Abstract: A control method includes: receiving first information pertaining to a first contract from a first terminal used by a first user who is one of two parties who have agreed to the first contract; when consent of a party aside from the two parties is required to validate the first contract, identifying a second user as the party aside from the two parties with reference to a ledger storing information pertaining to a past contract, and transmitting the first information to a second terminal operated by the second user; obtaining second information in which a confirmation result indicating whether the second user consents to the first contract and a digital signature of the second user are added to the first information; and confirming the second information, and when the confirmation result indicates consent, setting the first contract as a valid contract and storing the second information in the ledger.

Abstract: A conversion method for converting luminance of a video, including a luminance value in a first luminance range, to be displayed on a display apparatus includes: acquiring a first luminance signal indicating a code value obtained by quantization of the luminance value of the video; and converting the code value indicated by the acquired first luminance signal into a second luminance value determined based on a luminance range of the display apparatus, the second luminance value being compatible with a second luminance range with a maximum value smaller than a maximum value of the first luminance range and larger than 100 nit. This provides the conversion method capable of achieving further improvement.

Abstract: A processing system including at least one processor may detect at least one dark zone in a vicinity of a user, determine at least one lighting feature for an illumination of the at least one dark zone in accordance with a user profile of the user, identify at least one light source to provide the illumination of the at least one dark area in accordance with the at least one lighting feature that is determined, and transmit an instruction to the at least one light source to provide the illumination of the at least one dark zone in accordance with the at least one lighting feature that is determined.

Abstract: An architecture for providing an on-demand dynamic cloudlet instantiation by leveraging a grouping of software defined network devices and their respective associated analytics modules. A method can comprise receiving quality of service data representing a 5G small cell device of a group of 5G small cell devices; generating a policy rule representing a predictive policy to facilitate an instantiation of a dynamic on-demand cloudlet node into a fog of dynamic on-demand cloudlet node instantiations; and facilitating the instantiation of the dynamic on-demand cloudlet node into the fog, by a hybrid fiber coaxial device, based on the policy rule and an indication received from the hybrid fiber coaxial that a traffic surge in communications with the 5G small cell device has occurred.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example generating, by a first Core Intelligent Controller (CIC) comprising a first processing system including a first processor, first data indicative of one or more first control functions that have been carried out by the first CIC, the first CIC being part of a wireless communication system; communicating, by the first CIC to a Service Intelligent Controller (SIC) comprising a second processing system including a second processor, the first data, the SIC being part of the wireless communication system; generating, by a first RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) comprising a third processing system including a third processor, second data indicative of one or more first radio access functions that have been carried out by the first RIC, the first RIC being part of the wireless communication system; communicating, by the first RIC to the SIC, the second data; generating, by the SIC, third data, the generating of the third data being based at least in part upon

Abstract: Described in certain example embodiments herein are methods of isolating exosomes from a biological fluid, such as those containing caseins.

Abstract: A determination system includes a determiner that determines whether sleepiness of a driver who drives a mobile body is normal, based on sleepiness data regarding the sleepiness of the driver and reference data regarding sleepiness used as reference for determining whether the sleepiness of the driver is normal.

Abstract: A control method includes, by a computer: acquiring first information indicating a history of movement between hubs using a plurality of vehicles by a plurality of users; accepting second information indicating a request to move a vehicle from one hub to another hub; outputting a price of a reward to be paid to each of the users when a request indicated by the second information is achieved according to a matching rate calculated as a degree of coincidence between the first information of each user and the second information; and notifying of the second information and information indicating the reward of each user.

Abstract: When a main body case is viewed from below, an antenna is within a rectangular/square area defined by first to fourth points. An opening edge of a first opening includes: a first edge linearly along a first direction; and a second edge linearly along a second direction perpendicular to first direction, first point is defined as an intersection of a first straight line and a second straight line, first straight line includes first edge, and second straight line includes second edge. Second point is defined as a point apart from first point in first direction by a distance that is half prescribed wavelength. Third point is defined as a point apart from second point in second direction by a distance that is half prescribed wavelength. Fourth point is defined as a point apart from first point in second direction by a distance that is half prescribed wavelength.

Abstract: A malware detection method for a home network system including one or more home appliances that are connected to a home network includes: obtaining a plurality of setting values including at least information indicating a device type and an operating state of a target device subject to malware detection; selecting one detection model out of a plurality of detection models according to the plurality of setting values obtained; obtaining power consumption or current consumption of the target device; and detecting whether the target device is infected with malware, based on stable power or stable current obtained in the obtaining of the power consumption or the current consumption using the one detection model selected in the selecting, when the power consumption indicates stable power that varies within a predetermined range or the current consumption indicates stable current that varies within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A metal wire includes tungsten or a tungsten alloy. The metal wire has a diameter of at most 13 ?m, a tensile strength of at least 4.8 GPa, and a natural hanging length per 1000 mm of at least 800 mm.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a plurality of accounting nodes, each accounting node being associated with a service node of a communication network, each accounting node being configured to collect data usage information for a network segment of the communication network including an associated service node, and an accounting server in data communication with accounting nodes of the plurality of accounting nodes, the accounting server configured to receive from the accounting nodes the data usage information for each service node and determine billing for data usage of each network segment. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, detecting a need to verify an identity of a particular user in the metaverse, obtaining a particular hash/encoding associated with the particular user, wherein the particular hash/encoding is generated based on processing of a video, image, voice recording, or biometric information associated with the particular user, retrieving a second hash/encoding from a user profile of a first user, wherein the second hash/encoding corresponds to a second user and is generated based on processing of a video, image, voice recording, or biometric information associated with the second user, performing a comparison of the second hash/encoding and the particular hash/encoding, and based on a determination that there is a match, identifying that the particular user corresponds to the second user, resulting in a verification of the identity of the particular user. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor configured to capture a subject image via an optical system to generate image data; an input interface configured to acquire a zoom amount indicating a degree of a zoom operation by a user for an optical system; a controller configured to scale a cropped image from the image data to change, from a first focal length, a second focal length, according to the zoom amount acquired by the input interface, the first focal length being formed by the optical system and the second focal length corresponding to an angle of view of the subject image in the image data; and a setting interface configured to set a setting range, based on a user operation input before the zoom operation, the setting range enabling the second focal length to change according to the zoom amount.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell stack (12) comprising a plurality of stacked cell units (10), each defining an external perimeter, a housing (58) surrounding the stack (12) to define a volume around the external perimeters, and at least one electrically insulating beam (76), the beam (76) extending generally in a stacking direction of the stacked cell units (10), to extend across a multiple of the cell units (10), and located between the external perimeters thereof and the housing (58), wherein an electrical connection member (54) of the cell stack's current delivery system extends inside the electrically insulating beam (76).

Abstract: A negative electrode slurry for a lithium ion secondary battery, according to the present disclosure, is characterized by comprising a negative electrode active material, a thickener, a preservative component, and a solvent, the thickener comprising carboxymethyl-cellulose or a salt thereof, the solvent comprising water, and the preservative component comprising a compound having a tropone skeleton.

Abstract: Systems and methods for securely and remotely storing data in a remote, distributed redundant array of independent drives (RAID) is provided. RAID storage is accomplished through a series of mapped drives, non-routable Internet protocol (IP) addresses, and routable IP addresses. In addition, authorization to access a RAID controller, network address translation (NAT) system, and domain name system (DNS) system may all be separated, increasing security and allowing storage to be securely distributed among a variety of dispersed storage locations.

Abstract: A negative electrode active material for a secondary battery includes composite particles. The composite particles include a lithium silicate phase and a silicon phase dispersed in the lithium silicate phase, wherein the silicon phase has lined portions in the lithium silicate phase, a maximum diameter D1 and a minimum diameter D2 of the lined portions satisfy 3?D1/D2. The composite particles include a metal Me dispersed in the lithium silicate phase, and the metal Me is at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Pb, Zn, Sn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Zr, and Ti.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, monitoring internet traffic, identifying a portion of the internet traffic associated with a plurality of gaming activities, and prioritizing at least a segment of the portion of internet traffic to reduce latency in processing at least a portion of the plurality of gaming activities. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a processing system configures one or more robots to perform tasks in an establishment, and assigns to the robots privileges and/or priorities in accordance with a policy. The method also includes detecting a situation in the establishment requiring performance of a task; facilitating the performance of the task by at least one of the robots; and dynamically reprogramming at least one of the robots in response to the situation to perform a specialized task to address the situation. Other embodiments are disclosed.