Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for identifying the root cause of device communication failures in a communication network comprising collecting communication data transmitted and received on the communication network from a controller and one or more devices operably connected to the communication network and analyzing the collected communication data to diagnose if communication data is local looping or has been lost between the controller and the one or more devices and the location of the fault in the communication network.

Abstract: A system and method are configured to identify advertising assets and automate the creation and monetization of advertisements using such assets. Information regarding advertising assets from a variety of asset providers is collected and stored in a database. Advertisers provide information regarding themselves and desired advertising assets, such as based upon criteria for an advertisement to be created. The advertiser and/or advertisement information is used to identify or match relevant assets, such as by searching tags which identify aspects or characteristics. An advertiser may selects identified assets, with the system generating one or more sample advertisements using those assets and providing payment to the provider of the asset.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a tread portion having (i) circumferential grooves and (ii) circumferential ribs or rows of tread blocks; an inner surface defining a tire cavity; and a sealant material layer at least partially covering the inner surface radially below the tread portion within the tire cavity. The sealant material layer comprises elevations of sealant material, wherein an elevation of sealant material is provided radially below each of at least two of the circumferential grooves, and wherein the sealant material layer has a larger radial thickness in said elevations than in areas radially below the circumferential ribs or rows of tread blocks.

Abstract: A method includes presenting a graphical user interface to a user, where the graphical user interface identifies multiple slots that are configured to be coupled to multiple input/output (I/O) modules. The method also includes receiving, from the user via the graphical user interface, information defining a slot assembly data map. The slot assembly data map identifies data offsets and data sizes associated with the I/O modules. The data offsets and the data sizes identify where data can be sent to or received from the multiple I/O modules over a single logical connection. The method further includes using the data offsets and the data sizes of the slot assembly data map to provide data to or receive data from one or more of the I/O modules over the single logical connection.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method includes receiving one or more sensor streams with an engine. The engine identifies one or more actions that are performed at first and second stations of a plurality of stations within the sensor stream(s). The received sensor stream(s) and identified one or more actions performed at the first and second stations are stored in a data structure. The identified one or more actions are mapped to the sensor stream(s). The engine characterizes each of the identified one or more actions performed at each of the first and second stations to produce determined characterizations thereof. Based on one or more of the determined characterizations, automatically producing a recommendation, either dynamically or post-facto, to move at least one of the identified one or more actions performed at one of the stations to another station to reduce cycle time.

Abstract: Methods to accurately determine the maximum bending moment Mb for a spot weld are provided. The methods include subjecting a test coupon including a spot weld, to a coach peel test and monitoring the test coupon using digital image correlation in order to determine the bending moment arm length at peak force. The bending moment arm length at peak force is multiplied by the peak force value to provide an accurate maximum bending moment for the spot weld. The calculated maximum bending moment Mb is used in a combined force based spot weld failure calculation to predict failure of a spot weld under a combined loading condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handover of activities between a vehicle and a wearable device involve pairing the wearable device and a vehicle device with a wireless telephone. The proximity of the wearable device and the intention of a wearer of the device are determined and used to transfer information between the wireless telephone and the wearable device and/or the vehicle device in a seamless manner. Depending upon whether the wearer is in the vehicle or outside of the vehicle an activity, such as navigation, will be performed either by the vehicle device or the wearable device.

Abstract: The systems and methods provide an action recognition and analytics tool for use in manufacturing, health care services, shipping, retailing and other similar contexts. Machine learning action recognition can be utilized to determine cycles, processes, actions, sequences, objects and or the like in one or more sensor streams. The sensor streams can include, but are not limited to, one or more video sensor frames, thermal sensor frames, infrared sensor frames, and or three-dimensional depth frames. The analytics tool can provide for automatic creation of birth certificates for each instance of a subject product or service. The birth certificate can string together snippets of the sensor streams along with indicators of cycles, processes, action, sequences, objects, parameters and the like captured in the sensor streams.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a machine and continuous data set including process data, quality data, specific actor data, and ergonomic data (among others) to create more accurate job assignments that maximize efficiency, quality and worker safety. Using the data set, tasks may be assigned to actors based on objective statistical data such as skills, task requirements, ergonomics and time availability. Assigning tasks in this way can provide unique value for manufacturers who currently conduct similar analyses using only minimal observational data.

Abstract: The systems and methods provide an action recognition and analytics tool for use in manufacturing, health care services, shipping, retailing and other similar contexts. Machine learning action recognition can be utilized to determine cycles, processes, actions, sequences, objects and or the like in one or more sensor streams. The sensor streams can include, but are not limited to, one or more video sensor frames, thermal sensor frames, infrared sensor frames, and or three-dimensional depth frames. The analytics tool can provide for analyzing ergonomic data from the one or more sensor streams.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method includes receiving one or more sensor streams with an engine. The engine identifies one or more actions that are performed at first and second stations of a plurality of stations within the sensor stream(s). The received sensor stream(s) and identified one or more actions performed at the first and second stations are stored in a data structure. The identified one or more actions are mapped to the sensor stream(s). The engine characterizes each of the identified one or more actions performed at each of the first and second stations to produce determined characterizations thereof. Based on one or more of the determined characterizations, automatically producing a recommendation, either dynamically or post-facto, to move at least one of the identified one or more actions performed at one of the stations to another station to reduce cycle time.

Abstract: A method includes presenting a graphical user interface to a user, where the graphical user interface identifies multiple slots that are configured to be coupled to multiple input/output (I/O) modules. The method also includes receiving, from the user via the graphical user interface, information defining a slot assembly data map. The slot assembly data map identifies data offsets and data sizes associated with the I/O modules. The data offsets and the data sizes identify where data can be sent to or received from the multiple I/O modules over a single logical connection. The method further includes using the data offsets and the data sizes of the slot assembly data map to provide data to or receive data from one or more of the I/O modules over the single logical connection.

Abstract: Methods to accurately determine the maximum bending moment Mb for a spot weld are provided. The methods include subjecting a test coupon including a spot weld, to a coach peel test and monitoring the test coupon using digital image correlation in order to determine the bending moment arm length at peak force. The bending moment arm length at peak force is multiplied by the peak force value to provide an accurate maximum bending moment for the spot weld. The calculated maximum bending moment Mb is used in a combined force based spot weld failure calculation to predict failure of a spot weld under a combined loading condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handover of activities between a vehicle and a wearable device involve pairing the wearable device and a vehicle device with a wireless telephone. The proximity of the wearable device and the intention of a wearer of the device are determined and used to transfer information between the wireless telephone and the wearable device and/or the vehicle device in a seamless manner. Depending upon whether the wearer is in the vehicle or outside of the vehicle an activity, such as navigation, will be performed either by the vehicle device or the wearable device.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for a vehicle grab handle includes spaced apart first and second roof attachment portions for mounting to a roof side rail and spaced apart first and second support portions depending downwardly toward a vehicle cabin. The first support portion depends from the first attachment portion and the second support portion depends from the second attachment portion. An interconnecting portion extends between the spaced apart first and said second support portions for mounting the vehicle grab handle. At least one reinforcing flange extends along at least one longitudinal edge defined by the roof attachment portions and the support portions. The at least one reinforcing flange extends from one or both of the first and second attachment portions a limited distance to a location spaced apart from the interconnecting portion.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for a vehicle grab handle includes spaced apart first and second roof attachment portions for mounting to a roof side rail and spaced apart first and second support portions depending downwardly toward a vehicle cabin. The first support portion depends from the first attachment portion and the second support portion depends from the second attachment portion. An interconnecting portion extends between the spaced apart first and said second support portions for mounting the vehicle grab handle. At least one reinforcing flange extends along at least one longitudinal edge defined by the roof attachment portions and the support portions. The at least one reinforcing flange extends from one or both of the first and second attachment portions a limited distance to a location spaced apart from the interconnecting portion.

Abstract: Virtual concatenation circuitry is disclosed for implementation in a network element of a data communication network. The virtual concatenation circuitry in a preferred embodiment is operative: (i) to maintain, for each of the individual member streams of a virtual concatenation stream, a corresponding counter which tracks pointer adjustments for that member stream; and (ii) to generate pointers based on values of the counters so as to substantially equalize incoming and outgoing pointer adjustments for the member streams at the network element.

Abstract: Virtual concatenation circuitry is disclosed which provides stall need detection and an associated stall mechanism in a network element of a data communication network. The virtual concatenation circuitry in a preferred embodiment is operative to provide differential delay compensation for one or more member streams of a virtual concatenation stream. The differential delay compensation involves introducing delay into at least one of the member streams. The stall need detection aspect of the invention relates to detecting a condition under which introduction of the delay is required for alignment of member streams, for example, upon addition of a member stream to the virtual concatenation stream. Such a condition may arise, for example, if a transmission delay of an added stream is larger than that of all other member streams of the virtual concatenation stream.

Abstract: Virtual concatenation circuitry is disclosed for implementation in a network element of a data communication network. The virtual concatenation circuitry in a preferred embodiment is operative: (i) to maintain, for each of the individual member streams of a virtual concatenation stream, a corresponding counter which tracks pointer adjustments for that member stream; and (ii) to generate pointers based on values of the counters so as to substantially equalize incoming and outgoing pointer adjustments for the member streams at the network element.