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: A cloud-based package-exchange-service for package delivery to, and pick-up from, a target vehicle includes a GPS-based proximity module. The GPS-based proximity module receives current GPS coordinates of a package delivery vehicle and of the target vehicle. The GPS-based proximity module stores both GPS coordinates. The GPS-based proximity module monitors a distance between the package delivery vehicle and the target vehicle of the customer. The cloud-based system also has a delivery module in the first server associated with a second database. The delivery module includes one or more lists of local delivery services that include registered individuals to be assigned for package exchange operations. The lists of local delivery services also include package delivery restrictions and conditions including package size, hours of operation, distance to operate, and delivery prices.

Abstract: An add-on trailer is provided with a computer control system for automatically or semi-automatically monitoring and controlling the load equalizing function and preferably other functions of the add-on trailer. Display and control software is loaded into a portable computer such as a tablet or personal digital assistant (PDA), with wireless connection to the computer control system in the add-on trailer, such that the computer control system can be operated remotely.

Abstract: A transmitter is set to time division multiple access (TDMA) mode and allocated a first TDMA channel. In the TDMA mode, the additional TDMA channels are allocated to and deallocated from the transmitter, according a traffic demand at the transmitter, until all TDMA channels are assigned and the traffic demand reaches a threshold, whereupon the transmitter is switched to a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) mode, and assigned an FDMA channel. In response to traffic levels, the transmitter is switched to larger bandwidth FDMA channels and, optionally, to a concurrent FDMA-TDMA mode having a large bandwidth FDMA channel in addition to a number of TDMA channels. Optionally, switching the transmitter among TDMA mode, FDMA mode, and concurrent FDMA-TDMA mode is based, at least in part, on QoS, or time of day, or user statistics, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An approach for cached content identification for adaptive data streaming. A first request is received, requesting a current segment from a sequence of segments from a data file of a streaming data session. A NewVideoFlag is determined as indicating that the sequence of segments associated with the first request is not currently being cached. The first request is forwarded to a content server, and a first response message is received. A SegmentID of the received content segment is determined as not matching that of cached content segments. The NewVideoFlag is set to indicate that the segments from the streaming data session file are currently being cached. A global cVideoFileID is generated identifying the streaming session data file being cached. The content segment is cached, and cache bookkeeping is updated to associate the segment with the SegmentID and the cVideoFileID. The first response message is provided to the client device.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes a wastewater collection system, at least one aeration subsystem aerating the aerobic portion, and at least one filtration subsystem. The wastewater collection system has an anoxic portion, an aerobic portion downstream of the anoxic portion, an anaerobic portion downstream of the aerobic portion. The filtration subsystem includes at least one bioreacting filter receiving fluid from the aerobic portion, being operable to filter wastewater received from the aerobic portion, and discharging filtered fluid into the anoxic portion, an oxygen contactor fluidically connected between the aerobic portion and the at least one bioreacting filter and operable to diffuse oxygen into the fluid being supplied from the aerobic portion, and an oxygen supply operable to supply oxygen to the oxygen contactor.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cruise control system on a vehicle includes identifying a vehicle location and identifying a number of respective cruise control overrides by a driver at the vehicle location. If the number of cruise control overrides by the driver is at least a threshold number of overrides, identifying respective actions by the driver after the cruise control overrides, and creating a profile of the driver behavior associated with the vehicle location based on the respective actions by the driver within a range around the vehicle location after the driver overrode the cruise control.

Abstract: Various examples of a controller and system for transmitting and indicating a fault in a combination vehicle are disclosed. A first towed vehicle controller comprises a communications port and a processor with control logic. The control logic determines the status of the first towed vehicle, receives fault messages on an associated vehicle communications bus, and transmits fault messages and status messages on the associated vehicle communications bus. When the control logic receives a fault message from an associated second towed vehicle controller on the associated vehicle communications bus, the control logic transmits the fault message of the associated second towed vehicle controller to the associated vehicle communications bus. The first towed vehicle controller may transmit the fault message at a first period in time, which is different than the second period in time in which the second towed vehicle controller transmitted the fault message.

Abstract: A housing for use in a fuel system component comprises a body defining an interior and having an inlet leading into the interior and an outlet leading from the interior, wherein at least one of the inlet and the outlet is defined by a port through a wall of the body and a fitting defining a passage open to the port, the fitting have a portion extending from the port that is not circular in cross-section. The body includes a cap with the fitting extending axially from the cap. In cross-section, the fitting has a major dimension oriented generally circumferentially and a minor dimension that is smaller than the major dimension and generally oriented radially relative to the axis of the housing. Optionally, the fitting may be integrally formed with the cap.

Abstract: An approach is provided for the application of network acceleration technologies to remote node traffic over GPRS tunneling protocols (GTP) in terrestrial mobile communications networks. A proxy device of a first network node receives a stream of data packets that are encapsulated in accordance with GTP. Each GTP packet is de-encapsulated by stripping GTP header from the packet, identifying the TEID (reflecting a respective GTP flow with which the GTP packet is associated), and maintaining a respective GTP payload (PDU). Acceleration functions are applied to the GTP PDUs, and the resulting acceleration packets are transmitted communications network link(s) to a proxy of a second network node. The second node proxy device receives the transmitted packets, and re-encapsulates each packet, in accordance with the GTP protocol, based at least in part on the respective TEID of the packet.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods to intelligently reduce the dynamic range of a signal. Using a histogram analysis of the signal, significant and insignificant portions of the original dynamic range can be identified. Compaction can then be focused on the insignificant portions of the dynamic range, resulting in significant dynamic range reduction with less signal loss. By compacting the little used portions of the original signal, the dynamic range of the rest of the signal can be largely maintained which results in little loss to signal fidelity, and thus mitigates saturation, quantization, signal mutual suppression, and other issues observed in prior art methods.

Abstract: A beverage making machine may employ a mixing chamber to mix a beverage medium with a precursor liquid, such as carbonated water. The mixing chamber may have a precursor liquid inlet coupled to a precursor liquid supply, a beverage medium chamber to receive a beverage medium into the beverage medium chamber, and a dispense outlet from which beverage medium and precursor liquid are dispensed, e.g., into a user's cup. The beverage medium chamber may include a chamber inlet coupled to the precursor liquid inlet, e.g., so precursor liquid can enter the chamber when a pressure is low in the beverage medium chamber, and a chamber outlet downstream of the chamber inlet that is coupled to the dispense outlet, e.g., so that beverage medium can exit the chamber.

Abstract: When blending individual vehicle-mounted camera images into a coherent composite image of the vehicle surroundings, objects in the respective images are analyzed to determine the presence of a pedestrian. When the individual images are blended to form the composite image, multiple pedestrian shadow views of the pedestrian are replaced with background pixels to erase the pedestrian, and a semi-symbolic graphical representation of the pedestrian is superimposed at the location of the actual pedestrian in the composite image. The graphical representation is proportional to the pedestrian in the composite image and includes features unique to the pedestrian it represents. The composite image with the graphical representation is then presented to a viewer.

Abstract: A method of correcting an infrared image including a plurality of pixels arranged in an input image array, a first pixel in the plurality of pixels having a first pixel value and one or more neighbor pixel with one or more neighbor pixel values. The first pixel and the one or more neighbor pixels are associated with an object in the image. The method includes providing a correction array having a plurality of correction pixel values, generating a corrected image array by adding the first pixel value to a correction pixel value in the correction array, and detecting edges in the corrected image array. The method also includes masking the detected edges in the corrected image array, updating the correction array, for each correction pixel value in the correction array and providing an output image array based on the correction array and the input image array.

Abstract: A carton for packaging one or more articles, includes a top panel, first and second side panels, a bottom panel, and at least one display window for displaying at least one article. The at least one display window is struck at least in part from at least one of the side panels. The at least one display window is interrupted by a retention strap for engaging at least one article.

Abstract: A vehicle service system allowing a person in a sitting position access to the underside of a vehicle, waste recovery systems, and storage compartments.

Abstract: A cam assembly is disclosed which includes a cam having a first cam pivot, a second cam pivot, and a machine shaft guide; a range plate which is engageable with the cam; a belt connected to the cam; and a machine shaft connected to the range plate. The first cam pivot defines the motion of a first arc and the second cam pivot guide defines the motion of a second arc as the cam is adjusted. A method of using a cam assembly is also disclosed which includes engaging an adjustor on a cam; releasing a connection between the cam and a range plate; rotating the cam; releasing the adjustor; and securing a connection between the cam and the range plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for generating a performance data (PD) report comprising a first module for collecting performance data, a second module for formatting the PD and selecting from at least one of the following types of data: system run time in minutes, heat run time in minutes, cooling run time in minutes, fan run time in minutes, average heating temperature by degrees, average cooling temperature by degrees, average outdoor temperature by degrees, average humidity level by percent humidity, highest indoor temperature by degrees, lowest indoor temperature by degrees, highest outdoor temperature by degrees, lowest indoor temperature by degrees, highest humidity level by percent humidity and lowest percent humidity by percent humidity, date, time, system mode, such as cool or heat or a fan, system state, room temperature, setpoint, fan state, outdoor temperature and humidity level (collectively hereinafter “custom Performance Data”).

Abstract: A spill containment system is attachable to a riser pipe with an axially moveable seal. The spill containment system allows access to a drop tube in the riser pipe via a removable liquid communication assembly. The spill containment system includes a sealed interstitial space, which remains sealed during installation, service and use of the system. The spill containment system is protected by a weather resistant cover assembly.