Abstract: A modular thumb rest for coupling to a firearm. The modular thumb rest includes a thumb-pad surface, a mounting body, and a tongue. The mounting body extends away from a rear surface of the modular thumb rest in a first direction. The rear surface is opposite the thumb-pad surface. The tongue extends away from the mounting body in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A firearm safety mechanism assembly is provided. The firearm safety mechanism assembly includes a firearm with a receiver, a trigger guard coupled to the firearm, and a housing pin. The firearm safety mechanism assembly includes a trigger safety mechanism. The trigger safety mechanism includes a plate, a rod extending from the plate, a trigger coupled to the rod, and a lever nested within the trigger. The lever includes a lever first end and a lever second end, where the lever rotates between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the lever first end abuts a housing pin.

Abstract: A firearm safety mechanism assembly is provided. The firearm safety mechanism assembly includes a firearm with a receiver, a trigger guard coupled to the firearm, and a housing pin. The firearm safety mechanism assembly includes a trigger safety mechanism. The trigger safety mechanism includes a plate, a rod extending from the plate, a trigger coupled to the rod, and a lever nested within the trigger. The lever includes a lever first end and a lever second end, where the lever rotates between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the lever first end abuts a housing pin.

Abstract: Detection of mechanical coupling slippage in rotary encoder systems is provided where position data samples are obtained from a rotary encoder coupled to rotating element and angular acceleration data is determined based on the position data samples. At least two acceleration peaks are detected in the angular acceleration data, including at least one negative acceleration peak and at least one positive acceleration peak. Slippage occurrence of the mechanical coupling are detected when an interval between a negative acceleration peak and a positive acceleration peak of the at least two acceleration peaks is less than a first time period. If at least a threshold number of slippage occurrences are detected within a second time period, a mechanical coupling error signal is generated.

Abstract: Detection of mechanical coupling slippage in rotary encoder systems is provided where position data samples are obtained from a rotary encoder coupled to rotating element and angular acceleration data is determined based on the position data samples. At least two acceleration peaks are detected in the angular acceleration data, including at least one negative acceleration peak and at least one positive acceleration peak. Slippage occurrence of the mechanical coupling are detected when an interval between a negative acceleration peak and a positive acceleration peak of the at least two acceleration peaks is less than a first time period. If at least a threshold number of slippage occurrences are detected within a second time period, a mechanical coupling error signal is generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasing a fish into deep water, comprising a central member having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a spiral member attached to the central member, the spiral member being spaced away from the central member and having a free end, a plurality of swivels, wherein one of the swivels can be connected the upper end portion of the central member and another of said swivels can be connected to the lower end portion of the central member, and a weight connected to the lower swivel. The device can further provide a weight on the central member that overcomes buoyancy of the fish.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasing a fish into deep water, comprising a central member having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a spiral member attached to the central member, the spiral member being spaced away from the central member and having a free end, a plurality of swivels, wherein one of the swivels can be connected the upper end portion of the central member and another of said swivels can be connected to the lower end portion of the central member, and a weight connected to the lower swivel. The device can further provide a weight on the central member that overcomes buoyancy of the fish.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasing a fish into deep water, comprising a central member having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a spiral member attached to the central member, the spiral member being spaced away from the central member and having a free end, a plurality of swivels, wherein one of the swivels can be connected the upper end portion of the central member and another of said swivels can be connected to the lower end portion of the central member, and a weight connected to the lower swivel. The device can further provide a weight on the central member that overcomes buoyancy of the fish.

Abstract: A pitching apparatus comprising a three dimensional strike area assembly having a plurality of zones. The plurality of zones includes one or more target zones and a support, wherein the strike area assembly is disposed on the support at one or more zones of the strike area assembly, and a back door area of the three dimensional strike area assembly including areas near the back corners and back edges of one or more of the target zones, wherein when an impact is detected at the one or more target zones the impact will cause at least part of the strike area assembly to actuate.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasing a fish into deep water, comprising a central member having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a spiral member attached to the central member, the spiral member being spaced away from the central member and having a free end, a plurality of swivels, wherein one of the swivels can be connected the upper end portion of the central member and another of said swivels can be connected to the lower end portion of the central member, and a weight connected to the lower swivel. The device can further provide a weight on the central member that overcomes buoyancy of the fish.

Abstract: A communications management network for managing subscribers' communication sessions. The management network includes multiple sets of session management modules or servers (e.g., Intelligent Service Control Points), a services hub and a data warehouse. The network may also include a gateway for routing text messages. Each set of session management modules includes a plurality of modules, and each subscriber is assigned to one set of modules with one of the modules as a primary and another as a secondary or backup. Subscribers are grouped according to geographical area (e.g., by zip code, by area code), service area or other criteria, and all subscribers within a group are assigned to the same primary and secondary modules. Management of subscribers' communication sessions is load balanced by reassigning groups of subscribers to different sets of session management modules. Each module tracks account statuses (e.g., prepaid services balances) for its assigned subscribers.

Abstract: A communications management network for managing subscribers' communication sessions. The management network includes multiple sets of session management modules or servers (e.g., Intelligent Service Control Points), a services hub and a data warehouse. The network may also include a gateway for routing text messages. Each set of session management modules includes a plurality of modules, and each subscriber is assigned to one set of modules with one of the modules as a primary and another as a secondary or backup. Subscribers are grouped according to geographical area (e.g., by zip code, by area code), service area or other criteria, and all subscribers within a group are assigned to the same primary and secondary modules. Management of subscribers' communication sessions is load balanced by reassigning groups of subscribers to different sets of session management modules. Each module tracks account statuses (e.g., prepaid services balances) for its assigned subscribers.

Abstract: A communications management network for managing subscribers' communication sessions. The management network includes multiple sets of session management modules or servers (e.g., Intelligent Service Control Points), a services hub and a data warehouse. The network may also include a gateway for routing text messages. Each set of session management modules includes a plurality of modules, and each subscriber is assigned to one set of modules with one of the modules as a primary and another as a secondary or backup. Subscribers are grouped according to geographical area (e.g., by zip code, by area code), service area or other criteria, and all subscribers within a group are assigned to the same primary and secondary modules. Management of subscribers' communication sessions is load balanced by reassigning groups of subscribers to different sets of session management modules. Each module tracks account statuses (e.g., prepaid services balances) for its assigned subscribers.

Abstract: A communications management network for managing subscribers' communication sessions. The management network includes multiple sets of session management modules or servers (e.g., Intelligent Service Control Points), a services hub and a data warehouse. The network may also include a gateway for routing text messages. Each set of session management modules includes a plurality of modules, and each subscriber is assigned to one set of modules with one of the modules as a primary and another as a secondary or backup. Subscribers are grouped according to geographical area (e.g., by zip code, by area code), service area or other criteria, and all subscribers within a group are assigned to the same primary and secondary modules. Management of subscribers' communication sessions is load balanced by reassigning groups of subscribers to different sets of session management modules. Each module tracks account statuses (e.g., prepaid services balances) for its assigned subscribers.

Abstract: Metered data is accumulated and is indexed within a metering database of a client according to a metering ID (MID) and a content-associated ID (KID). The client selects a particular MID and metered data in the metering database having the selected MID, and constructs a challenge based on the selected metered data and sends same to a metering service. The metering service obtains the metered data from the challenge, stores same, and constructs a response. The client receives the response including a list of KIDs of the selected metered data in the challenge, and processes the list of KIDs by, for each KID in the list, deleting the metered data from the metering database having the selected MID and the KID.

Abstract: A request to render encrypted content is received and a chain of licenses corresponding to the content is located. The chain includes a leaf license linked to the content at one end of the chain, a root license at the other end of the chain, and any intermediate licenses therebetween. The leaf license and any intermediate licenses in the chain are each bound to the adjoining license in the chain toward the root license, and the root license is bound to an owner of a private key (PR-U). For each license in the chain, the license is verified and it is confirmed that the license allows the content to be rendered. A decryption key is obtained from the leaf license based on application of (PR-U) to the root license, the obtained key is applied to decrypt the encrypted content, and the decrypted content is rendered.

Abstract: A source generates a medium key (KM) and a media secret table including a plurality of entries, each entry including (KM) encrypted by a public key (PU-PD) of a plurality of devices, obtains the medium ID of a medium therefrom, generates a content key (KD) for a piece of content, encrypts the content with (KD) to result in (KD(content)), encrypts (KD) with (KM) to result in (KM(KD)), generates a package for the content including (KD(content)), (KM(KD)), the medium ID, and a signature based on at least the medium ID and verifiable with (KM), and copies the generated package and the media secret table to the medium. Thus, a device with the medium and a private key (PR-PD) corresponding to an entry of the media secret table can access and render the content.

Abstract: A presentation generator may access one or more data sources structured into data fields. The user may create or modify a template by inserting one or more tags corresponding to data fields in the template. The template may also have one or more processing instructions for indicating the data sources and how the data sources should be queried. The processing instructions may also indicate how the data is to be grouped across various slides, pages, sections, etc. The generator may build the presentation based on the template, its tags, and its processing instructions. The resulting presentation may be accessed by a user-friendly application, such as a word processor, slide program, spreadsheet, report viewer, or other application. The user may update part or all of the presentation using information on the queries and data sources embedded in the presentation itself.

Abstract: A prepaid telephone handset provides a balance retrieval function associated with a soft key. A user selects the soft key on a handset to initiate a balance inquiry for an account associated with the handset. A balance inquiry response message is received by the handset to allow the user to determine available account balance. The soft key allows for a single step retrieval of account balance without initiating a connection to a human operator or an automated system.

Abstract: In a computer system, a method and system for verifying whether a floating-point logic unit correctly directly rounds floating-point numbers when conducting multiplication, square root, and division operations. A bit sequence that represents a directed boundary condition for a mathematical operation is identified. This sequence is then recast in terms of a series of integer equations. A recurrence is used to solve these equations to produce difficult test data. When solving the equations, any intermediate terms that exceed the computer's precision are discarded. The logic then conducts the mathematical operation under inspection using the test cases. The logic's computed value is then compared to an expected value. If the computed value equals the expected value, the logic has accurately performed the operation. If not, the logic is faulty.