Abstract: Applications are managed in an interactive media environment by the creation of a logical model for the lifetime of an application. The model is applicable to concurrently and/or consecutively running applications and governs the creation of applications, manipulation of applications by other applications, resource consumption, visibility of an application to a user, and application shutdown in the interactive media environment using the construct of application “state.

Abstract: A vehicle cabin pressure relief device is provided having a base layer defining an aperture, a retainer layer disposed on the base layer; and a sealing member. The sealing member further includes a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion, wherein the second portion of the sealing member is sandwiched between the base layer and the retainer layer. The first portion is also displaceable relative to the base layer, and covers a portion of the aperture in a closed first position.

Abstract: A mechanism for increasing stiffness of the side-structure of a vehicle, for transferring loads and strain energy, and for improving rigidity from the lower portion of a side pillar, to the underbody structural components of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a hydroformed tube having a horizontal portion, a vertical portion and an arcuate central portion. The upper end of the vertical portion is spot welded to the lower portion of the side pillar. The horizontal portion is received into, and spot welded to, an inner portion of a structural member. The structural member is an L-shaped bracket, and its major portion is spot welded to an inner portion of an elongated beam. The beam is fixedly attached to the side rail of the vehicle. The tubular member, the structural member, and the elongated beam, when connected, form a closed continuous box shaped structure, which reinforces the side-structure of the vehicle.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided where all applications in an interactive media environment run on a single application thread in a media player. Event queues are utilized to schedule the application thread's processing of workitems corresponding to events that occur in the environment. Workitems include methods to be invoked when the workitem is processed and arguments for the method. Workitems further include a begin time and an end time and are ordered in the event queue first by begin time followed by the order in which they were inserted into the queue. The application thread marks workitems whose begin times corresponds to the current or previous time and then processes marked workitems from the queue in order. Such processing is committed so that once the application thread begins processing of a workitem it does not stop. Workitems are dropped from the event queue if their end times have been passed.

Abstract: A mechanism for increasing stiffness of the side-structure of a vehicle, for transferring loads and strain energy, and for improving rigidity from the lower portion of a side pillar, to the underbody structural components of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a hydroformed tube having a horizontal portion, a vertical portion and an arcuate central portion. The upper end of the vertical portion is spot welded to the lower portion of the side pillar. The horizontal portion is received into, and spot welded to, an inner portion of a structural member. The structural member is an L-shaped bracket, and its major portion is spot welded to an inner portion of an elongated beam. The beam is fixedly attached to the side rail of the vehicle. The tubular member, the structural member, and the elongated beam, when connected, form a closed continuous box shaped structure, which reinforces the side-structure of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security tag made unique by randomly distributing a mixture of large numbers of multicolored small objects, such as two colored glass balls, into a regular geometric array or pattern onto a substrate and encapsulating those objects. The objects in the regular array on the substrate will create a unique, non-reproducible pattern. The data, saved to a secure database, can be processed and calculated quantities can be derived from the field of binary data, which can be affixed to the document or manufactured part that the stamp is affixed to. The regular array can be read out by scanner, quantities calculated, and compared to the values printed on the part or document. Additionally, the regular array can be read out by optical scanner and parts or all of the data compared to the data stored in the secure database.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security tag made by randomly distributing a mixture of large numbers of multicolored objects into a unique, non-reproducible geometric array and encapsulating it onto a substrate. The 3-D aspect of the objects will prevent printing or 2-D copying of the stamp. The data, saved to a secure database, can be processed and quantities can be calculated from the field of binary data and can be affixed to the part that the stamp is affixed to. For one level of authentication, the array can be read out by scanner and compared to values printed on the part. For an additional level of authentication, the array can be read out by optical scanner and compared to the data stored in the secure database. The security tag is capable of replacing 2-D barcodes while containing only information capable of being scanned by 2-D barcode scanners.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for recommending one or more materials used in designing and manufacturing parts may include receiving data from at least three data sources. The data sources may include a sourcing, manufacturing, and design data source. The data source data may be standardized to obtain a collection of data including a dataset of materials for consideration in recommending one or more materials for use in one or more parts. The method may also include receiving optimization metrics and constraints for the dataset of materials. Optimization values for each material based on the dataset of materials and the one or more optimization metrics may be determined. An optimization algorithm on each material may be performed based at least on the optimization values and the constraints to obtain one or more recommended materials from the dataset of materials for use in a design of one or more parts.

Abstract: In an interactive media environment, a model is provided where applications, each comprising zero or more script components and zero or more markup components, are themselves handled as visual elements having a Z order. A resource-efficient rendering order is provided where the application that has focus in an interactive media environment (by virtue of its receipt of user events) is rendered first. The remaining applications are rendered in top down order, i.e., in reverse Z order. Rendering is performed by drawing into one or more graphics buffers associated with respective applications. Frames for applications are composited from the graphics buffers bottoms up, in Z order, to provide the display with the correct appearance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security tag made by randomly distributing a mixture of large numbers of multicolored objects into a unique, non-reproducible geometric array and encapsulating it onto a substrate. The 3-D aspect of the objects will prevent printing or 2-D copying of the stamp. The data, saved to a secure database, can be processed and quantities can be calculated from the field of binary data and can be affixed to the part that the stamp is affixed to. For one level of authentication, the array can be read out by scanner and compared to values printed on the part. For an additional level of authentication, the array can be read out by optical scanner and compared to the data stored in the secure database. The security tag is capable of replacing 2-D barcodes while containing only information capable of being scanned by 2-D barcode scanners.

Abstract: Various embodiments enable a device to create a pool of at least one empty application. An empty application can be configured to contain resources that are common across one or more other applications and initialize the resources for the one or more other applications effective to reduce startup time of the other applications. In one or more embodiments, an empty application can further be populated with the one or more other applications effective to cause the one or more other applications to execute. Alternately or additionally, a device can be monitored for an idle state, and, upon determining the device is in the idle state, at least one empty application can be created.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for harvesting energy while moving a tool through a well are shown and described. The harvested energy can be used by the tool to perform work once it reaches an intended location in the well, or along the way. A considerable amount of potential energy is typically lost by oilfield tools as they move down through a borehole. Methods and apparatus described herein recover and/or store some of the energy during the downward movement of the tool.

Abstract: The Grout Sealer Applicator is a plastic wand type tool used to apply grout sealer. The applicator wand can be attached to the end of a chemical sprayer trigger. The applicator has a long tubular body with an angled brush at one end and a connection nut on the other. The applicator shaft is hallow, allowing grout sealer to flow from the nut end, through the shaft and into the brush. The grout sealer applicator gives the user the ability to apply sealer directly onto the grout surface in a standing position. The Grout Sealer Applicator is a wand type tool used to apply grout sealer. The applicator wand can be attached to the end of a compression sprayer trigger. The applicator has a long tubular body with an angled brush at one end and a connection nut on the other. The applicator shaft is hallow, allowing grout sealer to flow from the nut end, through the shaft and into the brush. The grout sealer applicator gives the user the ability to apply sealer directly onto the grout surface in a standing position.

Abstract: In an interactive media environment, input events are distributed to a plurality of applications where each application includes zero or more script components and zero or more markup files and has a Z order which corresponds to the position of the applications' visual elements on a display. An input event processing order is utilized where the application that has focus in an interactive media environment (by virtue of its receipt of user events) is provided with the first opportunity to consume the input event. If the focused application does not consume the input event, it is then delivered to the remaining applications in top down, inverse Z order. Each application is enabled with the ability to consume an input event, pass it on to lower Z ordered applications, hide it from lower Z ordered applications, or otherwise handle it. Input event processing stops when an application consumes the input event.

Abstract: An automated immunoassay analyzer, or assay system, provides for frequent testing of control samples to verify that before and after a series of tests of patients' samples, the operation of the test equipment is accurate, thereby ensuring that the results of the series of patient tests are accurate. Operating the immunoassay analyzer in this manner will delay reporting clinical test results until the results are confirmed as accurate. This operation can be performed automatically by a random access immunoassay analyzer.

Abstract: An efficient and scalable system for identifying a commodity having a specific, unique topocompositional profile has been developed that includes: enrolling at least one commodity in order to capture its topocompositional profile; matching the at least one commodity with a plurality of commodities in a commodity database; and integrating the topocompositional profile into a commodity grading system. A method of identifying a commodity having a specific, unique topocompositional profile, includes enrolling at least one commodity in order to capture its topocompositional profile; matching the at least one commodity with a plurality of commodities in a commodity database; and integrating the topocompositional profile into a commodity grading system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for recommending one or more materials used in designing and manufacturing parts may include receiving data from at least three data sources. The data sources may include a sourcing, manufacturing, and design data source. The data source data may be standardized to obtain a collection of data including a dataset of materials for consideration in recommending one or more materials for use in one or more parts. The method may also include receiving optimization metrics and constraints for the dataset of materials. Optimization values for each material based on the dataset of materials and the one or more optimization metrics may be determined. An optimization algorithm on each material may be performed based at least on the optimization values and the constraints to obtain one or more recommended materials from the dataset of materials for use in a design of one or more parts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a roof structure for a vehicle having a sunroof (or moonroof). The roof structure includes a reinforcement assembly, or ring, that has several rails designed to encircle a sunroof opening. The rails can be spot welded together. Methods of manufacturing the reinforcement assemblies are also discussed.

Abstract: A holder for charts having two transparent sheets, a connecting mechanical hinge and non-ferrous latching devices. The chart holder is sized to hold aeronautical charts and related flight planning documents. The hinge allows the two transparent sheets to be opened at least 180 degrees where the charts and documents can easily be place therein. The two sheets are able to close together, clamping the charts and documents between them. The two sheets are kept together by the latching devices. The transparent sheets provide an erasable writing surface where the pre-flight plans and in-flight data can be drawn and written with a non-permanent marker, thus protecting the documents enclosed. The chart holder also provides for the storage of the non-permanent marker. The chart holder can easily be opened with one hand to allow for repositioning of documents in flight. The transparent sheets have a tab allowing for an offset tab arrangement to allow for quick identification between multiple chart holders.

Abstract: Memory management techniques involve establishing a memory pool having an amount of sharable memory, and dynamically allocating the sharable memory to concurrently manage multiple sets of sequenced units of digital data. In an exemplary scenario, the sets of sequenced units of digital data are sets of time-ordered media samples forming clips of media content, and the techniques are applied when media samples from two or more clips are simultaneously presentable to a user as independently-controlled streams. Variable amounts of sharable memory are dynamically allocated for preparing upcoming media samples for presentation to the user. In one possible implementation, a ratio of average data rates of individual streams is calculated, and amounts of sharable memory are allocated to rendering each stream based on the ratio. Then, the sharable memory allocated to rendering individual streams is reserved as needed to prepare particular upcoming media samples for presentation to the user.