Abstract: A closed-loop control valve module for closed-loop controlling a fluid flow is described, which comprises an electrical valve actuator motor, wherein a valve spindle comprising a frustoconical sealing section is displaceable by means of the valve actuator motor along a valve spindle axis and the frustoconical sealing section, depending on the position of the valve spindle, releases or separates off a flow channel connecting a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A pressure compensation channel is provided which, at least in the closed state of the closed-loop control valve module, connects an end of the valve spindle opposite the valve actuator motor to a pressure compensation area or the fluid inlet in terms of flow.

Abstract: Implementing people as operating system level objects. A method includes, for a user logged in to an operating system, identifying a person with a relationship to the user. For the person, the method further includes identifying information, including information that can be used to communication with the person. The method further includes storing the information related to the person in a data store that is a global data store with respect to the operating system such that the information related to the person can be accessed at the operating system level. The method further includes using the information related to the person stored in the data store to identify applications or services that can be used to communicate with the person. The method further includes displaying in a user interface for the person an enumeration of applications or services that can be used to communicate with the person.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a group fund processor having a communications interface that receives account data associated with a primary account from a device over a network, creates a group fund account, and associate one or more limits with the group fund account, an alert interface that transmits an electronic invitation including a description of a first amount to an invited user and receives a response from the invited user to the at least one invitation, wherein the response includes account data associated with a respective group member account of the invited user; and an account processor that links the group fund account to the primary account, and links respective group member account of the invited user to the group fund account so that the first amount is transferred from the respective group member account of the invited user to the group fund account.

Abstract: A solenoid valve has a housing, which has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and an electromagnetic drive, which comprises a solenoid with a fixed core and a movable armature, wherein the armature interacts with a valve seat. A pressure compensation chamber which is bordered by a membrane is formed in the armature, wherein the pressure compensation chamber is in fluid connection in terms of flow with the fluid inlet by means of a pressure compensation channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a group fund processor having a communications interface that receives account data associated with a primary account from a device over a network, creates a group fund account, and associate one or more limits with the group fund account, an alert interface that transmits an electronic invitation including a description of a first amount to an invited user and receives a response from the invited user to the at least one invitation, wherein the response includes account data associated with a respective group member account of the invited user; and an account processor that links the group fund account to the primary account, and links respective group member account of the invited user to the group fund account so that the first amount is transferred from the respective group member account of the invited user to the group fund account.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dowel for arranging in lightweight building boards, wherein a lightweight building board has a first cover layer and a second cover layer made of compact, pressure-resistant material and, arranged between the cover layers, a core layer made of material having a lower density than the cover layers, comprising a first dowel part and a second dowel part, wherein the first and the second dowel part are designed to be displaceable relative to one another, in which dowel the first dowel part and the second dowel part each have at least two fingers which extend parallel to a longitudinal direction of the dowel, wherein, in the plugged-together state of the first and second dowel part, the fingers of the first dowel part and the fingers of the second dowel part inter-engage at least in certain portions.

Abstract: A system for temporarily enabling an otherwise disabled payment account for use in a transaction is configured to provide, based on a determination to disable a user's payment account, instructions to a user device of the user for displaying an application interface enabling the user to request to temporarily register the payment account for use in a transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a group fund processor having a communications interface that receives account data associated with a primary account from a device over a network, creates a group fund account, and associate one or more limits with the group fund account, an alert interface that transmits an electronic invitation including a description of a first amount to an invited user and receives a response from the invited user to the at least one invitation, wherein the response includes account data associated with a respective group member account of the invited user; and an account processor that links the group fund account to the primary account, and links respective group member account of the invited user to the group fund account so that the first amount is transferred from the respective group member account of the invited user to the group fund account.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique is described herein for presenting notifications on a user interface presentation of a recipient computing device. The technique is considered tiered because it distinguishes between first-type (people-centric) notifications and second-type notifications, and because it processes and presents first-type notifications in a privileged manner compared to the second-type notifications. For instance, the technique presents content associated with each first-type notification in an allocated window that appears in positional association with a person indicator, where that person indicator identifies the person who sent the first-type notification; the technique presents each second-type notification in a different manner. In some implementations, an application developer who designs a custom first-type notification is given authority to draw within the allocated window that is used to present the custom first-type notification in a manner specified by the application developer.

Abstract: A water utility meter arranged to register the volume of water delivered to a consumption site through a distribution network and connect or disconnect the consumption site from the utility distribution network is disclosed. The water utility meter comprises: a flow sensor arranged to measure a flow rate and/or a volume of water delivered to the consumption site; a valve for connecting and disconnecting the consumption site from the distribution network; an actuator for opening and closing the valve; and a controller unit arranged to control the actuator. The controller unit is configured to connect the consumption site to the distribution network by operating the actuator to open the valve. After opening the valve the controller unit analyses flow rate and/or volume measurements from the flow sensor to determine if a reference profile is violated. If the reference profile is violated the controller unit will disconnect the consumption site from the distribution network by closing the valve.

Abstract: A water utility meter configured for dynamic throttling and arranged to register and manage the amount of water delivered to a consumption site from a distribution network is disclosed. The water utility meter comprises a flow sensor for measuring a flow rate through the water utility meter, a valve for limiting the flow rate from the distribution network to the consumption site, an actuator for changing a valve position so that the valve may be in an open position or a closed position or a variable throttling position and a controller unit arranged to control the actuator. The controller unit is further configured to monitor the flow rate using the flow sensor, to verify if the flow rate exceeds a maximum flow rate limit or does not exceed a minimum flow rate limit and if the limits are exceeded adjust the valve position to change the maximum flowrate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises a database configured to store at least one record, at least one network communication device, a storage device comprising instructions, and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method. The method may comprise receiving a fraud communication associated with a first primary account number, calculating one or more limitations associated with the first primary account number based on an account associated with the first primary account number, and storing a database record including the first primary account number, a new primary account number, and the limitation(s). The method may further comprise receiving a transaction request including a second primary account number, and comparing the second primary account number to the at least one record. The method may also comprise, based on the comparing, enabling the transaction request to proceed, declining the transaction, or disabling the first primary account number.

Abstract: A solenoid valve has a housing, which has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and an electromagnetic drive, which comprises a solenoid with a fixed core and a movable armature, wherein the armature interacts with a valve seat. A pressure compensation chamber which is bordered by a membrane is formed in the armature, wherein the pressure compensation chamber is in fluid connection in terms of flow with the fluid inlet by means of a pressure compensation channel.

Abstract: A closed-loop control valve module for closed-loop controlling a fluid flow is described, which comprises an electrical valve actuator motor, wherein a valve spindle comprising a frustoconical sealing section is displaceable by means of the valve actuator motor along a valve spindle axis and the frustoconical sealing section, depending on the position of the valve spindle, releases or separates off a flow channel connecting a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A pressure compensation channel is provided which, at least in the closed state of the closed-loop control valve module, connects an end of the valve spindle opposite the valve actuator motor to a pressure compensation area or the fluid inlet in terms of flow.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique is described herein for presenting notifications on a user interface presentation of a recipient computing device. The technique is considered tiered because it distinguishes between first-type (people-centric) notifications and second-type notifications, and because it processes and presents first-type notifications in a privileged manner compared to the second-type notifications. For instance, the technique presents content associated with each first-type notification in an allocated window that appears in positional association with a person indicator, where that person indicator identifies the person who sent the first-type notification; the technique presents each second-type notification in a different manner. In some implementations, an application developer who designs a custom first-type notification is given authority to draw within the allocated window that is used to present the custom first-type notification in a manner specified by the application developer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises a database configured to store at least one record, at least one network communication device, a storage device comprising instructions, and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method. The method may comprise receiving a fraud communication associated with a first primary account number, calculating one or more limitations associated with the first primary account number based on an account associated with the first primary account number, and storing a database record including the first primary account number, a new primary account number, and the limitation(s). The method may further comprise receiving a transaction request including a second primary account number, and comparing the second primary account number to the at least one record. The method may also comprise, based on the comparing, enabling the transaction request to proceed, declining the transaction, or disabling the first primary account number.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique is described herein for presenting notifications on a user interface presentation of a recipient computing device. The technique is considered tiered because it distinguishes between first-type (people-centric) notifications and second-type notifications, and because it processes and presents first-type notifications in a privileged manner compared to the second-type notifications. For instance, the technique presents content associated with each first-type notification in an allocated window that appears in positional association with a person indicator, where that person indicator identifies the person who sent the first-type notification; the technique presents each second-type notification in a different manner. In some implementations, an application developer who designs a custom first-type notification is given authority to draw within the allocated window that is used to present the custom first-type notification in a manner specified by the application developer.

Abstract: Systems and methods include a group fund processor having a communications interface that receives account data associated with a primary account from a device over a network, creates a group fund account, and associate one or more limits with the group fund account, an alert interface that transmits an electronic invitation including a description of a first amount to an invited user and receives a response from the invited user to the at least one invitation, wherein the response includes account data associated with a respective group member account of the invited user; and an account processor that links the group fund account to the primary account, and links respective group member account of the invited user to the group fund account so that the first amount is transferred from the respective group member account of the invited user to the group fund account.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises a database configured to store at least one record, at least one network communication device, a storage device comprising instructions, and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method. The method may comprise receiving a fraud communication associated with a first primary account number, calculating one or more limitations associated with the first primary account number based on an account associated with the first primary account number, and storing a database record including the first primary account number, a new primary account number, and the limitation(s). The method may further comprise receiving a transaction request including a second primary account number, and comparing the second primary account number to the at least one record. The method may also comprise, based on the comparing, enabling the transaction request to proceed, declining the transaction, or disabling the first primary account number.