Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for data traffic management in multi-source content delivery are described. The apparatus includes a downloader and a controller. The downloader is coupled to servers via communication links. The controller is configured to determine initial download requests for the servers based on predetermined information about a quality of the links. The controller is also configured to send the initial download requests to the servers with the downloader. The controller is further configured to update the information about the quality of the communication links after the downloader receives data associated with a data file from the servers via the communication links. The controller is also configured to determine subsequent download requests for the servers based on the updated information about the quality of the communication links. The controller of further configured to send the subsequent download requests to the servers via the downloader.

Abstract: A modular toy system comprising a plurality of separate electronic toy modules, each electronic toy module comprising a function device operable to perform a user-perceptible function and a control circuit for controlling the function device; wherein at least a first electronic toy module of the plurality of electronic toy modules comprises a first control circuit, a first function device and a sensor system configured for contactless detection of respective coordinate values of at least two coordinates, each coordinate being indicative of a position or an orientation of at least a second electronic toy module of the plurality of electronic toy modules relative to the first electronic toy module; and wherein the first control circuit is configured to control operation of the first function device based on one or more of the detected coordinate values.

Abstract: Systems and methods to transmit data over multiple communication channels in parallel with forward error correction. Original packets are evenly distributed to the channels as the initial systematically channel-encoded packets. Subsequent channel-encoded packets are configured to be linearly independent of their base sets of channel-encoded packets, where a base set for a subsequent channel-encoded packet includes those scheduled to be transmitted before the subsequent packet in the same channel as the subsequent packet, and optionally one or more initial packets from other channels. The compositions of the sequences of the encoded packets can be predetermined without the content of the packets; and the channel-encoded packets can be generated from the original packets on-the-fly by the transmitters of the channels during transmission. When a sufficient number of packets have been received via the channels, a recipient may terminate their transmissions.

Abstract: Systems and methods to transmit data over multiple communication channels in parallel with forward error correction. Original packets are evenly distributed to the channels as the initial systematically channel-encoded packets. Subsequent channel-encoded packets are configured to be linearly independent of their base sets of channel-encoded packets, where a base set for a subsequent channel-encoded packet includes those scheduled to be transmitted before the subsequent packet in the same channel as the subsequent packet, and optionally one or more initial packets from other channels. The compositions of the sequences of the encoded packets can be predetermined without the content of the packets; and the channel-encoded packets can be generated from the original packets on-the-fly by the transmitters of the channels during transmission. When a sufficient number of packets have been received via the channels, a recipient may terminate their transmissions.

Abstract: A modular toy system comprising a plurality of separate electronic toy modules, each electronic toy module comprising a function device operable to perform a user-perceptible function and a control circuit for controlling the function device; wherein at least a first electronic toy module of the plurality of electronic toy modules comprises a first control circuit, a first function device and a sensor system configured for contactless detection of respective coordinate values of at least two coordinates, each coordinate being indicative of a position or an orientation of at least a second electronic toy module of the plurality of electronic toy modules relative to the first electronic toy module; and wherein the first control circuit is configured to control operation of the first function device based on one or more of the detected coordinate values.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for data traffic management in multi-source content delivery are described. The apparatus includes a downloader and a controller. The downloader is coupled to servers via communication links. The controller is configured to determine initial download requests for the servers based on predetermined information about a quality of the links. The controller is also configured to send the initial download requests to the servers with the downloader. The controller is further configured to update the information about the quality of the communication links after the downloader receives data associated with a data file from the servers via the communication links. The controller is also configured to determine subsequent download requests for the servers based on the updated information about the quality of the communication links. The controller of further configured to send the subsequent download requests to the servers via the downloader.

Abstract: A method for a fault ride through testing of an electrical system including one or more power sources, one or more power consumers, and a first protective-isolation device and a second protective-isolation device both disposed between the one or more power sources and the one or more power consumers is disclosed. The method includes prior to the fault ride through testing, opening the second protective-isolation device, and closing the first protective-isolation device, and during the fault ride through testing, opening both the first and second protective-isolation devices to block current flow between the one or more power sources and the one or more power consumers. The method also includes during the fault ride through testing, decreasing a terminal voltage of the one or more power sources using a voltage regulator, and following the fault ride through testing, opening the first protective-isolation device, and closing the second protective-isolation device.

Abstract: A control unit of a multipath data transportation system that optimizes the load of the multiple communication paths of this system when the system transmits a data segment over these paths in parallel with forward error correction. The control unit determines an optimized number of packets to send over each path based on a prediction of quality for each path. The transmitted packets include systematic packets and coded packets.

Abstract: A control unit of a multipath data transportation system that optimizes the load of the multiple communication paths of this system when the system transmits a data segment over these paths in parallel with forward error correction. The control unit determines an optimized number of packets to send over each path based on a prediction of quality for each path. The transmitted packets include systematic packets and coded packets.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes a container, a holder, and a signal processing module. The container includes a body configured to store a liquid and a conductive strip coupled to an outer surface of the body. The holder is configured to receive the container. The holder includes an electrical contact configured to contact the conductive strip when the container is received in the holder. The signal processing module is in electrical communication with the electrical contact. The signal processing module is configured to receive signals from the electrical contact to determine a level of liquid within the container body based on the signals when the container is received in the holder.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to test an electrical system including one or more power supplies, a load, and one or more protective-isolation devices disposed between the one or more power supplies and the load is disclosed. The apparatus has a first measurement assembly configured to sense a first voltage or a first current at an input side of the one or more power supplies, a second measurement assembly configured to sense a second voltage or a second current at an output side of the one or more power supplies, and a third voltage or a third current between the one or more protective-isolation devices and the load, and a power controller electrically disposed between the second or third measurement assembly and a fault assembly. The fault assembly and the power controller are configured to selectively induce a fault, which is selected from a plurality of fault types, either to the output side of the electrical system or between the one or more protective-isolation devices and the load.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for data traffic management in multi-source content delivery are described. The apparatus includes a downloader and a controller. The downloader is coupled to servers via communication links. The controller is configured to determine initial download requests for the servers based on predetermined information about a quality of the links. The controller is also configured to send the initial download requests to the servers with the downloader. The controller is further configured to update the information about the quality of the communication links after the downloader receives data associated with a data file from the servers via the communication links. The controller is also configured to determine subsequent download requests for the servers based on the updated information about the quality of the communication links. The controller of further configured to send the subsequent download requests to the servers via the downloader.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for data traffic management in multi-source content delivery are described. The apparatus includes a downloader and a controller. The downloader is coupled to servers via communication links. The controller is configured to determine initial download requests for the servers based on predetermined information about a quality of the links. The controller is also configured to send the initial download requests to the servers with the downloader. The controller is further configured to update the information about the quality of the communication links after the downloader receives data associated with a data file from the servers via the communication links. The controller is also configured to determine subsequent download requests for the servers based on the updated information about the quality of the communication links. The controller of further configured to send the subsequent download requests to the servers via the downloader.

Abstract: Systems and methods to transmit data over multiple communication channels in parallel with forward error correction. Original packets are evenly distributed to the channels as the initial systematically channel-encoded packets. Subsequent channel-encoded packets are configured to be linearly independent of their base sets of channel-encoded packets, where a base set for a subsequent channel-encoded packet includes those scheduled to be transmitted before the subsequent packet in the same channel as the subsequent packet, and optionally one or more initial packets from other channels. The compositions of the sequences of the encoded packets can be predetermined without the content of the packets; and the channel-encoded packets can be generated from the original packets on-the-fly by the transmitters of the channels during transmission. When a sufficient number of packets have been received via the channels, a recipient may terminate their transmissions.

Abstract: A method for a fault ride through testing of an electrical system including one or more power sources, one or more power consumers, and a first protective-isolation device and a second protective-isolation device both disposed between the one or more power sources and the one or more power consumers is disclosed. The method includes prior to the fault ride through testing, opening the second protective-isolation device, and closing the first protective-isolation device, and during the fault ride through testing, opening both the first and second protective-isolation devices to block current flow between the one or more power sources and the one or more power consumers. The method also includes during the fault ride through testing, decreasing a terminal voltage of the one or more power sources using a voltage regulator, and following the fault ride through testing, opening the first protective-isolation device, and closing the second protective-isolation device.

Abstract: Systems and methods to transmit data over multiple communication channels in parallel with forward error correction. Original packets are evenly distributed to the channels as the initial systematically channel-encoded packets. Subsequent channel-encoded packets are configured to be linearly independent of their base sets of channel-encoded packets, where a base set for a subsequent channel-encoded packet includes those scheduled to be transmitted before the subsequent packet in the same channel as the subsequent packet, and optionally one or more initial packets from other channels. The compositions of the sequences of the encoded packets can be predetermined without the content of the packets; and the channel-encoded packets can be generated from the original packets on-the-fly by the transmitters of the channels during transmission. When a sufficient number of packets have been received via the channels, a recipient may terminate their transmissions.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes a container, a holder, and a signal processing module. The container includes a body configured to store a liquid and a conductive strip coupled to an outer surface of the body. The holder is configured to receive the container. The holder includes an electrical contact configured to contact the conductive strip when the container is received in the holder. The signal processing module is in electrical communication with the electrical contact. The signal processing module is configured to receive signals from the electrical contact to determine a level of liquid within the container body based on the signals when the container is received in the holder.

Abstract: A control unit of a multipath data transportation system that optimizes the load of the multiple communication paths of this system when the system transmits a data segment over these paths in parallel with forward error correction. The control unit determines an optimized number of packets to send over each path based on a prediction of quality for each path. The transmitted packets include systematic packets and coded packets.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for data traffic management in multi-source content delivery are described. The apparatus includes a downloader and a controller. The downloader is coupled to servers via communication links. The controller is configured to determine initial download requests for the servers based on predetermined information about a quality of the links. The controller is also configured to send the initial download requests to the servers with the downloader. The controller is further configured to update the information about the quality of the communication links after the downloader receives data associated with a data file from the servers via the communication links. The controller is also configured to determine subsequent download requests for the servers based on the updated information about the quality of the communication links. The controller of further configured to send the subsequent download requests to the servers via the downloader.

Abstract: A control unit of a multipath data transportation system that optimizes the load of the multiple communication paths of this system when the system transmits a data segment over these paths in parallel with forward error correction. The control unit determines an optimized number of packets to send over each path based on a prediction of quality for each path. The transmitted packets include systematic packets and coded packets.