Abstract: A user registers for an account with an account management system, configures account settings to permit the account management system to receive user computing device data from a user computing device associated with the user, and logs into the account via the user computing device. The account management system receives a user voice purchase command and determines a purchase command context based on the received user computing device data. The account management system identifies a product that the user desires to purchase based on the purchase command context and directs the user computing device web browser to a merchant website to set up a transaction for the identified product.

Abstract: An alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers is formed located over a substrate. The spacer material layers are formed as, or are subsequently replaced with, electrically conductive layers. Memory openings are formed through the alternating stack. A memory stack structure is formed within each memory opening. Each memory stack structure includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel. A silicon nitride layer is formed over a sidewall of each memory opening as a component of the memory film. A silicon carbon nitride interfacial layer is formed on the silicon nitride layer, and a tunneling dielectric layer is formed on the silicon carbon nitride interfacial layer.

Abstract: A method of installing a fastener into a surface without defacement of the surface utilizes an annular washer of a viscoelastic material placed about the shank of the fastener such that, upon driving the fastener into the surface via a driving tool, the fastener head clamps against the washer to cause it to viscoelastically expand radially outwardly from the fastener shank until the inner opening of the washer expands to approximately the diametric dimension of the enlarged head of the fastener, whereupon the washer can be removed from the fastener. The interposition of the washer between the driving tool and the surface protects the surface against defacement.

Abstract: A method and system for streaming data from portable storage devices. Specifically, the disclosed method and system implement iterative data streaming from a portable storage device for remote storage operations, while requiring zero over-provisioning storage space for buffering incoming write operations to the portable storage device.

Abstract: A submersible pump electrical motor has a stator with a stator bore, a shaft with rotor sections in the stator bore, and a shaft bearing between rotor sections. The bearing has a bearing body having a hub and centralizing arms circumferentially spaced around the hub. Each of the arms curves and is biased against the stator bore wall. A tab on at least one of the arms engages a slot in the stator bore wall. The bearing body, the hub, and the arms are formed of a single-piece monolithic metal that undergoes elastic deflection of the arms when the bearing body is installed in the stator bore.

Abstract: Enteric elastomers and related methods are generally provided. In some embodiments, the enteric elastomer is a polymer composite. Certain embodiments comprise a polymer composite in which hydrogen bonds within two carboxyl group-containing polymers cross-link the polymer networks into an elastic and pH-responsive polymer composite. Advantageously, this polymer composite has the capacity of being stable and elastic in an acidic environment such as that of the stomach but can be dissolved in a neutral pH environment such as that of the small and large intestines. In some embodiments, the polymer composites described herein comprise a mixture of two or more polymers with carboxyl functionality such that the two or more polymers form hydrogen bonds. In certain embodiments, the polymer composite has both enteric and elastic properties.

Abstract: A kinetic fluid energy to mechanical energy conversion includes rotatable hubs supporting one or more independently controlled articulating energy conversion plates (“ECP”) and systems and components for alternating the independent control of each ECP in response to operating conditions thereby comprising an energy conversion regulation method. Separator plates for controlling fluid flow with respect to each ECP may be employed above and below the hub and may also be directionally altered in response to operating conditions and included within the energy conversion method.

Abstract: Systems and methods of selecting content based on image data are provided. A system can receive an image captured by a camera of the computing device. The system can analyze the image to identify a pattern that matches a predetermined pattern of an object stored in an image pattern database comprising a plurality of predetermined patterns of objects. The system can identify one or more image keywords from the image based on the predetermined pattern of the object that matches the image. The system can select, based on a comparison of the one or more image keywords with one or more keywords of each of a plurality of content items, a content item. The system can provide, to the computing device, the content item to cause the computing device to present the content item.

Abstract: An evacuation station has a first chamber, a second chamber, and a dividing wall separating the first and second chambers. The dividing wall has a gap fluidly coupling the first and second chambers. The second chamber is fluidly coupled to a vacuum source. A package is made from a film and is arranged in the evacuation station. An inner volume of the package is in fluid communication with an inner volume of the second chamber via the open end. A control unit controls a pressure differential between a first internal pressure in the first chamber and a second internal pressure in the second chamber to cause aspiration of gas from the inner volume of the package.

Abstract: The present specification discloses systems, devices, and methods and uses provide a mounting system which includes rail and a bracket which is selectively secured to the rail. A bracket disclosed herein selectively and/or automatically secures or locks to a rail disclosed herein when positioned on the rail by actuating or triggering a locking mechanism disclosed herein to adopted a locked configuration. In addition, a bracket disclosed herein may be selectively removed from a rail by actuating or triggering a locking mechanism disclosed herein to adopted an unlocked configuration. The disclosed mounting systems, devices, and methods enable a device to be protected from impact and moisture exposure, enable a device to be securely mounted on a base, and/or enable a device to be quickly secured and removed from a base.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting transmission bursts in unlicensed spectrum are described. Different sets of sub-bands within a downlink bandwidth portion of unlicensed spectrum can be, and sometimes are, occupied during different DL transmission bursts depending on channel availability. A user device is configured with channel usage information, e.g. N bitmaps, each bitmap indicating a different control channel resource allocation that may be used for communication with the UE, and/or reference signal information. The UE determines the occupied sub-bands in a DL transmission burst over the bandwidth portion, and determines control channel resource information based on the determined occupied sub-channels. The UE determines CSI-RS measurement locations based on determined sub-band occupancy. In some embodiments, the UE performs in-sync and out-of-sync evaluations based BLER threshold scaling factors, which are based on sub-band occupancy.

Abstract: A safe-to-proceed system (10) for operating an automated vehicle proximate to an intersection (14) includes an intersection-detector (18), a vehicle-detector (20), and a controller (24). The intersection-detector (18) is suitable for use on a host-vehicle (12). The intersection-detector (18) is used to determine when a host-vehicle (12) is proximate to an intersection (14). The vehicle-detector (20) is also suitable for use on the host-vehicle (12). The vehicle-detector (20) is used to estimate a stopping-distance (22) of an other-vehicle (16) approaching the intersection (14). The controller (24) is in communication with the intersection-detector (18) and the vehicle-detector (20). The controller (24) is configured to prevent the host-vehicle (12) from entering the intersection (14) when the stopping-distance (22) indicates that the other-vehicle (16) will enter the intersection (14) before stopping.

Abstract: An intermediate power supply unit for distributing lower voltage power to remote devices is disclosed. The intermediate power supply unit includes a higher voltage power input configured to receive power distributed by a power source and a power coupling circuit configured to couple the higher voltage power input to a plurality of power coupling outputs. If it is determined that a wire coupling the power source to the higher voltage power input is touched, the higher voltage power input is decoupled from the power coupling outputs. The intermediate power supply unit also includes a power converter circuit configured to convert voltage on higher voltage inputs to a lower voltage applied to one or more lower voltage outputs. The power converter circuit is also configured to distribute power from the one or more lower voltage outputs over a power conductor coupled to an assigned remote device.

Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder, a plurality of tethers, and an adjustment mechanism. The bladder is attached to the top and bottom end caps and configured to hold pressurized air therebetween. The plurality of tethers are disposed within the bladder. Each tether in the plurality of tethers has a first end coupled to the top end cap and a second end coupled to the bottom end cap. When the bladder is inflated, the plurality of tethers restrict a number of degrees of freedom of the inflatable structure and a type of the degrees of freedom. The adjustment mechanism is operable to move the second end of at least one tether in the plurality of tethers to adjust at least one of the number of the degrees of freedom and the type of the degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An assembly that is configured to form a seal with a bottom of a closed door panel includes a holder, a threshold cap, and a biasing member. The holder defines a pivot axis and is configured to releasably couple to a substrate of a threshold. The threshold cap includes a sealing wall and a joint portion. The sealing wall is configured to form a seal with the bottom of the closed door. The joint portion is engaged with the holder to pivotally support the threshold cap about the pivot axis. The biasing member biases the sealing wall away from the holder towards a raised position.

Abstract: Wellness equipment is provided in the form of an incliner apparatus that can also serve as furniture. The incliner apparatus includes a body support structure and at least one ground engaging rocker coupled to the body support structure to support a user at a variable angular orientation or pitch in response to a position of the user on the body support structure. The incliner apparatus is configured such that the body support structure may assume a horizontal configuration when the incliner apparatus is in a state of equilibrium, and such that the body support structure may assume a declined configuration or an inclined configuration when the user lies on the body support structure with a center of gravity of the user offset from a central reference plane of the incliner apparatus.

Abstract: A container comprising: a base and freestanding sides extending from the base to define a mouth opposite the base, wherein the mouth has first and second spouts opposite each other and first and second interior sides opposite each other between the first and second spouts; a first zipper member extending from the first interior side of the mouth from the first spout to the second spout; a second zipper member extending from the second interior side of the mouth from the first spout to the second spout, wherein the mouth is deformable between open and closed configurations and the first and second zipper members are disengagable when the mouth is open and engagable when the mouth is closed, wherein the base, sides, and zipper members are a unitary whole container without assembled parts, wherein the container comprises silicone.

Abstract: A method for streaming gameplay of a cloud video game is provided, including: executing the cloud video game to generate gameplay video; streaming the gameplay video over a network to a client device, the gameplay video being presented by the client device on a display; during the streaming of the gameplay video, transmitting one or more visual assets over the network to the client device, the visual assets being cached by the client device; wherein the cached visual assets are processed by the client device and combined into the gameplay video before being presented on the display.

Abstract: A semi-trailer wheel restraint system having at least one bearing or swivel, or a combination of bearing(s) and swivel(s), and one or more cable sections and one or more hub cab attachments for receipt into one or more wheel assemblies and through a hollow core of the trailer's axle. During a wheel bearing failure, the wheel restraint system keeps the loose wheel assembly near the end of the axle by anchoring it to the opposite-end's hub cap, thereby preventing a run-away wheel assembly and providing an operator of the truck an opportunity to safely stop the rig.

Abstract: An assembly includes a front console having a panel. The assembly includes a torsion bar fixed relative to the front console. The assembly includes a gear fixed to the torsion bar. The assembly includes a rack including teeth meshed with the gear, the rack extending toward the panel.