Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In one example, a user request for a media item is received. Based on the user request, at least one media item and a description of the at least one media item are identified. A confidence level is obtained that an identified media item of the at least one media item corresponds to the requested media item. In accordance with a determination that the confidence level exceeds a first confidence threshold, a length of the identified description is reduced to obtain a modified description and the modified description of the identified media item is provided in a first spoken response.

Abstract: A thickener/clarifier system includes a thickener/clarifier and one or more sensors measuring respective process or operating parameters of the thickener/clarifier(s) during operation thereof. The sensors are operatively coupled via hard-wired connections and possibly via 4-20 mA converters to one or more wireless transmitters. At least one wireless receiver receives the wireless signal(s) from the transmitter(s). At least one display is hard-wire coupled to the receiver(s) for displaying a magnitude of each process or operating parameter measured.

Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In one example, a user request for a media item is received. Based on the user request, at least one media item and a description of the at least one media item are identified. A confidence level is obtained that an identified media item of the at least one media item corresponds to the requested media item. In accordance with a determination that the confidence level exceeds a first confidence threshold, a length of the identified description is reduced to obtain a modified description and the modified description of the identified media item is provided in a first spoken response.

Abstract: A thickener/clarifier system includes a thickener/clarifier and one or more sensors measuring respective process or operating parameters of the thickener/clarifier(s) during operation thereof. The sensors are operatively coupled via hard-wired connections and possibly via 4-20 mA converters to one or more wireless transmitters. At least one wireless receiver receives the wireless signal(s) from the transmitter(s). At least one display is hard-wire coupled to the receiver(s) for displaying a magnitude of each process or operating parameter measured.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine is described that achieves stable, highly efficient hybrid combustion by having a core flow of fuel-rich gas generator gases, with the flow being surrounded with an annular injection of oxidizer. The fuel-rich gas serves to vaporize and decompose the oxidizer, such as nitrous oxide, and prepare it for effective, stable combustion. In one embodiment, this is done at the head-end of a combustion chamber. The combustion products can then be expanded through a nozzle to create thrust. The engine can be an upper stage engine that can include modular thrust chambers and an integrated aerospike nozzle. The thrust chambers can be arranged in an array that rings the top of the aerospike nozzle.

Abstract: A system and method for activating a GPS receiver or a WiFi receiver on a mobile device may be provided, which comprises determining an approximate location of the mobile device. The approximate location of the mobile device may be determined using cell tower location information. If the approximate location of the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from a desired location, or is “close enough”, then the GPS receiver or the WiFi receiver is activated. The GPS receiver or the WiFi receiver is activated to determine a more accurate location of the mobile device. The approximate and the more accurate location information may be exchanged with another mobile device to allow the user to find one another.

Abstract: A processing component that executes one or more industrial control procedures is provided. A procedure class component implements at least one instance of the industrial control procedures, where the instance is dynamically adapted to a parameter of equipment that operates the industrial control procedure.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine is described that achieves stable, highly efficient hybrid combustion by having a core flow of fuel-rich gas generator gases, with the flow being surrounded with an annular injection of oxidizer. The fuel-rich gas serves to vaporize and decompose the oxidizer, such as nitrous oxide, and prepare it for effective, stable combustion. In one embodiment, this is done at the head-end of a combustion chamber. The combustion products can then be expanded through a nozzle to create thrust. The engine can be an upper stage engine that can include modular thrust chambers and an integrated aerospike nozzle. The thrust chambers can be arranged in an array that rings the top of the aerospike nozzle.

Abstract: A variable-air-volume (VAV) diffuser includes a diffuser housing that is formed for coupling to a supply air conduit. The diffuser housing defines a discharging opening for discharge of supply air from the supply air conduit into a room. The VAV diffuser may also include a supporting structure that is affixed to the diffuser housing, and a flow controller for varying the volume of supply air discharged through the discharging opening. The VAV diffuser may further include an electric actuator that is mounted on the supporting structure for moving the flow controller to vary the volume of supply air. The electric actuator may be accessible from room side and removable from the diffuser housing while the diffuser housing is coupled to the supply air conduit, the supporting structure is affixed to the diffuser housing and the flow controller remains within the diffuser housing.

Abstract: An industrial control system is provided. The system includes two or more industrial control resources that are employed to operate a control process. This includes at least one arbitration component installed with each of the industrial control resources, where the arbitration component is employed to resolve priorities between the industrial control resources.

Abstract: A method of sharing data is disclosed. A request from a client node to access data in a share associated with a server node is received. A communication from a management nexus is received. The communication includes a confirmation of an identity of the client node and a confirmation of an authorization for the client node to access the data in the share associated with the server node. The client node is allowed to access the data in the share associated with the server node based on the communication from the management nexus. However, the data is not sent to the management nexus.

Abstract: A compression-self-adjusting staple includes a substantially U-shaped staple body and a compression device. The staple body has a bridge and two legs extending from the bridge at an angle thereto. Each of the legs has a base end integral with the bridge and a deformable distal end defining a stapling point shaped to pierce material to be stapled. The compression device is at least partly disposed between the legs and has a bias portion with a compression surface movably disposed between the legs and a compression resistor connected to the bridge and to the compression surface and formed to resist movement of the compression surface towards the bridge with a force.

Abstract: A method for handling information requests from mobile devices includes a memory, a state prediction module, and a push module. The memory is operable to store data requests received from the mobile devices. The state prediction module is operable to access the memory to predict forecasted data requests for a mobile device based on the stored data requests. The push module is operable to receive the forecasted data requests from the state prediction module and in response request and receive response data related to the forecasted data requests and prepare the response data for transmission to the mobile device over a wireless network.

Abstract: A system and method for activating a GPS receiver or a WiFi receiver on a mobile device may be provided, which comprises determining an approximate location of the mobile device. The approximate location of the mobile device may be determined using cell tower location information. If the approximate location of the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from a desired location, or is “close enough”, then the GPS receiver or the WiFi receiver is activated. The GPS receiver or the WiFi receiver is activated to determine a more accurate location of the mobile device. The approximate and the more accurate location information may be exchanged with another mobile device to allow the user to find one another.

Abstract: A system and method for activating a GPS receiver or a WiFi receiver on a mobile device may be provided, which comprises determining an approximate location of the mobile device. The approximate location of the mobile device may be determined using cell tower location information. If the approximate location of the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from a desired location, or is “close enough”, then the GPS receiver or the WiFi receiver is activated. The GPS receiver or the WiFi receiver is activated to determine a more accurate location of the mobile device. The approximate and the more accurate location information may be exchanged with another mobile device to allow the user to find one another.

Abstract: A medical device includes a control handle having an articulation joint actuator, a surgical end effector, and a passive articulating joint connecting the end effector to the control handle. The articulation joint actuator, when unactuated, holds the passive articulation joint and, thereby, the end effector, in a substantially fixed articulation position, and, when actuated, releases the passive articulation joint into a freely articulating state to permit free articulation of the end effector with respect to the control handle dependent upon external forces acting upon the end effector. A method for operating the end effector includes retaining the passive articulation joint in a stable position with an articulation lock and actuating a release of the articulation lock to unlock the passive articulation joint and, thereby, permit articulating motion of the end effector through the passive articulation joint dependent upon the external forces acting upon the end effector.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprising 0.01 to 35% by weight of Al2O3, having a length of 10-20 ?m and a surface altered by wet etching, 0.01 to 98% by weight of SiC, having a length of 10-20 ?m and a surface altered by dry etching; and 0.01-15% by weight of kaolin, altered by treatment with Na2SiF6, with the above constituents being blended into a SiC/Al2O3 composite. Alternative embodiments are methods of producing the compositions described above. Further embodiments include products made by the process described above.

Abstract: A system and method of creating and communicating with wireless component applications is provided. Mobile communication devices communicate with a web service via a wireless network, the Internet, and optionally a message-map service. Each wireless component application is executed by a component framework on one of the mobile communication devices, and comprises data components, presentation components, message components, and workflow components. The component framework executes the component application in an application container which provides access to framework services which include a communication service, a screen service, a persistence service, an access service, a provisioning service, and a utility service. Messages can be sent from the component application to the message-map service, which converts each of the messages to a format required by the web service using an application message-map, and then sends the message to the web service.

Abstract: An application development system for developing an application with application components is described. The system application development includes a modeling tool. The modeling tool imports the application components in a comparable component definition format, and defines a data relation between data, screens, and operations embodied in the application components in an application model. The application model has a static structural characteristic, a dynamic behavioral characteristic and an implementation characteristic. The static structural characteristic defines parts of the application. The dynamic behavioral characteristic defines responsiveness of the application to events or actions, and the implementation characteristic describes elements required for deploying the application. The modeling tool updates the cross-component mapping.