Abstract: Techniques are described herein for authenticating a client device using a unique graphic identifier. A user device may generate a unique graphic identifier that includes at least one graphic object and at least one text graphic. The user device may convert the image data associated with the at least one graphic object and at least one text graphic to numeric values and combine the numeric values to form the unique graphic identifier. The client device may use the unquiet graphic identifier for verification/registration with another device or service. In one aspect, the unique graphic identifier may be combined with other identification information associated with the client device, such as an IP address, a hostname, and/or a browser string/operating system identifier to enable a more configurable and more secure verification process. Access rules may be defined for verification of only a subset of the identification information and the unique graphic identifier.

Abstract: A method of correlating outgoing electronic communications with received electronic messages includes: sending an electronic message associated with a second party to a first party; subsequently receiving an outgoing electronic communication from the first party by the second party; automatically determining whether the outgoing electronic communication resulted from the electronic message, based on electronically stored information about the sending of the electronic message and about the subsequently received outgoing electronic communication; and if it is determined that the outgoing electronic communication resulted from the electronic message, flagging the outgoing electronic communication to have a different status from outgoing electronic communications not determined to have resulted from an electronic message.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds from a first liquid. The process can include passing the first liquid through a first inlet and a second liquid through a second inlet of a vessel, passing the first and second liquids through the passageway for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids to extract the one or more sulfur compounds from the first liquid to the second liquid, and passing the first liquid through the first outlet and the second liquid through the second outlet. Often, the vessel has a plurality of vortex contactors, and a first outlet and a second outlet. The plurality of vortex contactors can include a first vortex contactor, in turn having at least one wall forming a perimeter about an interior region and including a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating the first liquid from an exterior to the interior region, and a frustum positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the at least one wall.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating loss of engine torque due to cavitation in a fuel pump. One example approach is adjusting engine operation or fuel pump operation based on ambient conditions and a measured engine torque being lower than a desired engine torque after a pre-determined duration. The ambient conditions may include one or more of ambient temperature being higher than a temperature threshold, barometric pressure lower than a threshold pressure, and fuel volatility higher than a threshold volatility.

Abstract: A display window (10) displays items of merchandise in association beacon apparatus (22). The merchandise is provided in Association with display furniture (12) that supports the beacon apparatus (22). The beacon apparatus (22) is short range and carries (24) product and location codes (28, 30) together with app activation codes (26) that cause the portable device (16) to activate an app. The app receives all of the beacon information (24,26, 28,30) and transfer them to an app server which response by providing product outlines to the portable device (16), that enables selection of an item of merchandise for interaction with the app server. A single short range beacon apparatus (22) can provide information for a plurality of items of merchandise. The app server stores all of the beacon (22) location codes and selected product indication codes (30) as statistical evidence of customer preference. The app server permits purchase of items.

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: Disclosed is a method for treating hydrocarbon streams containing mercaptan compounds including contacting a first, relatively light hydrocarbon stream including mercaptan compounds with a first alkaline caustic solution to remove the mercaptan compounds from the first hydrocarbon stream and generate a second alkaline caustic solution including mercaptan compounds and oxidizing the mercaptan compounds in the second alkaline caustic solution to generate a third alkaline solution including a first concentration of disulfide compounds. The method further includes separating a portion of the disulfide compounds in the third alkaline solution to form a fourth alkaline solution including a second concentration of disulfide compounds.

Abstract: A humidification system can include a heater base, a chamber, and a breathing circuit. The heater base includes a heater plate positioned in a recessed region, and a heat conductive portion of the chamber is configured to contact the heater plate. The heater base includes a guard configured to control movement of the chamber into and out of the recessed region. The guard includes an anti-racking mechanism. The chamber includes an inlet port, an outlet port. A downward extension extends into the chamber from the inlet port, and a baffle is disposed at a lower end of the downward extension. A component of the breathing circuit can include a conduit hanging end cap for shipping and storage. The end cap can include a hanging component to allow the breathing circuit component to be hung from a medical stand. The system can detect when breathing circuits are connected in reverse.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds in a gas hydrocarbon stream. The process may include feeding the gas hydrocarbon stream to a prewash zone containing an alkali stream and passing the gas hydrocarbon stream from the prewash zone to an extraction zone. Usually, the gas hydrocarbon stream includes one or more sulfur compounds and the prewash zone includes a hollow fiber membrane.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to storage array confirmation of use of a path. A controller node of a storage array may confirm use of a path to a storage volume of the storage array. The controller node may include a command monitor to detect commands at a communication layer that is above a transport protocol layer. The commands may flow via a path from a host to the storage volume. The controller node may include a command analyzer to determine whether at least one of the commands indicates that the host has detected or is capable of using the storage volume successfully via the path. In other words, the command analyzer may determine that the path is active.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of prismatic format batteries in a stacked configuration. Flexible graphite sheet heat spreaders are interposed between adjacent prismatic batteries in the stack. A heat sink extends the length of the stack of prismatic format batteries. But heat spreader major surfaces contact the heat sink and extend into the heat sink by at least 30 percent of the thru-thickness of the heat sink.

Abstract: A method of correlating voice calls with received electronic messages includes sending an electronic message associated with a second party to a first party; subsequently receiving a voice call from the first party by the second party; automatically determining whether the voice call resulted from the electronic message, based on electronically stored information about the sending of the electronic message and about the subsequently received voice call; and if it is determined that the voice call resulted from the electronic message, flagging the voice call to have a different status from voice calls not determined to have resulted from an electronic message.

Abstract: A battery pack thermal management assembly draws heat from prismatic batteries having opposed major surfaces and arranged in a stacked configuration inside a housing. The thermal management assembly includes a plurality of thermal transfer sheets made from sheets of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles. Each thermal transfer sheet is positioned to contact the major surface of at least one of the prismatic batteries. A cover plate has a top face and a bottom face and includes a plurality of apertures through which the plurality of thermal transfer sheets extend. The apertures include at least one curved sidewall and the thermal transfer sheets are bent over the curved sidewall. At least a portion of each of the thermal transfer sheets is secured between a heat sink and the top face.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for extracting sulfur compounds in a hydrocarbon stream. The process can include feeding a hydrocarbon stream containing sulfur compounds to a prewash zone containing an alkali, withdrawing a prewashed hydrocarbon stream from the prewash zone, and feeding the prewashed hydrocarbon stream to a mass transfer zone for extracting one or more thiol compounds from the prewashed hydrocarbon stream. Often, the mass transfer zone includes a hollow fiber membrane contactor.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus are provided for treating gasoline range hydrocarbons containing mercaptans to convert the mercaptans to organic disufides. The process involves contacting treated gasoline range hydrocarbons comprising organic disulfides with a coalescing material and separating refined gasoline range hydrocarbons and organic disulfides from spent alkali using a separation device. The apparatus comprises a treatment vessel suitable for housing a catalyst therein for producing treated gasoline range hydrocarbons comprising organic disulfides, as well as a separation device and coalescing material therein for separating gasoline range hydrocarbons and organic disulfides from spent alkali.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine that can selectively provide drive torque to propel the vehicle. An electric machine also selectively provides drive torque. A differential transfers the torque to and amongst wheels. A planetary gearset is coupled to the engine and has a ring-gear for transmitting ring-gear-torque to the differential. A continuous torque transfer member operatively couples the ring-gear and the electric machine to the differential. At least one controller is configured to alter engine output based on a ring-gear-torque-threshold. This enables a desired torque to transfer through the continuous torque transfer member to the differential.

Abstract: Data is collected in a vehicle relating to a potential obstacle. Based at least in part on the collected data, an obstacle is identified. At least one characteristic of the obstacle is determined. At least one torque to be applied in a vehicle powertrain is determined based at least in part on the at least one characteristic of the obstacle.

Abstract: A vehicle charging system includes a charger configured to receive power form an external power source and a connector. The connector is configured to receive power from the charger and transmit the received power to a vehicle via a high-voltage cable. The cable is configured to connect the connector to a vehicle battery. Each of the charger and the connector includes a high voltage interlock loop (HVIL) configured to cause the charger to cease power transfer upon recognizing a predetermined voltage difference at a pair of ports of the HVIL.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur-containing hydrocarbons. The process can include sending a stream including one or more alkaline compounds, one or more hydrocarbons, and one or more sulfur compounds to a stack of a disulfide separator, and sending a fluid downstream of a distributor to a vortex contacting device for providing a gas having no more than about 100 ppm, by weight, sulfur. Often, the stack includes one or more walls surrounding a void and the distributor positioned within the void, and is adapted to receive the stream having one or more phases.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine that can selectively provide drive torque to propel the vehicle. An electric machine also selectively provides drive torque. A differential transfers the torque to and amongst wheels. A planetary gearset is coupled to the engine and has a ring-gear for transmitting ring-gear-torque to the differential. A continuous torque transfer member operatively couples the ring-gear and the electric machine to the differential. At least one controller is configured to alter engine output based on a ring-gear-torque-threshold. This enables a desired torque to transfer through the continuous torque transfer member to the differential.