Abstract: A prefabricated wall panel (10) has a precast body (12) including at least one decorative design element (14). In addition, the wall panel includes a mounting element (16) having a first end (18) embedded in the precast body and a second end (20) projecting from the precast body. A interlocking structure (36,40) is provided along at least two opposing edges of the wall panel to insure proper alignment and interconnection when two or more wall panels are installed together on a support substrate.

Abstract: Transforming portions of a message to a destination via a communication protocol. A message is received. It is detected whether the received message includes an encoded envelope. The encoded envelope includes a stack defining parameters including information for handling the received message in an original format. If the received message includes the encoded envelope, the defined parameters are transformed to coded parameters in a common format. The coded parameters express the same information for handling the received message in the communication protocol. The encoded envelope is encapsulated in the received message, and the received message in the common format is delivered to the destination. If the received message does not include an encoded envelope, coded parameters are generated in the common format for the received message by encoding addressing information from the received message. The received message having the coded parameters in the common format is delivered to the destination.

Abstract: Transforming portions of a message to a destination via a communication protocol. A message is received. It is detected whether the received message includes an encoded envelope. The encoded envelope includes a stack defining parameters including information for handling the received message in an original format. If the received message includes the encoded envelope, the defined parameters are transformed to coded parameters in a common format. The coded parameters express the same information for handling the received message in the communication protocol. The encoded envelope is encapsulated in the received message, and the received message in the common format is delivered to the destination. If the received message does not include an encoded envelope, coded parameters are generated in the common format for the received message by encoding addressing information from the received message. The received message having the coded parameters in the common format is delivered to the destination.

Abstract: A hydroxyquinolone compound formulated as a fluorescent dye for protein detection, assay, quantitation, etc. The hydroxyquinolone compound may be modified, for example, by adding or removing sulfate groups, changing hydrocarbon chain lengths, etc. to result in more desirable properties such as enhanced binding to basic proteins, enhanced solubility, etc. The 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. Methods of using the dyes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly may include a housing having a cavity, a friction seat received within the cavity, and a ball stud having a ball that frictionally contacts the friction seat. In one embodiment, a friction control mechanism moves the friction seat within the cavity to adjust the friction between the ball and the friction seat. In another embodiment, both the cavity and an outer surface of the friction seat may be substantially frustoconically shaped.

Abstract: Transforming portions of a message to a destination via a communication protocol. A message is received. It is detected whether the received message includes an encoded envelope. The encoded envelope includes a stack defining parameters including information for handling the received message in an original format. If the received message includes the encoded envelope, the defined parameters are transformed to coded parameters in a common format. The coded parameters express the same information for handling the received message in the communication protocol. The encoded envelope is encapsulated in the received message, and the received message in the common format is delivered to the destination. If the received message does not include an encoded envelope, coded parameters are generated in the common format for the received message by encoding addressing information from the received message. The received message having the coded parameters in the common format is delivered to the destination.

Abstract: A method for decoding a codeword in a data stream encoded according to a low density parity check (LDPC) code having an m×j parity check matrix H by initializing variable nodes with soft values based on symbols in the codeword, wherein a graph representation of H includes m check nodes and j variable nodes, and wherein a check node m provides a row value estimate to a variable node j and a variable node j provides a column value estimate to a check node m if H(m,j) contains a 1, computing row value estimates for each check node, wherein amplitudes of only a subset of column value estimates provided to the check node are computed, computing soft values for each variable node based on the computed row value estimates, determining whether the codeword is decoded based on the soft values, and terminating decoding when the codeword is decoded.

Abstract: A system and method provide rewards or loyalty incentives to card member customers. The system includes an enrolled card member customer database, an enrolled merchant database, a participating merchant offer database and a registered card processor. The enrolled card member customer database includes transaction accounts of card member customers enrolled in a loyalty incentive program. The enrolled merchant database includes a list of merchants participating in the loyalty incentive program. The participating merchant offer database includes loyalty incentive offers from participating merchants. The registered card processor receives a record for charge for a purchase made with an enrolled merchant by an enrolled card member customer and uses the record of charge to determine whether the purchase qualifies for a rebate credit in accordance with a discount offer from the enrolled merchant.

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 system and method provide rewards or loyalty incentives to card member customers. The system includes an enrolled card member customer database, an enrolled merchant database, a participating merchant offer database and a registered card processor. The enrolled card member customer database includes transaction accounts of card member customers enrolled in a loyalty incentive program. The enrolled merchant database includes a list of merchants participating in the loyalty incentive program. The participating merchant offer database includes loyalty incentive offers from participating merchants. The registered card processor receives a record for charge for a purchase made with an enrolled merchant by an enrolled card member customer and uses the record of charge to determine whether the purchase qualifies for a rebate credit in accordance with a discount offer from the enrolled merchant.

Abstract: Selectively modifying a message delivery requirement of a datagram message at an intermediary network node between an origin and a destination. A message delivery requirement is defined for a particular message. The message delivery guarantee defines how to transmit the particular message. A downgrading intent of the particular message is provided for the message at the origin. The downgrading intent of the particular message indicates that the message delivery requirement can be bypassed. The defined message delivery guarantee, the network delivery requirement, and the provided downgrading intent of the particular message are processed at the intermediate network node. The message delivery requirement of the particular message is ignored based on the provided downgrading intent. The message is delivered via a network protocol according to the provided downgrading intent.

Abstract: Described is a data model used in a continuation based runtime that executes activities. The data model provides for declaring parameters to define data flow direction (in, out or both in and out) with respect to activities. The model further allows for the declaring of variables to provide for data storing and sharing between activities that are in scope, based on a tree relationship between activities. In one aspect, an activity tree includes a topmost parent composite activity and at least one child activity of that topmost parent composite activity. Variables are associated with one or more composite activities of the tree, and the ancestral relationships between composite activities and (non-composite) child activities determine the in-scope access to variables. Arguments such as binding expressions may bind variables to an activity's parameters.

Abstract: A mailbox for holding mail may include a housing to house the mail and a stand to support the housing. The housing may include a security shelf to prevent access to a bottom portion of the housing. The housing may include a lower door and the lower door may be pivotable to access the bottom portion of the housing. The lower door may include a lock, and the housing may include a fixed wall to prevent access to the housing. The housing may include a flap to cooperate with the fixed wall, and the security shelf may include a horizontal section. The security shelf may include an inclined section, and the mailbox may include a light. The light may be powered by solar, and the light may be powered by landscaping power.

Abstract: An adjustable telescoping support mechanism is provided that may be connected between members of two positionally separated and supported truss members for providing support for a concrete-forming surface for fabricating building floors or ceilings. The telescoping support mechanism may be easily positioned adjacent to the location of vertical concrete structures of a building, such as building support columns, stairwells or elevator shafts in order to tie in a concrete floor or ceiling to the vertical concrete structure. The mechanism provides a means for fabricating a floor or ceiling adjacent to a vertical concrete structure either prior to or after the vertical structure has been fabricated, without the need for supporting scaffolding, which impedes normal construction activity and creates safety issues.

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 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: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a method of writing a data block to a memory comprising receiving an electronic write request from an application. A content address of a first data block considering the value for the first data block. A mapping of the first data block to the content address may be written to a logical end of the local block map. The mapping may also be written to a remote block map. If the content address is not present at a local data storage, the value of the first data block may be written to the local data storage at a first location and metadata associating the content address with the first location may be written to the local data storage.

Abstract: A method and system for private wireless network communications is provided. A private wireless network controller is coupled to a Private Branch Exchange (PBX), a private base transceiver station, and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The private base transceiver station is coupled to a wireless macro network. The private wireless network controller and private base transceiver station allow connection of interconnect and dispatch wireless calls, which originate on the private wireless network, to other mobile stations on the private wireless network, to terminals connected to the PBX, to mobile stations on wireless macro networks, and to terminals coupled to the PSTN.

Abstract: Logic circuitry and corresponding software instructions for performing functions within the FL function of a Kasumi cipher. An RLAX logic circuit includes a bit-wise AND function, a reorder bus, and a bit-wise exclusive-OR function for generating a destination word from corresponding logic functions of portions of first and second operands, in executing an RLAX program instruction. An RLOX logic circuit includes a bit-wise OR function, a reorder bus, and a bit-wise exclusive-OR function for generating a destination word from corresponding logic functions of portions of first and second operands, in executing an RLOX program instruction. Plural instances of the logic circuits can be implemented in parallel, to simultaneously operate upon plural data blocks.

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.