Abstract: One example may include transmitting data between a client device and a server over a first channel, sending test data on a second channel to identify a transmission rate of the second channel, comparing the transmission rate to a transmission rate threshold, and determining whether to perform bonding of the first channel with the second channel based on the transmission rate of the second channel being greater or less than the transmission rate threshold.

Abstract: Connecting a client computer to a server may include receiving a first request at the server from the client computer for content managed by the server, and the first request includes a communication protocol and is sent from a first access point, receiving a second request at the server from the client computer for the content managed by the server, and the second request is transmitted from a second access point prior to the server responding to the first request and includes a different communication protocol than the first request, determining by the server the first request and the second request share a common attribute, transmitting a connection acceptance message from the server to the client computer identifying a selected one of the first request and the second request based on a most optimal connection associated with the selected request, and establishing a connection between the server and the client computer based on the selected request.

Abstract: One example may include forwarding a request sent outside a VPN server, via a client device, to access a second communication network detected by the client device, and the client device is communicating with the VPN server over a first communication network, responsive to receiving a captive portal, forwarding, via the client device, authentication information to obtain access to the second communication network, and the authentication information is not forwarded to the VPN server, and receiving data, by the client device, from a remote server over a bonded connection including a first connection provided by the first communication network bonded with a second connection provided by the second communication network to form the bonded connection.

Abstract: An example method may include receiving upload packets, at an interconnect server center (ISC) device from a virtual private network (VPN) client device, and the upload packets may include a header identifying the (ISC) device and a destination server as destination fields, transmitting, via the ISC device, tests packets along a plurality of different Internet pathways to identify network characteristics of the Internet pathways, determining an amount of time until one or more responses to the test packets are received, and forwarding the upload packets to a VPN server for routing to the destination server via an Internet pathway selected based on the amount of time associated with the received test packets.

Abstract: One example may include a process that includes establishing a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection between a client device and a server to form a virtual private network (VPN), permitting communication between the client device and the server on the TCP connection, monitoring, via the VPN server, communication over the TCP connection to identify one or more connection parameters, establishing a second connection between the client device and the server when the one or more connection parameters indicate a slowing of the TCP connection below a threshold and below a previously measured connection rate, receiving, via the TCP connection, application data used by one of the applications operating on the client device, and receiving, via the second connection, application data used by another application of the applications.

Abstract: One example process may include enabling a connection between one of a plurality of client devices and one or more servers via one of a plurality of virtual private network servers (VPNs), monitoring connection performance of the connection over a period of time, modifying one or more connection parameters associated with the connection of the one client device based on the monitored connection performance, identifying whether an increase or decrease in a performance of the connection has occurred based on the modified one or more connection parameters, when an increase in performance is identified, storing a current connection status and the modified one or more modified connection parameters in a temporary data file, and transmitting the temporary data file to one or more of the other VPN servers and the plurality of client devices.

Abstract: A mounting system includes a footer having a cavity section and a cover section. The cavity section includes: a base and a first patterned wall extending upward from the base to at least partially define a cavity; and a hole for receiving a connector to attach the footer to a fixed surface. The cover section is releasably attachable to the cavity section and has a second patterned wall. An intermediate support has a stem and a head, at least two sides of the stem have a pattern, the head having at least one support surface shaped to supporting an object and a lock configured to secure the object to the head. The first patterned wall, the second patterned wall and the pattern on the two sides of the stem collectively define a plurality of defined height and width positions for the intermediate support to align relative to the footer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other things, methods and systems of navigating information that include: detecting, at an electronic device, a first input; displaying, in response to the first input, a first number of cells in a first grid; receiving, as a second input at the electronic device, a first selection of a first cell in the first number of cells in the first grid, where the first cell includes a first piece of information; and displaying, in response to the receiving the first selection, a second number of cells in a second grid, where cells in the second number of cells correspond to a sub-type of information related to the first piece of information.

Abstract: A mounting system includes a footer having a cavity section and a cover section. The cavity section includes: a base and a first patterned wall extending upward from the base to at least partially define a cavity; and a hole for receiving a connector to attach the footer to a fixed surface. The cover section is releasably attachable to the cavity section and has a second patterned wall. An intermediate support has a stem and a head, at least two sides of the stem have a pattern, the head having at least one support surface shaped to supporting an object and a lock configured to secure the object to the head. The first patterned wall, the second patterned wall and the pattern on the two sides of the stem collectively define a plurality of defined height and width positions for the intermediate support to align relative to the footer.

Abstract: A solar panel system for determining how many solar panels connected to a controller is provided. An electrical pathway connects the controller to at least one solar panel. A first resistance is associated with each of the at least one solar panel. An external environment resistance is defined by a cumulative presence of at least the first resistance associated with each of the at least one solar panel, wherein the external environment resistance is different based on a total number of the at least one solar panels connected to the electrical pathway. A second resistance is associated with the controller. The external environment resistance and the second resistance at least partially define a voltage divider to receive an input voltage and produce an output voltage. The controller is programmed to determine from the produced output voltage the total number of the at least one solar panel connected to the controller along the electrical pathway.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measureable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Agents of a contact center may utilize a text channel (e.g., text chat, email, etc.) to communicate with a customer. A processor monitors the keystrokes entered by the agent. If the agent is found to have entered keystrokes beyond a previously determined threshold, and subsequently deleted the resulting test and replaced it with another test, a deficiency may be determined to be present. When a deficiency is present, the processor may initiate a remediation action.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for upgrading a mixture of catalytic slurry oil and coker bottoms by hydroprocessing. Optionally, the upgrading can further include deasphalting the mixture of catalytic slurry oil and coker bottoms to form a deasphalted oil and a deasphalter residue or rock fraction. The mixture of catalytic slurry oil and coker bottoms and/or the deasphalted oil can then be hydroprocessed to form an upgraded effluent that includes fuels boiling range products. Optionally, in some aspects where the feed mixture is deasphalted prior to hydroprocessing, the feed mixture can further include a portion of a (sour) vacuum resid.

Abstract: Agents of a contact center may utilize a text channel (e.g., text chat, email, etc.) to communicate with a customer. A processor monitors the keystrokes entered by the agent. If the agent is found to have entered keystrokes beyond a previously determined threshold, and subsequently deleted the resulting test and replaced it with another test, a deficiency may be determined to be present. When a deficiency is present, the processor may initiate a remediation action.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for upgrading catalytic slurry oil. The upgrading can be performed by deasphalting the catalytic slurry oil to form a deasphalted oil and a residual or rock fraction. The deasphalted oil can then be hydroprocessed to form an upgraded effluent that includes fuels boiling range products.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving the processing of heavy or challenged feeds in a refinery based on integrated use of deasphalting, coking, and hydroprocessing. An optional fluid catalytic cracking unit can be included in the integrated system to allow for further improvements. The improved processing can be facilitated based on a process configuration where the vacuum resid fractions and/or other difficult fractions are deasphalted to generate a deasphalted oil and a deasphalter residue or rock fraction. The deasphalted oil can be passed into a hydroprocessing unit for further processing. The rock fraction can be used as the feed to a coking unit. Although deasphalter residue or rock is typically a feed with a high content of micro carbon residue, a high lift deasphalting process can allow a portion of the micro carbon residue in the initial feed to remain with the deasphalted oil.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conversion of light paraffinic gases to form liquid products in a two-stage reaction system. In a first stage, the light paraffinic gas is exposed to heat transfer particles in a side riser, where the heat transfer particles correspond to particles used in a separate process. Examples of a separate process include fluidized coking and fluid catalytic cracking. The conditions in the side riser can be selected to allow for conversion of at least a portion of the paraffins to olefins. After conversion, the converted olefin stream is passed to the second reaction stage while the heat transfer particles are returned to the separate process. The converted olefin stream is then exposed to a conversion catalyst under conditions for forming aromatics from the converted olefin stream in a second reaction stage. By performing the initial alkane conversion to olefins in the first reaction stage, the amount of coke formed during the aromatics formation process is reduced or minimized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular handling system for maneuvering tubulars onto or off of a rig and including a tubular grip adapted to engage a variety of tubular sizes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular handling system for maneuvering tubulars onto or off of a rig and including a tubular grip adapted to engage a variety of tubular sizes.