Abstract: Methods, systems, computer program products, and apparatus relating to an item inventory and item replacement are provided. In one embodiment a method for automatic processing of an insurance claim is provided. The method comprises (a) receiving one or more item indicators, each item indicator associated with an item in an insurance claim for an insured party; (b) for a particular item indicator of the one or more item indicators, automatically identifying an item listing associated with the particular item indicator from an item inventory, the item listing identified based at least in part on the particular item indicator; and (c) indicating the item listing as a replacement item for the particular item. Indicating the item listing as a replacement item for the particular item comprises adding the item listing to an electronic shopping cart.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and automated methods to enable a collection of electronic information to be divided into multiple asymmetric scrambled subsets, stored across a plurality of disparate apparatuses, and reconstructed as needed. The present invention provides automated methods to adjust the relative size of the scrambled subsets based upon characteristics such as performance, cost and available space of the apparatuses on which the subsets are stored. The present invention enables the scrambled subsets of electronic information to be created, accessed and manipulated as though they are located on a local device in an integrated and unscrambled state. The present invention enables fault tolerance and enhanced performance through optional redundancy and parity capabilities. The present invention generates an electronic blueprint used to deconstruct the original collection of electronic information and reconstruct it as needed.

Abstract: An optical selector arrangement (22), comprising: a first set of optical ports (30), having a first number of optical ports, the first number being greater than or equal to 2; a second set of optical ports (42), having a second number of optical ports, the second number being greater than the first number; the second set of optical ports being for communicating with the first set of optical ports, a selector interface (40) for the optical selector arrangement, the selector interface comprising the second set of optical ports (42), a part of the optical selector arrangement functioning as a selector (44), the selector being arranged to selectively optically couple the first set of optical ports (30) to a set of ports of the second set of optical ports (42) of the selector interface, the selector (44) being rotatable relative to the selector interface (40) to facilitate the selection by optically aligning the first set of optical ports (30) to the second set of optical ports (42) of the selector interface (40);

Abstract: The disclosure discloses methods, devices, systems and kits for repairing, replacing and/or augmenting natural facet joint surfaces and/or facet capsules. An implantable facet joint device of one embodiment comprises a cephalad facet joint element and a caudal facet joint element. The cephalad facet joint element includes a member adapted to engage a first vertebra, and an artificial cephalad bearing member. The caudal facet joint element includes a connector adapted for fixation to a second vertebra at a fixation point and an artificial caudal bearing member adapted to engage the cephalad bearing member. The artificial caudal bearing member is adapted for a location lateral to the fixation point.

Abstract: An optical transmitter (201) comprising: a laser diode (102) for transmitting an optical signal; a first temperature sensor (106) configured to measure a temperature at or proximate to the laser diode (102); a second temperature sensor (202) configured to measure a temperature of an environment in which the optical transmitter (201) is operating; a thermoelectric device (208) configured to apply heating or cooling to the laser diode (102); and a controller (212) configured to, using the temperature measurements taken by the first temperature sensor (106) and the second temperature sensor (202), control the thermoelectric device (208) to heat or cool the laser diode (102).

Abstract: An adaptable spinal facet joint prosthesis may include a pedicle fixation element; a laminar fixation element; and a facet joint bearing surface having a location adaptable with respect at least one of the pedicle fixation element and the laminar fixation element. Methods of implanting an adaptable spinal facet joint prosthesis may include determining a desired position for a facet joint bearing surface; and attaching a prosthesis comprising a facet joint bearing surface to a pedicle portion of a vertebra and a lamina portion of a vertebra to place the facet joint bearing surface in the desired position. A facet joint prosthesis implant tool may include a tool guide adapted to guide a vertebra cutting tool; and first and second fixation hole alignment elements extending from the saw guide. Systems for treating spinal pathologies may include intervertebral discs in combination with spinal and facet joint prostheses.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities for providing a quote for an insurance policy are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising (a) receiving image data of a property to be insured; (b) after receiving the image data of the property to be insured, requesting external information from one or more external information sources, the external data associated with the property to be insured and comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of historical data of the property to be insured and area data of the property to be insured; (c) providing at least a portion of the external data associated with the property to be insured; and (d) providing a quote for an insurance policy for the property to be insured based at least in part on the external data.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses methods, devices, systems and kits for repairing, replacing and/or augmenting natural facet joint surfaces and/or facet capsules. An implantable facet joint device of one embodiment comprises a cephalad facet joint element and a caudal facet joint element. The cephalad facet joint element includes a member adapted to engage a first vertebra, and an artificial cephalad bearing member. The caudal facet joint element includes a connector adapted for fixation to a second vertebra at a fixation point and an artificial caudal bearing member adapted to engage the cephalad bearing member. The artificial caudal bearing member is adapted for a location lateral to the fixation point.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and related devices, systems and methods to enable the controlled and predictable emission of electromagnetic radiation from objects that previously were impossible or impractical to utilize as electromagnetic emitters or to place electromagnetic emitters on. The present invention includes addressable electromagnetic emitter “elements”, a plurality of which is applied as a continuous surface coating or is otherwise integrated with one or more three dimensional objects (the “subject”). Said plurality of elements (“array of elements”) is controlled by an array controller which accepts electrical input signals, generates and transmits, by means of a shared transmission medium, corresponding control signals to elements in the array.

Abstract: A fiber-radio communication network includes a base station (300) and wireless access nodes (100) coupled by fiber optic cables (125). The base station (300) includes a switch module (320) arranged to switch Ethernet signals on a local area network, and a media converter rack module (310) comprising media converter units MC1-MC6 arranged to convert between a baseband Ethernet signal carried by the fiber optic cables (125) and an Ethernet digital signal for the switch. The wireless access node (100) comprises a media converter module (120) which converts between a baseband Ethernet signal carried by the fiber optic cables and an Ethernet digital signal; and a wireless access point module (110) comprising a local modem which converts between the Ethernet digital signal received over the fiber optic cables and a wireless transmission in a 60 GHz range for wireless communication with a client terminal (400) in the vicinity of the wireless access node (100).

Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in an aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; a transmission element (50), for example a dielectric filled hole or a coaxial transmission line assembly, in an external panel (9) of the aircraft (2); and wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after the aircraft (2) has landed, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6) via the transmission element (50).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an optical rotating joint (2); comprising: routing optical signals through an optical rotating joint (2) by using a first optical circulator (64) on a first side of the optical rotating joint (2) to receive an optical signal and direct the optical signal onward to a first side of the optical rotating joint (2), and using a second optical circulator (93) on a second side of the optical rotating joint (2) to receive the optical signal from the second side of the optical rotating joint (2) and direct it onwards. The signals may be sensor control signals or sensor output signals to/from a plurality of sensors (26, 28, 30), for example camera sensors. The apparatus may further comprise one or more wavelength division multiplexers (68, 94) and/or wavelength division demultiplexers (66, 95).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an optical rotating joint (2); comprising: providing redundancy for camera sensor signals to be passed through an optical rotating joint (2) by: (i) passing signals from a plurality of camera sensors (28, 30) via an optical changeover switching arrangement (70) to the optical rotating joint (2); and/or (ii) passing signals for a plurality of camera sensors (28, 30) toward the camera sensors (28, 30) from the optical rotating joint (2) via an optical changeover switching arrangement (70). The signals may be sensor control signals or sensor output signals to/from a plurality of sensors (26, 28, 30), for example camera sensors. The apparatus may further comprise one or more wavelength division multiplexers (68, 94) and/or wavelength division demultiplexers (66, 95).

Abstract: A Peltier effect heat transfer system (208) comprising: a plurality of heat transfer elements (301-308); wherein each heat transfer element (301-308) comprises at least one semiconductor element pair arranged to yield Peltier effect heat transfer, each semiconductor element pair comprising a P-doped semiconductor element (408) and an N-doped semiconductor element (410); and the heat transfer elements (301-308) are independent such that each heat transfer element (301-308) can be activated so as to yield Peltier effect heat transfer independently of each other heat transfer element (301-308).

Abstract: Signal processing apparatus located in and/or mounted on an entity (e.g. an aircraft), the signal processing apparatus comprising: a first module; a second module connected to the first module such that signals may be sent between those modules; one or more amplifiers configured to amplify signals sent between the modules; and one or more optical fibres. The first module is located at a first location in/on the entity. The second module and the one or more amplifiers are located at a second location in/on the entity. The first location and the second location are spatially separate, i.e. remote from one another. The optical fibre(s) couple together the first and the second locations such that a signal sent between those locations is sent via the optical fibre(s).

Abstract: An optical transmitter (201) comprising: a laser diode (102) for transmitting an optical signal; a first temperature sensor (106) configured to measure a temperature at or proximate to the laser diode (102); a second temperature sensor (202) configured to measure a temperature of an environment in which the optical transmitter (201) is operating; a thermoelectric device (208) configured to apply heating or cooling to the laser diode (102); and a controller (212) configured to, using the temperature measurements taken by the first temperature sensor (106) and the second temperature sensor (202), control the thermoelectric device (208) to heat or cool the laser diode (102).

Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in a first location, for example a bay (8), in a aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; and wireless apparatus (18) comprising an antenna (28), at least the antenna (28) being located in a second location, for example an undercarriage bay, in the aircraft (2) that is different to the first location, the wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after landing, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6); the second location (10) being a location that can have a closed or open configuration and which will be in the closed configuration for at least a majority of the flight and in the open configuration, for a purpose other than retrieving the stored data, after the aircraft (2) has landed.

Abstract: A fibre-radio communication network includes a base station (300) and wireless access nodes (100) coupled by fibre optic cables (125). The base station (300) includes a switch module (320) arranged to switch Ethernet signals on a local area network, and a media converter rack module (310) comprising media converter units MC1-MC6 arranged to convert between a baseband Ethernet signal carried by the fibre optic cables (125) and an Ethernet digital signal for the switch. The wireless access node (100) comprises a media converter module (120) which converts between a baseband Ethernet signal carried by the fibre optic cables and an Ethernet digital signal; and a wireless access point module (110) comprising a local modem which converts between the Ethernet digital signal received over the fibre optic cables and a wireless transmission in a 60 GHz range for wireless communication with a client terminal (400) in the vicinity of the wireless access node (100).

Abstract: An optical rotating joint installation; comprising: a drive shaft for a rotating interface, the drive shaft comprising a hollow central bore; and an optical rotating joint located in the hollow central bore. The proportion of the cross-sectional area of the material retained in the annular section of the drive shaft is preferably greater than or equal to 50%, more preferably 60%, yet more preferably 75%. The diameter of the hollow central bore is preferably less than or equal to 20 mm, more preferably 16 mm. The optical rotating joint installation may be provided as a retro-fit to replace an existing solid drive shaft that does not have an optical rotating joint, for example by hollowing out the existing solid drive shaft or by replacing the existing solid drive shaft with a drive shaft with a hollow central bore.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses methods, devices, systems and kits for repairing, replacing and/or augmenting natural facet joint surfaces and/or facet capsules. An implantable facet joint device of one embodiment comprises a cephalad facet joint element and a caudal facet joint element. The cephalad facet joint element includes a member adapted to engage a first vertebra, and an artificial cephalad bearing member. The caudal facet joint element includes a connector adapted for fixation to a second vertebra at a fixation point and an artificial caudal bearing member adapted to engage the cephalad bearing member. The artificial caudal bearing member is adapted for a location lateral to the fixation point.