Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a slicing level which is used as a threshold to determine whether timeslots of an incoming data signal contain ones or zeros. The method of one embodiment comprises receiving a data signal, identifying a maximum level of the data signal, identifying a minimum level of the data signal, determining an average of the minimum and maximum levels, and then using the average of the minimum and maximum levels as a slicing level to identify bits of a data packet embodied in the data signal.

Abstract: A modular armored cab kit is provided for use on an armored vehicle that includes a cab body having a frame, an armored roof, an armored floor and a plurality of attachment elements, with the roof, floor and attachment elements being permanently attached to the frame. The cab kit further includes at least one non-armored panel, at least one non-armored door, at least one armored panel and at least one armored door, each for attachment to the cab body. The attachment elements facilitate field installation and removal of the panels and doors, wherein the non-armored panel and door are removably attached to the frame in a relatively low threat environment and are removed from the frame and replaced with the armored panel and door in a heightened threat environment.

Abstract: A thermodynamic system includes a cyclical heat exchange system and a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system. The heat transfer system includes an evaporator including a wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system and a primary wick coupled to the wall and a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.

Abstract: A thermodynamic system includes a cyclical heat exchange system and a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system. The heat transfer system includes an evaporator including a wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system and a primary wick coupled to the wall and a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.

Abstract: A modular armored cab kit is provided for use on an armored vehicle that includes a cab body having a frame, an armored roof, an armored floor and a plurality of attachment elements, with the roof, floor and attachment elements being permanently attached to the frame. The cab kit further includes at least one non-armored panel, at least one non-armored door, at least one armored panel and at least one armored door, each for attachment to the cab body. The attachment elements facilitate field installation and removal of the panels and doors, wherein the non-armored panel and door are removably attached to the frame in a relatively low threat environment and are removed from the frame and replaced with the armored panel and door in a heightened threat environment.

Abstract: Technologies for enabling a continuation based runtime to accept or reject external stimulus and, in addition, to determine if an external stimulus may be valid for processing at a later point in execution.

Abstract: The enhanced distribution of digital content, in which a digital content distribution process is dynamically modeled, the digital content distribution process is invoked, and a serviced digital copy is provided to a recipient. Invoking the digital content distribution process further includes ingesting digital content, further including storing a digital master of the digital content in a digital vault, and servicing the digital copy of the stored digital master based on a servicing request received from the recipient.

Abstract: A shield for a vehicle suspension ball joint having a receptacle configured to receive a flexible dust cover. The shield comprises a rigid shroud connected to the receptacle. The shroud generally surrounds the dust cover and is positioned proximate an arm of the vehicle suspension. The shield protects the dust cover from road-borne materials.

Abstract: Dispatching an incoming message from a queue into message transfer session(s) from which message consumers may draw messages. The message is reversibly received from the queue, whereupon a context of a message is identified. If the context correlates to an existing message transfer session, the message is ultimately assigned to a message transfer session. If the context does not correlate to an existing message transfer session, a new message transfer session is created, and the message is assigned to that new message transfer session. Upon receiving an acknowledgement of successful processing of the message, the removal of the message from the queue-like communication medium is assured. Upon receiving an acknowledgement of unsuccessful processing of the message, the message is restored to the queue-like communication medium.

Abstract: Activity callbacks in a continuation-based runtime. At framework-definition time, a framework activity is authored. The framework activity may have an environmental logic portion the processes input or output parameters whose values will be supplied to and/or received from an activity callback. The framework activity also includes a callback invocation portion that, during execution time, will actually provide parameter value(s) to and/or receive parameter value(s) from the activity callback. The framework activity serves as a framework that operates with any activity callback that has one or more characteristics. Such activity callbacks may not even be defined at framework-definition time. Instead, the framework activity may be used multiple times in the same applications, or in different applications to thereby provide core framework functionality, while allowing application developers to plug in activity callbacks that meet the custom needs of the application.

Abstract: Transport independent redirection. If a client computing system were to request a service from a service computing system, the service may determine whether or not the client should request the service from yet another service. If the client should request the service from the other computing system, the original service (or its intermediary) generates and transmits a transport-independent redirect message to the client. The client may then issue the request to the new service specified in the redirect response. The redirect message is not limited to a particular type of transport protocol. In addition, the redirect may be made possible in any number of message exchange patterns, not just request-response.

Abstract: A continuation based runtime that participates in transactions that are not generated by the continuation based runtime, but rather are generated externally to the continuation based runtime. The continuation based runtime marshals in transaction data related to the pre-existing externally generated transaction. In one embodiment, the continuation based runtime itself may not do this, but perhaps may use a transaction enabled activity. Once the activity marshals in the data, the activity may request that the continuation based runtime enlist in the transaction, whereupon the continuation based runtime may then register and the transaction may be performed in the context of the continuation based runtime.

Abstract: A method and system for a reverse online auction process include a dynamic rules-based configuration step. Question-and-answer sets having branches to other questions based on configured rules are generated. Vendor registrations are received from vendors, including vendor product and service information, vendor contact information, and vendor content. A vendor profile is created and stored for each vendor based the product and service information and on answers provided by the vendor to the question and answer sets. Client request leads received from clients are automatically matched to the vendor profile information to determine one or more selected vendors who receive the lead information. However, the received lead information excludes client contact information. Vendors may accept an opportunity to bid for the lead and thereby become candidate vendors. Candidate vendors may submit a bid for the lead, and at least one winning bidder is determined from the candidate vendors.

Abstract: Declarative definition and composition of activities of a continuation based runtime. When formulating such a declarative activity of a continuation-based runtime, the activity may be formulated in accordance with a declarative activity schema and include a properties portion that declaratively defines one or more interface parameters of the declarative activity, and a body portion that declaratively defines an execution behavior of the declarative activity. The declarative activities may be hierarchically structured such that a parent declarative activity may use one or more child activities to define its behavior, where one or more of the child activities may also be defined declaratively.

Abstract: Allowing a continuation based runtime to resolve different types of location expressions, value expressions, and/or locations. This may be accomplished using a different class for each particular type. The location expression classes may each have a common method used for all of the location expression classes. The value expression classes may each have a common method, and the locations may also each have a common method. This allows the resolution of such location and value expressions to be treated in a unified fashion regardless of the type of location expression, or the type of value expression. Also, the location may be treated in a unified manner regardless of the type of location.

Abstract: A system including a primary evaporator facilitating heat transfer by evaporating liquid to obtain vapor is disclosed. The primary evaporator receives a liquid from a liquid line and outputs the vapor to a vapor line. The primary evaporator also outputs excess liquid received from the liquid line to an excess fluid line. A condensing system receives the vapor from the vapor line, and outputs the liquid and excess liquid to the liquid line. The excess liquid is obtained at least partially from a reservoir. A primary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, and the vapor line, and provides a heat transfer path. Similarly, a secondary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, the vapor line, and the excess fluid line. The secondary loop provides a venting path for removing undesired vapor within the liquid or excess liquid from the primary evaporator.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein allow a service component author to write service components without having to handle incoming messages being received at any time. This may be facilitated by a message dispatch engine that dispatches messages from the incoming message queue only when the destination service component has indicated that it is ready to receive the message having that context. If the service component is not yet ready for the message, the message dispatch component may lock the message at least until the destination service component indicates that it is now ready to receive the message. Until that time, the message dispatch engine may ignore the locked message when finding messages to dispatch.

Abstract: Coumarine/chinolone and Martina-type compounds, compositions, and method of using the compounds and compositions for protein detection, assay, quantitation, etc. are disclosed. The composition, also referred to as a dye, has enhanced sensitivity over commercially available protein stains, and may be used to stain proteins in solution, proteins separated on gels, proteins transferred to solid supports, etc.

Abstract: A system including a primary evaporator facilitating heat transfer by evaporating liquid to obtain vapor is disclosed. The primary evaporator receives a liquid from a liquid line and outputs the vapor to a vapor line. The primary evaporator also outputs excess liquid received from the liquid line to an excess fluid line. A condensing system receives the vapor from the vapor line, and outputs the liquid and excess liquid to the liquid line. The excess liquid is obtained at least partially from a reservoir. A primary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, and the vapor line, and provides a heat transfer path. Similarly, a secondary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, the vapor line, and the excess fluid line. The secondary loop provides a venting path for removing undesired vapor within the liquid or excess liquid from the primary evaporator.

Abstract: An online lottery game having periodic drawings of a series of digits. Money derived from the sale of lottery tickets is allocated into a plurality of winning pools in which the winning pool consisting of all of the numbers is smaller than at least one and preferably all of the other winning pools consisting of less than all of the numbers. Money allocated to pools are carried forward to successive drawings in the event there are no winners of that particular pool.