Abstract: An oil change machine or apparatus for removing used oil from an engine has flow lines for removing oil directly from the engine, which can be an automobile engine or a boat engine. The oil change machine can be configured to empty used oil to a designated waste oil bin. The oil change apparatus or machine can be located at a shop, can be portable and maneuverable from locations to locations, or be mounted on a service vehicle for on-site use, such as to perform oil change away from an oil lube center. The oil change machine can have adaptors for use with various engine models and can include an onboard offloading tank, in addition to a service holding tank, for performing multiple oil changes.

Abstract: Machine learning model re-training based on distributed feedback received from a plurality of edge computing devices is provided. A trained instance of a machine learning model is transmitted, via one or more communications networks, to the plurality of edge computing devices. Feedback data is collected, via the one or more communications networks, from the plurality of edge computing devices. The feedback data includes labeled observations generated by the execution of the trained instance of the machine learning model at the plurality of edge computing devices on unlabeled observations captured by the plurality of edge computing devices. A re-trained instance of the machine learning model is generated from the trained instance using the collected feedback data. The re-trained instance of the machine learning model is transmitted, via the one or more communications networks, to the plurality of edge computing devices.

Abstract: An improved ramp generator enables a very high degree of linearity in an output voltage ramp signal. Output ramps of the output voltage ramp signal are alternatingly produced from two preliminary ramp signals during alternating time periods. Preliminary ramps are produced at different preliminary ramp nodes that are alternatingly connected to an output node. The preliminary ramps continuously ramp during and in some cases beyond, e.g., before and/or after, the time periods. In some embodiments, switches alternatingly connect two capacitors to at least one current source, a reset voltage source, and the output node to alternatingly produce the preliminary ramps.

Abstract: Many-to-many cryptographic systems and methods are disclosed, including numerous industry applications. Embodiments of the present invention can generate and regenerate the same symmetric key from a random token. The many-to-many cryptographic systems and methods include a plurality of cryptographic modules in communication over a network. A cryptographic module is configured to encrypt data to be sent to other cryptographic modules and to decrypt data received from other cryptographic modules. The cryptographic module includes a key generator configured to use two or more inputs to reproducibly generate the symmetric key and a cryptographic engine configured to use the symmetric key for encrypting and decrypting data. Corresponding methods are also provided.

Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass can be fractionated for the purpose of increasing cellulose purity in the pulp, increasing native lignin content of the isolated lignin, and improving cellulose hydrolysis, by performing the steps of: (a) extracting the biomass with an extracting liquid comprising at least 20 wt % of a first organic solvent at a temperature below 100° C.; (b) treating the extracted biomass with a treatment liquid comprising a second organic solvent selected from lower alcohols, ethers and ketones, optionally water and optionally an acid, at a temperature between 120° C. and 280° C., and, optionally: (c) subjecting a cellulose-enriched product stream resulting from step (b) to enzymatic hydrolysis. The first and second organic solvent may be different or the same; in particular they comprise ethanol or acetone.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to monitoring network traffic using a monitoring engine that monitors network traffic in networks to provide metrics. An inference engine may provide activity profiles based on portions of the network traffic where each activity profile includes features associated with the portions of network traffic. The inference engine may determine other activity profiles correlated with the activity profiles based on correlation models such that the determination of the other activity profiles occurs prior to monitoring an occurrence of other portions of the network traffic. The inference engine may modify monitoring actions of the monitoring engine based on the other activity profiles. The inference engine may provide reports based on the portions of the network traffic, the activity profiles, the other portions of the network traffic, or the other activity profiles.

Abstract: Collapsible reusable watertight carrying cases are provided in sizes varying from small containers without wheels to large sealable container bins on wheels, to provide large quantities of water or other supplies and cargo. The cases are assembled or in disassembled from a joined flat space-saving configuration to a functioning case and vice-versa. The sides of the cases are erected progressively by hand by interlocking self sealing reciprocating channel and channel engaging members elements at the corners. The panels also disassemble progressively by being manually pulled apart. When folded into a flat storage or shipping configuration, the panels stay together, resisting unfolding by virtue of snaps which are either molded into the panels or bonded to them. The carrying cases are resistant to water, dirt, bacteria, molds, allergens, and inclement weather.

Abstract: An optical element includes an optical material including a first edge and an opposing second edge. The optical element further includes a plurality of micro-channels arranged within the optical material. Each of the micro-channels of the plurality of micro-channels extends from the first edge to the second edge of the optical material.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product that enable secure access to cameras in smart buildings. Some embodiments control outbound video from an environment such as a local network through an intelligent on-event video pushing mechanism. The local intelligent on-event video pushing mechanism hides the IP address of a source video camera, transcodes the video to a reduced size for wide area distribution, and pushes video to a recipient upon an event triggered received within the local environment (e.g., the local network.) Embodiments enable a remote video client on the far-side of the local network firewall to view the video streams of cameras on the near-side of the local network firewall when an event or trigger occurs.

Abstract: Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a lower gear range to a higher gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a lower gear range to a higher gear range in a way that may reduce torque disturbances that may result from gear lash.

Abstract: A method (and structure) includes receiving a challenge for an authentication, in a chip having stored in a memory device therein a secret to be used in an authentication attempt of the chip by an external agent. The chip includes a hardware processing circuit to sequentially perform a processing related to the secret. The secret is retrieved from the memory device and processed in the hardware processing circuit in accordance with information included in the received challenge. The result of the processing in the hardware processing circuit is transmitted as a response to the challenge. The hardware processing circuit executes in a parallel manner, thereby reducing a signal that can be detected by an adversary attempting a side channel attack to secure the secret.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the disclosure provides computer-implemented systems and methods for providing graph-based recommendations of digital media collaborators for content creators. In an embodiment, the disclosure provides computers programmed to implement a networked, online platform for facilitating collaboration between content creators. In an example embodiment, the platform provides a system for recommending a collaborator for a particular content creator to create content with, of a specific content type. In another example embodiment, the platform provides a system for recommending a collaborator for a particular content creator to create content with, without restricting the content type, using a community detection algorithm. In embodiments, recommendations may be made partly based on centrality measures of creator nodes on a network graph programmatically calculated between content nodes of that network graph, or content nodes of a community detected in the network graph.

Abstract: A process of forming a hydrophobic, conductive barrier on a metallic surface includes coating the metallic surface with an organic, conductive material. The organic, conductive material includes a conductive group having two or more alkyne groups and a dithiocarbamate group to bind the organic, conductive material to the metallic surface.

Abstract: In some implementations, a system may receive, from a first user, data associated with a new database entry to be added to a master database that is associated with multiple sets of users having different access permissions to entries in the master database. The system may write the data to a first repository, write an entry including the data to a master repository, and generate a record of the entry. The system may receive, from a second user, additional data associated with the new database entry. The system may write the additional data to a second repository, modify the entry in the master repository based on the additional data, and generate a record of the modified entry. The system may perform verifications and output a notification based on the verifications. The system may further output, to a public repository, the modified entry with at least one data value removed.

Abstract: A proprotor system for a ducted aircraft convertible between a vertical takeoff and landing flight mode and a forward flight mode includes a plurality of proprotor blades and a duct surrounding the proprotor blades. The duct includes an adaptive geometry device movable into various positions including a hover position and a cruise position. One or more actuators coupled to the adaptive geometry device are configured to move the adaptive geometry device between the hover position and the cruise position based on the flight mode of the ducted aircraft, thereby improving flight performance of the ducted aircraft.

Abstract: An example apparatus includes a first communications module having a first transceiver. The first communications module is operable to transmit, using the first transceiver, a plurality of first groups of optical subcarriers to a plurality of second communications modules via free-space optical communication. The first groups of optical subcarriers carry first data, and each of the first groups of optical subcarriers is associated, respectively, with a different one of the second communications modules. The first communications module is also operable to receive, using the first transceiver, plurality of second groups of optical subcarriers from the second communications modules via free-space optical communication. The second groups of optical subcarriers carry second data and each of the second groups of optical subcarriers is associated, respectively, with a different one of the second communications modules.

Abstract: A caregiver assistance system is disclosed for assisting a caregiver to ensure the beds of high fall risk patients are in desired states for reducing the likelihood of a patient falling. The system may also help the caregiver to perform rounding tasks. The system comprises a server in communication with the patients' beds and one or more mobile electronic devices (e.g. smart phones). The mobile devices receive answers to a plurality of fall risk questions and forward them to the server. The server generates a patient fall risk assessment from the answers, determines a desired state for fall-risk components of the bed if the patient fall risk assessment indicates the patient has a high risk of falling, compares the states of the fall-risk components to corresponding desired states, and issues an alert at the mobile device if any of the fall-risk components are not in their desired state.

Abstract: A greaseless pivot center swivel and bearing device includes an outer housing having a sidewall with top and bottom portions, a top plate coupled with the top portion that includes an opening therein, and a bottom plate coupled with the bottom portion that includes an opening therein. The sidewall cooperates with the top and bottom plates to define an interior volume. A single, unitary bushing member formed of a low-friction material is positioned within the interior volume and includes a surface cylindrically curved about an axis extending between the top and bottom plates of the housing. The cylindrically curved surface cooperates with the openings in the top and bottom plates to define a cylindrical passage through the interior volume sized and shaped for receiving a cylindrical tube that rotates therein, e.g., a tube configured to connect with a water supply column of a mechanized irrigation system.