Abstract: Determining a level of congruence between modality-event characteristics is disclosed. Information can be collected from an event input source via one or more information collection modalities. Modality-event characteristics can be determined from this information. A level of congruence between the modality-event characteristics can be determined to enable initiating a response based on the level of congruence. The level of congruence can be based on satisfying a rule related to congruence between modality-event characteristics, user profile information, etc. The level of congruence can be related to a probability that the several inputs collected for an event, collected by a plurality of modalities, embody characteristics that are associated with the event occurring according to determined notions embodied in the rule and profile. Determining the level of congruence can support assertions that each input, across differing modes of capturing said input, accords with the expected inputs for an event.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to processing online orders. In some embodiments, a system for processing online order comprises an order processing server configured to receive an online order including grocery items and transmit, to a control circuit, the online order, the control circuit configured to receive the online order, determine the grocery items included in the online order, determine a number of grocery items that require refrigeration and a number of grocery items that require freezing, determine a number of totes required for the online order, assign to the online order the number of totes required, transmit, to the totes, a command, wherein each of the number of totes is configured to receive, from the control circuit, the command, and in response to the receipt of the command, one of maintain its temperature, enter the refrigeration state, and enter the freezer state.

Abstract: A scrub body, a scrub anchoring system, and a method for securing and releasing a tube coupler into and from a scrub body are provided. The scrub body can comprise two portions, or regions, within a single, unibody sponge-like material or as two similar or dissimilar layers within the sponge-like material. The scrub body includes an anchoring pocket extending into the scrub body between the portions, regions or layers, to accommodate a tube coupler releasably secured inside the anchoring pocket. The scrub body with anchoring pocket can be discarded when worn out while the more expensive tube coupler can be readily removed from the anchoring pocket and re-inserted into a new scrub body to provide the same low-flow liquid releasing tube into a new scrub body.

Abstract: A method of video decoding is provided. In the method, a coded video bitstream including a current picture is received. Whether a current block included in the current picture is coded in an intra block copy (IBC) mode is determined. In response to determining that the current block is coded in the IBC mode, a maximum number of IBC predictor candidates associated with the current block is determined as equal to a value of max(M, MaxNumMergeCand). The MaxNumMergeCand is equal to a number of candidates in a merge mode list and the M is a predetermined integer. An IBC predictor candidate list is constructed based on the maximum number of IBC predictor candidates. A block vector associated with the current block is determined based on a block vector predictor included in the IBC predictor candidate list. The current block is reconstructed based on the block vector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to prevent trailer sway are disclosed. An example apparatus to prevent trailer sway of a trailer coupled to a vehicle includes prediction circuitry to predict, based on sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle, whether a trailer sway condition associated with the vehicle is likely to occur, and control activation circuitry to, in response to the prediction that the trailer sway is likely to occur, activate at least one vehicle control of the vehicle to prevent the trailer sway condition from occurring, the at least one vehicle control to include applying torque to at least one of one or more trailer wheels of the trailer or one or more vehicle wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of forming an asphalt mixture includes mixing a polyol with a bio-source material to form a bio-asphalt. The method can further include mixing the bio-asphalt with a bitumen source different from the bio-asphalt to form an asphalt mixture. The bio-source material can include an oil, such as a vegetable oil, an animal fat, or any combination thereof. The bitumen source can include a petroleum-based asphalt. The method can further include adding a modifier, such as a fatty acid, a polycarboxylic acid, a polyacrylic acid, a polyacrylate comprising a copolymer, or any combination thereof. Moreover, a roofing grade asphalt mixture includes a bio-asphalt. The bio-asphalt includes an alkyd, wherein the alkyd is a reaction product of a polyol and a bio-source material. The roofing grade asphalt mixture further includes a bitumen source material and particles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flexure mechanism that includes a plurality of thin material structures, each thin material structure including a weak-link portion and a separable constraint portion. The separable constraint portion is linked to the weak-link portion and configured to stabilize the weak-link portion. Additionally, the plurality of thin material structures are stacked and secured together to form a laminar structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a shock initiation system for initiating shock in a shock tube for demolition. In some embodiments, the shock initiation system comprises a reusable discharge unit and a replaceable shock initiation platform. The reusable discharge unit may comprise a power source, a timer, a switch, and user inputs and may function to store a time, countdown the timer, and generate and transmit an electrical energy to the replaceable shock initiation platform. The shock initiation platform may receive the electrical energy from the discharge unit overpowering a resistor disposed on the shock initiation platform. The resistor may then detonate providing an initiation shock to a proximally disposed shock tube, thereby initiating shock in the shock tube.

Abstract: Sense mirror circuitry receives a voltage signal having values corresponding to a magnitude of a measured current. Responsive to the values falling within a first predefined range, the sense mirror circuitry outputs a current at a first predefined magnitude that corresponds to the first predefined range. Responsive to the values falling within a second predefined range, the sense mirror circuitry outputs a current at a second predefined magnitude different than the first predefined magnitude and that corresponds to the second predefined range.

Abstract: A method comprising: receiving, at a vector processor, a request to store data; performing, by the vector processor, one or more transforms on the data; and directly instructing, by the vector processor, one or more storage device to store the data; wherein performing one or more transforms on the data comprises: erasure encoding the data to generate n data fragments configured such that any k of the data fragments are usable to regenerate the data, where k is less than n; and wherein directly instructing one or more storage device to store the data comprises: directly instructing the one or more storage devices to store the plurality of data fragments.

Abstract: A battery pack includes an outer housing including a plurality of walls, at least one battery cell enclosed within the plurality of walls, a vent system disposed in at least one of the plurality of walls, and a disk provided between the cover and the valve. The vent system includes a carrier plate, an annular ring extending from the carrier plate and defining a lumen, a valve disposed in the lumen, and a cover attached to the carrier plate.

Abstract: The technology makes wireless roaming decisions for a computing device. The device is configured to determine whether to consider roaming and to generate a roam reason. The device determines a quality score for at least one access point within a wireless communication range of the device based at least in part on the roam reason. A target access point with a highest quality score is selected. The device may then determine to roam to the target access point, if the target access point is not the current access point to which the device is connected.

Abstract: A sensor and/or system controller may process an image multiple times at multiple resolutions to detect glare conditions. A glare condition threshold used to determine whether a glare condition exists may be based on the resolution of the image. When the resolution of the image is higher, the glare condition threshold may be higher. The sensor and/or system controller may organize one or more adjacent pixels having similar intensities into pixel groups. The pixel groups may vary in size and/or shape. The sensor and/or system controller may determine a representative group luminance for the pixel group (e.g., an average luminance of the pixels in the group). The sensor and/or system controller may determine a group glare condition threshold, which may be used to determine whether a glare condition exists for the group of pixels and/or may be based on the size of the group.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a system and method for initiating an interactive chat via HTTP request. A web server of an organization computing system receives the HTTP request from a web client executing on a remote client. The HTTP request is triggered by a selection of a dialogue request embedded in an electronic mail message. The web server transmits an API call to a back-end computing system of the organization computing system based on information included in the HTTP request. The back-end computing system parses the API call to identify a user identifier corresponding to a user of the remote client device and a request identifier corresponding to the selected dialogue request embedded in the electronic mail message. The back-end computing system initiates the interactive chat via a text-based communication channel. The back-end computing system generates and transmits an electronic message comprising a response to the dialogue request.

Abstract: A tool for attaching a first workpiece and a second workpiece to one another and to a support structure includes a housing and a plunger. The housing includes a main body, a neck portion, and a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion is disposed between the main body and the neck portion and has an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the main body. A bore extends from a first end within the main body to a distal end of the neck portion. The plunger is disposed within the bore and extends from the distal end of the neck portion. The plunger is biased in a first direction away from the shoulder portion and includes a gripper operable to extend away from an outer surface of the plunger in an expanded state to engage an inner surface of the first workpiece.

Abstract: Indexed collar clamps allow for fast and easy adjustment of an associated telescoping stand, while preventing various underlying components from becoming dislodged from their respective positions over time. A telescoping stand may include an inner tube and an outer tube partially overlapping the inner tube. An overlapping end of the outer tube includes a compliance cut. A bushing is positioned between the inner tube and the outer tube and adjacent the compliance cut. The bushing includes a protrusion that indexes the bushing to an aperture in the outer tube. An indexed collar clamp is positioned over the outer tube and also adjacent the compliance cut. The protrusion from the bushing further indexes the bushing to a slot in the indexed collar clamp.

Abstract: Implementations described herein relate to providing device messages in image compilations based on user content. A computer-implemented method includes determining that a playback mode is entered on a device to display one or more image compilations, each image compilation including images for successive display. Message criteria are obtained for device messages, each device message indicating a device function associated with images of the image compilations or of a user image library. A device message is selected based on associated message criteria. An image is identified in the user image library, the image being in the image compilations, depicts a type of image feature in the image compilations, and/or has characteristic(s) modifiable by the device function. The device message is displayed during image compilation playback and includes the identified image and a message control option. In response to user selection of the message control option, the device function is initiated.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for implementing a cellular network readiness check between a mobile originator and a mobile terminator for connecting calls and messages. A network communicates push notifications to a device and receives indications of a readiness of that device to participate in a testing scenario. Additionally, within the testing scenario, push notifications are used to communicate expectations of a test communication session to a mobile terminating device and to determine if test outcomes matched expectations.

Abstract: A system and method in at least one embodiment for separating fluids including liquids and gases into subcomponents by passing the fluid through an intake chamber into an expansion chamber and then through at least a portion of a waveform pattern present between at least two rotors and/or disks. In at least one embodiment, the waveform patterns include a plurality of hyperbolic waveforms axially aligned around a horizontal center of the system.

Abstract: A structural assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle frame distinct from a vehicle body. The vehicle frame includes opposed longitudinal rails. Each rail includes a single, monolithic body having a central internal brace and a pair of opposed ends. One end of the opposed ends is fixed to a first side of the central internal brace and the other end of the opposed ends is fixed to a second side of the central internal brace that is opposite the first side.