighted artificial tree having a plurality of tree portions with light strings having lighting elements. The dual-output power adapter includes a power cord including a first power conductor and a second power conductor, the power cord configured to transmit an input electrical power; a housing configured to receive the first power conductor and a second power conductor; power-converting circuitry in electrical connection with the first power conductor and the second power conductor, the power-converting circuitry configured to convert the input electrical power to a first output electrical power; a first pair of conductors for transmitting the first output electrical power; and a second pair of conductors for transmitting a second output electrical power.

Abstract: A lighted artificial tree as that includes a first trunk body, a second trunk body, a first electrical connector, and a second electrical connector. The first electrical connector is housed in the first trunk body, and the second electrical connector is housed in the second trunk body. The first trunk body is configured to couple to the second trunk body, causing the first and second electrical connectors to make electrical connection, the first electrical connector being rotationally locked to the second electrical connector.

Abstract: A lighted decorative sculpture. The sculpture is wrapped in light strings having translucent electrical insulation that clads electrical conductors of the light string, so that some of the light emitted by the lighting elements propagates axially along the light string before being scattered, refracted, or reflected radially away from the light string. In this way, the light strings so arranged effectively function as their own reflector, eliminating the need for wrapping the sculpture in an outer layer prior to mounting the light strings. The ability to view between the wrapped light strings and into the illuminated hollow of the sculpture also produces a unique lighting effect, giving the sculpture an overall translucent appearance. Various embodiments include a plurality of light strings that stem from the main power circuit, with LED lighting elements. The number of lighting elements per light string may be limited to prevent dimming of the lighting elements.