Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to streamline event scheduling and facilitate commerce and interpersonal exchanges by providing and scheduling related events in user-customized zones in a geographic region. An automated event scheduling system obtains a geographic region, provides a zone request that specifies the geographic region to a remote user device, receives user-provided parameters from the remote user device, and divides the geographic region into zones based on the user-provided parameters. The automated event scheduling system can then provide a set of zone assignments that assigns the zones to the time slots, and transmits the set of zone assignments to the remote user device, which activates a scheduling client running on the remote user device to display, via a user interface, the set of zone assignments and enable a modification of the set of zone assignments.

Abstract: A system for augmented pilot operations is provided to perform checks and balances between navigable systems and a plurality of controlling parties of a Fly-By-Wire vehicle. A ground based control system having at least one of manual controls and an autonomous piloting system, an electronic communication system including at least one of an onboard communication system, a ground based communication system, and a programmable interface for inter party communication. An on board flight control system including at least one of a primary power unit, manual flight controls, and a programmable flight management system may be provided. An onboard auxiliary navigation system including at least one of an auxiliary power control unit, a ground operated control/navigation unit, a physical barrier may prevent manual override from within the plane or cockpit, and an assignment device. A disagreement detection system may be configured to detect unauthorized use of the Fly-By-Wire vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to the calculation of parameters to inform hydraulic stimulation of non-conventional hydrocarbon-bearing rock formations, such as shales. Unlike conventional formations, non-conventional formations tend to display elastic-plastic behavior and have stress-strain characteristics which with substantial non-linear regions. A parameter which has been termed Elastic Index (EI) is proposed, together with a demonstration of how this parameter, when coupled with principles of fracture mechanics, may be used to extract meaningful calculated or estimated values for e.g.; total required volume of fracturing fluid; treating pressure; fracturing fluid viscosity; proppant size; and proppant concentration.

Abstract: An outdoor stackable telecommunications equipment cabinet family and a method of deploying an outdoor telecommunications equipment cabinet. In one embodiment, the family includes: (1) a plurality of selectable cabinet modules and (2) a plurality of selectable plinth modules, at least one of the plurality of selectable cabinet modules and one of the plurality of selectable plinth modules configured to be selected and stacked to form an outdoor telecommunications equipment cabinet that includes an air filter and at least one fan.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to streamline event scheduling and facilitate commerce and interpersonal exchanges by scheduling events in predefined time slots based on geographic locations of the events' venues. An automated event scheduling system schedules related events based on geographic locations of the events' venues, by partitioning a geographic region into discrete zones, assigning one or more time slots to each of the zones, and scheduling events with venues located in each zone to transpire during the time slots assigned to that zone.

Abstract: An audio conference system is provided that allows at least one non-standard telephone to be connected to an audio conference environment. The audio conference system includes a telecommunication device and an interface between the telecommunication device and the audio conference room. The interface includes a side tone canceller. The side tone canceller cancels side tones allowing the plain audio signal from the non-standard telephone handset to be routed to the speakers of audio conference system. Moreover, the interface allows telephone conferencing a number of non-standard telephones.