Abstract: A system comprising customer premises equipment including a reverse power supply unit and an access node to which the customer premises equipment is connected for permitting telephony devices connected to the customer premises equipment to make and receive telephone calls via the customer premises equipment and the access node. The reverse power supply unit is suitable for supplying electrical power from the customer's premises to an access node via a twisted copper pair, the reverse power supply unit including a power consumption signature detector operable to detect if the power drawn from the reverse power supply unit corresponds to a signature power consumption pattern indicative of a telephony device being in or transitioning into an off-hook state when connected directly to the reverse power supply unit and not being connected via a current limiting interface.

Abstract: Electronic shutter systems having an electronic shutter, a shutter controller configured in communication with the electronic shutter and configured to receive instructions from one or more user devices, a shutter sensor associated with the electronic shutter and configured to detect a state of the electronic shutter, wherein the shutter sensor is in communication with the shutter controller. The shutter controller is configured to transmit a state command to the electronic shutter upon receiving instructions from a user device, start a timer upon transmitting the state command, determine if a state of the electronic shutter matches the state command at expiration of the timer, when the state does not match the state command, generate a state failure message, and transmit the state failure message to the user device.

Abstract: A method and molding system for hydraulic blow molding of a container from a preform. The method precharges the molding medium within a fill head unit to a precharge pressure. During the injecting of the molding medium into the preform, the method further increases the pressure of the molding medium to a pressure greater than the precharge pressure.

Abstract: A snow mould comprises a foldable sheet wherein the sheet has first and second edges provided with an arrangement of complementary fastening elements configured to releasably connect together the first and second edges in a connected configuration. In the connected configuration, the snow mould has a base portion that narrows towards a base opening, the first and second edges extend to the base opening, and there is a filling opening remote from the base opening for use when putting snow into the mould.

Abstract: A method of displaying a battery life for a warming cart battery is provided. The method includes the steps of detecting with a processor that a warming cart battery voltage is out of range of a predetermined threshold, determining with a processor an operation state of each of a plurality of periphery warming cart devices, and automatically setting a battery scale of a warming cart battery based on which of the plurality of periphery warming cart devices are in an active operation state.

Abstract: In some examples, a plurality of nodes may each host a respective logical database (LDB) that includes database data that references external resources stored in a storage system. Further, each node may maintain, for each external resource referenced by the respective LDB on that node, a reference count of a number of references in the respective LDB to each external resource and a timestamp associated with the reference count. In response to addition of a reference to a particular external resource in a particular LDB, a node that hosts the particular LDB may be programmed to increment the reference count and update the timestamp for the particular external resource. Similarly, in response to removal of the reference to the particular external resource in the particular LDB, the node hosting the particular LDB is programmed to decrement the reference count and update the timestamp for the particular external resource.

Abstract: A power injection system (5) for delivering electrical power to one or more communications connections in a network, is responsive to a monitor (54) which measures the amplitude of signals present on the line to control an injector (55) such that it delivers a line voltage which, combined with the measured signal amplitude complies with a predetermined limit for the line.

Abstract: Window protection systems having a housing defining an interior space installable above a window, and a spool having a storm shutter wound thereon and contained within the interior space of the housing, the storm shutter configured to deploy from a first position to a second position, wherein, in the first position, the storm shutter is wound about the spool and contained within the interior space, and, in the second position, the storm shutter is deployed from the housing to protectively cover the window.

Abstract: To initiate the transmission of electrical power over a telecommunications connection from a power-collecting telecommunications interface unit such as a customer premises equipment, connectable to a power supply, to a power-receiving unit such as a curbside electrical/optical interface, when a connection is first established, or the collecting unit is first powered up, or in order to re-establish connection after a power outage, control signals are transmitted between low-power modems in the interface units using a low-power communications protocol. This allows the controlled initiation of a larger power output and a higher speed exchange of data once the full telecommunications connection has been established. A low-powered beacon signal is transmitted over the telecommunications connection by the power-collecting telecommunications interface unit on connection to a power supply, for detection by the power-receiving telecommunications interface unit.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line modem comprises a first part operable to operate in accordance with a high bandwidth Digital Subscriber Line protocol and a second part operable to operate in accordance with a low bandwidth Digital Subscriber Line protocol, wherein the second part is arranged to operate continuously whilst the first part is arranged to transition into a low power mode, in which less or no data is transmitted or received by the first part, when the demand for bandwidth over the connection falls below a predetermined amount. The modem additionally includes a router which controls the sending of data via the first and second parts as appropriate and controls the aggregation of data received via the two parts. The modem also includes a service splitter for passing signals received from a copper twisted pair forming a communications link via which the modem communicates with another modem to either the first part or the second part as appropriate based on the frequencies of the received signals.

Abstract: A system comprising customer premises equipment including a reverse power supply unit and an access node to which the customer premises equipment is connected for permitting telephony devices connected to the customer premises equipment to make and receive telephone calls via the customer premises equipment and the access node. The reverse power supply unit is suitable for supplying electrical power from the customer's premises to an access node via a twisted copper pair, the reverse power supply unit including a power consumption signature detector operable to detect if the power drawn from the reverse power supply unit corresponds to a signature power consumption pattern indicative of a telephony device being in or transitioning into an off-hook state when connected directly to the reverse power supply unit and not being connected via a current limiting interface.

Abstract: To initiate the transmission of electrical power over a telecommunications connection from a power-collecting telecommunications interface unit o such as a customer premises equipment, connectable to a power supply, to a power-receiving unit such as a curbside electrical/optical interface, when a connection is first established, or the collecting unit is first powered up, or in order to re-establish connection alter a power outage, control signals are transmitted between low-power modems in the interlace units using a low-power communications protocol. This allows the controlled initiation of a larger power output and a higher speed exchange of data once the full telecommunications connection has been established. A low-powered beacon signal is transmitted over the telecommunications connection by the power-collecting telecommunications interface unit on connection to a power supply, for detection by the power-receiving telecommunications interface unit.

Abstract: A method and molding system for hydraulic blow molding of a container from a preform. The method precharges the molding medium within a fill head unit to a precharge pressure. During the injecting of the molding medium into the preform, the method further increases the pressure of the molding medium to a pressure greater than the precharge pressure.

Abstract: An electrically powered node of a telecommunications system has a battery power backup associated with its power control unit. Under normal conditions it is maintained fully charged by means of trickle currents from the mains power feeds to each of a number of mains—connected customer equipments, by way of the “final drop” to the distribution point. These trickle currents are controlled by the respective power control units, to prevent overcharging. Using an electrical copper connection provided in parallel with the fibre connection, a battery backup can also be maintained in nodes further towards the exchange. The feeds are reversible, so that if a power outage removes the power supply from the customer premises, a “lifeline” plain telephone service between the exchange and the telephone handset is maintained using the local battery backup in the remote nodes. By limiting the service to simple telephony, the battery power can be sufficient to maintain the service for a reasonable duration.

Abstract: A method of forming a plastic container from a preform. The method comprises injecting a forming liquid into the preform at a predetermined system pressure range, a predetermined flow rate, and a predetermined duration sufficient to create a pressure spike at a peak pressure. The peak pressure being greater than the system pressure to urge the preform into the mold cavity, thus creating enhanced container definition, reduced post mold shrinkage, lower residual material stresses, and/or an improved transfer of the mold geometry and engraving to the final formed container.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line modem comprises a first part operable to operate in accordance with a high bandwidth Digital Subscriber Line protocol and a second part operable to operate in accordance with a low bandwidth Digital Subscriber Line protocol, wherein the second part is arranged to operate continuously whilst the first part is arranged to transition into a low power mode, in which less or no data is transmitted or received by the first part, when the demand for bandwidth over the connection falls below a predetermined amount. The modem additionally includes a router which controls the sending of data via the first and second parts as appropriate and controls the aggregation of data received via the two parts. The modem also includes a service splitter for passing signals received from a copper twisted pair forming a communications link via which the modem communicates with another modem to either the first part or the second part as appropriate based on the frequencies of the received signals.

Abstract: A power injection system (5) for delivering electrical power to one or more communications connections in a network, is responsive to a monitor (54) which measures the amplitude of signals present on the line to control an injector (55) such that it delivers a line voltage which, combined with the measured signal amplitude complies with a predetermined limit for the line.