Abstract: A retaining member and a vacuum-insulated vessel are disclosed. The retaining member includes a frustoconical body, a cylindrical skirt extending from the frustoconical body, and a deformable member extending along an inner surface of the frustoconical body. The deformable member may have multiple layers. An opening extends through the frustonical body, so that the neck of a bottle may pass therethrough. The vacuum-insulated vessel includes the aforementioned retaining member and a double-walled structure, and is able to receive and secure bottles having different heights and widths. The vacuum-insulated vessel also eliminates condensation from external surfaces of a bottle positioned therein, maintains the initial temperature of the bottle, and allows a user to pour from the bottle without having to remove the bottle from the vessel.

Abstract: A flexible guide tube having a deflectable distal end is disclosed with at least first and second tensioning lines coupled to a deflectable distal end of the flexible guide tube. The first tensioning line is configured to deflect the distal end of the flexible guide tube in a first direction and the second tensioning line is configured to deflect the distal end of the flexible guide tube in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. A handle is coupled to flexible tube, the handle having a medial portion with a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with at least a portion of the flexible guide tube, a first actuator disposed proximal the medial section, and a second actuator disposed distal the medial section.

Abstract: A privacy image generation system may use a light field camera that includes an array of cameras or an RGBZ camera(s)) is used to capture images and display images according to a selected privacy mode. The privacy mode may include a blur background mode that can be automatically selected based on the meeting type, participants, location, and device type. A region of interest and/or an object(s) of interest (e.g. one or more persons in a foreground) is determined and the privacy image generation system is configured to clearly show the region/object of interest and obscure or replace the background by combining multiple images. The displayed image includes the region/object(s) of interest clearly shown (e.g. in focus) and any objects in a background of the combined image shown having a limited depth of field (e.g. blurry/not in focus) and/or blurred due to the combination of the multiple images.

Abstract: A system and method for demand-activated remote monitoring and/or control of motor vehicles via a radio data communication link with a coordination unit. The coordination unit is configured for conveying requests for remote monitoring and/or remote control of a motor vehicle and offers for performing the remote control from control terminals located remotely from the coordination unit. After acceptance of an offer by the vehicle, the coordination unit provides a data communication link between the motor vehicle and the control terminal over which the remote control and/or monitoring is performed.

Abstract: Elastic Cloud Storage (ECS) uses a specific method for disk capacity management, where disk space is partitioned into a set of blocks of fixed size called chunks. Chunk data can comprise user data and all kinds of metadata. The replication mechanism implemented in ECS works at the chunk level. However, object level data can be used to provide visibility for client applications. Thus, object arrival can be determined to track replication progress at the object level for systems with a replication mechanism that works at the chunk level.

Abstract: Implementations of semiconductor packages may include: a semiconductor wafer, a glass lid fixedly coupled to a first side of the semiconductor die by an adhesive, a redistribution layer coupled to a second side of the semiconductor die, and a plurality of ball mounts coupled to the redistribution layer on a side of the redistribution layer coupled to the semiconductor die. The adhesive may be located in a trench around a perimeter of the semiconductor die and located in a corresponding trench around a perimeter of the glass lid.

Abstract: The techniques described herein facilitate proactively discovery of remote micro-services by spreadsheet applications, e.g., Microsoft Excel®. In an implementation, a method of operating a spreadsheet application to proactively discover remote micro-services based on credential information is disclosed. The method includes identifying the credential information associated with a user of the spreadsheet application responsive to detecting a micro-service updating event and proactively discovering one or more micro-services that are available to the user of the spreadsheet application through a cloud service platform based on the credential information. The method further includes persisting a list including the one or more micro-services that are available to the user of the spreadsheet application based on the credentials.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes embodiments directed to a reversible toy. The reversible toy may include a body including opposing first and second surfaces, the body reversible between first and second positions to alternatingly present the first and second surfaces as an outer body surface defining an exterior of the body. The other of the first and second surfaces may alternatingly define a stored body surface defining an interior cavity within the body. The reversible toy may include an opening to the interior cavity and having a diameter. At least portions of the body may collapse through the opening when the body is moved between the first and second positions. A retainer may define the diameter of the opening. The diameter of the opening may be smaller than a maximum diameter of the body to retain a shape of the body as the body switches between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a connector body housing a plurality of optical fibers. Each of the plurality of optical fibers includes a bare end having an angled face. Half of the plurality of optical fibers has an angled face that is at a first angle and the other half of the plurality of optical fibers has an angled face that is at a second angle that is different from the first angle. The fiber optic connector can comprise a ferrule-less or ferruled fiber optic connector.

Abstract: Architecture introduces a new pattern operator referred to as called an augmented transition network (ATN), which is a streaming adaptation of non-reentrant, fixed-state ATNs for dynamic patterns. Additional user-defined information is associated with automaton states and is accessible to transitions during execution. ATNs are created that directly model complex pattern continuous queries with arbitrary cycles in a transition graph. The architecture can express the desire to ignore some events during pattern detection, and can also detect the absence of data as part of a pattern. The architecture facilitates efficient support for negation, ignorable events, and state cleanup based on predicate punctuations.

Abstract: Methods of playing commission-free pai gow poker games are disclosed. The commission-free pai gow poker games have multiple features, including a novel push mechanism and a novel copy-fostering mechanism, that provide a gaming establishment with an adequate house edge without the need to charge a commission on player wins. The features of the commission-free pai gow poker games may be incorporated in one or more instruction sets or software configured in one or more mechanical devices and/or electronic devices. Furthermore, the features may be configured in one or more displays in communication with one or more servers as desired. Furthermore, the commission-free pai gow poker games may be offered in a non-gaming media environment as desired.

Abstract: An interactive response system combines human intelligence (HI) subsystems with artificial intelligence (AI) subsystems to facilitate overall capability of multi-channel user interfaces. The system permits imperfect AI subsystems to nonetheless lessen the burden on HI subsystems. A combined AI and HI proxy is used to implement an interactive omnichannel system, and the proxy dynamically determines how many AI and HI subsystems are to perform recognition for any particular utterance, based on factors such as confidence thresholds of the AI recognition and availability of HI resources. Furthermore the system uses information from prior recognitions to automatically build, test, predict confidence, and maintain AI models and HI models for system recognition improvements.

Abstract: Robotic surgical tools can incorporate a latching mechanism as a secondary fastener to maintain operable coupling between the robotic surgical tool and a mounting fixture of a robotic manipulator. Such robotic surgical tools may comprise: a tool housing, an elongate shaft extending from the tool housing, and a latching mechanism arranged on the elongate shaft. The latching mechanism comprises one or more retention tabs that are biased radially outward with one or more biasing members. The one or more retention tabs are configured to transition between a retracted state and a deployed state under influence of a biasing force supplied by the one or more biasing members. In the deployed state, the one or more retention tabs are positioned to engage an exterior surface of a mounting fixture of a robotic manipulator. In the retracted state, the one or more retention tabs are positioned to disengage from the mounting fixture.

Abstract: The blank includes a plurality of sidewall panels, at least one platform panel extending from a lower end of the blank, the at least one platform panel being configured to be folded to form a platform upon assembly of a package using the blank. At least one foot panel extends from the lower end of the blank, the at least one foot panel being configured to be folded and at least partially positioned under the platform to support at least one portion of the platform upon assembly of the package. A tear-off section is defined by at least a portion of the lower end of the blank. The package is formed from the blank.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the storage and delivery of recorded content in a network digital video recorder (DVR) system are disclosed. A plurality of requests to record a program may be received, wherein the program may comprise a plurality of segments. A segment from the plurality of segments may be determined to be copied to a first storage. A copy of the segment may be received from a second storage and a plurality of copies of the segment may be created in the first storage from the copy of the segment received from the second storage. The quantity of the plurality of copies of the segment may be equal to the quantity of the plurality of requests to record the program.

Abstract: Systems and methods for augmented reality authentication of a user are described, including authenticating a user by presenting the user with augmented reality authentication challenges, evaluating the user's response, and using the response to authenticate the user.

Abstract: A method is described that includes executing a convolutional neural network layer on an image processor having an array of execution lanes and a two-dimensional shift register. The executing of the convolutional neural network includes loading a plane of image data of a three-dimensional block of image data into the two-dimensional shift register.

Abstract: A system and method of using a smart identification badge is configured to receive a user credential for identifying a user; determine a location of the user; verify an access right for the user at the location by comparing the user credential and location to an access list associated with the location; and activate a visual identifier on the smart identification badge upon verification of the user's access right.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer media for manipulating electronic messages are provided herein. A system for editing electronic messages can include at least one processor, and an application. The application can be configured to, by the at least one processor, send an electronic message from a sender to a recipient, edit the message after it has been sent to the recipient to create an edited message, retain a relative location of the message in the recipient's inbox while the edited message is created, send the edited message from the sender to the recipient, and place the edited message in the relative location of the message in the recipient's inbox.

Abstract: A leg cutting system with a leg support clamp 2 with a height for maintaining a structural integrity of the leg 1 during and after the leg 1 is cut. The system includes at least two leg support clamp parts joined in at least one clamp structure joint 11 with releasable mechanical fasteners for joining or releasing the at least two leg support clamp parts along the at least one clamp structure joint. A wire saw 6 with a wire saw support frame 7 and longitudinal saw tracks 16 for longitudinal displacement of the sawing wire along said longitudinal saw tracks 16 can be fixed to the leg support clamp. A wire replacement unit 9 with a plurality of sawing wires with a joint allowing the wires to be joined is located adjacent the wire saw. The embodiment(s) furthermore relates to a leg support clamp.