Abstract: A canvas (e.g., a digital page or sheet of paper) on which a user can input data is displayed on a display device of a computing device in response to the canvas being invoked. The canvas can be invoked in different manners, such as by the user activating a switch or button at an “eraser” end of a stylus that mimics a pen/pencil configuration. The user can input any digital data such as notes, drawings, and so forth on the canvas that he or she desires. In response to the canvas being dismissed (e.g., by the user again activating a switch or button at an “eraser” end of a stylus that mimics a pen/pencil configuration), display of the canvas ceases. The digital data input by the user is saved or otherwise processed by the computing device.

Abstract: Binding techniques are described that are configured to bind an apparatus for operation with a computing device. A computing device may include one or more object detection sensors that are configured to detect proximity of an object, a wireless communication module configured to support wireless communication, and one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware. The one or more modules are configured to perform operations that include recognizing a first event as involving detection of proximity of an apparatus by the one or more object detection sensors, recognizing a second event as involving receipt of a wireless communication by the wireless communication module from the apparatus, and responsive to the recognizing of the first and second events, causing the apparatus to be bound for operation with the computing device such that the apparatus is configured to initiate one or more host side commands of the computing device.

Abstract: A device receives a request from a controlling device, such as a remote control, smart phone, or the like, where the request is intended to have one or more target devices perform one or more functional operations. The device responds to the request by applying the optimum methodology to propagate one or more commands to each intended target appliance to cause each intended target appliance to perform the intended one or more functional operations.

Abstract: A data collection and processing system includes a hand-held tool for measuring the spacing between two locations on a test object such as automobile body panels. The tool generates and transmits a measurement signal to a remote data processing unit in response to a single operator input. The data processing unit compares the measurement signal with a predetermined range of values and classifies the measurement signal as either in-range data (i.e., when the measurement falls within the range of values) or out-of-range data (i.e., when the measurement falls outside of said range of values). If the measurement signal reflects an in-range measurement, the database is updated with the measurement signal as being in/out of specification. If the measurement signal reflects an out-of-range measurement, the signal is classified as a functional flag, advancing the system to a next measurement group or confirming vehicle status (e.g., measurement complete or hold for re-work).

Abstract: Binding techniques are described that are configured to bind an apparatus for operation with a computing device. A computing device may include one or more object detection sensors that are configured to detect proximity of an object, a wireless communication module configured to support wireless communication, and one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware. The one or more modules are configured to perform operations that include recognizing a first event as involving detection of proximity of an apparatus by the one or more object detection sensors, recognizing a second event as involving receipt of a wireless communication by the wireless communication module from the apparatus, and responsive to the recognizing of the first and second events, causing the apparatus to be bound for operation with the computing device such that the apparatus is configured to initiate one or more host side commands of the computing device.

Abstract: A device receives a request from a controlling device, such as a remote control, smart phone, or the like, where the request is intended to have one or more target devices perform one or more functional operations. The device responds to the request by applying the optimum methodology to propagate one or more commands to each intended target appliance to cause each intended target appliance to perform the intended one or more functional operations.

Abstract: Binding techniques are described that are configured to bind an apparatus for operation with a computing device. A computing device may include one or more object detection sensors that are configured to detect proximity of an object, a wireless communication module configured to support wireless communication, and one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware. The one or more modules are configured to perform operations that include recognizing a first event as involving detection of proximity of an apparatus by the one or more object detection sensors, recognizing a second event as involving receipt of a wireless communication by the wireless communication module from the apparatus, and responsive to the recognizing of the first and second events, causing the apparatus to be bound for operation with the computing device such that the apparatus is configured to initiate one or more host side commands of the computing device.

Abstract: A method of operating a graphical user interface of a computing device is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) element on the touch sensitive display screen. The method further comprises in response to receiving touch input data indicative of a one-touch gesture mapping the one-touch gesture to a corresponding GUI element function. The method further comprises in response to receiving touch input data indicative of a multi-touch gesture, mapping the multi-touch gesture to the corresponding GUI element function. The method further comprises transforming display of the GUI element on the touch sensitive display screen based on the corresponding GUI element function.

Abstract: A canvas (e.g., a digital page or sheet of paper) on which a user can input data is displayed on a display device of a computing device in response to the canvas being invoked. The canvas can be invoked in different manners, such as by the user activating a switch or button at an “eraser” end of a stylus that mimics a pen/pencil configuration. The user can input any digital data such as notes, drawings, and so forth on the canvas that he or she desires. In response to the canvas being dismissed (e.g., by the user again activating a switch or button at an “eraser” end of a stylus that mimics a pen/pencil configuration), display of the canvas ceases. The digital data input by the user is saved or otherwise processed by the computing device.

Abstract: Binding techniques are described that are configured to bind an apparatus for operation with a computing device. A computing device may include one or more object detection sensors that are configured to detect proximity of an object, a wireless communication module configured to support wireless communication, and one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware. The one or more modules are configured to perform operations that include recognizing a first event as involving detection of proximity of an apparatus by the one or more object detection sensors, recognizing a second event as involving receipt of a wireless communication by the wireless communication module from the apparatus, and responsive to the recognizing of the first and second events, causing the apparatus to be bound for operation with the computing device such that the apparatus is configured to initiate one or more host side commands of the computing device.

Abstract: A method for defining one or more ANM zones in an electricity network that has at least one energy producing/consuming device that has an output that has to be regulated. The method comprises determining the maximum power and/or current transmittable to or from a node or branch in the network at which an energy producing/consuming device that has to be regulated is to be added; determining the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through that node or branch; and defining a zone (zone 1, zone 2) including the node or branch and regulated energy producing/consuming device that requires to be actively managed, in the event that the maximum power and/or current transmittable to the node or branch exceeds the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through it.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler (1) is disclosed comprising first and second medicament reservoirs (2, 2a) and respective rotatable first and second metering members (5, 5a), which are urged into sealing engagement with the respective medicament reservoir (2, 2a) by a compression spring (8) located between the metering members (5, 5a). The inhaler (1) includes an actuator by which the first and second metering members (5, 5a) are rotated in unison from a metering position to a dispensing position. The actuator acts upon the first and second metering members (5, 5a) via a wheel (9) mounted between the first and second metering members (5, 5a). The first and second metering members (5, 5a) are provided with sockets (51) that receive the respective ends of the compression spring (8).

Abstract: A device receives a request from a controlling device, such as a remote control, smart phone, or the like, where the request is intended to have one or more target devices perform one or more functional operations. The device responds to the request by applying the optimum methodology to propagate one or more commands to each intended target appliance to cause each intended target appliance to perform the intended one or more functional operations.

Abstract: A method for modelling integrity of a filtered global navigation satellite system, by calculating component navigation system error distributions for a set of fault conditions and a fault free condition, and determining overall navigation error distribution by forming a mixture distribution from these component navigation system error distributions. The mixture distribution may be determined by weighted summation of navigation system error (NSE) distributions with weightings determined according to prior probabilities for the fault conditions. Once the overall NSE mixture distribution is determined in this way, it can be used to derive one or more statistical quantities relevant to the integrity of the navigation system such as the probability of exceeding given alert limits in a desired coordinate geometry.

Abstract: The capability to perform data backup and restore within a distributed database system environment is provided. The embodiments includes initiating a backup operation of a database distributed across a plurality of nodes, and coordinating synchronization of the backup operation within and among the plurality of nodes for parallel, local data dumping with transactional consistency to a single point in time.

Abstract: A method for defining one or more ANM zones in an electricity network that has at least one energy producing/consuming device that has an output that has to be regulated. The method comprises determining the maximum power and/or current transmittable to or from a node or branch in the network at which an energy producing/consuming device that has to be regulated is to be added; determining the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through that node or branch; and defining a zone (zone 1, zone 2) including the node or branch and regulated energy producing/consuming device that requires to be actively managed, in the event that the maximum power and/or current transmittable to the node or branch exceeds the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through it.

Abstract: Optical or electrical attenuation is provided at the infrared (IR) receiver of a first device, such as a remote control, together with a commensurate increase in output of the IR transmitter of an appliance, such as a set top box, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of IR communications with respect to any background infrared radiation, such as radiation from a plasma display screen.

Abstract: A heat machine having an external heat source and an external heat sink may be configured as a Stirling engine having a hot pair of cylinder-and-displacer combinations 15 and a cold pair of cylinder-and-displacer combinations 16 though advantageously two pairs of hot combinations 15 and two pairs of cold combinations 16 are provided, arranged mutually at right angles. Mechanisms 20 associated with the hot and cold displacers controls the movement thereof to be truly sinusoidal and are contained within casings 21. The pressure in the working fluid spaces remote from the mechanisms 20 and also the pressure in the casings 21 is monitored and compared, and then is controlled such that the casing pressure is slightly less than the minimum working fluid pressure in the working fluid spaces. The relative phase of the two mechanisms 20 associated respectively with the hot displacers and the cold displacers is adjustable (28,29,30,31; and FIG. 4).

Abstract: A method for defining one or more ANM zones in an electricity network that has at least one energy producing/consuming device that has an output that has to be regulated. The method comprises determining the maximum power and/or current transmittable to or from a node or branch in the network at which an energy producing/consuming device that has to be regulated is to be added; determining the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through that node or branch; and defining a zone (zone 1, zone 2) including the node or branch and regulated energy producing/consuming device that requires to be actively managed, in the event that the maximum power and/or current transmittable to the node or branch exceeds the maximum capacity of power and/or current transmittable through it.

Abstract: The provision of visual responses to touch inputs is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a computing device comprising a touch-sensitive display, a processor in operative communication with the touch-sensitive display, and memory comprising instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor to detect a touch input made via the touch-sensitive display, display on the touch-sensitive display a first visual response to the touch input indicating that the touch input was detected by the computing device, and if the touch input is made in a touch-interactive area on the touch-sensitive display, then to display a second visual response to the touch input indicating that the touch was made in the touch-interactive area of the display.