Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a mechanism to directly interact and access with micro-services and/or services using natural-language and machine intelligence and algorithmic learning so that users may access desired micro-services and/or services with minimal interaction.

Abstract: A nonlinearity compensation technique for a CO-OFDM transmission system in which a proportion (e.g. up to 50%) of OFDM subcarriers is transmitted along with a phase-conjugate copy (PCP) on another subcarrier (replacing a data carrying subcarrier) to enable nonlinear distortion compensation. Nonlinear distortion experienced by closely spaced subcarriers in an OFDM system is highly correlated. The PCPs are used at the receiver to estimate the nonlinear distortion (e.g. nonlinear phase shift) of their respective original subcarriers and other subcarriers close to the PCP. With this technique, the optical fibre nonlinearity due to the Kerr effect in OFDM systems can be effectively compensated without the complexity of DBP or 50% loss in capacity of the phase conjugate twin wave (PC-TW) technique. Moreover, the technique proposed herein can be effectively implemented in both single polarization and PMD systems, in both single channel and WDM systems.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling demand events in a utility network with multiple customer sites. The value of a demand response parameter threshold for invoking a demand response event is calculated based on the number of available demand response events and the number of opportunities remaining to issue the available demand response events. This parameter represents the utility objectives for using the demand response program (e.g., cost savings, reliability, avoided costs). A current value of the demand response parameter is compared to the threshold value, and a determination is made whether or not to call a demand response event for the current opportunity, or to save the event for a future opportunity based upon this comparison.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for enhancing the slope-holding capability of an earth-moving machine. The machine includes a plurality of ground-engaging elements and a first parking brake configured to brake a first subset of the plurality of ground-engaging elements. A second parking brake is mounted and is configured to brake a second subset of the plurality of ground-engaging elements. A brake controller is configured to sense engagement of the first parking brake and to engage the second parking brake when the first parking brake is engaged only if one or more machine state criteria are also met. In an embodiment, the one or more machine state criteria include zero machine speed, neutral transmission state, and a machine slope that exceeds a predetermined threshold slope.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for enhancing the slope-holding capability of an earth-moving machine. The machine includes a plurality of ground-engaging elements and a first parking brake configured to brake a first subset of the plurality of ground-engaging elements. A second parking brake is mounted and is configured to brake a second subset of the plurality of ground-engaging elements. A brake controller is configured to sense engagement of the first parking brake and to engage the second parking brake when the first parking brake is engaged only if one or more machine state criteria are also met. In an embodiment, the one or more machine state criteria include zero machine speed, neutral transmission state, and a machine slope that exceeds a predetermined threshold slope.

Abstract: Systems and methods for airline fleet retirement prediction are provided. One methods includes obtaining market information for the airline that defines at least one market for the airline, determining a plurality of aircraft types (priority groupings) for the airline within the at least one market to define an airline fleet model, and determining deployment priorities for the plurality of aircraft types within the at least market. The method further includes developing one or more operational models using at least one of airline operational data or airline fleet data for the plurality of aircraft types and determining aircraft retirement prediction data for the airline using the airline fleet model and the one or more operational models developed for the airline.

Abstract: An electronic device has two oscillators, for example a first highly accurate crystal oscillator and a second less accurate low power oscillator. In a normal mode of operation, time is counted based on an output from the crystal oscillator, but in a low power mode of operation, time is counted based on an output from the less accurate oscillator. During the low power mode of operation, a calibration process is performed repeatedly. During a first calibration time period the second oscillator is calibrated against the first oscillator to obtain a first calibration result, and a recalibration is performed during a second calibration time period to obtain a second calibration result. A correction factor is determined from the first and second calibration results, and the correction factor is applied when subsequently counting time based on the output from the second oscillator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing modal group delay when transmitting a plurality of optical signals over a transmission line that supports a plurality of modes are disclosed. The modes are converted at a plurality of positions along the transmission line so the signals in the end have minimal group delay. The method comprises the steps of receiving N number of optical signals into a multimode fiber having at least N modes, transmitting each of N signals into a mode of the at least N modes of the multimode fiber, and converting each of the N modes into another of the N modes at N positions along the transmission line, such that the net modal group delay generated between the N signals along the transmission line is minimized.

Abstract: A battery powered device is able to maintain a clock value when the battery is removed for a short period. During a first time period, while the battery is in the device, clock pulses derived from a first oscillator are counted at a first rate in a first counter that represents the clock value. During a second time period following the first time period, while the battery is removed, the value of the first counter is maintained independent of any clock pulses derived from the first oscillator, clock pulses derived from a second low power oscillator are counted in a second counter. During a recovery time period following the second time period, clock pulses derived from the second oscillator are again counted in the second counter, while clock pulses derived from the first oscillator are counted in the first counter at a second rate higher than the first rate, the duration of the recovery time period being determined based on the number of pulses counted in the second counter during the second time period.

Abstract: Methods and electronic devices for capturing images are described. In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a processor-implemented method for capturing an image at an electronic device. The method includes: receiving at the processor a signal instructing the electronic device to capture an image; and in response to receiving the signal instructing the electronic device to capture the image: i) capturing a non-flash image; ii) triggering a flash; and iii) capturing a flash image.