Abstract: According to some embodiments, an insurance business process may have a series of business process actions. Moreover, point of service customer interaction data associated with the insurance business process may be received along with external third-party information associated with a context of the insurance business process. Based on the external third-party data, the point of service customer interaction data may be systematically analyzed to identify a trend. The trend may be analytically mapped to a first business process action in the insurance business process. An indication of a recommended change to the first business process action may then be output based at least in part on the identified trend.

Abstract: A slip bobber rig having an elongated member carrying a slip bobber and a bobber stop with one end of the line securable to a fishing line and the other end of the line securable to an article of fishing tackle as well as a method of attaching a slip bobber to a fishing line without having to thread the fishing line through the slip bobber.

Abstract: A method of obtaining radio content from a remote electronic device for a user electronic device includes transmitting a request for radio media content to a first remote electronic device via a network. Radio media content that includes a plurality of media data files is received via the network. The received plurality of media data files are stored in a storage device of the user electronic device. A radio playlist that defines a rendering sequence for the plurality of media data files is requested. In response to the request for the radio playlist, the radio playlist is received. The radio playlist is processed in the user electronic device to enable the stored plurality of media data files to be rendered on the user electronic device in accordance with the radio playlist.

Abstract: A transmission device including: copy unit that extracts part or all of partial contents, as tracking information, from a content, and copies the extracted tracking information, thereby generating pieces of tracking information; candidate information obtaining unit that obtains pieces of candidate information respectively corresponding to the pieces of tracking information; evidence information obtaining unit that obtains evidence information generated dependently on a piece of candidate information selected by the reception device from among the pieces of candidate information; hash generating unit that generates hash values respectively in accordance with the pieces of candidate information; embed unit that embeds the hash values respectively into the pieces of tracking information, and embeds the evidence information into each piece of tracking information; and transmit unit that transmits each piece of tracking information in which a hash value and the evidence information have been embedded.

Abstract: A crowd gate control system includes a holding pen for dairy livestock, a crowd gate, and a controller. The holding pen is adjacent to an entrance to a milking parlor. The crowd gate is operable to form a side of the holding pen and move in relation to the entrance to the milking parlor along an axis substantially parallel to two other sides of the holding pen. The controller is operable to store a triggering threshold associated with a counter related to the milking parlor, determine whether the counter has reached the triggering threshold, and initiate a first mode of operation of the crowd gate in response to determining that the counter has reached the triggering threshold.

Abstract: To provide a better experience for ice fisherman and fisherman generally, the present inventor devised, among other things, apparatus, assemblies, components, and methods for holding a fishing device, such as a fishing rod. One exemplary apparatus includes an adjustable rod holder pivotably mounted or coupled to a base structure. The rod holder, which can be strapped or otherwise attached to one or more types of fishing rods or poles, has an adjustable center of gravity and/or an adjustable pivot point. The adjustable center of gravity and/or pivot point allows users to balance the fishing rod at various tip angles, up or down, and thus to position the rod in a way most suitable for the type of desired fish. The exemplary apparatus is particularly suitable as a replacement for the conventional tip-ups used in ice fishing, because it provides advantages of conventional rod & reel fishing with those of conventional tip-down fishing.

Abstract: A bird feeder includes a seed reservoir formed as two or more telescopic components, which are reducible in size when not in use and which may be telescopically expanded by the owner thereof when in use to define a full-length seed reservoir. The bottom end of the reservoir is received in a base having a conically-shaped seed spreader situated therein, and the upper section of the reservoir is mounted to the underside of a hemispherically-shaped, anti-squirrel dome.

Abstract: An improved electrode design is provided for a baited, shock-producing, deer repellent device deployed in an area to be protected. This device has straight, parallel, positive and negative, un-insulated metal electrodes extending vertically from the top. The electrodes are spaced and sized so that they surround and protect the bait. This electrode design increases the chance that a deer will make effective contact with the electrodes while also allowing easy access to the bait for servicing. This electrode design also decreases the chances of the device collecting ice or snow, and it decreases the chance of discharge of the device by moisture or by contact between the electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container equipped with a dry-type filtering apparatus for transporting live fish, wherein the dry-type filtering apparatus, which can be applied together with an existing wet-type filtering tank or independently, is installed on the upper, side portions of the fish tank to filter the water stored in the tank. The container according to the present invention also enables the culturing of filter microorganisms in a filter medium of the dry-type filtering apparatus to remove the ammonia content contained in the water, thereby enabling purification and improvement of the quality of the water without limitations on the weight of the container.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wire crate for housing an animal. The wire crate includes a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of side panels oppositely disposed from one another. The crate also includes a front opening defined in the front panel. The front opening is configured to provide access to the interior of the crate. The crate further includes a pair of tracks coupled to each side of the front opening and a door slidably coupled to the pair of tracks. The door slides along the pair of tracks between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A leash assembly includes a first belt, a second belt and at least one connector piece coupled to the first belt. The first belt is configured to be worn over the second belt. The first and second belts can be worn by a subject around the torso, shoulders, neck or wrist. Each connector piece is configured to move along at least a portion of the first belt. In some embodiments, the connector piece is a link configured to be receive the first belt and to move along the first belt. Each connector piece is coupled with a leash. In some embodiments, the leash has a retractable end. The leash assembly can include adornments and/or a carrier coupled to the belt.

Abstract: A moving decoy is provided. The decoy is connected to a actuator which causes the decoy to pivot. When positioned on the surface of a body of water, the decoy is capable of mimicking the movements of a live animal.

Abstract: A fishing lure having a material that is magnetically attracted to a magnet slid down a fishing line connected to the lure. A movable hook shaft housed within the lure is spring loaded to a position where a free end thereof is captured within the lure and a hook attached to the hook shaft cannot be removed from the free end. When the magnet is slid down the fishing line and magnetically influences the magnetic material, the hook shaft is moved to a position where the free end thereof is exposed and the hook can be removed therefrom.

Abstract: An inexpensive fishhook and a method for manufacturing the same whereby a piece of bait can be put as far as an end part of the chimoto side. An upper part of a shank (2) of a fishhook (1) is hit to form a flat surface (3) thereon, and a hole (4) penetrating through the flat surface (3) is formed at two points with a vertical interval therebetween. A part of the shank (2) is cut transversely across an upper hole (4a) of the holes to thereby form, at the upper part of the shank (2), a hole (4b) through which a fishing line (5) is passed and tied, and two upward protrusions (7) enabling a piece of bait to be engaged therewith and being capable of preventing the fastened fish line from being displaced from the upper part of the shank.

Abstract: Disclosed is a game feeder that may be operated by weak or weakened operators for low costs. In one embodiment, the disclosed game feeder comprises: a base with stabilizing legs; a yoke with uprights and a back support extending upwardly from the base; a lifting arm pivotally positioned above the yoke so that said arm extends forward and rearward; an operating jack extending upwardly from the base and connected to the rear end of the lifting arm for pivoting the lifting arm on the yoke; and a barrel with a distributor which are positioned at the front end of the lifting arm. Practically, an operator of the game feeder may suitably lower the barrel, provide feed to a receptacle of the barrel, raise the barrel, and activate the distributor to spread the feed to the ground area near the game feeder.

Abstract: An animal drinker allowing for the circulation of the water in the animal drinker. To this end, the animal drinker has two parallel pipe strings (23, 24) that form a water circuit ensuring a constant movement of water, namely that water flows continuously through the pipe strings (23, 24) even when no water has been removed at the drinking valves (20) over an extended period of time.

Abstract: Animal toilets presently do not have an automated method of cleaning the toileting surface and disposing of wastes. The animal toilet disclosed herein is equipped with a permeable toileting surface, a catchment surface underlying the toileting surface to collect and channel liquids, and a drain. The toileting surface may be equipped with a rinsing element to rinse wastes from the toileting and catchment surfaces. The drain may be further equipped with tubing to convey the liquids to a convenient disposal location. The animal toilet may be equipped with a moving toileting surface, which results in improved rinsing, and potential solid waste collection. In all embodiments, absorbent material may be used in place of permeable material for the toileting surface, which may not require any rinsing. The solid waste disposal may be automated through the use of rinse water and disposal tubing routed to the proper disposal location.

Abstract: A device (1) for performing a cleaning and/or disinfecting treatment on body parts of animals comprises a treatment zone (2) which is adapted to receive the animals to be treated; means (6) for guiding the animals through the treatment zone (2) in a defined walking direction; a treatment tray (3) which is suitable for containing a quantity of cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid, which is located at ground level in the treatment zone (2), in a horizontal operational position, and which is therefore suitable to be trod upon by the animals; and means (7) for tilting the treatment tray (3) and thereby allowing liquid from the treatment tray (3) to drain off from the treatment tray (3) to an area which is located outside of areas which are located in front of the device (1) and behind the device (1) as seen in the walking direction. In this device (1), contamination of a walking path of the animals to be treated is avoided.

Abstract: An imaging system that allows for unhindered access to a sample to be imaged. A housing structure is configured with a drawer having a platform. The platform may be configured to hold a sample, such as an animal, and/or the platform may be configured to mate with a sample holding member, such as a removable carrying tray for holding the sample. The drawer presents the platform to an imaging device or system internal to the housing when in a closed, or imaging, state. When in an extended state, the drawer presents the platform external to the housing to allow unobstructed manipulation of a sample on the drawer platform (or on the sample holding member on the platform). When used, a sample holding member such as a removable carrying tray may be docked with the drawer platform, and various interconnects, such as gas ports and electrical connectors, on the sample holding member engage with corresponding elements on the platform when docked.

Abstract: A fishing rod has a rod blank, and a line guide group attached to the rod blank for guiding a fishing line delivered from a reel to a top guide. The, line guide group is classified into a choke guide group configured with three choke guides and a tip guide group configured with a plurality of tip guides having a decreased height and diameter than the choke guides. Heights and diameters of the choke guides are set to draw one virtual cone shape in which the diameters are made to be circumferences. The heights and diameters of the tip guides are set to be all the same. Since the line is converged rapidly and smoothly, the tip guide group can have a combination of light guides having small diameter, thereby the entire weight can be saved greatly, and original ability of a rod can be brought out.