Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a network. Signals are received from a plurality of time sources. A signal having a desired level of accuracy is selected from the signals. A reference time in the network is established using the signal. Data to be transmitted through the network is encrypted to form encrypted data. The encrypted data includes a number of encrypted headers and an encrypted body. A next node in the network is identified based on a destination for the encrypted data. A request is generated to reserve a number of time intervals for transmitting the encrypted data to the next node through the network. The encrypted data is transmitted in the network during the number of time intervals responsive to receiving an approval for the request from the next node.

Abstract: A bicycle lighting system comprises a front light 13 with a power source 11 with a cradle 12 for mounting on a bicycle, said front light 13 being releasably secured to the cradle 12 to allow removal of the front light 13 when the bicycle is not being used, front light indicator lights 14A, 14B powered by the from light power source, a rear light 23 with a power source 2 for mounting on a bicycle, rear indicator lights 24A. 24B powered by the rear light power source, and a switch device 30 for mounting, on the handlebars X to operate the lights, the switch device being adapted to control the rear light and rear indicator lights through a wireless connection. Removal of the front light from its cradle may disable the rear light. The system may also include a helmet-mounted wirelessly controlled light and the power sources may be kept charged by means of a solar panel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle security device (10) for fitment to a vehicle (1). Device (10) has a vehicle immobiliser (11), at least one sensor (12,13,14) to sense characteristics of a driver attempting to drive a vehicle, a memory device (15) to store characteristics of one or more persons authorised to drive the vehicle, and a control device (16) to prevent unauthorised changes to the memory device. A comparator (17) compares the characteristics of the driver in the vehicle with the characteristics of persons in the memory device (15), and ensures the immobiliser (11) prevents the vehicle being driven if the characteristics of the driver attempting to drive the vehicle does not match the characteristics of one or more persons authorised to drive the vehicle.

Abstract: A method includes: while streaming video frames on a network toward a client device, detecting a loss of connectivity between the network and the client device; responsive to detecting the loss of the connectivity between the network and the client device, ceasing the streaming of the video frames toward the client device; subsequent to detecting the loss of connectivity, determining that the connectivity between the network and the client device has been re-established; responsive to determining that the connectivity between the network and the client device has been re-established, resuming the streaming of the video frames on the network toward the client device by transmitting an Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) frame on the network toward the client device without sending one or more frames corresponding to images chronologically prior to an image corresponding to the IDR frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable clip gun (1) for securing clips (10) with a pin (11) into a surface Y. Gun (1) has a gun body, storage means (4) to store a plurality of clips, a driver station (5), a delivery means (4) to deliver a clip from the storage to the driver station, and a driver (6) to drive the clip pin into the surface to secure the cable to the surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle storage device. A trolley is provided having folding legs with wheels which move from a first in use position with the legs supporting the trolley for wheeled movement along the ground, to a second storage position with the legs folded adjacent the trolley. A housing is provided for mounting in a vehicle to accommodate the trolley with legs in the second position. Goods can be placed in the trolley in one location and the trolley can be used to transport the goods with its legs in the first position to the vehicle where the trolley legs can be placed in a second storage position and the trolley placed in the housing whilst still supporting said goods, and the trolley can then be removed from the vehicle with its legs placed in the first position to transport goods to a second location.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and network architectures are disclosed for creating and implementing secure wireless, wired, and/or optical networks using specially modified “stealth” packets, cells, frames, and/or other “stealth” information structures. This enables stealth packets, network elements, and networks to have a low probability of detection, interception, and interpretation. The “stealth” packets, switches, networks, and methods provide invisibility or “cloaking” by modifying previously existing standards rules for packet structures, protocols, timing, synchronization, and other elements. Stealth packets, network elements, and networks may be further enhanced with encryption techniques by encrypting various parts of, or the entire packet structure itself, for example, headers, preambles, payload, and/or other packet elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for the purpose of power generation by collecting or reflecting light using a foldable surface for compact transport, comprising of a circular surface divided into sectors, which in a closed folded position each sector is drawn closed by elevating a radius on one side of the sector on a pivot along the radius, and which in an opened position is held rigid by both radial and circumferential support.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and network architectures are disclosed for creating and implementing secure wireless, wired, and/or optical stealth-enabled networks using specially modified packets, cells, frames, and/or other “stealth” information structures. This enables stealth packets to have a low probability of detection, a low probability of interception, and a low probability of interpretation. Stealth packets are only detected, intercepted, and correctly interpreted by stealth-enabled network equipment. In its simplest form, stealth packet switching modifies the packet structure, protocols, timing, synchronization, and other elements through various rule-violations. This creates stealth packets, which normal equipment cannot receive correctly, and hence normal equipment discards the stealth packets. Stealth packets may be further enhanced with encryption techniques which focus on encrypting the packet structure itself, as opposed to merely encrypting the data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a network. Signals are received from a plurality of time sources. A signal having a desired level of accuracy is selected from the signals. A reference time in the network is established using the signal. Data to be transmitted through the network is encrypted to form encrypted data. The encrypted data includes a number of encrypted headers and an encrypted body. A next node in the network is identified based on a destination for the encrypted data. A request is generated to reserve a number of time intervals for transmitting the encrypted data to the next node through the network. The encrypted data is transmitted in the network during the number of time intervals responsive to receiving an approval for the request from the next node.

Abstract: A computerized system for augmenting data from a source database with data from a reference database to generate an augmented database that can be used for predictive modeling is disclosed. The present invention includes a method for using the Internet to obtain information, including, reading a data record stored in a field of data, searching a database for information describing the data record, condensing the information describing the data record into a value description, associating the value description with the data record, and augmenting the field of data with the value description associated with the data. The present invention also includes a computerized system for augmenting data from a source database with data from a reference database to generate an augmented database that can be used for predictive modeling and data mining to conduct searches of data in the augmented database.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a connection between a client and a server with load balancing between servers are disclosed. A computer-implemented method of the present invention generally includes binding a primary virtual server to a set of URLs, each URL having an associated real server and receiving a request from a client for connection to the primary virtual server. One of the real servers are selected for connection with the client and a redirect message is sent to the client specifying the URL associated with the selected real server. The method further includes receiving a new connection request from the client for connection with the selected real server.

Abstract: Systems and methods of registering a sheet in an image reproduction, e.g.,. a xerographic, device use sheet parameters regardless of the tray or bin with which the sheets are associated, separate tallies of sheet registration correction factors for both sides of a sheet, and use registration errors detected on a first side of a sheet to generate correction factors concerning proper registration of the second side of that sheet. In embodiments, the systems and methods average registration errors for one particular side of a plurality of sheets to obtain a dampened error signal that is taken into account for registration of subsequent sheets on each respective sheet side. In embodiments, the systems and methods determine variations between actual and target system performance to affect subsequent sheet flow and registration.

Abstract: An aircraft attached apparatus/method for spraying pesticides having two propeller shafts attached to the aircraft. Each shaft has a full feathering propeller mounted at the forward ends of the propeller shaft and a control cable extending to the cockpit. High pressure pumps, typically piston pumps, are mounted on the aft ends of each of the propeller shafts. The input side of the pumps are connected to a tank, and the output side is connected to respective matrix spray boom assemblies. The forward ends of each of the spray boom assemblies are connected to the output side of each respective pump. Spray nozzles, typically impingement nozzles, are attached to each of the aft ends of each spray boom. The high pressure pumps have an electrically operated magnetic brake attached thereto, and each of the spray boom assemblies have a pressure transmitter connected to a digital display in said aircraft.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus conveying a roll of liner stock bearing removably adhered components such as labels. The liner is pulled through the feeder by a capstan drive having opposed fluted nip rollers driven by a stepper motor. Advance of the stepper motor is controlled by a programmable electronic controller. The linered labels are led through a tensioner and around an acute-angle peeler edge which separates the labels from the liner. The peeling action advances a label onto a platform comprising a bed of rollers having an inherently low-adherence surface. Preferably the rollers are undercut to form circumferential ridges and reduce the surface area in contact with the label adhesive and to minimize adherence thereto. When peeling of a label is completed, the label has been advanced onto the roller bed to precisely the proper location for acquisition by a pick-and-place machine.

Abstract: A system and method are described for selecting a server to handle a connection. The method includes receiving at a service manager a connection request intercepted by a network device having a forwarding agent that is operative to receive instructions from a service manager, the connection request having been forwarded from the forwarding agent on the network device to the service manager. A preferred server is selected at the service manager from among a group of available servers. The preferred server is the server that is to service the connection request. Instructions are sent from the service manager to the forwarding agent. The instructions include the preferred server that is to service the connection request so that the connection request may be forwarded from the network device to the preferred server.

Abstract: Systems and methods of registering a sheet in an image reproduction, e.g., a xerographic, device use sheet parameters regardless of the tray or bin with which the sheets are associated, separate tallies of sheet registration correction factors for both sides of a sheet, and use registration errors detected on a first side of a sheet to generate correction factors concerning proper registration of the second side of that sheet. In embodiments, the systems and methods average registration errors for one particular side of a plurality of sheets to obtain a damped error signal that is taken into account for registration of subsequent sheets on each respective sheet side. In embodiments, the systems and methods determine variations between actual and target system performance to affect subsequent sheet flow and registration.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus conveying a roll of liner stock bearing removably adhered components such as labels. The liner is pulled through the feeder by a capstan drive having opposed fluted nip rollers driven by a stepper motor. Advance of the stepper motor is controlled by a programmable electronic controller. The linered labels are led through a tensioner and around an acute-angle peeler edge which separates the labels from the liner. The peeling action advances a label onto a platform comprising a bed of rollers having an inherently low-adherence surface. Preferably the rollers are undercut to form circumferential ridges and reduce the surface area in contact with the label adhesive and to minimize adherence thereto. When peeling of a label is completed, the label has been advanced onto the roller bed to precisely the proper location for acquisition by a pick-and-place machine.

Abstract: A combination of an aircraft and spraying apparatus for spraying suspensions or solutions having predetermined characteristics independent of the speed of the aircraft, the apparatus consisting of a mounting frame attached to the underside of the aircraft, a plurality of bearing braces attached to the frame and a propeller shaft mounted through the bearing braces. A full feathering propeller is mounted on the forward end with a control running to the cockpit of the aircraft, and a rotary piston type high pressure pump connected to the aft end of the propeller. The input of the pump is connected to a supply tank in the aircraft and the output is connected to a spray boom. The spray nozzles consist of high pressure impingement nozzles.