Abstract: A remote agent, for providing data protection services to virtual machines, includes persistent storage and a backup manager. The persistent storage is for storing a resource allocation calendar and lifecycle policies associated with the virtual machines. The backup manager obtains a virtual machine data package from a virtual machine of the virtual machines; identifies a computational load change point based on the lifecycle policies; predicts a magnitude of a computational load during a period of time demarcated by the computational load change point using, at least in part, the virtual machine data package; updates the resource allocation calendar to obtain an updated resource allocation calendar, the updating is based on: the identified computational load change point, and the magnitude of the computational load during the period of time; and generates a backup for the virtual machine using the updated resource allocation calendar.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to an antenna assembly configured to inconspicuously provide mobile communication in rugged or tactical environments. Some embodiments may include: a flexible conductor configured to receive and/or emit electromagnetic radiation; a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to match characteristic impedances; and a connector configured to mate with another connector associated with a radio or amplifier, the PCB being potentially disposed within an interior portion of the connector of the antenna assembly.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for displaying event indicators on an event timeline. In one aspect, a method includes: displaying a video monitoring user interface including: video information corresponding to a video stream of remote camera's field of view in a first region, and the event timeline in a second region; obtaining identification of a new zone of interest corresponding to a portion of the camera's field of view; sending information indicative of the new zone of interest to a server system; obtaining identification of one or more past motion events detected by the remote camera involving the new zone of interest; and updating display of the event timeline to display an event indicator having a visual characteristic corresponding to the new zone of interest for each of the one or more past motion events.

Abstract: Methods and systems for redundant light sources by utilizing two inputs of an integrated modulator are disclosed and may include: an optoelectronic transmitter with first and second laser sources for providing optical signals to the transmitter, the transmitter comprising an optical modulator with a first input waveguide coupled to the first laser source and second input waveguide coupled to the second laser source, the optoelectronic receiver being operable to: configure the first laser source to provide an optical signal to the first input of the optical modulator; and if the first laser source does not provide an optical signal, configure the second laser source to provide an optical signal to the second input of the optical modulator. The first laser source may be optically coupled to the first input waveguide and the second laser source optically coupled to the second input waveguide using grating couplers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a solar power plant comprising a plurality of solar modules. The method may comprise (a) obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from a plurality of sensors disposed among or adjacent to the plurality of solar modules; (b) processing the irradiance data at the first time and the second time to generate an output that indicates whether one or more solar modules of the plurality of solar modules will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time; (c) generating, based at least in part on the output, a power output prediction for the plurality of solar modules at the third time; and (d) adjusting a power output of the solar power plant based at least in part on the power output prediction.

Abstract: Biometric authentication techniques are provided using selected manipulations of biometric samples. An exemplary method comprises obtaining enrollment information from a user, wherein the enrollment information comprises first manipulations to a first biometric sample of the user; initiating a challenge to the user in connection with an authentication request by the user to access a protected resource; processing second manipulations by the user of a second biometric sample of the user submitted in response to the challenge, and wherein the processing comprises determining a likelihood that the second manipulations of the second biometric sample of the user submitted in response to the challenge matches the first manipulations to the first biometric sample of the user submitted by the user with the enrollment information; and resolving the authentication request based on the likelihood.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to devices and methods for securing shoelace knots by clamping an individual knot between two movable plates.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for training and using machine learning models to classify network traffic as IoT traffic or non-IoT traffic and managing the traffic based on the classification. In some implementations, machine learning parameters of a local machine learning model trained by the edge device is received each of at least a subset of a set of edge devices. The machine learning parameters received from an edge device are parameters of the local machine learning model trained by the edge device based on local network traffic processed by the edge device and to classify the network traffic as Internet of Things (IoT) traffic or non-IoT traffic. A global machine learning model is generated, using the machine learning parameters, to classify network traffic processed by edge devices as IoT traffic or non-IoT traffic.

Abstract: Systems and methods including one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts of receiving an order from a customer for a delivery of grocery items to a fulfillment location, determining a delivery compliance time for at least one item of the grocery items, receiving a pickup notification indicating that a pickup has picked up the grocery items at a first time, determining, at a second time after the first time, if a duration of time between the first time and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance time, and, if the duration of time between the first time and the second time is greater than the delivery compliance time, coordinating displaying an expiration message on a pickup interface of a pickup electronic device of the pickup.

Abstract: Damped highly stressed engineering components are disclosed. The disclosed inventive concept provides a method and system for increasing the damping capacity of an engineering system by adding a non-flat solid, highly damped insert to a system component that contributes most to the system's dynamic response. A friction damped insert can either be embedded into the damped components during casting or fastened to the outer surface of the damped component. The insert is made of the single layer of flexible material by forming it into a rigid elongated body. The layer of material can be turned over on itself without folding to create a cylinder or can be folded over a number of times to create a prismatic bar. The layer of material may be shaped into a corrugated panel. The layer of flexible material may have a number of relatively small openings or perforations with a uniform spatial distribution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing data services to devices at a customer premises. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of: switching from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation with respect to providing data services to a user equipment device located at a customer premises upon detection of a first condition at the customer premises by a wireless base station; receiving, after switching into the second mode of operation, at the wireless base station a first data service request from the user equipment device; transmitting, in response to the first data service request, one or more data packets of a first data packet stream to the user equipment device via a first transmission path and transmitting one or more additional data packets of the first packet stream to the user equipment device via a second transmission path.

Abstract: Intelligent building control systems utilize sky information from a camera or cameras to facilitate control of building systems such as lighting, motorized window coverings, electrochromic glazings, HVAC systems, and so forth. Based on the sky information, interior lighting intensity and/or color temperature may be modified, for example in order to achieve a desired circadian effect for building occupants. In this manner, energy efficiency and occupant comfort and convenience are improved.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for improved bifacial solar modeling. A method may comprise measuring an albedo of a surface on which an array of bifacial solar modules is disposed and setting an albedo parameter of a bifacial gain model. The method may further comprise measuring a backside irradiance of the array and setting a backside irradiance parameter. The method may further comprise setting a shed transparency parameter using the measured backside irradiance and a geometric model of the array. The method may further comprise setting a rear shading parameter using a shading model of the array. The method may further comprise computing an expected bifacial gain of the array. The method may further comprise determining an actual bifacial gain of the array. The method may further comprise setting a rear mismatch parameter to minimize a loss function of the expected bifacial gain and the actual bifacial gain.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless load position sensor is disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques implementing and/or operating a system includes a pipe segment and a test head assembly secured to the pipe segment. The pipe segment includes tubing that defines a pipe bore through the pipe segment and a fluid conduit in a tubing annulus of the pipe segment. The test head assembly includes barrier material poly welded to the tubing of the pipe segment to facilitate sealing the fluid conduit defined in the tubing annulus from environmental conditions external to the tubing of the pipe segment and a fluid port fluidly connected to the fluid conduit defined within the tubing annulus to enable integrity of the tubing to be tested at least in part by flowing a test fluid into the fluid conduit defined in the tubing annulus via the fluid port, extracting fluid from the fluid conduit defined in the tubing annulus via the fluid port, or both.

Abstract: A first computing device broadcasts a first audio token comprising the first user computing device identifier over two or more audio frequency channels at specified intervals and listens for audio inputs via the two or more audio frequency channels at the specified intervals. The first computing device receives a second audio token generated by a second computing device and communicates the received second audio token to the one or more computing devices. The second computing device receives the first audio token generated by the first computing device and communicates the received first audio token to the one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices receive the first and second audio tokens and pair the first computing device and the second computing device and facilitate a transfer of data between the first computing device and the second computing device.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of monitoring connectivity and latency of network links in virtual networks. For instance, a ping agent injects first ping packets into network traffic on behalf of hosts in the virtual network. The ping agent monitors incoming packets to identify first ping response packets, which are in response to the first ping packets, among the incoming packets. A ping responder rule that is included in inbound packet filter rules for a port in a virtual switch intercepts second ping packets in the network traffic. The ping responder rule converts the second ping packets into second ping response packets and injects the second ping response packets into outbound packet filter rules to be transferred to sources from which the second ping packets are received.

Abstract: A landscaping block having a block body with at least a first side surface, a second side surface, a third side surface and a fourth side surface, and opposed and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces. The patio block having at least one spacer projection extending outwardly from each of the at least first, second, third and fourth side surfaces. The patio block having at least one spacer locator positioned along each one of the first, second, third and fourth side surfaces. The at least one spacer locator positioned along each side surface has a retaining surface shaped to receive a spacer projection, at least a portion of the retaining surface extending outwardly from the side surface.

Abstract: The source light having a range of optical wavelengths is split into sample light and reference light. The sample light is delivered into a sample, such that the sample light is scattered by the sample, resulting in signal light that exits the sample. The signal light and the reference light are combined into an interference light pattern having optical modes having oscillation frequency components respectively corresponding to optical pathlengths extending through the sample. Different sets of the optical modes of the interference light pattern are respectively detected, and high-bandwidth analog signals representative of the optical modes of the interference light pattern are output. The high-bandwidth analog signals are parallel processed, and mid-bandwidth digital signals are output. The mid-bandwidth digital signals are processed over an i number of iterations, and a plurality of low-bandwidth digital signals are output on the ith iteration.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for calculating a data criticality score upon ingesting a data object into a data storage system. This data criticality score can be used to control subsequent access requests for the data object. In one embodiment, a computer system receives a data object at a first node comprising a decision engine. The decision engine generates a data criticality score based, at least in part, on one or more inputs related to the data object. After calculating the data criticality score, the system uses the data criticality score to determine whether a given action is allowable for the data object. After determining whether the given action is allowable, the system receives a user request to perform a first action on the data object. The system then determines whether the user request should be granted with respect to the first action, and if allowable, performs the first action.