Abstract: Airborne wind turbine systems with multiple aerial vehicles connected via multiple tethers to a single ground station are disclosed. A node is coupled to the tethers. The node includes a drive system. At a proximate end of the node, each of the tethers is adjacent to neighboring tethers. And at a distal end of the node, each of the tethers is separated from the neighboring tethers. The airborne wind turbine system includes a control system configured to operate the drive system to translate the node along the tethers.

Abstract: Airborne wind turbine systems with multiple aerial vehicles connected via multiple tethers to a single ground station are disclosed. A node is coupled to the tethers. The node includes a drive system. At a proximate end of the node, each of the tethers is adjacent to neighboring tethers. And at a distal end of the node, each of the tethers is separated from the neighboring tethers. The airborne wind turbine system includes a control system configured to operate the drive system to translate the node along the tethers.

Abstract: Airborne wind turbine systems with multiple aerial vehicles connected via multiple tethers to a single ground station are disclosed. A node is coupled to the tethers. The node includes a drive system. At a proximate end of the node, each of the tethers is adjacent to neighboring tethers. And at a distal end of the node, each of the tethers is separated from the neighboring tethers. The airborne wind turbine system includes a control system configured to operate the drive system to translate the node along the tethers.

Abstract: A locking arrangement for data structures is provided that prevents deadlocks, but still allows different threads to simultaneously obtain locks on different nodes of a data structure for both read and write operations. The locking system differentiates locks based on a priority hierarchy. The locking system will fail a request to lock one or more resources in a data structure if access to those resources has already been restricted by a conflicting lock of an equal or higher priority. The locking system may also employ preemptable and non-preemptable locks such that, if a preemptable lock with a lower priority has restricted access to resources, then the locking system will preempt the lower priority lock in favor of a conflicting higher priority lock. Alternately, if a non-preemptable lock with a lower priority has restricted access to resources, then the locking system will wait until the lower priority lock is removed before implementing a requested conflicting higher priority lock.

Abstract: The convex hull of two polygons having congruent corresponding angles with the same orientation can be determined by analyzing the relationship of each vertex of one of the polygons relative to its adjacent vertices. More particularly a line may be defined between a selected vertex on one of the polygons and its corresponding vertex on the other polygon. If the vertices adjacent to the selected vertex both fall on the same side of the line, then a line connecting the selected vertex with its corresponding vertex lies on the convex hull of the two polygons. If, on the other hand, the vertices adjacent to the selected vertex are located on different sides of the line, then the line connecting the selected vertex with its corresponding vertex does not lie on the convex hull.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide virtual hover zones. When a user lowers a hovering stylus while remaining within a hover zone, cursor control is modified to be more easily controllable by the user. If the user pauses the stylus in mid-air before lowering the stylus, and if the stylus remains within the hover zone, then upon touchdown the cursor may be moved to the projection of the location where the stylus was paused. Any action that my be taken in response to the touch down may be sent to the projection location as well. Also provided are cursor control zones. A dampening zone may be used to provide dampened cursor movement feedback in response to movement input provided by a pointing device. Also, a dead zone may be used to prohibit cursor movement in response to movement input provided by the pointing device.

Abstract: A method of packaging an article comprises wrapping the article in a plastic film; and heat sealing the film using a sealing apparatus comprising a main sealing element, and a second sealing element attached at an angle to the main sealing element, and shorter than the main sealing element, such that when the film is sealed, a sealed notch that can be used to initiate opening of the package is made. A package comprises an article wrapped in a plastic film, the film being heat sealed to form a seal, the seal comprising a main seal, and a second seal attached at an angle to the main seal, and shorter than the main seal, and defining a sealed notch that can be used to initiate opening of the package. A sealing apparatus for making an easily opened package comprises a main sealing element, and a second sealing element attached at an angle to the main sealing element, and shorter than the main sealing element, and capable of creating a sealed notch that can be used to initiate opening of the package.

Abstract: A method of packaging an article comprises wrapping the article in a plastic film; and heat sealing the film using a sealing apparatus comprising a main sealing element, and a second sealing element attached at an angle to the main sealing element, and shorter than the main sealing element, such that when the film is sealed, a sealed notch that can be used to initiate opening of the package is made. A package comprises an article wrapped in a plastic film, the film being heat sealed to form a seal, the seal comprising a main seal, and a second seal attached at an angle to the main seal, and shorter than the main seal, and defining a sealed notch that can be used to initiate opening of the package. A sealing apparatus for making an easily opened package comprises a main sealing element, and a second sealing element attached at an angle to the main sealing element, and shorter than the main sealing element, and capable of creating a sealed notch that can be used to initiate opening of the package.