Abstract: A system includes a first control node, the first control node configured to establish communication sessions between endpoints. The system further includes a second control node, the second control node configured to establish communication sessions between endpoints. The system further includes a first bearer node comprising a first media gateway having a first virtual media gateway and a second virtual media gateway, the first virtual media gateway configured to provide access to media resources of the first bearer node to the first control node and the second virtual media gateway configured to provide access to media resources of the first bearer node to the second control node.

Abstract: A leak detection system for detecting leaks in pressurized containers, the system comprising a leak test conveyor for moving each container and an accumulation tunnel through which the leak test conveyer extends, wherein the accumulation tunnel and the leak test conveyer together define at least one enclosed accumulation volume, each enclosed accumulation volume being sized to accommodate only a single container, thereby to allow gas leaking from the single container to accumulate, and a gas sensor for sensing accumulated leaked gas from the single container.

Abstract: A clamp device for lifting equipment from a first position to a second elevated position. The present device includes a body member and a clamping member. A cord, cable or rope may be received within the body member and secured therein when the clamping member is attached thereto. Eyelets located on the body member may be used to attach various equipment and supplies thereto. A wench or other hoisting device may be used to raise the cord, cable or rope associated with the present clamp device and the equipment attached thereto to an elevated position.

Abstract: A communication campaign manager can be configured to assist academic administrators to communicate effectively with students. The campaign manager can be configured to assess student risk for each of a plurality of individual students based on various factors, which may include demographic information, financial aid information, and academic information about the students. The campaign manager can assign students to different quadrant prioritizations based on their individual risk scores. The campaign manager also can assign a weighting to different forms of communication or communication channels, based on various risk factors. The campaign manager can use such information to generate a communication campaign for administrators to use in communicating with students, which can help to improve student engagement and academic success.

Abstract: An apparatus (200, 300, 400, 500) includes a lighting driver circuit (210, 310, 410, 510) and a housing (220, 420, 520) in which the lighting driver circuit is disposed. The lighting driver circuit is configured to receive an input voltage (10) between a pair of input terminals (305) and in response thereto to supply power to one or more light sources (20). The housing has an electrically insulating inner surface (222, 422, 522) and an electrically insulating outer surface (228, 428, 528) and an electrically conductive electromagnetic shield layer (226, 426, 526). The electrically conductive electromagnetic shield layer is disposed between the electrically insulating inner surface and the outer electrically insulating surface. The lighting driver circuit is electrically connected to the electrically conductive electromagnetic shield layer of the housing.

Abstract: In embodiments of an autonomous vehicle interface system, system nodes are each implemented as a distributed node for independent data processing of low-level sensor data and/or high-level system data. The high-level system data is abstracted from the low-level sensor data, providing invariance to system configuration in higher-level processing algorithms. The autonomous vehicle interface system includes at least one real-time bus for data communications of the low-level sensor data and the high-level system data between the system nodes. The system also includes an application programming interface (API) configured for access by the system nodes to the low-level sensor data and the high-level system data that is published on the real-time bus and accessible via the API.

Abstract: A computer device in the form of a smart phone for acting as a meter comprises a sensor input for inputting data from a sensor, a store, and a data output. The computer device is arranged to act as a meter to provide measurements data from a sensor input at the sensor input over time. The store is arranged to store the measurements and to store measurement configuration data. The computer device is arranged to configure the measurements based on the configuration data to form configured data and to output the configured data from the data output. The computer device also comprises an information input for inputting information that affects the data from the sensor in the form of a camera. The computer device is arranged such that the measurements are associated with the information input at the camera.

Abstract: A lighting device, comprising: a circuit board; a receiver coil trace located on the circuit board and configured to receive transmitted power from a transmitting coil trace; a light-emitter located on the circuit board, configured to receive power from the receiver coil trace; and receiver electronics located on the circuit board, configured to receive power from the receiver coil trace and control operation of the light emitter.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a clamp device are provided for lifting equipment from a first position to a second elevated position. The present devices include a body member and either a door or a clamping member. In one embodiment, a chain member may be received within the body member and the door member may be closed about the body member to secure a chain member therewithin. In a second embodiment, a cord, cable or rope may be received within the body member and secured therein when a clamping member is attached thereto. Eyelets located on the body member may be used to attach various equipment and supplies thereto. A wench or other hoisting device may be used to raise the chain, cord, cable or rope associated with the present clamp devices and the equipment attached thereto to an elevated position.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to genetically engineered organisms useful for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract: A barge lid lifter system having a horizontal frame, a plurality of vertical beams, a plurality of cross bracing beams, and a plurality of load engagement mechanisms is provided. Each load engagement mechanism may include a frame, wherein each load engagement mechanism frame may have a first side plate, a second side plate, a top plate, a dagger plate, a horizontal pivot pin, and a horizontal pivot pin sleeve. The load engagement mechanism includes a linear actuator, a rotation plate, a rotation elbow, an arm, and a dagger point. The linear actuator is connected to the first side plate and the rotation elbow, and the rotation plate is connected to the rotation elbow and the arm. The arm is configured to close over the dagger point and retain a lifting eye of a barge lid lifting assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fusing, for a subscriber, a plurality of applications and subscriber data across a plurality of subscriber access devices are described. The system includes a fusion server coupled to a voice-over-IP telephony switch and a television EBIF server. The fusion server receives and stores the subscriber data such as a list of contacts. The fusion server receives a communication in a first format from a first subscriber access device such as a set-top box, and translates the communication from the first format to a second format. The first and second formats include at least two of session initiation protocol (SIP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), voice-over-IP (VoIP), simple object access protocol over extensible markup language (SOAP/XML), remote procedure call (RPC), and enhanced tv binary exchange format (EBIF). The fusion server transmits the translated communication to a second subscriber access device such as a smart phone or tablet computer.

Abstract: A method includes, with a first bearer node of a telecommunication component, utilizing network connections between the first bearer node and a first plurality of control nodes of the telecommunication component, the bearer node configured to process media data being transmitted between endpoints over a network. The method further includes, with a second bearer node of the telecommunication component, utilizing network connections between the second bearer node and a second plurality of control nodes of the telecommunication component, the second plurality of control nodes having at least one control node in common with the first plurality of control nodes and at least one control node not common with the first plurality of control nodes.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a clamp device are provided for lifting equipment from a first position to a second elevated position. The present devices include a body member and either a door or a clamping member. In one embodiment, a chain member may be received within the body member and the door member may be closed about the body member to secure a chain member therewith in. In a second embodiment, a cord, cable or rope may be received within the body member and secured therein when a clamping member is attached thereto. Eyelets located on the body member may be used to attach various equipment and supplies thereto. A wench or other hoisting device may be used to raise the chain, cord, cable or rope associated with the present clamp devices and the equipment attached thereto to an elevated position.

Abstract: A connector insert comprising conductive wire and a plurality of layers of conductive and non-conductive elastomers, and methods of fabrication thereof.

Abstract: In embodiments of an autonomous vehicle platform and safety architecture, safety managers of a safety-critical system monitor outputs of linked components of the safety-critical system. The linked components comprise at least three components, each of which is configured to produce output indicative of a same event independent from the other linked components by using different input information than the other linked components. The safety managers also compare the outputs of the linked components to determine whether each output indicates the occurrence of a same event. When the output of one linked component does not indicate the occurrence of an event that is indicated by the outputs of the other linked components, the safety managers identify the one linked component as having failed. Based on this, the outputs of the other linked components are used to carry out operations of the safety-critical system without using the output of the failed component.

Abstract: A method includes executing a Virtual Network Function (VNF) that includes a plurality of VNF components supported by a plurality of virtual machines, the virtual machines supported by a set of physical machines, the plurality of VNF components comprising a first group of VNF components and a second group of VNF components that is different than the first group, both the first group and the second group being independently scalable. The method further includes scaling the first group of VNF components in response to a change in demand for services associated with the first group.

Abstract: A method includes, with a Virtual Network Function (VNF) manager, managing a VNF that includes a plurality of VNF components running on a plurality of virtual machines, the virtual machines running on a set of physical machines, determining a first number that is equal to a number of virtual machines capable of providing for a current demand for VNF components, determining a second number that is equal to the highest number of virtual machines being provided by a single one of the set of physical computing machines, and with the VNF manager, causing a Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) to have a total number of virtual machines provisioned, the total number being equal to the first number plus the second number.

Abstract: A method includes, with a Virtual Network Function (VNF) manager that manages a VNF that includes plurality of VNF components running on a plurality of virtual machines, determining that an additional VNF component should be provisioned on an additional virtual machine. The method further includes, in response to the determining that the additional VNF component should be provisioned, instructing a compute controller to provision the additional virtual machine. The method further includes instructing a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controller to connect the additional virtual machine to a network that interconnects the VNF components, and provisioning the additional VNF component on the additional virtual machine.

Abstract: A method includes, with a Virtual Network Function (VNF) component associated with a VNF, communicating with an access network over a first physical network connected to a first physical network interface of a physical machine associated with the VNF component. The method further includes, with the VNF component, communicating with a core network over a second physical network connected to a second physical network interface of the physical machine, the second network being isolated from the first network.