Abstract: Disclosed is a system to efficiently compute validity of a block chain controlling access to an encrypted data. The block chain defines user permissions to access the encrypted data. The system creates a computational checkpoint proving a validity of the block chain based on the user permissions defined in the block chain. The system performs an expensive computation from an initial block in the block chain to a last block in the block chain, wherein the expensive computation validates each block between the initial block and the last block. The system creates a proof of the validity of the block chain based on the expensive computation and stores the proof after the last block in the block chain. The system can provide the proof of the validity, without performing the expensive computation, where verifying the proof is at least ten times faster than the expensive computation.

Abstract: A block chain defining authority and access to confidential data may not be encrypted, and the access to the block chain can be regulated by the block chain itself and an access control server operating in an enterprise information technology (IT) environment. To incorporate authority defined in multiple sources, such as the block chain and the access control server, a token can be created containing multiple layers of permissions, i.e. constraints, coming from multiple sources. Each additional permission attenuates the authority granted by the token. When a processor controlling the access to the block chain receives the token, the processor can check the validity of the token and the authority granted by the token to determine whether the requester is authorized to access at least a portion of the block chain.

Abstract: A home automation (HA) system may include HA operation devices and HA user interface devices for respective users. Each HA user interface device may be configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the HA operation devices. The HA system may also include HA hub devices configured to provide communications for the HA user interface devices and the HA operation devices. A cloud server may be configured to communicate with the HA hub devices, determine a needed maintenance operation for a given one of the HA operation devices, and communicate the needed maintenance operation to the given one of the HA operation devices. The cloud server may also be configured to duplicate communicating the needed maintenance operation to others of the HA operation devices.

Abstract: A block chain defining authority and access to confidential data may not be encrypted, and the access to the block chain can be regulated by the block chain itself and an access control server operating in an enterprise information technology (IT) environment. To incorporate authority defined in multiple sources, such as the block chain and the access control server, a token can be created containing multiple layers of permissions, i.e. constraints, coming from multiple sources. Each additional permission attenuates the authority granted by the token. When a processor controlling the access to the block chain receives the token, the processor can check the validity of the token and the authority granted by the token to determine whether the requester is authorized to access at least a portion of the block chain.

Abstract: Integrating payment processing functionality into a third-party application via software development kit (SDK) instructions is described. In an example, a payment card reader can include reader instructions executable on the payment card reader to configure the payment card reader to read payment card data from a payment card and transmit the payment card data to a mobile device for processing by SDK instructions on the mobile device. The SDK instructions can be executable on the mobile device to configure the mobile device to process the payment card data from the payment card reader. The SDK instructions, which can be provided by a payment processor, can be configured to be integrated into a third-party application on the mobile device, wherein the third-party application is provided by an entity distinct from the payment processor.

Abstract: Integrating payment processing functionality into a third-party application via software development kit (SDK) instructions is described. In an example, a payment card reader can include reader instructions executable on the payment card reader to configure the payment card reader to read payment card data from a payment card and transmit the payment card data to a mobile device for processing by SDK instructions on the mobile device. The SDK instructions can be executable on the mobile device to configure the mobile device to process the payment card data from the payment card reader. The SDK instructions, which can be provided by a payment processor, can be configured to be integrated into a third-party application on the mobile device, wherein the third-party application is provided by an entity distinct from the payment processor.

Abstract: A process of producing a manufactured wood product comprises providing a plurality of wood pieces having substantially an equilibrium moisture content; contacting the plurality of wood pieces with one or more additives under conditions for the additive(s) to soak into the wood pieces; applying a thermoplastic adhesive comprising a thermoplastic resin and a crosslinking agent to the wood pieces to form adhesive coated wood pieces; optionally heating the adhesive coated wood pieces to form heated adhesive coated wood pieces; assembling the adhesive coated wood pieces in a desirable configuration to form assembled adhesive coated wood pieces; compressing the assembled adhesive coated wood pieces in a press at a pressure and for a time sufficient to compact and compress the assembled wood pieces to force trapped air out of and mechanically deform the assembled adhesive coated wood pieces so that adjacent wood pieces conform to the shape of one another; crosslinking the thermoplastic adhesive to at least a critica

Abstract: A block chain defining authority and access to confidential data may not be encrypted, and the access to the block chain can be regulated by the block chain itself and an access control server operating in an enterprise information technology (IT) environment. To incorporate authority defined in multiple sources, such as the block chain and the access control server, a token can be created containing multiple layers of permissions, i.e. constraints, coming from multiple sources. Each additional permission attenuates the authority granted by the token. When a processor controlling the access to the block chain receives the token, the processor can check the validity of the token and the authority granted by the token to determine whether the requester is authorized to access at least a portion of the block chain.

Abstract: Presented here is a system that manages secured file system, and an authority to the secured file system, by granting access only to a user who is authorized to access the file system. The user within the system is identified using a unique key unique to each user. The user's authority is recorded in a linear sequence distributed among multiple devices each of which independently verifies the validity of each block in the linear sequence. The validity of the linear sequence is guaranteed by preventing certain operations from being performed on the linear sequence, such as branching of the linear sequence, deletion, and modification of the blocks within the linear sequence. Prior to adding a new block to the linear sequence, the validity of the block is independently computed by each of the devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for managing energy costs. A method for managing energy costs comprises: obtaining input data related to a property and one or more appliances associated with the property; predicting, based on the input data, energy consumption of the property over a time period; determining a set of candidate energy tariffs applicable to the property based on published utility data and the input data; determining energy costs of the property over the time period for each energy tariff; and identifying and outputting one or more energy tariffs in the set of candidate energy tariffs that reduce or minimize energy costs of the property over the time. The method may also include switching to the recommended tariff and adjusting the operation of the appliance(s) to minimize energy costs. The energy consumption of the property may comprise forecasted energy profile of one or more new appliances.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving vendor specific data from one or more message oriented middleware servers of a message oriented middleware infrastructure, and inputting the vendor specific data from the one or more message oriented middleware servers into a back-end database. The vendor specific data is converted into commonly formatted data, and the commonly formatted data is inputted into a front-end database. The method also includes retrieving the commonly formatted data from the front-end database, and displaying the commonly formatted data on a user interface providing a visualization of a topology of the message oriented middleware infrastructure.

Abstract: A climate control system may include a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for an indoor building area. The climate control system may also include a home automation (HA) thermostat device in the indoor building area. The HA thermostat device may include a housing, an indoor temperature sensor carried by the housing to sense an indoor temperature of the indoor building area, and a temperature controller carried by the housing. The temperature controller may obtain a setpoint temperature for the indoor building area, obtain an external temperature from the external to indoor building area, and determine a crossing of the external temperature of the setpoint temperature. The HA temperature controller may also switch the HVAC system between operating modes for heating and cooling based upon the crossing of the external temperature of the setpoint temperature and the indoor temperature moving beyond the setpoint temperature by a threshold temperature difference.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for customizable content moderation using neural networks with fine-grained and dynamic image classification ontology. A content moderation system of the present disclosure may provide a plurality of image categories in which a subset of of image categories may be designated as restricted categories. The restricted categories may be chosen by a content provider or an end-user. The content moderation system may utilize a neural network to classify image data (e.g., still images, video, etc.) into one or more of the plurality of image categories, and determine that an image is a restricted image upon classifying the image into one of the restricted categories. The restricted image may by flagged, rejected, removed, or otherwise filtered upon being classified as a restricted image.

Abstract: A content server system provides a client device with content, such as an audio stream. Using various techniques, an estimate is made of the actual size of an audience associated with the provided content, rather than assuming that the audience is limited to a single user of the client device. The estimate may be made by the content server system, the client device, or the content server system and the client device collectively. Using the estimate of actual size of the audience, the content server system can take actions appropriate for the audience, such as providing advertisements appropriate for the size of the audience and for the collective characteristics of the audience members. The estimate of the actual audience size additionally allows the content server system to be compensated more precisely for any advertisements provided to that audience.

Abstract: Techniques for providing an on-demand development environment are described. A service of a provider network receives a request to launch a development environment, such as a notebook, from an electronic device. The service obtains an identification of a computing cluster hosted by the provider network. The service obtains an identification of a compute instance hosted within the provider network, the compute instance executing a software environment to host one or more development environments. The service causes the compute instance to launch a development environment. The service sends a message to configure the launched development environment to execute a computer program written in the development environment using the computing cluster. The service generates a token to secure communications between the electronic device and the development environment and sends the token to an originator of the request.

Abstract: An automated online payment system may be used to process purchase payments between a buyer and a seller. When a payment is requested, the payment system may determine whether the corresponding purchase satisfies a purchase criterion, and if so, may defer certain aspects of settling the payment. For example, the payment service may determine the risk of deferred settlement and the likelihood that the buyer will make a subsequent purchase from the seller within a relatively short time period. If there is a low risk and high likelihood of a future purchase, the payment service may authorize the payment, but may defer capture of the payment until the buyer makes the subsequent purchase.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides packages that are configured for containing a prophylactic device and a plurality of lubricant compositions. The package can include a primary storage compartment in which the prophylactic device can be contained and a plurality of secondary storage compartments arranged relative to the primary storage compartment, the plurality of secondary storage compartments containing lubricant composition(s). The present disclosure further provides methods for providing a lubricated prophylactic device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides packages that are configured for containing a prophylactic device and a quantity of lubricant material. The package can include a first portion defining a first chamber containing a prophylactic device; and a second portion defining a second chamber containing a quantity of lubricant composition; wherein the first chamber of the first portion and the second chamber of the second portion are arranged to separably engage one another about external surfaces of the first portion and the second portion so as to form a unitary package. The present disclosure further provides methods for providing a lubricated prophylactic device.

Abstract: A composite heat spreader includes a first flexible graphite layer, a second flexible graphite layer, and a gas evolving layer positioned between the first flexible graphite layer and the second flexible graphite layer. The gas evolving layer is temperature sensitive and when a threshold temperature is reached, the thermal conductivity of the gas evolving layer is reduced by at least factor of five.