Abstract: An information technology (IT) network includes configuration items (CIs) that may constantly change, where the CIs describe hardware components or software components that are configured to operate on the IT network. Machine learning techniques can be employed determine whether a CI has been changed (e.g., added, updated, or removed) in the IT network. For example, a software code or a log message associated with a CI can be analyzed to determine whether the CI is a newly added or updated within the IT network.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus that can be used to determine various characteristics of ambient light when an ambient light sensor is located behind a display screen. The strategy of the disclosure relies, at least in part, on spectral decomposition of ambient light measurements into components (e.g., red, green, and blue components of an Organic Light Emitting Diode (“OLED”) display screen and ambient light). Following the spectral decomposition technique, statistical analysis are performed on the measurement data to remove the OLED light components from the measurement. This technique enables determinations such as ambient lux and correlated color temperature independent of the content displayed on the screen.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform media device asset qualification are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, and at least one processor to execute instructions to at least identify a first set of candidate media device assets for disqualification, the candidate media device assets including A) a signature and B) a media identifier that identifies media, generate a hash table using a second set of the candidate media device assets, determine one or more counts of matches between C) a first signature and a first media identifier of a first candidate media device asset of the second set and D) respective signatures and media identifiers of multiple ones of the second set using the hash table, the multiple ones of the second set not including the first candidate media device asset, and load the first signature into a reference database as a reference signature.

Abstract: Hardened reusable shipping containers (e.g., shippers) are disclosed herein. A shipper may have a base enclosure that is configured to receive a payload and maintain a temperature of an environment surrounding the payload. The shipper may have various features such as bosses, compartments, and surface features to facilitate protection of a dewar inside the base enclosure, and retention of a payload during shipment. The shipper may have various features to facilitate ready stacking of shippers and suitability for use in air cargo operations.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus can be used to reduce noise in motor assemblies, such as those used in architectural coverings. An example apparatus includes a first driver configured to be coupled to and rotated by an output shaft of a motor, a second driver, and a plurality of vibration-absorbers disposed between the first driver and the second driver. The second driver is configured to be coupled to a rotating member to transfer rotational motion from the first driver to the rotating member via the vibration-absorbers.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a system for securing account information using blockchain technology. The system links the configuration of a user's account to a blockchain wallet. Changes to the account configuration are pre-approved in a blockchain transaction signed by the owner's wallet private-key. The account configuration is hashed and stored on the blockchain. The system includes a monitoring component that periodically checks the status of account details and compares the hash on the blockchain with the hash of the current network observed configuration. If the hashes do not match, the system can disable the account. The system can be applied in various sectors including banking, healthcare, e-commerce, education, and government services.

Abstract: Example motor assemblies for architectural coverings are described herein. An example architectural covering assembly includes an architectural covering movable between an upper limit position, a lower limit position, and a transition limit position between the upper limit position and the lower limit position. The example architectural covering assembly also includes a motor, a consumer touchpoint, and an architectural covering controller. In response to detecting a first gesture at the consumer touchpoint, the architectural covering controller is to activate the motor to move the architectural covering to the transition limit position and stop, and in response to detecting a second gesture at the consumer touchpoint, different from the first gesture, the architectural covering controller is to activate the motor to move the architectural covering through the transition limit position and to the upper limit position or the lower limit position.

Abstract: A system to store food products within a heated compartment is provided. The system includes an enclosure that receives stacked trays, and an elevator to lift trays to a position to receive a plurality of food products from a conveyor or another source. A fork may be provided that receives a cooked food product thereon and rotates to allow the cooked food product to fall into the positioned tray while being maintained in a horizontal manner. A shuttle moves a full tray into a heated compartment, which moves trays therewithin to organize them for future use within a restaurant operation.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to optimize reference signature matching using watermark matching. An example disclosed herein includes selecting first unhashed reference signatures to evaluate for a second time segment of monitoring data based on watermark coverage of a first time segment of the monitoring data, the monitoring data obtained from a meter monitoring media presented by a media device and comparing the first unhashed reference signatures with first unhashed monitored signatures from the second time segment of the monitoring data.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool and an adapter for a fastener driving tool are described herein for permitting accurate placement of fasteners with respect to an edge of a board (e.g., a top edge of a siding board). The adapter may include an adapter body having a central opening for receiving a head of a fastener driving tool and two or more pins positioned in the adapter body. At least two of the pins are positioned in the adapter body such that, when the central opening receives the head, the pins are equidistant from a center of a barrel through which the fastener driving tool drives fasteners.

Abstract: A hard taco shell, having a plasticizing agent applied to a targeted region of a base or spine portion of the hard taco shell and lower sections of taco shell sidewalls to softening the targeted region such that, when the taco shell is bitten, the softened targeted region has some hinging flexibility or pliability which reduces the potential for any crack propagation, is hermetically sealed in a package body formed from a material establishing a barrier to the transmission of oxygen into an interior of the package body. With this arrangement, premature drying and cracking of the agent treated hard taco shell is prevented.

Abstract: A pressure regulating or pressure relief device comprises an inlet and an outlet chamber with an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet chamber. A valve seat is located between the inlet and the outlet. A valve member is biased to seal against the valve seat, and displaces from the valve seat by an inlet pressure at the inlet increasing above a pressure threshold to allow a flow of gases from the inlet to the outlet via the outlet chamber. The flow of gases through the outlet causes an outlet pressure in the outlet chamber to act on the valve member together with the inlet pressure to displace the valve member from the valve seat.

Abstract: A stator for an electric motor is described. An example stator includes a stator core having teeth that are radially arranged about a common central axis of the stator and located in a spaced apart manner from one another. Each tooth has an inward portion and an outward portion. The example stator further includes an electrically transmissive coil of wire that is wound contiguously upon the inward portions of at least a subset of teeth from the plurality of teeth. The stator also includes wedge members that are radially arranged about the common central axis and located intermittently with the plurality of teeth such that each wedge member abuts with the outward portions of adjacently located teeth.

Abstract: A method for presenting pre-approved and pre-underwritten offers to a customer may include: receiving targeting criteria based on at least one of current accounts with the financial institution, assets, creditworthiness, and credit risk for an offer for a financial product; identifying a target population of customers for the offer by applying the targeting criteria to a population of customers; reviewing each customer in the target population for underwriting for the financial product based on inferred income for each customer and accounts that each customer has with the financial institution, wherein the underwriting is performed before the financial product is offered; determining a channel to present the offer to one of the customers that passed underwriting; communicating the offer to the customer over the selected channel; and providing an accepted offer to a fulfilment engine, wherein the fulfilment engine initiates an account opening for the financial product.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool and an adapter for a fastener driving tool are described herein for permitting accurate placement of fasteners with respect to an edge of a board (e.g., a top edge of a siding board). The adapter may include an adapter body having a central opening for receiving a head of a fastener driving tool and two or more pins positioned in the adapter body. At least two of the pins are positioned in the adapter body such that, when the central opening receives the head, the pins are equidistant from a center of a barrel through which the fastener driving tool drives fasteners.

Abstract: A system to store food products within a heated compartment is provided. The system includes an enclosure that receives stacked trays, and an elevator to lift trays to a position to receive a plurality of food products from a conveyor or another source. A fork may be provided that receives a cooked food product thereon and rotates to allow the cooked food product to fall into the positioned tray while being maintained in a horizontal manner. A shuttle moves a full tray into a heated compartment, which moves trays therewithin to organize them for future use within a restaurant operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a collector ring assembly for use in a rotor comprising a collector (or slip) ring body and a shaft in which the collector ring body and shaft each have mating features so that the collector ring body may be lockably attached to the shaft.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to optimize reference signature matching using watermark matching. An example disclosed herein includes selecting first unhashed reference signatures to evaluate for a second time segment of monitoring data based on watermark coverage of a first time segment of the monitoring data, the monitoring data obtained from a meter monitoring media presented by a media device and comparing the first unhashed reference signatures with first unhashed monitored signatures from the second time segment of the monitoring data.