Abstract: An adapter for use with a tattoo machine is disclosed. The adapter may enable a tattoo machine configured with a wireless battery pack to switch to a wired configuration by removing the wireless battery pack and replacing it with the adapter. One end of the adapter may be affixed to a portion of the tattoo machine so that the adapter may deliver power to the componentry of the tattoo machine to facilitate the operation of the tattoo machine. The other end of the adapter may include a connector for enabling connection of the adapter to a power supply or power source so that power may be delivered from the power supply or power source through the adapter and to the tattoo machine. When the tattoo machine is powered, the motor of the tattoo machine may reciprocate a needle included in a needle cartridge affixed to the tattoo machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical device and a method for operating the electrochemical device for inducing specific behaviours in its chemical kinetics by supplying externally selected random (stochastic) voltage perturbations while the electrochemical system is operating in a non-oscillatory regime.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, computing entities can establish direct communications with one another using a variety of protocols and standards. Such direction communications can be monitored or attempted to be established to determine whether an item is allowed or disallowed for delivery.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, the present techniques relate to a method and apparatus for performing action recognition, and in particular to a computer-implemented method for performing action recognition on resource-constrained or lightweight devices such as smartphones. The ML model may be adjusted to achieve required accuracy and efficiency levels, while also taking into account the computational capability of the apparatus that is being used to implement the ML model. One way is to adjust the number of channels assigned to the first set of channels, i.e. the full temporal resolution channels. Another way is to adjust the point in the ML model where the temporal pooling layer or layers are applied.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, computer program products, and apparatuses for processing package delivery exceptions. In one embodiment, a method for processing an item delivery exception for an item that is to be delivered by a carrier is provided. The method comprises receiving an exception request associated with the item; notifying a delivery vehicle driver of the exception request; receiving input indicating a unique RFID identifier, wherein the unique RFID identifier identifies an exception RFID tag attached to the item; associating the unique RFID identifier with the unique item identifier; after receiving a request to locate the item, activating an RFID reader array, wherein the RFID reader array is located at a facility associated with the carrier; and based at least in part on the detection of the item by at least one RFID reader of the RFID reader array, calculating an estimated location of the item.

Abstract: A surgical applicator for a fastener, the surgical applicator comprising: a handle; a trigger movable relative to the handle between an initial position, an actuated position, and an intermediate position between the initial position and the actuated position; and a lockout mechanism movable relative to the trigger between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lockout mechanism operatively arranged to: lock the trigger in the intermediate position when the trigger is moved from the initial position toward the actuated position; and permit movement of the trigger from the intermediate position toward the initial position or the actuated position when the lockout mechanism is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Abstract: A surgical applicator for a fastener, the surgical applicator comprising: a handle; a trigger movable relative to the handle between an initial position, an actuated position, and an intermediate position between the initial position and the actuated position; and a lockout mechanism movable relative to the trigger between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lockout mechanism operatively arranged to: lock the trigger in the intermediate position when the trigger is moved from the initial position toward the actuated position; and permit movement of the trigger from the intermediate position toward the initial position or the actuated position when the lockout mechanism is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Abstract: A user request associated with a first user and a shipment of one or more items is received. A prompt that the first user provide one or more biometric identifiers is provided. The prompt selectively excludes a request for billing information from the first user. A least partially in response to the providing of the prompt, at least a first biometric identifier of the first user is obtained. At least partially in response to the obtaining of the first biometric identifier of the first user, the billing information is automatically processed. Based at least in part on the automatically processing of the billing information, the user request associated with the shipment of the one or more items is completed.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, the present techniques relate to a method and apparatus for performing action recognition, and in particular to a computer-implemented method for performing action recognition on resource-constrained or lightweight devices such as smartphones. The ML model may be adjusted to achieve required accuracy and efficiency levels, while also taking into account the computational capability of the apparatus that is being used to implement the ML model. One way is to adjust the number of channels assigned to the first set of channels, i.e. the full temporal resolution channels. Another way is to adjust the point in the ML model where the temporal pooling layer or layers are applied.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention involve systems, methods, and computer program products that provide enhanced messages. In embodiment, a method for sending messages is provided that includes receiving shipping data that includes a destination address for delivery of an item, a message address for sending a notification message, customized data and a trigger event. In response to an occurrence of the triggering event, a notification message is sent to the message address and providing access to the customized data.

Abstract: A user request associated with a first user and a shipment of one or more items is received. A prompt that the first user provide one or more biometric identifiers is provided. The prompt selectively excludes a request for billing information from the first user. At least partially in response to the providing of the prompt, at least a first biometric identifier of the first user is obtained. At least partially in response to the obtaining of the first biometric identifier of the first user, the billing information is automatically processed. Based at least in part on the automatically processing of the billing information, the user request associated with the shipment of the one or more items is completed.

Abstract: Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, computing entities can establish direct communications with one another using a variety of protocols and standards. Such direction communications can be monitored or attempted to be established to determine whether an item is allowed or disallowed for delivery.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, the present techniques relate to a method, apparatus and system for improving a user's engagement or emotion during a human-computer interaction, by dynamically adjusting the human-computer interaction in response to detected user emotion

Abstract: The disclosed technology is generally directed to communications in an IoT environment. In one example of the technology, device twins for corresponding IoT devices are stored, wherein the device twins include metadata that is associated with the corresponding IoT devices. A schedule job instruction may be received, and at least one candidate IoT device among the IoT devices that is associated with the schedule job instruction may be identified. In some examples, executors associated with the at least one candidate IoT device are created, and jobs are executed via the executors such that the executors are capable of resuming execution after at least one of an outage or a failure.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, computing entities can establish direct communications with one another using a variety of protocols and standards. Such direction communications can be monitored or attempted to be established to determine whether an item is allowed or disallowed for delivery.

Abstract: An occupancy database is in electronic communication with a plurality of location-specific distributed computing entities to maintain real-time update occupancy data for various entities. As those entities relocate from one location to another (e.g., moving from one apartment to another), distributed computing entities associated with both the prior and new location of the entity transmit information to the occupancy database to reflect the changed location for the entity. The occupancy database also maintains communication data for the entities and/or locations associated with the entities, and the occupancy database may share that communication data with authorized mobile/user computing entities to enable communication between those authorized mobile/user computing entities and the particular entity or devices located at the entity's location.

Abstract: A plurality of module twins that respectively correspond to a plurality of modules of edge applications on a plurality of edge devices are stored. The plurality of module twins individually include metadata associated with the corresponding module of the plurality of modules. At least one further module to be deployed is determined. Edge devices of the plurality of edge devices to receive the determined at least one module are identified. The determined at least one further module is caused to be deployed to the identified edge devices. In response to deploying the determined at least one further module, the plurality of module twins is updated by adding, to the plurality of modules twins, modules twins corresponding to the deployed modules.

Abstract: A plurality of module twins that respectively correspond to modules of a plurality of modules of an edge application are stored on an edge device, and the modules comprise the edge application. The modules of the plurality of modules are capable of being used interoperably with other modules without altering the other modules. The plurality of module twins individually include metadata associated with the corresponding module of the plurality of modules. Communications are enabled between the modules of the plurality of modules and the IoT support service according to a common security context, and the metadata of each module twin of the plurality of module twins is synchronized based on the module.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for engaging a service provider to perform a delivery service to redirect a shipment to be delivered to an alternative intended destination upon receipt of a redirection request. Based on a monitored current location of a last mile delivery vehicle scheduled to deliver the shipment to an initial intended destination, a computing entity monitors the location of available service providers capable of meeting the last mile delivery vehicle to pick up the shipment and transport the shipment to the alternative intended destination. The computing entity may engage one of the service providers by transmitting a signal to a mobile computing entity carried by the service provider and may monitor the service provider's progress in meeting the last mile delivery vehicle and transporting the shipment to the alternative intended destination.