Abstract: An apparatus and method for optimising a communications constellation is provided in which a specification of a communications constellation is received from a user, one or more modules for modelling properties of the specified communications constellation are selected, properties of the communications constellation are formatted to a common format for integration, the viability of the communications constellation is confirmed by assessing its connectivity, modelled with the integrated formatted properties, and its utility, and the performance of the communications constellation is simulated and optimised by applying one or more test scenarios to the modelled communications constellation. The simulation results are output to the user.

Abstract: Methods for recovering monomers from polymers, such as polyurethanes (including thermoset polyurethanes) include heating the polymer to depolymerize the polymer and release the monomer. The monomer may be directly recovered. The polymer may include a poly(?-methyl-?-valerolactone) (PMVL) block and the monomer recovered may be ?-methyl-?-valerolactone (MVL).

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for cross-fading (or other multiple clip processing) of information streams on a user or client device, such as a telephone, tablet, computer or MP3 player, or any consumer device with audio playback. Multiple clip processing can be accomplished at a client end according to directions sent from a service provider that specify a combination of (i) the clips involved; (ii) the device on which the cross-fade or other processing is to occur and its parameters; and (iii) the service provider system. For example, a consumer device with only one decoder, can utilize that decoder (typically hardware) to decompress one or more elements that are involved in a cross-fade at faster than real time, thus pre-fetching the next element(s) to be played in the cross-fade at the end of the currently being played element.

Abstract: A method for receiving and processing a data message includes: storing at least an encryption key; receiving a data message, the data message including at an encrypted message and a message authentication code, the message authentication code generated using at least a portion of the encrypted message; generating a reference authentication code using at least a portion of the encrypted message included in the received data message; validating the received data message based on a check of the message authentication code included in the received data message against the generated reference authentication code; and decrypting the encrypted message included in the received data message using the stored encryption key to obtain a decrypted message.

Abstract: A method for enhanced validation of cryptograms for varying account number lengths includes: storing one or more primary account numbers and a plurality of formatting templates, each template being associated with an account number length; receiving a selection indicating a specific primary account number; identifying a specific formatting template where the associated account number length corresponds to a length of the specific primary account number; receiving an unpredictable number from a point of sale device; generating a cryptogram based on at least the unpredictable number and one or more algorithms; generating a data string, wherein the data string includes at least the generated cryptogram, the specific primary account number, and the unpredictable number, and wherein the data string is formatted based on the identified specific formatting template; and electronically transmitting the generated data string to the point of sale device.

Abstract: Methods for recovering monomers from polymers, such as polyurethanes (including thermoset polyurethanes) include heating the polymer to depolymerize the polymer and release the monomer. The monomer may be directly recovered. The polymer may include a poly(?-methyl-?-valerolactone) (PMVL) block and the monomer recovered may be ?-methyl-?-valerolactone (MVL).

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for efficient cross-fading (or other multiple clip processing) of compressed domain information streams on a user or client device, such as a telephone, tablet, computer or MP3 player, or any consumer device with audio playback. Exemplary implementation systems may provide cross-fade between AAC/Enhanced AAC Plus (EAACPlus) information streams or between MP3 information streams or even between information streams of unmatched formats (e.g. AAC to MP3 or MP3 to AAC). Furthermore, these systems are distinguished by the fact that cross-fade is directly applied to the compressed bitstreams so that a single decode operation may be performed on the resulting bitstream. Moreover, using the described methods, similar cross fade in the compressed domain between information streams utilizing other formats of compression, such as, for example, MP2, AC-3, PAC, etc. can also be advantageously implemented.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for cross-fading (or other multiple clip processing) of information streams on a user or client device, such as a telephone, tablet, computer or MP3 player, or any consumer device with audio playback. Multiple clip processing can be accomplished at a client end according to directions sent from a service provider that specify a combination of (i) the clips involved; (ii) the device on which the cross-fade or other processing is to occur and its parameters; and (iii) the service provider system. For example, a consumer device with only one decoder, can utilize that decoder (typically hardware) to decompress one or more elements that are involved in a cross-fade at faster than real time, thus pre-fetching the next element(s) to be played in the cross-fade at the end of the currently being played element.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to implement and facilitate cross-fading, interstitials and other effects/processing of two or more media elements in a personalized media delivery service. Effects or crossfade processing can occur on the broadcast, publisher or server-side, but can still be personalized to a specific user, in a manner that minimizes processing on the downstream side or client device. The cross-fade can be implemented after decoding, processing, re-encoding, and rechunking the relevant chunks of each component clip. Alternatively, the cross-fade or other effect can be implemented on the relevant chunks in the compressed domain, thus obviating any loss of quality by re-encoding. A large scale personalized content delivery service can limit the processing to essentially the first and last chunks of any file, there being no need to process the full clip.

Abstract: A method for enhanced validation of cryptograms for varying account number lengths includes: storing one or more primary account numbers and a plurality of formatting templates, each template being associated with an account number length; receiving a selection indicating a specific primary account number; identifying a specific formatting template where the associated account number length corresponds to a length of the specific primary account number; receiving an unpredictable number from a point of sale device; generating a cryptogram based on at least the unpredictable number and one or more algorithms; generating a data string, wherein the data string includes at least the generated cryptogram, the specific primary account number, and the unpredictable number, and wherein the data string is formatted based on the identified specific formatting template; and electronically transmitting the generated data string to the point of sale device.

Abstract: Methods for recovering monomers from polymers, such as polyurethanes (including thermoset polyurethanes) include heating the polymer to depolymerize the polymer and release the monomer. The monomer may be directly recovered. The polymer may include a poly(?-methyl-?-valerolactone) (PMVL) block and the monomer recovered may be ?-methyl-?-valerolactone (MVL).

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for efficient cross-fading (or other multiple clip processing) of compressed domain information streams on a user or client device, such as a telephone, tablet, computer or MP3 player, or any consumer device with audio playback. Exemplary implementation systems may provide cross-fade between AAC/Enhanced AAC Plus (EAACPIus) information streams or between MP3 information streams or even between information streams of unmatched formats (e.g. AAC to MP3 or MP3 to AAC). Furthermore, these systems are distinguished by the fact that cross-fade is directly applied to the compressed bitstreams so that a single decode operation may be performed on the resulting bitstream. Moreover, using the described methods, similar cross fade in the compressed domain between information streams utilizing other formats of compression, such as, for example, MP2, AC-3, PAC, etc. can also be advantageously implemented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid flow device. The device includes an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length therebetween, at least one source fluid inflow port, at least one waste fluid outflow port, at least one well inlet port positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, at least one well outlet port positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, at least one conduit connecting the at least one source fluid inflow port to the at least one well inlet port, and at least one conduit connecting the at least one waste fluid outflow port to the at least one well outlet port.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for cross-fading (or other multiple clip processing) of information streams on a user or client device, such as a telephone, tablet, computer or MP3 player, or any consumer device with audio playback. Multiple clip processing can be accomplished at a client end according to directions sent from a service provider that specify a combination of (i) the clips involved; (ii) the device on which the cross-fade or other processing is to occur and its parameters; and (iii) the service provider system. For example, a consumer device with only one decoder, can utilize that decoder (typically hardware) to decompress one or more elements that are involved in a cross-fade at faster than real time, thus pre-fetching the next element(s) to be played in the cross-fade at the end of the currently being played element.

Abstract: A method and system for managing at least one service level of a service provided by a service provider to a customer of the service provider under a service level agreement. The service level agreement is a contract between the service provider and the customer. Measurement data and at least one adjudication element associated with a service level of the at least one service level are adjudicated in accordance with the at least one adjudication element such that the adjudication generates a respective adjudicated data point for each data point of the measurement data. The measurement data includes at least one data point measured on a respective resource that provides the service. A modification history chain is generated by: initially establishing the modification history chain as being empty; and adding an identification of each adjudicated element applied to each data point of the measurement data to the modification history chain.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to implement and facilitate cross-fading, interstitials and other effects/processing of two or more media elements in a personalized media delivery service. Effects or crossfade processing can occur on the broadcast, publisher or server-side, but can still be personalized to a specific user, in a manner that minimizes processing on the downstream side or client device. The cross-fade can be implemented after decoding the relevant chunks of each component clip, processing, recoding and rechunking, or, the cross-fade or other effect can be implemented on the relevant chunks to the effect in the compressed domain, thus obviating any loss of quality by re-encoding. A large scale personalized content delivery service can limit the processing to essentially the first and last chunks of any file, there being no need to processing the full clip.

Abstract: A method and system for managing at least one service level of a service provided by a service provider to a customer of the service provider under a service level agreement. The service level agreement is a contract between the service provider and the customer. Measurement data and at least one adjudication element associated with a service level of the at least one service level are retrieved in an electronic format. The measurement data and the at least one adjudication element are stored in a datastore. The measurement data includes at least one data point measured on a respective resource that provides the service. The retrieved measurement data are adjudicated for the service level in accordance with the at least one adjudication element such that the adjudication generates a respective adjudicated data point for each data point of the measurement data.

Abstract: Methods for recovering monomers from polymers, such as polyurethanes (including thermoset polyurethanes) include heating the polymer to depolymerize the polymer and release the monomer. The monomer may be directly recovered. The polymer may include a poly(?-methyl-?-valerolactone) (PMVL) block and the monomer recovered may be ?-methyl-?-valerolactone (MVL).

Abstract: A method and system for managing at least one service level of a service provided by a service provider to a customer of the service provider under a service level agreement. The service level agreement is a contract between the service provider and the customer. Measurement data and at least one adjudication element associated with a service level of the at least one service level are retrieved in an electronic format. The measurement data and the at least one adjudication element are stored in a datastore. The measurement data includes at least one data point measured on a respective resource that provides the service. The retrieved measurement data are adjudicated for the service level in accordance with the at least one adjudication element such that the adjudication generates a respective adjudicated data point for each data point of the measurement data.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products decompose a service process into service process operations; filter the service operations based on at least one pre-determined criterion; identify at least one different service process operation to be used to replace an existing service process operation; and replace the existing service process operation with the at least one different service process operation. The service process can be decomposed using specific service features derived from reference service processes. The pre-determined criterion used to filter the service operations can constitute a service level; a service category; or a service process feature. A service process feature describes core functionality of the service.