Abstract: A spacer has an elongated body having a first end and a second end that are spaced along a longitudinal axis. The elongated body has a first side and an opposed second side that are spaced along a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a third side and an opposed fourth side that are spaced along a thickness axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis. At least one channel extends into the elongated body from the third side of the elongated body and toward the fourth side of the elongated body. The at least one channel extends along the transverse axis from the first side to the second side of the elongated body. Each channel has opposed ends each having a width, and a neck between the opposed ends. The neck is narrower than the width of each of the opposed ends.

Abstract: The load level on a server system is regulated by determining time-to-live (TTL) values to provide to requesting devices that request a content resource from the server system, thereby affecting the frequency of subsequent requests. This dynamic determination of TTL values may provide resilience to system load, for example by using longer TTL values when the system is under greater load to reduce the rate at which subsequent requests are received. A dynamic TTL service may calculate a TTL value based on one or more factors, such as overall system load, resource load, hardware load, and/or software load.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for sharing network connections among client devices. A client device may connect to an intermediary system and request content from content provider. The intermediary system may, in addition to opening a connection with the content provider and receiving the content on behalf of the client, create a request profile for the client device regarding likely future content requests. The request profile may be used to assign the client device to network comparing components that have available open network connections to one or more content providers from which the client device is likely to request content. In some cases, a gateway network computing component may route content requests to other network computing components which have available open network connections to content providers hosting requested content. Additionally, the number of active network computing components may be adjusted to increase connection sharing and reuse opportunities.

Abstract: Time to live (“TTL”) values are determined based on one or more factors. The TTL values may be included in responses to requests for resources, thereby affecting the frequency of subsequent requests. This dynamic determination of TTL values may provide resilience to system load, for example by using longer TTL values when the system is under greater load in order to reduce the rate at which subsequent requests are received. A dynamic TTL service may calculate a TTL value based on one or more factors, such as overall system load, resource load, hardware load, and/or software load. In various embodiments, a dynamic TTL service may act natively within a service, within a system framework, as a proxy, as a cluster, and/or as a broker.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for analyzing requests for network accessible content, including but not limited to web pages, to determine which topics and other characteristics are popular or are gaining in popularity (“trending”). Content items or sources may be profiled to determine characteristics that two or more content items or sources may have in common. Content requests from multiple client devices may be tracked and analyzed to determine the trending or popular characteristics. Data feeds or reports regarding the summarized content requests may be generated and distributed to content servers and other entities. The data feeds may be used to tailor content, such as by highlighting or featuring content associated with the most-requested content characteristics, or utilizing demographic data to tailor content for different users.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for sharing network connections among client devices. A client device may connect to an intermediary system and request content from content provider. The intermediary system may, in addition to opening a connection with the content provider and receiving the content on behalf of the client, create a request profile for the client device regarding likely future content requests. The request profile may be used to assign the client device to network comparing components that have available open network connections to one or more content providers from which the client device is likely to request content. In some cases, a gateway network computing component may route content requests to other network computing components which have available open network connections to content providers hosting requested content. Additionally, the number of active network computing components may be adjusted to increase connection sharing and reuse opportunities.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of system components connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The system components include audio/visual components (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). A portable controller allows a user to access and control the system components from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The portable controller includes a user and management interface that contains customized control screens for the system components. The control screens are stored in a hierarchical architecture that is searchable by region or component type.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for sharing network connections among client devices. A client device may connect to an intermediary system and request content from content provider. The intermediary system may, in addition to opening a connection with the content provider and receiving the content on behalf of the client, create a request profile for the client device regarding likely future content requests. The request profile may be used to assign the client device to network comparing components that have available open network connections to one or more content providers from which the client device is likely to request content. In some cases, a gateway network computing component may route content requests to other network computing components which have available open network connections to content providers hosting requested content. Additionally, the number of active network computing components may be adjusted to increase connection sharing and reuse opportunities.

Abstract: Telephony and digital media services may be provided to a plurality of locations, such as to a plurality of homes and offices, though the deployment of telephony and digital media services devices to the locations, wherein each device is configured to function as a voice, data and media information center. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes an application store and an application intelligence subsystem implemented on one or more computers. Each of the application store and the application intelligence subsystem is communicatively connected via a network to a plurality of such telephony and digital media services devices. The application store is operable to provide applications via the network for installation and execution on each of the plurality of devices. The application intelligence subsystem is operable to obtain and report information about applications installed and executed on each of the plurality of devices.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for analyzing requests for network accessible content, including but not limited to web pages, to determine which topics and other characteristics are popular or are gaining in popularity (“trending”). Content items or sources may be profiled to determine characteristics that two or more content items or sources may have in common. Content requests from multiple client devices may be tracked and analyzed to determine the trending or popular characteristics. Data feeds or reports regarding the summarized content requests may be generated and distributed to content servers, advertisers, and other entities. The data feeds may be used to tailor content, such as by highlighting or featuring content associated with the most-requested content characteristics, or utilizing demographic data to tailor content for different users.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for determining a sequence of content, including but not limited to web pages, that a user of a client device is likely to request or otherwise find interesting based on previous content requests (of that user and/or other users), and to making the sequence of content available for viewing on the client device. The identified pattern may later be used as a basis to prefetch the content, and to make the sequence of prefetched content available on the client device as a “suggested browsing session.” The suggested browsing session may include a sequence of content pages typically requested by the user, and/or may include linked pages and recommendations that the user is otherwise likely to find interesting.

Abstract: Telephony and digital media services may be provided to a plurality of locations, such as to a plurality of homes and offices, though the deployment of telephony and digital media services devices to the locations, wherein each device is configured to function as a voice, data and media information center. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes an application store and an application intelligence subsystem implemented on one or more computers. Each of the application store and the application intelligence subsystem is communicatively connected via a network to a plurality of such telephony and digital media services devices. The application store is operable to provide applications via the network for installation and execution on each of the plurality of devices. The application intelligence subsystem is operable to obtain and report information about applications installed and executed on each of the plurality of devices.

Abstract: A connection-aggregation proxy service disclosed in various embodiments receives connection requests from a plurality of local initiating services, where the connection requests are not targeted at the connection-aggregation proxy service. The connection-aggregation proxy service establishes connections with the local initiating services, receives packets over those connections, and transmits the packets across the same connection when the packets are for the same external target. A local connection-aggregation proxy service in one example executes on the same physical computing device as the local initiating services. A gateway connection-aggregation proxy service in another example resides at a network edge between the local initiating services and the external target that the network local initiating services are requesting.

Abstract: A mobile system for generating and dispensing a chemical includes a portable platform comprising a source of a gaseous chemical, the gaseous chemical forming a solution in water, and a fluid coupling through which the gaseous chemical is delivered to a body of water.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of system components connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The system components include audio/visual components (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). A portable controller allows a user to access and control the system components from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The portable controller includes a user and management interface that contains customized control screens for the system components. The control screens are stored in a hierarchical architecture that is searchable by region or component type.

Abstract: A video display system and method that allows two different users to view different video streams on the same monitor without being able to see the other user's video stream. Frames of each video stream are rendered on the monitor. Each user views the monitor using a viewing device that allows the user to see his/her respective video stream and blocks the user from seeing frames associated with the other video stream.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a client device scans to detect available remote connections using a network protocol. Upon detecting one or more available remote connections, the client device presents or transmits client credentials that are unique to the client device to the remote connections or devices until the client device finds a remote connection that accepts the credentials. The remote connection that accepts the credentials is stored as the home connection by client device, and the client device connects to the home connection. Once the home connection is set, the client device will no longer seek other connections, and will only attempt to re-connect with the home connection if the connection is lost.

Abstract: A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of system components connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The system components include audio/visual components (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). A portable controller allows a user to access and control the system components from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The portable controller includes a user and management interface that contains customized control screens for the system components. The control screens are stored in a hierarchical architecture that is searchable by region or component type.

Abstract: A mobile system for generating and dispensing a chemical includes a portable platform comprising a source of a gaseous chemical, the gaseous chemical forming a solution in water, and a fluid coupling through which the gaseous chemical is delivered to a body of water.

Abstract: Telephony and digital media services may be provided to a plurality of locations, such as to a plurality of homes and offices, though the deployment of telephony and digital media services devices to the locations, wherein each device is configured to function as a voice, data and media information center. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes an application store and an application intelligence subsystem implemented on one or more computers. Each of the application store and the application intelligence subsystem is communicatively connected via a network to a plurality of such telephony and digital media services devices. The application store is operable to provide applications via the network for installation and execution on each of the plurality of devices. The application intelligence subsystem is operable to obtain and report information about applications installed and executed on each of the plurality of devices.