Abstract: The present disclosure relates to detecting the use of fake voice command to activate microphones of smart devices. In one embodiment, sound characteristics associated with an audio signal from a microphone of smart device may be compared with other microphones of the smart device in order to detect fake voice commands. In another embodiment, sound characteristics associated with the audio signal from the microphone may be compared with a threshold range of stored sound characteristics in order to detect fake voice commands. In some embodiments, a controller may triangulate a position associated with a source of a sound in order to detect a fake voice command. In a further embodiment, a controller may verify that a user or associated electronic device are near a smart device to authorize a voice command.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device such as a smoking article. The cartridge may include a base, a reservoir substrate, and an atomizer. The reservoir substrate may define a cavity therethrough. The atomizer may comprise a liquid transport element and a heating element extending at least partially about the liquid transport element. The atomizer may extend through the cavity through the reservoir substrate such that the heating element is positioned proximate an end of the reservoir substrate. Ends of the liquid transport element may extend to an opposing end of the reservoir substrate. A related method for assembling a cartridge for a smoking article is also provided.

Abstract: An annular cutter catching device includes a housing having an inner bore therethrough, a cutter configured to cut a coupon, and a coupon catching device configured to grip an outer surface of the coupon. In an embodiment, an annular cutter catching device includes one or more split rings disposed within the inner bore of the housing. In the embodiment, at least one split ring is configured to grip an outer surface of the coupon within the inner bore of the housing. In an embodiment, an annular cutter catching device includes a coupon catcher disposed within the inner bore of the housing. In an embodiment, the coupon catcher includes a set of fingers movable between an open position and a closed position. In an embodiment, the set of fingers are configured to retain the coupon within the inner bore of the housing in the closed position.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein facilitate the management of personalized life information using a distributed ledger. For example, a distributed ledger system, such as one or more blockchains, may manage personalized life information of one or more individuals to, for example, determine an occurrence of a life event for a first individual based at least in part on personalized life information for the first individual, to access various types of personalized life information for the first individual in response to the determination of the occurrence of the life event for the first individual, and to provide a subset of the personalized life information data for the first individual to a user device associated with a second individual.

Abstract: A system may include a first vehicle and a first control system that may control one or more vehicle operations of the first vehicle. The first control system may perform operations including receiving a first vehicle operation signal from a second control system associated with a second vehicle, sending one or more requests to one or more computing systems for a confirmation of the first vehicle operation signal, and determining a set of vehicle instructions to control the one or more vehicle operations based on whether one or more responses from the one or more computing systems provide the confirmation. The first control system may then control the first vehicle based on the set of vehicle instructions.

Abstract: A system and method for ensuring the authenticity of imaged documents by embedding data into the images of such documents. The embedded data can then be extracted and decoded, and used to determine whether a particular document may be fraudulent. The documents may be checks, money orders, contracts, invoices, titles or other legal documents that may need to have their authenticity confirmed to prevent, for example, forged or otherwise false documents from being accepted as genuine.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to preventing laser access to microphones of smart devices. In one embodiment, a microphone of the smart device may be covered with an opaque material such as a cloth cover. The opaque material may serve as a barrier that is impenetrable to light, thereby preventing laser light to reach the microphone. In a further embodiment, a smart device may prevent the one or more microphones of the smart device from receiving an audio command embedded in a light signal by disrupting the light signal, ignoring the audio command, or both. In another embodiment, the smart device may block the audio command from being received at a microphone of a smart device by determining a frequency of the light signal, instructing a laser jammer to transmit a counter light with the frequency to interfere with the light signal.

Abstract: A technique for selectively scrambling data obtained by electronic sensor devices, such as cameras, voice communication devices, and the like, is provided. A payload of the data is scrambled when one or more characteristics of the data indicate that the data may include sensitive information. The scrambled data is transmitted to a target device.

Abstract: A method for detecting a fraud attempt in a communication session may include receiving, via at least one processor, a set of data associated with a communication session between a representative of an organization and a user, tagging, via the at least one processor, one or more items of the set of data as one or more tagged data items, applying, via the at least one processor, a fraud detecting algorithm to the one or more tagged data items to determine a percent likelihood of the user attempting to defraud the representative, generating, via the at least one processor, a visualization based on the percent likelihood, and displaying, via the at least one processor, the visualization via an electronic display during the communication session.

Abstract: A technique for selectively sending encryption keys is provided that encrypts user data generated as a result of a user interacting with a user device. The encrypted user data may be sent to one or more target devices associated with a third party. When the one or more target devices are authorized to receive an encryption key, the encryption key to decrypt the encrypted user data may also be sent to the one or more target devices.

Abstract: An authentication system for granting access to an account associated with a user. An authenticator of the authentication system including a processor and a memory, the authenticator configured to: receive a request for authentication that identifies the user; access an authentication account associated with the user, wherein the authentication account indicates a smart device associated with the user; activate a control parameter of the smart device, wherein the control parameter may cause an effect in a media sample from the smart device; receive the media sample from the smart device and determine if the effect corresponding to the control parameter is observed in the media sample; and in response to a determination that the effect is not observed in the media sample, indicate that the request for authentication is a fraudulent request.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to navigational systems, devices, and methods for preparing route guidance information that incorporates user needs—and ensures fulfilment of those needs under a variety of conditions. In particular, this disclosure relates to preparing route guidance information that ensures a user is directed along a route that includes stops where various needs such as e.g. medical, food, or water can be met while also minimizing traffic. Such a system may be useful, for example, when evacuating from a metro region in the face of an oncoming natural disaster such as a hurricane.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and modifying the security configurations of multiple devices is disclosed. The method includes monitoring multiple devices for security triggers and taking action in response to the triggers. The triggers include changes in security configurations, known security issues and pending updates. The devices may be any connected devices, including Internet of Things devices.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing transactions requested by a user, such management based on sensor data that generated by sensor device(s) in proximity to the user. Biometric and/or other types of data may be generated using sensors that are included in a user device, worn by a user, and/or otherwise in proximity to the user. The data may be analyzed to determine a current physical, emotional, and/or intellectual state of the user, such as whether the user is intoxicated, exhausted, angry, depressed, under duress, experiencing dementia, and so forth. If a transaction is detected that conflicts with a previously specified constraint, such as a budget or spending rule of the user, and if the user is currently in an impaired state, action(s) may be taken to manage the transaction. Such action(s) may include blocking the transaction, delaying the transaction, and/or notifying another party to assist the user.

Abstract: A downhole tool that has a plurality of arm assemblies. Each of the arm assemblies has an arm configured to expand and retract and an actuator. A hydraulic bus in fluid communication with the plurality of arm assemblies. A plurality of flow control devices. The flow control devices are configured to selectively isolate one or more arm assemblies of the plurality of arm assemblies from the hydraulic bus while maintaining the other arm assemblies of the plurality of arm assemblies in communication with the hydraulic bus.

Abstract: A method for detecting a fraud attempt in a communication session may include receiving, via at least one processor, a set of data associated with a communication session between a representative of an organization and a user, tagging, via the at least one processor, one or more items of the set of data as one or more tagged data items, applying, via the at least one processor, a fraud detecting algorithm to the one or more tagged data items to determine a percent likelihood of the user attempting to defraud the representative, generating, via the at least one processor, a visualization based on the percent likelihood, and displaying, via the at least one processor, the visualization via an electronic display during the communication session.