Abstract: A method for managing traffic processed by a target network function of a communication network is disclosed. The target network function transmits and receives traffic over a communication channel that carries traffic between network functions and application functions. The method, performed by a Data Analytics Function (DAF) of a communication network, comprises receiving information about traffic flows over the communication channel, establishing a priority amongst traffic flows over the communication channel, based on the received information, generating a recommendation for traffic processing on the basis of the established priority, and sending the generated recommendation to a function in the network that has a management responsibility for the target network function.

Abstract: A substrate includes a metal component on a surface. A polymeric layer is deposited on the surface using molecular layer deposition. The polymeric layer includes a metalcone and has a thickness from 1 nm to 20 nm. The polymeric layer is stable at room temperature, but will undergo a structural change at high temperatures. The polymeric layer can be annealed to cause a structural change, which can occur during soldering.

Abstract: A method of forming a passivation layer on a substrate includes providing a substrate in a processing chamber. The substrate includes a metallic surface which is a copper, tin or silver surface, or an alloyed surface of one or more of copper, tin or silver. The method further includes depositing at least one organic layer onto the metallic surface by vapour deposition, the organic layer formed from an organic precursor. The organic precursor includes a first functional group including at least one of oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, selenium, tellurium, or silicon, and a second functional group selected from hydroxyl (—OH) or carboxyl (—COOH). The first functional group is adsorbed onto the metallic surface. The method further includes depositing at least one inorganic layer onto the organic layer by vapour deposition, wherein the second functional group acts as an attachment site for the inorganic layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a passivation layer on a substrate includes providing a substrate in a processing chamber. The substrate includes a metallic surface which is a copper, tin or silver surface, or an alloyed surface of one or more of copper, tin or silver. The method further includes depositing at least one organic layer onto the metallic surface by vapour deposition, the organic layer formed from an organic precursor. The organic precursor includes a first functional group including at least one of oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, selenium, tellurium, or silicon, and a second functional group selected from hydroxyl (—OH) or carboxyl (—COOH). The first functional group is adsorbed onto the metallic surface. The method further includes depositing at least one inorganic layer onto the organic layer by vapour deposition, wherein the second functional group acts as an attachment site for the inorganic layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system including a scale that weighs an item placed on the scale and encodes the weight and/or other item information into a machine readable code. The system may include a display that is coupled to the scale and displays the machine readable code. The scale may encode the item in Quick Response (QR) code format, Universal Product Code (UPC) format, and/or other computer-readable format. A mobile device may take a picture of or otherwise scan the machine readable code to determine the weight and/or other information encoded therein. The system may include a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits the weight. The mobile device may include a wireless receiver that wirelessly receives the weight transmitted from the scale. The mobile device may execute a self-scan application that uses the de-encoded or otherwise obtained weight for pricing the item based on the weight or other purposes.

Abstract: Provided are a method and device for analyzing transportation data within a transportation analytics framework. For example, the method may include receiving transportation data having a representation compatible with the transportation analytics framework including a transportation analytics programming language. The method may also include converting the transportation data into a representation compatible with a second programming language that is different than the transportation analytics programming language, and performing analytics on the converted transportation data within the transportation analytics framework using at least one analytic generated based on the second programming language.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system including a scale that weighs an item placed on the scale and encodes the weight and/or other item information into a machine readable code. The system may include a display that is coupled to the scale and displays the machine readable code. The scale may encode the item in Quick Response (QR) code format, Universal Product Code (UPC) format, and/or other computer-readable format. A mobile device may take a picture of or otherwise scan the machine readable code to determine the weight and/or other information encoded therein. The system may include a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits the weight. The mobile device may include a wireless receiver that wirelessly receives the weight transmitted from the scale. The mobile device may execute a self-scan application that uses the de-encoded or otherwise obtained weight for pricing the item based on the weight or other purposes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system including a scale that weighs an item placed on the scale and encodes the weight and/or other item information into a machine readable code. The system may include a display that is coupled to the scale and displays the machine readable code. The scale may encode the item in Quick Response (QR) code format, Universal Product Code (UPC) format, and/or other computer-readable format. A mobile device may take a picture of or otherwise scan the machine readable code to determine the weight and/or other information encoded therein. The system may include a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits the weight. The mobile device may include a wireless receiver that wirelessly receives the weight transmitted from the scale. The mobile device may execute a self-scan application that uses the de-encoded or otherwise obtained weight for pricing the item based on the weight or other purposes.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods of predicting one or more locations to which a consumer will travel within a retail establishment during a current shopping trip based on prior shopping histories, current in-store behavior, and demographic information. The system may make the predictions based on a model of a population of consumers to determine correlations between prior shopping histories and demographic information and locations visited during previous shopping trips. A particular consumer's shopping histories, current in-store behavior, and demographics may be used to identify an appropriate model for the consumer. The system may use the model to make the predictions and provide information such as incentives based on the predictions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system including a scale that weighs an item placed on the scale and encodes the weight and/or other item information into a machine readable code. The system may include a display that is coupled to the scale and displays the machine readable code. The scale may encode the item in Quick Response (QR) code format, Universal Product Code (UPC) format, and/or other computer-readable format. A mobile device may take a picture of or otherwise scan the machine readable code to determine the weight and/or other information encoded therein. The system may include a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits the weight. The mobile device may include a wireless receiver that wirelessly receives the weight transmitted from the scale. The mobile device may execute a self-scan application that uses the de-encoded or otherwise obtained weight for pricing the item based on the weight or other purposes.

Abstract: A mobile slim type fingerprint recognition device has a hand held housing and a light emitting sensor operatively connected to the housing. The light emitting sensor has a transparent insulating layer. A transparent electrode layer overlays the transparent insulating layer. A luminescence layer overlays the transparent electrode layer and a stray light shield layer overlays the luminescence layer. The luminescence layer and the electrode layer are configured such that an electric field can be generated between an object to be imaged and the transparent electrode layer.

Abstract: A trading card containing embedded memory coupled to a computer interface for connecting the embedded memory to a computer. The memory device may contain multimedia content that may be accessed through the computer, electronic trading cards, or enable content to be retrieved from a separate location accessed by the computer.

Abstract: A signal transfer system for regulating operation of an internal combustion engine includes a shaft that is rotatably driven within an engine. A sensor is responsive to the rotation of the shaft and generates a data signal based on the rotation. A communications bus receives the data signal and generates a replicated data signal based. A first control module receives the replicated data signal and regulates operation of the vehicle based on the replicated data signal.

Abstract: A method of evaluating whether a vehicle under test is operating as intended. Parameters of the vehicle are sampled at a plurality of sample times to obtain a plurality of data samples. Data samples from more than one of the sample times are included in a sample set. The sample set is input to an artificial neural network (ANN). Many time-varying parameters, e.g., response times in motor vehicle systems, can be detected and evaluated.

Abstract: A filter assembly comprises a filter (10) defining path for fluid passing to or from the filter (10). An adaptor (11) is connected to the filter (10) and provides a continuation of the path. The adaptor (11) is for mounting the filter (10) on a mounting plate (12) and carries one or more sealing rings (30, 37) that are engageable with the mounting plate (12). The adaptor (11) is made from a plastics material and one surface of the adaptor (11) is reinforced by contact with an annular reinforcing member (31) which may be of metal, particularly steel. This allows the flow path provided by the adaptor (11) to be maximized.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing silicon crystals (24) having highly uniform characteristics from a silicon melt (22) comprising a furnace (12), a crucible (14) disposed within the furnace (12) for containing the silicon melt (22), a heater (20) disposed around the crucible (14) for heating the silicon melt (22) and a pair of cusp magnets (28, 30) disposed around the furnace (12) and spaced a distance apart from one another such that the distance between the cusp magnets (28, 30) is variable.

Abstract: A cylindrical filter is formed from a sheet of filter material which includes two connected layers of filter media. Opposed edges of the sheet are joined to form the cylinder by separating the media adjacent the edges and then sealing together the first of the separated layers followed by sealing the second of the separated layers. The two seals are spaced inwardly of the edges and are spaced from one another. In this way, failure of one seal does not result in failure of the cylindrical filter.

Abstract: A customer information terminal for use in a retail grocery store includes a housing defining an interior region, electronic circuitry including a microprocessor supported within the housing interior region, and a display screen supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry. The customer information terminal further includes a dataform reader module supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry for reading a dataform having encoded data relating to at least one of the following; an item offered for sale in the retail grocery store, a coupon for an item offered for sale in the retail grocery store, a customer identification number of a customer of the retail grocery store, and a recipe utilizing one or more items offered for sale in the retail grocery store.

Abstract: A method for controlling oxygen-induced stacking faults (OISF) in a silicon crystal (12) grown according to the Czochralski silicon crystal growing technique includes the steps of forming a flared top portion (18) of the silicon crystal (12) to a predetermined diameter (20) and tapering (23) the silicon crystal (12) top portion (18) to produce a cylindrical portion (22) having a second predetermined diameter. The second predetermined diameter is smaller than the first predetermined diameter. Because of the inward taper (23) OISF concentrates in the flared top portion (18) of silicon crystal (12).

Abstract: A method for controlling oxygen precipitation (106) in a silicon crystal (12) grown according to the Czochralski silicon crystal growing technique which includes the steps of forming a cylindrical portion (22) of the silicon crystal (12) from a reservoir of molten silicon (24) according to the Czochralski silicon crystal growing technique. The method includes the steps of terminating the Czochralski silicon crystal growing technique by forming a first tapered portion (101) in silicon crystal (12) at a predetermined rate. A second tapered portion (102) includes a cascaded middle portion (108) that connects to the first tapered portion (101) and that concentrates oxygen precipitation (106) within cascaded middle portion (108) and away from the cylindrical portion (22) of silicon crystal (12). At least a third tapered portion (104) is formed for separating silicon crystal (12) from molten silicon (24).