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: An anti-clogging microfluidic multichannel device comprising a first mixing chamber comprising a first and a second end, wherein the first end comprises at least one inlet connected in fluid communication with the first mixing chamber, and at least one first capillary element comprising a first and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one first capillary element is connected in fluid communication with the second end of the first mixing chamber, at least one septum located within the at least one first capillary element, which divides the cross section of the at least one first capillary element in a plurality of channels, wherein the at least one first capillary element comprises a reduction of section along its longitudinal axis between a section of the at least one first capillary element and the second end of the at least one first capillary element. It is also described a microfluidics system and a method of production of emulsions using said microfluidics system.

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: 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: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, a connection between an electronic door hanger and a customer computing entity can be established at a customer's location. With a connection established, information about an attempted (e.g., successful/unsuccessful) pick-up or delivery can be automatically provided to the customer computing entity.

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 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: Metadata associated with IoT devices is stored. The metadata may include categories associated with the IoT devices. At least a first category may be hierarchical such that the first category includes at least two hierarchical levels, with each hierarchical level including at least two categories, and such that each category in a hierarchical level that is below another hierarchical level is a subset of one of the categories in the hierarchical levels above that hierarchical level. User information associated with users is stored. A request associated with one of the users and further associated with access to at least one of the IoT devices is received. Responsive to the request, the access is selectively granted to the at least one of the IoT devices based upon the stored user information and the stored metadata.

Abstract: Metadata associated with IoT devices is stored. The metadata may include categories associated with the IoT devices. At least a first category may be hierarchical such that the first category includes at least two hierarchical levels, with each hierarchical level including at least two categories, and such that each category in a hierarchical level that is below another hierarchical level is a subset of one of the categories in the hierarchical levels above that hierarchical level. User information associated with users is stored. A request associated with one of the users and further associated with access to at least one of the IoT devices is received. Responsive to the request, the access is selectively granted to the at least one of the IoT devices based upon the stored user information and the stored metadata.

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: 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: 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: Devices and methods for cosmetic skin treatment using a magnetic field are provided. A device can include a case, a stimulation head coupled with the case and including at least one coil of conductive wire for generating a magnetic field, and an electronic circuit housed in the case for driving the coils to generate the magnetic field.

Abstract: The disclosed technology is generally directed to communications in an IoT environment. In one example of the technology, 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: The disclosed technology is generally directed to communications in an IoT environment. In one example of the technology, a virtual IoT device is maintained and controlled to act as a representation of a connected device. Communications are received from an IoT support service. The received communications from the IoT support service are acted in response to, including sending communications to the IoT support service in response to the received communications, and changing the virtual IoT device as if the virtual IoT device were the connected device. The connected device is communicated with based on changes in the virtual IoT device.

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: A locker bank system for expanding the capacity of a fixed locker bank having monitors when the number of available lockers drops below a predefined threshold capacity at the fixed locker bank. In response to this trigger, a mobile locker bank is automatically routed to the fixed locker bank to increase a number of available lockers at the location. A computing system at the fixed locker bank and the mobile locker bank are adapted to control access to the fixed and mobile locker bank lockers. Each locker bank further includes a communication system that is adapted to facilitate direct or indirect communication between the fixed locker bank computing system and the mobile locker bank computing system when the mobile locker bank is positioned adjacent the location of the fixed locker bank. Together the fixed locker bank and the mobile locker bank may function as a unitary locker bank.

Abstract: Metadata associated with IoT devices is stored. The metadata may include categories associated with the IoT devices. At least a first category may be hierarchical such that the first category includes at least two hierarchical levels, with each hierarchical level including at least two categories, and such that each category in a hierarchical level that is below another hierarchical level is a subset of one of the categories in the hierarchical levels above that hierarchical level. User information associated with users is stored. A request associated with one of the users and further associated with access to at least one of the IoT devices is received. Responsive to the request, the access is selectively granted to the at least one of the IoT devices based upon the stored user information and the stored metadata.

Abstract: A locker bank system for expanding the capacity of a fixed locker bank having monitors when the number of available lockers drops below a predefined threshold capacity at the fixed locker bank. In response to this trigger, a mobile locker bank is automatically routed to the fixed locker bank to increase a number of available lockers at the location. A computing system at the fixed locker bank and the mobile locker bank are adapted to control access to the fixed and mobile locker bank lockers. Each locker bank further includes a communication system that is adapted to facilitate direct or indirect communication between the fixed locker bank computing system and the mobile locker bank computing system when the mobile locker bank is positioned adjacent the location of the fixed locker bank. Together the fixed locker bank and the mobile locker bank may function as a unitary locker bank.