Abstract: A computing device provides enhancement of the capabilities of text messaging applications that execute on user devices. The computing device includes a processor that receives a text message via a network from a user device, the text message including a character representation of a product bundle of a merchant. The processor determines bundle data for the product bundle by referencing a database using the character representation. The processor provides one or more text messages via the network to the user device with transaction data including the bundle data, payment data, and shipping data. The processor receives a text message via the network from the user device confirming the transaction data. The user may use text commands presented by the computing device or natural language conversation in the text messages to the computing device to modify the transaction data and perform other ecommerce actions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for techniques for dynamically adjusting retransmission opportunities within a connected isochronous stream (CIS) are described. In some aspects, a first wireless device and a second wireless device may support one or more dynamic or “on-the-fly” adjustments to one or more CIS settings in accordance with a link quality between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. For example, the first wireless device and the second wireless device may tie a number of transmission opportunities that are usable for retransmissions, within a given isochronous (ISO) interval, to the link quality between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. The link quality may be tied or associated with a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of the link. As such, the first wireless device and the second wireless device may tie a dynamic change in MCS to a dynamic change in retransmission opportunities.

Abstract: An acoustic wave device is provided that includes a piezoelectric layer and first and second resonators. The first resonator includes a first functional electrode and a first dielectric film on the piezoelectric layer. The second resonator includes a second functional electrode and a second dielectric film on the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer includes first and second resonator portions respectively including portions of the first and second resonators. Moreover, a resonant frequency of the first resonator is lower than that of the second resonator. A thickness of the first resonator portion is greater than that of the second resonator portion, and ts1/tp1?ts2/tp2 is satisfied, where tp1, tp2, ts1, and ts2 are respectively thicknesses of the first and second resonator portions and the first and second dielectric films.

Abstract: A message management platform receives API payloads including past confirmed transactions carried out by an application builder platform and available item offerings of an application operator. The message management platform launches, at an instant messaging platform, a chat session between an agent and a user, a subscriber to the message management platform and an end-user of the application operator. The message management platform displays, for the agent, at the instant messaging platform, the past confirmed transactions of the user and the available item offerings of the application operator. The message management platform receives a selection of a set of items from the agent based on the chat session with the user and creates a virtual instance of a shopping cart representation. The message management platform generates a materialization link of the shopping cart and transmits the materialization link to the user through the instant messaging platform.

Abstract: A computing device provides enhancement of the capabilities of text messaging applications that execute on user devices. The computing device includes a processor that receives a text message via a network from a user device, the text message including a character representation of a product bundle of a merchant. The processor determines bundle data for the product bundle by referencing a database using the character representation. The processor provides one or more text messages via the network to the user device with transaction data including the bundle data, payment data, and shipping data. The processor receives a text message via the network from the user device confirming the transaction data. The user may use text commands presented by the computing device or natural language conversation in the text messages to the computing device to modify the transaction data and perform other ecommerce actions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods to alert a medical operator that a surgical drain has been sutured in place within a patient's body. A readily removable sheath is provided at a distal end of a surgical drain. The sheath is configured to be placed within a surgical wound along with the surgical drain, and after the surgical drain is placed, to be removed from the surgical drain and withdrawn from the patient's body, leaving the surgical drain in place. As the medical operator attempts to withdraw the sheath from the drain and the patient's body, in the event that a suture has inadvertently passed through the body of the surgical drain, such inadvertently placed suture will obstruct the removal of the sheath, in turn alerting the medical operator that the surgical drain has been inadvertently sutured and allowing them to correct the drain placement during the same surgical procedure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods to alert a medical operator that a surgical drain has been sutured in place within a patient's body. A readily removable sheath is provided at a distal end of a surgical drain. The sheath is configured to be placed within a surgical wound along with the surgical drain, and after the surgical drain is placed, to be removed from the surgical drain and withdrawn from the patient's body, leaving the surgical drain in place. As the medical operator attempts to withdraw the sheath from the drain and the patient's body, in the event that a suture has inadvertently passed through the body of the surgical drain, such inadvertently placed suture will obstruct the removal of the sheath, in turn alerting the medical operator that the surgical drain has been inadvertently sutured and allowing them to correct the drain placement during the same surgical procedure.

Abstract: An end effector for use in an endoscopic device including a cup, and a hinge extension formed separately from the cup and connected to the cup. The hinge extension has a pivot for pivotally connecting the end effector to an identical second end effector.

Abstract: A rectifier assembly includes individual diodes arranged to form a full-wave bridge such that the silicon wafers of the diodes are loaded in compression. As so arranged, the centrifugal forces add to the compression forces on the diodes and on the electrical contacts therewith. The three-phase (AC) input conductors are connected by conductive straps which connect the diodes through to DC (+/?) terminal ring outputs. One surface of each of the diodes is in electrical contact with a conductive strap which then connects with the individual (AC) phases of an exciter rotor winding. The opposing surface of the diode contacts the ring diode pad on either the DC (+/?) output terminal ring. Two conductive posts, each of which are connected to only one of the DC (+/?) output terminal rings permit external connection to a main rotor winding.

Abstract: A starter/generator system for a gas turbine engine used in aeronautical applications that couples a single dynamoelectric machine to the gas turbine engine through a torque converter in a starting mode, and engages the engine to the dynamoelectric machine through a mechanical differential in a generating mode after the engine reaches self-sustaining speed and combines the output of the engine and the torque converter to regulate the frequency of AC generated by the dynamoelectric machine within a range of frequencies suitable for on-board electrical equipment by dynamically regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid to the torque converter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for redacting portions of a document resulting in one or more versions of the document that show to readers the portions of the document that have been redacted. At least one of these one or more versions may have the content of the redacted portions encrypted and/or actually removed and replaced with a sort of filler (e.g., to resemble a blacked out portion of a paper copy). At least one other version may show to users the actual content that has been redacted. This latter version may be retained for users privy to the content (i.e., information) of the redacted portions, so that they know what content was redacted, whereas versions with the content removed or encrypted may be provided to those not privy to the content.

Abstract: The present invention is a rectifier assembly having three phase straps with two diodes mounted to each phase strap. The rectifier assembly also includes a first support and a second support, which are received within a housing. The phase straps are assembled together with the first and second supports. The diodes are each connected to the phase straps so that when assembled the diodes are each perpendicular to an axis at the center of the electrically insulated housing. During operation the first and second supports rotate about the axis.

Abstract: Enabling a user to link to documents through the file menu of an application, including linking to documents of types other then those supported by the application. A user may be provided access, through a file menu of an application, to a link directory of links, at least one of the links linking to a document of a type not supported by the application. In response to the user selecting a link to a document of a type not supported by the application, focus may be transferred to another application that does support the type of document. If the document was not already open, an opening of the document may be initialized, and if the other application was not already running, a launch of the other application may be controlled. A user may be enabled to create, organize and/or refresh a display of a link directory.

Abstract: A wear component includes an acceptable wear portion, a marginal wear portion, and a sensor disposed below the acceptable wear portion and configured to generate a condition signal in response to an energizing signal.

Abstract: A starter/generator system for a gas turbine engine used in aeronautical applications that couples a single dynamoelectric machine to the gas turbine engine through a torque converter in a starting mode, and then disengages the torque converter and engages the engine to the dynamoelectric machine through an adjustable speed transmission in a generating mode after the engine reaches self-sustaining speed, wherein the speed of the adjustable speed transmission is set to match the frequency of AC generated by the dynamoelectric machine with on-board electrical equipment requirements to suit flight conditions.

Abstract: A starter/generator system for a gas turbine engine used in aeronautical applications that couples a single dynamoelectric machine to the gas turbine engine through a torque converter in a starting mode, and engages the engine to the dynamoelectric machine through a mechanical differential in a generating mode after the engine reaches self-sustaining speed and combines the output of the engine and the torque converter to regulate the frequency of AC generated by the dynamoelectric machine within a range of frequencies suitable for on-board electrical equipment by dynamically regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid to the torque converter.

Abstract: A log structured array (LSA) controller apparatus controls the transfer of information between a processor and a plurality of information storage devices configured as an N+1 array in which the information is stored as stripes extending across the devices of the array, each stripe comprising N information strips and one parity strip, each information strip storing an integer number of logical tracks. The controller defines an LSA directory that specifies the location of each logical track in terms of the ID of the stripe to which the track belongs and the offset of the track within the stripe; wherein on the addition of an information storage device to the array, the additional strip provided for each stripe by the storage device is logically appended to the end of each stripe in the LSA directory.

Abstract: An improved disposable combination animal waste pickup device and bag for sanitary pickup and disposal of animal waste has a first pickup portion formed from a cut-out blank, folded and sealed to a second holding portion, such as a bag, whereby animal waste may be picked up by the first pickup portion and sealingly held in the bag. The first pickup portion also includes a handle that is grasped by a user to cause the first pickup portion and bag to fold into each other so as to prevent leakage or loss of any waste in the bag.

Abstract: A data storage system and method of storing data with at least two controllers (200, 300) which share a storage space (244, 344) on an array of storage devices and which support the same set of logical upstream devices. The controllers (200, 300) share the workload by dividing the shared storage space (244, 344) into stripes where the stripes are sufficiently small to divide the workload uniformly across the storage device. This is achieved in the case of two controllers (200, 300) of a log structured array by dividing the storage space into odd and even tracks, all odd tracks being designated to one controller (300) and all even tracks to the other controller (200).

Abstract: An interactive public media display terminal capable of presenting different presentations to the viewing public simultaneously is presented. The media terminal includes a large vertically orientated display that can be partitioned to display varied content to attract different factions of a viewing audience. The content can be configured to attract viewers based on the distance they are away from the terminal. To accomplish this, the display can be coupled among a computer and a communication device configured to exchange data with a network such as the Internet. The display can also include a touch sensitive screen and other input devices that allow a user to physically interact with the terminal based on the content being presented. Furthermore, the terminal can be configured to gather data regarding the audience that views the content that is displayed.