Abstract: A method and system for operating a mobile device includes interpreting a user-defined pattern detected by at least one of a touch interface and a motion sensor included with the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be interpreted as at least one of: a polygon, an ellipse, a curve, a line segment, an alphanumeric character, and a movement of the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be a two-dimensional pattern traced by the user on the touch interface. When the user-defined pattern is recognized, a wireless communication command may be executed by the mobile device. The wireless communication command may be a telephone command or a remote control command for a remote-controlled device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing ready-to-eat bacon with pan-fried bacon characteristics comprising a combination of cooking in a microwave oven and finishing in a searing unit.

Abstract: A variable frontal area craft for performing drift measurements. The craft includes a variable frontal area mechanism and a propulsion assembly, and is configured to operate at least partially submerged in a liquid. The variable frontal area mechanism is configured to operate in a first, high frontal area state and in a second, low frontal area state.

Abstract: A water drone capable of navigating on the surface, or below the surface, of a body of water. In some embodiments such a vehicle is light-weight, electric-powered, and propeller-driven, and may be operated by remote control from the shore and guided with simple autopilot commands. The vehicle may have two actuators at the rear of the vehicle, each including a motor and a propeller, and each capable of producing forward or reverse thrust. The vehicle may be capable of travelling horizontally through the surf zone and diving vertically through the water column to the seafloor. The vehicle may monitor its own location and depth and may measure environmental conditions such as water temperature; such measurements may be communicated back to the operator using a telemetry system.

Abstract: According to another embodiment, a power control apparatus is provided. The power control apparatus includes a grid power inlet configured to receive grid power, a grid power outlet configured to provide grid power, a data transmission input configured to receive low voltage power, and means for actuating a relay to selectively couple the grid power inlet to the grid power outlet in response to receiving the low voltage power from the data transmission input.

Abstract: A variable frontal area craft for performing drift measurements. The craft includes a variable frontal area mechanism and a propulsion assembly, and is configured to operate at least partially submerged in a liquid. The variable frontal area mechanism is configured to operate in a first, high frontal area state and in a second, low frontal area state.

Abstract: A leak test apparatus for leak testing a tank including a gas supply system configured to provide to the tank a leak detection gas mixture including hydrogen, a test chamber having a cavity for sealably enclosing the tank such that dead space exists outside the tank and within the cavity, and a gas conduit configured to interconnect the gas supply system and the tank, a control system including a controller programmed to pressurize the tank with the leak detection mixture by flowing gas from the gas supply system through the gas conduit, and a leak detector to determine the presence or absence of a leak in the tank by measuring a concentration of hydrogen in the dead space.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a PoE sensor comprising a housing, sensing circuitry disposed within the housing and configured to detect a physical phenomenon outside the housing, at least one internal power source equipment (“PSE”) circuit disposed within the housing and configured to transmit PoE power and data to at least one downstream sensor, and powered device (“PD”) circuitry disposed within the housing, coupled to the sensing circuitry and the at least one internal PSE circuit, and configured to receive PoE power and data from at least one element of PSE external to the housing, transmit PoE power to the sensing circuitry to initiate operation of the sensing circuitry, and transmit PoE power and data to the at least one internal PSE circuit to initiate transmission of PoE power and data to the at least one downstream sensor.

Abstract: A master node in a multimedia content network includes a processor, a content interface coupled to the processor and configured to receive, from a media source, a multimedia stream including a multimedia program, a network interface coupled to the processor and configured to provide an interface to a broadband network, processor executable instructions for performing operations including: identifying a group of subordinate nodes available to analyze a multimedia program, assigning different analysis tasks for the multimedia program to the available subordinate nodes, receiving analysis results from the subordinate nodes; and modifying electronic programming guide information for the multimedia program based on the analysis results.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a mobile device includes interpreting a user-defined pattern detected by at least one of a touch interface and a motion sensor included with the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be interpreted as at least one of: a polygon, an ellipse, a curve, a line segment, an alphanumeric character, and a movement of the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be a two-dimensional pattern traced by the user on the touch interface. When the user-defined pattern is recognized, a wireless communication command may be executed by the mobile device. The wireless communication command may be a telephone command or a remote control command for a remote-controlled device.

Abstract: A distributed content analysis network uses the processing capabilities of customer-premises equipment as subordinate nodes for analyzing multimedia programs. A master node selects a program and identifies subordinate nodes that are available for analysis, which may include both nodes tuned to the program and idle nodes. The master node divides the program into segments for analysis and instructs each subordinate node to analyze a segment. The subordinate nodes then provide analysis results back to the master node, which may build a metadata profile for the program based on the analysis.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a mobile device includes interpreting a user-defined pattern detected by at least one of a touch interface and a motion sensor included with the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be interpreted as at least one of: a polygon, an ellipse, a curve, a line segment, an alphanumeric character, and a movement of the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be a two-dimensional pattern traced by the user on the touch interface. When the user-defined pattern is recognized, a wireless communication command may be executed by the mobile device. The wireless communication command may be a telephone command or a remote control command for a remote-controlled device.

Abstract: Systems provide shared multimedia content to a plurality of members of a collaboration group, request input related to the multimedia content from a portion of the plurality of members, modify the shared multimedia content to include an indication of a portion of the input, and provide the modified shared multimedia content to the plurality of members. The shared multimedia content may include a television program, a movie, or a real-time event. The requested input may include a prediction or a trivia answer related to the shared multimedia content.

Abstract: Community content ratings are provided to users for one or more multimedia programs. The community content ratings are generated from appropriateness data collected from members of one or more community groups. The members of the community groups may be selected automatically based on stored profiles that include demographic data. Alternatively, community group membership may occur by choice and at the request of potential members. The community content ratings may be presented using appropriateness indicators (e.g., checkmarks or numerical scores) that are presented to a user in response to the user selecting the multimedia program from an electronic programming guide.

Abstract: Systems provide shared multimedia content to a plurality of members of a collaboration group, request input related to the multimedia content from a portion of the plurality of members, modify the shared multimedia content to include an indication of a portion of the input, and provide the modified shared multimedia content to the plurality of members. The shared multimedia content may include a television program, a movie, or a real-time event. The requested input may include a prediction or a trivia answer related to the shared multimedia content.

Abstract: Access to one or more storage areas is controlled. An indication that a packaged asset is available for delivery to an intended recipient, an indication of a size of the asset, and an identity of the intended recipient are received. An available storage space is determined based at least in part upon the size of the asset and the identity of the intended recipient. When a storage space is determined to be available for the packaged asset, an access code is transmitted to the intended recipient allowing the intended recipient to access the available storage space using the access code.

Abstract: According to another embodiment, a power control apparatus is provided. The power control apparatus includes a grid power inlet configured to receive grid power, a grid power outlet configured to provide grid power, a data transmission input configured to receive low voltage power, and means for actuating a relay to selectively couple the grid power inlet to the grid power outlet in response to receiving the low voltage power from the data transmission input.

Abstract: An energy management gateway is provided. The energy management gateway includes a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, a building management system (BMS) interface executed by the processor and an energy management system interface executed by the processor. The BMS interface is configured to receive a first message, the first message being structured according to an industrial protocol. The energy management interface is configured to translate the first message into a second message structured according to an energy management protocol different from the industrial protocol, the second message including a query comprising at least one command and a set of qualifiers, the query being addressed to at least one first endpoint and to provide the second message to a first domain member of a first domain including the at least one first endpoint, the first domain member being a device other than the at least one first endpoint.

Abstract: A distributed content analysis network uses the processing capabilities of customer-premises equipment as subordinate nodes for analyzing multimedia programs. A master node selects a program and identifies subordinate nodes that are available for analysis, which may include both nodes tuned to the program and idle nodes. The master node divides the program into segments for analysis and instructs each subordinate node to analyze a segment. The subordinate nodes then provide analysis results back to the master node, which may build a metadata profile for the program based on the analysis.

Abstract: A distributed content analysis network uses the processing capabilities of customer-premises equipment as subordinate nodes for analyzing multimedia programs. A master node selects a program and identifies subordinate nodes that are available for analysis, which may include both nodes tuned to the program and idle nodes. The master node divides the program into segments for analysis and instructs each subordinate node to analyze a segment. The subordinate nodes then provide analysis results back to the master node, which may build a metadata profile for the program based on the analysis.