Abstract: A device searches for a primary access network, and acquires the primary access network. The device also requests a service provided by a network connected to the primary access network, and attaches to the primary access network only when the service is requested by the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for provisioning and managing a network are disclosed. One method can comprise determining location information of one or more access points and selecting a routing device based upon the location information. Communication can be established between the one or more access points and the select routing device to define a mobility group comprising the one or more access points.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a network are disclosed. One method can comprise detecting a triggering event at a node. Location information of the node can be transmitted to a routing device in response to the triggering event. Location information of the node can be transmitted to a management device. The management device can be configured to control an operation of one or more of the node and the routing device in response to the location information.

Abstract: A number of novel watermarking applications, and improvements to watermarking methods, are disclosed. Included are techniques for encoding printed circuit boards and street signs with watermarks, deterring credit card fraud and controlling software licensing using watermarks, registering collectibles via watermarks, encoding the margins of printed pages with watermarks, and using watermarks to convey extra information in video by which fidelity of the rendered video may be improved. One particular arrangement is a method in which a PDA, wristwatch, or other portable device with a display screen presents a pattern that includes a machine-readable identifier. This image is sensed by a separate device, such as a webcam or a camera-equipped cell phone. The sensing device can then take an action based on the identifier. In some arrangements, the action is personalized to the user.

Abstract: An energy storage system is disclosed. The energy storage system may include a power control module coupled to a plurality of energy modules each including a plurality of batteries. The plurality of batteries may be placed in a plurality of containers and arranged in a plurality of parallel strings.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates generally to confirming that a user has physical custody of an article (e.g., credit card, identification document, etc.). One claim recites a method reciting: at a user's home, presenting a physical article to an input device; and, after the presenting, receiving device data at a CPU at said user's home; deriving a reduced-bit representation of the device data; by reference to at least some of said reduced-bit representation of the device data, confirming that the user has physical custody of the physical article, the physical article having an identifier associated therewith; and providing said identifier to a remote terminal once physical custody of the physical article is confirmed. Of course, additional combinations and claims are provided as well.

Abstract: A variety of systems and embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment provides a method including: maintaining a database including a plurality of records stored therein; obtaining first information derived from image or video data, the first information being derived remotely relative to performance of said method, the first information comprising a reduced-bit representation of the image or video data itself; determining whether the first information has been previously received with reference to at least the plurality of records stored in the database; and disregarding a request or action associated with the first information if the first information has been previously received. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well.

Abstract: A system includes a device that receives a lawful intercept request from a law enforcement agency, and determines whether a packet data lawful intercept or a session initiation protocol (SIP)-based applications (SBA) lawful intercept is requested by the lawful intercept request. The device also provisions, when a packet data lawful intercept is requested by the lawful intercept request, a policy control and charging rules function (PCRF) and a packet data network (PDN) gateway (PGW) for the packet data lawful intercept. The device further provisions, when a SBA lawful intercept is requested, a proxy call session control function. (P-CSCF), a serving-CSCF (S-CSCF), and a session border controller (SBC) for the SBA lawful intercept.

Abstract: An instrument panel including a plurality of user interface components respectively configured to receive or generate an electrical signal and one or more electronic apparatus, such as a bus expander, configured to exchange data between the plurality of electronic user interface components and a bus. With embodiments, the instrument panel is configured without a microprocessor or a micro-coded component coupled to the bus.

Abstract: Identification of radio coverage of a mobile station (MS) via a pico cell, such as an IP-BTS in a user premises (e.g. residence or business customer location), enables a mobile/wireless service provider to differentiate between coverage under a pico cell and coverage under a macro network. In a disclosed example, when the MS requests registration/authentication through a pico cell, a related signaling message includes a pico cell identifier (pID). A home location register (HLR) is provisioned with a pID, so that the HLR can decide to accept or reject the registration/authentication requests. For example, if the particular MS is provisioned for services from a specific pico cell, the HLR will grant the registration/authentication and allow the network to process calls for the mobile station through the identified pico cell. This enables the provider to allow discounted services through pico cell, e.g. as a replacement for a landline.

Abstract: A powered surgical apparatus can be used with a source of irrigation fluid and a source of suction. The powered surgical apparatus can include a cutting blade assembly and a handle. The handle can include an upper portion defining a distal section connectable to the cutting blade assembly and a lower portion extending downwardly from the upper portion. The handle can be connectable to the source of irrigation fluid and the source of suction. The system can also include a manually actuable input device that provides at least one signal relevant to at least one operation of the system, and a controller that receives the at least one input signal and provides an output signal to perform the at least one operation of the system.

Abstract: A vacuum packaged product and method for reducing tensile strength loss associated with sterilization of polyolefin-based products by gamma radiation, and reducing odors commonly produced by such sterilization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and computer program for energy use management and reduction. The invention enables managing and reducing energy usage by monitoring energy usage of users and rewarding users for reducing energy usage. It includes monitoring energy consumption for users. Any reduction in energy consumption is commoditized. The commoditized energy can be sold on a market. Some or all of the revenues realized from the sale may be distributed to the users as encouragement to further reduce energy usage.

Abstract: A fluid measurement system utilizes one or more digital probes that communicate over a digital bus to a fluid gauging computer. The digital probes incorporate a capacitance to digital circuit that converts probe capacitance to a digital value. The digital value is communicated to the fuel gauging computer via a data bus.

Abstract: Provisioning of target related information into an IP Multi-media Subsystem (IMS) communications network, to provide lawful intercept, utilizes an interface between a lawful intercept server (LIS) and one or more of the Home Subscriber Servers (HSSs) of the network. The LIS provisions an HSS with target information for LI, with respect to a subset of the overall list of LI targets, that is to say with respect to those of targets homed on the respective HSS. The HSS provisions the target list for its subset down to Call Session Control Function elements (CSCFs) logically attached to that HSS, to enable each CSCF to intercept signaling messages relating to communication for identified target user equipment (UE) devices. The intercepted signaling enables the LIS to identify a location of a target UE device in an access network and instruct a network control point to intercept content of communications for that UE device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for identifying wireless transmitters. In one embodiment, a method for identifying a transmitter in a wireless computing network includes extracting one or more radio frequency signal characteristics from a communication from the transmitter and generating a fingerprint of the transmitter in accordance at least one of the extracted radio frequency signal characteristics.

Abstract: A method of network surveillance includes receiving network packets handled by a network entity and building at least one long-term and at least one short-term statistical profile from a measure of the network packets that monitors data transfers, errors, or network connections. A comparison of the statistical profiles is used to determine whether the difference between the statistical profiles indicates suspicious network activity.

Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.

Abstract: A subscriber device receives a message from a network device external to the subscriber device, where the network device implements a first metering engine that meters usage of a network service by a subscriber using the subscriber device and where the message includes the subscriber's usage data. The subscriber device includes a second usage metering engine that receives the subscriber's usage data from the usage synchronization unit, and performs real-time metering of the subscriber's usage of the network service, based on the subscriber's usage data received from the network device and independently of the first metering engine of the network device, to generate real-time usage metering data. The second usage metering engine further outputs the real-time usage metering data to a display at the subscriber device.

Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.