Abstract: In an embodiment, methods for managing a point of sale (POS) device are provided. A web server may be configured to grant access of a display of the POS device to the user device. The POS device may display a graphical user interface that includes a menu for controlling the display of the POS device. These steps may be in response to a first request. In response to a second request, the POS device may transmit a push notification to the user device. The push notification includes a second menu including a command for controlling an operation of the POS device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method enables registered mobile device users associated with a common matter to identify each other in a court-complex setting, and to communicate with each other directly using mobile devices once the registered mobile device users enter a code associated to the common matter. A server-side application receives and processes user and/or firm names to effect registration. Using the mobile device application, a first registered mobile device user enters a code associated with the common matter, received by the server-side application that receives and processes the code, effecting check in by the first registered mobile device user. Using the mobile application, a second registered user enters the code associated with the common matter, enabling the first and second registered mobile device user associated with the common matter to communicate over a wireless network using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-Fi and/or cellular telephony.

Abstract: In an embodiment, methods for managing a point of sale (POS) device are provided. Inventory information may be transmitted to the POS device. The inventory information may be associated with the physical location of the merchant. An application may be pre-loaded on the POS device. The application controls a plurality of functions that are allowed to be performed at the POS device. The application may be updated to control a new function that is allowed to be performed at the POS device. A configuration right may be provided to a merchant server. The configuration right may determine an operation that the merchant is permitted to perform to control the POS device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes receiving at a sink node a path signal frame and a modified set of idle character 64B/66B blocks. The path signal frame includes encoded client data signal 64B/66B blocks, path overhead 64B/66B data blocks and a control 64B/66B block. The link bit rate is measured. The number of idle character 64B/66B blocks is determined. The data blocks of the CBR client signal are extracted from the encoded client data signal 64B/66B blocks and the CBR client signal is regenerated from the extracted data blocks. A bit rate of the CBR client signal is determined using the measured link bit rate and the number of idle character 64B/66B blocks. The rate of a CBR signal clock is adjusted for transmitting the CBR client signal at the determined bit rate.

Abstract: In one aspect, compositions are described herein. In some embodiments, a composition: comprises a phase change material, a hydrophobic sorption material, and a viscosity modifier. In some embodiments, a composition comprises a foam and a latent heat storage material dispersed in the foam, the latent heat storage material comprising a phase change material and a hydrophobic sorption material.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a mobile terminal apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The mobile terminal apparatus displays a captured image of an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, extracts from the captured image, in response to a user operation on the captured image, an operation partial image including an operation part designated by the user operation, and transmits operation partial image data indicating the operation partial image to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus identifies the operation part corresponding to the operation partial image data received from the mobile terminal apparatus, and executes an action corresponding to the identified operation part.

Abstract: A mail item sortation system and method that includes an external controller for culling candidate letters in a mailing job to produce groupings of letters based on industry average weights and/or thicknesses in order to place all the candidate letters going to a single address adjacent to each other, an internal controller, interfaced with the external controller, that utilizes the groupings of letters to manage multiple letter sorters, wherein a specific letter sorter is selected to pair a calculated number of pockets to accommodate the groupings with an actual number of pockets in the selected letter sorter, and a transfer process for moving letters within the letter sorter pockets to a StatementPack machine.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that enable a parallel execution controller to execute partitioned segments of a data model in parallel and on different network resources. The resultant processed data from each partitioned segment may be combined to form an aggregated set of results data. The parallel execution controller may identify model attributes of a data model and determine whether the data model is partitionable, based on the model attributes. If the data model is partitionable, the parallel execution controller may partition the data model, initiate a parallel execution of the individual partitioned segments on available network resources, and combine the corresponding results data into an aggregated set of results data.

Abstract: A heat roller includes a main body and a follower gear. The main body includes a cutaway portion and a pair of protruding plate portions. The follower gear includes a transmission protrusion and an abutment portion. The transmission protrusion is abutted against one protruding plate portion, when the follower gear rotates. The abutment portion is abutted against the one protruding plate portion, when the main body rotates in advance. A size of the transmission protrusion along the width direction of the cutaway portion is smaller than a clearance between the pair of protruding plate portions in the width direction, and a clearance between the abutment portion and the one protruding plate portion in the roller rotation direction is narrower than a clearance between the transmission protrusion and the other protruding plate portion in the roller rotation direction, when the transmission protrusion is in contact with the one protruding plate portion.

Abstract: A system and method for securing authenticated communication through a device that is able to trigger an offline physical event through an online communication process.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a first laser subsystem configured to transmit a first laser beam at a first location on an object at a time and a second laser subsystem configured to transmit a second laser beam at a second location on the object at the time. The apparatus can include an analyzer configured to calculate a first velocity based on a first reflected laser beam reflected from the object in response to the first laser beam. The analyzer can be configured to calculate a second velocity based on a second reflected laser beam reflected from the object in response to the second laser beam. The first location can be targeted by the first laser subsystem and the second location can be targeted by the second laser subsystem such that the first velocity is substantially the same as the second velocity.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for using a plurality of data caches to increase the efficiency of a computing system in an e-commerce environment. Separate caches with distinct time-to-live values are created, one each for customer information, customer cart contents, and product pricing data. Product pricing is pre-analyzed using a pricing data engine that calculates multiple potential prices for a single item that is then stored in the product pricing data cache. This data can then be used in a variety of contexts to determine different pricing for the same product without requiring another request for product data from the pricing data engine. When a product is viewed during catalog browsing, all information needed to determine pricing for that particular user might be accessible from the data caches for fast processing.

Abstract: A method of determining an aim point of a firearm or simulated firearm at a time of firing by continuously pulsing a laser coaxially aligned with a barrel of the firearm or simulated firearm. The aim point is then continuously detected by a camera system observing the target. A shot firing event is detected and the last detected laser pulse location on the target prior to the shot firing event is determined. The aim point of the firearm or simulated firearm at the time of firing is extrapolated from the last detected laser pulse location and at least one laser pulse location prior to the last laser pulse location.

Abstract: A video system and method are presented that uses an output-receiving microphone mounted on the housing of the video system to receive a signal representative of the output of a speaker in a use-environment. This signal is compared with a second signal received from a spoken-word microphone that is mounted more remotely from the speaker. In some embodiments, the spoken-word microphone is positioned in a low-pass filter tune pipe and is combined with a separate spoken-word microphone in a tuned microphone array so as to filter out frequencies not associated with the human voice. The two signals are magnitude matched, and the first signal is subtracted from the second to generate an improved voice signal for a voice recognition system.

Abstract: An ink ejection timing adjustment method on an inkjet recording apparatus includes an information acquiring step of acquiring at least recording medium information with a reading sensor, a printing step of printing a test pattern on a recording medium on a conveying belt, a calculating step of calculating a delay time by adding to a default set time a correction time corresponding to a correction value for ink ejection timing entered based on the printed position of the test pattern, and a setting step of setting the delay time as a predetermined time at the lapse of which after, as a result of the conveying belt turning, an opening passes a reading position a recording head starts to eject ink to the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum and a charge elimination part. The charge elimination part of a predetermined image forming unit irradiates a downstream area of the primary transfer position on the photosensitive drum of the predetermined image forming unit with post-transfer charge elimination light and irradiates an upstream area of a primary transfer position on the photosensitive drum of the other image forming unit disposed on a downstream side of the predetermined image forming unit in the conveyance direction. A slit part is provided between the predetermined image forming unit and the other image forming unit for narrowing an irradiation width of the pre-transfer charge elimination light in a circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: Described herein are polymerase variants that are exonuclease deficient. Some variants retain the strand displacement capability comparable to the wild-type or parental polymerase. Some variants have a strand displacement capability that is improved relative to the wild-type or parental polymerase. The variants may have an extension rate that is greater than the wild-type or parental polymerase. The variants may have a waiting time that is less than the wild-type or parental polymerase.

Abstract: A device may receive a master data set for a first spectroscopic model; receive a target data set for a target population associated with the first spectroscopic model to update the first spectroscopic model; generate a training data set that includes the master data set and first data from the target data set; generate a validation data set that includes second data from the target data set and not the master data set; generate, using cross-validation and using the training data set and the validation data set, a second spectroscopic model that is an update of the first spectroscopic model; and provide the second spectroscopic model.

Abstract: At the present time, physicians often treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using radiofrequency (RF) catheter systems to ablate conducting tissue in the wall of the Left Atrium of the heart around the ostium of the pulmonary veins. These systems are expensive and take time consuming to use. The present invention circular ablation system CAS includes a multiplicity of expandable needles that can be expanded around a central axis and positioned to inject a fluid like ethanol to ablate conductive tissue in a ring around the ostium of a pulmonary vein quickly and without the need for expensive capital equipment. The expansion of the needles is accomplished by self-expanding or balloon expandable structures. The invention includes centering means so that the needles will be situated in a pattern surrounding the outside of the ostium of a vein. Also included are members that limit the distance of penetration of the needles into the wall of the left atrium.