Abstract: A subsea friction welding apparatus comprises a chuck for supporting and retaining a weld item prior to welding the weld item to a work-piece, said chuck comprises a plurality of jaws having an internal profile to grip a corresponding profiled surface on the weld item and means for radially expanding the internal profile of the jaws of the chuck, said means actuable by axial insertion of the weld item into the chuck thereby avoiding relative rotation of the chuck and the weld item during insertion of the weld item into the chuck. In operation of the method, a supply of weld items and a weld head are deployed to a subsea location and the weld items are loaded via ROV into the weld head at the subsea location.

Abstract: Techniques for dynamic power control of a radio of a utility data collection device (e.g., utility meter configured for wireless communications) are described that utilize a detection scheme applied to a Front End Module (FEM) in the utility data collection device. A utility data collection device measures a Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) presented to the FEM during transmission. The result of this measurement allows the utility data collection device to dynamically control the input power to a FEM transmit portion. Utilizing these techniques, the utility data collection device can adjust to environmental changes and conditions experienced in the field.

Abstract: For some applications such as high-speed communication over short-reach links, the complexity and associated high latency provided by existing modulators may be unsuitable. According to an aspect, the present disclosure provides a modulator that can reduce latency for applications such as 40 G/100 G communication over copper cables or SMF. The modulator has a symbol mapper for mapping a bit stream into symbols, and a multi-level encoder including an inner encoder and an outer encoder for encoding only a portion of the bit stream. In some implementations, the multi-level encoder is configured such that an information block size of the inner encoder is small and matches a field size of the outer encoder. Therefore, components that would be used to accommodate larger block sizes can be omitted. The effect is that complexity and latency can be reduced. According to another aspect, the present disclosure provides a demodulator that is complementary to the modulator.

Abstract: For some applications such as high-speed communication over short-reach links, the complexity and associated high latency provided by existing modulators may be unsuitable. According to an aspect, the present disclosure provides a modulator that can reduce latency for applications such as 40 G/100 G communication over copper cables or SMF. The modulator has a symbol mapper for mapping a bit stream into symbols, and a multi-level encoder including an inner encoder and an outer encoder for encoding only a portion of the bit stream. In some implementations, the multi-level encoder is configured such that an information block size of the inner encoder is small and matches a field size of the outer encoder. Therefore, components that would be used to accommodate larger block sizes can be omitted. The effect is that complexity and latency can be reduced. According to another aspect, the present disclosure provides a demodulator that is complementary to the modulator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visualization of power generated by a plurality of distributed generator (DG) components. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving power information representing an amount of power generated by each DG component in the plurality of DG components; displaying a two-dimensional image showing an image representation of each DG component in the plurality of DG components; associating a color with each image representation; and varying at least one characteristic of the color associated with each image representation in accordance with the amount of power generated by the DG component that is represented by the image representation.

Abstract: Devices, containers, and methods are provided for performing biological analysis in a closed environment. Illustrative biological analyses include nucleic acid amplification and detection and immuno-PCR.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling power production. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a predicted weather event; determining a predicted power production impact for a distributed generator (DG) array based on the predicted weather event; and controlling power production from one or more components of the DG array to compensate for the predicted power production impact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a visualization of power for display. The method establishes a power visualization scale based on a color saturation and intensity range for a hue and a range of power to be visualized, and generates a display image for at least one measured value of power as a level of color saturation and intensity for the hue based on the power visualization scale.

Abstract: An apparatus to measure and collect data relating to properties of light for a plurality of light-producing devices comprises a rail having a longitudinal axis along which the plurality of light-producing devices is aligned. A measurement tool is mounted on the rail and moved under motor control to measure the data for each of the plurality of light-producing devices.

Abstract: Devices, containers, and methods are provided for performing biological analysis in a closed environment. Illustrative biological analyzes include nucleic acid amplification and detection and immuno-PCR.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for a computer includes a dial control. The control can be implemented, for example, as a touch-based, pointer-based, pen-based and/or keyboard-based mechanism. The dial control is intended for manipulating a large range of values, such as a menu of items from which a user makes a selection, or a range of continuous or discrete values. A dial control can replace other control types such as a slider, drop down menu or text field. The graphical elements of the dial control include one or more displayed rings and a handle for each ring. Inside the ring, or in another area adjacent the ring, a value can be displayed. The ring can be manipulated by the user to change the value selected by the dial control. In the case of multiple rings, each ring can be manipulated independently.

Abstract: Embodiments that relate to converting audio inputs from an environment into text are disclosed. For example, in one disclosed embodiment a speech conversion program receives audio inputs from a microphone array of a head-mounted display device. Image data is captured from the environment, and one or more possible faces are detected from image data. Eye-tracking data is used to determine a target face on which a user is focused. A beamforming technique is applied to at least a portion of the audio inputs to identify target audio inputs that are associated with the target face. The target audio inputs are converted into text that is displayed via a transparent display of the head-mounted display device.

Abstract: A method for user directed collection and pricing data for trading or sale. The method enables the user to capture field labels and entries for assignment to one or a plurality of domain categories and processing classes. The user retains control over the data as it is captured, categorized, priced, and packaged for sale to participants in a data supply chain.

Abstract: A system to use strings of computer readable characters, such as QR codes, biometric data captured from electronic devices, and RFID tags to instruct a server or electronic device to register a user upon receipt of the strings of computer readable characters.

Abstract: A system and method to distribute messages and notifications through networked devices and sensors in a pervasive computing environment. Included are a triggering mechanism, affirmation of ownership of message content or associated data, and data or message pricing and payment methods. The method enables smart phones, tablets, sensors, or other devices to structure message processing in accordance with the type of messaging process, the entity involved in the message, the ranges or relationships or hierarchies within the entity, and the urgency of the message itself.

Abstract: Embodiments that relate to providing motion amplification to a virtual environment are disclosed. For example, in one disclosed embodiment a mixed reality augmentation program receives from a head-mounted display device motion data that corresponds to motion of a user in a physical environment. The program presents via the display device the virtual environment in motion in a principal direction, with the principal direction motion being amplified by a first multiplier as compared to the motion of the user in a corresponding principal direction. The program also presents the virtual environment in motion in a secondary direction, where the secondary direction motion is amplified by a second multiplier as compared to the motion of the user in a corresponding secondary direction, and the second multiplier is less than the first multiplier.

Abstract: For some applications such as high-speed communication over short-reach links, the complexity and associated high latency provided by existing modulators may be unsuitable. According to an aspect, the present disclosure provides a modulator that can reduce latency for applications such as 400/1000 communication over copper cables or SMF. The modulator has a symbol mapper for mapping a bit stream into symbols, and a multi-level encoder including an inner encoder and an outer encoder for encoding only a portion of the bit stream. In some implementations, the multi-level encoder is configured such that an information block size of the inner encoder is small and matches a field size of the outer encoder. Therefore, components that would be used to accommodate larger block sizes can be omitted. The effect is that complexity and latency can be reduced. According to another aspect, the present disclosure provides a demodulator that is complementary to the modulator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for conducting one or a plurality of scenarios, simulations, games, or sport in which a plurality of participants are able to designate or “draft” or be assigned a set of assets, such a football team or basketball team or a set of military assets. Participants are further able to alter allocation of said assets according the rules and processes for reallocation of said game, sport or simulation in a real time crowd sourced pervasive computing environment. Statistics and real time audio and video streams and other data postable into mashups associated with said assets are updated in real time as they are captured, recorded, and distributed using a variety of transmission methods available to a pervasive computing environment. Said updated statistics may be transmitted by a third party such as a media outlet or through one or a plurality of social networks into which said participants are registered or enrolled.

Abstract: Reducing risks associated with network usage is provided. Variable information is extracted from network activity log data that includes a request from a user in an organization for content from a network content source. The variable information includes a number of times that the network content source has been requested, a volume of organization users that have made a request from the network content source, and a period of time for which traffic with respect to the network content source has been detected. The variable information is scored to generate a risk score. An access control level is determined for the network content source based on the risk score and a content access policy for the organization. Access of the user in the organization to the network content source is controlled according to the access control level.