Abstract: A method and system for providing distributed network access point installation and management. A network provider installs and/or operates a plurality of access points at locations of a retail entity. Each access point may provide services such as Internet access, and/or content such as audio, video, text, and/or graphics, among other types of services. A carrier, such as a telephone or cable company, may compensate the network service provider for installation and operation of the access points. The carrier may in turn charge its subscribers for network access at the retail entity locations. A plurality of different carriers may provide compensation and allow respective subscriber access. The network access points may be configured to allow each carrier to present a point of presence to its subscribers at the retail entity locations. The installed network may also provide service for retail entity back office functions.

Abstract: A method and system for providing distributed network access point installation and management. A network provider installs and/or operates a plurality of access points at locations of a retail entity. Each access point may provide services such as Internet access, and/or content such as audio, video, text, and/or graphics, among other types of services. A carrier, such as a telephone or cable company, may compensate the network service provider for installation and operation of the access points. The carrier may in turn charge its subscribers for network access at the retail entity locations. A plurality of different carriers may provide compensation and allow respective subscriber access. The network access points may be configured to allow each carrier to present a point of presence to its subscribers at the retail entity locations. The installed network may also provide service for retail entity back office functions.

Abstract: A system and method uses a plurality of access points coupled to a network, wherein at least one of the plurality of access points is operable to communicate with a computing device, and a network provider server communicatively coupled to a network. The network provider server is operable to perform initiating communication between a computing device and a network, wherein the computing device is coupled to the network through an access point of the plurality of access points at a geographic location, determining different levels of services apply at the venue, presenting one or more of the different levels of services for selection by a user of the computing device, and delivering a level of service selected by the user, among the different levels of services, over the network to the computing device.

Abstract: A system and method for providing roaming access on a network are disclosed. The network includes a plurality of wireless and/or wired access points. A user may access the network by using client software on a client computer (e.g., a portable computing device) to initiate an access procedure. In response, a network management device operated by a network provider may return an activation response message to the client. The client may send the user's username and password to the network provider. The network provider may rely on a roaming partner, another network provider with whom the user subscribes for internet access, for authentication of the user. Industry-standard methods such as RADIUS, CHAP, or EAP may be used for authentication. The providers may exchange pricing and service information and account information for the authentication session. A customer may select a pricing and service option from a list of available options.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product that enables persistent display of advertising and other service provider content during access via a gateway access system to third party content on a separate network. A connection is enabled between a personal computing device (PCD) and the gateway access system. The gateway access system facilitates retrieval of a first content from the network to be displayed within a first window on the PCD. The gateway access system provides program code to the PCD that when executed enables persistent display of a second window on the PCD that does not overlap with the first window. A second content is transmitted for display within the second window on the PCD, where the second content is displayed within the persistent window on the PCD along with the display of the first content.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product that enables persistent display of advertising and other service provider content during access via a gateway access system to third party content on a separate network. A connection is established between a personal computing device (PCD) and the gateway access system. When a gateway server of the gateway access system detects a request from the PCD to access and display third party content from a third party content provider on the background network, the gateway server proxies the third party content and dynamically displays the third party content along with a second content on the display of the PCD. The second content is content provided by a service provider (SP) of the gateway access system (SP content), such as advertisements, for example, and the SP content is provided in a persistent fashion on the display of the PCD.

Abstract: A kiln thermal and combustion control. A predictive model is provided of the dynamics of selected aspects of the operation of the system for modeling the dynamics thereof. The model has at least two discrete models associated therewith that model at least two of the selected aspects, the at least two discrete models having different dynamic responses. An optimizer receives desired values for the selected aspects of the operation of the system modeled by the model and optimizes the inputs to the model to minimize error between the predicted and desired values. A control input device then applies the optimized input values to the system after optimization thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a non-linear mill. A linear controller is provided having a linear gain k that is operable to receive inputs representing measured variables of the plant and predict on an output of the linear controller predicted control values for manipulatible variables that control the plant. A non-linear model of the plant is provided for storing a representation of the plant over a trained region of the operating input space and having a steady-state gain K associated therewith. The gain k of the linear model is adjusted with the gain K of the non-linear model in accordance with a predetermined relationship as the measured variables change the operating region of the input space at which the linear controller is predicting the values for the manipulatible variables. The predicted manipulatible variables are then output after the step of adjusting the gain k.

Abstract: A method and system for providing distributed network access point installation and management. A network provider installs and/or operates a plurality of access points at locations of a retail entity. Each access point may provide services such as Internet access, and/or content such as audio, video, text, and/or graphics, among other types of services. A carrier, such as a telephone or cable company, may compensate the network service provider for installation and operation of the access points. The carrier may in turn charge its subscribers for network access at the retail entity locations. A plurality of different carriers may provide compensation and allow respective subscriber access. The network access points may be configured to allow each carrier to present a point of presence to its subscribers at the retail entity locations. The installed network may also provide service for retail entity back office functions.

Abstract: A method for providing independent static and dynamic models in a prediction, control and optimization environment utilizes an independent static model (20) and an independent dynamic model (22). The static model (20) is a rigorous predictive model that is trained over a wide range of data, whereas the dynamic model (22) is trained over a narrow range of data. The gain K of the static model (20) is utilized to scale the gain k of the dynamic model (22). The forced dynamic portion of the model (22) referred to as the bi variables are scaled by the ratio of the gains K and k. The bi have a direct effect on the gain of a dynamic model (22). This is facilitated by a coefficient modification block (40). Thereafter, the difference between the new value input to the static model (20) and the prior steady-state value is utilized as an input to the dynamic model (22). The predicted dynamic output is then summed with the previous steady-state value to provide a predicted value Y.

Abstract: The disclosed system and method provides an invoice to a customer for the use of a device by the customer. Information representative of an amount of usage of the device by the customer is recorded and maintained. A process associated with a billing party is coupled to the device through a data communication network. An invoice is provided to a billing destination at a premises of the customer on a human-readable medium having an invoice amount based upon the amount of usage of the device by the customer and pre-established billing contract rules.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for emulating font cartridges with virtual cartridges. Virtual cartridges may be loaded onto a data storage device, and desired virtual cartridges may be selected for use from those stored.