Abstract: A modular service interface is provided. The modular service interface includes separable first and second halves, one or more alignment features, a connector interface and one or more electropermanent magnet modules, connector interface configured to mate the first and second halves when activated and allow the first and second halves to be separated when inactivated. The modular service interface includes no mechanical actuators to retain the first half to the second half.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to membranous tissue grafts comprising one or more pre-made attachment points. The one or more pre-made attachment points may include pre-made markings and/or pre-made suture holes. The membranous tissue grafts can be in the form of a tube. The membranous tissue grafts can also be rectangular in shape and can be used in a nerve repair by wrapping the severed or damaged nerve. In some embodiments, the membranous tissue grafts are suitable for repairing severed nerves that have a short gap or no gap with a gap of less than 5 mm between the severed stumps. Accordingly, methods are provided for repairing a damaged or severed nerve by implanting the membranous tissue grafts on to the damaged or severed nerve.

Abstract: A home automation (HA) system may include addressable HA devices and an HA interface device that includes a housing, a display, and an audio input device carried by the housing. The HA interface device may also include a controller carried by the housing to store HA device signatures of the addressable HA devices and determine an unpaired addressable HA device and compare the associated HA device signature of the unpaired addressable HA device with the stored HA device signatures. The controller may also, when there is a match between the HA device signature of the unpaired addressable HA device and one of the stored HA device signatures, permit pairing of the unpaired addressable HA device to communicate with the unpaired addressable HA device using a respective wireless communications protocol, and selectively operate paired addressable HA devices based upon voice commands received via the audio input device.

Abstract: A humidification system can include a heater base, a humidification chamber, and a breathing circuit. A cartridge can be removably coupled to the heater base. The cartridge can include various sensors, probes, sensor wire connectors, heater wire connectors, and/or other features. The cartridge can include features configured to mate with corresponding features on the humidification chamber and the heater base. The cartridge includes a memory, such as an EEPROM, or other suitable storage device. When the cartridge is installed on the heater base, the memory is electrically connected to a processor and/or memory of the heater base. Various models of cartridges can be produced for use with different humidification chambers, breathing circuits, and/or therapies. A connector can be configured to couple an inspiratory conduit to an outlet port of the humidification chamber. The connector can provide a pneumatic connection to the outlet port and an electrical connection to the cartridge.

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 payment application on the mobile device, wherein the third-party payment application is provided by an entity distinct from the payment processor.

Abstract: A capture interface is provided. The capture interface is configured to be rigidly affixed to an external surface of a recovery object and captured by a capture device. The capture interface includes a matte ferromagnetic surface of flat disposition and geometric outline, configured to facilitate capture by the capture device. The ferromagnetic surface includes a capture interface identifier.

Abstract: A payment service is configured to support purchase transactions generated by merchant point-of-sale (POS) devices, wherein each purchase transaction may comprise multiple transaction requests such as authorization requests and capture requests. Each transaction request may be sent to a different one of multiple data centers of the payment service. Upon successfully receiving an acknowledgement from one of the data centers for a transaction request, the POS device designates that data center as the primary data center. Subsequently, all transaction requests for that transaction identify the primary data center, even when the transaction requests are sent to other data centers. At the payment service, the data centers synchronize requests such that the primary data center is informed of all authorizations and is made responsible for performing the capture of the transaction. This allows the primary data center to detect duplicate authorizations and to prevent duplicate captures.

Abstract: A home automation system may include addressable devices and device scene controller. The controller may obtain a first desired scene including a first trigger action and responsive event and present a first user-selectable list of addressable devices capable of implementing the first desired scene. The controller may determine the first user-selected addressable devices, and, upon the first trigger event, perform the first responsive event using the first user-selected addressable devices. The controller may obtain from the cloud a second desired scene including a second trigger action and responsive event, present a second user-selectable list of corresponding addressable devices capable of implementing the second desired scene, determine the second user-selected addressable devices, and upon the second trigger event, perform the second responsive event using the second user-selected addressable devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a contact lens, the method comprising identifying the eccentricity of a lens produced in a mold half, lathing the lens and adjusting the path of the lathe to take account of the eccentricity, and a computer program for controlling the lathe.

Abstract: A signal barrier for a sensor device can include at least one wall that forms an inner space, wherein the at least one wall comprises a material for reducing an amount of a signal from entering the inner space, wherein the at least one wall is configured to be disposed adjacent to a transceiver element of the sensor device, wherein the transceiver element is directed to the inner space.

Abstract: An audio processing plug-in shim operates in conjunction with a plug-in host application executing on a computing device. The plug-in shim receives a stream of digital audio from the plug-in host application and transmits the digital audio to a network service executing in a network accessible remote distributed computing environment. The network service receives the digital audio and routes the digital audio to one or more audio processing plug-ins, also executing in the distributed computing environment. The audio plug-ins process the digital audio, such as by applying digital signal processing techniques to the digital audio, and return processed audio to the network service. The network service returns the processed audio to the plug-in shim executing on the remote computing device. The plug-in shim, in turn, receives the processed audio from the network service and provides the processed audio to the plug-in host application.

Abstract: A manufactured wood product in the form of a consolidated monolith comprising a plurality of natural wood pieces adhesively bonded together by a crosslinked thermoplastic adhesive which has been cross linked during processing wherein said manufactured wood product retains its consolidated shape at elevated temperatures and wherein the crosslinked thermoplastic adhesive has a glass transition temperature at or lower than the normal use temperature of the manufactured wood product.

Abstract: A chemical composition includes citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, starch, at least one oil, and a liquid composition such as water combined to form a solid tablet. The composition may react with water to produce a film over a body of water, such that the film is used to cover the surface of the contents of a latrine and prevent gasses and odors from escaping the latrine.

Abstract: An automated commissioning and floorplan configuration (CAFC) device can include a CAFC system having a transceiver and a CAFC engine, where the transceiver communicates with at least one device disposed in a volume of space, where the CAFC engine, based on communication between the transceiver and the at least one device, commissions the at least one device.

Abstract: A container system (20) comprises: a container body (22) having a sidewall (26), a shoulder (32), and an externally threaded neck (34) extending from the shoulder; and a closure (24) having an internally threaded inner sidewall (50) extending from a rim, an outer sidewall (60), and an installed condition with the inner sidewall in threaded engagement with the neck. The outer sidewall has a radially inwardly protruding barb (80) having a ramping surface (82) and a stop surface (84). The container body shoulder has a lug (90) having a ramping surface (92) and a stop surface (94). A first projection (120) protrudes radially outward from the outer sidewall to a first circumferential side of the barb and a second projection (122) protrudes radially outward from the outer sidewall to a second circumferential side of the barb.

Abstract: Approaches are described for a client (e.g., an application executing on a computing device) requiring a particular storage format to provide information describing its storage format to a service, such as a multi-tenant computing environment. The service contains data that the client desires to acquire, but in various embodiments, the data on the service is in a different storage format than the format required by the client. The service receives the information describing the storage format and processes the data accordingly, and then provides the processed data to the client in the format required by the client.

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 home automation (HA) system may include a cloud media content server and HA operation devices within a structure. The HA system may also include HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure. Each HA user interface device may wirelessly communicate with at least one of the HA operation devices to perform an HA operation and provide stored media content to the respective user. The HA system may also include HA hub devices within the structure to provide communications for the cloud media content server, HA user interface devices, and HA operation devices. A designated HA hub device may download media content from the cloud media content server and push the downloaded media content to other HA user interface devices within the structure so that the other HA user interface devices do not communicate with the cloud media content server relating to the downloaded media content.

Abstract: A home automation (HA) system may include HA operation devices within a structure. At least one of the HA operation devices may include a light dimmer for a given area. The HA system may also include HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure. Each HA user interface device may be configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the HA operation devices. A HA hub device within the structure may provide communications for the HA user interface and operation devices. The HA hub device may receive a light-off command from an HA user interface device for the light dimmer and send a sequence of partial dimming commands to the light dimmer to turn the light off, and determine whether the given area is occupied based upon at least one HA operation device, and when occupied, then send a light-on override command to the light dimmer.

Abstract: A home automation (HA) system may include a cloud server, HA operation devices within a senior living facility, and HA user interface devices for respective users within the senior living facility. Each HA user interface device may include a user input device, a display defining a user interface (UI), and a controller. The HA system may include HA hub devices within the senior living facility to provide communications for the cloud server, the HA user interface devices, and the HA operation devices. The controller may send user interaction data to the cloud server and operate the UI according to a user cognitive level. The cloud server may be configured to determine the user cognitive level based upon the user interaction data received from a given HA user interface device, and send the user cognitive level to the given HA user interface device.