Abstract: An information dissemination system comprises an Internet-connected server adapted for gathering information from plural sources, and sorting the information according to subscriber preferences. The sorted information is transmitted via the Internet to a subscriber's Internet Appliance (IA) as electronic documents, where the documents are downloaded to a connected playback device. The playback device may be disconnected from the PC, and the information electronic documents rendered as speech to a speaker in the playback device by a text-to-speech system. In a preferred embodiment annotation is added at the Internet-connected server to control speech characteristics, such as inflection, upon playback. In some embodiments updates may be made by radio with the playback device disconnected from the IA.

Abstract: A method to collect energy from generation systems such as, for example, wind farms or solar farms with widely distributed energy-generation equipment. In some cases, static inverters are used to feed the energy directly into the power grid. In some other cases, back-to-back static inverters are used create a high-voltage DC transmission line to collect power from multiple generation sites into one feed-in site.

Abstract: A system for soliciting and activating one or more groups of workers to service contact center business includes an interface accessible to the one or more groups for accepting group registration data, publishing contact center business and for enabling the groups to subscribe to receive business; a data repository for storing the registration data for subscribing groups; and a routing server for specifying routing strategies for event routing to the groups. The system is characterized in that the one or more groups of workers may be activated during contact center business activity to perform services based on need.

Abstract: Approaches for managing pre-boot drivers, programs, and data. A BIOS, operating in a pre-boot environment, establishes a connection to a remote server. The BIOS determines whether the server has any updates to be performed to the BIOS using the connection. The BIOS may also perform a discovery process to discover devices operationally connecting to the BIOS and load drivers associated therewith. Update to the BIOS may include multi-media content that is displayed or played during a booting process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shut-down of a photovoltaic system. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a computer system includes: communicating, via a central controller, with a plurality of local management units (LMUs), each of the LMUs coupled to control a respective solar module; receiving, via the central controller, a shut-down signal from a user device (e.g., a hand-held device, a computer, or a wireless switch unit); and in response to receiving the shut-down signal, shutting down operation of the respective solar module for each of the LMUs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing charge buildup/leakage from solar modules. A discharge controller may be coupled between a solar module and a string bus of a solar array. The discharge controller is configured to disconnect the solar module from the string bus, and to connect a grounded frame to solar cells of the solar module. Since the grounded frame of the solar module is grounded, connecting the grounded frame and the solar cells allows charge buildup/leakage to discharge into ground.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for removing charge buildup/leakage from solar modules. A discharge controller may be coupled between a solar module and a string bus of a solar array. The discharge controller may be configured to disconnect the solar module from the string bus, and to connect a grounded frame to solar cells of the solar module. Since the grounded frame of the solar module may be grounded, connecting the grounded frame and the solar cells allows charge buildup/leakage to discharge into ground.

Abstract: A method and system include a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of voltage controllers. Each of the plurality of solar cells is directly coupled to a dedicated one of the plurality of voltage controllers to form unique pairs of solar cells and voltage controllers. Each of a plurality of panels contain a plurality of unique pairs.

Abstract: A method to collect energy from generation systems such as, for example, wind farms or solar farms with widely distributed energy-generation equipment. In some cases, static inverters are used to feed the energy directly into the power grid. In some other cases, back-to-back static inverters are used create a high-voltage DC transmission line to collect power from multiple generation sites into one feed-in site.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system, is provided to take not just a person's time and location into consideration, but also has knowledge of and takes into account their availability, their preferences, their schedule, their purpose for being at their current location, and/or their next goal or stop. One embodiment is able to take into account a real-time view of supplier inventory and deduce and make available much better-adapted offerings and support for that person's travels and endeavors. In one embodiment, having an understanding of a rate of conversion and its relation to traffic and weather patterns allows service providers to make more accurate predictions about various items, including but not limited to, conversion rates, offer types, offer upgrades, traffic etc. In yet another aspect of the invention, the information collected from many travelers, and also information collected from airlines and weather observers, etc.

Abstract: A method to collect energy from generation systems such as, for example, wind farms or solar farms with widely distributed energy-generation equipment. In some cases, static inverters are used to feed the energy directly into the power grid. In some other cases, back-to-back static inverters are used create a high-voltage DC transmission line to collect power from multiple generation sites into one feed-in site.

Abstract: A method and system include a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of voltage controllers. Each of the plurality of solar cells is directly coupled to a dedicated one of the plurality of voltage controllers to form unique pairs of solar cells and voltage controllers. Each of a plurality of panels contain a plurality of unique pairs.

Abstract: A system for soliciting and activating one or more groups of workers to service contact center business includes an interface accessible to the one or more groups for accepting group registration data, publishing contact center business and for enabling the groups to subscribe to receive business; a data repository for storing the registration data for subscribing groups; and a routing server for specifying routing strategies for event routing to the groups. The system is characterized in that the one or more groups of workers may be activated during contact center business activity to perform services based on need.

Abstract: In one embodiment, method that can be performed on a system, is provided to take not just a person's time and location into consideration, but also has knowledge of and takes into account their availability, their preferences, their schedule, their purpose for being at their current location, and/or their next goal or stop (not just in terms of location but also in terms of activity). One embodiment is able to take into account a real-time view of supplier inventory and deduce and make available much better-adapted offerings and support for that person's travels and endeavors. In one embodiment, having an understanding of a rate of conversion and its relation to traffic and weather patterns allows service providers to make more accurate predictions about various items, including but not limited to, conversion rates, offer types, offer upgrades, traffic etc.

Abstract: Approaches for updating a BIOS over a network without human intervention. A BIOS, executing on a machine, is configured to execute a program prior to booting an operating system executing on the machine. The program communicates with a server over a network to determine if an update to the BIOS is available. The update may be a new version of the BIOS and/or multi-media content, such as an advertisement. If an update is available, the update is downloaded to the machine and automatically installed without human intervention.

Abstract: Approaches for managing pre-boot drivers, programs, and data. A BIOS, operating in a pre-boot environment, establishes a connection to a remote server. The BIOS determines whether the server has any updates to be performed to the BIOS using the connection. The BIOS may also perform a discovery process to discover devices operationally connecting to the BIOS and load drivers associated therewith. The BIOS may also establishes a wireless connection to a device, such as a phone, while the BIOS operates in a pre-boot environment. The BIOS may provide, using the connection, the device with access to data stored upon the apparatus, such as picture files, music files, video files, documents, emails, and other media files or objects stored on said device.

Abstract: A system for soliciting and activating one or more groups of workers to service contact center business includes an interface accessible to the one or more groups for accepting group registration data, publishing contact center business and for enabling the groups to subscribe to receive business; a data repository for storing the registration data for subscribing groups; and a routing server for specifying routing strategies for event routing to the groups. The system is characterized in that the one or more groups of workers may be activated during contact center business activity to perform services based on need.

Abstract: A system for wireless communication comprises an architecture of routers connected to a network and having connected transceivers for wireless transmission and reception of data, and a plurality of hand-held communicators adapted for users to communicate with the network through the routers. The system is configured for data network telephony (DNT) in the wireless portion, wherein voice data is encoded and transmitted in real time in data packets, and also provides data exchange for document-type entities. In one aspect a unique mirroring of channels from the wireless portion to a hard-wired link provides for mutual access and sharing of overall bandwidth from and to individual transceivers.

Abstract: A system to collect energy from generation systems such as, for example, wind farms or solar farms with distributed energy-generation equipment. The energy is collected and transmitted to a feed-in site. At the feed-in site, static inverters alone or in combination with pulse width modulation inverters may be used to feed the energy to a power grid. In some other cases, back-to-back static inverters create a high-voltage direct current to feed a transmission line.

Abstract: A system for wireless communication comprises an architecture of routers connected to a network and having connected transceivers for wireless transmission and reception of data, and a plurality of hand-held communicators adapted for users to communicate with the network through the routers. The system is adapted to provide wireless Data Network Telephony (DNT), and the hand-held communicators execute Quality of Service (QoS) code adapted to prioritize DNT packet code over all non-DNT traffic, thereby preserving the real-time nature of the DNT code.