Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for providing online support to a user of a client application. The method includes: initiating a wizard including dialogs for completing a task; displaying a dialog to the user; enabling, based on a network connection being available, a help threshold associated with the dialog; determining, by a computer processor, that the help threshold is exceeded after enabling the help threshold; sending, in response to the help threshold being exceeded, an availability request to an external support server; receiving, after sending the availability request, a confirmation of an available support specialist; displaying an indication to the user that support is available; receiving a support request from the user; opening a chat dialog in response to receiving the support request; and initiating, using the chat dialog, a chat session between the user and the available support specialist.

Abstract: A data processing and storage system includes a compute module for running at least one virtual machine for processing guest data. State data on the at least one virtual machine is collected. The system also includes a storage module communicating with the compute module and storing the guest data. The storage module accesses the state data for controlling storage operations. A cloud storage/compute system is provided that includes a storage module for storing guest data for a virtual machine and operating based on a clock. The cloud storage/compute system also includes a compute module coupled to the storage module for performing operations on the guest data for the virtual machine and operating based on the clock. A method is provided that includes collecting state data on a virtual machine that processes guest data, and controlling storage operations relating to the guest data based on the state data.

Abstract: The invention is a modular and autonomously reconfigurable manipulator system which introduces a new dimension to the versatility of robot manipulation for diverse tasks. The hardware component is a redundant mechanism which can lock any number of its joints at any relative position to form a particular configuration with a certain number of degrees of freedom and specific values for kinematic, dynamic and control parameters, optimum for a given task to be performed. The process of identifying the optimum configuration for a given task and implementing it on the manipulator is done autonomously through the system software. Therefore, no manual interaction is required to form a new configuration most suitable for a given task. The kinematic, dynamic and control parameters of the system can vary continuously enabling the manipulator to form virtually an infinite number of configurations.

Abstract: Methods and system for processing transfer requests are described. In one embodiment, a value transfer request may be received from a value provider through a network. The value transfer request may include a value amount to be provided from a source user to a target user. A settlement account of the value provider may be reduced by the value amount. A target account of the target user may be increased by the value amount.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a payment application framework. In an example embodiment, a request at a payment facilitator is received. The request is for a split payment to a plurality of receiving parties. The request is processed to establish one or more payment transactions. A single transfer of funds is sent from an account of a sender to at least one account of a receiving party of the plurality of receiving parties.

Abstract: A method and device for transmitting a frame of a wireless communication begins by generating a preamble of the frame that includes a short training sequence and at least one long training sequence. The at least one long training sequence includes non-zero energy on each of a plurality of subcarriers except a DC subcarrier. The at least one long training sequence corresponds to the number of antennas and applicable wireless communication standards. A matrix is defined to represent the at least one long training sequence. The preamble is compatible with legacy and current standards. A channel is defined with a set of sub carriers to transmit the frame.

Abstract: A network device for implementing high-rate greenfield transmission in a mixed mode frame structure. The network device is configured to transmit a mixed mode frame on two adjacent channels. The mixed mode frame comprises at least two backward compatible portions of a first frequency and a greenfield portion of a second frequency.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system and method to prevent a mechanical connection between certain components of an entertainment system for a vehicle can include an entertainment system housing containing a plurality of entertainment components and a remote control module. The remote control module can include a user interface on a surface of the remote control module. In addition, the remote control module can be configured to prevent secure mounting of the remote control module to the entertainment system housing when the remote control module is not the appropriate remote control module for the particular vehicle entertainment system.

Abstract: Methods and system for interface data utilization are described. In one embodiment, source interface data may be provided from a provider. The source interface data may be capable of being used to provide a source user interface for a networked resource associated with the provider. A user request may be received through the source user interface. A service call may be provided over a network to an application based on the receiving of the user request. The application may be associated with an application manager. Response data may be received over the network from the application based on the service call. Target interface data may be rendered based on the response data. The target interface data may be provided from the provider.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for setting interactions between paired computing devices. Paired devices may interact in a master-slave relationship, where the slave device is an intelligent computing device capable of performing a wide variety of functions for the master computing device. When initiating a paired relationship, various characteristics relating to the initiating device are recorded, and the used in defining the relationship between the initiating device and the target device with which the initiating device paired. In a further example of interactions between paired computing devices, user-defined policies may be recorded, stored and implemented which affect the behavior of one or both computing devices when the two devices are paired.

Abstract: A gas trap includes a sample enclosure, a bubbler enclosure, an agitator, and a brushless, DC motor. The sample enclosure has a liquid inlet, a gas sample outlet, and a sample enclosure wall with a sample enclosure wall portion and a shared wall portion. The bubbler enclosure has a bubbler air inlet, a bubbler air outlet, and a bubbler enclosure wall with a bubbler enclosure wall portion and the shared wall portion. The sample and bubbler enclosures are fluidly coupled through the shared wall portion so that sufficiently pressurized bubbler air entering through the bubbler air inlet maintains the drilling fluid in the sample enclosure at a level determined by the location of the bubbler air outlet when the liquid inlet and the bubbler air outlet are both submerged in the drilling fluid.

Abstract: A leach process (70) comprising the following steps: i) Passing a metal containing waste material (72) from a mineral processing operation (96) to a biological leach step (74) in which a proportion of the metal is extracted into a pregnant leach solution (76); and ii) Passing the pregnant leach solution (76) from step i) to downstream metal recovery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of pill analysis including the steps of acquiring a pill image having an image frame and detecting contrast shifts within the image frame to locate at least one object with an object outline. A first value for the object(s) is determined, where the value is an area, a position, a length, a width, an angle, a color, a brightness, a code, a shape, a crystal pile size, a crystal geometry, a substance identity, or a character identity. Based on the first and second values, the computer outputs a result to a user.

Abstract: A network operator intermediates a cashless transaction by sending a payment device issuer an outbound clearing data file enriched with cleansed merchant data. Issuers that choose to participate in the merchant data cleansing service will be provided with the cleansed, and optionally augmented, merchant information. Providing this data to the issuer could be used to help reduce costs associated with “do not recognize” calls by cardholders, disputed charges, and charge-backs. With cleansed data provided in the clearing record, a device holder would be given access to this cleansed information about the merchant where a transaction took place through their statement. The present disclosure also provides for augmenting the clearing record data to include merchant-specific add-on and/or aggregate data not presently included in the transaction clearing record, yet useful to the issuer both in form and content.

Abstract: Method and system encodes a signal according to a code rate that includes a ratio of uncoded bits to coded bits. An outer encoder encodes the signal into code words. An interleaver converts the code words into a byte sequence for wireless transmission. An inner encoder executes a convolutional code to generate an encoded signal. The encoded signal is transmitted over a plurality of subcarriers associated with a wide bandwidth channel having a spectral efficiency associated with the code rate. The outer encoder includes a Reed-Solomon encoder having a rate that increases the code rate of uncoded bits to coded bits.

Abstract: Methods and system for processing transfer requests are described. In one embodiment, a value transfer request may be received from a value provider through a network. The value transfer request may include a value amount to be provided from a source user to a target user. A settlement account of the value provider may be reduced by the value amount. A target account of the target user may be increased by the value amount.

Abstract: A signal quality metric is determined for each of multiple signal paths. Each of the signal paths corresponds to a respective antenna. The determined signal quality metric is modified for one or more signal paths. A subset of the signal paths is selected for receiving a signal based at least in part on the determined signal quality metrics. The selecting is biased based at least in part on the modified signal quality metrics.

Abstract: An operator of a payment network obtains transaction data from a plurality of entities which make payments with the payment network. The operator of the payment network also obtains a plurality of consents from the plurality of entities which make payments with the payment network. The plurality of consents authorize the operator of the payment network to share at least a portion of the transaction data from the plurality of entities which make payments with the payment network with an operator of a social media site. At least portion of the transaction data is made available to the operator of the social media site.

Abstract: Methods and system for interface data utilization are described. In one embodiment, source interface data may be provided from a provider. The source interface data may be capable of being used to provide a source user interface for a networked resource associated with the provider. A user request may be received through the source user interface. A service call may be provided over a network to an application based on the receiving of the user request. The application may be associated with an application manager. Response data may be received over the network from the application based on the service call. Target interface data may be rendered based on the response data. The target interface data may be provided from the provider.

Abstract: A gas trap includes a sample enclosure, a bubbler enclosure, an agitator, and a brushless, DC motor. The sample enclosure has a liquid inlet, a gas sample outlet, and a sample enclosure wall with a sample enclosure wall portion and a shared wall portion. The bubbler enclosure has a bubbler air inlet, a bubbler air outlet, and a bubbler enclosure wall with a bubbler enclosure wall portion and the shared wall portion. The sample and bubbler enclosures are fluidly coupled through the shared wall portion so that sufficiently pressurized bubbler air entering through the bubbler air inlet maintains the drilling fluid in the sample enclosure at a level determined by the location of the bubbler air outlet when the liquid inlet and the bubbler air outlet are both submerged in the drilling fluid.