Abstract: The low-symmetry mesoporous titanium dioxide (lsm-TiO2) for use in an electrode for direct sensing of hydroxide ions may be prepared by evaporation-induced self-assembly followed by two stages of annealing. An electrode made of a conductive substrate coated with the lsm-TiO2 detects electrochemical oxidation of hydroxide ion solution by an oxidation peak for hydroxide ions at a lower potential than other metal electrodes. The oxidation process is irreversible under diffusion-control, the peak current linearly increases with hydroxide concentration within the concentration range from 1.0 to 50 mM, the detection limit may be 0.05 mM and the current sensitivity may be 0.181 mA/mM. The peak current is linearly dependent on alkaline solution pH and the dissociation constant of the hydroxide ion precursor. The electrode can be used in hydroxide sensing performed in nitrate, fluoride, chloride or sulfate supporting electrolyte, which makes the electrode a superior sensor for voltammetric hydroxide determination.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for artificially recharging a target reservoir in a geological formation using powered water injection from a local source aquifer in the geological formation. The method comprises detecting chemical properties of water in the source aquifer, determining whether the water in the source aquifer is compatible with water in the target reservoir based on the chemical properties, activating an electrical submersible pump (ESP) positioned between target reservoir and the source aquifer to inject water from the source aquifer into the target reservoir, detecting downhole pressure, temperature and water flow rate conditions at the ESP, and controlling a rate at which the ESP injects water using the downhole pressure, temperature and water flow rate conditions.

Abstract: A dielectric substrate made from sunflower seed shells has good moldabiltiy and low water adsorption for use in creating antenna or other devices. The dielectric substrate is made by pyrolizing sunflower seed shells or husks and collecting the resulting tar to create the substrate.

Abstract: A gaming system is described in which a game mode, format, or other aspect(s) vary depending upon the current time and location of the user. The gaming system synchronizes the time and location of a user to the time and location of a character or environment generated by the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for centralized control of a network is described. The network includes a number of nodes. The method includes creating a database and storing the database on a master node of the network. The database contains topology information regarding a topology of the network. Each of the nodes is coupled to at least one other of the nodes, with the master node being one of the nodes.

Abstract: A method is provided to allocate bandwidth from a first node to a second node in a optical network. The method begins by accepting a request from an end-user, who requests a virtual path between the first node and the second node. The first and second nodes are ones of a number of such nodes. Each one of the nodes is coupled to at least one other node by at least one of a number of optical links. The nodes and links form the optical network. The virtual path has a bandwidth requirement associated therewith. Next, the service provider determines an amount of bandwidth available between the first and the second nodes. The service provider then allocates at least a portion of the amount of bandwidth available between the first and second nodes equal to the bandwidth requirement, so long as the bandwidth requirement is not greater than the amount of bandwidth available between the first and second nodes.

Abstract: A method for restoring a virtual path, provisioned between a source and a target node, in a mesh zoned optical network is described. The method, in one embodiment, broadcasts or floods restore path requests in the network to expedite the identification of an alternate route and minimize the service disruption for failed virtual path. The flooding of requests is controlled to ensure efficient performance of the network yet guaranteeing minimum restoration time to allow critical telecommunication related traffic to flow through the network with virtually no interruption. The constant update of nodal topology by each node allows a fast identification of alternate physical path for failed virtual path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for centralized control of a network is described. The network includes a number of nodes. The method includes creating a database and storing the database on a master node of the network. The database contains topology information regarding a topology of the network. Each of the nodes is coupled to at least one other of the nodes, with the master node being one of the nodes.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical network is described. The network includes a number of nodes connected by a number of links. A method according to the present invention provisions a virtual path between a first and a second one of the plurality of nodes by: identifying the first and the second nodes, discovering a physical path from the first node to the second node, and establishing the virtual path. The method discovers a physical path from the first node to the second node by automatically identifying nodes forming the physical path. The method establishes the virtual path by configuring a set of connections between the nodes forming the physical path.

Abstract: A method of providing network services is described. The network includes a number of nodes, each one of which is coupled to at least one other of the nodes by at least one of a number of optical links. The network is preferably capable of supporting a number of virtual circuits. The method begins with the receiving of a request for a virtual circuit between a first node and a second node of the network. Preferably, the request specifies a quality of service of the virtual circuit. Next, the availability of network resources for supporting a virtual circuit at the requested quality of service is determined. Assuming sufficient network resources are available for support of the virtual circuit, the request is then serviced by provisioning (and maintaining) the requested virtual circuit. Servicing the request preferably includes actions such as provisioning, maintaining, and restoring the virtual circuit, using the requested parameters.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical network is described. The network includes a number of nodes connected by a number of links. A method according to the present invention provisions a virtual path between a first and a second one of the plurality of nodes by: identifying the first and the second nodes, discovering a physical path from the first node to the second node, and establishing the virtual path. The method discovers a physical path from the first node to the second node by automatically identifying nodes forming the physical path. The method establishes the virtual path by configuring a set of connections between the nodes forming the physical path.

Abstract: A method for operating a network and a network architecture implementing the method are described. The method, in one embodiment, begins by grouping a plurality of nodes into zones, where the network includes the plurality of nodes. At least one of the nodes in each one of the zones is one of a plurality of boundary nodes, and each of the boundary nodes in each one of the zones is coupled to a boundary node in another of the zones by one of a first number of inter-zone optical links. One of the zones includes a number of nodes, each of which is coupled to at least one other of the nodes by one of a second number of intra-zone optical links. Next, a non-boundary node is configured to transmit network information to other of the nodes. The non-boundary node is a node in the zone that is not a boundary node. Finally, a boundary node in the zone is configured to limit transmission of the network information through itself to other of the boundary nodes.

Abstract: A method for restoring a virtual path, provisioned between a source and a target node, in a zoned mesh optical network is described. The method, in one embodiment, allocates a primary and a secondary physical path to the virtual path. The two physical paths are node and link disjoint. In case of a failure on one physical path, the network switches the virtual path to the other physical path. The alternate path can be shared among various virtual paths during the restoration.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical network is described. The network includes a number of nodes connected by a number of links. A method according to the present invention provisions a virtual path between a first and a second one of the plurality of nodes by: identifying the first and the second nodes, discovering a physical path from the first node to the second node, and establishing the virtual path. The method discovers a physical path from the first node to the second node by automatically identifying nodes forming the physical path. The method establishes the virtual path by configuring a set of connections between the nodes forming the physical path.