Abstract: An embodiment method of indicating reception of a plurality of low-payload messages includes receiving the plurality of low-payload messages from respective user equipments (UEs). The method also includes generating a composite reception indication (RIND) containing a RIND for each of the plurality of low-payload messages. The method also includes broadcasting the composite RIND to the respective UEs.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for determining crowd traffic in a facility by detecting debris on floor mats. The system can include floor mats disposed in a facility to collect debris from objects passing over the floor mats. A computing system can detect and estimate the amount of objects causing the debris on the floor mat. The computing system can estimate the amount of objects entering and exiting the facility based on the quantity of objects passing over the floor mats.

Abstract: Electronic reading devices provide readers with text on a display, and enhancements to their functionality and efficiency are discussed herein. Text is provided to the reader in an enhanced contrast mode that highlights the active word and line of the text as well as words of interest in the text so as to improve the functionality of the electronic reading device itself as a provider of textual content.

Abstract: Systems and methods reduce redundancy in a data representation. The data is divided into a plurality of data portions. The data portions are used to encode a plurality of compressed data portions, wherein the compressed data portions correspond to a subset of the data portions and comprise less redundant data than the subset of the data portions. The compressed data portions are also encoded in accordance with data in the remaining data portions. The compressed data portions are transmitted instead of the subset of the data portions with the remaining data portions according to a sequence of data portions. Each of the compressed data portions is transmitted upon receiving an acknowledgment message that indicates successful transmission of a previous data portion or compressed data portion in the sequence of data portions.

Abstract: A charger (100) for a portable battery powered device comprises a generally planar body (102). The body (102) comprises apertures (104a, 104b) for removably receiving and holding two batteries; contacts (110a, 110b) for engaging with terminals of each battery; a circuit (114) housed within the body (102) and coupled to at least a pair of the contacts (110b), the circuit (114) being configured to convert a voltage of the batteries into a predetermined charging voltage; and a connector (116) extending from the body (102) for providing the charging voltage to a said portable battery powered device. Major dimensions of the charger (100) are less than 86 mm by 54 mm and a thickness of the charger (100) is less than 5 mm.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for detecting attributes of vehicles using an images captured by an image capturing device disposed at a facility. The system detects attributes of the vehicles from the image, retrieves information associated with each vehicle based on the attributes and generates a score for each vehicle based on the information associated with each vehicle. Based on the score a distribution of physical objects is triggered to the facility.

Abstract: A method and system for improving touch screen display use during vibration and turbulence conditions is provided. The system includes a sensor configured to transmit a first input signal relative to a measured parameter of the vehicle, a touch screen input and display system configured to transmit a second input signal relative to a manual input by a user. The touch screen input and display system includes a planar input and viewing surface having a plurality of edges and a bezel at least partially surrounding the surface proximate at least some of the plurality of edges. The bezel includes a surface configured to engage one or more digits of one or more hands of a user and is formed of an elastomeric material. The system also includes an input unit configured to receive the transmitted first and second input signals.

Abstract: A facility for managing storage of program customization resources on a computing system is described. The computing system has an amount of storage space, some of which is free. Some of the program customization resources are selected for use. The facility determines that the amount of free storage space is inadequate. In response, the facility identifies at least a portion of the plurality of program customization resources stored on the computing system that are not selected for use, and causes the identified program customization resources to be deleted from the computing system.

Abstract: A mechanically actuated cargo restraint system for a vehicle includes a rotatable reel in a frame, first and second flexible tethers, and a mechanical device. The first flexible tether has a first end coupled to the rotatable reel and a second end capable of being coupled to a cargo item, the first flexible tether is windable around the rotatable reel. The mechanical device includes a pawl and cog that are movable with respect to each other, the pawl coupled to the rotatable reel for rotatable movement therewith. Movement of a cargo item attached to the first flexible tether that causes the first flexible tether to move in an unwinding direction on the rotatable reel causes movement of the pawl-containing member relative to the cog. Velocity in the unwinding direction such as that encountered during a crash or free-fall engages the pawl into the cog, thereby inhibiting movement of the first flexible tether in an unwinding direction on the rotatable reel.

Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods include configuring a model to process incoming sensor data from a multitude of sensors in a custom sensor network—accessing domain-specific, vendor-specific, and technology-specific sub-models and selecting and combining features of the sub-models in an object that accepts incoming data from the sensors.

Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing traffic over a wireless link through the compression or suppression of high layer packets carrying predictable background data prior to transportation over a wireless link. The methods include intercepting application layer protocol packets carrying the predictable background data. In embodiments where the background data is periodic in nature, the high layer packets may be compressed into low-layer signaling indicators for communication over a low-layer control channel (e.g., an on off keying (OOK) channel). Alternatively, the high layer packets may be suppressed entirely (not transported over the wireless link) when a receiver side daemon is configured to autonomously replicate the periodic background nature according to a projected interval. In other embodiments, compression techniques may be used to reduce overhead attributable to non-periodic background data that is predictable in context.

Abstract: A delicate tissue retraction system having a retractor, an introducer and a clamp mechanism. The retractor has a hollow retractor passage and the introducer has an introducer channel extending from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end. The introducer is configured to be removably installed within the retractor. The clamp mechanism is on the introducer and includes a probe shaft receptacle suspended inwardly from the introducer wall to form one or more open spaces between the introducer wall and the probe shaft receptacle. The probe shaft receptacle has a clamp passage that is axially aligned with the introducer channel and dimensioned to receive the shaft of a navigation probe therethrough. The probe shaft receptacle has a clamp configured to selectively reduce a size of at least a first portion of the clamp passage to selectively hold the probe shaft at a fixed position relative to the introducer.

Abstract: Aspects of dynamic data compression selection are presented. In an example method, as uncompressed data chunks of a data stream are compressed, at least one performance factor affecting selection of one of multiple compression algorithms for the uncompressed data chunks of the data stream may be determined. Each of the multiple compression algorithms may facilitate a different expected compression ratio. One of the multiple compression algorithms may be selected separately for each uncompressed data chunk of the data stream based on the at least one performance factor. Each uncompressed data chunk may be compressed using the selected one of the multiple compression algorithms for the uncompressed data chunk.

Abstract: A method for configuring a radio access network (RAN) process onto a communications network having a plurality of nodes is disclosed. The method includes converting the RAN process into a service function chain having a plurality of functions, and distributing each function of the plurality of functions between the plurality of nodes in the communications network.

Abstract: Example shopping cart corral systems and associated systems and methods are described. The example shopping cart corral system includes a corral structure, a radio-frequency transmitter, a radio-frequency receiver, and a controller coupled to the radio-frequency transmitter and the radio-frequency receiver. The controller estimates a quantity of shopping carts disposed in the shopping cart corral based on at least one property of the reflected radio-frequency signal. An example shopping cart counter system includes an elongated structure, first and second electrical contacts, a power source and a processing device. The power source applies a voltage or an electrical current to the first electrical contact and the shopping carts complete an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts. The processing device estimates the quantity of shopping carts disposed in the elongated structure based on an electrical resistance associated with the shopping carts.

Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for locating objects. A computational device generates a first set of statistical data indicative of a frequency at which machine readable features associated with a first set of objects and machine readable features associated with a second set of objects are read within each of a plurality of object groups. The computational device also retrieves a second set of statistical data indicative of a historical frequency at which past groups of objects included machine readable features associated with the first set of objects and machine readable features associated with the second set of objects during a previous time interval. Based on a comparison between the first set of statistical data and the second set of statistical data, the computational deice computes a geographical relationship between the first set of objects and a portion of the objects from the second set of objects.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media are provided for rendering at an electronic terminal a first set of graphical user interfaces to request a first set of data from a user, receiving, at a central server in communication with the electronic terminal, the first set of data from the user, communicating the first set of data via a stateless edge appliance to a third party verification server in a selected one of a plurality of third party computer networks to validate the first set of data, rendering a second set of graphical user interfaces to request a second set of data from the user, communicating the second set of data to the third party verification server to authenticate the second set of data, and authenticating the user in response to receipt of authentication of the second set of data.