Abstract: Method and system for providing carbon offsets. For example, the method includes collecting mindful driving data for one or more vehicle trips made by a user, analyzing the mindful driving data to determine a level of mindful driving of the user, determining a level of carbon offset reward based at least in part upon the level of mindful driving of the user, determining an amount of total carbon emission of the user, and providing an amount of carbon offset reward based at least in part upon the level of carbon offset reward and the amount of total carbon emission.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle system is provided that includes a sensor array and a processor. The sensor array is configured to generate vehicle sensor data pertaining to a target vehicle in proximity to the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the sensor array, and is configured to at least facilitate: beginning an overtake maneuver for the vehicle, via instructions provided to the drive system, when conditions for an overtake of the target vehicle by the vehicle are initially determined by the processor to be valid; subsequent to the beginning of the overtake maneuver, determining via the processor whether the conditions for the overtake of the target vehicle are still valid, based on updated sensor data reflecting variant traffic conditions; and further controlling the overtake maneuver based on the determining as to whether the conditions for the overtake of the target vehicle are still valid.

Abstract: Selective distribution and/or reception of wireless communications signals in a non-contiguous wireless distributed communications systems (WDCS) for reducing downlink transmission power and/or uplink noise is disclosed. A non-contiguous WDCS is a WDCS in which the remote units are clustered such that remote units with contiguous coverage areas receive downlink communications signals serviced by different cells to provide non-contiguous cell coverage areas. In one example, the WDCS is configured to selectively distribute, through each remote unit, only downlink communication signals for the cell that are identified as servicing the user equipment (UE) to conserve downlink power. In another example, the WDCS is configured to selectively receive uplink communications signals from remote units that contain user data from UE. Noise and/or interference signals associated with portions of the uplink communications signals that are not selectively received (e.g.

Abstract: A probe body (12) in a optical probe (10) including a measurement tube (14) having a plurality of probe vents (16) adapted to allow process fluid to flow there through; two or more purge rings, each including a process window, a purge gas inlet, and a plurality of purge gas outlet openings adapted to direct purge gas toward or adjacent to the process window; and a measurement region defined by a portion of the measurement tube and two or more of the purge rings.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging system includes a gantry with moving and stationary parts on moving and stationary sides, respectively, the parts communicatively coupled via a data communication system. The moving part includes an X-ray source to emit X-rays; an X-ray detector configured to generate detector data; and on-moving-gantry processing circuitry. The on-moving-gantry processing circuitry is configured to determine, for each of a number of partial data sets of the generated detector data, a metric value of at least one metric, the metric value being translatable into a type of data management for the partial data set among at least two different types of data management. The processing circuitry further configured to decide, for each partial data set, how it set is to be treated based on the determined metric value of the at least one metric and to selectively effectuate data management according to the corresponding type of data management.

Abstract: A method or system for generating recommendations based on detected correlations of static and dynamic data. For example, the system generates feature inputs for the machine learning model that is based on labeled static data as well as dynamic data indicating current usage. Notably, the dynamic data is not retrieved from a data store of known training data, but instead is streamed in real time from active databases accessible to the network. Furthermore, the system provides a formatting mechanism that translates user selected requirements and parameters from a human-readable format indicating particular attributes of a database to optimize (e.g., database performance, security, compliance, capacity planning, etc.) into data that may be included in a machine learning feature input that specifies which correlations to use (e.g., server operational statistics data, server log data, monitoring metrics, etc.).

Abstract: A plant plug holding unit is provided, the plant plug holding unit including at least one plant plug holder. The plant plug holding unit, which is configured to be inserted into a cut-out in a hydroponic tower face plate, includes an edge member that encircles the unit and is sealed to the rear surface of the front tower face. Each individual plant plug holder of the plant plug holding unit includes (i) a base member configured to support a plant plug and which extends rearward from the edge member and into the hydroponic tower cavity; (ii) a top shroud member that inhibits leakage as well as plug erosion; (iii) a pair of side members that maintain the position of the plant plug within the plug holder; and (iv) a plurality of open regions configured to promote water drainage from the plant plug.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure generally pertain to systems and methods to handle packages transported in a delivery vehicle. In an example embodiment, a computer that is provided in a vehicle receives a command related to delivery of a package. The command may be associated, for example, with rerouting of the vehicle due to various reasons such as, for example, due to a change in a delivery schedule and/or a delivery priority. The computer may respond to the command by operating an unmanned package moving apparatus to move the package from one location in a cargo area of the vehicle to another location in the cargo area while the vehicle is in motion and prior to the vehicle reaching a delivery destination for the package. In an example implementation, the unmanned package moving apparatus includes a bed of rollers that are operated by servomotors under control of the computer.

Abstract: A composition comprising nanocellulose is disclosed, wherein the nanocellulose contains very low or essentially no sulfur content. The nanocellulose may be in the form of cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibrils, or both. The nanocellulose is characterized by a crystallinity of at least 80%, an onset of thermal decomposition of 300° F. or higher, and a low light transmittance over the range 400-700 nm. Other variations provide a composition comprising lignin-coated hydrophobic nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose contains very low or essentially no sulfur content. Some variations provide a composition comprising nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose contains about 0.1 wt % equivalent sulfur content, or less, as SO4 groups chemically or physically bound to the nanocellulose. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose contains essentially no hydrogen atoms (apart from hydrogen structurally contained in nanocellulose itself) bound to the nanocellulose.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, systems, apparatus, interfaces, methods, and articles of manufacture are provided for creating shared experiences using peripheral devices. In various embodiments, data is captured about a first user's peripheral usage and environment. A determination is made based on the data as to the first user's current experience. Aspects of the first user's experience are then recreated for a second user. In various embodiments, the experience is shared with the second user via peripherals and output devices.

Abstract: Provided is a voice assistance system with proactive routines that couples a remote server and respective user voice interactive devices to deliver a complete experience to the end user of the device. The voice assistance system can also provide a platform to connect remote users to customize commands (e.g., proactive or reactive) to improve day-to-day operation across groups of devices and/or users. For example, routines can be built for an organization and made available to voice interactive devices distributed by or on behalf of the organization. Administrators can select features for the device and pre-configure voice assistance devices with groups of pre-selected routines to deliver a device that is ready to go out of the box. Updates to a device or routines can be based on such groups. Additionally, primary routine instances can be linked to groups where changes to the primary instance are propagated to any linked users.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel method for managing layer four (L4) ports associated with a machine executing on a host computer. The method collects a set of contextual attributes relating to applications executing on the machine. It then analyzes the collected contextual attributes to identify at least one L4 port that has to have its status modified. Next, it modifies the status of the identified L4 port. In some embodiments, the status of an L4 port can be either open or closed, and the modification can open a closed port or close an open port. In some embodiments, the method is performed when the machine starts up on the host computer, performed each time a new application is installed on the machine, performed periodically to close unused L4 ports, and/or performed periodically to close L4 ports that should not be open based on a set of L4-port control policies.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing payment transactions using indicia-based associations between two or more user interfaces. One method includes: receiving transaction information related to a user's selection of goods or services from a merchant; generating an indicia encoding the transaction information related to the selected goods or services, the merchant, and the transaction amount; transmitting the indicia to be displayed, and to enable a user interface of a first user device to scan the indicia and extract the transaction information; receiving from the first user device, an authorization to process the payment transaction using a mobile payment source; and if sufficient resources exist in the mobile payment source: generating and transmitting a low value token to the merchant indicating the authorization of the payment transaction, wherein the low value token conceals the information related to the mobile payment source; and processing the transaction using the mobile payment source.

Abstract: A temporal Atomic Layer Deposition system and method utilizing precursor pulses applied to a moving substrate. The precursor pulses are self-exhausting.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for action ordering in a multi-agent system such as a distributed system of agent nodes. In some implementations, an exemplary method includes accessing local queues including one or more actions; applying an aggregation function to the local queues; based on the application of the aggregation function, determining an ordering of actions from the actions of each local queue; generating a shared queue based on the ordering of the actions including a first action at a first position of the shared queue and a second action at a second, sequential position of the shared queue; and synchronizing the actions of the distributed system in response to processing the actions of the shared queue according to the ordering of the actions.

Abstract: A device for hanging and displaying garments in an aesthetically pleasing manner, and methods of using the device.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for compartmentalizing a virtual assistant is executed on a computing device and includes obtaining encounter information via a compartmentalized virtual assistant during a patient encounter, wherein the compartmentalized virtual assistant includes a core functionality module. One or more additional functionalities are added to the compartmentalized virtual assistant on an as-needed basis.

Abstract: A battery-powered, motorized window treatment may include a fascia that pivots between a conceal position wherein the fascia covers a window treatment assembly and a battery compartment, and an expose position wherein the fascia does not cover the battery compartment. The fascia may be a two part fascia that includes an arm and a cover that pivots relative to the arm when the battery compartment is operated between respective opened and closed positions. The arm may be attached to the battery compartment such that the arm remains in a fixed orientation relative to the battery compartment. The arm and the cover may define complementary pivotally interlocking connectors that define a pivot axis about which the cover may pivot relative to the arm. The fascia may be configured to generate a perceptible indication when the fascia pivots into the conceal position, and/or when the fascia pivots into the expose position.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of performing metadata extraction based on resource attributes and user-defined policy and topology. A hierarchical resource-grouping construct, which is selected from hierarchical resource-grouping constructs in a user-defined hierarchical resource-grouping topology of a cloud computing service account, is registered by enumerating at least a subset of the constructs. The subset includes the selected construct and each other construct encompassed by the selected construct. Metadata is selectively extracted from the constructs that are included in the subset to provide extracted metadata based at least in part on one or more user-defined policies, which are assigned among the constructs that are included in the subset, indicating whether the metadata is to be extracted as a result of resources associated with the constructs included in the subset having specified attributes. A searchable catalog is generated that includes the extracted metadata.