Abstract: In certain embodiments, a time-varying spark current ignition system can be applied to improve spark plug ignitability performance and durability as compared to conventional spark ignition systems. Two performance parameters of interest are spark plug life (durability) and spark plug ignitability. In certain embodiments, spark plug life can be extended by applying a spark current amplitude as low as possible without causing quenching of the flame kernel while it is traveling within an electrode gap and/or by applying spark current of a long enough duration to allow the spark/flame kernel to clear a spark plug gap. In certain embodiments, ignitability can be improved by applying a high enough spark current amplitude to sustain the flame kernel once outside the spark plug gap and/or by applying a spark current for long enough to sustain the flame kernel once outside the spark plug gap.

Abstract: A masonry spacer tool that provides a specified separation between bricks mortared in a masonry construction. The masonry spacer tool includes at least two elongate forked prongs to support adjacent ends of a preceding brick and a subsequent brick in a masonry course. A handle end provides a suitable grip for extracting the spacing tool and has arms that provide support to the forked prongs to maintain their alignment during use.

Abstract: A shipping insert for shipping bottles, comprising: a bottom tray; a center divider; and a top tray. The bottom tray may include a plurality of base receptacles that engage with and removably hold a plurality of bottles. The center divider may include one or more supporting side extensions, one or more top center supports, and a plurality of openings. The center divider may engage and align with said bottom tray, such that said center divider is centered on said bottom tray and remains substantially in place when said plurality of bottles are loaded or unloaded into said shipping insert. The top tray may have a plurality of neck receptacles, one or more side walls, and one or more raised segments. The raised segments and side walls may have one or more shoulders.

Abstract: A handrail assembly for a treadmill is provided. The handrail assembly includes: a base having a first side and a second side; a first portion extending from the first side of the base; a second portion extending from the second side of the base; and a member coupled to the first portion and the second portion, the member including at least one lower section and at least one upper section. The base defines at least one compartment. At least a part of the member is configured to receive a pushing force from a user during use of the treadmill.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a storage unit of a dispersed storage network (DSN) an access request for an encoded data a slice of a set of encoded data slices from a computing device of the DSN. The method further includes queueing, by the storage unit, the access request for the encoded data slice. The method further includes, prior to executing the access request, determining, by the storage unit, whether a session associated with the access request is still active and whether execution the access request for encoded data slice is still needed. When the session is still active and the execution of the access request for the encoded data slice is still needed, the method further includes executing, by the storage unit, the access request for the encoded data slice.

Abstract: An indoor positioning system and method that correlates map locations to respective wireless access point (AP) fingerprints, and wherein each wireless AP fingerprint is a plurality of wireless AP signal measurements associated with the correlated map location. The method includes receiving position-inference data associated with a user; determining a probable location inside the building based on the position-inference data; receiving wireless AP signal measurements detected by a wireless device associated with the user; associating the probable location with the wireless device based on the association between the position-inference data and the user of the wireless device; and updating the wireless AP fingerprint correlated to the probable location using the received wireless AP signal measurements. The method and system use crowd-sourcing to build and refine the wireless AP fingerprints.

Abstract: Apparatus positioned at a guardrail lead end portion for absorbing energy resulting from vehicle impact includes an impact terminal, a support structure supporting the impact terminal at or adjacent to a lead end portion of the guardrail and a chute. The guardrail is in frictional engagement with inner chute surfaces and the chute applies torquing forces on the guardrail during passage of the guardrail through the chute to cause twisting of the guardrail and absorb vehicle collision impact energy.

Abstract: A thin film vessel useable in gravimetric methods for measuring the total dissolved solids or total solids in a liquid sample, or the moisture content of a solid sample. The vessel includes a main body formed of a thin walled polymeric material having a melting temperature greater than 180° C. The main body comprises an open top edge and a sealed bottom edge which define an inner cavity configured to hold a volume of liquid, and indicia applied to a portion of the main body, wherein the indicia include a tare weight of the vessel.

Abstract: A method begins by a first computing device of a plurality of computing devices accessing a rebuild hierarchical index structure to identify a data object having encoded data slices requiring rebuilding, where the structure includes a plurality of nodes that organizes a plurality of data objects based on a level of need of rebuilding. The method continues with the first computing device utilizing a rebuilding function to rebuild one or more of the identified encoded data slices to be rebuilt to produce one or more rebuilt encoded data slices and sending a write request to memory of a dispersed storage network to store the one or more rebuilt encoded data slices. The method continues with the first or another computing device updating the level of need of rebuilding of the identified data object and updating the rebuild hierarchical index structure based on the updated level of need of rebuilding.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle delivery system utilizes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver packages between an initiation point and delivery points at a raised elevation. One advantage of the system is that the UAV engages the delivery points at a raised elevation, rather than the ground level. The UAV docks through an elevated structure at the delivery point for delivering the package and replenishing a power source. The elevation of the delivery point is adjustable because the tower is comprised of identical sections that allow for stacking to a desired height for UAV landing at a docking end. The package is conveyed from a docking end and through a central shaft of the elevated structure by means of an elevator. The package then travels to a lower structure for pickup. After delivery, the UAV recharges a battery and continues on the delivery route.

Abstract: A shipping insert for shipping bottles, comprising: a bottom tray; a center divider; and a top tray. The bottom tray may include a plurality of base receptacles that engage with and removably hold a plurality of bottles. The center divider may include one or more supporting side extensions, one or more top center supports, and a plurality of openings. The center divider may engage and align with said bottom tray, such that said center divider is centered on said bottom tray and remains substantially in place when said plurality of bottles are loaded or unloaded into said shipping insert. The top tray may have a plurality of neck receptacles, one or more side walls, and one or more raised segments. The raised segments and side walls may have one or more shoulders.

Abstract: An apparatus and method detects trapped data at an intermediate node in a network path between a source node and a destination node, and re-routes that data to a downstream intermediate node in the network path via an alternate network path. An apparatus and method may include a virtualized physical interface, and may redirect the trapped data through a system's packet switched network, or through a system's flit switched network.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle delivery system utilizes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver packages between an initiation point and multiple delivery points at a raised elevation. The UAV flies between points in an organized manner, using logistical, maintenance and safety software, commands from a delivery organization, and guidance tools to coordinate deliveries. One advantage of the system is that the UAV engages the delivery points at a raised elevation, rather than the ground level. The UAV docks through an elevated structure at the delivery point for delivering the package and replenishing a power source. The package is conveyed from a docking end and through a central shaft of the elevated structure by means of an elevator. The package then travels to a lower structure, such as a house or office, for pickup. After completion of the delivery, the UAV replenishes its power source and/or continues on the delivery route.

Abstract: Apparatus positioned at a guardrail lead end portion for absorbing energy resulting from vehicle impact includes an impact terminal, a support structure supporting the impact terminal at or adjacent to a lead end portion of the guardrail and a chute. The guardrail is in frictional engagement with inner chute surfaces and the chute applies torquing forces on the guardrail during passage of the guardrail through the chute to cause twisting of the guardrail and absorb vehicle collision impact energy.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining customized markup content to deter malicious attackers and/or to decrease electronic submissions from robots. In some embodiments, markup content may be randomized with unique identifiers, reordering of markup elements, and/or insertion of hidden markup elements. The modifications to markup content may have no impact on human usability of the markup content. However, the customized markup content may render the content unusable by a programmed, automated attacker that cannot parse and/or recognize the content. Thus, automated attackers are deterred from using markup content, while human users remain unaffected.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing protocol headers sent over a wireless network are described. The method includes receiving at a proxy server, from a mobile device, a protocol request device addressed to a remote system. The protocol request including defined headers and an enable-caching indicator. The proxy server stores at least one of the defined headers as cached headers and sends a protocol response to the mobile device identifying the cached headers. Subsequent requests from the mobile device are formatted as abridged requests that exclude the cached headers, thereby reducing the data transmitted. The proxy server adds the cached headers to the abridged requests before forwarding them as unabridged requests to the remote system.

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: Methods and systems for enabling activation of a wireless communication device to operate with a server on a wireless communication network. An activation request to establish a wireless communication service relationship between the device and the server is pushed from the server to the device. After the device verifies the server, a mutually authenticated communication session is established between the device and the server for activation of the device on the server.

Abstract: A fitting for attaching to double wall tubes includes a body, a fitting center port, an outer seal, a tube connection, a pad connection, an inner seal, a groove, and a diagnostic port. The body has a first surface on a first side of the body and a second surface on a second side of the body. The fitting center port extends through the body for passing a primary fluid flow. The tube connection is on the first side of the fitting, and includes an inner connection and an outer connection. The groove is in the second surface surrounding the inner seal and the groove is configured to receive an outer seal. The diagnostic port is in the second surface for transferring a collected fluid through the body to the outer connection.

Abstract: The system is the combination of an envelope feeder and a laser printer, with some additional control mechanisms. An envelope conveyor system is positioned adjacent to a media input slot on a laser printer and envelopes are fed into a pickup assembly positioned within the media input slot in a controlled manner. By controlling the conveyor speed, a stack of envelopes having a limited and known number of envelopes is accumulated within the pickup assembly such that the pickup roller in the assembly can feed envelopes into the printer at a rate equal to or greater than the speed at which the printer can apply an image to each envelope. A control circuit provides a feedback signal to the conveyor to control conveyor motor actuation. The result is a smaller, less expensive and simpler feed system for an envelope printer.