Abstract: A firefighting vehicle includes a chassis, a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis and having at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position, an operator cab positioned at a front portion of the chassis, and an engine supported by the chassis. The operator cab has a floor section extending laterally between a driver seat and a passenger seat at a position forward of the axis of rotation, and the floor section is substantially flat. The engine is disposed under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for layout of graphic objects such as photographic images and graphical elements, for electronic display, print or other output. In accordance with an embodiment, a graphic layout logic automatically arranges the graphic objects within a target area, including determining a best combination of rows and/or columns of objects. Optional controls can also be provided to allow manual or user control of, e.g., overlapping, cropping, offsetting, or rotation of the graphic objects or images, for aesthetic design or other reasons. Examples of the types of graphic objects that can be arranged or laid out in this manner include digital photographs, text, clipart, graphical images, illustrations, software user interfaces, graphic elements such as icons, buttons, menus and whitespace, user interface windows, digital video or media streams, and other image media.

Abstract: A firefighting vehicle includes a chassis, a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis and having at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position, an operator cab positioned at a front portion of the chassis, and an engine supported by the chassis. The operator cab has a floor section extending laterally between a driver seat and a passenger seat at a position forward of the axis of rotation, and the floor section is substantially flat. The engine is disposed under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Techniques are described for dynamically placing graphical elements into theme layouts on a graphical user interface. A rendering engine reads a set of theme metadata and graphics metadata. The theme metadata defines a layout of the page and the regions into which the graphic elements will be placed. The theme metadata can further include tags to define categories or conceptual purposes for the regions and design changes that can be applied to graphics in that region. The graphics metadata defines a list of graphic files to be included in the layout, tags to define a category or conceptual purpose for each element and optional tags to override the design changes that are indicated in the theme metadata. The rendering engine combines and matches the theme metadata to the graphics metadata and places the graphic elements into the theme layout according to the matching.

Abstract: A firefighting vehicle is disclosed that includes a chassis and a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis. The front wheel assembly has at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position. The firefighting vehicle also includes an operator cab supported at a front portion of the chassis. The firefighting vehicle further includes an engine supported by the chassis. The engine is disposed under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for maintaining the aspect ratio of an image in the form of a graphic element or a photograph on a printed product in a theme collage. The aspect ratio of each image in the theme collage is maintained independent of any aspect ratio or resolution of the theme collage. Other methods provide for maintaining the resolution of a graphic element on a printed product in a theme collage using any desired combination of bitmap or vector based graphic data and alpha data when rendering the graphic element. An exemplary system may include one or more modules for determining the size of an image on a page while maintaining an aspect ratio of the image, displaying the image, receiving graphic data for the image, receiving alpha-transparency data for the image, and changing the image appearance according to a rendering parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for layout of graphic objects such as photographic images and graphical elements, for electronic display, print or other output. In accordance with an embodiment, a graphic layout logic automatically arranges the graphic objects within a target area, including determining a best combination of rows and/or columns of objects. Optional controls can also be provided to allow manual or user control of, e.g., overlapping, cropping, offsetting, or rotation of the graphic objects or images, for aesthetic design or other reasons. Examples of the types of graphic objects that can be arranged or laid out in this manner include digital photographs, text, clipart, graphical images, illustrations, software user interfaces, graphic elements such as icons, buttons, menus and whitespace, user interface windows, digital video or media streams, and other image media.

Abstract: An improved fire pump for a firefighting vehicle is provided. The fire pump is capable of being positioned at least partially under a rear portion of the cab of a firefighting vehicle. The pump includes a shaft, an impeller supported by the shaft, and a pump housing which encloses the impeller and supports the shaft for rotation about an axis. The housing includes a fluid inlet configured to direct a fluid into the housing along a path generally parallel to the axis. The housing also includes two fluid outlets each at a periphery of the impeller and configured to direct the fluid from the housing along respective paths generally perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: A firefighting vehicle is disclosed that includes a chassis and a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis. The front wheel assembly has at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position. The firefighting vehicle also includes an operator cab supported at a front portion of the chassis. The firefighting vehicle further includes an engine supported by the chassis. The engine is disposed under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Techniques are described for dynamically placing graphical elements into theme layouts on a graphical user interface. A rendering engine reads a set of theme metadata and graphics metadata. The theme metadata defines a layout of the page and the regions into which the graphic elements will be placed. The theme metadata can further include tags to define categories or conceptual purposes for the regions and design changes that can be applied to graphics in that region. The graphics metadata defines a list of graphic files to be included in the layout, tags to define a category or conceptual purpose for each element and optional tags to override the design changes that are indicated in the theme metadata. The rendering engine combines and matches the theme metadata to the graphics metadata and places the graphic elements into the theme layout according to the matching.

Abstract: A method and system for the dynamic interactive display of digital images, comprising client and server applications working together over the Internet or over other similar modes of digital data transmission to collect, store, select, present, distribute and manage information for digital images, including photographs, pictures, videos, movies and other forms of digital media. The present invention achieves these functions through user-friendly dynamic interactive graphical user interfaces that are readily accessible over the Internet from a wide variety of devices used for digital communication.

Abstract: An improved firefighting vehicle of a type supporting a pump system (e.g., a fire pump system) is provided. The firefighting vehicle generally includes a chassis and an operator cab. The operator cab is movable (e.g.; tiltable, etc.) relative to the chassis between a transit position and a service position. The firefighting vehicle also includes a fire pump system supported by the chassis at least partially under a rear portion of the operator cab. Positioning the fire pump system in such a location may advantageously allow for a vehicle with improved maneuverability or handling, reduced overall length, reduced overall height, additional capacity for storage, and/or with a fire pump system that is relatively convenient to service.

Abstract: A method for re-selecting control channels in a mobile station reduces the use of resources by limiting an evaluation of candidate control channels to those channels which satisfy certain criteria and are deemed to be eligible control channels. As a consequence, resources are not spent on attempting to re-select a control channel that is not compatible with the mobile station.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authoring, ordering and producing various products are described. A method of ordering a product comprises: receiving a request for a product type, identifying product specification data associated with the product type, presenting one or more options for products characterized by the product specification data, receiving a request for one or more of the presented options, and transmitting product order data associated with the request to a server. A method of producing an ordered product comprises: receiving product order data associated with the authored product, identifying print output data associated with the authored product, generating one or more tables of contents, each table of contents defining one or more components of the authored product, and printing the product components defined by the tables of contents.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for maintaining the aspect ratio of an image in the form of a graphic element or a photograph on a printed product in a theme collage. The aspect ratio of each image in the theme collage is maintained independent of any aspect ratio or resolution of the theme collage. Other methods provide for maintaining the resolution of a graphic element on a printed product in a theme collage using any desired combination of bitmap or vector based graphic data and alpha data when rendering the graphic element. An exemplary system may include one or more modules for determining the size of an image on a page while maintaining an aspect ratio of the image, displaying the image, receiving graphic data for the image, receiving alpha-transparency data for the image, and changing the image appearance according to a rendering parameter.

Abstract: A method for re-selecting control channels in a mobile station reduces the use of resources by limiting an evaluation of candidate control channels to those channels which satisfy certain criteria and are deemed to be eligible control channels. As a consequence, resources are not spent on attempting to re-select a control channel that is not compatible with the mobile station.

Abstract: A vehicle storage system for a vehicle includes an inclined guide configured to be coupled to a vehicle and a storage structure coupled to the guide and configured to move along the guide while maintaining a substantially horizontal orientation.

Abstract: An improved firefighting vehicle of a type supporting a pump system (e.g., a fire pump system) is provided. The firefighting vehicle generally includes a chassis and an operator cab. The operator cab is movable (e.g.; tiltable, etc.) relative to the chassis between a transit position and a service position. The firefighting vehicle also includes a fire pump system supported by the chassis at least partially under a rear portion of the operator cab. Positioning the fire pump system in such a location may advantageously allow for a vehicle with improved maneuverability or handling, reduced overall length, reduced overall height, additional capacity for storage, and/or with a fire pump system that is relatively convenient to service.

Abstract: An improved fire pump for a firefighting vehicle is provided. The fire pump is capable of being positioned at least partially under a rear portion of the cab of a firefighting vehicle. The pump includes a shaft, an impeller supported by the shaft, and a pump housing which encloses the impeller and supports the shaft for rotation about an axis. The housing includes a fluid inlet configured to direct a fluid into the housing along a path generally parallel to the axis. The housing also includes two fluid outlets each at a periphery of the impeller and configured to direct the fluid from the housing along respective paths generally perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: A firefighting vehicle includes a frame, a fluid pump, and a body having a compartment. In one embodiment, a drive line of the pump passes through a transverse cross member of the frame. In another embodiment, the body includes opposite side sections sandwiching the pump therebetween. In another embodiment, the vehicle includes a pumphouse module in which the body is mounted so as to move in unison with the body relative to the frame. In another embodiment, the vehicle includes a control panel operably coupled to the pump and extending through an opening in the compartment. In another embodiment, the compartment includes a wall having a C-shaped bulkhead.