Abstract: A hub for managing networked household appliances is provided. The hub may include a network communication interface for wirelessly connecting to a wireless access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN), and a wireless repeater for receiving and rebroadcasting signals from the wireless access point. The hub may include an appliance communication interface for wirelessly connecting the hub to a plurality of household appliances and establish a wireless local appliance network over which the hub and the plurality of household appliances are configured to communicate with one another. The hub may also include a control module coupled to the appliance communication interface and configured to provide a user interface to enable a user to interact with the plurality of household appliances from the hub over the wireless local appliance network, and view status information associated with the household appliance.

Abstract: A hands-free wireless wearable GPS enabled video camera and audio-video communications headset, mobile phone and personal media player, capable of real-time two-way and multi-feed wireless voice, data and audio-video streaming, telecommunications, and teleconferencing, coordinated applications, and shared functionality between one or more wirelessly networked headsets or other paired or networked wired or wireless devices and optimized device and data management over multiple wired and wireless network connections. The headset can operate in concert with one or more wired or wireless devices as a paired accessory, as an autonomous hands-free wide area, metro or local area and personal area wireless audio-video communications and multimedia device and/or as a wearable docking station, hot spot and wireless router supporting direct connect multi-device ad-hoc virtual private networking (VPN).

Abstract: A cantilever umbrella has an upstanding mast and a cantilever arm adapted to support a canopy. The cantilever arm is pivotally attached to the mast at an upper portion and configured to pivot between an open position where the canopy is deployed and where the cantilever arm extends away from the mast, and a closed position where the canopy is withdrawn and the cantilever arm extends close to the mast. The mast has interior region defined by a longitudinally extending channel with a longitudinally aligned opening extending from the interior to the exterior of the mast. A carriage resides within the channel and is adapted for travel within the channel. A support arm pivotally connected with the cantilever arm at one end, and pivotally connect with the carriage, through the channel opening at an opposing end. Raising of the carriage within the channel causes the cantilever to transition to the open position, and lowering of the carriage causes the cantilever to transition to the closed position.

Abstract: Tiering duplicated objects in a cloud-based object store, including: determining, for a particular data object, a number of copies of the data object to be retained; storing, in a first data tier, at least one copy of the data object; storing, in a second data tier, one or more copies of the data object, wherein a number of copies of the data object that are stored in the second data tier is equal to the number of copies of the data object to be retained minus a number of copies of the data object that are stored in the first data tier; and responsive to receiving a request for the data object, servicing the request from the first data tier.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for performing maintenance on a gas turbine bearing area. In some cases, a method includes: separating sections of an inlet bellmouth of the gas turbine without removing the sections of the inlet bellmouth from the gas turbine; removing a housing from over a bearing of the gas turbine; mounting a bearing maintenance apparatus adjacent the inlet bellmouth and the bearing; and performing maintenance on the bearing area while the sections of the inlet bellmouth remain separated.

Abstract: A cloud computing server interface is described, the cloud computing server interface arranged to provide a platform for transferring data from, and updating the status of field devices for use in utilities monitoring.

Abstract: A novel optical component mount is disclosed, which includes at least one first mount body with at least one adjustment member traversing through at least one adjustment member passage formed in the first mount body. At least one second mount body is configured with at least one component aperture formed therein and at least one insert receiver formed therein. The insert receiver is configured to receive at least one thermal compensating positioning insert positioned in the insert receiver. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the thermal compensating positioning insert is configured to be equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the adjustment member. At least one engaging body is positioned in the thermal compensating insert and engages the adjustment member. The engaging body is configured having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the thermal compensating positioning insert and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the adjustment member.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses for performing maintenance on a gas turbine bearing area, along with related methods. One apparatus can include: a set of rails sized to couple with the gas turbine and rest coaxially with a bearing adjacent the gas turbine, the set of rails for supporting a portion of a housing of the bearing; a first platform spanning between the set of rails; a lifting device coupled to the first platform for engaging an inlet bellmouth of the gas turbine; and a second platform suspended from the set of rails sized to accommodate an operator.

Abstract: Methods and systems for real-time verification of funds availability for ACH debit transactions include receiving, for a transaction, a request to debit a first amount of funds from a consumer deposit account. The request includes transaction data including an account identifier associated with the consumer deposit account. Using the account identifier, an entry of a routing table is identified, where the entry identifies one or more payment processing networks that are eligible to process the transaction, and a separate verification network that is eligible to verify a second amount of funds available from the consumer deposit account. A pre-authorization request message is transmitted to the identified verification network. Subsequently, a pre-authorization response message is received from the verification network verifying that the second amount of funds available from the consumer deposit account is greater than or equal to the requested first amount of funds.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least perform a number of operations. The apparatus is caused to receive time information over a packet-switched computer network, with the time information including a current standard time, time-zone offset and timestamps that define a predetermined timeframe. The apparatus is caused to calculate a current local time from the current standard time and time-zone offset, and including an adjustment of the current local time in instances in which the timestamps indicate that the current standard time is within the predetermined timeframe. And the apparatus is caused to cause a clock to be set to the current local time.

Abstract: Programmable timer circuits are disclosed. One timer circuit may include a reference circuit configured to generate a bias current, a current controlled oscillator configured to receive the bias current c, and a frequency divider network configured to divide an output of the oscillator. The timer circuit may be capable of timing for 24 hour period, while using less than 5nA of quiescent current.

Abstract: A composite structure includes a top skin defining a plurality of clearance apertures, a core and a bottom skin together with a fastening layer interposed between the top skin and the upper surface of the core. The fastening layer defines a plurality of threaded apertures in alignment and registration with the plurality of clearance apertures formed in the top skin. The threaded apertures each define a threaded aperture size which facilitates threaded fasteners being passed through the clearance apertures of the top skin to threadably engage the threaded apertures of the fastening layer. The top skin, fastening layer, core and bottom skin are joined by conventional attachment such as adhesive attachment, welding or the like.

Abstract: A cloud computing server interface is described, the cloud computing server interface arranged to provide a platform for transferring data from, and updating the status of field devices for use in utilities monitoring.

Abstract: A gateway provides duplex-directional, multimedia ad hoc mesh networking, peer-to-peer direct communications, power optimization, dynamic configuration, and data management, while operating within various devices and network topologies. A multitasking virtual machine monitor for mobile networked devices, that is capable of functional expandability and portability to various operating environments, interoperability with a variety of operating systems, the Gateway Control System (GCS) performs functional capabilities in both a local and a networked topology using local and remote hardware and software. Software within the GCS is partitioned into sequentially, autonomous code, referred to herein as “modules,” each module being configured to communicate with hardware and other gateway modules. Collectively, all gateway modules are referred to herein as the gateway stack (GS). Each member of the GS can be turned on or off, downloaded from a remote site, and dynamically configured.

Abstract: Storage layer data obfuscation, including: determining a subset of a dataset to obfuscate in accordance with a security policy; generating, based at least in part on the security policy, an obfuscated snapshot of the dataset that is representative of the dataset with the subset of the dataset obfuscated; and sending, to a target computer system, the obfuscated snapshot from which a restored version of the dataset includes the subset of the dataset obfuscated.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses for performing maintenance on a gas turbine (GT) nozzle, along with related methods. One apparatus can include: a nozzle engagement sled for releasably engaging the nozzle, the nozzle engagement sled including: a sled body; a locking member coupled with the sled body, the locking member sized to complement a slot in the nozzle; a sled slot within a side of the sled body, the sled slot for engaging a rail within the GT; and at least one wheel for transporting the sled body within the GT.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a portable beverage container holder device for allowing users to easily transport and use beverage containers of varying sizes and shapes, such as cans, bottles, or cups. In most embodiments, these could allow the user to carry multiple beverages at one time easily. It is ideal for servers at restaurants and bars and for home parties. It may also aid in the elderly or handicapped in being more able to carry beverages, food cans, bottles, and jars.

Abstract: A method and a protective removable cover are presented. The protective removable cover comprises a number of sheets of fabric joined together in a toroidal shape such that an interior of the toroidal shape and an exterior of the toroidal shape have a same surface. The number of sheets of fabric joined together in the toroidal shape is configured to roll over a monument such that the monument is substantially covered.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a grid-connected inverter to provide negative sequence current during unbalanced grid operating conditions. The system uses a combination of feedforward and feedback controls to compute voltage signals which are used to control the inverter switches. The system includes both positive and negative sequence current controllers with voltage feedforward terms. The measured grid voltage is directly fed forward to the positive sequence control through a predictive algorithm, so that the instantaneous voltage information is kept, reducing the influence of grid voltage harmonics on the quality of the output current. The predictive voltages include positive, negative and harmonic component information of the grid voltage signals.