Abstract: The present invention relates to smoking articles, for example electronic cigarettes (herein referred to as “e-cigarettes”), and fluid reservoirs for use therewith or therein.

Abstract: A motor controller for a pump motor is provided. The motor controller includes an input device and a memory configured to store a plurality of actuation sequences and a plurality of commands. Each actuation sequence is associated with a command. The motor controller further includes a processor coupled to the input device, the memory, and the pump motor. The processor is configured to detect at the input device, a first actuation sequence in response to the input device being actuated. The processor is further configured to perform a lookup in the memory to determine a first command corresponding to the first actuation sequence. The processor is further configured to operate the pump motor according to the first command.

Abstract: A system is typically configured to continuously monitor one or more channels, wherein the one or more channels are associated with sources of initiation of resource transfer requests, receive a resource transfer request from a resource entity system via at least one channel of the one or more channels, in response to receiving the resource transfer request, generate, via an artificial intelligence engine, one or more recommendations associated with routing of the resource transfer request, wherein each of the one or more recommendations comprises a resource transfer method, and route the resource transfer request via a resource transfer method associated with at least one recommendation of the one or more recommendations.

Abstract: A smoke or fire barrier (1), comprising a head box (2) which contains a roller (9). Extending from the head box are a pair of side guides (3) which guide a metallic foil curtain (5) from the roller, where it is stored, to the ground when deployed. At the bottom of the curtain (5), where it meets the ground when deployed is a bottom bar (4). The metallic foil curtain (5) is made up of individual foil panels (6). The curtain is made from a panel of stainless steel with dimples (8) across it. The dimples allow improved characteristics when rolling and being stored as it holds its shape better. The dimples also provide improved heat transfer characteristics.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, graphical user interface and methods are provided for conducting electronic voice communications with status notifications. A user of a first portable device executing a communication application selects a multi-function control that automatically initiates an audio recording, which is automatically sent toward another participant of an active communication session when the control is released. The same multi-function control may be used to transmit a textual message. A representation of the recording is displayed on the user's device, with an indicator that changes appearance when the other participant plays the recording. In addition, when one user initiates an audio recording that will be automatically sent to another user, the other user's device is advised of the initiation of recording and displays that status for the other user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to smoking articles, for example electronic cigarettes (h referred to as “e-cigarettes”), and fluid reservoirs for use therewith or therein.

Abstract: A battery management system is provided. The battery management system includes a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory. The at least one memory comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to receive load information about a load from a load sensor, receive battery operating information from a battery sensor, determine a number of battery modules needed to supply the load and operate each battery module at or below a preferred discharge rate based on the load information and the battery operating information, select a group of battery modules included in the battery based on the number of battery modules and the battery operating information, each battery module included in the group of batteries having a current depth of discharge within the preferred depth of discharge range, and instruct the battery to supply the load using the group of battery modules.

Abstract: Techniques to perform the dynamic configuration of load-balanced relay operations are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a first load balancer component, a second load balancer component, a first relay server component, a second relay server component, and a persistent shared-memory storage component. The apparatus may be operative to perform the dynamic configuration of load-balanced relay operations for a two-tier relay system using persistent shared-memory storage in which a session identifier received from client devices is used to coordinate the activities of the relay server components based on information shared via the persistent shared-memory storage component. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system is typically configured to continuously monitor one or more channels, wherein the one or more channels are associated with sources of initiation of resource transfer requests, receive a resource transfer request from a resource entity system via at least one channel of the one or more channels, in response to receiving the resource transfer request, generate, via an artificial intelligence engine, one or more recommendations associated with routing of the resource transfer request, wherein each of the one or more recommendations comprises a resource transfer method, and route the resource transfer request via a resource transfer method associated with at least one recommendation of the one or more recommendations.

Abstract: A virtual resource control and distribution system is provided that utilizes virtual resource pools coupled to authentic resource pools in order to reduce processing capacity requirements, memory requirements, and processing time. In particular, a reduced number of authentic resource pools are used, such as one single authentic resource pool, that is coupled to virtual resource pools. The virtual resource pools may be utilized to enter into interactions. However, when interactions are entered, the virtual resource pools may be adjusted based on the resources associated with the interaction without actually having any resources associated with the virtual resource pools. As such, the virtual resource pools may illustrate a change in virtual resources in the virtual resource pool, but the authentic resource pool to which the virtual resource pool is associated, will be utilized for distributing the resources and processing the interactions.

Abstract: Provide improved delivery of resources to a recipient entity when the recipient entity is involved in an interaction with a provider entity. One or more application programming interfaces (APIs) are utilized to identify delivery channels, and potentially substitute an original delivery channel with an alternate delivery channel. The present invention utilizes entity information, such as a recipient entity identifier, in order to determine recipient entity delivery preferences from a stored preference or from communications with the recipient entity. The system provides the resources to the recipient entity according to the preferences identified. A more efficient delivery of resources to the recipient entity is provided that improves the capacity, memory, and processing speed of the delivery systems and improve the ability to identify the identity of the recipient entity before the resources are delivered to the recipient entity.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and methods are provided for supporting automated recall of a message (e.g., a chat message) from an originator's device, or at least media that accompanied the message. An original message may convey one or more media files that are temporarily stored on a system or apparatus that hosts the communication application used to create, send, and receive messages. The media files may be lost in transit because of failure of a system component, failure of a storage device, purging of the files before they are retrieved by a recipient, or for some other reason. When the recipient's device receives an error in response to an attempt to retrieve the media file(s), it automatically initiates a recall request that is returned to the originating device. If the message and media are still available on the device, an abbreviated version of the message is re-sent, with the media.

Abstract: A particulate material dispenser including a longitudinally extending body having a longitudinally extending base element; a tubular element extending longitudinally from the base element such that an inner wall of the tubular element defines a first cavity; a capping element which is distanced longitudinally from an end of the tubular element; a common outer wrapper which is engaged around the base element, the tubular element and the capping element, the inner wall of the common outer wrapper defining a second cavity between the tubular element and the capping element; and snuff within both the first cavity and the second cavity. The base element and/or the tubular element is porous.

Abstract: A virtual resource control and distribution system is provided that utilizes virtual resource pools coupled to authentic resource pools in order to reduce processing capacity requirements, memory requirements, and processing time. In particular, a reduced number of authentic resource pools are used, such as one single authentic resource pool, that is coupled to virtual resource pools. The virtual resource pools may be utilized to enter into interactions. However, when interactions are entered, the virtual resource pools may be adjusted based on the resources associated with the interaction without actually having any resources associated with the virtual resource pools. As such, the virtual resource pools may illustrate a change in virtual resources in the virtual resource pool, but the authentic resource pool to which the virtual resource pool is associated, will be utilized for distributing the resources and processing the interactions.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, graphical user interface and methods are provided for conducting electronic voice communications with status notifications. A user of a first portable device executing a communication application selects a multi-function control that automatically initiates an audio recording, which is automatically sent toward another participant of an active communication session when the control is released. The same multi-function control may be used to transmit a textual message. A representation of the recording is displayed on the user's device, with an indicator that changes appearance when the other participant plays the recording. In addition, when one user initiates an audio recording that will be automatically sent to another user, the other user's device is advised of the initiation of recording and displays that status for the other user.

Abstract: A smoke or fire barrier (1), comprising a head box (2) which contains a roller (9). Extending from the head box are a pair of side guides (3) which guide a metallic foil curtain (5) from the roller, where it is stored, to the ground when deployed. At the bottom of the curtain (5), where it meets the ground when deployed is a bottom bar (4). The metallic foil curtain (5) is made up of individual foil panels (6). The curtain is made from a panel of stainless steel with dimples (8) across it. The dimples allow improved characteristics when rolling and being stored as it holds its shape better. The dimples also provide improved heat transfer characteristics.

Abstract: A virtual resource control and distribution system is provided that utilizes virtual resource pools coupled to authentic resource pools in order to reduce processing capacity requirements, memory requirements, and processing time. In particular, the present invention utilizes a reduced number of authentic resource pools, such as one single authentic resource pool, that is coupled to one or more virtual resource pools. The virtual resource pools may be utilized to enter into interactions. However, when interactions are entered, the virtual resource pools may be adjusted based on the resources associated with the interaction without actually having any resources associated with the virtual resource pools. As such, the virtual resource pools may illustrate a change in virtual resources in the virtual resource pool, but the authentic resource pool to which the virtual resource pool is associated, will be utilized for distributing the resources and processing the interactions.

Abstract: Techniques to perform the dynamic configuration of load-balanced relay operations are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a first load balancer component, a second load balancer component, a first relay server component, a second relay server component, and a persistent shared-memory storage component. The apparatus may be operative to perform the dynamic configuration of load-balanced relay operations for a two-tier relay system using persistent shared-memory storage in which a session identifier received from client devices is used to coordinate the activities of the relay server components based on information shared via the persistent shared-memory storage component. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Provide improved validation of a recipient entity when the recipient entity is involved in an interaction with a provider entity. One or more application programming interfaces (APIs) are provided that are utilized to validate the recipient entity. Recipient entity information, such as a recipient entity identifier, is utilized and communicated to the resource systems to more efficiently validate the recipient entity in order to improve the processing capacity, reduce memory requirements, and improve processing speeds for validating the recipient entity for an interaction. Moreover, a more accurate determination of the actual identity of the recipient entity may be provided, thus improving the security of the interaction between the entities and reducing the potential for misappropriation of the resources involved in the interactions.