Abstract: A selectively controlled lighted artificial tree with visual timing function indication, comprising: a tree trunk having a plurality of branches; a plurality of lighting assemblies including light elements, the plurality of lighting assemblies distributed about the plurality of branches; a plurality of wires in electrical connection with the plurality of light elements, the plurality of wires for transmitting electrical power to the plurality of light elements; a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of lighting assemblies, the controller including a push-button switch and a logic-control circuit with a processor, the controller configured to selectively cause power to be transmitted to one or more of the plurality of light elements for a power-on duration, and to cause one or more of the plurality of light elements to selectively be powered on and off to provide a visual indication of the power-on duration.

Abstract: A lighted artificial tree, including a first tree portion having a first electrical connector having a first electrical terminal positioned in line with a central vertical axis, and a second electrical terminal. The tree also includes a second tree portion that includes a second electrical connector having a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal, the second electrical terminal defining a ring shape that encircles the first electrical terminal. When the first tree portion is coupled to the second tree portion, the first electrical connector is coupled to the second electrical connector, such that the first electrical terminal of the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the first electrical terminal of the second electrical connector, and the second electrical terminal of the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the second electrical terminal of the second electrical connector.

Abstract: A lighting power and control system for an artificial lighted tree. The system includes: a first primary controller including a processor; a first plurality of sub-controllers, each including a processor, each of the first plurality of sub-controllers in electrical communication with the first primary controller; and a first plurality of lighting elements, each of the first plurality of lighting elements in direct electrical communication with one of the first plurality of sub-controllers. The first primary controller controls each of the first plurality of sub-controllers, and each of the first plurality of sub-controllers selectively powers the plurality of lighting elements according to commands issued by the primary controller.

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: 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 light string including a first group of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, a second plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, and a third plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other. The first, second, and third groups of lights are electrically connected in series. A first wire stabilizer is located between the first group of lights and the second group of lights, and a second wire stabilizer is located between the second group of lights and the third group of lights. The first and second wire stabilizers secure wire ends forming first and second gaps in the wiring of the light string.

Abstract: Techniques presented herein disclose techniques for evaluating application-level data in a storage system for search and analysis. 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 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: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining other users that will attend an event with a user. One of the methods includes receiving, by a computer-implemented agent for a device, input from a user identifying an event, determining constraints for other users that will be invited to attend the event, determining one or more other users who meet the constraints, identifying, for each of the other users, other computer-implemented agents, each of the other agents for respective other devices, sending, to each of the other agents, a request to determine whether the respective other user of the other agent is interested in attending the event, receiving, from a first subset of the other agents, a response that indicates that the respective other user is interested in attending the event, and facilitating communication between the user and the respective other users.

Abstract: A method for launching software applications of a smartphone through a personal computer connected thereto is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) operatably connecting the handheld computer to the personal computer; b) the personal computer acquiring information of used times of applications of the handheld computer; c) converting tops of the most frequently used applications into items in a subwindow of the personal computer; and d) launching one of the applications by clicking an item in the subwindow, wherein the clicked item corresponds to the launched application.

Abstract: A connector having enhanced protection against arcing during live or “hot” connection of a plug assembly to a receptacle assembly. The terminals of the connector, including the connection point of exposed wiring, are electrically isolated from each other with dielectric barriers built in to the connector, such as polymer partitions. Accordingly, protection against arcing is provided in a connector that is assembled fast and inexpensively, without need for a time consuming installation of wire and terminal coatings or sleeves (e.g., “shrink tube”), and with greater reliability. The connector can be used in a modular system for decorative lighting and having a controller module that is not hard wired to a light string. Use of the controller module independent of any of the light strings enables the controller to be used with any light string or with a replacement light string, in the event that the immediately connected light string fails.

Abstract: A modular lighted artificial tree that includes first and second coupleable tree sections. The first tree section includes: a first trunk portion; a first wiring assembly having a first wire and a second wire, the first wiring assembly; a first trunk electrical connector in electrical connection with the first wiring assembly, the first trunk electrical connector including a first tree-section fuse connected electrically in series between the first wiring assembly and the first light string and a first light string in electrical connection with the first tree-section fuse. The second tree section includes: a second trunk portion; a second wiring assembly having a first wire and a second wire, the second wiring assembly; and a second trunk electrical connector in electrical connection with the second wiring assembly. The first tree section is configured to couple to the second tree section such that the trunk electrical connectors are electrically connected.

Abstract: A locking artificial tree trunk including a first generally cylindrical, hollow trunk portion including an upper end, the upper end defining a notch, and a second generally cylindrical trunk portion including a body portion, a lower end having an insertable portion, and an upper end. The locking artificial tree trunk also includes a coupling mechanism having a body portion and an upper portion having a tab, and defining a channel for receiving the insertable portion of the lower end of the second trunk portion. The body portion is inserted substantially into the upper end of the first trunk portion with the tab of the upper portion aligned with the notch, thereby preventing rotation of the coupling mechanism within the upper end of the first trunk portion.

Abstract: A decorative light string including a first group of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, a second plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other, and a third plurality of light elements electrically connected in parallel to each other. The first, second, and third groups of lights are electrically connected in series. A first wire stabilizer is located between the first group of lights and the second group of lights, and a second wire stabilizer is located between the second group of lights and the third group of lights. The first and second wire stabilizers secure wire ends forming first and second gaps in the wiring of the light string.

Abstract: A lighting power and control system for an artificial lighted tree. The system includes: a first primary controller including a processor; a first plurality of sub-controllers, each including a processor, each of the first plurality of sub-controllers in electrical communication with the first primary controller; and a first plurality of lighting elements, each of the first plurality of lighting elements in direct electrical communication with one of the first plurality of sub-controllers. The first primary controller controls each of the first plurality of sub-controllers, and each of the first plurality of sub-controllers selectively powers the plurality of lighting elements according to commands issued by the primary controller.

Abstract: The invention is used for a dock between a battery-operated device and a power adapter. The method includes: a) providing a USB dock with a first USB type-C connector and a second USB type-C connector, wherein the two USB type-C connectors are electrically connected through a switch module; b) connecting a first USB device to the first USB type-C connector; c) verifying whether the first USB device sends out a USB host command or not; d) setting the first USB type-C connector and the second USB type-C connector to serve as a host port and a device port, respectively, if yes in step c); and e) setting the first USB type-C connector and the second USB type-C connector to serve as a device port and a host port, respectively, if no in step c).

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 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: The invention provides a method for synchronizing touch control functions when a smartphone based on a first OS is connected to a tablet computer based on a second OS. The method includes the steps: a) operationally connecting the tablet computer to the smartphone to project a screen picture of the smartphone onto the tablet computer; b) pressing an active window of the tablet computer; c) intercepting a touch event of the tablet computer; d) converting the touch event into a format compatible with the first OS of the smartphone; e) sending the touch event to the smartphone; f) executing the touch event by the smartphone to generate a resultant screen picture; and g) showing the resultant screen picture on the tablet computer.

Abstract: A connector having enhanced protection against arcing during live or “hot” connection of a plug assembly to a receptacle assembly. The terminals of the connector, including the connection point of exposed wiring, are electrically isolated from each other with dielectric barriers built in to the connector, such as polymer partitions. Accordingly, protection against arcing is provided in a connector that is assembled fast and inexpensively, without need for a time consuming installation of wire and terminal coatings or sleeves (e.g., “shrink tube”), and with greater reliability. The connector can be used in a modular system for decorative lighting and having a controller module that is not hard wired to a light string. Use of the controller module independent of any of the light strings enables the controller to be used with any light string or with a replacement light string, in the event that the immediately connected light string fails.