Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission medium for propagating electromagnetic waves. The transmission medium can include a core for propagating electromagnetic waves guided by the core without an electrical return path, a rigid material surrounding the core, wherein an inner surface of the rigid material is separated from an outer surface of the core, and a conductive layer disposed on the rigid material. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system having a first plurality of transmitters for launching according to a signal, first electromagnetic waves, and a second plurality of transmitters for launching, according to the signal, second electromagnetic waves. The first electromagnetic waves and the second electromagnetic waves combine at an interface of a transmission medium to induce a propagation of a third electromagnetic wave, the third electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency, and wherein the second plurality of transmitters are spaced apart from the first plurality of transmitters in a direction of propagation of the third electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a plurality of entrance cameras that capture each of visitors from multiple different angles when the each of visitors enters a facility in which a plurality of intra-facility cameras are installed at respective prescribed positions, and a monitoring apparatus that accumulates visitor data which associates captured images of the each of visitors with identification information of the each of visitors, and monitors the each of visitors in the facility. The monitoring apparatus specifies one intra-facility camera installed at or near a position of detection of the abnormality as a near-abnormality-position intra-facility camera in response to a notice of detection of an abnormality in the facility, extracts one or more visitors found in a video captured by the near-abnormality-position intra-facility camera based on the visitor data; and employs the one or more visitors as security action target persons.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, accessing first information for a first wireless access device associated with a first wireless access network in first communication with a portable communication device and accessing second information for a second wireless access device associated with a second wireless access network. A determination is made according to the first information and the second information, to facilitate second communication between the portable communication device and the second wireless access network via the second wireless access device. A first portion of a first geographic area associated with the second wireless access device is covered via a directional capability responsive to a determination to facilitate the second communication between the portable communication device and the second wireless access network. The directional capability facilitates the second communication between the portable communication device and the second wireless access device.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system configured for obtaining a plurality of segments of media content, generating a plurality of tagged media segments by tagging each of the plurality of segments of media content according to one of a plurality of content designators, and generating a plurality of content groups by grouping the plurality of tagged media segments according to their corresponding content designators. The system can be further configured for identifying an activity of a user according to activity data collected from at least one device, generating, according to the activity of the user, a selected content group by selecting a content group from the plurality of content groups, and transmitting to a target communication device a notification associated with the selected content group. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for transmitting a source test signal directed to a second system of a distributed communication system for a retransmission of the source test signal by the second system and a plurality of other systems of the distributed communication system, receiving a plurality of returned messages from the second system, where each of the plurality of returned messages includes information associated with a signal test performed by the second system and at least one of the plurality of other systems, where the signal test comprises a comparison of a retransmission of the source test signal and an expected signal profile of the source test signal, and determining from the plurality of returned messages whether any one of the plurality of other systems is experiencing a degradation in transmission signal quality. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for cleaning materials, such as flooring and upholstery. In some cases, the systems and methods use an electrolytic cell to electrolyze a solution comprising sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium acetate, sodium percarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and/or any other suitable chemical to generate electrolyzed alkaline water and/or electrolyzed oxidizing water. In some cases, the cell comprises a recirculation loop that recirculates anolyte through an anode compartment of the cell. In some cases, the cell further comprises a sensor and a processor, where the processor is configured to automatically change an operation of the cell, based on a reading from the sensor. In some cases, a fluid flows past a magnet before entering the cell. In some additional cases, fluid from the cell is conditioned by being split into multiple conduits that run in proximity to each other. Additional implementations are described.

Abstract: A collator includes at least one processor and a storage unit storing a plurality of registered face images, the processor performs a partial collation for collating a feature quantity of a first target area excluding partial areas in each of the plurality of registered face images with a feature quantity of a second target area excluding a partial area in a search face image to be searched, and displays a result of the partial collation.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method including receiving, from a first network, a first node identifier associated with a second network, transmitting the first node identifier to a small cell node, receiving a handover initiation signal from the first network responsive to a request for a handover, from a macro cell node of the second network to the small cell node of the first network, of a communication session associated with a first wireless communication link to a communication device, where the request is triggered at the second network responsive to identification of the first node identifier in a first wireless signal from the communication device, and where the first node identifier is obtained by the communication device via a second wireless signal from the small cell node, and facilitating a second wireless communication link to the communication device via the small cell node to complete the handover. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A small antenna device having good communications performance and a wide communications area even when a metal plate is present in the antenna communications direction, even when the antenna is arranged, for example, inside a box-shaped metal case, and even when a through hole is used that has a smaller area than the antenna. This device comprises: the antenna; a rear surface cover overlapping with the antenna and being a conductor that faces the winding of the antenna; two first insulating areas provided in the rear surface cover and extending in a direction that intersects the winding axis of the antenna; and a second insulating area that connects between the first insulating areas. At least part of the area sandwiched by the first insulating areas faces the antenna.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a light source, an image sensor, and a controller. Each pixel of the image sensor includes first and second accumulators and a discharger. The controller, while a component of light from the light source reflected by the surface of a target is incident on the image sensor, causes the accumulators to accumulate signal charge not discharged to the discharger, by setting the image sensor so that signal charge is discharged to the discharger, while a component having scattered inside the target is incident on the image sensor, causes the first accumulator to accumulate signal charge by setting the image sensor so that signal charge is not discharged to the discharger and signal charge is accumulated in the first accumulator, and causes the image sensor to generate first and second signals that are respectively based on signal charge accumulated in the first and second accumulators.

Abstract: Provided are wireless communication methods and devices, in one embodiment, a wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication device comprises: transmitting a data packet repeatedly in multiple subframes including at least one normal subframe and at least one special subframe to another wireless communication device, wherein the available resources in the special subframe are different from that in the normal subframe, the data packet includes multiple modulated symbols which are divided into multiple modulated-symbol sets, in each subframe, each OFDM symbol is mapped by one of the modulated-symbol sets, and in every subframe, the modulated symbols in the same modulated-symbol set are mapped onto REs in one OFDM symbol in a fixed order. In another embodiment, multiple repetitions of the data packet are transmitted in each subframe, and in each special subframe, different repetitions are mapped onto REs with cyclic shift.

Abstract: A battery includes first and second power generating elements laminated to each other. In the first power generating element, the inner layer of a first electrode current collector is in contact with a first electrode active material layer. In the second power generating element, the inner layer of a second electrode current collector is in contact with a second electrode active material layer. The outer layers of the first electrode current collector and the second electrode current collector are in contact with each other. The inner layer of the first electrode current collector contains a first material; the inner layer of the second electrode current collector contains a third material different from the first material; the outer layer of the second electrode current collector contains a second material different from the first material; and the outer layer of the first electrode current collector contains the second material.

Abstract: A power control and delivery system for improving and prolonging the performance of batteries through a total power source comprised of a battery, a power controller and a power buffer.

Abstract: A method for intermediating communications with an automated system includes receiving, at an intermediating device that implements an intermediating communication application, an instruction to complete a transaction request on behalf of a user. The method also includes determining, by the intermediating communication application on the intermediating device, a destination system from which to request completion of the transaction request. The method additionally includes interacting, by the intermediating device, with the destination system to fulfill the transaction request.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a need to provide a service to a first communication device of a plurality of communication devices, detecting a movement of a second communication device of the plurality of communication devices in a direction that will place the second communication device in a communication range of the first communication device, and transmitting a message to the second communication device to provide the service to the first communication device when the second communication device comes into the communication range of the first communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Federation of trusted data distribution systems is accomplished by treating an entire data distribution network as either a publisher or subscriber to a feed in another data distribution network. A first data feed is created in a first data feed management subsystem associated with a first data distribution network. A second data feed related to the first data feed is created in a second data feed management subsystem associated with a second data distribution network. A first data access policy is associated with the second data feed and a publisher for the second data feed is created in the second data distribution network. The identity and authentication of a second subscriber to the second data feed in the second data distribution network is managed by referencing the first data access policy.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products determine electromagnetic reflective characteristics of ambient environments. A wireless communications device sends a cellular impulse and receives reflections of the cellular impulse. The cellular impulse and the reflections of the cellular impulse may be compared to determine the electromagnetic reflective characteristics of an ambient environment.

Abstract: A cutter for a boring head having a shaft is mountable at a saddle. A roller body is rotatably mounted about the shaft via bearings housed at a cavity located radially between the shaft and the roller body. A lubrication fluid is configured to flow internally within the shaft via a first and second passageway. An elongate overflow chamber is provided in fluid communication with the passageways to receive thermally expanded lubrication fluid from the cavity.

Abstract: Explicit congestion notification (ECN) data that is utilized in a core portion of a cellular communication network has known issues associated with a first use scenario and an infrequent use scenario. A probe comprising probe data and a data structure for storing certain ECN data can be transmitted in order to mitigate these issues. Transmitting the probe in response to a communication session being established with a device of a network can mitigate the first use issue. Transmitting the probe in response to expiration of a probe timer in connection with a network traffic idle period can mitigate the infrequent use scenario.