Abstract: A furnace includes a gas burner exposed to a heat-exchange tube. An inducer is fluidly coupled to the heat-exchange tube and configured to induce draft air through the heat-exchange tube. A regulator is fluidly coupled to the gas burner. A rollout shield is disposed adjacent to the gas burner. A rollout switch is disposed in the rollout shield. The rollout switch is electrically coupled to the regulator. At least one vent is formed through the rollout shield adjacent to the rollout switch. The vent provides a path for a rollout flame to the rollout switch. The at least one vent is disposed on at least two sides of the rollout switch.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices, are developed for in-situ placement of a concrete mix that can have the thixotropy to hold vertical dimension without containment, while maintaining pliability to be pumped into place and manipulated to a desired shape, and can be combined with concrete set accelerators, allowing subsequent layers of this concrete mix to be continuously stacked in place to build tall walls and such without the use of forms. Concrete without these special properties is pumped toward the point of placement where it is modified by injecting and mixing, into that line of pumped concrete, an admixture containing thixotropes, thickeners and/or set accelerators or other modifiers to provide these properties and other improvements. This method allows conventional plant batching with commonly available constituent materials for batching an economical concrete that is delivered to a jobsite and then is pumped most of the way to a point of placement.

Abstract: In some cases, a delivery service system may include a handheld electronic device for use with a delivery service (e.g., a grocery delivery service). When operating in a voice input mode, the handheld electronic device may record and store audio data in memory. The stored audio data may be communicated from the handheld electronic device (e.g., via a Wi-Fi connection) to the delivery service for speech processing. When operating in a scanner input mode, the handheld electronic device may record and store item identifier information (e.g., barcode data) in memory. The stored data may be communicated to the delivery service for item identification processing. In some cases, a user interface associated with the delivery service may allow the user to review and confirm an order prior to submission of the order for delivery.

Abstract: In some cases, a delivery service system may include a handheld electronic device for use with a delivery service (e.g., a grocery delivery service). When operating in a voice input mode, the handheld electronic device may record and store audio data in memory. The stored audio data may be communicated from the handheld electronic device (e.g., via a Wi-Fi connection) to the delivery service for speech processing. When operating in a scanner input mode, the handheld electronic device may record and store item identifier information (e.g., barcode data) in memory. The stored data may be communicated to the delivery service for item identification processing. In some cases, a user interface associated with the delivery service may allow the user to review and confirm an order prior to submission of the order for delivery.

Abstract: A device that compensates for abrupt variations in fluid flow rate for a pump line is described. One or more aspects pertain to a system to accomplish automated in-situ placement of a concrete wall or embankment, where a fluid concrete is pumped into place, consolidated, and screeded to a finished surface, with remotely controlled or automated equipment.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention pertains to methods of forming concrete structures. Another aspect of the present invention pertains to systems for forming concrete structures. Another aspect of the present invention pertains to devices forming concrete structures.

Abstract: Described are systems to manage the rate of energy delivery to computing devices. The computing devices may connect to a shared data and power distribution system. Techniques are described for distributing energy to the computing devices directly or via an energy and data delivery device using limits determined for the computing devices. Once the energy transfer to the computing devices is complete, the limits on the rate of energy delivery may be rescinded.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices, are developed for creating a means of in-situ placement of a concrete mix that can have the thixotropy to hold vertical dimension without containment, while maintaining pliability to be pumped into place and manipulated to a desired shape, and can be combined with concrete set accelerators, allowing subsequent layers of this concrete mix to be continuously stacked in place to build tall walls and such without the use of forms. Concrete without these special properties is pumped toward the point of placement where it is modified by injecting and mixing, into that line of pumped concrete, an admixture containing thixotropes, thickeners and/or set accelerators or other modifiers to provide these properties and other improvements.

Abstract: Described are systems and techniques for determining a position of one or more people within a physical environment, such as an aisle in a fulfillment center. In some instances, the aisle is instrumented with a plurality of radio frequency receivers (RFRXs), active infrared transmitter-receiver pairs (AIRTRPs), and passive infrared (PIR) proximity sensors. A radio frequency-emitting tag carried by the user is detected by the RFRX to determine an identity and approximate position along the length of the aisle. Data indicating obscuration of beams from one or more of the AIRTRPs provides further refinement as to position along the length of the aisle. Data from the PIR provides disambiguation as to which side of the aisle the user is on. Accordingly, the user may be identified and precisely positioned in the aisle.

Abstract: Described are techniques for determining whether a received audio signal is corrupted or a product of noise, prior to decoding the entire signal. An emitted audio signal may include initialization data, which includes a predetermined sequence of symbols, and which precedes encoded payload data. Correspondence between the predetermined sequence of symbols and expected symbols stored as confirmation data may be determined. If the correspondence indicates a match, an audio receiver may continue decoding the audio signal to access the payload data. If the correspondence does not indicate a match, the audio receiver may cease decoding, which may conserve power, computing resources, and time, ensuring that subsequent audio signals are not missed while the audio receiver decodes a false or corrupted signal.

Abstract: Described are systems to manage energy distribution and operation of computing devices (“devices”). The devices may connect to a shared data and power distribution system, such as receiving electrical energy in conjunction with data signals using Power over Ethernet (POE). During activation of the facility, such as after an energy outage, the demand for energy from many devices attempting to startup may exceed the energy capacity available. Described are devices and techniques for distributing energy to devices, coordinating operating mode of the devices, and so forth, to mitigate demand spikes for electrical energy that exceed the capacity of the energy distribution system.

Abstract: A wireless communications system mitigates the threat of a man-in-the-middle attack when sharing network credentials with a new device. A new wireless device signals that it needs credentials if no other devices are signaling that they need credentials. The new device provides a visible or audible indicator when requested to do so by a device with credentials. Either in response to approval by a user or automatically in response to the indicator, the device with credentials shares credentials with the new device, which can then establish a connection to the network.

Abstract: Described are techniques for determining whether a received audio signal is corrupted or a product of noise, prior to decoding the entire signal. A received audio signal may include both initialization data and encoded payload data. Correspondence between the initialization data and confirmation data may be determined. If the correspondence indicates a match, the audio receiver may continue decoding the audio signal to access the payload data. If the correspondence does not indicate a match, the audio receiver may cease decoding, which may conserve power, computing resources, and time, ensuring that subsequent audio signals are not missed while the audio receiver decodes a false or corrupted signal.

Abstract: Techniques are described for presenting data received from a headless device in an application served from distributed computing device(s), and using the application to generate data for configuring and registering the headless device. The headless device may have limited or absent display capabilities and the data may be employed to configure the headless device for wireless communication with other devices. The application may execute on a user device that communicates with the headless device over a wireless access point incorporated into the headless device. The data received from the headless device may be integrated into the application provided by the distributed computing devices(s), to enable updates to the appearance or user experience of the application without updating software on the headless device.

Abstract: In some cases, a delivery service system may include a handheld electronic device for use with a delivery service (e.g., a grocery delivery service). When operating in a voice input mode, the handheld electronic device may record and store audio data in memory. The stored audio data may be communicated from the handheld electronic device (e.g., via a Wi-Fi connection) to the delivery service for speech processing. When operating in a scanner input mode, the handheld electronic device may record and store item identifier information (e.g., barcode data) in memory. The stored data may be communicated to the delivery service for item identification processing. In some cases, a user interface associated with the delivery service may allow the user to review and confirm an order prior to submission of the order for delivery.

Abstract: A rule-based machine learning system monitors frequency bands to detect transmissions from nearby active transmitters, such as those associated with wireless mobile devices. The system logs unique identifiers (UID) embedded in detected transmissions, recognizes patterns of UID detection over time, and selectively takes action when UIDs are detected and when they are expected but absent.

Abstract: A first device is activated and transmits wireless beacon frames. The first device acts as an access point to a temporary wireless network, while the beacon frame invites a second device to connect thereto. The beacon frame may be sent at various rates or intervals in the interest of expeditious discovery or contact, conservation of battery-based energy resources, or according to other goals. The second device may respond to the beacon, and accepted by the first device for connection to the temporary wireless network. The second device may then provide network access credentials corresponding to an established network. The first device may then switch to a station mode and connects to the established wireless network by way established corresponding wireless access point. The temporary wireless network may be terminated after the first device successfully connects to the established wireless network.

Abstract: In some cases, a handheld electronic device may operate in a voice input mode or a scanner input mode. When operating in the voice input mode, the handheld electronic device may record and store audio data in memory. In some cases, the stored audio data may be communicated from the handheld electronic device (e.g., via a Wi-Fi connection) to one or more remote computing devices (e.g., for speech processing). When operating in the scanner input mode, the handheld electronic device may record and store item identifier information (e.g., as barcode data) in the memory. In some cases, the stored item identifier data may be communicated to the one or more remote computing devices (e.g., for item identification processing).

Abstract: A rule-based machine learning system monitors frequency bands to detect transmissions from nearby active transmitters, such as those associated with wireless mobile devices. The system logs unique identifiers (UID) embedded in detected transmissions, recognizes patterns of UID detection over time, and selectively takes action when UIDs are detected and when they are expected but absent.

Abstract: Described are techniques and systems for obfuscating a location of a computing device as determined using data acquired from wireless devices within communication range of the computing device. The computing device may be configured to generate report data that includes synthetic data which is representative of data of a different location than the actual location of the computing device. As a result, when the report data is analyzed, the computing device appears to be present at an apparent location which differs from the actual location.