Abstract: A method is disclosed for aggregating multiple quantities of services and/or multiple customers such that offers of value-added services and/or products can be requested. The method includes requesting quantities of services and/or products based upon an individual's predetermined buyer identifier. The predetermined buyer identifier comprises: a buyer profile associated with one or more third-party accounts; a buyer profile having one or more contract dates; and a buyer profile associated with one or more services and/or products. Next the method determines the availability of services and/or products from third-party suppliers based on the individual's predetermined buyer identifier. The method then determines which value-added services and/or products third-party suppliers may offer based on the individual's predetermined buyer identifier. The third-party supplier offers are matched with the individual's predetermined buyer identifier to create one or more third-party sales packages.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assisting a user with setting up an audio system with audio content services the user is already registered with. One method may involve receiving a list of a plurality of audio services supported by an audio system, selecting an audio service from the list of plurality of audio services, and determining whether a computing device application corresponding to the audio service is present on a computing device operated by the user and associated with the audio system. If the computing device application is present on the computing device operated by the user, the audio service may be set up with the audio system based on the user's registration information. In one case, the setup of the audio system with the audio service may require additional user input. In another case, the setup of the audio system with the audio service may be automatic.

Abstract: A first playback device may include a processor and data storage including program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the first playback device to: playback a first audio content in synchrony with at least one second playback device; receive a command to play back a second audio content; stop playback of the first audio content based on the received command; and after stopping playback of the first audio content, play back the second audio content for a predefined duration of time. The program code may then cause the first playback device to: (i) after playing back the second audio content, resume playback of the first audio content in synchrony with the at least one second playback device, or (ii) play back the second audio content in synchrony with the at least one second playback device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for playback of audio content in an “audition mode.” A system may be providing audio content to be rendered by a group of playback devices, when receiving a request to audition a second audio content with at least one playback device from the group of playback devices. The system may then suspend rendering of the first audio content at the at least one playback device, and provide the second audio content to be rendered by the at least one playback device for a duration of time. Upon exiting audition mode, either by completion of the second audio content, expiration of the duration of time, or request to exit audition mode, the system may resume rendering of the first audio content by the at least one playback device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assisting a user with setting up an audio system with audio content services the user is already registered with. One method may involve receiving a list of a plurality of audio services supported by an audio system, selecting an audio service from the list of plurality of audio services, and determining whether a computing device application corresponding to the audio service is present on a computing device operated by the user and associated with the audio system. If the computing device application is present on the computing device operated by the user, the audio service may be set up with the audio system based on the user's registration information. In one case, the setup of the audio system with the audio service may require additional user input. In another case, the setup of the audio system with the audio service may be automatic.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for accessing media content on a mobile device. In one embodiment, a user may add media from a mobile device carried by the user to a queue of media that may be rendered by a media system in communication with the mobile device. In one example, the user may select a subset of media from the mobile device to add to the queue, such that only the subset of media is accessible to the media system while the non-selected media on the mobile device remains private. In one case, the mobile device may become disconnected from the media system such that the added subset of media is no longer accessible by the media system. In this case, the media system may search for media equivalent to the subset of media, and replace the subset of media in the queue with the equivalent media.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adding audio content to a playback queue. In one example, a method involves receiving a request to add automated streaming audio content to a particular playback position in a playback queue. The playback queue may indicate a plurality of audio content and a corresponding playback position associated with each of the plurality of audio content for playback. The method further involves determining a playback duration for the automated streaming audio content, adding the automated streaming audio content to the playback queue at the particular playback position, and causing the automated streaming audio content to be rendered at the particular playback position in the playback queue for the determined playback duration. The automated streaming audio content may include discrete automated streaming audio content and/or continuous automated streaming audio content. Respective examples for adding discrete and continuous automated streaming audio content are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assisting a user with setting up an audio system with audio content services the user is already registered with. One method may involve receiving a list of a plurality of audio services supported by an audio system, selecting an audio service from the list of plurality of audio services, and determining whether a computing device application corresponding to the audio service is present on a computing device operated by the user and associated with the audio system. If the computing device application is present on the computing device operated by the user, the audio service may be set up with the audio system based on the user's registration information. In one case, the setup of the audio system with the audio service may require additional user input. In another case, the setup of the audio system with the audio service may be automatic.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for playback of audio content in an “audition mode.” A system may be providing audio content to be rendered by a group of playback devices, when receiving a request to audition a second audio content with at least one playback device from the group of playback devices. The system may then suspend rendering of the first audio content at the at least one playback device, and provide the second audio content to be rendered by the at least one playback device for a duration of time. Upon exiting audition mode, either by completion of the second audio content, expiration of the duration of time, or request to exit audition mode, the system may resume rendering of the first audio content by the at least one playback device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer program, system and device for measuring oscillatory motion comprising: receiving a plurality of signals related to a plurality of measurements of a direction of a vector parameter (at-1, at); determining a predominant measured direction of the vector parameter (?t) based on the plurality of measurements of the direction of the vector parameter; determining an angle of rotation (?t) between: a measured direction of the vector parameter (at) of one of the plurality of measurements of the direction of the vector parameter, and the predominant measured direction of the vector parameter (?t).

Abstract: A method for producing a functionally gradient component, such a component having an outer layer of a first material, and an inner core of a second material, there being a gradual change in microstructure across the interface between the two materials, the method having particular application in producing a component formed from two or more aluminium alloys based on the aluminium-silicon (Al—Si) system, the method involving introducing a first molten metal into a mould, and allowing a layer of the first metal to partially solidify against a wall of the mould, decanting the remaining molten portion of the first metal, and introducing a second molten metal into the mould and allowing same to solidify.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a functionally gradient component, such a component having an outer layer of a first material, and an inner core of a second material, there being a gradual change in microstructure across the interface between the two materials, the method having particular application in producing a component formed from two or more aluminium alloys based on the aluminium-silicon (Al—Si) system, the method involving introducing a first molten metal into a mould, and allowing a layer of the first metal to partially solidify against a wall of the mould, decanting the remaining molten portion of the first metal, and introducing a second molten metal into the mould and allowing same to solidify.

Abstract: A portable self-contained data collection system for measuring and collecting vibration data from machines includes an accelerometer which is coupled to the analog input of a data acquisition card. The data acquisition card samples and digitizes the analog signal to produce a time domain digital signal. The data acquisition card output is coupled to a battery-powered portable computer. The battery-powered portable computer includes a database having machine identifications and associated measurement parameters. The portable computer processes the time domain digital signal according to the measurement parameters associated with a selected machine identification, and produces a frequency domain digital signal by performing a Fast Fourier Transform and other digital signal processing operations. The frequency domain signal is also analyzed in the portable computer to produce predictive maintenance information. A power supply for supplying power to the accelerometer is also included.

Abstract: In order to decrease the height of a solid foam body produced from a pool of foaming liquid as the foaming liquid solidifies into the solid body, the height of a bottom mold face is decreased by sloping the mold face so that there is less liquid at higher locations of the mold face than at lower locations. This technique is especially useful in making seals for filter elements, wherein the filter elements are annular in horizontal cross-section so that less sealing material occurs adjacent the downstream clean side of the filter media comprising the filter element than adjacent the upstream dirty side of the filter media. In a particular application, a filter element with a frustoconical filter media has one end sealed by a rising volume of solidifying urethane foam so that more foam is adjacent the outside surface of the filter media than the inside surface, and so that the foam also forms a peripheral gasket adjacent the outside surface.

Abstract: Cable drum handling apparatus comprises opposed drum supports each comprising a parallel linkage in which parallel links are pivoted on a subframe and on support means for a pintle. Pintles are mounted coaxially on each support means. A motor rotates worms which engage extensions of the link to move the pintles towards and away from one another to move them into and out of supporting engagement with a drum between the supports. A motor on one of the supports can rotate the drum. The sub-frame is pivoted about an axis A on a main frame which can be readily moved. An air cylinder can pivot the subframe about the axis A to raise and lower the drum. The apparatus is simple and relatively inexpensive.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a composition comprising solid particulate ammonium nitrate having improved explosive properties.Explosive compositions comprising particulate ammonium nitrate such as ANFO, which is a mixture of particulate ammonium nitrate and about 6% w/w of a fuel oil which is typically distillate oil, have been known for many years as relatively inexpensive and reliable explosives.Despite the wide acceptance of particulate ammonium nitrate based exposlives in the industry, their use has been limited by their relatively poor performance in wet conditions; in such conditions, explosive power can be seriously reduced, and they can be difficult to detonate.

Abstract: A water-in-oil emulsion explosive composition comprising: a discontinuous aqueous oxidizer-phase comprising dissolved therein an oxygen releasing salt component comprising ammonium nitrate; a continuous organic-phase comprising an organic fuel; and an emulsifying agent and characterized in that the oxygen-releasing salt component comprises at least one modifier selected from compounds of elements selected from the group consisting of aluminium, iron and silicon and wherein the oxidizer-phase comprises dissolved therein at least one polycarboxylate compound selected from polycarboxylic acids and salts thereof.

Abstract: Fibrous assemblies, such as paper, having advantageous properties related to bulk, absorbency, and compaction resistance are obtained from discrete fiber aggregates by a process which comprises contacting a slurry of anionically charged fibers with a slurry of cationically charged fibers to form said discrete fiber aggregates and thereafter forming fibrous assemblies by conventional processes.