Abstract: A heel-driven drum pedal system for playing a primary percussion instrument and a secondary percussion instrument. The heel-driven drum pedal system includes a heel-driven pedal that strikes the secondary percussion instrument with a separate beater unit connected to the heel-driven pedal with an extension rod. The heel-driven pedal further including at least one cut-out, allowing the heel-driven pedal to be coupled to a standard toe-driven drum pedal for the primary percussion instrument. The heel-driven pedal coupled to the toe-driven drum pedal so that both pedals can be operated with one foot.

Abstract: A low-cost safety valve for gas lines and similar supply lines that can be remotely activated via a secure wireless link employing a low leakage sealing mechanism that is compatible with low energy actuators to for extended battery life. A miniaturized controller and wireless electronics assembly provides the control mechanism for actuating the valve, as well as reporting data regarding the valve status to wireless interrogators or external networks via an ad hoc wireless network. A variety of simple magnetic valve operating mechanisms can be implemented with the miniaturized electronic control circuits and the valve body. Such control actuation mechanisms enable automatic resetting or manual resetting valves. The gas line shut off valve can provide important safety benefits at an affordable price.

Abstract: A method comprising detecting, by an electronic device, a first input associated with a first selectable item of one or more selectable items displayed on a display, invoking, based on the first input, a menu for display adjacent an edge of the display, wherein the menu comprises one or more selectable icons and each icon represents a function, wherein when the first input is a continuous gesture extending to an icon displayed in the menu, performing the function associated with the icon.

Abstract: An electronic device and method for sending a message is provided. The electronic device includes a network interface, an input device and a processor in communication with the network interface and the input device. The processor is configured to establish a connection with a plurality of messaging applications, select a messaging service, receive content and input via a messaging composition interface and send the message. The method involves establishing a connection with a plurality of messaging applications, selecting a messaging service, receiving content and input via a messaging composition interface, and sending the message.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising a display and means for receiving user input, a method of operation thereof and computer software, the method comprising, while receiving a first user input, displaying a menu in a first configuration, the menu in a first configuration having one or more menu elements; and on receiving a second user input continuous from the first user input, displaying the menu in a second configuration, wherein at least one element of the menu in a first configuration is represented in the menu in a second configuration.

Abstract: Extrusion of feed materials of a high temperature formable non-ferrous metal susceptible to embrittlement during air processing uses an extrusion system having a rotatable wheel and shoe covering part of the length of a groove around the periphery of the wheel to form an arcuate passageway, the shoe having an abutment which substantially closes a second end of the passageway and an extrusion die spaced from the abutment by a die chamber. The process includes pre-heating the feed material to not less than about 390° C. in a chamber defined by a feeder device, maintaining a protective atmosphere in the chamber of the feeder device while the feed material is heated. The pre-heated feed material then is passed to an inlet end of the passageway, and drawn along the passageway, to be forced by the abutment into the die chamber and through an extrusion orifice of the die to provide extruded product.

Abstract: A control circuit co-displays a share-content selection opportunity (such as, but not limited to, a user-selectable icon button) when also displaying shareable content. Upon detecting selection of this share-content selection opportunity, the control circuit displays a plurality of different selectable content-sharing services. By one approach these different selectable content-sharing services are displayed in a window that partially, but not fully, overlies the shareable content. These teachings also provide for displaying a preselected service window for a given one of the plurality of different selectable content-sharing services. The preselected service can be selected, for example, on the basis of having been a most-recently selected one of the different selectable content-sharing services (either in general or in conjunction with the particular application as corresponds to the shareable content).

Abstract: A low-cost safety valve for gas lines and similar supply lines that can be remotely activated via a secure wireless link employing a low leakage sealing mechanism that is compatible with low energy actuators to for extended battery life. A miniaturized controller and wireless electronics assembly provides the control mechanism for actuating the valve, as well as reporting data regarding the valve status to wireless interrogators or external networks via an ad hoc wireless network. A variety of simple magnetic valve operating mechanisms can be implemented with the miniaturized electronic control circuits and the valve body. Such control actuation mechanisms enable automatic resetting or manual resetting valves. The gas line shut off valve can provide important safety benefits at an affordable price.

Abstract: A system for incorporation into a retractable covering that includes a flexible lift cord extending from a headrail to a bottom rail. The system includes a flexible protector of a length similar to that of an associated lift cord with the lift cord being operatively connected to the protector. The protector is in turn connected to a fabric extending between the headrail and the bottom rail at predetermined spaced locations so that any loop of protector formable is limited by the spacing between the locations at which the protector is connected to the fabric. The maximum size of a loop so formed in the protector and thus the lift cord associated therewith is insufficient to encapsulate a body part of a child or infant.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, at an electronic device having a display and means for receiving user input, said method comprises, in response to receipt of a user input performed in relation to one or more selectable items displayed in a graphical user interface on the display: displaying on the display a menu adjacent an edge of the display, while maintaining at least a portion of the graphical user interface on the display, the menu containing one or more icons, each icon representing a function and being selectable by a user to cause the function to be performed in relation to the one or more items; and maintaining responsiveness to user input performed in relation in the graphical user interface, while the menu is displayed on the display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a network access device is provided. Embedded within the access device are three distinct software layers. The first layer is a combined text-interface generator and Hypertext Transport Protocol client. The second layer is a combined Hypertext Transport Protocol server and Simple Network Management Protocol manager. The third layer is a Simple Network Management Protocol agent that has direct access to the configuration data of the access device. A user can manage the device through the embedded text-interface generator, by using an external HTTP client to communicate with the embedded HTTP server, or by using an external SNMP manager to communicate with the embedded SNMP agent. Techniques are disclosed for embedding SNMP information in messages passed between HTTP clients and servers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, at an electronic device having a display and a means for receiving user input, comprises: when the graphical user interface of the application displays a number of items and the device receives user input, displaying in relation to a selected first item a graphical user interface element, the graphical user interface element being movable in response to user input to select one or more additional items adjacent the first item.

Abstract: A method comprises detecting, by a portable electronic device having a display, a gesture, selecting a category of selectable items based on the gesture. The method further comprises identifying one or more selectable items within the selected category to be displayed, and displaying the one or more selectable items.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, at an electronic device having a display and means for receiving user input, said method comprises: displaying on the display a menu; and where a selected first item is associated with a second item, said menu is displayed with one of the first and the second item as a menu option and a number of menu functions associated with the other of the first and second item, and when input is received to select the one of the first and second item in the menu, the menu is displayed with a number of menu functions associated with the one of the first and the second item and at least one of: the other of the first and second item; and another item, associated with the first item, as a menu option.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating an electronic device having a display and means for receiving user input, the method comprises: displaying on the display a menu adjacent an edge of the display, the menu containing one or more icons, each icon representing a function and being selectable by the user; and in response to detection of a user input in relation to an icon, causing the device to display a description of the function of the icon, wherein the description is displayed to project from the menu.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, at an electronic device having a display and means for receiving user input, said method comprises, in response to receiving user input indicative of an operation in relation to a selected item, displaying an undo option selectable by a user of said device to undo the operation in relation to the selected item, wherein the undo option is displayed for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, at an electronic device having a display and means for receiving user input, said method comprises, in response to receipt of a user input performed in relation to one or more selectable items displayed in a graphical user interface on the display: displaying on the display a menu adjacent an edge of the display, while maintaining at least a portion of the graphical user interface on the display, the menu containing one or more icons, each icon representing a function and being selectable by a user to cause the function to be performed in relation to the one or more items; and maintaining responsiveness to user input performed in relation in the graphical user interface, while the menu is displayed on the display.

Abstract: A method comprises detecting, by a portable electronic device having a display, a gesture, selecting a category of selectable items based on the gesture. The method further comprises identifying one or more selectable items within the selected category to be displayed, and displaying the one or more selectable items.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising, at an electronic device having a display and means for receiving user input, said method comprises: displaying on the display, while maintaining at least a portion of the graphical user interface on the display, a menu containing one or more functions selectable by the user; and further comprising, altering at least a portion of the graphical user interface on the display so as to reduce the obscuration of the graphical user interface by the menu.

Abstract: An electronic device and method for sending a message is provided. The electronic device includes a network interface, an input device and a processor in communication with the network interface and the input device. The processor is configured to establish a connection with a plurality of messaging applications, select a messaging service, receive content and input via a messaging composition interface and send the message. The method involves establishing a connection with a plurality of messaging applications, selecting a messaging service, receiving content and input via a messaging composition interface, and sending the message.