Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to messaging, and in particular address several aspects of initiating a group conversation. When a user interacts with a messaging system, the system determines whether it is likely that the user intends to start a group conversation or a one-to-one conversation. Intent to start a group conversation can be signaled in a number of ways, such as: type of action requested; interactions with particular UI elements; length of message; analysis of previous user preferences; and analysis of a contacts group. Suggested users to add to the group may be dynamically displayed. The group can be selected in a number of ways, including: analysis of social network information; analysis of events or activities in which the user may be engaged; analysis of user affinities; analysis of the current members of the group; analysis of familial or friend relationships; and analysis of previous messaging activity.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for assessing individual or crowd level behavior based on image data analysis. For example, in one embodiment, the techniques may include generating signatures representative of an observed behavior based on video data and performing pairwise matching by determining whether the first signature matches a second signature indicative of a query behavior.

Abstract: An advertising system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an advertising station including a display and configured to provide advertising content to potential customers via the display and one or more cameras configured to capture images of the potential customers when proximate to the advertising station. The system may also include a data processing system to analyze the captured images to determine gaze directions and body pose directions for the potential customers, and to determine interest levels of the potential customers in the advertising content based on the determined gaze directions and body pose directions. Various other systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: One or more location-based clients can be activated on a mobile device for providing location-based services. The location-based clients can be provided with information (e.g., presets, defaults) related to the current location and/or mode of the mobile device. The information can be obtained from one or more network resources. In some implementations, a number of location-based clients can run concurrently on the mobile device and share information.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for detecting optical discrepancies associated with image capture analyzing pixels in multiple images corresponding to common points of reference in a physical environment. In an embodiment, photometric error values are averaged over time to compute the mean error at each pixel. Once the estimate of the mean error has a sufficient number of updates above a specified value, the estimate is thresholded to provide a mask of any optical discrepancies occurring in the stereo pair of images. Applications include detecting optical discrepancies in images captured for use by a visual navigation system in guiding an autonomous vehicle (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle).

Abstract: The invention relates to animal feeds and feed premixes containing synergistically effective amounts of betaine hydrochloride and a phytase.

Abstract: The system and method disclosed herein provides an integrated and automated workflow, sensor, and reasoning system that automatically detects breaches in protocols, appropriately alarms and records these breaches, facilitates staff adoption of protocol adherence, and ultimately enables the study of protocols for care comparative effectiveness. The system provides real-time alerts to medical personnel in the actual processes of care, thereby reducing the number of negative patient events and ultimately improving staff behavior with respect to protocol adherence.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to high-speed fiber optic networks that use light signals to transmit data over a network. The disclosed subject matter includes devices and methods relating to header subassemblies and/or optoelectronic subassemblies. In some aspects, the disclosed devices and methods may relate to a header subassembly that can include: a substrate with a substrate top and a substrate bottom; at least one optoelectronic transducer on the substrate top; at least one top electrical component on the substrate top, the electrical component can be operably coupled with the optoelectronic transducer; and at least one bottom electrical component on the substrate bottom, the bottom electrical component can be operably coupled with the optoelectronic transducer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for increasing messaging activity in a messaging system. Using the interactions of users with each other and/or with the messaging system, the disclosed systems and methods can predict how likely a pairing of two or more users are to engage in a highly active messaging thread. Based on this prediction, the disclosed methods and systems can, for example, more effectively organize contact lists and conduct promotional efforts associated with messaging features.

Abstract: A screw shaft for a vertically stirred grinding mill is arranged so as to be accommodated within a grinding chamber of the grinding mill while extending in a longitudinal direction. The screw shaft comprises a central shaft and at least one screw flight surrounding the central shaft, and the central shaft comprises an outer shaft wall defining a cavity within the interior of the central shaft, which cavity is closed at least at one longitudinal end of the central shaft.

Abstract: A grinding media handling system for a vertical grinding mill comprises: a reservoir; a pump, such as a sump pump or a horizontal pump, for pumping water and/or a slurry of material to be ground from the reservoir via an inlet in an upper section of the vertical grinding mill into a grinding chamber of the mill; means for adding grinding media to the water and/or slurry upstream and/or downstream of the pump; and means for discharging slurry and grinding media from a lower section of the vertical mill.

Abstract: An inspection management system is provided. The inspection management system includes an inspection data provider that receives inspection data relating to an inspector, one or more devices used to complete an inspection, one or more assets associated with an inspection, an inspection plan, etc. A display of the inspection management system presents one or more graphical user interfaces based upon the inspection data. The graphical user interfaces may facilitate inspection planning, execution, preparation, and/or real-time inspection monitoring.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for increasing messaging activity in a messaging system. Using the interactions of users with each other and/or with the messaging system, the disclosed systems and methods can predict how likely a pairing of two or more users are to engage in a highly active messaging thread. Based on this prediction, the disclosed methods and systems can, for example, more effectively organize contact lists and conduct promotional efforts associated with messaging features.

Abstract: Techniques to configure the network distribution of media compositions for reception are described. An apparatus may comprise a user interface component operative to display a messaging interface in association with a first user account with a messaging system, the messaging interface comprising a visual indicator for a second user account with the messaging system, the visual indicator comprising a media composition availability indicator, the media composition availability indicator associated with an inclusion of the first user account in a media composition distribution group for the second user account; receive a user selection of the media composition availability indicator in the messaging interface; and display the media composition in response to the user selection of the media composition availability indicator; and a messaging component operative to receive a media composition package associated with the first user account, the media composition package comprising the media composition.

Abstract: A social interaction system and of operation thereof for interpreting social cues and using such analysis to improve social interaction via the providing of a suggested response is provided. The social interaction system includes one or more sensors to obtain social indicator data of one or more individuals in an environment during a social interaction, the social indicator data related to a behavior of the one or more individuals. The social interaction system also includes a processing system configured to determine a social state of the one or more individuals using the social indicator data and determine an optimal social response of a person to the social interaction based on an analysis of the social state. The social interaction system further includes a feedback system to indicate the optimal social response to the person.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a signal processing unit may receive distributed acoustic sensing data associated with a first set of a plurality of pipeline locations. The signal processing unit may also receive collected physical data representing a physical characteristic of a second set of a plurality of pipeline locations. The signal processing unit may then utilize a pipeline model having the distributed acoustic sensing data and collected physical data as inputs to automatically generate at least one alert indicating an increased probability of damage to the pipeline.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a method includes receiving one or more videos from one or more image capture devices. The method further includes generating a video-loop of the person from the one or more videos. The video-loop depicts the person in the commercial site. The method also includes generating an action clip from the video-loop. The action clip includes a suspicious action performed by the person in the commercial site. The method further includes generating an activity summary of the person including the video-loop and the action clip.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward systems, computer-readable media, and methods for providing customized media effects for use in media communications. For example, systems and methods described herein utilize search terms along with contextual information associated with a client-computing device and characteristic information associated with a digital media item to identify pre-generated media effects and to generate dynamic media effects. Systems and methods described herein score and rank the identified and generated media effects to as to provide listings of media effects that are most likely to appeal to a user of the client-computing device.

Abstract: This disclosure covers methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and systems that provide an administrative message within a messaging thread indicating to a user that a viewer interacted with the user's ephemeral content. By providing the administrative message, the disclosed methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and systems create an indicator for a user within a messaging thread concerning views of (or other interactions with) ephemeral content that the user shared outside of the messaging thread. In some embodiments, for example, the disclosed methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and systems further provide a responsive administrative message to a messaging thread indicating to a user that a viewer responded to the user's ephemeral content item.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes launching, by a client system of a first user, a video-call session to enable a video stream for display in a small-overlay-window on a display of the client system of the first user; receiving, by the client system of the first user, a video stream comprising video from a client system of a second user; determining at least one property for the small-overlay-window based on information associated with the second user; and displaying the video stream in the small-overlay-window, wherein the small-overlay-window is customized based on the determined at least one property, and wherein the small-overlay-window is positioned directly over an interface of an active application running on the client system of the first user.