Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustion system. The combustion system may include a combustor positioned in a chamber created by an outer wall. A compressor, such as a centrifugal compressor may provide a flow of compressed air into the chamber along an inner surface of the outer wall since an inlet for the flow of compressed air is outboard of the combustor. The pressurized flow of air may be redirected by a cowl included in the chamber. The cowl may include a collar defining a notch in the cowl. The collar may redirect the flow of pressurized air so as to minimize a high velocity component of the flow of pressurized air flowing radially toward a central axis of the engine prior to entering a head of a fuel nozzle included in the combustion system.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustion system. The combustion system may include a combustor positioned in a chamber created by an outer wall. A compressor, such as a centrifugal compressor may provide a flow of compressed air into the chamber along an inner surface of the outer wall since an inlet for the flow of compressed air is outboard of the combustor. The pressurized flow of air may be redirected by a cowl included in the chamber. The cowl may include a collar defining a notch in the cowl. The collar may redirect the flow of pressurized air so as to minimize a high velocity component of the flow of pressurized air flowing radially toward a central axis of the engine prior to entering a head of a fuel nozzle included in the combustion system.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a system is provided that uses historical and current energy usage data generated by advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters to allow users conduct an analysis of energy usage via a portal. In accordance with one embodiment, a tool is provided to allow customers to display an estimated next month bill.

Abstract: The present Inter-System Message Delivery System increases the SMS text message delivery success rate. When a mobile subscriber station roams outside of the confines of the cell in which it is presently registered, the delivery of SMS messages to mobile subscriber stations fails, since the mobile subscriber station is not present in the Serving Mobile Switching Center to receive the SMS message. This is particularly common when the mobile subscriber station is moving within the confines of a border cell or multiple cells of a Border Mobile Switching Center and is not yet registered at this Border Mobile Switching Center. The SMS message delivery process initiates a page to the mobile subscriber station via inter-system or inter-Mobile Switching Center paging.

Abstract: The present system for identifying the location of selected mobile stations includes two components: a first component that authenticates an authorized party who logs into the Mobile Switching Center, and a second component that is responsive to the entry of a system activation command by the authorized party for locating selected mobile stations and providing mobile station location information to the authorized party. The present system for identifying the location of selected mobile stations enables a service provider to track a mobile station through the use of Autonomous Registrations or the polling of a selected mobile station or a set of mobile stations. Once communication with the selected mobile station is established, the GPS coordinates of the selected mobile station are retrieved and provided to an authorized party to enable them to locate the subscriber and their mobile station.

Abstract: Low profile wash pads, usable alone or with other like pads in a module array, are disclosed whereby one or more motor driven or motorless vehicles may be wheeled onto or across (or other object placed upon) a full drainage impervious washing platform such that substantially all spent wash liquid and removed debris are caused to flow off from the washing platform to an edge collector or gutter. Debris accumulation at the washing platform is avoided and processing of gutter-contained spent wash liquid and removed debris can occur in offset relation to and without interfering with ongoing washing on the washing platform. Several modes for processing the drainage comprising spent wash liquid and removed debris contained in the gutter are disclosed, one mode comprising automated processing using a screw conveyor.

Abstract: Low profile wash pads, usable alone or with other like pads in a module array, are disclosed whereby one or more motor driven or motorless vehicles may be wheeled onto or across (or other object placed upon) a full drainage impervious washing platform such that substantially all spent wash liquid and removed debris are caused to flow off from the washing platform to an edge collector or gutter. Debris accumulation at the washing platform is avoided and processing of gutter-contained spent wash liquid and removed debris can occur in offset relation to and without interfering with ongoing washing on the washing platform. Several modes for processing the drainage comprising spent wash liquid and removed debris contained in the gutter are disclosed, one mode comprising automated processing using a screw conveyor.

Abstract: In order to reduce the traffic on the paging channel, the system for reducing paging channel occupancy for message waiting indication in mobile switching centers allows the Message Waiting Notification process to determine a last zone in which the Mobile Subscriber was located and only transmit the Message Waiting Indication to the cells within that zone. This eliminates message transmission on the paging channel of cells which are not likely to have the Mobile Subscriber Station residing in their service area. Multiple retries can be attempted and if the last retry is being activated, the paging can be extended to cover all zones in the Mobile Switching Center. The sharing of information about when a mobile has responded to a message waiting count between the Serving MSC and the Home MSC also reduces the paging channel occupancy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for tracking multiple mobile units based upon the initial location of a distressed mobile unit. A distressed mobile unit is one, for example, belonging to someone who has been kidnapped or had their vehicle carjacked. An MSC receives a request to locate a distressed mobile unit. The MSC determines the location of the distressed mobile unit and also other mobile units that are located in the location area. The MSC then tracks the other mobile units.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for locating a mobile unit. A home Mobile Switching Center (MSC) receives a request for the location of a mobile unit. The home MSC determines a visited MSC that is the last MSC accessed by the mobile unit. The home MSC sends a message requesting the location of the mobile unit to the visited MSC. The visited MSC initiates a location finding process for the mobile unit. If the mobile unit is located at the visited MSC, the visited MSC sends location data relating to the mobile unit to the home MSC.

Abstract: A wash fluid containment system includes an elevated, fluid impervious surface upon which items to be washed are placed for washing. The surface is configured to cause wash fluid to flow to an edge of the surface and off of the surface to prevent buildup of wash fluid on the surface. A collecting trough is positioned in fluid flow communication with the edges of the surface to which the fluid flows to catch and collect the fluid as it flows from the surface. Used wash fluid is taken from the collecting trough for disposal or recycling and solids and debris can be easily removed from the trough.

Abstract: The message waiting notification update system is operable in the serving Mobile Switching Center and, upon receipt of a message-waiting acknowledgement from the mobile subscriber station, updates the local copy of the subscriber's data in the Visited Location Register and forwards this information to the subscriber's Home Location Register. The Home Location Register stores this received data for use when the next successive Registration Notification is received from a new serving Mobile Switching Center or in response to the subscriber initiating a local access. When the serving Mobile Switching Center receives a Registration Notification message return result from the subscriber's Home Location Register and the message waiting notification count is the same as the count previously sent to the Home Location Register, the serving Mobile Switching Center does not have to transmit a message waiting notification over the forward control channel to the mobile subscriber station.

Abstract: When a subscriber record is moved from a first HLR to a second HLR that utilizes a different protocol, the wireless communication system sends two queries for location information for the mobile station, one to the first HLR and one to the second HLR, simultaneously. Two responses are received, one from each of the HLRs. The valid response is recorded in a separate table for future use. The invalid response is discarded. The next time a call comes in for the mobile station, the table is traversed to determine if the HLR has been updated for the mobile station. If so, the location request is sent only to the system in the table. If the table does not include information for the called mobile station, simultaneous queries are sent to the first and second HLRs.

Abstract: There is therefore a need to forward the message waiting indication data to Mobile Switching Centers whose service areas overlap with the service area of the Mobile Switching Center presently serving this mobile subscriber's wireless communication device. In this manner, any one of these Mobile Switching Centers can update the mobile subscriber with regard to message waiting indications. This is accomplished by the use of the ISPAGE message which is used to forward the message waiting indication data to Mobile Switching Centers whose service areas overlap with the service area of the Mobile Switching Center presently serving this mobile subscriber's wireless communication device.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for providing a default mode for authentication failures in a mobile telecommunication network. The system includes an authentication center (typically co-located within a home location register), an adjunct network entity, and an originating mobile switching center. The home location register generally stores information pertaining to a mobile unit, such as a cellular or PCS mobile telephone. The adjunct network entity contains one or more application nodes, such as an announcement application node for providing an announcement on a call leg to the mobile unit. When the network has been accessed by a mobile unit through a call leg, the originating mobile switching center is configured to perform an authentication procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for message-based intelligent tandeming of an incoming call to an application node in telecommunication systems. The various embodiments utilize a new parameter, referred to as a tandem parameter, to designate whether incoming calls to a particular subscriber are to be tandemed to an application node or are to be delivered directly to the subscriber. The preferred system embodiment includes an adjunct network entity, a database, and a switching center. The adjunct network entity, such as a service circuit node or service control point, has one or more application nodes or platforms, supporting various telecommunication services such as prepaid services, calling party pays services, and one number services. The database, such as a home location register or visitor location register, stores information such as subscriber profiles, and includes storing the tandem parameter.

Abstract: A wash fluid containment system includes an elevated, fluid impervious surface upon which items to be washed are placed for washing. The surface is configured to cause wash fluid to flow to an edge of the surface and off of the surface to prevent buildup of wash fluid on the surface. A collecting trough is positioned in fluid flow communication with the edges of the surface to which the fluid flows to catch and collect the fluid as it flows from the surface. Used wash fluid is taken from the collecting trough for disposal or recycling and solids and debris can be easily removed from the trough.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for intelligent tandeming of an incoming call to an application node in telecommunication systems. The various embodiments utilize a new parameter, referred to as a tandem parameter, to designate whether incoming calls to a particular subscriber are to be tandemed to an application node or are to be delivered directly to the subscriber. The preferred system embodiment includes an adjunct network entity, a database, and a switching center. The adjunct network entity, such as a service circuit node or service control point, has one or more application nodes or platforms, supporting various telecommunication services such as prepaid services, calling party pays services, and one number services. The database, such as a home location register or visitor location register, stores information such as subscriber profiles, and includes storing the tandem parameter.

Abstract: There is therefore a need to forward the message waiting indication data to Mobile Switching Centers whose service areas overlap with the service area of the Mobile Switching Center presently serving this mobile subscriber's wireless communication device. In this manner, any one of these Mobile Switching Centers can update the mobile subscriber with regard to message waiting indications. This is accomplished by the use of the ISPAGE message which is used to forward the message waiting indication data to Mobile Switching Centers whose service areas overlap with the service area of the Mobile Switching Center presently serving this mobile subscriber's wireless communication device.

Abstract: The message waiting notification update system is operable in the serving Mobile Switching Center and, upon receipt of a message-waiting acknowledgement from the mobile subscriber station, updates the local copy of the subscriber's data in the Visited Location Register and forwards this information to the subscribers Home Location Register. The Home Location Register stores this received data for use when the next successive Registration Notification is received from a new serving Mobile Switching Center or in response to the subscriber initiating a local access. When the serving Mobile Switching Center receives a Registration Notification message return result from the subscriber's Home Location Register and the message waiting notification count is the same as the count previously sent to the Home Location Register, the serving Mobile Switching Center does not have to transmit a message waiting notification over the forward control channel to the mobile subscriber station.