Abstract: Techniques for automated employee management are provided. A clock action for an employee is acquired and analyzed based on rules. Next, a decision is made whether to automatically accept the clock action, automatically deny the clock action, or interactively request approval from a supervisor for the clock action. The decision is based on analysis of the rules.

Abstract: An approach is provided for indirectly connecting a customer's mobile smart device to computers located at a business when the customer is making a purchase at the business. The customer's mobile smart device and the business's computers communicate over the Internet with a customer interaction manager executing on an Internet server. This provides an easy to use interface for the customer and allows the customer to receive information and send requests to the business without having to wait for personnel working at the business to be available.

Abstract: An audio arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a camera capturing images of a driver of the motor vehicle. A processor is communicatively coupled to the camera and determines, based on the captured images, locations of ears of the driver. An audio system is communicatively coupled to the processor and adjusts a parameter of an audio signal dependent upon the determined locations of the ears of the driver. A loudspeaker is communicatively coupled to the audio system and emits sounds based on the audio signal.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a plurality of security devices and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to each of the security devices. The electronic processor determines that a user of the motor vehicle has depressed a predetermined pushbutton. In response to determining that the predetermined pushbutton has been depressed, the electronic processor causes each if the security devices to be turned ON.

Abstract: An approach is provided for indirectly connecting a customer's mobile smart device to computers located at a business when the customer is making a purchase at the business. The customer's mobile smart device and the business's computers communicate over the Internet with a customer interaction manager executing on an Internet server. This provides an easy to use interface for the customer and allows the customer to receive information and send requests to the business without having to wait for personnel working at the business to be available.

Abstract: An approach is provided for indirectly connecting a customer's mobile smart device to a point of sale computer located at a business when the customer is making a purchase at the business. The customer's mobile smart device and the POS computer communicate over the Internet with a customer interaction manager executing on an Internet server. This provides an easy to use interface for the customer and allows the customer to receive information and send requests to the business without having to wait for personnel working at the business to be available.

Abstract: A motor vehicle infotainment system includes a user interface having a loudspeaker. The user interface receives a request from a driver to access a social media web site. An electronic processor accesses postings on the social media web site, and discerns first ones of the postings having primarily graphic aspects from second ones of the postings not having primarily graphic aspects. Only the ones of the postings not having primarily graphic aspects are presented to the driver via the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A head up display arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a global positioning system module emitting geographic location coordinates associated with the motor vehicle. A database includes lane marking location data stored in association with corresponding geographic location coordinates. An electronic processing device is communicatively coupled to the global positioning system module and to the database. The electronic processing device receives the geographic location coordinates and retrieves from the database lane marking location data stored in association with the received geographic location coordinates. The electronic processing device transmits the retrieved lane marking location data. A head up display is communicatively coupled to the electronic processing device and receives the transmitted lane marking location data. The head up display displays virtual lane markings dependent upon the received lane marking location data.

Abstract: A current location of a consumer is combined with a context aware mapping of the consumer to a current context that the consumer is in at the current location. A real-time suggestion is provided to the consumer based on a likely suggestion that the consumer is predicted to respond to at that location and within that context. Feedback with respect to the suggestion is record and processed for altering the types of real-time suggestions subsequent made to the consumer when the consumer is again at the current location within the context, thereby providing dynamic real-time location context aware computing with respect to the consumer and the real-time suggestions with learning through the feedback.

Abstract: Cross-channel and cross-source data are aggregated into an aggregated data store. Custom segmentation is generated from the aggregated data. A campaign is monitored for the custom segmentation with successes and failures provided as dynamic feedback to a machine learning process that dynamically adjusts the segmentation and the campaign for optimal performance. In an embodiment, a final recommendation is provided identifying a final optimal segmentation and campaign.

Abstract: A head up display cluster arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a dashboard disposed within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The dashboard includes an instrument cluster surface disposed above a steering column of the motor vehicle. An image source is disposed on, or adjacent to, the dashboard. The image source emits an illuminated image. A mirror is positioned to reflect the emitted illuminated image onto the cluster surface.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a camera directed generally toward a driver seat of the vehicle. The camera captures images within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A text recognition module is communicatively coupled to the camera and recognizes text characters in the captured images. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the text recognition module and interprets the recognized text characters as text information, categorizes the text information, and enters the text information into an application within the vehicle.

Abstract: An oven appliance with features for dissipating pressure increases in the cooking chamber of the oven without forcing open the oven door is provided. Such features include a flame arrester that dissipates pressure increases and quenches flames from the cooking chamber of an oven appliance.

Abstract: A cooking appliance is provided including a cooking surface, a heating element, a control surface, and a control element positioned on the control surface. The control element is associated with the heating element, which is positioned on the cooking surface. The cooking appliance also includes an integrated housing positioned below the control surface aligned with the control element. The integrated housing encloses both a lighting assembly for providing light to at least one of the control element or the control surface and an electromechanical switch operably coupled to the control element.

Abstract: Gas valve mounting brackets improving the positioning of the valve stems in the aperture of gas cooking appliance as well as the alignment of the knobs with any graphics or insignia. In one aspect, a bracket directly couples a gas valve to a bottom surface of a cooktop of cooktop appliance. This direct coupling more accurately positions a valve stem of the gas valve in the center of a cooktop aperture through which it extends. A knob attached to the valve stem is also more accurately aligned with graphics and/or insignia on the cooktop.

Abstract: An aquarium structure for the housing and display of aquatic life, particularly jellyfish, adapted to provide a beneficial flow of fluid within it, such as a rising or suspending current. The aquarium structure includes a bottom surface, at least one sidewall, and a barrier disposed within in spaced apart relation to the bottom surface by a predetermined distance to form a gap therebetween. In preferred embodiments, the aquarium structure includes an air pump and also, is generally cylindrical in shape and disposed vertically along its major axis, to offer a wide area for viewing aquatic life within, and yet a relatively small and compact aquarium housing suitable for “desktop” use, although the invention may have other sizes and configurations. The aquarium housing can also include a lighting assembly disposed below the viewing area and configured to direct illumination therein and in some embodiments onto other surfaces above the aquarium housing.

Abstract: An etching tray for etching PCD cutting inserts is provided. The etching system includes a tray having a bottom and side walls extending upwardly from the tray bottom and a lid attachable to the top of the tray. The lid may include a funnel formed as an integral part of the lid which has an upper opening disposed above the lid and a lower neck which extends into the tray. The lid may also include an opening for a float to pass through and provide a visual indication of the liquid level in the tray. An etching fixture may be disposed in the tray for etching cutting inserts. The etching fixture has a body which holds a cutting insert to expose the cutting insert for etching.

Abstract: A method to treat biomass, e.g., lignocellulosic material, including: performing a pretreatment step on the biomass and discharging the pretreated biomass; in at least a first enzymatic hydrolysis reactor producing a liquefaction material, recirculating at least a portion of the liquefaction material from the at least first reactor to a location upstream of the addition of the enzymes as at least a portion of the coolant for the hot pretreated biomass.

Abstract: A method to treat biomass, e.g., lignocellulosic material, including: performing a pretreatment step on the biomass and discharging the pretreated biomass; in at least a first enzymatic hydrolysis reactor producing a liquefaction material, recirculating at least a portion of the liquefaction material from the at least first reactor to a location upstream of the addition of the enzymes as at least a portion of the coolant for the hot pretreated biomass.

Abstract: An oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance includes a door and a hinge assembly for rotatably mounting the door to a cabinet. The hinge assembly includes features for adjusting a position of the door. At least one of a vertical position and a lateral position of the door can be adjusted with the hinge assembly.