Abstract: Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.

Abstract: An approach is provided for configuring a service management (SM) tool. During an application deployment, a service registry receives a query from a tier of the application for a list of SM tools that provide a SM function. The service registry sends the list of SM tools to the application. Using an application programming interface (API) in an integration layer, (i) a user-selected SM tool included in the list of SM tools, (ii) a business criticality of the tier of the application, and (iii) parameters specifying the SM function are received. Using the API and based on the business criticality of the tier of the application, the selected SM tool is configured with the parameters specifying the SM function.

Abstract: Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention related to a method for monitoring, communicating and controlling water consumption and availability and system thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for monitoring, communicating and controlling water consumption and availability at domestic stage or commercial stage and predicting and advising the future usage of water to users located at local sites or at remote site.

Abstract: A method of automating patching of a computer system includes determining whether a computer patch is available for a computer system of a customer, determining a patch management policy of the customer, determining a patch window of the customer based on the determined patch management policy, and directing application of the computer patch to the computer system at the determined patch window.

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems, methods, and software for automated rich-content messaging. Some such embodiments generating messages to be sent via email, MMS, social media, or other electronic mechanisms from a business application based on message templates authored within a content management program. Messages may be generated and sent based on event occurrences, monitored data conditions, and the like.

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems, methods, and software for automated rich-content messaging. Some such embodiments generating messages to be sent via email, MMS, social media, or other electronic mechanisms from a business application based on message templates authored within a content management program. Messages may be generated and sent based on event occurrences, monitored data conditions, and the like.

Abstract: A method of automating patching of a computer system includes determining whether a computer patch is available for a computer system of a customer, determining a patch management policy of the customer, determining a patch window of the customer based on the determined patch management policy, and directing application of the computer patch to the computer system at the determined patch window.

Abstract: A dynamic voltage scaling system for a packet-based data communication transceiver includes a constant voltage supply, a variable voltage supply, and a voltage control unit. The constant voltage supply is configured to supply a constant voltage to at least one parameter-independent function of the transceiver, and the variable voltage supply is configured to supply a variable voltage in accordance with a control signal to at least one parameter-dependent function of the transceiver. Parameter-independent transceiver functions perform operations independent of a predetermined parameter and parameter-dependent transceiver functions perform operations dependent on the predetermined parameter The voltage control unit is configured to generate the control signal based on information provided by at least one parameter-independent transceiver function about the predetermined parameter.

Abstract: An adaptive sliding block Viterbi decoder (ASBVD) includes forward and backward Viterbi processors, a state estimator and a control unit. The processors generate metrics of states and of transitions between the states associated with an encoder, based on encoded input information symbols received via a communications channel. Each processor includes a plurality of buffers for storing information symbols so that a number of the encoded input information symbols can be concurrently decoded. The state estimator estimates a current state of a code trellis based on the generated metrics, and the processors decode the stored information symbols based on the estimated current state. The control unit adapts the number of encoded input information symbols to be concurrently decoded based on a condition of the communications channel, and selectively controls the number of buffers that are enabled in accordance with the number of encoded input information symbols to be concurrently decoded.

Abstract: A vehicle having a suspension system that supports a vehicle frame has a suspension interlock for governing the distance that the suspension system may move away from the frame during a vehicular rear impact event, thereby channeling impact forces through the suspension system and into the vehicle frame. A flexible member attaches to the vehicle frame and to the suspension system and acts as a tether to maintain the position of the suspension system relative to the frame. Alternatively, the suspension interlock may be a u-shaped bar mounted to the vehicular frame that interacts with a pin that is mounted to the suspension system. The pin resides within the confines of the u-shaped bar to maintain the position of the suspension system relative to the frame. Alternatively, a hooked plate may be used instead of a pin.

Abstract: A dynamic voltage scaling system for a packet-based data communication transceiver includes a constant voltage supply, a variable voltage supply, and a voltage control unit. The constant voltage supply is configured to supply a constant voltage to at least one parameter-independent function of the transceiver, and the variable voltage supply is configured to supply a variable voltage in accordance with a control signal to at least one parameter-dependent function of the transceiver. Parameter-independent transceiver functions perform operations independent of a predetermined parameter and parameter-dependent transceiver functions perform operations dependent on the predetermined parameter The voltage control unit is configured to generate the control signal based on information provided by at least one parameter-independent transceiver function about the predetermined parameter.

Abstract: An adaptive sliding block Viterbi decoder (ASBVD) includes forward and backward Viterbi processors, a state estimator and a control unit. The processors generate metrics of states and of transitions between the states associated with an encoder, based on encoded input information symbols received via a communications channel. Each processor includes a plurality of buffers for storing information symbols so that a number of the encoded input information symbols can be concurrently decoded. The state estimator estimates a current state of a code trellis based on the generated metrics, and the processors decode the stored information symbols based on the estimated current state. The control unit adapts the number of encoded input information symbols to be concurrently decoded based on a condition of the communications channel, and selectively controls the number of buffers that are enabled in accordance with the number of encoded input information symbols to be concurrently decoded.

Abstract: A vehicle having a suspension system that supports a vehicle frame has a suspension interlock for governing the distance that the suspension system may move away from the frame during a vehicular rear impact event, thereby channeling impact forces through the suspension system and into the vehicle frame. A flexible member attaches to the vehicle frame and to the suspension system and acts as a tether to maintain the position of the suspension system relative to the frame. Alternatively, the suspension interlock may be a u-shaped bar mounted to the vehicular frame that interacts with a pin that is mounted to the suspension system. The pin resides within the confines of the u-shaped bar to maintain the position of the suspension system relative to the frame. Alternatively, a hooked plate may be used instead of a pin.

Abstract: A wrapper for a smoking article includes a web; and a patterned deposit on at least a portion of one surface of the wrapper, wherein the patterned deposit comprises catalyst particles. The patterned deposit can include a nanoparticle catalyst that is capable of catalyzing the conversion of a constituent gas component in the mainstream and/or sidestream smoke of the smoking article. The constituent gas component can be carbon monoxide and/or nitric oxide and the catalyst particles can be iron oxide. Also provided is a smoking article comprising a tobacco rod having a wrapper formed around the tobacco rod, the wrapper including a patterned deposit on at least a portion of one surface of the wrapper. A method of making the wrapper and a method of making a smoking article utilizing the wrapper are also provided.

Abstract: A method of producing a slurry of material effective for application to designated regions on cigarette paper to affect the burn rate in the designated regions, includes the steps of cooking a fibrous cellulosic material, bleaching the material, pressing the cooked and bleached material to remove liquid, drying the pressed material, milling the dried material to produce fibers of a desired size and mixing the milled material with water. Flax straw can be used as one source of the fibrous cellulosic material, and can be subjected to a hammering process for removal of non-fibrous components of the flax straw and for reduction in the fiber size before the cooking of the fibrous cellulosic material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of manufacturing a web which is striped with add-on material, comprising: a first slurry supply which forms a sheet of base web and moves the sheet along a first path; a second slurry supply; and a moving orifice applicator operative so as to repetitively discharge the second slurry upon the moving sheet of base web. The moving orifice applicator includes a chamber box arranged to establish a reservoir of the second slurry across the first path, an endless belt having slotted orifices, the endless belt received through the chamber box, and a drive arrangement operative upon the endless belt to continuously move the orifices along an endless-path and repetitively through the chamber box. The orifices communicate with the reservoir to discharge the second slurry as bands of add-on material to the base web. The slotted orifices can be spaced apart along the belt and oriented so as to be angled with respect to the travel direction of the belt and parallel to each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of manufacturing a web which is striped with add-on material, comprising: a first slurry supply which forms a sheet of base web and moves the sheet along a first path; a second slurry supply; and a moving orifice applicator operative so as to repetitively discharge the second slurry upon the moving sheet of base web. The moving orifice applicator includes a chamber box arranged to establish a reservoir of the second slurry across the first path, an endless belt having slotted orifices, the endless belt received through the chamber box, and a drive arrangement operative upon the endless belt to continuously move the orifices along an endless path and repetitively through the chamber box. The orifices communicate with the reservoir to discharge the second slurry as bands of add-on material to the base web. The slotted orifices can be spaced apart along the belt and oriented so as to be angled with respect to the travel direction of the belt and parallel to each other.

Abstract: An interactive system for creating a user workflow comprises a user workspace in selective communication with an expert knowledge module, wherein the expert knowledge module comprises a predetermined area of knowledge or expertise. The system is configured to provide a user with a solution to an identifiable user project.