Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling subsea tubular members together are provided. An apparatus may be used to properly orient and/or provide communication between a first subsea tubular member that is being landed on a second subsea tubular member. An apparatus for coupling subsea tubular members may include an alignment sub and a corresponding alignment member. The alignment sub includes: a generally cylindrical body having one or more fluid, electric, or fiber optic lines extending therethrough, one or more couplings coupled to at least one end of the alignment sub, and an orientation profile disposed on a surface of the alignment sub. The alignment member has a profile designed to interface with the orientation profile of the alignment sub. One of the alignment sub and the alignment member remains stationary while the other rotates relative to the stationary structure.

Abstract: Pre-ground plastics of small particle size not more than 2 mm are co-fed into a solid fossil fuel fed entrained flow partial oxidation gasifier. High solids concentrations in the feedstock stream can be obtained without significant impact on the feedstock stream stability and pumpability. A consistent quality of syngas can be continuously produced, including generation of carbon dioxide and a carbon monoxide/hydrogen ratio while stably operating the gasifier and avoiding the high tar generation of fluidized bed or fixed bed waste gasifiers and without impacting the operations of the gasifier. The subsequent syngas produced from this material can be used to produce a wide range of chemicals.

Abstract: Densified textile aggregates are co-fed with a fuel into a partial oxidation gasifier. High solids concentrations in the feedstock composition can be obtained without significant impact on the feedstock composition stability and pumpability. A consistent quality of densified textile derived syngas can be continuously produced, including generation of carbon dioxide and a carbon monoxide/hydrogen ratio while stably operating the gasifier and avoiding the high tar generation of fluidized bed or fixed bed waste gasifiers and without impacting the operations of the gasifier. The densified textile derived syngas quality, composition, and throughput are suitable for produce a wide range of chemicals and polymers, including methanol, acetic acid, methyl acetate, acetic anhydride, and cellulose esters through a variety of reaction schemes in which at least a portion of the chemical or polymer originates with densified textile derived syngas.

Abstract: Pre-ground plastics of small particle size not more than 2 mm are co-fed into a solid fossil fuel fed entrained flow partial oxidation gasifier. High solids concentrations in the feedstock stream can be obtained without significant impact on the feedstock stream stability and pumpability. A consistent quality of syngas can be continuously produced, including generation of carbon dioxide and a carbon monoxide/hydrogen ratio while stably operating the gasifier and avoiding the high tar generation of fluidized bed or fixed bed waste gasifiers and without impacting the operations of the gasifier. The subsequent syngas produced from this material can be used to produce a wide range of chemicals.

Abstract: A tool interchange for a submersible remote operated vehicle (ROV) arm includes a first interchange body that affixes to an ROV arm. A second interchange body is carried by the first interchange body to rotate on a rotation axis. The second interchange body includes a tool mount actuable between gripping an ROV tool to the second interchange body and releasing the ROV tool from the second interchange body. An inductive power coupling part is provided in the tool mount. The inductive power coupling part is presented outwardly in the tool mount opposite the first interchange body, resides on the rotation axis and is fixed with respect to the first interchange body while the second interchange body rotates. The inductive power coupling part is adapted to inductively communicate power with a corresponding inductor power coupling part of the ROV tool when the ROV tool is docked in the tool mount.

Abstract: Antenna systems are described which provide means of mitigating the undesirable transmission line effect(s) by using fractal metamaterials in close proximity to an antenna, with both the antenna and fractal metamaterials being positioned a conductive surface, which may be inside or adjacent to a cavity. The fractal metamaterial can include an array of close spaced (e.g., less than 1/10 wavelength separation) resonant structures of a fractal shape, resonant at or near the intended frequency of use of the antenna. The fractal metamaterial can reverse the phase of the reflected wave so that the metal cavity no longer produces an out of phase current induced by the antenna. Without the cavity being out of phase to the antenna, the transmission line effect is mitigated substantially and the antenna performance can accordingly be enhanced. Further embodiments omit a cavity and locate a fractal metamaterial and antenna(s) adjacent to an underlying conductive surface.

Abstract: A method and system to verify identity while protecting private data. To locally verify identity without requiring communication with an external database or passing personal/identity information over network connections. To create a database and/or statistical model for later use to verify identify, private information from a first media is input to a device. Private information subsequently presented via a second media is then verified locally by comparing to the private information previously captured from the first media. If the resultant correlation score is sufficiently high the private information from the first media and from the second media are determined to belong to the same individual, and the user is authenticated or a desired action is approved. In case of a low correlation score, a notification may be sent to one or more entities alerting authorities of a security breach or identity theft.

Abstract: An electronic wallet system that protects payment accounts, identification and other personal information found within a typical wallet with a secure electronic vault (first) device that can be part of a physical wallet, insert to a wallet, or in other embodiments, wearable/portable devices. A unique biometrically enabled multi-factor authentication process ensures only owners of the information can copy the information to the device or retrieve it thereafter. Authenticated users may then select payment, identification, medical or virtually any private information via touch display or voice command on the vault or on another (second) device that operates in conjunction with the vault. The second device comprises, for example, a programmable card with dynamic magnetic stripe, cell phone, or other wearable technology, that initiates and processes a payment and/or transfer of private information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a social networking system maintains a moving average of the number of connection problems, including socket timeouts and failed uploads, per client in a geographic area to determine whether the wireless data network serving the geographic area is overloaded. In response to detecting a network overload, the social networking system may transmit an instruction to the clients in the particular geographic area to enter one of a plurality of traffic throttling modes. In particular embodiments, the social networking system maintains a historical log of network overload conditions, and uses the historical log to generate an estimate of the wireless network capacity serving a geographic area. Thus, the social networking system may preemptively transmit instructions to clients to enter a bandwidth-conservation mode when the estimated traffic demand exceeds the estimated capacity for a particular geographic region.

Abstract: A method for determining a dynamic pairing code for use in exchanging information between a first and a second communications entity. At the at the first communications entity, determining a first authentication score associated with a first information exchange session between the first and second communications entities, determining a second authentication score associated with a second information exchange session between the first and second communications entities, (the second information exchange spaced apart in time from the first information exchange), combining the first and second authentication scores to create a cumulative risk analysis score, and responsive to the cumulative risk analysis score, generating a dynamic pairing code for use in governing exchange of information during subsequent communications between the first and second communications entities.

Abstract: Cage antennas and related components are described. Such cage antennas include a shortened antennal element, such as a monopole (e.g., of approximately ?-wave height of a desired operational wavelength), which can be placed on a shortened ground plane (e.g., roughly quarter-wave size). A cage-like ensemble (e.g., a cage) can then be placed on top of but not touching the antenna element. The cage structure can have a fractal-based, folded, and/or pleated structure, among others. This cage structure can be produced either through a variety of means including but not limited to 3-D printing with either conductive materials or inductively coded materials.

Abstract: Systems and methods to authenticate a user using. Techniques for authenticating a user focus less on what the user enters, and more on how the user enters it. Different user specific factors are recognized, such as the speed with which a pattern, drawing or the like is produced, pressure applied, or the area of contact. In some embodiments, the user is able to produce the PIN using several different techniques. Some methods of the present invention utilize actions that the user is familiar with executing, or naturally performs on a regular basis. Furthermore, some methods of the present invention consist of embodiments wherein mathematical operations or device motions are used during the PIN authentication process.

Abstract: Antenna systems are described which provide means of mitigating the undesirable transmission line effect(s) by using fractal metamaterials in close proximity to an antenna, with both the antenna and fractal metamaterials being positioned a conductive surface, which may be inside or adjacent to a cavity. The fractal metamaterial can include an array of close spaced (e.g., less than 1/10 wavelength separation) resonant structures of a fractal shape, resonant at or near the intended frequency of use of the antenna. The fractal metamaterial can reverse the phase of the reflected wave so that the metal cavity no longer produces an out of phase current induced by the antenna. Without the cavity being out of phase to the antenna, the transmission line effect is mitigated substantially and the antenna performance can accordingly be enhanced. Further embodiments omit a cavity and locate a fractal metamaterial and antenna(s) adjacent to an underlying conductive surface.

Abstract: A method and system to verify identity while protecting private data. To locally verify identity without requiring communication with an external database or passing personal/identity information over network connections. To create a database and/or statistical model for later use to verify identify, private information from a first media is input to a device. Private information subsequently presented via a second media is then verified locally by comparing to the private information previously captured from the first media. If the resultant correlation score is sufficiently high the private information from the first media and from the second media are determined to belong to the same individual, and the user is authenticated or a desired action is approved. In case of a low correlation score, a notification may be sent to one or more entities alerting authorities of a security breach or identity theft.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to detecting objects in user-uploaded multimedia such as photos and videos, determining the location at which the media was captured, inferring a set of users of a social network who were physically present at the time and place of capture, and pushing remarketing content to the set of inferred users for the detected objects, or alternatively, the competitors of the detected concepts.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a first entity to a second entity. The first entity supplies a first authentication credential to the second entity using a first communication scheme, and the first entity supplies a second authentication credential to the second entity using a second communication scheme. The second authentication credential is different from the first authentication credential and the second communication scheme is different from the first communication scheme. The first and second entities are authenticated responsive to the first and second authentication credentials. The first and second communication schemes may comprise different communication frequencies or different modulation types.

Abstract: An electronic wallet system that protects payment accounts, identification and other personal information found within a typical wallet with a secure electronic vault (first) device that can be part of a physical wallet, insert to a wallet, or in other embodiments, wearable/portable devices. A unique biometrically enabled multi-factor authentication process ensures only owners of the information can copy the information to the device or retrieve it thereafter. Authenticated users may then select payment, identification, medical or virtually any private information via touch display or voice command on the vault or on another (second) device that operates in conjunction with the vault. The second device comprises, for example, a programmable card with dynamic magnetic stripe, cell phone, or other wearable technology, that initiates and processes a payment and/or transfer of private information.

Abstract: A distributed system and method to improve collaborative service across multiple sensors on various devices. According to one embodiment, multiple devices may be used to train and then utilize a common algorithm for purposes including but not limited to recognizing a source to perform some action, control, command, calculation, storage, retrieval, encryption, decryption, alerting, alarming, notifying or as in some embodiments, to authenticate. In one embodiment of the invention, devices with one or more sensors such as but not limited to microphones, acoustic arrays or audio sensors may contribute to one or more models by sending samples, features, recognition scores, and/or risk scores to each other to improve collaborative training, signal quality, recognition, synchronization, inter-device proximity location and/or fusion of recognition scores and/or risk scores.

Abstract: A method and system to verify identity while protecting private data. To locally verify identity without requiring communication with an external database or passing personal/identity information over network connections. To create a database and/or statistical model for later use to verify identify, private information from a first media is input to a device. Private information subsequently presented via a second media is then verified locally by comparing to the private information previously captured from the first media. If the resultant correlation score is sufficiently high the private information from the first media and from the second media are determined to belong to the same individual, and the user is authenticated or a desired action is approved. In case of a low correlation score, a notification may be sent to one or more entities alerting authorities of a security breach or identity theft.

Abstract: An electronic wallet system that protects payment accounts, identification and other personal information found within a typical wallet with a secure electronic vault (first) device that can be part of a physical wallet, insert to a wallet, or in other embodiments, wearable/portable devices. A unique biometrically enabled multi-factor authentication process ensures only owners of the information can copy the information to the device or retrieve it thereafter. Authenticated users may then select payment, identification, medical or virtually any private information via touch display or voice command on the vault or on another (second) device that operates in conjunction with the vault. The second device comprises, for example, a programmable card with dynamic magnetic stripe, cell phone, or other wearable technology, that initiates and processes a payment and/or transfer of private information.