Abstract: An apparatus for extended horizon scheduling that includes a time-sequence interpretation circuit, a target interpretation circuit, a horizon target analysis circuit, and a promotive action provisioning circuit. The time-sequence interpretation circuit interprets time-sequence data, the target interpretation circuit interprets target data, and the time-sequence trend analysis circuit extracts a trend from the time-sequence data. The horizon target analysis circuit: determines whether the extracted trend furthers or impedes a target defined, in part, by the target data, and responsive to a determination that the extracted trend impedes the target, generates a promotive action command value structured to trigger an adjustment to the time-sequence data. The adjustment is structured to mitigate the extracted trend from impeding the target. The promotive action provisioning circuit transmits the promotive action command value.

Abstract: In embodiments, an apparatus includes a user data interpretation circuit structured to interpret user data corresponding to a first user; a bootstrap circuit structured to: match the first user to a second user via querying one or more databases based at least in part on the user data; retrieve historical time sequence data associated with the second user via querying the one or more databases; extract a time sequence trend from the historical time sequence data; identify a portion of the historical time sequence data corresponding to the extracted time sequence trend; and generate, based at least in part on the identified portion, time sequence data corresponding to the first user; and a time sequence data provisioning circuit structured to transmit the time sequence data.

Abstract: An apparatus for timekeeping and scheduling is disclosed. The apparatus includes a user surveyor circuit structured to interpret user data and an embedding generator circuit structured to determine user embeddings based at least in part on the user data. The apparatus further includes an artificial intelligence circuit structured to generate a model based at least in part on the user embeddings. Further, the apparatus has a scheduling circuit structured to generate time sequence data via the model. The generated time sequence data is transmitted via a time sequence provisioning circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adjusting a time sequence in response to a predicted or detected austere event. The apparatus and method include a time sequence interpretation circuit to interpret time sequence data and provide it to a mitigation circuit. The mitigation circuit processes the interpreted time sequence data along with austere event data to determine if an austere event is occurring or is likely to occur. Upon detection of an austere event, the mitigation circuit generates a mitigation action command value structured to trigger a change to the time sequence sufficient to mitigate the effect of the austere event on the time sequence. In certain aspects, the apparatus and method further include an external event interpretation circuit and an austere event detection circuit which monitor external event data to generate austere event data. In certain aspects, the austere event detection circuit and the mitigation circuit include machine learning elements.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for enabling workers to compete for currently upcoming shifts are described. In an example, an apparatus may include a schedule display circuit to display a customized view of upcoming shifts where the customization is based on the identify of a worker, their skills/properties and shift requirements. All the workers may have a common employer. A bidding interface circuit may enable the workers to bid on upcoming shifts shown in their customized view. A bid evaluation circuit may evaluate the submitted bids, determine a quality of each bid and determine a winning bid for each shift. A shift allocation circuit then assigns upcoming shifts to workers based on the winning bid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the current disclosure provide for an apparatus for sequence mimicking. The apparatus includes a historic sequence interpretation circuit, a mimicking circuit, and a sequence data provisioning circuit. The historic sequence interpretation circuit is structured to interpret historical sequence data corresponding to a sequence designed, in part, by an entity. The mimicking circuit is structured to: extract a sequence trend from the historical sequence data; identify a portion of the historical sequence data corresponding to the extracted sequence trend; and generate sequence data based at least in part on the identified portion. The sequence data provisioning circuit is structured to transmit the sequence data.

Abstract: An apparatus including a historic schedule interpretation circuit structured to: interpret historical schedule data; and extract difficult schedule features from the historical schedule data; an incentive determination circuit structured to identify incentives compatible with the difficult schedule features; a schedule experimentation circuit structured to: receive schedule modification parameters; and generate, based at least in part on the schedule modification parameters, a set of experimental schedules each with different incentives of the set of incentives.

Abstract: Networks, methods, and apparatus to ensure schedule conformance are described. An example apparatus may include a schedule interpretation circuit to interpret schedule data, and a warden circuit to generate scores for the schedule data with respect to schedule properties. The warden circuit retrieves baseline values corresponding to schedule properties and determines whether the schedule data is out of alignment with the baseline value for any of the schedule properties. If so, a corrective action circuit generates a corrective action command value to trigger an adjustment to the schedule data to effect a change to a schedule property that is out of alignment. A corrective action provisioning circuit transmits the corrective action command value.

Abstract: A method, including: generating a plurality of initial schedules for an agglomerate network, including a first number of schedules, and determining a threshold number of schedules, including: evaluating the plurality of initial schedules to select a first schedule, identifying a first place number of the first schedule, if the first place number is greater than or equal to a first threshold number, the first threshold number being within two of the threshold number: increasing the threshold number of schedules to a second threshold number, greater than the first threshold number, and generating a second plurality of schedules equal to the second threshold number, evaluating the second plurality of schedules to select a second schedule, identifying a second place number of the second schedule, and if the second place number is ‘1’ or ‘2’, decreasing the threshold number of schedules to a third threshold number, less than the first threshold number.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an interactive game using a multi-functional hand-held personal mobile device, such as a smart phone or entertainment device use the smart phone or other mobile device to find and/or activate various effects and items in the real world, then connect those items and effects together to provide a purpose to finding the effects/items consistent with the game theme. Embodiments include themes related to a treasure hunt with items that may or may not respond to the player detecting or finding them. In other embodiments, the mobile device may trigger and activate multiple layers of videos, phone calls, internet access, texts, voiceovers, puzzles and numerous other actions and results tied into a complex gaming adventure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an interactive game using a multi-functional hand-held personal mobile device, such as a smart phone or entertainment device use the smart phone or other mobile device to find and/or activate various effects and items in the real world, then connect those items and effects together to provide a purpose to finding the effects/items consistent with the game theme. Embodiments include themes related to a treasure hunt with items that may or may not respond to the player detecting or finding them. In other embodiments, the mobile device may trigger and activate multiple layers of videos, phone calls, internet access, texts, voiceovers, puzzles and numerous other actions and results tied into a complex gaming adventure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an interactive game using a multi-functional hand-held personal mobile device, such as a smart phone or entertainment device use the smart phone or other mobile device to find and/or activate various effects and items in the real world, then connect those items and effects together to provide a purpose to finding the effects/items consistent with the game theme. Embodiments include themes related to a treasure hunt with items that may or may not respond to the player detecting or finding them. In other embodiments, the mobile device may trigger and activate multiple layers of videos, phone calls, internet access, texts, voiceovers, puzzles and numerous other actions and results tied into a complex gaming adventure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an interactive game using a multi-functional hand-held personal mobile device, such as a smart phone or entertainment device use the smart phone or other mobile device to find and/or activate various effects and items in the real world, then connect those items and effects together to provide a purpose to finding the effects/items consistent with the game theme. Embodiments include themes related to a treasure hunt with items that may or may not respond to the player detecting or finding them. In other embodiments, the mobile device may trigger and activate multiple layers of videos, phone calls, internet access, texts, voiceovers, puzzles and numerous other actions and results tied into a complex gaming adventure.

Abstract: A railroad communication tie for use in a railway track system is positionable in ballast. The tie includes an elongated unitary steel channel body having a web and a pair of sidewalls formed integral with opposite edges of the web. The channel body has a pair of opposed ends. A flared spade is formed integral with each end of the body. The flared spade has a communications conduit aperture. An elongated communications conduit is movably mounted in the communications conduit apertures and said conduit is free to move relative to the spades.

Abstract: A crosspoint switch is provided that has N inputs, M outputs, and an array of (N+X)×(M+X) switching elements, where N, M, and X are all positive integers. By providing more than the standard N×M switching elements, it becomes possible to utilise the additional switching elements to provide one or more additional protection pathways to compensate for a failure in a switching element: in the event of failure of a switching element, an affected path between one of the M inputs and M outputs can be replaced by an alternate path utilising one or more of the additional switching elements.

Abstract: An improved unitary steel tie which is positionable in ballast of a railway track system includes an elongated channel body. The channel body includes an elongated web and a pair of sidewalls formed integral with opposite edges of the web. The channel body has a pair of opposed ends. An integral rail seat is adjacent to each of the opposed ends. Each rail seat is formed on the web and is adapted for connecting a rail to the web. An indentation is formed in each sidewall adjacent to each end of the body. The indentations at each end are opposed to each other forming a reduced section between the sidewalls at each end of the body to restrict movement of ballast toward the respective end and along the length of the body between the sidewalls. An apex is formed in the web above each reduced section and each apex is substantially the same height as the other apex. The apexes are the high points of the web. A flared spade is formed integral with each end of the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermally insulating, fire resistant material and its production.A problem associated with fire resistant material comprising refractory material and a binder is the tendency, in use, of the material to disintegrate due to bond failure. In the invention, hollow particles of a glass or of a ceramic are combined with a binder to give a material where the proportions of binder are such that the material is capable of deformation at high temperatures (e.g. up to 1100.degree. C.) without fracture or loss of cohesion. A specific example consists of 93% by weight of hollow spherical particles of pulverized fuel ash and 7% by weight of sodium silicate binder. The material is particularly useful in the protection of steel structures.