Abstract: A method and system are provided for provisioning logical circuits for intermittent use in a data network. A customer order requesting the use of a logical circuit for communicating data for a predetermined time period is received in the data network. A logical circuit is then provisioned in the data network prior to the start of the predetermined time period for communicating the customer data. Once the predetermined time period has elapsed, the provisioned logical circuit is deleted from the data network.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for tracking the rerouting of logical circuit data in a data network. A disclosed example method involves updating reroute information in response to a dropped packet associated with a quality of service parameter having been exceeded. Transmitted data is rerouted to at least one logical failover circuit in the data network from at least one failed logical circuit associated with the exceeded quality of service parameter. The at least one logical failover circuit is selected based on a bit rate capability specified to be one of a committed bit rate, a variable bit rate, or an unspecified bit rate.

Abstract: An advertisement exchange determines characteristics associated with advertisement slots such as slots in a commercial pod, locations on a printed page, banners in a video, billboards, etc. Characteristics may include demographic information, advertisement type, and neuro-response characteristics such as priming, attention, engagement, and retention. Advertisement slots are matched with advertisements and may be selected, purchased, exchanged, and analyzed by advertisers, individuals, corporations, and firms. In some examples, bids and offers are made for advertisement slots based on advertisement slot characteristics. Advertisement slot characteristics may be changed in real-time as placement of advertisements in surrounding slots changes the characteristics of a particular slot.

Abstract: An advertisement exchange obtains characteristics associated with multimedia advertisements such as commercial slots in a commercial pod, banners in a video, announcements in an audio program, etc. Characteristics may include demographic information, advertisement type, survey information, etc. Advertisement slots are offered with information on advertisement slot characteristics and may be selected, purchased, exchanged, and analyzed by advertisers, individuals, corporations, and firms. Advertisement slot characteristics may be changed in real-time as placement of advertisements in surrounding slots changes the characteristics of a particular slot. Advertisements may be automatically matched with advertisement slots based on advertisement slot characteristics and advertisement characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control traffic in a packet-switched network are disclosed. An example circuit manager comprises a probe interface to collect data representative of actual utilization of a network, a usage analyzer to estimate a utilization of the network for a future time interval based on the collected data, and a rebalancer to detect a trigger event based on the estimated utilization, and to automatically identify a future virtual circuit path through the network for the future time interval based on the estimated utilization when the trigger event is detected; wherein the probe interface, the usage analyzer and the rebalancer operate repetitively to route data in the network in response to actual data transmissions.

Abstract: When rotating a main body tube and an operation tube in a disclosed container toward a first direction, a moveable screw tube advances a predetermined amount. When further rotating toward the first direction, a screwing part urges a moving body forward. A female thread of the screwing part in the moveable screw tube is radially outwardly expandable via a slit. When the moveable screw tube advances toward the first direction, the outer diameter of the front end part is restricted and expansion thereof is prevented. When further rotating toward the first direction and the screwing part urges the moving body forward, expansion of the front end part and the female thread of the screwing part may be suppressed. Accordingly, the screwing part reliably exerts screw function when the moving body advances.

Abstract: Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example head curtain assembly for a vehicle loading dock includes a retractable curtain stiffened by a resiliently compressible foam panel that is more flexible about a horizontal axis than about a vertical axis. The difference in directional flexibility can be created by sewing the foam panel to a pliable cover using a series of parallel horizontal thread lines. The thread lines create in the foam a series of compressed indentations that run horizontally across the curtain so that the curtain tends to bend more easily along those lines. The relative stiffness in the horizontal direction enables the curtain to exert an appreciable sealing force against two lateral dock seal members, and the vertical flexibility makes the curtain easy to retract to accommodate vehicles of various heights. Touch-and-hold fasteners make many of the individual components of the head curtain readily replaceable.

Abstract: Embodiments are described that enable remote and interactive access, navigation, and analysis of reactions from viewers to a media instance. The reactions include physiological responses, survey results, verbatim feedback, event-based metadata, and derived statistics for indicators of success and failure from the viewers. The reactions are aggregated, and an interface enables remote access and navigation of the media instance, aggregated physiological responses synchronized with the media instance, survey results, and/or verbatim feedback related to the media instance. This enables users to interactively divide, dissect, parse, and analyze the reactions as they prefer. This automation provides an automated process enabling non-experts to understand complex physiological data, and to organize presentation of complex data according to their needs so as to present conclusions as appropriate to the media instance.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to distribute network IP traffic are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a first IP control packet at an input of a first server, the first IP control packet being received from a first router, selecting a second router within a router array associated with the first router to send the first IP control packet, the first server selecting the second router by matching a destination IP address of the first IP control packet to a first IP address subspace associated with the second router, transmitting the first IP control packet to the second router, and updating a forwarding table in the first router by associating the destination IP address of the first IP control packet with a first control path from the first router to the second router.

Abstract: A gaming controller arranged to conduct a game having an overall return to player (RTP) and including a base game and a feature game. The gaming controller is arranged to conduct a base game and a feature game and includes an RTP controller arranged to operate in response to a player RTP instruction to configure a relative contribution of the base game and the feature game to the overall RTP.

Abstract: A method of gaming including: displaying at least one symbol which comprises a visible symbol and a hidden symbol; locating an overlay on the at least one symbol; and determining whether the overlay makes the hidden symbol visible.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods to communicatively couple field devices to controllers in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a first interface configured to receive first information from a field device using a first communication protocol. The example apparatus also includes a communication processor communicatively coupled to the first interface and configured to encode the first information for communication via a bus using a second communication protocol. In addition, the example apparatus includes a second interface communicatively coupled to the communication processor and the bus and configured to communicate the first information via the bus using the second communication protocol. The bus is configured to use the second communication protocol to communicate second information associated with another field device.

Abstract: Example systems, apparatus, and methods to reroute Internet Protocol traffic based on network user preferences are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes detecting a network defect in a first communication path, receiving IP traffic associated with a network user at a router, wherein the IP traffic is to be routed by the router over the first communication path, and buffering the IP traffic associated with the network user during a first time period having a first duration defined by the network user.

Abstract: A thermal coupling includes an attachment frame; a plurality of substantially straight or planar frame ribs extending from said attachment frame, said attachment frame comprising an annular frame ring, said plurality of frame ribs generally parallel to said frame ring; a plurality of fastener rings provided on said plurality of frame ribs, respectively, said fastener rings extending substantially perpendicular to said frame ribs; and plurality of fastener ring openings provided in said plurality of fastener rings, respectively.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for load balancing in communication networks are disclosed. An example method to perform load balancing in a communication network disclosed herein comprises routing a registration request received for a user device in an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem network to a first call processor when the user device is registered with the first call processor and in an active call session with the first call processor, and querying a load balancer to determine whether to assign the user device to at least one of the first call processor or a second call processor when the user device is registered with the first call processor but not in any active call sessions with the first call processor.

Abstract: A method of determining contamination on a material having suspected contamination includes irradiating the material having suspected contamination with infrared energy over a spectrum of wavelengths; detecting the infrared energy reflected from the material having suspected contamination over the spectrum of wavelengths; performing multivariate analysis on the spectrum of the reflected infrared energy; comparing results of the multivariate analysis with a predetermined calibration of infrared energy spectra comprising the spectrum of wavelengths collected from at least one reference material; and determining presence or absence of contamination on the material having suspected contamination based on the predetermined calibration.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically configuring necessary parameters of a device to be coupled to a network with minimum human intervention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wired and/or wireless Ad-hoc network is established to facilitate communications among a group of devices. When a new device is added to the network, a rudimentary communication path is initially established between one of the devices in the network and the new device such that necessary parameters (e.g., SSID, WEP security, channel frequency) can be exchanged for the new device to function properly in the network. To ensure the parameters are exchanged in a secure fashion, an additional public security procedure can be used between the two devices.

Abstract: A user agent in a Web access device transmits an HTTP request for Web content to an origin server. The request contains a set of capabilities of the Web access device. A content authoring mechanism and adaptation determination service on the origin server process the request to determine what transformation is required to make the requested content fit the capabilities of the Web access device. The adaptation determination service invokes a niche transformation service that performs, in response to the content and the capabilities, the necessary transformation. The transformed Web content is transmitted to the user agent.