Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing secure communications for IoT devices. In various embodiments, a gateway or computing device might provide connectivity between or amongst two or more Internet of Things (“IoT”) capable devices, by establishing an IoT protocol-based, autonomous machine-to-machine communication channel amongst the two or more IoT capable devices. For sensitive and/or private communications, the gateway or computing device might establish a secure off-the-record (“OTR”) communication session within the IoT protocol-based, autonomous machine-to-machine channel, thereby providing encrypted machine-to-machine communications amongst the two or more IoT capable devices, without any content of communications that are exchanged amongst the IoT capable devices over the secure OTR communication session being recorded or logged.

Abstract: A method of ensuring the structural integrity and decontamination of a medical device includes inserting a distal end of a borescope into a lumen of the medical device, where the distal end of the borescope has an imaging portion and at least one decontamination portion, typically a UV light and a fluid sterilant or bactericide. The method includes determining both whether the lumen wall has been damaged, and whether contaminants reside on the wall, by visually inspecting the wall with the imaging portion of the borescope, and then decontaminating the wall with the decontaminating portion of the borescope. Device processing data digitally associated with the medical device is retrieved with a unique device identifier, and additional device processing data resulting from the current inspection and sterilization process is added for use by subsequent device handlers, typically by adding it to a distributed ledger, such as a blockchain.

Abstract: An improved cover board product with a panel comprised of three discrete layers: a top surface layer comprised of either paper or a fiberglass web, a bottom surface layer comprised of either paper or a fiberglass web, and a core layer comprised of discrete paper fragments and polypropylene fragments, which are connected by use of a thermoplastic bonding resin, including polyethylene. The bonding resin is generally attached in a random pattern to less than 100% of the paper fragment and polypropylene fragment surface area. The paper fragments are generally shaped as irregular plates. The polypropylene fragments can have multiple shape types. The two different fragment types are randomly distributed in the core layer relative to each other. The core layer includes small voids in and around the particles, which improves flexibility. The core layer is attached to the top and bottom surface layers by use of a thermoplastic adhesive, including polyethylene.

Abstract: A footwear traction device is provided that is removably attachable to an item of footwear. The footwear traction device comprises a traction portion having one or more traction elements on a bottom thereof, a heel support portion disposed at a rear traction portion, and a forefoot support portion disposed at a forefoot traction portion. A cable extends through cable guides or channels and attaches the traction portion, the heel support portion, and the forefoot support portion together. A cable reel device is rotatably operable to adjust a length of the cable to selectively secure and unsecure the footwear traction device to the item of footwear. Shortening the length of the cable tightens the traction portion, the heel support portion and the forefoot support portion inwardly against the item of footwear, thereby securing the footwear traction device to the footwear.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a carrier apparatus primarily for carrying containers having food products therein; but secondarily for carrying containers having any type of products contained therein. Specifically, the carrier apparatus of the present invention allows a user to transport various amounts and types of containers securely, minimizing disturbance to products, such as food products, contained therein. More specifically, the carrier apparatus of the present invention comprises a first configuration for carrying a first amount of containers and a second configuration for carrying a second amount of containers.

Abstract: An anchoring tool for positioning a downhole tool within a wellbore conduit is described herein. The anchor tool uses replaceable blades having protrusions that are configured to align with corresponding grooves in an anchor sub receptacle that is located at a known position along the wellbore conduit. The blades of the anchor tool are configured to move radially relative to the anchor tool body until the anchor tool is aligned with a compatible anchor sub. When the anchor tool and the compatible anchor sub are aligned, the protrusions of the anchor tool blade extend into the grooves of the anchor sub receptacle and a locking mechanism within the anchor tool inhibits further radial movement of the blades. A downhole tool connected to the anchor tool can therefore be positioned at a precise location relative to the known location of an anchor sub receptacle.

Abstract: A method of producing advanced carbon materials can include providing coal to a processing facility, beneficiating the coal to remove impurities from the coal, processing the beneficiated coal to produce a pitch, and treating the pitch to produce an advanced carbon material such as carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, resins, polymers, biomaterials, or other carbon materials.

Abstract: An improved cover board product with a panel comprised of three discrete layers: a top surface layer comprised of either paper or a fiberglass web, a bottom surface layer comprised of either paper or a fiberglass web, and a core layer comprised of discrete paper fragments and polypropylene fragments, which are connected by use of a thermoplastic bonding resin, including polyethylene. The bonding resin is generally attached in a random pattern to less than 100% of the paper fragment and polypropylene fragment surface area. The paper fragments are generally shaped as irregular plates. The polypropylene fragments can have multiple shape types. The two different fragment types are randomly distributed in the core layer relative to each other. The core layer includes small voids in and around the particles, which improves flexibility. The core layer is attached to the top and bottom surface layers by use of a thermoplastic adhesive, including polyethylene.

Abstract: A medical imaging device includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a handle detachably connected to the shaft, and a connector assembly. The connector assembly comprises a plug at the proximal end of the shaft with an outer circumferential wall and a first plurality of electrical terminals, and a receptacle in the handle with a cavity for the plug. An image sensor is at the distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected to the image sensor, are electrically connected to the first plurality of electrical terminals. An inner circumferential wall of the receptacle includes a second plurality of electrical terminals, and the outer circumferential wall of the plug has a plurality of apertures therein through which the first plurality of electrical terminals establishes an electrical connection with the second plurality of electrical terminals when the plug is inserted in the receptacle.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for network data plane management are provided. A system includes a host machine that includes a database, processor, and non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions executable by the processor to obtain, via the database, a network configuration, spawn a container according to the network configuration, wherein the container is configured, based on the network configuration, to be coupled to a network overlay via a network interface, receive, via the network interface, incoming data associated with the container, the incoming data having attached one or more attached network data attributes, and identify, via the database, the attached one or more network data attributes attached to the incoming data as one or more network data attributes of the network data model.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content streaming/downloading and playback, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing video quality optimization based on display capabilities. In various embodiments, a computing system might receive user input from a user indicating a user request for media content. The computing system might autonomously determine characteristics or attributes of a playback device (i.e., a display device and/or audio playback device, etc.). The computing system might send, to a media content source over a network, a request for the media content, the request comprising information regarding presentation characteristics that are based at least in part on the determined characteristics of the playback device.

Abstract: A setting tool having a tool body, a chamber configured to contain a non-explosive fuel configured to generate gas and plasma, a cavity, a bleed sub located between the chamber and the cavity. The bleed sub is configured to bleed pressure from the chamber to the cavity after the non-explosive fuel has been initiated. The setting tool also includes a piston disposed within the cavity oriented to stroke in a first direction after the non-explosive fuel has been initiated. The piston may divide the cavity into an upper volume that may receive the pressure increase from the bleed sub and a lower volume. The setting tool may also include a shaft mechanically connected to the piston within the lower volume of the cavity. The shaft may include a dampening conduit configured to drain a fluid from the lower volume after the non-explosive fuel has been initiated.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for provisioning network services, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing intelligent network services automation. In various embodiments, a computing system might receive one or more network performance metrics of one or more networks, might receive network usage data associated with the one or more networks, and might analyze, using one or more machine learning techniques, the received one or more network performance metrics and the received network usage data to determine whether the one or more networks can be improved in terms of network efficiency or network operations. Based on a determination that the one or more networks can be improved, the computing system might dynamically reconfigure at least one of one or more network connections within the one or more networks or one or more network resources within the one or more networks.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for tracking information of an equipment including a telematics device configured to receive data from the equipment to determine a telematics information. The telematics information includes at least two of an equipment type, a location, a duration in the location, and miles travelled. A transmission device is configured to transmit the vehicle telematics information to at least one of a third party entity device, a government device and a mobile device.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure provide a message relay service. The message relay service provides an application programming interface (API) with which messages can be sent and received without handling specific implementation details of a messaging system. When inbound messages are received, the message relay service may provide a push notification and/or may store the message for later access. In examples, one or more source addresses are used to send messages. If the client device indicates a group of addresses should be used, one address is selected from the group and used to send a message accordingly. In some examples, the message relay service determines that a messaging gateway need not be used to message a recipient address, and transmits the message without use of the messaging gateway. The same API may be used to send and receive messages across different messaging systems without a customer handling system-specific complexities.

Abstract: A balloon resection method is disclosed generally including inserting a catheter with at least one balloon having an outer wall with a resecting, non-slip surface for resecting unwanted biological material, such as tissues or tumors, and supplying fluid thereto in pulsed fashion to repeatedly deflate and inflate the balloon. In certain embodiments, a pump controls the pulsed supply of fluid based on an established frequency or change in volume. In some embodiments, the a keyed connector is used to identify the balloon type, and in some cases, intra-lumen diameters and densities are calculated. In some embodiments, the balloon portion of the catheter includes multiple balloon segments, which in some cases, are inflatable separately from one another.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a secured service provider memory are disclosed. An electronic device is associated with a subscriber and is in communication with a data distribution network configured to deliver data by a service provider to the subscriber. The data distribution network comprises a server in communication with the data distribution network and the server configured to deliver a stream of data over the data distribution network. The electronic device comprises a first memory communicatively connected to the server. The first memory is configured to receive and store data from the server and it is accessible by the subscriber. A second memory is also communicatively connected to the server. The second memory is configured to receive and store data from the server, though the second memory is accessible only by the service provider.

Abstract: The present technology relates to improving computing services in a distributed network of remote computing resources, such as edge nodes in an edge compute network. In an aspect, the technology relates to a method that includes aggregating historical request data for a plurality of requests for services to be performed by one or more edge nodes; training a machine learning model based on the aggregated historical request data; generating, from the trained machine learning model, a prediction for an amount of requests for services at the one or more edge nodes; generating a predicted capacity needed to perform the predicted amount of requests; comparing the predicted capacity to a current capacity for the one or mode edge nodes; and based on the comparison, generating a recommendation for an alteration of hardware resources at the one or more edge nodes.