Abstract: A system and method for providing payments is disclosed. A method can include establishing a wireless link between a mobile device and a merchant device. After an instruction is displayed on the mobile device, a combination of a first type of input and a second type of input are received on the mobile device, first type of input including at least one button press of a physical button and the second type of input received from a user to confirm a payment for the purchase. Based on the inputs, payment data is retrieved from a memory of the mobile device. The method includes receiving the payment data at the merchant device to make the purchase, wherein receiving the payment data, via the wireless link, at the merchant device to make the purchase is performed according to a protocol for communicating the payment data to the merchant device.

Abstract: A modular gas processing system built with various gas processing modules and cubes improve transportability and customization. Individual gas processing modules and cubes can be included or removed in multiple combinations for customization because each module has a common interconnection point for connecting to any other gas processing module and cube.

Abstract: Dual coil ablation systems are provided. Methods of using the systems to ablate tissue are also provided. The dual coil ablation systems can include a first guide needle and a second guide needle, and the methods can include securing the tissue and guiding the dual coil ablation system into the tissue for the ablation, the securing and the guiding facilitated by the first guide needle and the second guide needle. The dual coil ablation systems can also include a phase-offset between the coils to achieve a significant and surprising enhancement to the energy density provided by the systems, and the uniformity of ablation provided by the methods.

Abstract: A batteryless device is disclosed. According to certain embodiments, the batteryless device may include a first communication system and a second communication system, the second communication system being a near-field-communication (NFC) system. The batteryless device may also include a power receiver coupled to the first communication system and configured to wirelessly receive power from an external device for powering the first communication system. The batteryless device may further include a controller configured to: when the first communication system is powered, establish, via the first communication system, a first wireless connection with a user device; receive, through the first wireless communication, a token from the user device; establish, via the second communication system, a second wireless connection with a terminal; and transmit, through the second wireless connection, the token to the terminal.

Abstract: An inventive method includes providing a set of multiple light-emitting elements disposed on a flexible polymer layer, and attaching a rigid layer to the polymer layer with a set of multiple light-emitting elements between them. Each light-emitting element includes one or more inorganic microLEDs that are arranged to generate and emit output light to propagate out-of-plane relative to a corresponding localized area of the polymer layer surrounding that light-emitting element. The rigid layer and the polymer layer form a laminated structure that is transparent for visible light. Each light-emitting element of the set being sufficiently small in at least one transverse dimension, and the light-emitting elements occupying a sufficiently small fraction of an areal extent of the set, so as to enable visual observation of a scene through the laminated structure along a sight line that passes through the set of light-emitting elements.

Abstract: A test apparatus for simulating off-road conditions for a motor vehicle includes a platform, front and rear roller assemblies, a driveshaft and at least one resistance assembly. Each of the front roller assembly and the rear roller assembly is coupled to the platform and configured to receive a pair of wheels of the motor vehicle. The driveshaft is secured between the front roller assembly and the rear roller assembly and configured to transmit rotary power from one of the front roller assembly and the rear roller assembly to the other of the front roller assembly and the rear roller assembly. Each resistance assembly is coupled to at least one of the front and rear roller assemblies and is configured to vary a resistance of the at least one of the front and rear roller assemblies. An orientation of the platform is adjustable.

Abstract: A method executed by a computing device includes determining whether baseline content associated with a longevity-contingent instrument is qualified for a proposed contingency-action token (CAT) for an object distributed ledger. When qualified, the method further includes obtaining approval with regards to availability status of the longevity-contingent instrument for a life insurance investment utilization. The method further includes establishing CAT content to include the baseline content, the availability status, and further CAT content to produce the CAT. The method further includes using a securely passing process to generate a new block affiliated with the CAT via a blockchain of the object distributed ledger, where the new block includes the CAT content.

Abstract: A door security device for an out-swing door includes a mounting plate secured to the door, a hinge pin assembly supported by the mounting plate proximate the door outside edge, a clasp swing plate secured to the hinge pin assembly for pivotal movement between unlocked and locked positions, a door frame anchor bolt received in a clasp cut-out of the clasp swing plate captured behind an enlarged anchor bolt head in the locked position in a lowermost position of the clasp swing plate, the clasp swing plate biased by force of gravity to the lowermost position, and the mounting plate having a first receiver top surface at the hinge pin vertical axis, the first receiver top surface defining the uppermost position of the clasp swing plate in an unlocked position parallel to the mounting plate and defining the lowermost position of the clasp swing plate in the unlocked position perpendicular to the mounting plate.

Abstract: A Mass Flow Sensor (MFS) is provided and includes an MFS housing, a mounting structure, having a mounting structure top and a mounting structure bottom, wherein the MFS housing is associated with the mounting structure top, a first sensor leg, wherein the first sensor leg extends away from the mounting structure bottom and includes a first temperature measurement device and a heating element. The MFS further includes a second sensor leg, wherein the second sensor leg extends away from the mounting structure and includes a second temperature measurement device and an airfoil structure, wherein the airfoil structure defines an airfoil cavity and is associated with the mounting structure bottom to contain the first sensor leg and the second sensor leg.

Abstract: A method for training a non-autoregressive TTS model includes receiving training data that includes a reference audio signal and a corresponding input text sequence. The method also includes encoding the reference audio signal into a variational embedding that disentangles the style/prosody information from the reference audio signal and encoding the input text sequence into an encoded text sequence. The method also includes predicting a phoneme duration for each phoneme in the input text sequence and determining a phoneme duration loss based on the predicted phoneme durations and a reference phoneme duration. The method also includes generating one or more predicted mel-frequency spectrogram sequences for the input text sequence and determining a final spectrogram loss based on the predicted mel-frequency spectrogram sequences and a reference mel-frequency spectrogram sequence. The method also includes training the TTS model based on the final spectrogram loss and the corresponding phoneme duration loss.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing automatic loop testing. In various embodiments, a computing system may receive a request to test a network loop; may establish a static route to a target test device that is part of the network loop, the route comprising the network loop to the target test device and back; may execute an automated script to test the network loop, by: sending test data at a first rate to the target test device over the route; and applying a filter to the test data returning from the target test device over the route, the filter being configured to count packets of test data that has propagated over the route and compare with the sent packets of test data, and to drop the test data from continuing to propagate through the network loop; and may present results of the test of the network loop.

Abstract: A method performed by an encoder comprises extracting from an input mesh an extracted half symmetry mesh, the input mesh comprising a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite to the first side, the extracted mesh comprising only one of the first side and the second side; quantizing the extracted half symmetry mesh at a first bitdepth to generate a first quantized mesh; reparameterizing the first quantized mesh to generate a reparameterized mesh that includes a reduction in one or more empty spaces in the first quantized mesh; quantizing the reparameterized mesh at a second bitdepth different from the first bitdepth to generate a second quantized mesh; and encoding the second quantized mesh into a bitstream.

Abstract: System and methods for generating synthetic data according to a plurality of options are provided. According to a first option, synthetic data is generated based on an indication of one or more target distributions. According to a second option, a one or more target distributions are determined based on a sample data set, and synthetic data is generated based on the determined target distribution(s). According to a third option, a temporary synthetic data set is generated based on an indication of one or more target distributions, matches between the temporary synthetic data set and a sample data set are then identified, and a synthetic data set is then generated based on the identified matches. A system may automatically determine which option to leverage based on whether a user provides a sample data set, one or more target distributions, or both.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving and incentivizing a user to engage in enriching experiences are provided. In some examples, the methods and systems include at least one enriching program, where the at least one enriching program provides for a user to engage in an enriching activity by preventing access to a list of preselected content. In some examples, a user may engage in addition enriching experiences to earn a physical item selected from a register of physical items provided by one or more third parties.

Abstract: As part of a start-up sequence, a controller of a machine causes one or more activation components of a battery of the machine to be enabled, then causes one or more electrical components associated with the battery to be enabled, then causes one or more non-accumulator components of a hydraulic system to be enabled, then causes one or more accumulator components of the hydraulic system to charge, and then causes one or more propulsion components to be enabled. As part of a shut-down sequence, the controller causes the one or more propulsion components to be disabled, then causes the one or more accumulator components of the hydraulic system to bleed, then causes the one or more non-accumulator components of the hydraulic system to be disabled, and then causes the one or more electrical components associated with the battery to be disabled.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a secure operation on a vehicle, such as to to re-key a vehicle, includes transmitting, from a computing device such as a service tool, a service tool request to an access management server over a wide area network, receiving over the wide area network, at the service tool, a secure service response from the access management server upon a verification of the service tool request, the secure service response containing a secure payload, and transmitting the secure payload to secure controller of a specific vehicle being serviced over a vehicle communication interface regardless of whether the service tool is connected to the wide area network.

Abstract: A computer system (such as a controller) that distributes locations of access points is described. During operation, the computer system may receive, from the access points, information specifying the locations of the access points, uncertainties in the locations, and results of wireless scans. Then, the computer system may provide, to the access points, second information specifying the locations, the uncertainties in the locations, and the results of the wireless scans. Next, the computer system may receive, from the access points, third information specifying second locations of the access points and second uncertainties in the second locations, where the third information received from a given access point in the access points includes revisions to a location of the given access point and/or an uncertainty in the location. These revisions may be based at least in part on the second information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide glass compositions, fiberizable glass compositions, and glass fibers formed from such compositions, as well as glass strands, yarns, fabrics, and composites comprising such glass fibers adapted for use in various applications. In some embodiments of the present invention, the glass compositions additionally include at least one rare earth oxide.

Abstract: Extending the spatial coverage of a reference pressure network. Particular embodiments described herein include machines that initially determine that an estimated position of a mobile device resides outside a coverage area of a network of reference pressure sensors. Reference-level pressures are determined using measurements of pressure from the network of reference pressure sensors. A time interval and a plurality of wind speeds and corresponding wind directions are used to determine an adjusted location for each reference pressure sensor of the network. The adjusted location and the reference-level pressure for each reference pressure sensor are used to determine a pressure pattern, which is used to determine a reference-level pressure value for the estimated position of the mobile device. The reference-level pressure value is used for calibrating a pressure sensor of the mobile device, or for estimating an altitude of the mobile device for emergency response or navigation.

Abstract: A method and system for correcting alignment of images received from cameras by estimating camera alignment parameters based on perturbative correction such that corrected alignment parameters satisfy pairwise epipolar constraints as well as global loop closure constraints. The corrected alignment parameters are estimated as a Least-Mean-Square solution to a system of linear equations and an estimation algorithm may be implemented as a part of a Random Sample Consensus criterion estimation for improved robustness. The method and system is fast and efficient and may be implemented in a real-time system.