Abstract: A communication, safety, and location system for use as part of a goods transporting system comprises a plurality of tile units 2, the tile units 2 configured to tesselate to form a substantially continuous grid with a substantially flat upper surface and to enable movement of cargo carrying units positioned on the surface in use; a number of the tile units at locations spaced within the grid equipped with UWB transceivers.

Abstract: A system 1 for transporting goods within a storage and order processing facility, comprising a plurality of tile units 2, configured so as to in use form a substantially continuous grid on the floor of the facility; a plurality of substantially flat skid plates 5 configured to locate on top of the grid, each skid plate 5 configured so that a pay load can be placed on the upper surface of a skid plate 5 for transport; the tile units 2 containing drive means 6, 7, 8 configured to move the skid plates 5 on top of the grid; a control system configured to adjust the drive means 6, 7, 8 to alter the position of the skid plates 5 on the grid.

Abstract: A software agent, that is used to assist in providing a service, receives communications from a set of users that are attempting to use the software agent. The communications include communications that are interacting with the software agent, and communications that are not interacting with the software agent. The software agent performs natural language processing on all communications to identify such things as user sentiment, user concerns or other items in the content of the messages, and also to identify actions taken by the users in order to obtain a measure of user satisfaction with the software agent. One or more action signals are then generated based upon the identified user satisfaction with the software agent.

Abstract: A software agent, that is used to assist in providing a service, receives communications from a set of users that are attempting to use the software agent. The communications include communications that are interacting with the software agent, and communications that are not interacting with the software agent. The software agent performs natural language processing on all communications to identify such things as user sentiment, user concerns or other items in the content of the messages, and also to identify actions taken by the users in order to obtain a measure of user satisfaction with the software agent. One or more action signals are then generated based upon the identified user satisfaction with the software agent.

Abstract: A set of nodes are organized into a graph to represent a workflow to enable the dynamic and directed management of that workflow in a decentralized system. Each node maintains a value necessary for execution of the workflow, and includes code to populate that value. A workflow agent manages the population of the values according to an identified dependency structure for the nodes relative to the workflow. As changes are made to the workflow, the workflow agent ensures that values and dependencies of the nodes stay up-to-date. Each node retains historic values, which enables the workflow agent to query several states of the workflow throughout time as changes are made thereto. The dynamic management of the nodes improves the responsiveness of the system to changes, thereby improving computational efficiency.

Abstract: A software agent, that is used to assist in providing a service, receives communications from a set of users that are attempting to use the software agent. The communications include communications that are interacting with the software agent, and communications that are not interacting with the software agent. The software agent performs natural language processing on all communications to identify such things as user sentiment, user concerns or other items in the content of the messages, and also to identify actions taken by the users in order to obtain a measure of user satisfaction with the software agent. One or more action signals are then generated based upon the identified user satisfaction with the software agent.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises a water storage tank (14), a heater (16), a pump (38) and an outlet duct (70) to convey heated water to a plurality of lances (24) through hoses (22). The heater (16) is arranged to heat the water in at least two successive stages (66, 67), to an intermediate and then to a final temperature, at least the second stage (67) of the heater being activated in pulses, the frequency and/or duration of the pulses being adjustable to control the resultant temperature. Foaming agent is introduced (18, 40) into the water. Upstream of each hose (22) is a diversion valve (85) connecting to a water return circuit (54) leading back to the water storage tank (14); and the water return circuit (54) includes a heat exchanger (55, 56). The heater (16) may be liquid fuelled. The apparatus can be mobile, for example on a motor-vehicle (12), and it enables a number of people to control weeds separately, using separate lances (24), from the same apparatus (10).

Abstract: A software agent, that is used to assist in providing a service, receives communications from a set of users that are attempting to use the software agent. The communications include communications that are interacting with the software agent, and communications that are not interacting with the software agent. The software agent performs natural language processing on all communications to identify such things as user sentiment, user concerns or other items in the content of the messages, and also to identify actions taken by the users in order to obtain a measure of user satisfaction with the software agent. One or more action signals are then generated based upon the identified user satisfaction with the software agent.

Abstract: A software agent, that is used to assist in providing a service, receives communications from a set of users that are attempting to use the software agent. The communications include communications that are interacting with the software agent, and communications that are not interacting with the software agent. The software agent performs natural language processing on all communications to identify such things as user sentiment, user concerns or other items in the content of the messages, and also to identify actions taken by the users in order to obtain a measure of user satisfaction with the software agent. One or more action signals are then generated based upon the identified user satisfaction with the software agent.

Abstract: A software agent, that is used to assist in providing a service, receives communications from a set of users that are attempting to use the software agent. The communications include communications that are interacting with the software agent, and communications that are not interacting with the software agent. The software agent performs natural language processing on all communications to identify such things as user sentiment, user concerns or other items in the content of the messages, and also to identify actions taken by the users in order to obtain a measure of user satisfaction with the software agent. One or more action signals are then generated based upon the identified user satisfaction with the software agent.

Abstract: A set of nodes are organized into a graph to represent a workflow to enable the dynamic and directed management of that workflow in a decentralized system. Each node maintains a value necessary for execution of the workflow, and includes code to populate that value. A workflow agent manages the population of the values according to an identified dependency structure for the nodes relative to the workflow. As changes are made to the workflow, the workflow agent ensures that values and dependencies of the nodes stay up-to-date. Each node retains historic values, which enables the workflow agent to query several states of the workflow throughout time as changes are made thereto. The dynamic management of the nodes improves the responsiveness of the system to changes, thereby improving computational efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides nanoparticles and methods for treating and preventing skin inflammatory conditions or disorders. The conditions or disorders include allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), irritant contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis (AD), photoallergic dermatitis, and contact hypersensitivity (CHS), as well as other conditions or disorders associated with the skin.

Abstract: A method for creating a customized web feed from a plurality of sources, comprising searching for a content source, displaying a plurality of content source selections from a source library, selecting at least one of the plurality of content source selections to be included within the customized web feed, displaying the at least one of the plurality of content sources, requesting, if a desired content source is not found within the plurality of content source selections displayed, that the desired content source is added to the source library, analyzing a potential content source to be added to the source library to determine a number of followers and a number of page views, determining whether the number of followers and page views of the potential content source exceeds a threshold, determining whether the potential content source has received a recent update, and adding the potential content source to the source library.

Abstract: A system for monitoring operating parameters of a moving vehicle comprises an aftermarket device adapted to be in electrical communication with at least one vehicle protocol data bus. The aftermarket device is adapted to be connected to, in communication with, or in control of aftermarket components such as fins, flaps, or suspension and steering components. The aftermarket device communicates with, and monitors communications from, vehicle electronic control modules. The aftermarket device monitors vehicle operating parameters or conditions to detect when vehicle stiffness or aerodynamic performance or efficiency may be usefully altered, and then alters one or more of those aftermarket components, for example, to reduce or increase vehicle drag, stiffness, or to obtain other benefits. In some embodiments, the aftermarket device is adapted to detect certain conditions and locations, and usefully alter the aftermarket components.

Abstract: A method of rendering data on a graphical display includes an editor and objects for creating dashboards of various styles and shapes. Objects are created and edited in a graphical user interface to produce object trees or lists and layers or containers for organization. Data values are rendered in a dashboard on a display, and objects and layers may be cached for quicker rendering. Rendering of an object may change based on the data value to be represented, and an object may be clipped when displayed.

Abstract: A vehicle telemetry data dashboard and display system includes display dashboards comprising dashboard objects that may be stored, organized, or accessed as a group, list or tree hierarchy. The dashboard objects may overlap, and have a display state such as visible or hidden, and properties such as shapes, colors, values, etc. The dashboard objects may be rendered on a graphical display device to display vehicle telemetry data obtained from a vehicle data port. Applying vehicle telemetry data to the dashboard objects may cause differing transformations to different properties of the dashboard objects, and transformation of a one property may also cause a transformation of another property.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprises a water storage tank (14), a heater (16), a pump (38) and an outlet duct (70) to convey heated water to a plurality of lances (24) through hoses (22). The heater (16) is arranged to heat the water in at least two successive stages (66, 67), to an intermediate and then to a final temperature, at least the second stage (67) of the heater being activated in pulses, the frequency and/or duration of the pulses being adjustable to control the resultant temperature. Foaming agent is introduced (18, 40) into the water. Upstream of each hose (22) is a diversion valve (85) connecting to a water return circuit (54) leading back to the water storage tank (14); and the water return circuit (54) includes a heat exchanger (55, 56). The heater (16) may be liquid fuelled. The apparatus can be mobile, for example on a motor-vehicle (12), and it enables a number of people to control weeds separately, using separate lances (24), from the same apparatus (10).

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling operating parameters of a moving vehicle comprises a device adapted to be removably attached to a vehicle diagnostic data port. The device communicates through the vehicle diagnostic data port with various vehicle electronic control modules (such as an engine, transmission, exhaust, or other control modules). The device monitors vehicle operating parameters or conditions to detect when vehicle performance or efficiency or operation may be altered in a useful way. If so, the device commands the vehicle electronic control modules to alter the normal vehicle behavior to perform a different behavior. The device may be removable, and may command a moving or stationary vehicle. The device may also monitor and control an aftermarket exhaust valve attached to a vehicle, based on monitored vehicle operating parameters and conditions.

Abstract: A system of providing vehicle information and alerts to a vehicle operator or other user includes a device that removably attaches to the vehicle data port. The device communicates through the data port with a vehicle electronic control module. The device incorporates a set of vehicle operating parameters, communications settings and commands. The device monitors vehicle operating parameters and alerts a vehicle operator or other user if a monitored vehicle operating parameter exceeds a predetermined or configured limit. The vehicle operator or other user may configure custom calculations, formulas, or algorithms to generate new data based on existing vehicle or peripheral input data and then may use this new data as the configured limit to alert the vehicle operator or other user.