Abstract: A method may include receiving an indication of a call from a caller who is not a participant in a sender-controlled media (SCM) platform to a recipient who is a participant, using caller ID information to gather content pertaining to the caller (e.g., from data stores of the platform and public number search information), generating a SCM data structure based on the gathered content, and delivering the SCM data structure to a call-originating device. In another aspect, a method may include gathering call context for an active call, and developing an understanding of one or more of a call intent, a call participant, and a participant action based on content exchanged between the caller and recipient. Content suggesting algorithms may then determine candidate items of content relevant to the participants of the call for presentation to at least one of the caller and the recipient during the call.

Abstract: A Sender Controlled Media (SCM) platform user is presented incentives for performing rewardable platform activities that result in accruing points in a user-specific account from which points can be redeemed by transfer or cryptocurrency conversion to an external user-designated wallet. A reward received for each instance of a rewardable platform activity is determined based on a range of platform context including a target average points payout, an aggregated total points payout over a distribution period, and a type of rewardable platform activity.

Abstract: Call originator feedback may be gathered from members of a call group for a call originator. This feedback may be stored in a contact firewall data structure indexed by call originator identification information, where a contact firewall function can intercept a call to a member of the group when the contact firewall data structure indicates that an action to impact the call should be taken. In another aspect, a method may include receiving an indication of no-answer by a recipient of a call, activating a sender-controlled media (SCM) content selection/generation interface on the caller's phone, and delivering the item of content to the recipient's call message storage system, where the item of content is linked to the missed call. For example, a SCM data structure, or a link to the SCM data structure, may be delivered to the recipient's call message storage system.

Abstract: Conditionally connecting a smart phone to an incoming call based on user interaction with an incentive offer associated with the call that is presented in an incoming call display on a lockscreen of the smart phone. A dialer controlling the incoming call display accesses the incentive offer through a visual portion of a Sender Controlled Media data structure. The dialer can adjust the incentive offer based on user interaction with the incoming call display.

Abstract: A business application that includes a workflow for handling a call is adapted to perform a call service selected from a library of Sender Controlled Media business application services by configuring at least one service from the library for operation with the business application and utilizing the adapted business application to handle calls per the workflow.

Abstract: Automated dialing of an entity from a curated list of entities responsive to user selections of dial pad entries, the curated list of entities formed from phrases formed from the dial pad entries. The curated list of entities is based on at least one of user call activity, search engine activity responsive to the phrases, a set of Sender Controlled Media participants, a set of categories of contacts, and entity offerings.

Abstract: A call handling function executed in response to activation of a link in encoded metadata of an incoming call adjusts presentation of visual content of the incoming call on a lockscreen of a smart phone based on information in the metadata that is descriptive of the incoming call. The incoming call metadata is decoded prior to connecting the incoming call to a dialer function of the smart phone.

Abstract: A novel steering tube assembly is provided having a steering tube with a first end and a second end. An upper plate assembly is coupled to the first end of the steering tube and a drive gear plate is coupled to the second end of the steering tube. A bearing steering tube plate is coupled to the steering tube at a location between the first end and the second end. The bearing steering tube plate has a first surface and a second surface. A bearing support is coupled to the first surface of the bearing steering tube plate and includes a cylindrical portion and a flange portion. A bearing block is coupled to the bearing support and the bearing block comprises a low-friction, non-metallic material.

Abstract: A cover that extends over a fastener and methods of installing the cover over the fastener. The cover includes an open end positioned at a member from which the fastener extends. The cover also includes a closed end that extends over the fastener and shields the fastener from the exterior environment that can be combustible. A plurality of holes extend through the cover from the interior space to an exterior environment external to the cap.

Abstract: A cover that extends over a fastener and methods of installing the cover over the fastener. The cover includes an open end positioned at a member from which the fastener extends. The cover also includes a closed end that extends over the fastener and shields the fastener from the exterior environment that can be combustible. The cover includes an outer shell with one or more windows. An inner shell is positioned within the outer shell. The inner shell includes one or more windows that are offset from the windows of the outer shell. One or more flow paths extend through the windows for gas, liquid, and/or some particles to flow through the cover while removing the thermal and/or kinetic energy that may ignite the combustible exterior environment.

Abstract: Generating a contact firewall for protecting participants of a sender-controlled media (SCM) platform may include receiving an indication that a non-participant sender of the SCM platform has initiated contact with a participant recipient, using sender information associated with the contact instance to pole participants of the platform regarding a spammer status value for the sender, aggregating the spammer status values, and, based on a comparison of the aggregated spammer status values with a spammer threshold, causing future contacts from the sender to be rejected by the platform. Similar techniques may be implemented for generating a contact firewall for protecting members of a call group.

Abstract: A call community contact firewall may include a caller ID capture function retrieving caller ID data for a call to a recipient who is a member of the call community, and a caller ID lookup function configured to retrieve a firewall status based on the retrieved caller ID data, where a firewall status database links caller ID data with call community ratings of prior calls. The call community contact firewall may also include a firewall action function implementing at least one call impacting action based on the retrieved firewalls status. In another aspect, a method may include accessing a secure sender-controlled media (SCM) data structure of a first contact participant in a digital exchange with a second contact participant, updating the instance with real-time content, and validating the first contact participant by comparing the real-time content with another portion of the secure SCM data structure.

Abstract: A method may include receiving indication of initiation of a call from a sender to a recipient, determining an amount of time left in an offer from the sender to the recipient, generating a sender-controlled media (SCM) data structure by adapting a portion of the SCM data structure based on the amount of time left, and configuring caller ID for the call with a link to the generated SCM data structure. In another aspect, a method may include configuring visual caller ID for calls initiated by a user including a temporary item of visual content, and, upon receiving an indication of an initiation of a call, providing the temporary (and/or a permanent) item of visual content as visual caller ID based on a relationship between a current time and a time-limited use parameter of the temporary item of visual content.

Abstract: A method may include receiving an indication of a call from a caller who is not a participant in a sender-controlled media (SCM) platform to a recipient who is a participant, using caller ID information of the call to gather content pertaining to the caller (e.g., from data stores of the platform and public number search information), generating a recipient SCM data structure, delivering and presenting the recipient SCM data structure on a device of the recipient, generating a sender SCM data structure, and delivering the sender SCM data structure to a call-originating device of the caller. In another aspect, a method may include monitoring a call in-process status, and, upon detection that a call has terminated, activating a post-call application that causes a screen update for a device that includes at least one of a call to action by the call-participant and informational content pertinent to the call.

Abstract: A method may include detecting initiation of a call that causes visual caller ID content to be accessible on a call-receiving device of the recipient, and pausing delivery of the call. While pausing delivery of the call, the method may further include presenting a visual caller ID configuration user interface on a call-originating device of the caller, the visual caller ID configuration user interface providing the visual caller ID content for the call by enabling selection from a plurality of visual caller ID content options to the caller. The visual caller ID content options may include existing content, at least one alternate content, and generation of content via a camera function of the call-originating device. The method may further include, responsive to a user selection of one of the visual caller ID content options, generating the call delivery signal for delivery of the call.

Abstract: A system may facilitate communication between a messaging platform associating a hash tag with a message and a content matching platform. A natural language processing (NLP) facility may produce at least one of an understanding, theme, emotion, and intent of a message. A metadata matching facility may identify candidate hash tags by determining similarity from a pool of hash tags with an output of the NLP, where the content matching facility communicates at least one of the candidate hash tags to the messaging platform. In another aspect, a method may include communicating a message to a content matching platform, and processing text of the message with NLP to generate NLP output including at least one of a theme, understanding, intent, and emotion of the message. A candidate hash tag may then be determined and communicated based on similarity of the NLP output with a plurality of hash tags.

Abstract: Responsive to receiving an indication that a call in process is ending, a post-call application of a call-participant device may be activated. The post-call application may cause a screen update of the call-participant device that includes at least one of a call to action by the call-participant and informational content pertinent to the call.

Abstract: A sender-controlled media (SCM) platform may capture live content by a call-originating device (such as audio, video, and text input by a caller), process the live content to determine an intent, select a visual element based on the intent, and present the visual element on the call-originating device to produce a caller story that can be forwarded to a recipient. In another aspect, when a sender is not a participant of a SCM platform but a recipient is, content pertaining to the sender may be gathered for generating and delivering a SCM data structure. In yet another aspect, an SCM application may interface with phone screen controls so that content in a received SCM data structure can be presented on an electronic display of a phone while a phone call is in progress. Further, the SCM application may monitor user actions for updating the SCM data structure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques are provided for acquiring fuel cell polarization data, obtaining fuel cell polarization parameters from the fuel cell polarization data, and validating the reliability of the obtained data and parameters. In some aspects methods for acquiring and parameterizing proton exchange membrane fuel cell polarization data include measuring at least one current-voltage point for an operating fuel cell, and determining at least one polarization parameter of the fuel cell by evaluating a closed form solution using the at least one current-voltage point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting electrical short circuits in fuel cell stacks are provided. The methods involve supplying a reactant and an inert gas to a fuel cell stack and measuring the open circuit voltage of fuel cell assemblies in the fuel cell stack. The sensitivity of the methods can be adjusted to detect an electrical short circuit having a resistance at or below a particular threshold short-circuit resistance value, by using a suitable reactant concentration in the method. The methods can include determining a set-point reactant concentration that can be used to detect an electrical short circuit having a resistance at or below a particular threshold short-circuit resistance value.