Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to a pneumatic trash can having a built-in air blower system to facilitate ease of placement and removal of a flexible trash bag within the trash can. When an empty trash bag is placed into the trash can, the blower system evacuates air from the inside of the trash can so that the trash bag quickly and easily conforms to the shape of the inside of the trash can. When a trash bag that is filled with trash is removed from the trash can, the blower system blows air into the bottom of the trash can so that the bag can be removed quickly and easily. The trash can is further comprised of a drainage system for draining any liquids that may leak into the bottom of the trash can and for keeping the liquids away from the blower system. A preferred embodiment of the invention further comprises a method of installing a flexible trash bag in a trash can, as well as a method of removing a flexible trash bag filled with trash from a trash can.

Abstract: A clutch for selectively driving a mechanism. The clutch includes an engagement member movable between an engaged position for driving the mechanism and a disengaged position. The clutch also includes an actuation assembly having a first member pivotable about a pivot and cooperative with a control element for movement between a retaining position and a release position, and a second member pivotable about the pivot between the retaining position and the release position. The second member extends towards the engagement member in the retaining position for maintaining the engagement member in the disengaged position. The second member is pivotable about the pivot independently of the first member such that the second member is rotatable relative to the first member.

Abstract: A fertilizer composition including a base fertilizer granule with a barrier coating and one or more micronutrients. The base fertilizer material is coated with a barrier coating, and then a coating of one or more micronutrients. Alternatively, the base fertilizer material is coated with a barrier coating having discrete particles of micronutrients dispersed throughout. The barrier coating acts to physically and chemically isolate the micronutrient particles from the underlying fertilizer composition such that more of the micronutrient is available to the soil solution, and ultimately to the root zone of the plant.

Abstract: An improved overcoat layer for an organic photoconductor drum of an electrophotographic image forming device is provided. The overcoat layer is prepared from a curable composition including a triphenylamine charge transport containing two ethyl acrylate functional groups and a urethane resin containing six radical polymerizable functional groups. The amount of the triphenylamine charge transport containing two ethyl acrylate functional groups in the curable composition is about 20 to about 80 percent by weight. The amount of the urethane resin containing six radical polymerizable functional groups in the curable composition is about 20 to about 80 percent by weight. This overcoat layer improves wear resistance of the organic photoconductor drum without negatively altering the electrophotographic properties, thus protecting the organic photoconductor drum from damage and ultimately providing a photoconductor with a longer useful life when compared to other organic photoconductors commercially available.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a water heater appliance is operating on a timer switch is provided. The method includes determining a power on time interval between a previous power interruption and a current power interruption if the current power interruption is a long power outage and establishing that the water heater appliance is not operating with a timer switch if the power on time interval is greater than a threshold time interval. A related water heater appliance is also provided.

Abstract: Techniques and solutions are provides for increasing data bandwidth to wireless devices in a wireless network. Data bandwidth to a wireless device can be increased by using an array of wireless transmitters of one type, arranged to cover one or more areas of an enclosed space, in combination with one or more wireless transmitters of another type, to simultaneously transmit data to the wireless device over different wireless communication channels.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing location-based information and functionality to people and computing devices in various ways. In at least some situations, the techniques include enabling multiple people in a common geographic area to interact in various ways, such as via devices capable of communications (e.g., cellular telephones, computing devices with wired and/or wireless communications capabilities, etc.), while in other situations at least some users who are remote from a particular geographic area may be allowed to intercommunicate with one or more other users or other entities in or related to that geographic area. In addition, the techniques include enabling the creation and maintenance of location-based virtual groups of users (also referred to as “clouds”), such as for users of mobile and/or fixed-location devices. Such clouds may enable various types of interactions between group members, and may be temporary and/or mobile.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for caching multi-session data communications in a computer network.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a switch. The method includes identifying a first phase to enter in a boot-up process for the switch, where the boot-up process includes a number of phases and the first phase is one of the phases. The method further includes determining a phase exit condition from a first snapshot of the switch, where the first snapshot includes state information for each of the of phases. The method further includes transitioning to the first phase and after transitioning to the first phase: starting a first countdown timer for the first phase, and executing, on the switch, a first networking protocol for the first phase. The method further includes determining, in response to the executing, that a first current state of the switch satisfies the phase exit condition, and exiting the first phase, where the first countdown timer is not expired when exiting the first phase.

Abstract: The invention is a hierarchical backup system. The interconnected network computing devices are put into groups of backup cells. A backup cell has a manager software agent responsible maintaining and initiating a backup regime for the network computing devices in the backup cell. The backups are directed to backup devices within the backup cell. Several backup cells can be defined. A manager software agent for a particular cell may be placed into contact with the manager software agent of another cell, by which information about the cells may be passed back and forth. Additionally, one of the software agents may be given administrative control over another software agent with which it is in communication.

Abstract: An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.

Abstract: A photo-bioreactor and method of operating are described. The photo-bioreactor includes a reactor vessel arranged to contain a fluid medium within which bio-material is grown, and at least one light-emitting rod extending into the reactor vessel, wherein the light-emitting rod has an elongate tubular member characterized by a length along a longitudinal axis and a width along an axis normal to the longitudinal axis, and designed with an outer wall that encloses one or more light-emitting devices arranged along the longitudinal axis, the outer wall being transparent to at least part of the light emitted by the one or more light-emitting devices into the reactor vessel. The photo-bioreactor further includes a drive system coupled to the elongate tubular member, and operatively configured to rotate the light-emitting rod about the longitudinal axis within reactor vessel, and circulate the fluid medium through the reactor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing data processing and control for use in a medical communication system are provided.

Abstract: A segmented track made of a plurality of elastomeric track segments is provided. Each track segment is made of reinforced elastomeric material and is provided, at each end thereof, with a joint element adapted to be connected to the joint element of adjacent track segments. Each track segment comprises longitudinally extending reinforcing elements which are embedded into the elastomeric material and which are extending between and coupled to both joint elements.

Abstract: A method for quantitative analysis of asbestos in vermiculite-containing materials includes a first embodiment which includes washing the sample with water or treating the sample with a low concentration acid to digest gypsum and carbonates, ashing the sample at a low temperature to remove cellulose, therefrom and analyzing the sample. Digestion may be effected before or after ashing. Subsequently, a second subsample may be ashed at low temperature to remove cellulose and refluxed with a concentrated acid followed by refluxing with a base and rinsing with deionized water to wash away gypsum, vermiculite and other soluble components. This is followed by analysis to determine asbestos concentration. In a further embodiment, the residue of the first embodiment may be employed as the second subsample.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits are provided for mitigating single point failure of at least one device in an analyte monitoring system.

Abstract: An adjustable bumper, adapted for supporting closure panels on a vehicle, is described. The bumper incorporates a shape memory polymer portion, which may be readily permanently reshaped by the steps of: heating above its transition temperature, deforming by application of a load, and cooling, while still under load, below its transition temperature. This behavior is exploited to enable adjustment of the adjustable bumper so that it may provide the desired closure panel support while accommodating vehicle to vehicle variations in the fit of the closure panel and the vehicle body.

Abstract: The presented inventions seek to create a verifiable and closed loop chain-of-custody for a specific transaction in a pneumatic tube transport system while allowing a sender and recipient to perform asynchronous activity. That is, one aspect the presented inventions allows a sender to securely send a carrier to a desired recipient while allowing the desired recipient to receive the secured carrier at a convenient time and/or location without tying up system resources. Another aspect improves the physical barriers between high value payloads and the unintended recipients. This is done in part by introducing randomness into the carrier delivery process such that no member of the general public or facility staff knows the location and/or delivery time of a secured carrier without having access to specific database records indicating the current location and/or delivery status of the secured carrier.

Abstract: Aspects of adjusting application parameters for interference mitigation are disclosed. In one aspect, a computing device is provided that employs a control system configured to detect and mitigate electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated within the computing device. More specifically, the control system is configured to detect possible EMI conditions and adjust parameters within the computing device to mitigate such EMI. In this manner, the computing device includes an aggressor application and a victim receiver. The control system is configured to analyze performance tradeoffs based on an acceptable performance level of the aggressor application and the performance degradation experienced by the victim receiver. Based on such analysis, the control system is configured to adjust parameters associated with the aggressor application to mitigate the EMI.

Abstract: An integrated room controller includes a lighting relay that operates a lighting load based on a lighting relay input signal. Further, the integrated room controller includes a motor control relay that operates a motor associated with an adjustable skylight fixture based on a motor control relay input signal. In addition, the integrated room controller includes a microcontroller that is coupled to the lighting relay and the motor control relay. The microcontroller generates and outputs the lighting relay input signal to the lighting relay and the motor control relay input signal to the motor control relay to control the operation of the lighting load and the adjustable skylight. The integrated room controller also includes a dimmer control circuit coupled to the lighting load and actuated by the microcontroller to control dimming operations associated with the lighting load.