Abstract: A communications terminal comprises an encoder configured to encode a digital data signal to generate an encoded signal, a scrambler configured to scramble the encoded signal based on a scrambling signature, and a modulator configured to modulate resulting data frames for transmission via a random access communications channel. Each frame comprises a data payload, including a block of the scrambled signal, and a header, including a start of frame (SOF) sequence associated with the scrambling signature. Use of the SOF sequence for each frame provides a synchronization reference and serves to designate the associated scrambling signature for decoding the respective data payload. Use of the SOF sequence for each frame further serves to distinguish between the data frame and data frame(s) originating from further communications terminal(s), transmitted via a common time slot of the channel, for which different scrambling signature(s) were used to scramble respective encoded signal(s) thereof.

Abstract: An anti-ice valve, a turbine engine including an anti-ice valve assembly and a method of operating an anti-ice valve where an anti-ice valve has a housing and a valve element configured to control a flow of hot bleed air through the housing, and a muscle air passage extending through the housing, a cooling air passage extending through the housing, and a heat exchanger located within the housing and having heat transfer surfaces in thermal communication with the muscle air passage and the cooling air passage.

Abstract: A method for processing core wheels is disclosed. Images of known wheels having unique identifying numbers and other wheel information is received from third party providers and are processed to determine the features of the known wheels. These images, features and other wheel information are stored in a database for future reference. A supply of core wheels is then provided and sorted in order to separate at least a first portion of the wheels conforming to a first set of criteria from the supply of wheels and are transported to second location.

Abstract: An approach for optimizing power utilization of a satellite transponder, and thereby optimizing achievable modulation/coding schemes and data rates for terminals across the transponder beam, is provided. A signal power level is allocated to each of a plurality of carriers. The plurality of carriers are to be transmitted within a downlink beam via a transponder, each of the carriers is associated with a region of the beam, and the total power allocated to the carriers does not exceed a desired aggregate power level for the transponder. The signal power allocated to each carrier is determined relative to a gain realizable by satellite terminals within the respective beam region and assigned to receive the respective carrier, and the realizable gain of the terminals is based on locations within the beam. The signal power level allocated to each carrier is different from the power allocated to the other carriers.

Abstract: A magazine identifier is provided. The magazine identifier is an endless band having a front surface, a rear surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, an inner surface, an upper rim and a lower rim. The endless band is formed of a material with rubber elasticity. For example, the endless band may be made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone or any material with a similar elasticity to rubber. The endless band is placed over a magazine of a firearm to identify the type of ammunition carried within the magazine and the owner of the magazine.

Abstract: A method of operating optical systems includes forming a stitched image of a field of regard using a first optical device. The stitched image of the field of regard comprises a plurality of sub-images associated with a first field of view. The method also includes receiving an image of a second field of view from a second optical device and determining a location of the image of the second field of view in the stitched image. The method further includes communicating an indicator to the second optical device. The indicator is to the location of the image of the second field of view in the stitched image.

Abstract: An electric machine assembly, having a first machine providing an alternating current output and a second machine receiving a direct current input, and a rectifier assembly placed within a rotating shaft of the electric machine assembly to convert the AC output of the electric machine assembly to the DC input prior to transmission of the electricity from the electric machine assembly.

Abstract: A security-monitoring platform adapted to automatically create real-time associations between security monitoring assets (SMAs) and a security alert based on location specific information for both the SMAs and the source of the security alert. When an alert occur, the security-monitoring platform automatically retrieves location and/or movement information for the source of the security alert. The system then retrieves and analyzes location and/or movement information for a plurality of SMAs to determine whether any SMAs are within a set of location-based parameter limits. Those SMAs that fall within the limits are automatically associated with the security alert and provided to the operator of the security monitoring platform. The system is further adapted to continuously evaluate the location and movement of the SMAs and the active security alert to ensure that the associations are always up-to-date as the security alert is processed.

Abstract: A method for generating a temperature map of a scene may include receiving thermal data of the scene, wherein the thermal data includes a plurality of frames of thermal infrared data. A mapping may be created for each frame of the plurality of frames based on the digital thermal infrared data. The method further comprises generating the temperature map using the mapping, wherein the temperature map is generated prior to a contrast enhancement process and separately transmitting the temperature map and the digital thermal infrared data in a data channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying fresh cooking oil to fryers and removing used cooking oil from the fryers of facilities. The systems and methods include utilizing one or more portable vehicles to carry fresh and used oil for delivery and collection to and from fryers in remote kitchens, or kitchens where hard piped oil lines are not preferred. Also provided are methods of delivering cooking oil to, and removing cooking oil from, the facility via one or more additional vehicles that travels between the facility and one or more depots. In one embodiment there is provided a bulk cooking oil distribution system having a bulk fresh cooking oil tank and a bulk used cooking oil tank. The system includes a fresh cooking oil tank and a used cooking oil tank, where these tanks are associated with a portable device for delivery and pickup of cooking oil in a facility.

Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

Abstract: A network device may execute a process (e.g., a software keep-alive process (SKAP)) that schedules the transmission of keep-alive messages or packets. The network device maintains a database of keep-alive network sessions storing information that is used for scheduling the transmission of the keep-alive messages or packets for the keep-alive network sessions. The database may be read and a next transmission time and session frequency for one or more keep-alive sessions may be determined. The one or more keep-alive sessions may then be placed in appropriate banks within a timer queue based on the determined next transmission time and session frequency. Each bank is associated with a time period from the current time. The keep-alive sessions having sooner next transmission times are placed in higher priority banks. The scheduler may allow for real-time scheduling of the one or more keep-alive sessions.

Abstract: A system and method for producing substantially anhydrous ethanol, methanol or other volatile chemicals includes: (a) a first distillation stripping column or column set with overhead vapors compressed using mechanical vapor recompression to strip off a weak ethanol overheads; (b) a second distillation rectifying column having a higher operating temperature than the stripping column; (c) a dehydration means in fluid communication with the rectifying column; (d) reboiler for the stripping column which partially condenses the vapor from the mechanical vapor recompression, (e) a trim condenser which completes the condensing of the vapor/liquid mix of the reboiler, (f) a heat recovery circuit which condenses the rectifying column overheads and molecular sieve dry ethanol condenser and (g) a heat exchange to transfer the recovered heat of (f) to the first distillation stripping column reboiler feed.

Abstract: Systems and methods which utilize luminaires that include wireless communication capabilities that allow the luminaires to be controlled by a wireless-enabled mobile system disposed proximate the luminaires. Control of a network of wireless-enabled luminaires is provided via a single mobile system utilizing wireless communication through at least one gateway luminaire without requiring connection between the luminaires and a central management system (CMS). Information sent to or collected from the luminaires through the mobile system may be transferred via a mobile network interface from or to a CMS. The luminaires may use their wireless communication ability to obtain data from nearby wireless sensors, which data may be collected by the mobile system from luminaires in the network of luminaires when the mobile system is positioned proximate at least one of the luminaires. The sensor data and/or other data may be uploaded to the central management system in a non-real-time period.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a method of payment for parking of a vehicle including determining the location of the vehicle with a wireless communication device. Determining the location includes using a satellite radio navigation system such as GPS with the facility for user provided corrections and avoiding the use of zone IDs. The method also includes automatically extending an initiated parking session with subsequent prepaid time durations until certain predetermined conditions are met. The method includes automatically determining the end of an initiated parking session based on detecting movement of the vehicle away from a parking spot provided the Handset containing the parking payment App has sensed a Bluetooth tag in the vehicle or paired with the built-in Bluetooth system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for a quick release of a second object from a first object, e.g., quick release of hurricane panels (second object) from the inside of a habitable structure (first object). A stepped quick release bolt assembly or a dual quick release car assembly may be employed. In the preferred embodiment, a pin passing through a cross bored hole in a stepped bolt disposed in a receiving structure attached to a first object is releasable in order to disconnect the second object from the first object.

Abstract: An example of recovery catheter assembly comprises an actuator element and a mechanically radially expandable and contractible recovery device operably connected to the actuator element. The recovery device has proximal and distal blocking portions and a central portion therebetween. The recovery device is at least partially placeable in a first, radially collapsed configuration and in a second, radially expanded configuration by manipulation of the actuator element. When in the second, radially expanded configuration, the proximal and distal blocking portions have radial dimensions greater than the radial dimension of the central portion thereby at least partially defining a collection chamber at the central portion.

Abstract: A compartmentalized multiple container base apparatus for separation and recovery of used contaminated abrasive blasting material at a remote work site. A self-contained unitized storage and cleaning system including cyclonic separation, multiple stage dust filters and magnetic drum, air wash and vibratory separation in a flow through contaminate and blast media separation process.