Abstract: In some embodiments, techniques include identifying a plurality of tasks associated with an identifier corresponding to an electronic device. A task series is generated so as to include the plurality of tasks, where each task in the series is associated with a performance time. When it is determined that the task has not been completed by the performance time, the task series is updated.

Abstract: A spacecraft communications payload includes a beam forming network (BFN), wherein the BFN includes a first feed waveguide and a first set of branch waveguides, each branch waveguide in the first set operating in a frequency band having a characteristic waveguide wavelength ?g1. A proximal portion of the first set of branch waveguides is communicatively coupled with the first feed waveguide. A distal portion of the first set of branch waveguides is communicatively coupled by way of an array of slots with a plurality of radiating elements. A separation distance between adjacent slots in the array is approximately equal to ?g, and the array of slots is configured as a honeycomb-like triaxial lattice. In some implementations, a compact BFN may be configured to simultaneously operate at two different polarizations (“dual-polarized”) and/or frequency bands (“dual-band”).

Abstract: A cement testing apparatus has a pressure vessel system defining a first interior volume sealed from a second interior volume. The pressure vessel system has a confining pressure port in fluid communication with the first interior volume and a rebalance pressure port in fluid communication with the second interior volume. A cement sample container is provided within the first interior volume. A displacement indicator is coupled to move with deformation of a cement sample supported by the sample container. The displacement indicator has a first portion inside the first interior volume, a second portion inside the second interior volume, and a third portion traversing a space between the first and second interior volumes.

Abstract: An implantable leadless pacing device may comprise a power source and circuitry operatively coupled to the power source. The circuitry configured to pace a patient's heart and/or sense electrical activity of the patient's heart. A housing may at least partially enclose the circuitry. The pacing device may further include a first electrode secured relative to the housing and a fixation mechanism secured relative to the housing. The fixation mechanism may comprise a plurality of tines configured to move between an elongated delivery configuration and a curved deployed configuration. Each tine of the plurality of tines may include a radiopaque material.

Abstract: Accessing a security enabled application may require certain access privileges that are not readily available or associated with the application at the time a user is seeking access via a login operation. In operation, an access attempt to a security enabled application may include identifying user credentials associated with the access attempt, generating a query based on the user credentials to identify whether the user credentials are associated with a predetermined group membership. A response to the query may be received that includes group information corresponding to the user and the group information may be compared to a set of predetermined rules to determine whether the group information includes privilege rules used to grant access to the access attempt.

Abstract: A hotel room with furniture arranged for optimal television viewing from a bed and another location, such as a sofa or second bed. Furniture pieces are connected or closely aligned together and are arranged so that they provide premium viewing for a television, regardless of a location of a person within the hotel room. To this end, embodiments utilize furniture arrangements where the bed and/or sofa are turned at an angle to the walls of the room, and the room is laid out efficiently to account for this different design affect.

Abstract: A multi-beam antenna (MBA) system for a spacecraft, the MBA system including a reflector and a feed array of radiating feed elements configured as a phased array and illuminating the reflector. The feed array includes a plurality of interchangeable modules. Each of the plurality of interchangeable modules includes a distal mounting panel and a proximal mounting panel, and at least six feed array elements. Each feed array element is electrically coupled with a respective amplifier and mechanically coupled with an exterior surface of the distal mounting panel. The respective amplifiers are thermally coupled with the proximal mounting panel and are mechanically coupled to an interior surface of the distal mounting panel and an exterior surface of the proximal mounting panel. An interior surface of the proximal mounting panel of each interchangeable module is mechanically and thermally coupled with a back plate.

Abstract: A method for producing an identification article is described. The method includes associating one or more data items with one or more line patterns, where the line patterns include one or more line segments. A particular data item is associated with at least a subset of line segments and the particular data item corresponds to an attribute of a user of the identification article. The method further includes integrating the line patterns with graphical features of the identification article. The graphical features being discernable by a human eye and the subset of line segments is indiscernible by the human eye. The method includes identifying a region of the identification article that includes the subset of line segments associated with the particular data item and associating the particular line pattern with an identifying feature of the user.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides for a computer system which includes at least the following components: a plurality of computing devices associated with a plurality of users associated with a plurality of users; where each computing device of the plurality of computing devices is configured to: electronically receive software which, when being executed, cause such computing device to display a plurality of instances of a specifically programmed graphical user interface (GUI); where each instance of the GUI is configured to display a real-time updatable meeting information representative of a direct electronic proximity-based communication between at least two computing devices associated with at least two users who desire to meet at a particular location to engage in a transaction of at least one good, at least one service, or both, whose marketable value lasts for a period of 30 seconds to 60 minutes.

Abstract: A failsafe hose comprising an inlet fitting assembly and an outlet fitting assembly wherein the inlet fitting assembly and outlet fitting assembly are interconnected by an inner conduit and an outer conduit and the inlet fitting assembly further comprises a dissolvable element and a piston wherein the piston held in an open position by the dissolvable element wherein a leak in the inner conduit will result in the fluid being directed to the dissolvable element by the outer conduit and a method for assembling same.

Abstract: In some embodiments, techniques include identifying a plurality of tasks associated with an identifier corresponding to an electronic device. A task series is generated so as to include the plurality of tasks, where each task in the series is associated with a performance time. When it is determined that the task has not been completed by the performance time, the task series is updated.

Abstract: A system and method for stockpiling material on the seafloor, the system and method using seafloor collection machines, such auxiliary or bulk cutters or collection machines, to capture seafloor material to be stockpiled. The captured seafloor material is carried in slurry form over a flexible transfer pipe to an outlet at a desired seafloor site. In a preferred form the outlet is mounted in a seafloor stockpiling hood that sits on the seafloor at the desired seafloor site and captures and contains slurry from the outlet while allowing egress of water. The captured seafloor material can then be extracted to a surface vessel.

Abstract: A multilayer laminate identification document including an outer layer having a contoured surface image formed therein via laser ablation. The contoured surface image has contours based on a digital monochrome image, and has a first appearance when viewed in reflected light at a first angle and a second, different appearance when viewed in reflected light at a second, different angle. The multilayer laminate identification document is formed by generating a second digital monochrome image with continuous pixel patterns from a first digital monochrome image, and irradiating the surface of the identification document with a laser using the second digital monochrome image as a guide to form a contoured surface image in the surface of the identification document.

Abstract: A device for determining the composition of a mixture of fluids by spectral absorption, comprises: a radiation source; a detector for detecting radiation that has been attenuated by the mixture; and a device for separating the radiation into a wavelength band corresponding to an absorption band of one of the fluids, a wavelength band corresponding to an absorption band of another of the fluids, and at least one reference wavelength band substantially adjacent to each of the absorption bands, and especially adjacent to each side of the absorption band or group of absorption bands. The device may be used to determine the composition of mixtures of oil, water and gaseous hydrocarbons in oil wells where there is a very large degree of time varying scattering e.g. Rayleigh and Mie scattering due to turbulence.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a hydraulic engine mount. During assembly, one or more gel caps may be inserted into a chamber of the engine mount, the chamber is then filled with a fluid and sealed to allow the gel caps to dissolve. Upon dissolving, the gel caps may release air bubbles to reduce pressure differentials across the engine mount to reduce occurrence of cavitation and NVH issues.

Abstract: A method of operating a remote view system with privacy protection and a remote view system with privacy protection. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request from a remote device for one or more images of a vehicle interior, receiving one or more images of the vehicle interior, determining whether a privacy key is located within the vehicle interior, determining whether one or more occupants are located within the vehicle interior, retrieving the privacy settings of the vehicle interior stored in memory, responsive to determining that the privacy key and the one or more occupants are located within the vehicle interior, generating one or more privacy images based on the one or more images and the privacy settings of the vehicle interior, controlling a transceiver to transmit the one or more privacy images to the remote device via an antenna.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for identifying tax amounts in transactions for association with transaction records. A user may conduct a transaction and receive a receipt for the transaction. The user may use an application running on a portable communication device to view transaction information for their account and select a transaction associated with the receipt. The mobile communication device may identify a total transaction amount and a tax amount for the transaction based on an image of the receipt. The mobile communication device may transmit these amounts to an issuer computer that may associate the tax amount with a record of the transaction. As such, the issuer computer can maintain the tax amounts for the transactions of the user.

Abstract: A fishing float including a buoyant body. The buoyant body may include an upper portion having a general shape of one of a toy, character, or animal; and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion extends from a bottom of the upper portion and is generally ovular in shape, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are shaped and configured together such that when floating in water at least a portion of the upper portion is visible above the water. The fishing float may further include a mechanism for adjustably securing the buoyant body to a fishing line.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides for a computer system which includes at least the following components: a plurality of computing devices associated with a plurality of users associated with a plurality of users; where each computing device of the plurality of computing devices is configured to: electronically receive software which, when being executed, cause such computing device to display a plurality of instances of a specifically programmed graphical user interface (GUI); where each instance of the GUI is configured to display a real-time updatable meeting information representative of a direct electronic proximity-based communication between at least two computing devices associated with at least two users who desire to meet at a particular location to engage in a transaction of at least one good, at least one service, or both, whose marketable value lasts for a period of 30 seconds to 60 minutes.

Abstract: A laminar assembly including a first optically opaque layer defining a plurality of through-holes, a second optically opaque layer, an optically transparent inner layer between the inner surface of the first optically opaque layer and the inner surface of the second optically opaque layer, and a preprinted layer proximate the outer surface of at least one of the first and second optically opaque layers. The plurality of through-holes is at least partially filled with material from the optically transparent inner layer, and light is visibly transmitted in a single direction through the plurality of through-holes. Unidirectional opacity watermarks defined by the plurality of through-holes in the laminar assembly provide advantageous anti-counterfeiting measures, and are easy to view and authenticate, yet difficult to simulate.