Abstract: A ladder is provided having a base section and a fly section slidably coupled with the base section. The base section includes a first pair of spaced apart rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. The fly section includes a second pair of spaced apart rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of spaced apart rails. The various rungs may be coupled with their associated rails in an offset relationship such that they are not centered along a longitudinal center axis line of the rails. A rung lock device may be used which includes an arm pivotally coupled with the base section and configured to selectively engage various rungs of the second plurality of rungs to maintain the fly section in a desired position relative to the base section.

Abstract: Ladders and ladder components are provided including a rung assembly that provides an alert to a user of the ladder that they are standing on a particular rung or step. In one example, the lower most rung or step of a ladder includes a rung assembly having an alert mechanism. The alert mechanism may provide an audible and/or other sensory alert to a user when they step on the rung assembly so that the user recognizes their position relative to the ground or supporting surface. In one embodiment, the rung assembly is configured such that a front edge remains in a constant or fixed position relative to the rails to which it is coupled so that a user can rely on a fixed or constant position of the front edge of the assembly when climbing or descending the ladder.

Abstract: A communications system includes a communications device having a plurality of access modules each having a port and connected to a communications line and a plurality of transmitters with the respective transmitter associated in one-to-one correspondence with the communications line of an access module. Each transmitter has a line driver and is configured to couple communications signals to a respective communications line. A voltage source is connected to the line drivers and configured to provide a bias voltage to the line drivers that varies depending on a selected minimum power level. A controller is connected to the voltage source and has logic configured to change the bias voltage to the line drivers. The controller is responsive to a minimum data rate for each bias voltage.

Abstract: A smart breaker includes a current detector configured to detect current flow from a power source to a protected device. A controller has logic and is configured to select a trip value in response to the detected current flow and stored configuration information relating to the protected device. The protected device includes at least one installed component requiring power and the stored configuration information can be at least one of data regarding the number of installed components in the protected device requiring power, the amount of power used by each of the installed components, and the expected power requirements of the installed components.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a telecommunications device having “n” line card slots for receiving “n” line cards powered from a power supply. The device includes at least one installed line card. A smart breaker is connected to the telecommunications device and includes a current detector configured to detect current flow from the power supply through the smart breaker to any installed line cards. A controller has logic and is configured to select a trip value in response to the detected current flow and stored configuration information relating to any installed line cards within the telecommunications device.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for estimating electrical power usage of commercially available devices utilizing a portable computing device equipped with a digital camera. In some embodiments, initial input to the system is accomplished by taking a digital photograph of an electrical device surface in order to capture text or other marks such as barcodes from which power usage of the device can be determined. In some embodiments OCR (optical character recognition) is used to retrieve text from the digital photograph. If successfully extracted from the captured text, power parameters such as voltage, amperes and watts are provided to the system user on the display of the mobile device. At this point an estimate of electrical device usage during a particular time period, such as a week, can be input into the system. The system will then calculate power usage over the specified time period for the electrical device and show the result on the system display.

Abstract: Recruiting or the process of locating and qualifying potential candidates for employment is largely a manual process consuming significant resources. The employment recruiting system automates many of the services related to employment recruiting. Position advertisements and candidate resumes are stored in computer searchable data bases. A data processing device automatically searches the data base containing candidate resumes in response to a search parameter associated with a position advertisement. The system automatically contacts screens candidates.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for estimating electrical power usage of commercially available devices utilizing a portable computing device equipped with a digital camera. In some embodiments, initial input to the system is accomplished by taking a digital photograph of an electrical device surface. The goal is to capture text or other marks such as barcodes, provided by the device manufacturer, from which power usage of the device can be determined. Next, OCR (optical character recognition) is used to retrieve text from the digital photograph. If the power usage of the device can be determined from the captured text, power parameters such as voltage, amperes and watts are provided to the system user on the display of the mobile device. In the event that text capture is unsuccessful, power parameters can be entered into the system by means of an input device such as a keyboard or touchscreen.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting coordination of resources for events in an organization includes a knowledge component storing a resource-utilization model, the resource-utilization model comprising at least one ontology, each ontology comprising a respective schema and data stored according to the schema; a knowledge acquisition component adapting the resource-utilization model in real-time in response to receiving data from various sources about resource utilization in the organization; a domain reasoner adapting the resource-utilization model based on contents of a modifiable set of rules applied by the organization; and a query endpoint receiving queries about resources for events and responding to the queries based on the resource-utilization model.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for facilitating review of a credit application for true name fraud, an applicant might provide or submit an application for credit. One or more rules may govern when information regarding an application or its associated applicant is obtained, used, displayed as part of the application evaluation process and whether or not the application should be approved or denied.

Abstract: Flight information display apparatus and methods compute and display maneuver space (MS) target or ownship aircraft and conflict regions (CR) with surrounding obstacles such as traffic, weather, and terrain. The display utilizes coordinates based upon heading and altitude, and optionally also upon ground speed. Capability for selecting non-conflicting maneuvers and executing the maneuvers may be built in.

Abstract: In one implementation, an aerosol collector for an inkjet printer includes a partial enclosure defining a central cavity. An air passage is defined within a wall forming the partial enclosure to allow air movement into an opening defined on an inside surface of the partial enclosure and out of an exhaust outlet. A fan is configured to remove a mixture of air and aerosol from the central cavity, through the air passage and through the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: In one implementation, an aerosol collector for an inkjet printer includes a partial enclosure defining a central cavity. An air passage is defined within a wall forming the partial enclosure to allow air movement into an opening defined on an inside surface of the partial enclosure and out of an exhaust outlet. A fan is configured to remove a mixture of air and aerosol from the central cavity, through the air passage and through the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for efficiently managing bandwidth operative in a digital loop carrier system. The system includes service cards connectable to at least one transport card having a given bandwidth capacity. Each of the service cards supports multiple subscriber channels. Upon initiation of a first call, the system allocates the call to a given time slot of the transport card. The given time slot is assigned a given default bandwidth, e.g., 64 kbps. While the first call is in progress, the system determines whether the call is voice or data. If the first call is voice, the system may selectively reduce the given default bandwidth allocated to the first call if necessary to ensure that a second call, if initiated while the first call remains in progress, can be assigned the given default bandwidth. Efficient bandwidth management is provided by an inventive linked list optimization scheme, which includes a linked list of words, each associated with a time slot.

Abstract: In one implementation, an aerosol collector for an inkjet printer includes a partial enclosure defining a central cavity. An air passage is defined within a wall forming the partial enclosure to allow air movement into an opening defined on an inside surface of the partial enclosure and out of an exhaust outlet. A fan is configured to remove a mixture of air and aerosol from the central cavity, through the air passage and through the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: In one implementation, an aerosol collector for an inkjet printer includes a partial enclosure defining a central cavity. An air passage is defined within a wall forming the partial enclosure to allow air movement into an opening defined on an inside surface of the partial enclosure and out of an exhaust outlet. A fan is configured to remove a mixture of air and aerosol from the central cavity, through the air passage and through the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for facilitating review of a credit application for true name fraud, an applicant might provide or submit an application for credit. One or more rules may govern when information regarding an application or its associated applicant is obtained, used, displayed as part of the application evaluation process and whether or not the application should be approved or denied.

Abstract: The present invention relates to topical skin care compositions having improved stability containing a retinoid and a non-paraben preservative and being substantially free of paraben preservatives. Preferred non-paraben preservatives include phenols, phenol salts, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid salts, quaternium ammonium compounds, halogens, halogen salts, alcohols, inorganic salts, heterocyclic compounds, emulsifying preservatives, and mixtures thereof. The present invention also relates to methods of using such compositions to regulate the condition of skin and/or hair.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for managing bandwidth operative in a digital loop carrier system. The system includes service cards connectable to at least one transport card having a given bandwidth capacity. Each of the service cards supports multiple subscriber channels. Upon initiation of a first call, the system allocates the call to a given time slot of the transport card. The given time slot is assigned a given default bandwidth, e.g., 64 kbps. While the first call is in progress, the system determines whether the call is voice or data. If the first call is voice, the system may selectively reduce the given default bandwidth allocated to the first call if necessary to ensure that a second call, if initiated while the first call remains in progress, can be assigned the given default bandwidth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for managing bandwidth operative in a digital loop carrier system. The system includes service cards connectable to at least one transport card having a given bandwidth capacity. Each of the service cards supports multiple subscriber channels. Upon initiation of a first call, the system allocates the call to a given time slot of the transport card. The given time slot is assigned a given default bandwidth, e.g., 64 kbps. While the first call is in progress, the system determines whether the call is voice or data. If the first call is voice, the system may selectively reduce the given default bandwidth allocated to the first call if necessary to ensure that a second call, if initiated while the first call remains in progress, can be assigned the given default bandwidth.