Abstract: A tangle-resistant decorative lighting assembly, comprising: a main portion including a plurality of wires and connectors, including first and second connectors and first and second lighted-extension portions extending transversely from the main portion. The first lighted extension portion including: a first connector configured to detachably connect to the first connector of the main portion, a first plurality of wires connected to the first connector, and a first plurality of lamp assemblies connected to the first plurality of wires. The second lighted-extension portion including: a second connector configured to detachably connect to the second connector of the main portion, a second plurality of wires connected to the second connector, and a second plurality of lamp assemblies connected to the second plurality of wires. The first connector of the main portion comprises a lock portion configured to engage with a lock portion of the first connector of the first lighted-extension portion.

Abstract: Provided is a stand including a first side wall and a second side wall coupled to a hinged based. The hinged based is pivotally coupled together by at least one pin with a resilient member that biases the stand in an open position. The stand adjusts to a closed position when an electronic device is place between the sidewalls and on the hinged base urging the hinged based downward causing the side walls to rotate in toward the electronic device to hold the electronic device.

Abstract: A method includes forming a conductive member over a first conductive line; forming a second conductive line over the conductive member; and removing a portion of the conductive member exposed by the second conductive line to form a conductive via. The formation of the second conductive line is implemented prior to the formation of the conductive via. A semiconductor structure includes a first conductive line having a first surface; a second conductive line disposed above the first conductive line and having a second surface overlapping the first surface; and a conductive via electrically connected to the first surface and the second surface. The conductive via includes a first end disposed within the first surface, a second end disposed within the second surface, and a cross-section between the first end and the second end, wherein at least two of interior angles of the cross-section are substantially unequal to 90°.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for handing off a user conversation between computer-implemented agents. One of the methods includes receiving, by a computer-implemented agent specific to a user device, a digital representation of speech encoding an utterance, determining, by the computer-implemented agent, that the utterance specifies a requirement to establish a communication with another computer-implemented agent, and establishing, by the computer-implemented agent, a communication between the other computer-implemented agent and the user device.

Abstract: A decorative lighting assembly comprises a first power wire electrically connected to a first power contact and a second power wire electrically connected to a second power contact. The first power wire and the second power wire cooperate to surround a display area of the decorative lighting assembly. Lamp assemblies are distributed across the display area. The lamp assemblies include a first row of lamp assemblies aligned along a first line, a second row aligned along a second line, a third row aligned along a third line, and a fourth row of lamp aligned along a fourth line. A first cord is disposed along a first zig-zag path connecting the lamp assemblies in the first row with the lamp assemblies in the second row. Intermediate wires are disposed along a second zig-zag path connecting the lamp assemblies in the second row with the lamp assemblies in the third row.

Abstract: A decorative lighting assembly comprises a first power wire electrically connected to a first power contact and a second power wire electrically connected to a second power contact. The first power wire and the second power wire cooperate to surround a display area of the decorative lighting assembly. Lamp assemblies are distributed across the display area. The lamp assemblies include a first row of lamp assemblies aligned along a first line, a second row aligned along a second line, a third row aligned along a third line, and a fourth row of lamp aligned along a fourth line. A first cord is disposed along a first zig-zag path connecting the lamp assemblies in the first row with the lamp assemblies in the second row. Intermediate wires are disposed along a second zig-zag path connecting the lamp assemblies in the second row with the lamp assemblies in the third row.

Abstract: Provided is a stand including a first side wall and a second side wall coupled to a hinged based. The hinged based is pivotally coupled together by at least one pin with a resilient member that biases the stand in an open position. The stand adjusts to a closed position when an electronic device is place between the sidewalls and on the hinged base urging the hinged based downward causing the side walls to rotate in toward the electronic device to hold the electronic device.

Abstract: A decorative light string for draping on an external structure, comprising a plurality of decorative-lighting wires, each of the plurality of decorative-lighting wires including an outer insulation layer, one or more conductors, and one or more reinforcing strands; and a plurality of lamps electrically connected to one another by the plurality of decorative-lighting wires.

Abstract: A decorative light string for draping on an external structure, comprising a plurality of decorative-lighting wires, each of the plurality of decorative-lighting wires including an outer insulation layer, one or more conductors, and one or more reinforcing strands; and a plurality of lamps electrically connected to one another by the plurality of decorative-lighting wires.

Abstract: Provided is a stand including a first side wall and a second side wall coupled to a hinged based. The hinged based is pivotally coupled together by at least one pin with a resilient member that biases the stand in an open position. The stand adjusts to a closed position when an electronic device is place between the sidewalls and on the hinged base urging the hinged based downward causing the side walls to rotate in toward the electronic device to hold the electronic device.

Abstract: A stand including a frame including a first and second side walls and a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one slot. The at least one slot may be perpendicular to the first and second side walls and may extend through the base of the frame. The stand may include at least one adjustment component disposed below the base of the frame and extending through the at least one slot in the base of the frame. The stand may have at least one divider having a base and a wall. The base of the divider may have a bottom surface with at least one hole configured to receive the at least one adjustment component. The at least one divider may be configured to be disposed between the first side wall and the second side wall.

Abstract: A tangle-resistant decorative lighting assembly, comprising: a main portion including a plurality of wires and connectors, including first and second connectors and first and second lighted-extension portions extending transversely from the main portion. The first lighted extension portion including: a first connector configured to detachably connect to the first connector of the main portion, a first plurality of wires connected to the first connector, and a first plurality of lamp assemblies connected to the first plurality of wires. The second lighted-extension portion including: a second connector configured to detachably connect to the second connector of the main portion, a second plurality of wires connected to the second connector, and a second plurality of lamp assemblies connected to the second plurality of wires. The first connector of the main portion comprises a lock portion configured to engage with a lock portion of the first connector of the first lighted-extension portion.

Abstract: A stand including a frame including a first and second side walls and a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one slot. The at least one slot may be perpendicular to the first and second side walls and may extend through the base of the frame. The stand may include at least one adjustment component disposed below the base of the frame and extending through the at least one slot in the base of the frame. The stand may have at least one divider having a base and a wall. The base of the divider may have a bottom surface with at least one hole configured to receive the at least one adjustment component. The at least one divider may be configured to be disposed between the first side wall and the second side wall.

Abstract: Application-level data in a storage system are evaluated. For example, a backup analysis tool retrieves a backup object stored in the storage system. The backup analysis tool reconstructs an application object from the backup object. The backup analysis tool accesses the first application object according to a native application format associated with the first object.

Abstract: A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion.

Abstract: A lighted artificial tree includes a first tree portion including a first trunk portion, first branches joined to the first trunk portion, and a first light string. The first trunk portion has a trunk connector and a first trunk wiring assembly, the first trunk wiring assembly is electrically connectable to the first light string and the trunk connector, and at least a portion of the first wiring assembly is located inside the first portion. The second tree portion includes a second trunk portion, second branches, and a second light string. The second trunk portion has a trunk connector and a second trunk wiring assembly, the second trunk wiring assembly electrically connectable to the second lighting string and the trunk connector. The second tree portion may be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the first tree portion by coaxially coupling the first trunk portion to the second trunk portion.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to automated deployment and management of network functions in multi-vendor cloud networks. A service provider system can create at least one repository structure to hold at least one pipeline, at least one artifact, at least one image, and code used to create a network function defined by a vendor. The service provider system can create a secrets management structure for the network function. The service provider system can define a schema to support environment variables for a network function type of the network function. The service provider system can create instance specific data to satisfy the schema required for the network function type and can store the at least one artifact into a framework defined during a design phase. The service provider system can instruct the at least one repository structure to exhibit version control and change management behavior.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for handing off a user conversation between computer-implemented agents. One of the methods includes receiving, by a computer-implemented agent specific to a user device, a digital representation of speech encoding an utterance, determining, by the computer-implemented agent, that the utterance specifies a requirement to establish a communication with another computer-implemented agent, and establishing, by the computer-implemented agent, a communication between the other computer-implemented agent and the user device.