Abstract: A vehicle or shipping-container monitoring system is provided. The system is used to sample the interior environment of the container and if needed, clear a potentially hazardous material from the interior of the container prior to conventional opening. The system includes a monitoring assembly affixed to a first through-penetration in the vehicle container, an evacuation assembly affixed to a second through-penetration in the vehicle container, and an intake penetration with a cap affixed to a third through-penetration in the vehicle container. A method is also provided to assess the interior of a vehicle or shipping container for hazardous gases or vapors prior to opening the container.

Abstract: A computer-implemented integrated expert system for the identification of abnormal events in an industrial plant. The expert system integrates a model-based expert system with a rule-based expert system. The model-based expert system receives data on the operating conditions of a process unit in the industrial plant and calculates one or more results that determine whether the process unit is operating abnormally. The rule-based expert system also receives data on the operating conditions of the process unit and applies its rules to the process data. The rule-based expert system also applies its rules to the one or more results generated by the model-based expert system. The integrated system may also suppress any redundant messages generated by the model-based expert system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented integrated expert system for the identification of abnormal events in an industrial plant. The expert system integrates a model-based expert system with a rule-based expert system. The model-based expert system receives data on the operating conditions of a process unit in the industrial plant and calculates one or more results that determine whether the process unit is operating abnormally. The rule-based expert system also receives data on the operating conditions of the process unit and applies its rules to the process data. The rule-based expert system also applies its rules to the one or more results generated by the model-based expert system. The integrated system may also suppress any redundant messages generated by the model-based expert system.

Abstract: Node-to-node communication pipelines may include code modules that are configured and assembled across a protocol according to dynamically input module-specific parameters. The parameters may be input to a service into which the modules are registered, and one or more appropriate pipelines may be dynamically assembled.

Abstract: A system for enhancing searching of a network has an architecture that supports a search tool component capable of soliciting a search query from a user and of invoking an instance of an Internet browser in which to display search results. A further embodiment of the invention providing at least one search option suggesting changing at least one search parameter and at least one option allowing the user to indicate that their search was successful.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for discovering, qualifying, and activating software add-in components. An add-in components manager discovers one or more add-in components at the computer system are of a specified type of add-in component requested by an application. The add-in component manager qualifies at least one discovered add-in component based on the at least one discovered add-in component satisfying one or more qualification constraints. The one or more qualification constraints are representative of functionality that is to be associated with an add-in component for the add-in component to interoperate with the application in a desired manner. The add-in component manager activates a qualified add-in component in accordance with the one or more qualification constraints for use with the application.

Abstract: Node-to-node communication pipelines may include code modules that are configured and assembled across a protocol according to dynamically input module-specific parameters. The parameters may be input to a service into which the modules are registered, and one or more appropriate pipelines may be dynamically assembled.

Abstract: Electrical cable connectors, electrical cable assemblies, and methods of making such electrical components are disclosed. An electrical cable connector, illustratively a right-angle connector, has opposite ends and includes both a cable receiving portion and a fastener receiving portion at one end. The cable receiving portion receives an electrical cable and the fastener receiving portion receives a fastener for securing the electrical connector assembly to a mounting structure. The fastener receiving portion also provides access to the fastener. In one embodiment, the fastener receiving portion traverses the cable receiving portion to thereby make the fastener accessible.

Abstract: Thread usage is managed when locking resources during the possibly-contentious accessing of such resources. In a described implementation, a thread that is executing a corresponding access request is not suspended when its corresponding access request is delayed because a targeted resource is currently locked for accessing by another thread. Instead, when a targeted resource is locked, the blocked access request is queued up in a queue of access requests. The corresponding thread is then permitted to perform other work. When the resource is subsequently unlocked and thus becomes available, an access request (e.g., the oldest or highest priority access request) that is queued is retrieved, and a thread is allowed to execute it. Implementations for general locking access schemes, for read/write-bifurcated locking access schemes, etc. are described. Implementations are described from conceptual, functional, temporal, code or function, contention, thread, and other perspectives.

Abstract: A system for enhancing searching of a network has an architecture that supports a network indexing component capable of indexing terms located in pages on the network and capable of receiving a search query and returning a topic for each term in the query that matches an indexed term. An embodiment of the system further provides for a search tool capable of displaying text associated with assisting a user to perform a search of the Internet and an animation component capable of displaying an animated character. Further embodiments support a search tool component capable of soliciting a search query from a user and of invoking an instance of an Internet browser in which to display search results. A further embodiment of the invention providing at least one search option suggesting changing at least one search parameter and at least one option allowing the user to indicate that their search was successful.

Abstract: A method of aiding a user in searching a computer environment includes retrieving a search query from a user, accessing a user profile and selecting a search area based on the search query and the user profile. In other embodiments of the present invention, a method provides for receiving a search query, categorizing at least one term in the search query based on an indexed list of terms derived from pages on a network, and identifying at least one search area based on the category of a search term.

Abstract: A system for enhancing searching of a network has an architecture that supports a search tool component capable of soliciting a search query from a user and of invoking an instance of an Internet browser in which to display search results. A further embodiment of the invention providing at least one search option suggesting changing at least one search parameter and at least one option allowing the user to indicate that their search was successful.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium has computer-executable instructions for retrieving a search query provided by a user and locating an ambiguity in the search query that affects the optimization of the search query. The instructions also provide for requesting additional information from the user to clarify the text of the search query. Additional aspects of the invention allow the user to see and select past search queries. Further aspects of the invention automatically construct a boolean search query from a non-boolean query. Other aspects of the invention modify a search query based on its scope. In one embodiment of the invention a search query is modified based on natural language parse data produced by performing a natural language parse of the search query.