Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for monitoring objects. A sensor positioned on an object (e.g., a door) is configured to measure a strength of a magnetic field of a magnet positioned on an associated object (e.g., the door frame). The measurements of the strength of the magnetic field made by the sensor may change over time (e.g., may decrease) due to changes in the positioning or alignment of the sensor or magnet. The positioning or alignment of the sensor or magnet may change due to use of the object (e.g., use of the door). One or more thresholds used by the sensor to determine the status of an object (e.g., to determine whether the door is open or closed) may be adjusted based on changes to the measurements over time.

Abstract: Propulsion systems that generate thrust from pressure generated by thermally decomposing a chemical blowing agent (CBA). In some embodiments, the CBA decomposes exothermically such that once thermal decomposition has been initiated, the thermal decomposition continues without additional energy input. In some embodiments, the CBA is utilized in a digital-microthruster array containing microthrusters that can be individually activated to provide thrust. In some embodiments, a CBA may be stored in one or more CBA-storage chambers that can be individually activated to charge and/or recharge a pressure tank that stores gas from the CBA decomposition under pressure for providing thrust. These and other embodiments are disclosed. Such propulsion systems can be used for any of a variety of spacecraft, including micro- and nano-satellites. Corresponding methods of generating thrust are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hardwired and wirelessly controlled motorized window shade system is presented that includes a plurality of motorized window shades that are connected by a cable, such as Ethernet cable, to a power panel and a hardwired control. Motorized window shades are also wirelessly connected to a wireless control through a gateway. This arrangement provides the motorized window shades with the advantage of receiving power and control signals through the cable, as well as giving the flexibility of being controlled through a wireless control.

Abstract: Embodiments for increasing clarity and expressiveness in network communications can be configured to: obtain a message from a first user as part of a network-enabled conversation with a second user, the conversation having a plurality of associated messages; analyze the content of the message; automatically use a panel layout based on the content of the message, the panel layout defining a consistent set of expressive elements for at least one message of the plurality of messages associated with the conversation, the panel layout further defining one or more panels for presenting messages of the conversation with the expressive elements; integrate the message into at least one of the panels with the expressive elements; automatically select at least one embellishment from an available set of embellishment options based on the panel layout; apply the automatically selected at least one embellishment to the message to produce an embellished message.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an actively invalidated client-side network resource cache are disclosed.

Abstract: A hardwired and wirelessly controlled motorized window shade system is presented that includes a plurality of motorized window shades that are connected by a cable, such as Ethernet cable, to a power panel and a hardwired control. Motorized window shades are also wirelessly connected to a wireless control through a gateway. This arrangement provides the motorized window shades with the advantage of receiving power and control signals through the cable, as well as giving the flexibility of being controlled through a wireless control.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an actively invalidated client-side network resource cache are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: a client configured to request, for a client application, data associated with an identifier from a server; the server configured to provide the data associated with the identifier and to establish a queue associated with the identifier at a scalable message queuing system, the client being configured to subscribe to the queue at the scalable message queuing system to receive invalidation information associated with the data; the server being further configured to signal the queue of an invalidation event associated with the data; the scalable message queuing system being configured to convey information indicative of the invalidation event to the client; and the client being further configured to re-request the data associated with the identifier from the server upon receipt of the information indicative of the invalidation event.

Abstract: Embodiments for increasing clarity and expressiveness in network communications can be configured to: obtain a message from a first user as part of a network-enabled conversation with a second user, the conversation having a plurality of associated messages; analyze the content of the message; automatically use a panel layout based on the content of the message, the panel layout defining a consistent set of expressive elements for at least one message of the plurality of messages associated with the conversation, the panel layout further defining one or more panels for presenting messages of the conversation with the expressive elements; integrate the message into at least one of the panels with the expressive elements; automatically select at least one embellishment from an available set of embellishment options based on the panel layout; apply the automatically selected at least one embellishment to the message to produce an embellished message with configuration data encoded therewith corresponding to the

Abstract: Embodiments for increasing clarity and expressiveness in network communications include: obtaining a message from a first user as part of a network-enabled conversation with a second user; applying at least one embellishment to the message to produce an embellished message, the embellishment including either an explicitly user-selected embellishment or an automatically generated embellishment based on content of the message; and causing transmission of the embellished message via a network to the second user.

Abstract: Embodiments for increasing clarity and expressiveness in network communications include: obtaining a message from a first user as part of a network-enabled conversation with a second user; analyzing the message to identify an expressiveness keyword indicative of an emotion, mood, or level of expressiveness; selecting a level or degree of emotional expressiveness to which a corresponding emotion or mood should be expressed in relation to the identified expressiveness keyword; applying, by use of a processor, at least one embellishment to the message to produce an embellished message, the embellishment including either an explicitly user-selected embellishment or an automatically generated embellishment based on content of the message, the at least one embellishment being configured in a manner consistent with the selected level or degree of emotional expressiveness; and causing transmission of the embellished message via a network to the second user.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a scalable translation between polling-based clients and connection-based message queues are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an actively invalidated client-side network resource cache are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for managing multiple queues of non-persistent messages in a networked environment are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving a non-persistent message at a gateway process, the message including information indicative of a named queue; mapping, by use of a data processor, the named queue to a queue node by use of a consistent hash of the named queue; mapping the message to a queue process at the queue node; accessing, by use of the queue process, a list of subscriber gateways; and routing the message to each of the subscriber gateways in the list.

Abstract: Embodiments for increasing clarity and expressiveness in network communications include: obtaining a message from a first user as part of a network-enabled conversation with a second user; analyzing the message to identify an expressiveness keyword indicative of an emotion, mood, or level of expressiveness; selecting a level or degree of emotional expressiveness to which a corresponding emotion or mood should be expressed in relation to the identified expressiveness keyword; applying, by use of a processor, at least one embellishment to the message to produce an embellished message, the embellishment including either an explicitly user-selected embellishment or an automatically generated embellishment based on content of the message, the at least one embellishment being configured in a manner consistent with the selected level or degree of emotional expressiveness; and causing transmission of the embellished message via a network to the second user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for field data gathering and which provide flexible configuration options for a central office. The system, run from, mobile computing devices, provides a free-flowing data gathering experience while only requiring what the central office needs from the field. The central office can configure the system to accept different types of data by way of different data input means available to the mobile computing device. Only the data needed by the central office need be collected by the mobile device operator. The data format is defined by the central office and is uploaded to each of the relevant mobile computing devices for use by the operators. Once each data set has been collected by an operator, the data package with the data set is scheduled for transmission to the central office once a connection with the central office can be made.

Abstract: Embodiments for increasing clarity and expressiveness in network communications include: obtaining a message from a first user as part of a network-enabled conversation with a second user; applying at least one embellishment to the message to produce an embellished message, the embellishment including either an explicitly user-selected embellishment or an automatically generated embellishment based on content of the message; and causing transmission of the embellished message via a network to the second user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for field data gathering and which provide flexible configuration options for a central office. The system, run from, mobile computing devices, provides a free-flowing data gathering experience while only requiring what the central office needs from the field. The central office can configure the system to accept different types of data by way of different data input means available to the mobile computing device. Only the data needed by the central office need be collected by the mobile device operator. The data format is defined by the central office and is uploaded to each of the relevant mobile computing devices for use by the operators. Once each data set has been collected by an operator, the data package with the data set is scheduled for transmission to the central office once a connection with the central office can be made.

Abstract: A system and method for managing multiple queues of non-persistent messages in a networked environment are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: receiving a non-persistent message at a gateway process, the message including information indicative of a named queue; mapping, by use of a data processor, the named queue to a queue node by use of a consistent hash of the named queue; mapping the message to a queue process at the queue node; accessing, by use of the queue process, a list of subscriber gateways; and routing the message to each of the subscriber gateways in the list.