Abstract: A method for securing a portable electronic device having a housing to a substantially immovable object utilizing a locking assembly having a security rod or spike formed with an anchoring end separated axially by a protruding end, a locking device with an internal locking mechanism and a cable permanently attached to lire locking device at one end, includes several steps. The steps include securedly fixing the anchoring end of the security rod or spike to the portable electronic device upon or through the housing, attaching an other end of the cable to the substantially immovable object and inserting the protruding end of the security rod into an opening in the locking device to actuate the internal locking mechanism and lock the locking device to die captive security rod. Locking the security rod to the locking device concurrently locks the portable electronic device to which it is anchored to the substantially immovable object.

Abstract: A rendering process and system that may be used to composite virtual objects in panoramic video to provide a virtual reality and augmented reality experience. The process includes receiving low dynamic range (LDR) video data, e.g. 360° video; generating radiance maps, such as diffuse and specular maps, from the LDR data; inverse tone mapping the LDR data of the maps to generate high dynamic range (HDR) data for the maps; and receiving at least one virtual object and applying image based lighting (IBL) to the virtual object using the HDR data of the maps. A perceptually based threshold is also applied to radiance maps to detect prominent pixels, and using the prominent pixels as salient lights for image based shadowing (IBS) associated the virtual object. Objects are composited 360° video in real time using IBL and IBS without precomputation allowing user interaction with the objects.

Abstract: The method and system allows for users to share and be rewarded for information submitted or actions performed, including reports containing messages, images, videos, and geolocation data, of any issues they encounter. The submissions can be shared with the appropriate organization and/or stored on a server, and uploaded to a blockchain to ensure that there is a permanent, tamper-proof record verifying the authenticity of all related transactions. Each submission or action can be verified to create a rating for each user. The system can additionally provide a trust rating for a municipality, facility, venue or organization itself as well. Such a trust rating can be a function of the number of reports submitted by users and the resolution of such reports. The system can have the ability to reward users with digital value in return for receiving and verifying authenticity of the information, and to provide such users with the ability to redeem those rewards for goods and services.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for communicating transaction-related data to a recipient device. In at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method can be provided. The method can include directing storage of transaction-related information comprising payment data and value added services data. The method can further include communicating the transaction-related information to a recipient device during a card emulation communication initiated by the recipient device, wherein the recipient device utilizes the transaction-related information to complete a payment transaction and provide one or more value added services associated with the payment transaction.

Abstract: A method for securing a portable electronic device having a housing to a substantially immovable object utilizing a locking assembly having a security rod or spike formed with an anchoring end separated axially by a protruding end, a locking device with an internal locking mechanism and a cable permanently attached to lire locking device at one end, includes several steps. The steps include securedly fixing the anchoring end of the security rod or spike to the portable electronic device upon or through the housing, attaching an other end of the cable to the substantially immovable object and inserting the protruding end of the security rod into an opening in the locking device to actuate the internal locking mechanism and lock the locking device to die captive security rod. Locking the security rod to the locking device concurrently locks the portable electronic device to which it is anchored to the substantially immovable object.

Abstract: A wellbore survey tool and methods for estimating a direction of highest gamma ray intensity of a gamma ray distribution are provided. The tool includes a body having a center axis. The body is configured to be placed within a wellbore. The tool further includes a plurality of gamma ray detectors within the body. Each detector of the plurality of gamma ray detectors has a direction of maximum gamma ray sensitivity with the direction having a non-zero component perpendicular to the center axis. The non-zero components of the plurality of gamma ray detectors are spaced circumferentially about the center axis.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices and systems are disclosed that allow precise, controlled drug delivery via the oral palatal mucosa. The drug delivery devices can be easily used by a patient or other user, and reduce the likelihood of (or in some cases eliminate) dilution of the drug by saliva and fluids and inadvertent swallowing or unplanned uptake of the drug by the patient. The drug delivery devices include a body shaped to conform to a user's palate, and cavities in a palate-facing surface of the body that are configured to receive a drug in liquid form.

Abstract: A planar phased array antenna assembly includes a first face sheet with a first plurality of radiating slots for a first frequency band and a second plurality of radiating slots for a second frequency band, a second face sheet, a third face sheet, and a structure interposed between the first and second face sheets with a third plurality of radiating elements at the first frequency band and a fourth plurality of radiating elements at the second frequency band, and a first feed network for the third plurality of radiating elements and a second feed network for the fourth plurality of radiating elements, and the second face sheet interposed between the structure and the third face sheet. The planar phased array antenna assembly may form part of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) antenna.

Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is operable in an interrogation mode and in a self-imaging mode, the self-imaging mode entered in response to determining a response to interrogation pulses have been received from a ground terminal and position information specifying a ground location has been received from the ground terminal. A ground terminal is operable to receive interrogation pulses transmitted by a SAR, transmit responses, and transmit position information to cause the SAR to enter a self-imaging mode. The ground terminal receives first and subsequent pulses from the SAR where subsequent pulses include backscatter and are encoded. The ground terminal generates a range line by range compression.

Abstract: A system may include transaction storage devices. Each transaction storage device may include a data store. The system may further include a registry configured to receive, from a user, a first secure identifier. The secure identifier may be generated, using an encoding function, from a user identifier of a user. The registry may be further configured to receive a first selection of a first data store of a first transaction storage device, and store a first registration of the first data store with the first secure identifier. The first registration may include a universal resource identifier (URI) of the first data store. The registry may be further configured to receive, from a service provider, a first request to lookup a data store registered with the first secure identifier, retrieve the first registration, and transmit, to the service provider and using the first registration, the URI of the first data store.

Abstract: A system may include transaction storage devices. Each transaction storage device may include a data store configured to receive a request, from a service provider, to push a detailed transaction corresponding to a secure identifier. The secure identifier may be generated, using an encoding function, from a user identifier of a user. The data store may be further configured to store the detailed transaction based on a determination that the detailed transaction is valid. The system may further include a validator configured to obtain, from a registry, a validation rule corresponding to the secure identifier, and perform the determination. The determination may include applying the validation rule to the request. The system may further include the registry. The registry may be configured to store at least the validation rule.

Abstract: A system may include transaction storage devices. Each transaction storage device may include a data store configured to receive, from a first entity, a request to push a detailed transaction corresponding to a secure identifier. The secure identifier may be generated, using an encoding function, from a user identifier of a user. The data store may be further configured to store the detailed transaction based on a first determination to trust the first entity. The system may further include an access controller configured to perform the first determination by applying a first security rule corresponding to a type of the secure identifier to the request to push the detailed transaction, and a registry configured to store at least the first security rule.

Abstract: A quad-pol synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system reduces the effects of range ambiguities in a quad-pol SAR data. Pulses are transmitted in two sub-bands at respective ones of two different linear orientations. For each sub-band and orientation, returns are received in two orientations, and filtered to attenuate the other sub-band. A scattering matrix may be determined from the results. Additionally or alternatively, a Faraday rotation angle associated with acquired quad-pol SAR data is estimated, and used to correct a scattering matrix. Estimation may occur before, after, or both before and after acquisition of the quad-pol SAR data.

Abstract: A method for securing a portable electronic device having a housing to a substantially immovable object utilizing a locking assembly having a security rod or spike formed with an anchoring end separated axially by a protruding end, a locking device with an internal locking mechanism and a cable permanently attached to the locking device at one end, includes several steps. The steps include securedly fixing the anchoring end of the security rod or spike to the portable electronic device upon or through the housing, attaching an other end of the cable to the substantially immovable object and inserting the protruding end of the security rod into an opening in the locking device to actuate the internal locking mechanism and lock the locking device to the captive security rod. Locking the security rod to the locking device concurrently locks the portable electronic device to which it is anchored to the substantially immovable object.

Abstract: A method for preparing semiconductor nanocrystals comprising indium arsenide is disclosed.

Abstract: A digital beamforming synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mixes a first analog signal to generate a frequency-shifted first signal having a first spectral band, mixes a second analog signal to generate a frequency-shifted second signal having a second spectral band, positioned at a defined frequency offset from the first spectral band, and positioned non-overlapping relation with the first spectral band, combines the first and second frequency-shifted signals to generate a combined analog receive signal, and band-pass samples the combined analog receive signal to generate a digital baseband signal representative of the first and second analog signals. The SAR may mix the second analog signal to position the second spectral band in the Nyquist bandwidth, and in non-overlapping relationship with the first spectral band. Mixing may include down converting the analog signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating point of sale transactions. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method can be provided. The method can include collecting, by a mobile device at a merchant point of sale, merchant contextual information associated with a merchant station at a merchant location. The method can also include identifying payment information stored on the mobile device. Further, the method can also include providing the merchant contextual information and the payment information to a merchant device in order to complete a point of sale transaction.

Abstract: A wellbore survey tool and methods for estimating a direction of highest gamma ray intensity of a gamma ray distribution are provided. The tool includes a body having a center axis. The body is configured to be placed within a wellbore. The tool further includes a plurality of gamma ray detectors within the body. Each detector of the plurality of gamma ray detectors has a direction of maximum gamma ray sensitivity with the direction having a non-zero component perpendicular to the center axis. The non-zero components of the plurality of gamma ray detectors are spaced circumferentially about the center axis.

Abstract: A solar cell receiver for use in a concentrating solar system which concentrates the solar energy onto a solar cell for converting solar energy to electricity. The solar cell receiver may include a solar cell mounted on a support and with one or more III-V compound semiconductor layers. An optical element may be positioned over the solar cell and have an optical channel with an inlet that faces away from the solar cell and an outlet that faces towards the solar cell. A frame may be positioned over the support and extend around the solar cell with the frame having an inner side that extends above the support and faces towards the optical element. An encapsulant may be positioned over the support and contained between the optical element and the frame. The encapsulant may have enlarged heights at contact points with the optical element and the frame and a reduced height between the contact points away from the optical element and the frame. The solar cell receiver may be used in a solar cell module.