Abstract: A computer-implemented method of assisting in establishing a secure communication is disclosed. The method includes obtaining an encryption key that is shared with a credentialing device, receiving from a client device an encrypted session identifier that encodes a password, decrypting the session identifier with the key to extract the password, and authenticating a communication session for the device using a challenge-response protocol.

Abstract: A mobile robot guest for interacting with a human resident performs a room-traversing search procedure prior to interacting with the resident, and may verbally query whether the resident being sought is present. Upon finding the resident, the mobile robot may facilitate a teleconferencing session with a remote third party, or interact with the resident in a number of ways. For example, the robot may carry on a dialogue with the resident, reinforce compliance with medication or other schedules, etc. In addition, the robot incorporates safety features for preventing collisions with the resident; and the robot may audibly announce and/or visibly indicate its presence in order to avoid becoming a dangerous obstacle. Furthermore, the mobile robot behaves in accordance with an integral privacy policy, such that any sensor recording or transmission must be approved by the resident.

Abstract: A non-contact cardiac mapping method is disclosed that includes: (i) inserting a catheter into a heart cavity having an endocardium surface, the catheter including multiple, spatially distributed electrodes; (ii) measuring signals at the catheter electrodes in response to electrical activity in the heart cavity with the catheter spaced from the endocardium surface; and (iii) determining physiological information at multiple locations of the endocardium surface based on the measured signals and positions of the electrodes with respect to the endocardium surface. Related systems and computer programs are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to thiophene carboxamides of formula (I), wherein A, R1, R2, R3, n and X are as defined in the specification, processes and intermediates used in their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy.

Abstract: Calibrating automatic test equipment (ATE) includes determining an offset between a reference timing event and a channel event, where the channel event is associated with a communication channel of the ATE, and adjusting signal transmission over the communication channel based on the offset. Determining the offset may include obtaining a first time at which a reference timing signal is received at a device associated with a reference timing source, obtaining a second time at which the reference timing signal is received at a device associated with the communication channel, obtaining a third time at which a channel signal is received at the device associated with the communication channel, obtaining a fourth time at which the channel signal is received at the device associated with the reference timing source, and calculating the offset using the first time, the second time, the third time, and the fourth time.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire provided with a tread pattern on which a plurality of blocks are formed with circumferential grooves which extend along a circumferential direction of the tire and lateral grooves which traverse the circumferential grooves, wherein the lateral groove disposed between the blocks on the endmost tread edge region has a depth from 10 to 50% of a depth of the circumferential groove to be traversed and has a groove bottom concave portion whose both ends in a longitudinal direction are disposed inside the groove bottom, and a width of the groove bottom concave portion, which is determined on the basis of the bottom plane of the groove bottom, is from 25 to 45% of a groove width of the lateral groove.

Abstract: A wheeled transport device includes a body having a compartment configured to contain goods. Wheels are rotatably attached to a lower portion of the body, and a handle is attached to an upper portion of the body. The handle is configured to retract within a cavity defined by the body. An electronic device is mounted to the handle.

Abstract: The invention features a dual-mode audio system for an automobile which in one mode is configured for play while the doors to the automobile are closed, and in a second mode, is configured for play while a door, such as a tailgate, is opened. Additionally, the invention also features a battery monitor which monitors the operating condition of the battery and may estimate the energy capacity of the battery. The system may also take power conservation measures if the system determines that the engine is not running or the operating condition of the batter reaches a predetermined state. The invention also features a remote control integrated within a key fob for controlling the audio system. The invention features various orientations for mounting a pair of loudspeakers within an automobile which directly radiate sound out of a rear opening of the automobile.

Abstract: A distortion compensation method includes determining an undisturbed phase for at least one of a first position indication signal and a second position indication signal. The method includes determining an undisturbed ratio that relates the amplitude of the first position indication signal at a first frequency to the amplitude of the second position indication signal at a second frequency. The method also includes determining a disturbed amplitude of the position indication signal and adjusting a position indication based on the disturbed amplitude and phase, the undisturbed amplitude ratio, and the undisturbed phase. The method further comprises determining a relationship between the eddy current phase of the first position indication signal and the second position indication signal.

Abstract: Particular embodiments provide power usage management for network devices according to historical traffic pattern data. Network traffic statistics for traffic flowing through a network device may be determined. A traffic pattern for a time period based on the traffic flowing through the network device is then determined. The network device may then manage power based on the pattern. For example, when a pattern indicates that traffic flowing through the network device is light during a time period, then the network device may operate in a lower power mode, such as a standby mode and when it indicates that there is higher usage, the network device may operate in a normal power mode. In one embodiment, a power usage policy may be determined based on the historical traffic patterns and is automatically enforced by the network device. The power usage policy may also be dynamically adjusted over time based on network traffic statistics.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a laser diode; an objective lens configured to focus laser light emitted from the laser diode on a signal recording layer of an optical disc; a first aberration correction element arranged in an optical path between the laser diode and the objective lens; and a second aberration correction element arranged in the optical path between the laser diode and the objective lens and having an aberration correction speed lower than the aberration correction speed of the first aberration correction element, the first aberration correction element and the second aberration correction element being selectively operated according to the required aberration correction speed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus providing a critical set of endodontic instruments. The set includes a first endodontic instrument, a second endodontic instrument, and a third endodontic instrument. Each endodontic instrument includes a working portion that has a cone-like shape. Each working portion having an effective contact area defined by the exposed surface area of the working portion's respective cone-like shape. The difference between the effective contact areas of the first endodontic instrument and second endodontic instrument being substantially the same as the difference between the effective contact areas of the second endodontic instrument and third endodontic instrument.

Abstract: Techniques and device designs associated with devices having magnetically shielded magnetic or magnetoresistive tunnel junctions (MTJs) and spin valves that are configured to operate based on spin-transfer torque switching.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): are modulators of chemokine (for example CCR3) activity (for use in, for example, treating asthma).

Abstract: An optical disc device comprising: first and second laser diodes to radiate first and second laser beams with different first and second wavelengths, respectively; a first objective lens to irradiate the first laser beam to reflection area to read out image recording control data for controlling record of image recorded in the reflection area on label side of optical disc; a second objective lens to irradiate the second laser beam to image recording area to record image in the image recording area on the label side after reading out the data; a lens holder that the lenses are fixed thereon to be arranged side by side in radial direction, to be displaced in direction toward signal side and the radial direction; and a control unit to obtain distance between the lenses in the radial direction to calibrate recording position of image signal recorded in the image recording area.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first interface having a communication channel through which data is transmitted to or received from a target device and a first control register that is configured to control, based at least in part on its contents, transmission or reception of data through the communication channel. The apparatus also includes a second interface having a second control register that is configured to control, based at least in part on its contents, transmission or reception of data through the communication channel. A circuit in the apparatus harmonizes the contents of the first control register and the second control register, such that an external controller can control transmission or reception of data through the communication channel by providing control data in a first format to the first control register or by providing alternate control data in a second different format to the second control register.

Abstract: A method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000° F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency. Due to material constraints and cost considerations in the rest of the system the maximum temperature is presently limited to between 1700° F. and 2000° F. The method can be applied to all current solar collector designs.

Abstract: A system and method stores keys and values defined for a file as XML tags and values in a separate shadow file, allowing the keys and values to remain separate from the file, while being associated with the file so that the shadow file can be viewed, moved, stored or retrieved in tandem with the file.

Abstract: An object is to provide a display device with high contrast ratio. Another object is to manufacture such a high-performance display device at low cost. In a display device having a display element interposed between a pair of light-transmitting substrates, a stack of polarizer-including layers in a parallel nicol state is provided outside each of the light-transmitting substrates. Here, transmission axes of polarizers that are stacked in the stack on one side of the display element and transmission axes of polarizers that are stacked in the stack on another side of the display element are arranged to be displaced from a cross nicol state. Also, a retardation film may be provided between the polarizers that are stacked and the substrate.

Abstract: First encoded voice bits are transcoded into second encoded voice bits by dividing the first encoded voice bits into one or more received frames, with each received frame containing multiple ones of the first encoded voice bits. First parameter bits for at least one of the received frames are generated by applying error control decoding to one or more of the encoded voice bits contained in the received frame, speech parameters are computed from the first parameter bits, and the speech parameters are quantized to produce second parameter bits. Finally, a transmission frame is formed by applying error control encoding to one or more of the second parameter bits, and the transmission frame is included in the second encoded voice bits.