Abstract: The SafeDEK product and composite assembly is used within the building industry and the materials, methods of product assembly, process and procedures are disclosed. The Safedek product combines rigid materials, supporting members and anchors that attach to concrete, other building materials or building systems. The SafeDEK product and assembly process not only replaces removable concrete forming materials and other building materials but, remains in place to form a storm resistant, and energy efficient structural building system.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of making a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection to a remote network. The method includes detecting the presence of a powered-on network capable device that is connected to a DSL modem; establishing a network connection over a DSL line to the remote network after detecting the presence of the powered on network capable device; terminating the network connection over the DSL line after detecting an absence of network capable devices connected to the DSL modem; and releasing network resources supported by the remote network after the network connection is terminated.

Abstract: A combination of an annular spacer, and a thrust washer in the opening of the spacer. The spacer and the thrust washer being connected by sacrificial tabs dimensioned to be stronger toward one of the spacer and thrust washer so that upon breaking of the sacrificial tabs, the tab remnants will stay with the one of the spacer and the washer to which it was more strongly attached. A trunnion on a spider of a universal joint and the trunnion is to be connected to a yoke arm. The trunnion being received in a trunnion cup. The spacer and the thrust washer combination being toward the bottom of the cup. An array of needle bearings around the periphery of the trunnion inside the cup. An annular seal in the cup sealing around the installed trunnion.

Abstract: Network services systems and methods are provided. A particular system includes an information store including connection information to initiate connections to content sources. The connection information includes an address and a connection rule associated with a video content source. The system includes an access engine to receive a request for an information stream output by the video content source from a user device. The system also includes a services engine to retrieve the connection rule from the information store and to initiate establishment of at least a portion of a point to point protocol communication link between the user device and the video content source in accordance with the connection rule. The system includes a metrics engine to track a metric associated with the point to point protocol communication link and to generate a billing record at least partially based upon the metric.

Abstract: Improved agricultural processes for the controlled cultivation of crops are disclosed. In one aspect, crops of different types, namely that is to say crops grown from seeds, plants or cultivars having resistance to two (or more) different classes of herbicides, are treated to control undesired vegetative growth using a single class of herbicides.

Abstract: A system and method for providing managed point-to-point services are disclosed. In one embodiment of a system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure, a services management center may be capable of receiving a request for connection to a video content source. A requesting user may be part of one managed network and the content source may be part of another network. The content source may be able output an information stream. In operation, the center may determine an address for the video content source and initiate the formation of at least a portion of a point-to-point communication link between the requesting user and the video content source. In some embodiments, the center may be able to track a metric associated with communication of the information stream and may generate a billing record at least partially based upon the metric.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for managing dynamic memory are disclosed. Embodiments may disclose identifying nodes with having memory for dynamic storage, and reserving a portion of the memory from the identified nodes for a heap pool. After generating a heap pool, embodiments may allocate dynamic storage from the heap pool to tasks received that are associated with one of the identified nodes. More specifically, embodiments identify the node or home node associated with the task, the amount of dynamic storage requested by the task, and create a heap object in the node associated with the task to provide the requested dynamic storage. Some embodiments involve de-allocating the dynamic storage assigned to the task upon receipt of an indication that the task is complete and the dynamic storage is no longer needed for the task. Several of such embodiments return the de-allocated dynamic storage to the heap pool for reuse.

Abstract: Valve seat apparatus having positive retention for use with fluid control devices are described herein. An example valve seat apparatus includes a metallic ring and an elastomeric ring coupled to the metallic ring and having a sealing surface to sealingly engage a flow control member of the fluid control device. At least a portion of an outer surface of the elastomeric ring includes an annular lip to sealingly engage an annular recess of a body of the fluid control device.

Abstract: In a computer system that includes multiple nodes and multiple logical partitions, a dynamic partition manager computes current memory affinity and potential memory affinity at the request of a logical partition to help the logical partition determine whether a reallocation of resources between nodes may improve memory affinity for the logical partition. If so, the logical partition requests reallocation of resources by the dynamic partition manager so memory affinity for the logical partition is improved.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data and communicating encrypted data are provided. A method of processing data and communicating encrypted data may include receiving input traffic data at a first interface of a channel service unit/data service unit (CSU/DSU). The method may also include encrypting management data associated with the input traffic data at the CSU/DSU to produce encrypted management data. The method may further include sending the encrypted management data via a second interface of the CSU/DSU to a remote terminal of a local area network via a data router coupled to the CSU/DSU.

Abstract: A method and system for use in identifying customer premises equipment (CPE) in a distributed network are presented. The method utilizes a unique identifier provided by a CPE device to a host server during the discovery stage of PPPoE communications in a distributed network. The server receives the unique identifier and stores the identifier for use in identifying and managing CPE devices attached to a service provider's network. The host server is configured to receive an active discovery packet from a communications device. The active discovery packet has a tag comprising a device identifier field. The device identifier includes chipset and firmware information regarding remote DSL CPE.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data and communicating encrypted data are provided. A method of processing data and communicating encrypted data may include receiving input traffic data at a first interface of a channel service unit/data service unit (CSU/DSU). The method may also include determining management data associated with the input traffic data. The method may also include encrypting the management data at the CSU/DSU to produce encrypted management data. The method may further include sending the encrypted management data via a second interface of the CSU/DSU to a remote terminal of a local area network for viewing by user via a data router coupled to the CSU/DSU.

Abstract: An enhanced data communication node is disclosed. The data communication node can be coupled to a local area network and a wide area network for transferring data traffic between the two networks according to a first protocol, for example, a frame relay protocol. The data communication node includes a network reporting element capable of monitoring management information of an intermediate network coupled into a data communication path to the wide area network. The management information includes service level information of the intermediate network and equipment fault information of a bridging device coupled to the data communication node and the intermediate network. The bridging device encapsulates data according to a second protocol, for example, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) protocol. The encapsulating is transparent to the transfer of data between the local area network and the wide area network by the data communication node.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a porous coal-based material having a density of between about 0.1 g/cm3 and about 0.6 g/cm3 that is produced by the controlled heating of small coal particulate in a “mold” and under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The coal starting material preferably exhibits a free swell index of between about 3.5 and about 5.0 and most preferably between about 4.0 and about 4.5. The porous product thereby produced can be machined, adhered and otherwise fabricated to produce a wide variety of low cost, low density products, or used in its preformed shape as a filter, heat or electrical insulator etc. Such porous products, without further treatment exhibit compressive strengths of up to about 6000 psi. Further treatment by carbonization or graphitization yields products that can be used as electrical or heat conductors. Methods for the production of these coal-based cellular products are also described.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a coal-based carbon foam having a density of between about 0.1 g/cm3 and about 0.8 g/cm3, preferably between about 0.2 g/cm3 and about 0.6 g/cm3 and most preferably between about 0.3 g/cm3 and about 0.4 g/cm3 that is produced by the controlled heating of high volatile bituminous coal particulate in a “mold” and under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The high volatile bituminous coal starting material preferably exhibits a free swell Index of between about 3.5 and about 5.0 and most preferably between about 3.75 and about 4.5. A number of additional highly desirable characteristics of the high volatile bituminous coal starting material are also described. The carbon foam product thereby produced can be machined, adhered and otherwise fabricated to produce a wide variety of low cost, low density products, or used in its preformed shape as a filter, beat or electrical insulator etc.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting computer port inactivity are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a router that has a first interface to communicate with a first connection at an end-user computer and a second interface to communicate with a second connection at a distributed computer network. The system includes detection logic responsive to the first interface to detect inactivity at the end-user computer and further includes blocking logic responsive to the detection logic. The blocking logic is operable to selectively initiate a blocking signal to disable communicating data received at the second interface to the end-user computer via the first interface. The detection logic and the blocking logic are embedded within a port of the router.

Abstract: An enhanced network management system is disclosed. The network management system is configured to receive management information via multiple virtual connections from multiple data communication nodes. The management information includes service level information for a transparent connection, for example, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection carrying encapsulated frame relay packets between two networks, for example a wide area network and a local area network. The transparent connection is intermediate to the wide area network and the local area network. The management information further includes equipment failure information of customer equipment, for example, a bridging node used to encapsulate the frame relay packets. Thus, using the collected management information, a network outage caused by customer equipment failure can be differentiated from a service provider service level event.

Abstract: An ablation resistant, monolithic, activated, carbon foam produced by the activation of a coal-based carbon foam through the action of carbon dioxide, ozone or some similar oxidative agent that pits and/or partially oxidizes the carbon foam skeleton, thereby significantly increasing its overall surface area and concurrently increasing its filtering ability. Such activated carbon foams are suitable for application in virtually all areas where particulate or gel form activated carbon materials have been used. Such an activated carbon foam can be fabricated, i.e. sawed, machined and otherwise shaped to fit virtually any required filtering location by simple insertion and without the need for handling the “dirty” and friable particulate activated carbon foam materials of the prior art.

Abstract: Building a storm room suite within an existing home or existing building including methods and procedures to install are disclosed. The storm room suite is capable of being built within any existing room without regard to size, shape including room size, height, and roof spans. The uniqueness of said structure is that it is capable of being installed directly against existing walls and ceiling with minimal clearance between existing structure and new storm room. The storm room can include provisions for window shutters, specialty doors, mechanical, electrical, and ventilation.

Abstract: The incorporation or blending of from about 1 to about 10% by volume of a “carbide precursor” powder, preferably on the order of <100 microns in size, with a coal particulate starting material and the subsequent production of carbon foam in accordance with the method described herein, results in a carbon foam that exhibits significantly enhanced abrasive characteristics typical of those required in the polishing of, for example glass, in the manufacture of cathode ray tubes.