Abstract: A method of predicting an electrical fault in an electrical network, wherein a signal indicative of a transmission is received, compared to a reference signal, a determination is made and if the comparison suggests a fault, indicating the determination of the fault.

Abstract: A door barricade includes a base member and a securing mechanism. The base member has a size that permits it to be positioned under a door, with a first upwardly extending portion positioned on the base member and a second upwardly extending portion positioned on the base member. The first and second upwardly extending portions are spaced a distance from one another that is greater than or equal to a width of a door. The securing mechanism is coupled to the base member for mating with a floor. The base member and the securing member together serve to barricade a door such that the door will not move even upon the application of significant force when the securing mechanism is fixedly coupled to a floor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing sourcing Internet access requests from ISP subscribers serviced by a gateway not physically located near the subscribers. As the localization needs of all subscribers are not necessarily the same, the gateway determines an appropriate source IP address to use to ensure that the IP protocol localization features work efficiently. In addition, the gateway can help enforce rules related to the governing law of the geographic area of the subscriber and/or rules based on the content providers licensing. Through determination of the context of a request, the gateway may also determine whether localized sourcing of a request is necessary based on the type of content being requested.

Abstract: A method and a satellite communication system are provided. At least one satellite gateway earth station receives at least one multicast stream from an external network. In a static forwarding mode, the at least one satellite gateway earth station replicates and forwards traffic from the at least one multicast stream over at least one first respective outroute carrier of at least one first respective spot beam of a satellite regardless of whether any terminal is arranged to actively receive any of the at least one multicast stream. In a dynamic forwarding mode, the at least one satellite gateway earth station replicates and forwards second traffic from any of the at least one multicast stream over at least one second respective outroute carrier of at least one second respective spot beam only when at least one respective terminal is arranged to actively receive the any of the at least one multicast stream.

Abstract: A modeling method performed for a cell site to detect changes in or at the cell site includes obtaining first data regarding the cell site from a first audit performed using one or more data acquisition techniques and obtaining second data regarding the cell site from a second audit performed using the one or more data acquisition techniques, wherein the second audit is performed at a different time than the first audit; processing the first data to define a first model of the cell site using the associated one or more location identifiers and processing the second data to define a second model of the cell site using the associated one or more location identifiers; comparing the first model with the second model to identify the changes in or at the cell site; and performing one or more actions based on the identified changes.

Abstract: A method of operation and system for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag assembly having an RFID semiconductor chip with an antenna interface, a mounting surface substrate, the RFID semiconductor having a predetermined operating frequency, a conductor electrically coupling the RFID chip antenna interface to an antenna, the antenna including a first radiating element lying in a first plane and a second radiating element lying in a second plane, the second plane being at an angle relative to the first plane, and a reflector having a substantially planar reflecting plane spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first plane, the reflector being composed of reflecting material adapted for reflecting the predetermined operating frequency, wherein the reflector is positioned apart from the first radiating element with the reflective plane being a distance of about ¼ of a wavelength of the predetermined operating frequency.

Abstract: Embodiments of a dermatological cosmetic treatment and imaging system and method can include use of transducer and a reflective surface to simultaneously produce multiple cosmetic treatment zones in tissue. The system can include a hand wand, a removable transducer module, a control module, a graphical user interface and/or a parabolic reflector. In some embodiments, the cosmetic treatment system may be used in cosmetic procedures, including brow lifts, fat reduction, sweat reduction, and treatment of the décolletage. Skin tightening, lifting and amelioration of wrinkles and stretch marks are provided.

Abstract: Some embodiments are provided for providing a wireless bridge to local devices on personal equipment systems. Personal equipment systems can include wireless communication systems that allow external systems, users, or both to communicate with and access data from local devices on the personal equipment systems. Personal equipment systems are provided having one or more local devices coupled thereto and in wired communication with one another. Personal equipment systems can include a wireless system and local devices attached to a headgear system, the local devices being in wired communication with one another and in wireless communication with external systems. The wireless communication system is configured to establish a wireless connection with external systems for communicating with and accessing local devices that are in wired communication with each other.

Abstract: An anchor bolt device for securing a structural member to a concrete foundation is described. The anchor bolt device includes a first anchor bolt, which has an enlarged portion, a shank portion, and a tail portion. The enlarged portion extends from a first end of the first anchor bolt and has an enlarged portion cross-section. The tail portion extends from a second end of the first anchor bolt and has a tail portion cross-section. The shank portion is disposed between the enlarged portion and the tail portion and has a shank portion cross-section that is smaller than the enlarged portion cross-section. A first coupling is disposed at the first end of the first anchor bolt for securing the first anchor bolt to the structural member. A second anchor bolt may be coupled to the second end of first anchor bolt at a second coupling.

Abstract: An optical communication cable is provided. The optical communications cable includes a cable body having an outer surface, an inner surface and a channel defined by the inner surface. An optical transmission element is located in the channel. The cable includes an ink layer positioned on the outer surface of the cable body, and the ink layer is formed from charged ink droplets adhered to the outer surface of the cable body. The cable also includes a translucent layer coupled to the outer surface of the cable body over the ink layer such that the ink layer is located between the outer surface of the cable body and an inner surface of the translucent layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided to configure a home multimedia system. Software executing on a controller or other device access component profiles describing attributes of components, one or more zone configurations that indicate components that are present in one or more zones, and one or more connection configurations that indicates how components that are present in the one or more zones are interconnected. The software applies a set of predefined service rules to the data structures to generate workflows for possible services, wherein each service rule defines one or more components and one or more interactions required for providing a corresponding service, and each workflow indicates how one or more of the components that are present in the one or more zones interact to provide a service. Executable forms of the workflows are generated, and executed to provide services to a user.

Abstract: A firearms attachment system for installation on a firearm with an integral rail system is provided with a riser assembly that secures to the weapon and a mounting base assembly. The riser assembly has a riser and two retaining bolts that secure it to the rail system by passing through the slots between the ribs of the rail system. The riser assembly has a central groove that receives the rail and shoulders that fully hold the rail when slidably engaged. The retaining bolts maintain the desired orientation. The mounting base assembly is comprised of the base and the locking assembly. The base has a groove to receive the riser. When the riser assembly is affixed to the rail assembly, the weapons system can be slidably engaged with the mounting base assembly. The lock assembly impels a retaining bolt into the bottom of the riser, to prevent removal of the weapon.

Abstract: A signal transmission approach comprises encoding a source signal (comprising source symbols) to generate a corresponding encoded signal. The encoded signal is modulated by mapping each source symbol to a respective signal constellation point of an applied signal constellation to generate a modulated signal. The modulated signal is pre-distorted based on a distortion estimate to generate a pre-distorted signal. The pre-distorted signal is filtered to generate a filtered signal. The filtered signal is frequency translated and amplified to generate a transmission signal for transmission via an uplink channel of a satellite communications system. To increase throughput, the source signal is processed through the apparatus and the resulting transmission signal is generated at a Faster-than-Nyquist (FTN) symbol rate and with a tight frequency roll-off. The modulated signal is pre-distorted based on a distortion estimate relating to the nonlinearity and the filters applied before and/or after the pre-distorter.

Abstract: A reusable nose cone device (and related retrieval apparatus) in a hollow helical piling system having a terminal helical anchor are described. The method and system include placing or installing either (i) reinforced concrete piles in situ and/or (ii) grounding systems into the ground—without utilizing a pile driver or an auger, without deconsolidating the surrounding earth and creating spoils (as with an auger), and without unnecessary sacrifice of materials. A terminal helical anchor may be installed through the hollow center of the helical piling system into the ground. The helical anchor may be installed after the removal of the nose cone device. With the system and method, independent and accurate measurement of the anchor's torque may be made and hence complementary “load” bearing, or compression, (or “pull” resisting, or tensioning) capacity may be determined prior to filling the entire pile with reinforced wet concrete.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a receiver design capable of both wideband (high symbol rate) and narrowband (low symbol rate) operations requirements without compromising narrowband performance. Moreover, such a receiver design can be very low cost, and eschewing the need for any expensive and/or specialized elements. A receiver configured in accordance with various embodiments utilizes a fully integrated tuner in which narrowband filters are configured to be bypassable when in wideband (high symbol rate) mode in favor of fixed wideband filters. Additionally, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can be implemented with digital gain for wideband operation, as well as digital data bit mapping to accommodate industry standard application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) interfaces, such as from a 12 bit ADC core to an 8 bit digital interface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring live-action gameplay interactions may be provided. A weapon device, body sensors, and a hub may be used to detect interactions, such as weapon strikes or casting of a spell. Interactions may be communicated to a game application on a mobile device for updating gameplay data.

Abstract: An insulating gas unit, and a method and apparatus for filling and sealing the insulating gas unit with an insulating gas, such as argon or krypton. The insulating glass unit includes a spacer frame having at least one elongated or oblong opening dimensioned to receive a gas filling nozzle. A mating elongated or oblong plug is dimensioned to be received within the opening in order to seal the insulating space of the insulating gas unit. A dimpling tool engages with the plug to form dimples that secure the plug in the opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing half-duplex communications for a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) operating on a continuous received stream is disclosed. The method includes: decoding the continuous received stream to establish synchronization with the continuous received stream; locating, in the continuous received stream, a time plan including a receiving timeslot and a transmitting timeslot; demodulating the continuous received stream by adapting to a timing and frequency variation of the continuous received stream in the receiving timeslot, freewheeling the adapting of the continuous received stream during the transmitting timeslot, and resuming the adapting of the continuous received stream when the transmitting timeslot ends; stopping a receiving of the continuous received stream during the transmitting timeslot; and transmitting from the VSAT during the transmitting timeslot.

Abstract: A split gateway hub for a bent-leg communication system is disclosed. The gateway hub includes: a modulator to modulate a bit stream into a signal to be transmitted to a remote terminal via a radio frequency (RF) signal; a Time Synchronization Application (TSA), geographically co-located with the modulator, to provide timing reference and synchronization to the remote terminal; a network access component to provide traffic for the bit stream; and an Inroute Group Manager (IGM) to manage the traffic to and from the remote terminal. In the split gateway hub, the IGM is disposed geographically remote from either the TSA or from the network access component, and the bent-leg communication system uses a satellite or a High Attitude Platform (HAP) for relaying the RF signal.