Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and related methods of teaching pre-keyboarding and keyboarding on a QWERTY-style keyboard wherein a color-coded row-based metaphorical and visual cuing system is used in a curriculum to make foundational keyboarding skills easy-to-teach and easy-to-learn, including: unilateral hand/finger skills, Home Row hand/finger positions, relational position of symbol location, and the essential keystroke spectrum of Home Row positioning-based finger movements of the left and right hand. The invention provides a dynamic virtual keyboard with colored rows which hexfurcates the QWERTY layout into left- and right-handed row sections, independently toggling the visibility of each in a developmental order to teach keyboarding skills in incremental steps rather than all at once. The invention further provides a dynamic cursor that uses visual indicators that mirror the visual cuing system to reinforce instruction with the dynamic virtual keyboard and aid keyboarding accuracy.

Abstract: In one example, a basketball system includes a basketball goal, a support structure, a connecting structure connected to the basketball goal and the support structure, and a height adjustment mechanism. The height adjustment mechanism includes a biasing mechanism operably connected to the connecting structure and the basketball goal, and also includes a locking member. An adjustment member of the height adjustment mechanism is engaged with the locking member and is movable relative to the locking member. The adjustment member is also connected to the connecting structure so that the adjustment member and connecting structure are operable to move in unison with each other. Finally, a foot actuator of the height adjustment mechanism is connected to the adjustment member and is operable to releasably engage the locking member.

Abstract: A packaging assembly (10) having a container (100) and a transition piece (200), which comprises a spout (201) with a circumferentially integral opening (204) and a vent (209) located adjacent to the base end (202) of the spout (201). The spout (201) and the vent (209) have a particular ratio in terms of cross-sectional area. The packaging assembly (10) provides a controlled dispensing of a liquid detergent composition, particularly viscous liquid detergent compositions.

Abstract: In one example, a board includes a body having a single piece structure, the body including an upper surface that defines a deck, and a lower surface. The board also includes first and second retractable fins, where the first retractable fin is rotatably connected directly to the body at a first fixed location on the body such that the first retractable fin is rotatable about the first fixed location between an extended position and a retracted position, and the first retractable fin including an engagement portion that is engageable with a first portion of the body and with a second portion of the body. The first retractable fin assumes the extended position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the first portion of the body, and the first retractable fin assumes the retracted position when the engagement portion is releasably retained by the second portion of the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining maintenance priority for different portions of a CATV network. By calculating a health score for each node of the network based on a plurality of measurements performed downstream from the nodes, the nodes and the downstream segments of the network may be ranked according to their health score values, and the maintenance of the network segments may be prioritized based on the health ranking of the corresponding nodes. The health score for a node may be computed based on a plurality of tilt- and modulation-normalized frequency scans of the network signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods may apply global contrast correction to a plurality of thermal images. For example, a vehicle may capture a plurality of aerial thermal images for use in generating a composite image. Each individual thermal image may be individually contrasted based on the temperature range of pixels in that image, so the contrast range of the thermal images may vary. The plurality of thermal images may be analyzed to determine a global contrast range. Extreme temperatures may be excluded from the global contrast range. Based on the global contrast range, a contrast level of each of the plurality of thermal images may be adjusted. For example, the individual temperature range of each thermal image may be scaled to a global temperature range. A composite image having consistent contrasting may be generated from the plurality of thermal images.

Abstract: A mystery-bingo jackpot provides a bingo triggered jackpot with a maximum or upper limit. In one or more embodiments, the jackpot is guaranteed to be paid out before the jackpot increments beyond the upper limit. This allows the upper limit to published to entice players to play one or more base games associated with the jackpot. A plurality of trigger values may be generated to trigger bingo ball draws. The trigger values may be between a lower limit and the upper limit to ensure that a winning outcome occurs before the upper limit is reached. One or multiple jackpots may be offered.

Abstract: A drip tray having a main body and a plurality of surface irregularities projecting from the main body. The drip tray can be used to pre-treat a stain in a fabric.

Abstract: A pour assist device. The pour assist device can include an outlet and a closure receiver proximal the outlet. The pour assist device can include a container support shroud extending from the closure receiver. The container support shroud can have an interior surface sized and dimensioned to envelop at least a part of a container. The container support shroud can include a connecting member proximal the closure receiver. The pour assist device can include a handle extending from the container support shroud.

Abstract: A mystery-bingo jackpot provides a bingo triggered jackpot with a maximum or upper limit. In one or more embodiments, the jackpot is guaranteed to be paid out before the jackpot increments beyond the upper limit. This allows the upper limit to published to entice players to play one or more base games associated with the jackpot. A plurality of trigger values may be generated to trigger bingo ball draws. The trigger values may be between a lower limit and the upper limit to ensure that a winning outcome occurs before the upper limit is reached. One or multiple jackpots may be offered.

Abstract: A mystery jackpot system having an restricted payout scheme allows a mystery jackpot to be incremented by player wagers in a rapid fashion while providing incentives to players to make larger wagers. The mystery jackpot system may have a primary jackpot pool and a secondary jackpot pool. The primary jackpot pool may be funded by eligible wagers, while the secondary jackpot pool may be funded by smaller ineligible wagers. The amount or value of the primary jackpot pool may be used to determine whether the mystery jackpot is active. For example, the mystery jackpot may be active and awardable only if the primary jackpot pool is to above a particular amount and below a maximum amount. A player winning the mystery jackpot may be awarded both the primary and secondary jackpot pools. Only players making eligible wagers may win the mystery jackpot.

Abstract: A mystery jackpot system having an restricted payout scheme allows a mystery jackpot to be incremented by player wagers in a rapid fashion while providing incentives to players to make larger wagers. The mystery jackpot system may have a primary jackpot pool and a secondary jackpot pool. The primary jackpot pool may be funded by eligible wagers, while the secondary jackpot pool may be funded by smaller ineligible wagers. The amount or value of the primary jackpot pool may be used to determine whether the mystery jackpot is active. For example, the mystery jackpot may be active and awardable only if the primary jackpot pool is to above a particular amount and below a maximum amount. A player winning the mystery jackpot may be awarded both the primary and secondary jackpot pools. Only players making eligible wagers may win the mystery jackpot.

Abstract: Seek operations required to perform backup and/or restore processes at an HFS server are reduced by localizing storage of data referenced by hash values included in a recipe near the recipe. In a typical embodiment, an HFS server receives a recipe and new underlying data for entry into a hash file system. The HFS server identifies a first storage node for the recipe, contiguously stores the new data in the first storage node, and indexes hash values and storage addresses of the new data in storage nodes selected based on the hash values of the new data. Storage addresses for the new data (and other data referenced by the recipe) are appended to the recipe. Later during a restore process, retrieval of the recipe also retrieves the storage addresses. Data pieces stored contiguously can then be collectively retrieved in one seek rather than in separate individual seeks.

Abstract: A priority restore agent in a data storage system generates a priority restore data set for a client computer system or device by identifying a set of active data sets and/or a set of key data sets within client system data generated by the client computer system. The priority restore agent looks at or processes file system attributes for the client system data and compares these attributes with predefined restore parameters. The restore parameters may indicate that any file that has been accessed, modified, or created within a particular period of time be included in the priority restore data set. The key data sets may be identified in a set of automated restore rules. A data protection application within the data storage system can restore data in the priority restore data set onto the client computer system after a disaster or system crash.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition comprising a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity, an alkaline earth metal borated sulfonate detergent, and, optionally, a molybdenum-containing compound, wherein the lubricating oil composition comprises no more than 0.12 wt % phosphorus and the amount of sulfated ash in the lubricating oil is not more than 1.25 wt %.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding an antenna on a mounting surface by use of suction cups or suction devices such that the antenna may be temporarily removed from the surface and subsequently restored or relocated to another mounting surface. The suction cups or suction devices are mechanically connected to an support arm capable of adjustment for permitting either vertical or horizontal modification of the holding arm thereby maintaining a constant mounting angle of the holding arm for surfaces having various mounting directions or planes. By maintaining a fixed vertical of the holding arm from various mounting points, the directional alignment of the antenna, such as for a dish-type antenna, can remain relatively consistent from one installation to the next.

Abstract: A backup is performed by a client at a time when a backup server is unable to process the backup. The client maintains a cache including a root tag vector and hash entries. The client begins a backup by writing the root tag vector to a journal file and breaking files into pieces. For each piece, the client performs a hash and compares the resulting hash to entries in the cache. If the hash does not match any entries, the client records a request in the journal file to add the corresponding piece of data to an archive. After completing the backup, the journal file can be sent to the server. Before processing the journal file, the server validates the root tag vector. If the root tag vector is valid, the server processes each of the requests to add data. Otherwise, the server discards the journal file.

Abstract: A traction unit capable of traversing and turning on surfaces that include compound curves like the surface of a sphere or are inverted like a ceiling. The traction unit includes a plurality of trucks operable to propel the unit across a surface and a plurality of adherence members operable to releasably secure the unit to the surface. In operation, the adherence members cyclically attach to and release from the surface as the trucks propel the unit across the surface. Within each cycle, after the unit has traveled a predetermined distance relative to an attached member, the member releases the surface and reattaches to the surface at a different point.