Abstract: A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track includes a housing, a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing, a movement assembly coupled to the housing, and an optical measurement system disposed within the housing. Both the housing and the reflecting assembly are moveable between a stored position and a deployed position. The movement assembly includes a deployment assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the stored position to the deployed position, and a retraction assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the deployed position to the stored position. The optical measurement system emits and receives light. The reflecting assembly reflects the emitted light toward the rail. The reflecting assembly reflects light reflected off of the rail toward the optical measurement system. The light received by the optical measurement system is used to measure parameters related to the rail.

Abstract: A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track includes a housing, a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing, a movement assembly coupled to the housing, and an optical measurement system disposed within the housing. Both the housing and the reflecting assembly are moveable between a stored position and a deployed position. The movement assembly includes a deployment assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the stored position to the deployed position, and a retraction assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the deployed position to the stored position. The optical measurement system emits and receives light. The reflecting assembly reflects the emitted light toward the rail. The reflecting assembly reflects light reflected off of the rail toward the optical measurement system. The light received by the optical measurement system is used to measure parameters related to the rail.

Abstract: A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track includes a housing, a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing, a movement assembly coupled to the housing, and an optical measurement system disposed within the housing. Both the housing and the reflecting assembly are moveable between a stored position and a deployed position. The movement assembly includes a deployment assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the stored position to the deployed position, and a retraction assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the deployed position to the stored position. The optical measurement system emits and receives light. The reflecting assembly reflects the emitted light toward the rail. The reflecting assembly reflects light reflected off of the rail toward the optical measurement system. The light received by the optical measurement system is used to measure parameters related to the rail.

Abstract: A helper SDK embedded in a native application performs local operations on behalf of a web application affiliated with the helper SDK. The helper SDK may perform security functions such as fingerprint or face biometric verifications as well as access device-specific hardware such as a camera or secure memory. The web application may use an 0Auth technique for access and refresh tokens. In a transaction system, when a user is confirmed via the security function, order details are passed to the web application with a refresh token and ciphertext confirmation data is returned to the native application for completion of the transaction.

Abstract: A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track includes a housing, a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing, a movement assembly coupled to the housing, and an optical measurement system disposed within the housing. Both the housing and the reflecting assembly are moveable between a stored position and a deployed position. The movement assembly includes a deployment assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the stored position to the deployed position, and a retraction assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the deployed position to the stored position. The optical measurement system emits and receives light. The reflecting assembly reflects the emitted light toward the rail. The reflecting assembly reflects light reflected off of the rail toward the optical measurement system. The light received by the optical measurement system is used to measure parameters related to the rail.

Abstract: A method for autonomously navigating an aerial vehicle along a railroad track includes obtaining, from one or more cameras coupled to the aerial vehicle, image data reproducible as an image of a portion of the railroad track, identifying, based at least in part on the image data, a first rail and a second rail of the portion of the railroad track, determining, based at least in part on the identified first and second rails of the portion of the railroad track, a centerline of the portion of the railroad track, and generating, based at least in part on the determined centerline, flight instructions to cause the aerial vehicle to move relative to the railroad track.

Abstract: The system and methods allow a user to request and receive an electronic coupon using a client application on an internet-enabled device such as a mobile phone and use the electronic coupon when making a purchase at a store. Specifically, the mobile device requests and receives the mobile coupon from a server or a network of servers. The server or network of servers determines which if any electronic coupon(s) to send to the client application and sends an electronic coupon to the client application. The client application displays the electronic coupon with a coupon identifier on the display of the mobile device. The user then uses the mobile device to enter the coupon identifier into a point-of-sale terminal to trigger the discount or other special deal offered on the electronic coupon when making a purchase at the point-of-sale terminal.

Abstract: A helper SDK embedded in a native application performs local operations on behalf of a web application affiliated with the helper SDK. The helper SDK may perform security functions such as fingerprint or face biometric verifications as well as access device-specific hardware such as a camera or secure memory. The web application may use an 0Auth technique for access and refresh tokens. In a transaction system, when a user is confirmed via the security function, order details are passed to the web application with a refresh token and ciphertext confirmation data is returned to the native application for completion of the transaction.

Abstract: A dosimeter that is configured to assist with patient-specific quality assurance (“QA”) in arc-based radiotherapy, such as stereotactic radiotherapy, is provided. The dosimeter facilitates acquiring multiple different dosimetric measurements simultaneously. For instance, the dosimeter can be configured to acquire dosimetric measurements from multiple different modalities, including gel dosimetry and film dosimetry, and is configured for simultaneous use with a diode-array QA phantom.

Abstract: A dosimeter that is configured to assist with patient-specific quality assurance (“QA”) in arc-based radiotherapy, such as stereotactic radiotherapy, is provided. The dosimeter facilitates acquiring multiple different dosimetric measurements simultaneously. For instance, the dosimeter can be configured to acquire dosimetric measurements from multiple different modalities, including gel dosimetry and film dosimetry, and is configured for simultaneous use with a diode-array QA phantom.

Abstract: A system which includes a network of appliances functions to retrieve from a data repository, such as a centralized server, at least one data set containing food preparation instructions and to control one or more operations of at least one food preparation device, such as cooking temperatures and times associated with a stove, in accordance with the retrieved at least one data set containing food preparation instructions. The retrieved data set may additional be utilized to cause one or more devices to provide voice prompts to assist a user in the performance of the corresponding food preparation task. The data sets provided for this purpose may be standardized to allow recipes to be shared and used across multiple different appliance types.

Abstract: A railroad track inspection system and method for facilitating inspection of a rail component while traveling on the railroad track. The railroad track inspection system includes an optical path protection device for a protective window for optical sensors of an optical inspection system when it becomes contaminated with dirt, dust, mud, grease, and other contaminants that block or obscure an optical path of the sensors. The optical path protection device eliminates the need for a human operator to perform the periodic cleaning of the protective window by using a clear film with an automated advancement mechanism for providing clean film, as needed, for keeping the optical path of the optical sensors unobstructed and clear.

Abstract: A peripheral device and a method for operating a peripheral device is disclosed. The peripheral device includes one or more connection mechanisms for coupling to a computing device, a power supply, and a controller. The controller is configured to enable the peripheral device to communicate with the computing device. When the peripheral device is coupled to the computing device, the controller is configured to determine the amount of power remaining in the power supply of the peripheral device, and based at least in part on the amount of power remaining in the power supply of the peripheral device, enable the peripheral device to charge a power supply of the computing device, and enable the peripheral device to receive power from the power supply of the computing device.

Abstract: A peripheral device and a method for operating a peripheral device is disclosed. The peripheral device includes one or more connection mechanisms for coupling to a computing device, a power supply, and a controller. The controller is configured to enable the peripheral device to communicate with the computing device. When the peripheral device is coupled to the computing device, the controller is configured to determine the amount of power remaining in the power supply of the peripheral device, and based at least in part on the amount of power remaining in the power supply of the peripheral device, enable the peripheral device to charge a power supply of the computing device, and enable the peripheral device to receive power from the power supply of the computing device.

Abstract: A miniature keyboard wherein the keys are arranged in a way to improve data entry and decrease the chance of depressing multiple keys at a time. Accordingly, the height of the keys are patterned to decrease the chance of multiple key depressions thus increasing the accuracy of data input into the personal digital assistant. In one embodiment, the height of the keys is alternated down the individual rows of keys. In another embodiment, the height of the keys is alternated across individual columns of keys. Similarly, in another embodiment, the heights of the keys are arranged in a checkered pattern on the keyboard. In addition, another embodiment staggers the heights of the keys and incorporates embodiments mentioned above. By incorporating different key arrangements and alternating the height of the keys, key differentiation, key navigation, and data input accuracy is greatly improved due to the improved tactile feedback provided by the miniature keyboard.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the life of a battery within a portable or otherwise battery operated electronic device. The method and system provide selectable display modes, e.g., from color to monochrome, that can be changed in order to enhance the life of the device's battery. The monochrome display mode can be selected by the when the battery level is detected below a predefined threshold. In one embodiment, the electronic device is a hand held computer system with a display device. When the battery level is detected as below a preselected level, a message may be generated on the computer display screen. The display mode can change from color to monochrome thereby saving power because the monochrome display. In one embodiment, color sequential techniques are used to provide a flat panel color display. Within the display, a transreflective layer provides reflective light for monochrome applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows for controlling operating time of a portable computer system and a peripheral device. A portable computing system that includes a rechargeable power supply and that includes a connection mechanism for coupling to a peripheral device is used to control operating time of the portable computer system and the peripheral device. In one embodiment, a user can choose between maximizing the operating time of the portable computer, maximizing the operating time of the peripheral device, or maximizing the life of the entire system (maximizing the operating time of the portable computer system and the peripheral device). When operating time of the portable computer system is to be maximized, power is sent from the peripheral device to the portable computer system to extend the operating time of the portable computer system.

Abstract: A railroad track inspection system and method for facilitating inspection of a rail component while traveling on the railroad track. The railroad track inspection system includes an optical path protection device for a protective window for optical sensors of an optical inspection system when it becomes contaminated with dirt, dust, mud, grease, and other contaminants that block or obscure an optical path of the sensors. The optical path protection device eliminates the need for a human operator to perform the periodic cleaning of the protective window by using a clear film with an automated advancement mechanism for providing clean film, as needed, for keeping the optical path of the optical sensors unobstructed and clear.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the life of a battery within a portable or otherwise battery operated electronic device. The method and system provide selectable display modes, e.g., from color to monochrome, that can be changed in order to enhance the life of the device's battery. The monochrome display mode can be selected by the when the battery level is detected below a predefined threshold. In one embodiment, the electronic device is a hand held computer system with a display device. When the battery level is detected as below a preselected level, a message may be generated on the computer display screen. The display mode can change from color to monochrome thereby saving power because the monochrome display. In one embodiment, color sequential techniques are used to provide a flat panel color display. Within the display, a transreflective layer provides reflective light for monochrome applications.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the life of a battery within a portable or otherwise battery operated electronic device. The method and system provide user selectable display modes, e.g., from color to monochrome, that can be changed in order to enhance the life of the device's battery. The monochrome display mode can be selected by the user when the battery level is detected below a predefined threshold. In one embodiment, the electronic device is a hand held computer system with a display device. When the battery level is detected as below a preselected level, a message is generated on the computer display screen. The message informs the user that the display mode of the screen can be changed to enhance the battery life. If selected, the display mode can change from color to monochrome thereby saving power because the monochrome display does not utilize a back-lighting element. In one embodiment, color sequential techniques are used to provide a flat panel color display.