Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a flush engine having a bowl defining a sump and a trapway extending from the sump. A bowl insert is configured to be located in the bowl and a shroud is configured to be positioned over the flush engine to conceal at least a portion of the flush engine.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (“glyphosate”) from N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid (“PMIDA”), and more particularly to methods for control of the conversion of PMIDA, for the identification of reaction end points relating to PMIDA conversion and the preparation of glyphosate products having controlled PMIDA content.

Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler head has an auxiliary nozzle carrier having a nozzle attached to each end thereof. Each nozzle is held on one end of the flexible nozzle carrier. One end of the nozzle carrier holding a nozzle is attached to the sprinkler head to operatively attach the nozzle to the outlet of the sprinkler head while the other end extends from the side of the sprinkler head. The nozzles are rapidly exchanged on the sprinkler head by disconnecting the nozzle carrier and nozzle from the sprinkler head and connecting the other end of the nozzle carrier and nozzle to the sprinkler head without removing either nozzle from the carrier and without the use of tools. The nozzle carrier is flexible and angled between the nozzle holding ends so that the nozzle carrier can flex between the ends thereof to absorb impact without damage when used below a crop line.

Abstract: A pivoting mast device is disclosed for pivoting a mast relative to a surface. The pivoting mast device comprises a mast pivot pivotably coupling the mast to the surface. A lower wheel is rotatably coupled adjacent to a proximal end of the mast. An upper wheel is rotatably coupled adjacent to a distal end of the mast. A linkage couples the lower wheel to the upper wheel. A drive is coupled to the lower wheel for displacing the linkage. An upper traveler slideably engages the mast and is coupled to the headstay. A lower traveler slidably engages the mast and is coupled to the linkage. A lowering stay is secured to the surface and the lowering traveler. A mast lowering displacement is defined by the lower traveler and the upper traveler in a descending direction. A mast raising displacement is defined by the lower traveler in a ascending direction.

Abstract: An approach is provided for scheduling work order tasks based on an optimization of available resources and an assessment of cost penalty functions for missing work order deadlines, including determining an estimated work order completion time for processing a plurality of tasks associated with a work order on one or more resources, scheduling the plurality of tasks in a processing queue based on the estimated work order completion time, and determining a value of a penalty function for violating a work order deadline.

Abstract: A method may include storing a number of programs on a digital video recorder (DVR) and assigning a score or ranking to each of the programs. The method may also include receiving a request to store another program on the DVR and determining whether the DVR has adequate storage space for the other program. The method may further include forwarding, when the DVR does not have adequate storage space for the other program, one of the programs having a lowest score or ranking to a secondary storage located remotely from the DVR.

Abstract: Method, device, and non-transitory storage medium to receive peak viewership parameters that indicate one or more program channels to be modeled; query a device that stores viewership data based on the peak viewership parameters; determine a peak viewership for the one or more program channels; query another device that stores network configuration data pertaining to a program delivery network; obtain channel path information pertaining to the one or more program channels; generate peak channel delivery data based on the channel path information and the peak viewership data; and simulate, based on the peak channel delivery data, resource utilization of the program delivery network stemming from a provisioning of the one or more program channels according to a delivery channel format that is different from another delivery channel format that was used to deliver the one or more program channels to subscribers.

Abstract: A mobile device may facilitate secure credit card transactions. The mobile device may initialize a mobile credit card verification (MCCV) generator using parameters that are shared with a credit card verifier, and then initialize a rollover timer, where the rollover timer may be synchronized with the credit card verifier. The mobile device may generate an MCCV value based on the parameters, and provide the generated MCCV value to verify a credit card transaction. The mobile device may determine if the rollover timer has reached a predetermined time value, and generating a new MCCV value, based on updated parameters, in response to determining the rollover timer has reached the predetermined time value.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium having instructions to receive a request for a program from a user device; identify a type of the request, wherein the type of the request pertains to a prioritized blocking service that affords a prioritized access to the at least one of the downloading service or the streaming service, on behalf of at least one type of request over at least one of another type of request; determine whether the prioritized blocking service is to be invoked based on an identification of the type of request; use prediction data that indicates a future arrival time and a future completion time of a request having a higher priority relative to the identified request; calculate an available bandwidth based on the use of the prediction data; and block the identified request when the available bandwidth cannot support a session for the identified request.

Abstract: A method may include determining a total data demand distribution for a plurality of subscribers associated with a link between a gateway router (GWR) and an optical line terminal (OLT) in a network. The method also includes identifying a maximum link capacity of the link between the GWR and the OLT. The method further includes identifying a speed tier for which a speed test is to be executed, and determining a speed test throughput distribution based on the speed tier, the total data demand distribution and the maximum link capacity in an identified time interval.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium having instructions to receive a request for a program from a user device; identify a type of the request, wherein the type of the request pertains to a prioritized blocking service that affords a prioritized access to the at least one of the downloading service or the streaming service, on behalf of at least one type of request over at least one of another type of request; determine whether the prioritized blocking service is to be invoked based on an identification of the type of request; use prediction data that indicates a future arrival time and a future completion time of a request having a higher priority relative to the identified request; calculate an available bandwidth based on the use of the prediction data; and block the identified request when the available bandwidth cannot support a session for the identified request.

Abstract: An approach is provided for scheduling work order tasks based on an optimization of available resources and an assessment of cost penalty functions for missing work order deadlines, including determining an estimated work order completion time for processing a plurality of tasks associated with a work order on one or more resources, scheduling the plurality of tasks in a processing queue based on the estimated work order completion time, and determining a value of a penalty function for violating a work order deadline.

Abstract: A method may include determining a total data demand distribution for a plurality of subscribers associated with a link between a gateway router (GWR) and an optical line terminal (OLT) in a network. The method also includes identifying a maximum link capacity of the link between the GWR and the OLT. The method further includes identifying a speed tier for which a speed test is to be executed, and determining a speed test throughput distribution based on the speed tier, the total data demand distribution and the maximum link capacity in an identified time interval.

Abstract: The METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR A PEER-TO-PEER CACHE CONTENT REPLACER (“P2PCCR”) rates the value of storing specified existing content and replaces the lowest rated existing content with the requested new content. In one embodiment, a method for content replacement that may be used in a peer to peer video on demand system is described. The method includes receiving a request for new content, obtaining usage and availability data, determining a value rating based on the usage and availability data, and replacing lowest value rated content with said new content.

Abstract: A device may estimate a probability that each video recording, of a group of video recordings, will be played back at the device during a time interval. The group of video recordings may include video recordings stored locally at the device and video recording stored at a remote location. The device may also determine whether to transfer a video recording to the remote location or retrieve a video recording from the remote location based on the estimated probabilities.

Abstract: Method, device, and non-transitory storage medium to receive peak viewership parameters that indicate one or more program channels to be modeled; query a device that stores viewership data based on the peak viewership parameters; determine a peak viewership for the one or more program channels; query another device that stores network configuration data pertaining to a program delivery network; obtain channel path information pertaining to the one or more program channels; generate peak channel delivery data based on the channel path information and the peak viewership data; and simulate, based on the peak channel delivery data, resource utilization of the program delivery network stemming from a provisioning of the one or more program channels according to a delivery channel format that is different from another delivery channel format that was used to deliver the one or more program channels to subscribers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for analyzing risk. An embodiment of this invention comprises determining a deployment cost and an outage cost for each of a plurality of portfolios. The portfolio comprises one or more elements with a predetermined capacity. Total cost, which is an indicator of deployment cost and risk, for each portfolio is then determined by summing the deployment cost and the outage cost. The total cost of at least two portfolios is compared.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating communications among persons sharing a common interest. Customers of a telecommunications provider are notified about the service via a notification included in a billing statement. A customer uses the information to access a web site capable of registering the customer and connecting the customer to other persons sharing a common interest. The service assigns aliases to respective participants so that the true identity of each person is not made available to others in the group.

Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler head has an auxiliary nozzle carrier having a nozzle attached to each end thereof. Each nozzle is held on one end of the flexible nozzle carrier. One end of the nozzle carrier holding a nozzle is attached to the sprinkler head to operatively attach the nozzle to the outlet of the sprinkler head while the other end extends from the side of the sprinkler head. The nozzles are rapidly exchanged on the sprinkler head by disconnecting the nozzle carrier and nozzle from the sprinkler head and connecting the other end of the nozzle carrier and nozzle to the sprinkler head without removing either nozzle from the carrier and without the use of tools. The nozzle carrier is flexible and angled between the nozzle holding ends so that the nozzle carrier can flex between the ends thereof to absorb impact without damage when used below a crop line.

Abstract: There is assigned at least one first cost for expanding at least one link to a circuit-switched network that is part of a hybrid network comprising the circuit switched network and a packet switched network. All paths in the packet switched network are represented with a virtual link. A cost is assigned to the virtual link. An integer programming problem is solved to determine a number of links to add to the network, the integer programming problem having as inputs a model of the hybrid network and a demand forecast matrix.