Abstract: A combined plumb and level measurement apparatus can comprise a housing defining a sealed chamber and a viewing window with at least one transparent face. A fluid interface between a fluid occupying a first volume within the sealed chamber and a headspace above the fluid provides a level reference across the viewing window. A pendulum within the sealed chamber extends through the fluid and is pivotably supported about a pivot axis proximate a geometric center of the sealed chamber, where the pendulum aligns with a direction of gravity independently of an orientation of the housing to provide a plumb reference visible through the viewing window concurrent with the level reference of the fluid interface. Exterior indicia along a housing circumference include at least a first pair of opposed level reference marks and a second pair of opposed plumb reference marks angularly offset from the opposed level reference marks.

Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

Abstract: New techniques for automated database deployment are disclosed. Change SQL files intended for any target database are checked into a designated source code control repository. A pre-validation process is applied to the proposed changes and reports all errors therein, not just the first error found. A tracking mechanism may find and report changes that have been done against a database since the last deployment, including changes applied without following source control procedure. All recent SQL files since previous promotion can be automatically gathered and built into a master run book SQL for execution in a correct sequence. Backout SQL may also be automatically generated and validated. A pre-test or mock deployment may be performed during regular business hours against an automatically generated copy of the target database. With these techniques, deployments and maintenance of databases become more efficient, and failure rates and failover responses could be significantly improved.

Abstract: New techniques for automated database deployment are disclosed. Change SQL files intended for any target database are checked into a designated source code control repository. A pre-validation process is applied to the proposed changes and reports all errors therein, not just the first error found. A tracking mechanism may find and report changes that have been done against a database since the last deployment, including changes applied without following source control procedure. All recent SQL files since previous promotion can be automatically gathered and built into a master run book SQL for execution in a correct sequence. Backout SQL may also be automatically generated and validated. A pre-test or mock deployment may be performed during regular business hours against an automatically generated copy of the target database. With these techniques, deployments and maintenance of databases become more efficient, and failure rates and failover responses could be significantly improved.

Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems are disclosed for categorizing and analyzing documents and records using combinations of concept elements selected from a set of semantically coherent dimensions. Each combination of concept elements is a tuple, which is a sequence or a set of elements selected from the dimensions.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems are disclosed for automatically identifying declined services from service records by extracting information from fields in the service record, analyzing the extracted information to identify issues found and issues addressed in the service record, comparing the issues found and issues addressed to identify issues found in the service record unrelated to the issues addressed, and inferring the issues found unrelated to the issues addressed to be declined services.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems for assisting a user to select one or more codes from a set of available codes to categorize a record. The method includes (a) receiving information on a record to be categorized; (b) determining a set of multiple candidate codes to suggest to the user that is a subset of the set of available codes having a greater likelihood of accurately matching the applicability criteria for the codes for the record than other codes, the set of candidate codes including candidate code(s) selectable by the user to be assigned to the record among other possible candidate codes; (c) presenting the set of multiple suggested candidate codes to the user for assessment; (d) receiving a user selection input of a code or codes to be associated with the record; and (e) assigning the selected one or more codes to the record to categorize the record.

Abstract: A mobile aboveground safety shelter to provide protection from dangerous events such as storms, tornadoes and similar occurrences is provided. The shelter includes a pallet and a room connected to the pallet. The pallet has a generally planar base and a wall extending upward from the base. The wall and base form a cavity suitable for containing a weighting material.

Abstract: A mobile aboveground safety shelter to provide protection from dangerous events such as storms, tornadoes and similar occurrences is provided. The shelter includes a pallet and a room connected to the pallet. The pallet has a generally planer base and a wall extending upward from the base. The wall and base form a cavity suitable for containing a weighting material.

Abstract: A mobile aboveground safety shelter to provide protection from dangerous events such as storms, tornadoes and similar occurrences is provided. The shelter includes a pallet and a room connected to the pallet. The pallet has a generally planar base and a wall extending upward from the base. The wall and base form a cavity suitable for containing a weighting material.

Abstract: A mobile aboveground safety shelter to provide protection from dangerous events such as storms, tornadoes and similar occurrences is provided. The shelter includes a pallet and a room connected to the pallet. The pallet has a generally planer base and a wall extending upward from the base. The wall and base form a cavity suitable for containing a weighting material.

Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a stationary exercise station is provided. The stationary exercise station includes a computer which may run a computer program. The computer program simulates the motion of a first virtual bicycle and a second virtual bicycle. The first virtual bicycle and the second virtual bicycle riding through a predetermined landscape. The computer program simulates moving images seen by the virtual rider of the first virtual bicycle while riding through the predetermined landscape. The stationary exercise station also include a video monitor in communication with the computer. The video monitor displays the moving images seen by the virtual rider of the first virtual bicycle while riding through the predetermined landscape. The stationary exercise station also includes steerable handlebars, rotatable pedals, a force resisting pedal rotation, and a movable gear-shifting member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for revenue sharing with a fitness center are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, to incentivize purchase of internet and/or web-enabled exercise equipment by a fitness center. One embodiment can include, assessing a fee from a user of the internet and/or web-enabled exercise equipment, collecting at least a portion of the fee from the user, and sharing the at least a portion of the fee with the fitness center where the internet and/or web-enabled exercise equipment is physically located.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide (a) an inexpensive apparatus enabling the measurement of power dissipated by the rider of a cardio-fitness station (or any other stationary bicycle) that does not depend on manufacturing tolerances or machine condition variations, and (b) a method of using the data measured by such an apparatus to improve the accuracy of exercise condition settings by implementing the invented apparatus into a closed-loop control system which improves the quality of the exercise experience and enhances the adoption of exercise on a cardio-fitness station employing this as a community activity.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide (a) an inexpensive apparatus enabling the measurement of power dissipated by the rider of a cardio-fitness station (or any other stationary bicycle) that does not depend on manufacturing tolerances or machine condition variations, and (b) a method of using the data measured by such an apparatus to improve the accuracy of exercise condition settings by implementing the invented apparatus into a closed-loop control system which improves the quality of the exercise experience and enhances the adoption of exercise on a cardio-fitness station employing this as a community activity.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of providing feedback to a sales representative for a sales opportunity to a customer, comprising: determining, in dependence on information received from the sales representative, a probability that the sales opportunity will result in a sale by the sales representative; determining, in dependence on information received from the sales representative, a location on a sales cycle time line for the sales opportunity; assigning a priority to the sales opportunity in dependence on the location on the sales cycle time line and the probability that the sales opportunity will result in a sale; and rendering on a display a visual representation of the probability and the priority.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a stationary exercise station is provided. The stationary exercise station includes a computer which may run a computer program. The computer program simulates the motion of a first virtual bicycle and a second virtual bicycle. The first virtual bicycle and the second virtual bicycle riding through a predetermined landscape. The computer program simulates moving images seen by the virtual rider of the first virtual bicycle while riding through the predetermined landscape. The stationary exercise station also include a video monitor in communication with the computer. The video monitor displays the moving images seen by the virtual rider of the first virtual bicycle while riding through the predetermined landscape. The stationary exercise station also includes steerable handlebars, rotatable pedals, a force resisting pedal rotation, and a movable gear-shifting member.