Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for collective electronic commerce and distribution of items, such as fungible items/goods and non-fungible items/goods. A system manages a universal ecommerce shopping cart to facilitate creating an itinerary for a group across multiple vendor websites/applications. The systems manages inventory to interface with multiple vendors, manages groups, and/or manages the assignment of fungible items (e.g., products) and non-fungible items (e.g., tickets, access to hotel rooms, etc.) that were selected for being purchased at different times.

Abstract: A heater system for heating a piece of equipment. The heater system includes a reversing valve, a refrigerant compressor fluidly coupled to the reversing valve, an evaporator fluidly coupled to the condenser and the reversing valve, a condenser fluidly coupled to the reversing valve, the evaporator, and the piece of equipment, and a controller. The controller is configured to cause the reversing valve to operate between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the piece of equipment utilizes a refrigerant, circulating in a first direction and heated via the evaporator, to keep the piece of equipment within a desired temperature range, and in the second mode, the evaporator utilizes the refrigerant, circulating in a second direction opposite the first direction and heated via the piece of equipment, to defrost the evaporator.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for collective electronic commerce and distribution of items, such as fungible items/goods and non-fungible items/goods. A system manages a universal ecommerce shopping cart to facilitate creating an itinerary for a group across multiple vendor websites/applications. The systems manages inventory to interface with multiple vendors, manages groups, and/or manages the assignment of fungible items (e.g., products) and non-fungible items (e.g., tickets, access to hotel rooms, etc.) that were selected for being purchased at different times.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for collective electronic commerce and distribution of items, such as fungible items/goods and non-fungible items/goods. A system manages a universal ecommerce shopping cart to facilitate creating an itinerary for a group across multiple vendor websites/applications. The systems manages inventory to interface with multiple vendors, manages groups, and/or manages the assignment of fungible items (e.g., products) and non-fungible items (e.g., tickets, access to hotel rooms, etc.) that were selected for being purchased at different times.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system to provide wireless service to user equipment using licensed radio frequency spectrum and unlicensed RF spectrum. The system comprises a controller and a plurality of radio points to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the user equipment using the licensed RF spectrum. The system further comprises a wireless termination to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the user equipment using unlicensed RF spectrum. The controller is configured to use a mobility group for providing the wireless service to the user equipment using the unlicensed RF spectrum and a plurality of WLAN access points. The controller is configured to establish an interface with the wireless termination for the mobility group to communicate control plane data to the wireless termination associated with providing the wireless service to the user equipment using the unlicensed RF spectrum. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system to provide wireless service to user equipment using licensed radio frequency spectrum and unlicensed RF spectrum. The system comprises a controller and a plurality of radio points to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the user equipment using the licensed RF spectrum. The system further comprises a wireless termination to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the user equipment using unlicensed RF spectrum. The controller is configured to use a mobility group for providing the wireless service to the user equipment using the unlicensed RF spectrum and a plurality of WLAN access points. The controller is configured to establish an interface with the wireless termination for the mobility group to communicate control plane data to the wireless termination associated with providing the wireless service to the user equipment using the unlicensed RF spectrum. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a lock for an adjustable steering column. The lock has a first member having at least one tooth disposed in a first direction. The lock has a second member having at least one tooth disposed in a second direction. A moveable locking device having a first recess disposed to engage at least one tooth on the first member and a second recess positioned to engage the at least one tooth on the second member. A releasable clamping device is positioned to be moved into and away from an engagement position with the first and second members. The first recess restricting movement in the first direction and the second recess restricting movement in the second direction when the moveable locking device is engaged with the first and second members.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system to provide wireless service to user equipment. The system comprising a controller communicatively coupled to a core network and a plurality of radio points to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the user equipment. Each of the radio points is associated with at least one antenna and is located remote from the controller. The plurality of radio points is communicatively coupled to the controller. The controller comprises at least one baseband modem to perform Layer-3, Layer-2, and Layer-1 processing for the air interface. The controller is configured to automatically control transmit power for the radio points based on operational measurements (OMs) for each radio point, wherein the OMs are based on radio resource control (RRC) messages received at the controller. In some implementations, the radio points are configured to perform at least some Layer-1 processing for the air interface.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system to provide wireless service to user equipment using licensed radio frequency spectrum and unlicensed RF spectrum. The system comprises a controller and a plurality of radio points to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the user equipment using the licensed RF spectrum. The system further comprises a wireless termination to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the user equipment using unlicensed RF spectrum. The controller is configured to use a mobility group for providing the wireless service to the user equipment using the unlicensed RF spectrum and a plurality of WLAN access points. The controller is configured to establish an interface with the wireless termination for the mobility group to communicate control plane data to the wireless termination associated with providing the wireless service to the user equipment using the unlicensed RF spectrum. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a lock for an adjustable steering column. The lock has a first member having at least one tooth disposed in a first direction. The lock has a second member having at least one tooth disposed in a second direction. A moveable locking device having a first recess disposed to engage at least one tooth on the first member and a second recess positioned to engage the at least one tooth on the second member. A releasable clamping device is positioned to be moved into and away from an engagement position with the first and second members. The first recess restricting movement in the first direction and the second recess restricting movement in the second direction when the moveable locking device is engaged with the first and second members.

Abstract: An energy consumption controller may be communicatively coupled with a plurality of alternative energy sources and an engine. The controller may be configured to manage energy consumption from the alternative energy sources interconnected with the engine and to keep the engine within a desired temperature range. Within the desired temperature range, the engine will start and run at a full load more rapidly than if the engine cooled excessively. The controller may change the selected energy source as required, based on factors such as cost, engine maintenance and testing and/or imminent need of the engine.

Abstract: A fluid heater is disclosed and which has a heater, pump, and a plurality of temperature sensors which are electrically coupled with first and second temperature controlled relays, and wherein the fluid heater is operable to maintain a source of fluid used by an object of interest within a predetermined temperature range and further, is operable under given temperature conditions to discontinue operation so as to protect the object of interest and the heater from becoming damaged through overheating of the fluid which is utilized by same.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system to provide wireless service to user equipment. The system comprising a controller communicatively coupled to a core network and a plurality of radio points to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from the user equipment. Each of the radio points is associated with at least one antenna and is located remote from the controller. The plurality of radio points is communicatively coupled to the controller. The controller comprises at least one baseband modem to perform Layer-3, Layer-2, and Layer-1 processing for the air interface. The controller is configured to automatically control transmit power for the radio points based on operational measurements (OMs) for each radio point, wherein the OMs are based on radio resource control (RRC) messages received at the controller. In some implementations, the radio points are configured to perform at least some Layer-1 processing for the air interface.

Abstract: In order to provide a fail-safe operating mode during a transition between an autonomous steering mode and a driver-controlled steering mode in an emergency situation, a steering system comprises a steering shaft, a brake mechanism movable between an released position and a engaged position for angularly locking the steering shaft, and an override such that a non-destructive external torque applied to the steering shaft above a given threshold when the brake mechanism is in the engaged position results in a rotation of the steering shaft.

Abstract: An example process performed by a radio network access point configured to provide access to a first network that provides voice services includes: receiving a hand-off request at the radio network access point, where the hand-off request is for user equipment connected to a second network that provides data services; replying to the hand-off request with channel assignment information, where the channel assignment information includes a first code and corresponding to a first communication channel over which the radio network access point is configured to communicate, and where the first communication channel being reserved by various radio network access points; receiving a message from the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has a connection to the radio network access point using the first communication channel; and redirecting the user equipment to a second code and thus a second communication channel to maintain the connection.

Abstract: A fluid heater is disclosed and which has a heater, pump, and a plurality of temperature sensors which are electrically coupled with first and second temperature controlled relays, and wherein the fluid heater is operable to maintain a source of fluid used by an object of interest within a predetermined temperature range and further, is operable under given temperature conditions to discontinue operation so as to protect the object of interest and the heater from becoming damaged through overheating of the fluid which is utilized by same.

Abstract: An example process performed by a radio network access point configured to provide access to a first network that provides voice services includes: receiving a hand-off request at the radio network access point, where the hand-off request is for user equipment connected to a second network that provides data services; replying to the hand-off request with channel assignment information, where the channel assignment information includes a first code and corresponding to a first communication channel over which the radio network access point is configured to communicate, and where the first communication channel being reserved by various radio network access points; receiving a message from the user equipment indicating that the user equipment has a connection to the radio network access point using the first communication channel; and redirecting the user equipment to a second code and thus a second communication channel to maintain the connection.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least perform a number of functions. The functions include selecting or receiving selection of a multimedia object including an associated identifier, and generating one or more audio tracks of audio tones representing the identifier. The multimedia object is presentable by a computing apparatus, and the audio track(s) collectively form an album for the multimedia object. The functions also include directing a transfer of the album including the audio track(s) to a media player for subsequent playback of the audio track(s). The computing apparatus is configured to pickup the audio tones of the audio track(s) during the playback, interpret the audio tones to identify the multimedia object from the identifier represented by the audio tones, and access and present the identified multimedia object.

Abstract: In an embodiment, provided are nanoresonators, nanoresonator components and related methods using the nanoresonators to measure parameters of interest. In an aspect, provided is a nanoresonator component comprising an elongated nanostructure having a central portion, a first end, and a second end and an electrode having a protrusion ending in a tip that is positioned adjacent to the elongated nanostructure. The electrode is used to impart a highly-localized driving force in a perpendicular direction to the nanostructure to induce geometric non-linear deformation, thereby generating non-linear resonance having a broadband resonance range that spans a frequency range of at least one times the elongated nanostructure natural resonance frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a processor and a memory storing executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to at least perform a number of functions. The functions include selecting or receiving selection of a multimedia object including an associated identifier, and generating one or more audio tracks of audio tones representing the identifier. The multimedia object is presentable by a computing apparatus, and the audio track(s) collectively form an album for the multimedia object. The functions also include directing a transfer of the album including the audio track(s) to a media player for subsequent playback of the audio track(s). The computing apparatus is configured to pickup the audio tones of the audio track(s) during the playback, interpret the audio tones to identify the multimedia object from the identifier represented by the audio tones, and access and present the identified multimedia object.