Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for simulating a physical computer system using virtualization. The disclosed system virtualizes devices of a physical computer system by modeling hardware and software components that are physically present within the physical computer system. The system simulates changing at least one of a piece of hardware or software in the virtualized computer system and assesses an effect of the change in the virtualized computer system to determine a potential effect of the change if the change were implemented on the physical computer system.

Abstract: An umbrella system includes a support pole connected to a rotating tube positioned around a center tube that extends between the support pole and a center support that is connected to an umbrella frame. The rotating tube has one or more helical grooves therein that are engaged by teeth of a hub which is connected to the umbrella frame. As the rotating tube is rotated, the hub is driven along the length of the rotating tube thereby opening and closing the umbrella frame. In one arrangement system includes a motor housing assembly including a plurality of batteries and a motor that includes a driven gear that meshes with a stationary gear which causes rotation of the rotating tube.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a processing device of a client device from an external storage device, an operating system image, the operating system image to provide a testing environment for the client device; loading the operating system image into memory of the client device; and providing, by the processor of the client device, testing information via the testing environment.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a processing device of a client device from an external storage device, an operating system image, the operating system image to provide a testing environment for the client device; loading the operating system image into memory of the client device; and providing, by the processor of the client device, testing information via the testing environment.

Abstract: In one or more arrangements, a power efficient remote control system is presented. The remote control system has a touch based interface having a plurality of touch sensitive sensors. The remote control system is configured to operate in an active mode in response to user input and operate in a background mode in response to inactivity. In the active mode, a control circuit of the remote control system is configured to monitor touch activity by sampling signals from outputs from a plurality of touch sensitive sensors individually. In the background mode, power is saved by electrically connecting outputs of the plurality of touch sensitive sensors together and monitoring touch activity by sampling a signal from the connected outputs of the plurality of touch sensitive sensors together.

Abstract: An umbrella system includes a support pole connected to a rotating tube positioned around a center tube that extends between the support pole and a center support that is connected to an umbrella frame. The rotating tube has one or more helical grooves therein that are engaged by teeth of a hub which is connected to the umbrella frame. As the rotating tube is rotated, the hub is driven along the length of the rotating tube thereby opening and closing the umbrella frame. In one arrangement system includes a motor housing assembly including a plurality of batteries and a motor that includes a driven gear that meshes with a stationary gear which causes rotation of the rotating tube.

Abstract: Scene and/or state information may be used to facilitate processing an input to separate one or more signals within the input, to shape the signal within the input, and/or for other processing of the input or signal(s) within the input. A scene determination may be made based upon location data, time data, data describing the received input, or other basis. A state determination may be made based upon the scene determination, properties of a signal itself, or other information such as location, time, etc. By determining an appropriate scene and/or state, processing of an input and/or a signal within an input may proceed in a fashion determined to provide the most valuable information for output. Systems and methods in accordance with the invention may be implemented in a wide variety of baseband processing systems, such as hearing aids and energy consumption monitoring systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for simulating a physical computer system using virtualization. The disclosed system virtualizes devices of a physical computer system by modeling hardware and software components that are physically present within the physical computer system. The system simulates changing at least one of a piece of hardware or software in the virtualized computer system and assesses an effect of the change in the virtualized computer system to determine a potential effect of the change if the change were implemented on the physical computer system.

Abstract: An obstruction detection system for motorized window shades is presented having a motor, shade material, a bottom bar, and a motor controller having a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to detect when an obstruction has been encountered when closing the motorized window shades. When an obstruction is detected, the microprocessor stops lowering the shade material and the bottom bar thereby preventing further damage or destruction. The system may also be used to report when an unexpected obstruction has been detected.

Abstract: An obstruction detection system for motorized window shades is presented having a motor, shade material, a bottom bar, and a motor controller having a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to detect when an obstruction has been encountered when closing the motorized window shades. When an obstruction is detected, the microprocessor stops lowering the shade material and the bottom bar thereby preventing further damage or destruction. The system may also be used to report when an unexpected obstruction has been detected.

Abstract: A foldable diving platform for attachment to a wakeboard tower. The platform includes a base section affixable to tubing of the wakeboard tower and a folding section hinged to the based section. The folding section may be rotated about the hinge to enable storage atop the base section or full deployment collinear and coplanar with the base section.

Abstract: A foldable diving platform for attachment to a wakeboard tower. The platform includes a base section affixable to tubing of the wakeboard tower and a folding section hinged to the based section. The folding section may be rotated about the hinge to enable storage atop the base section or full deployment collinear and coplanar with the base section.

Abstract: A heat-treated cord comprising a low modulus yarn core that is wrapped by a plurality of high modulus wrapping yarns that were heat-treated for a time at a temperature and under a load sufficient to provide a free shrinkage of at least 2½ percent and a shrinkage force of at least 3 pounds.

Abstract: A system for classifying impulsive noise on a communications signal comprises an impulse signal generator, an integrator, a first comparator, and an impulse peak detector. The impulse signal generator receives a communications signal that includes impulsive noise and is configured to provide an impulse signal that includes just the impulsive noise. The integrator receives the impulse signal and integrates the impulse signal to determine the power of the impulse signal. The first comparator receives the impulse signal and is configured to compare the impulse signal to a first reference signal and indicate the time during which the value of the impulse signal is greater than the value of the first reference signal. The impulse peak detector receives the impulse signal and is configured to process the impulse signal, compare the processed signal to a second reference signal, and detect the peak value of the impulse signal.

Abstract: A hardwired and wirelessly controlled motorized window shade system is presented that includes a plurality of motorized window shades that are connected by a cable, such as Ethernet cable, to a power panel and a hardwired control. Motorized window shades are also wirelessly connected to a wireless control through a gateway. This arrangement provides the motorized window shades with the advantage of receiving power and control signals through the cable, as well as giving the flexibility of being controlled through a wireless control.

Abstract: Scene and/or state information may be used to facilitate processing an input to separate one or more signals within the input, to shape the signal within the input, and/or for other processing of the input or signal(s) within the input. A scene determination may be made based upon location data, time data, data describing the received input, or other basis. A state determination may be made based upon the scene determination, properties of a signal itself, or other information such as location, time, etc. By determining an appropriate scene and/or state, processing of an input and/or a signal within an input may proceed in a fashion determined to provide the most valuable information for output. Systems and methods in accordance with the invention may be implemented in a wide variety of baseband processing systems, such as hearing aids and energy consumption monitoring systems.

Abstract: Scene and/or state information may be used to facilitate processing an input to separate one or more signals within the input, to shape the signal within the input, and/or for other processing of the input or signal(s) within the input. A scene determination may be made based upon location data, time data, data describing the received input, or other basis. A state determination may be made based upon the scene determination, properties of a signal itself, or other information such as location, time, etc. By determining an appropriate scene and/or state, processing of an input and/or a signal within an input may proceed in a fashion determined to provide the most valuable information for output. Systems and methods in accordance with the invention may be implemented in a wide variety of baseband processing systems, such as hearing aids and energy consumption monitoring systems.

Abstract: An obstruction detection system for motorized window shades is presented having a motor, shade material, a bottom bar, and a motor controller having a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to detect when an obstruction has been encountered when closing the motorized window shades. When an obstruction is detected, the microprocessor stops lowering the shade material and the bottom bar thereby preventing further damage or destruction. The system may also be used to report when an unexpected obstruction has been detected.

Abstract: The operation of electrical appliances receiving electrical power from an electrical system may be indirectly monitored using monitoring units engaged with outlets on branch circuits of the electrical system. Electrical systems providing power to appliances to be monitored in accordance with the present invention may comprise split phase alternating current systems, tri-phase systems, or any other type of electrical system. Known loads may be applied to calibrate the monitoring system. The monitoring system may measure the power consumption of appliances operating on the electrical system and/or detect possible fault conditions. The monitoring system may be distributed across multiple monitoring units and other computing devices. Output devices may be used to output a summary of the power consumption or other operation of monitored electrical appliances.