Abstract: A system and methods are provided for communicating optical signals in a multipath optical network, such as ring network architecture. The system and methods provided are operable to bypass a faulty node in the optical network under various conditions. Faulty nodes may be associated with various failures, such as equipment failure, power failure, etc. The system and methods utilize an apparatus for communicating optical signals to adjacent nodes, bypassing the failed node, when a certain amount of power is provided to the node or apparatus. The system and methods utilize an apparatus for communicating optical signals to equipment located at an associated node when an amount of power is not provided to the node or apparatus.

Abstract: Men's and Women's shoes are sometimes adorn with kilties. A kiltie is a long slashed tongue on boots and shoes; kitties are generally made of leather. Due to wear and aging the kiltie tends to curl up, this device will restore the kiltie to its original appearance applying pressure from the top due to the hinging mechanism, also restoring the tassels to their original appearance. This invention can be attached to existing plastic or cedar shoetrees during manufacturing or by the consumer. This invention is to be used during shoe storage.

Abstract: A system and method for automating the generation of manufacturing frame designs are provided. A frame design processing server includes a plurality of modules for generating frame designs. The frame design processing server obtains a specification of components for a vehicle and processes the specification according frame design rules and three-dimensional representations of data. The frame design processing server configures positions for the each of the specified components based upon processing data in the frame design rules and based upon conducting interference checks. The resulting configuration can be exported as manufacturing data and/or three-dimensional representations of the frame design.