Abstract: Modular flying platform including an airship body defining an internal space and configured to achieve buoyancy, an internal structure supporting a transfer channel, an attachment mechanism positioned on the transfer channel to detachably connect with a second platform. The transfer channel is configured to permit transfer therethrough of a payload between the flying platforms when securely connected. A chain of modular flying platforms with one or more motors mounted to the airship body to control motion thereof. A method for managing a chain of modular flying platforms includes deploying a plurality of platforms, connecting the platforms to form the chain, transferring a payload through channels of the connected platforms and distributing at least one of propulsion, electrical power and computing across the chain.

Abstract: A distributed antenna system comprising a plurality of flying platforms, a plurality of antennas and an orchestration mechanism for dynamically positioning the one or more antennas on the plurality of flying platforms. A flying platform comprising an internal space having one or more internal pockets filled with lighter-than-air gas, an external surface, one or more antennas and a clipping mechanism for selectively positioning the one or more antennas within the internal space and/or on the external surface. A method comprising selectively positioning multiple antennas on a plurality of flying platforms and, upon trigger, dynamically repositioning the one or more antennas on the plurality of flying platforms considering transmission and reception of signals thereby.

Abstract: Modular flying platform including an airship body defining an internal space and configured to achieve buoyancy, an internal structure supporting a transfer channel, an attachment mechanism positioned on the transfer channel to detachably connect with a second platform. The transfer channel is configured to permit transfer therethrough of a payload between the flying platforms when securely connected. A chain of modular flying platforms with one or more motors mounted to the airship body to control motion thereof. A method for managing a chain of modular flying platforms includes deploying a plurality of platforms, connecting the platforms to form the chain, transferring a payload through channels of the connected platforms and distributing at least one of propulsion, electrical power and computing across the chain.

Abstract: A method and a network node for handling a computation request from a requesting party. Resources messages are periodically exchanged with neighboring network nodes indicating resources usage. A computation request is received from a requesting entity via a network interface; coordination takes place with the neighboring network nodes; one or more processor unit (PU) clusters are formed using resource usage data from the resource messages; and, taking into account the computation request; resources from the one or more PU clusters are allocated to the computation request before returning the result of the computation request to the requesting entity via the network interface.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for dispatching a plurality of agents to a plurality of tasks, the method comprising: identifying, at least one agent-task pair from a plurality of possible agent-task pairs based on a primary cost function of a first assignment of agents to tasks to be used to generate a trimmed plurality of possible agent-task pairs; generating a second assignment of agents to tasks with the primary cost function that is at least as optimal as the primary cost function of the first assignment; generating a third assignment of agents with a secondary cost function that is at least as optimal as the secondary cost function of the second assignment, such that the primary cost function of the third assignment is at least as optimal as the primary cost function of the second assignment; and dispatching the plurality of agents to the plurality of tasks based on the third assignment.

Abstract: A system, a network node and a method executed at the network node, in a network of devices, for providing one or more networking functionalities on the fly. A gap is identified in telecommunications service offering in the network of devices. It is then determined that the one or more networking functionalities, upon deployment, at least partly fill the identified gap; the one or more networking functionalities are deployed, at least temporarily, in the network; periodical assessment of the relevance of maintaining deployment of the one or more networking functionalities in the network is performed; and, upon determination that the one or more networking functionalities are superfluous, the one or more functionalities are decommissioned at least temporarily.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of a device and a method are disclosed for sharing a payload. The device comprises an interior shell receiving therein a vehicle and comprising at least one payload receiving unit suitable for receiving a corresponding payload; an outside shell surrounding the interior shell and comprising at least one opening for transferring a payload between inside and outside of the outside shell; a securing member located for securing the outside shell with a mating member located on another device; a controllable biasing member connected to the interior shell and to the outside shell and operable between a biasing state and a free state wherein the interior shell is moveable with respect to the outside shell and wherein a transfer of is achieved by operating the biasing member in the free state, moving the interior shell with respect to the outside shell and transferring the payload.

Abstract: A platform station comprises a sensors module configured to discover one or more surrounding network nodes and a motorized positioning system for maintaining a target position in an environment in comparison to the network nodes. The platform station includes a telecommunications module comprising an antenna management module configured to enhance antenna alignment of one or more antennas considering the network nodes and a configurable deployment module configured to selectively deploy one or more networking functionalities. The platform station comprises a collaborative dispatch module configured to set the target position considering a dispatch requirement settings and logically combine with at least one of the network nodes before selectively deploying the networking functionalities, while logically combined, based on the dispatch requirement settings.

Abstract: A method and a networked-thing, in a network of devices, providing a core functionality and an alternate functionality. While providing the core functionality using one or more non-computing-resources thereof, available computing-resources are identified that are momentarily unnecessary for the core functionality at least some computing-resources from the available computing-resources are assigned to the alternate functionality for joining membership of a scalable data center therewith. Assignment or computing-resources at the networked-thing between the core functionality and the alternate functionality is altered, thereby enhancing performance of the alternate functionality, the core functionality being independent from the alternate functionality prior to the altering.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for enabling an execution of tasks in a heterogeneous dynamic environment. The system includes heterogeneous host machines having corresponding processing resources and including a telecommunication application for enabling the host machine to be part of a telecommunication network with at least one other heterogeneous host machine. The system further includes a virtualization engine for executing a received virtualized element using the corresponding processing resources of the host machine; a geolocation module for providing an indication of a present position of the corresponding host machine; a distributed system orchestrator for managing an execution of a plurality of tasks using at least one of the plurality of heterogeneous host machines; and a task assignment module for assigning each virtualized element to a selected host machine located on the telecommunication network.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for estimating a position of a plurality of transmitting nodes. The method comprises installing a telecommunication application in each of the plurality of transmitting nodes; transmitting a plurality of data packets; generating a plurality of transmission quality coefficients using the plurality of data packets; determining a corresponding plurality of transmission scores; estimating a distance between each pair of transmitting nodes, wherein the estimating of the distance between each pair of transmitting nodes is performed using a corresponding transmission score and a lookup table; generating an estimation of a position of the plurality of transmitting nodes using the plurality of estimated distances; providing the generated estimation.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of a device and a method are disclosed for sharing a payload. The device comprises an interior shell receiving therein a vehicle and comprising at least one payload receiving unit suitable for receiving a corresponding payload; an outside shell surrounding the interior shell and comprising at least one opening for transferring a payload between inside and outside of the outside shell; a securing member located for securing the outside shell with a mating member located on another device; a controllable biasing member connected to the interior shell and to the outside shell and operable between a biasing state and a free state wherein the interior shell is moveable with respect to the outside shell and wherein a transfer of is achieved by operating the biasing member in the free state, moving the interior shell with respect to the outside shell and transferring the payload.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for estimating a position of a plurality of transmitting nodes. The method comprises installing a telecommunication application in each of the plurality of transmitting nodes; transmitting a plurality of data packets; generating a plurality of transmission quality coefficients using the plurality of data packets; determining a corresponding plurality of transmission scores; estimating a distance between each pair of transmitting nodes, wherein the estimating of the distance between each pair of transmitting nodes is performed using a corresponding transmission score and a lookup table; generating an estimation of a position of the plurality of transmitting nodes using the plurality of estimated distances; providing the generated estimation.

Abstract: A workflow management system is provided. The system includes a plurality of communication devices interconnected to form an ad hoc network. Mobile devices of the communication devices are each associated to a user and stores a user profile of the user. The system also includes a workflow management module configured to assign tasks to users via task assignments transmitted to the mobile devices and to modify the assigned task based on changes to status of tasks, change in available mobile devices and/or changes in situational status affecting the ad hoc network. A method for managing workflow is also provided.

Abstract: A workflow management system is provided. The system includes a plurality of communication devices interconnected to form an ad hoc network. Mobile devices of the communication devices are each associated to a user and stores a user profile of the user. The system also includes a work-flow management module configured to assign tasks to users via task assignments transmitted to the mobile devices and to modify the assigned task based on changes to status of tasks, change in available mobile devices and/or changes in situational status affecting the ad hoc network. A method for managing workflow is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of interactive learning. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for learning, directed to a learner of a professional practice, and to a processor-readible storage comprising data and instructions for carrying out the method, as well as to a corresponding system for learning. Questions relative to the professional practice are stored in association with respective answers. Based on professional activity information being representative of an activity performed by the learner in the context of the professional practice, a client device is triggered to present a selected question to a learner. A response is received from the learner and processed.

Abstract: An orthopedic support device comprises a shell supporting a body portion; one or more stimulator provided on the shell for signaling a wearer of the orthopedic support device to perform a muscular activity, the one or more stimulator being adapted to communicate with a controller for controlling said one or more stimulator; and one or more sensor provided on an interior portion of the shell to capture biological activity data in relation to said body portion, the one or more sensor being adapted to store the biological activity data in a memory, the memory being in communication with the controller, in order to control the one or more stimulator on the basis of the biological activity data captured by the one or more sensor. Also disclosed is a method of engaging a body portion being supported by the orthopedic support device, and methods of making an orthopedic support device.