Abstract: Described herein is a method for enabling human-to-computer three-dimensional hand gesture-based natural interactions. From depth images provided by a range finding imaging system, the method enables efficient and robust detection of a particular sequence of natural gestures including a beginning (start), and an ending (stop) of a predetermined type of natural gestures for delimiting the period during which a control (interaction) gesture is operating in an environment wherein a user is freely moving his hands. The invention is more particularly, although not exclusively, concerned by detection without any false positives nor delay, of intentionally performed natural gesture subsequent to a starting finger tip or hand tip based natural gesture so as to provide efficient and robust navigation, zooming and scrolling interactions within a graphical user interface up until the ending finger tip or hand tip based natural gesture is detected.

Abstract: A system for storing natural gas comprises a plurality of straight sections of tube. The plurality of straight sections of tube are dense packed. The plurality of straight sections of tube are configured to fill a designated volume.

Abstract: A water treatment system combines a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane system with a downstream reverse osmosis membrane system. The MF or UF system has multiple trains of immersed membrane modules. The trains are connected to a common permeate pump. The permeate pump discharges directly into the inlet of an RO feed pump. The membrane trains are each subjected to the same suction. The permeate pumps are operated to provide the required flow to the RO feed pump at or above the minimum inlet pressure of the RO feed pump.

Abstract: A system for storing natural gas comprises a plurality of straight sections of tube. The plurality of straight sections of tube are dense packed. The plurality of straight sections of tube are configured to fill a designated volume.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for detecting, identifying and tracking hand, hand parts, and fingers on the hand (500) of a user within depth images of a three-dimensional scene. Arms of a user are detected, identified, segmented from the background of the depth images, and tracked with respect to time. Hands of the user are identified and tracked and the location and orientation of its parts, including the palm and the fingers (510, 520, 530, 540, 550) are determined and tracked in order to produce output information enabling gesture interactions.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for recognizing a human head in a source image. The method comprises detecting a contour of at least part of a human body in the source image, calculating a depth of the human body in the source image. From the source image, a major radius size and a minor radius size of an ellipse corresponding to a human head at the depth is calculated, and, for at least several of a set of pixels of the detected contour, generating in an accumulator array at least one segment of an ellipse centered on the position of the contour pixel and having the major and minor radius sizes. Positions of local intensity maxima in the accumulator array are selected as corresponding to positions of the human head candidates in the source image.

Abstract: Described herein is a user interface that provides contextual feedback, controls and interface elements on a display screen of an interactive three-dimensional imaging system. A user interacts with the interface to provide control signals in accordance with those recognized by the system to a makes use of at least one POI in a three-dimensional scene that is imaged by the imaging system to provide control signals for the user interface. Control signals are provided by means of gestures which are analyzed in real-time by gesture recognition processes that analyze statistical and geometrical properties of POI motion and trajectories.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for detecting, identifying and tracking hand, hand parts, and fingers on the hand (500) of a user within depth images of a three-dimensional scene. Arms of a user are detected, identified, segmented from the background of the depth images, and tracked with respect to time. Hands of the user are identified and tracked and the location and orientation of its parts, including the palm and the fingers (510, 520, 530, 540, 550) are determined and tracked in order to produce output information enabling gesture interactions.

Abstract: A high-pressure pressure vessel for storing natural gas comprises a plurality of first vessel regions of first diameters, a plurality of couplers, and a fiber layer. A three dimensional volume is filled using at least in part the plurality of first vessel regions. Each coupler of the plurality of couplers couples each pair of first vessel regions of the plurality of first vessel regions. Each coupler of the plurality of couplers comprises a second vessel region of a second diameter and two third vessel regions that transition diameters between the first diameter and the second diameter. The three dimensional volume is filled using at least in part the plurality of couplers. The first vessel regions and the couplers comprise a material with low permeability to natural gas. The fiber layer surrounds the plurality of first vessel regions and the plurality of couplers.

Abstract: Described herein is a user interface that provides contextual feedback, controls and interface elements on a display screen of an interactive three-dimensional imaging system. A user interacts with the interface to provide control signals in accordance with those recognised by the system to a makes use of at least one POI in a three-dimensional scene that is imaged by the imaging system to provide control signals for the user interface. Control signals are provided by means of gestures which are analysed in real-time by gesture recognition processes that analyse statistical and geometrical properties of POI motion and trajectories.

Abstract: A system for storing natural gas comprises a plurality of straight sections of tube. The plurality of straight sections of tube are dense packed. The plurality of straight sections of tube are configured to fill a designated volume.

Abstract: A remote control system includes a first network configured for communication via a first format. The first network includes a router configured to receive packetized remote control codes transmitted to the router in the first format. The remote control system further includes a second network configured for communication via a set of second formats. The second network includes a translator communicatively coupled to the router via a network link The translator is configured to receive the packetized remote control codes from the router in the first format and translate the remote control codes from the first format to a set of second formats. The second network further includes a blaster communicatively coupled to the translator. The blaster is configured to received the packetized remote control codes in the set of second formats and transmit the packetized remote control codes in the set of second formats to a set of consumer-electronic devices.

Abstract: A water treatment system combines a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane system with a downstream reverse osmosis membrane system. The MF or UF system has multiple trains of immersed membrane modules. The trains are connected to a common permeate pump. The permeate pump discharges directly into the inlet of an RO feed pump. The membrane trains are each subjected to the same suction. The permeate pumps are operated to provide the required flow to the RO feed pump at or above the minimum inlet pressure of the RO feed pump.

Abstract: A portable device configured to control a set of home entertainment appliances includes a processor; and a transceiver coupled to the processor. The transceiver is configured to transmit information to a computer system and receive information from the computer system. The portable device further includes a display coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to: i) collect use information associated with controlling the set of home entertainment appliances, and ii) control the transceiver to transmit the use information to a computer system. The computer system is configured to: i) analyze the use information to determine a set of content related to the use information, ii) generate a set of recommendations that includes information that identifies the set of content, and iii) send the set of recommendations to the transceiver for display of the set of recommendations on the display.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for recognising a human head in a source image. The method comprises detecting a contour of at least part of a human body in the source image, calculating a depth of the human body in the source image. From the source image, a major radius size and a minor radius size of an ellipse corresponding to a human head at the depth is calculated, and, for at least several of a set of pixels of the detected contour, generating in an accumulator array at least one segment of an ellipse centred on the position of the contour pixel and having the major and minor radius sizes. Positions of local intensity maxima in the accumulator array are selected as corresponding to positions of the human head candidates in the source image.

Abstract: A robust, lightweight, bottom-up segmentation method for Internet content. According to the present invention, individual segments are created based upon weights assigned according to document structure and markup elements and semantics. Smaller segments are then merged into larger segments by determining which portions of the content page are related to each other. The remaining segments are then intelligently divided based upon device constraints.

Abstract: A membrane batch filtration process has a step of reducing the water level in the tank by permeation prior to emptying the tank to reduce the volume of water drained after each batch. Permeation may continue even after a portion of the membranes is exposed to air to further lower the water level. The membranes may be backwashed after the water level has been lowered. The water level may be lowered again after the backwash. The tank drain may begin with a portion of the membranes exposed to air.

Abstract: A robust, lightweight, bottom-up segmentation method for Internet content. According to the present invention, individual segments are created based upon weights assigned according to document structure and markup elements and semantics. Smaller segments are then merged into larger segments by determining which portions of the content page are related to each other. The remaining segments are then intelligently divided based upon device constraints.