Abstract: Disclosed herein is a terrestrial to air communications network that can be configured to include a spectrum management system that deterministically allocates spectrum to aircraft for use during flight. In one or more examples, a user transmits a flight plan to a spectrum management system that is configured to manage the RF spectrum in a given air space. In one or more examples, and based on the received flight plan, the spectrum management system can allocate an RF spectrum frequency “slot” (i.e., timeslot, subchannel, or resource block) for the aircraft to use during its intended flight. The spectrum management system can take into account available spectrum as well as the predicted network traffic and their spectrum allocations to determine an RF spectrum slot that can provide a stable and continuous communications channel to the aircraft during its flight.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for assigning and managing RF communication links between ground-based stations and airborne assets. In one or more examples, a pilot or other user of the systems and methods described herein can generate and transmit a flight plan to a spectrum management system. Additionally, or alternatively, the pilot or use can also transmit additional information to the spectrum management system such as the type of aircraft/radio configuration that they will be using during a flight, and a request for a certain amount of data throughput that they want to have access to during the flight. In one or more examples, upon receiving the flight plan and/or information from the pilot, the spectrum management system can proceed to match the user's desired flight plan with one or more RF spectrum resources for the airborne radio of the pilot's UAV to use during their planned flight.

Abstract: Presented herein are system and methods for implementing a flight plan initiated beam/null forming antenna. According to an aspect, a terrestrial (i.e., ground) to air communications network can include a beam/null steering antenna that can be configured to operate in conjunction with a spectrum management system to provide one or more communications links between an airborne radio and a ground-based operator. The beam/null steering antenna can also receive the flight plans of aircraft using the system from the spectrum management system. In one or more examples, the beam/null steering antenna can use the flight plan information provided the spectrum management system to determine if a signal received at the antenna is a known desired signal, a known undesired signal, or an unknown undesired signal. In one or more examples the antenna can be configured to direct a beam or null at a particular signal based on the determination.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for implementing air traffic control (ATC) voice communications over a digital aviation network, which allows one or more pilots on the ground to communicate with ATC controllers while piloting a UAS transiting the airspace of a particular ATC voice station. In one or more examples, a spectrum management system (or the ATC voice controller using information received from the spectrum management system) may designate a relay aircraft to relay very high frequency (VHF) ATC voice to operators/pilots on the aviation network. In one or more examples, upon initiation of voice communications by ATC to all UAS and other aircraft in a VHF service area or sector, the ATC analog voice message may be received by a VHF radio on the relay aircraft. In one or more examples, the relay aircraft may then relay the digital message to the ATC voice processor and/or base station.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for operating a flight plan based distributed ledger system implemented on an aviation communications network. According to an aspect, data associated with communication transmissions occurring between communications elements of the aviation communications network may be recorded on the distributed ledger system. The communications elements involved in the distributed ledger system may be determined using a received flight plan. The flight plan information may be used to initialize the ledger information at each communications element involved in the distributed ledger system. The distributed ledger system may be updated to add or remove communications elements if the flight deviates from the original flight plan. After the flight plan is executed, the distributed ledger system may inactivate the ledger and store the ledger information in a centralized repository.

Abstract: Presented herein are system and methods for implementing a flight plan initiated beam/null forming antenna. According to an aspect, a terrestrial (i.e., ground) to air communications network can include a beam/null steering antenna that can be configured to operate in conjunction with a spectrum management system to provide one or more communications links between an airborne radio and a ground-based operator. The beam/null steering antenna can also receive the flight plans of aircraft using the system from the spectrum management system. In one or more examples, the beam/null steering antenna can use the flight plan information provided the spectrum management system to determine if a signal received at the antenna is a known desired signal, a known undesired signal, or an unknown undesired signal. In one or more examples the antenna can be configured to direct a beam or null at a particular signal based on the determination.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a terrestrial to air communications network that can be configured to include a spectrum management system that deterministically allocates spectrum to aircraft for use during flight. In one or more examples, a user transmits a flight plan to a spectrum management system that is configured to manage the RF spectrum in a given air space. In one or more examples, and based on the received flight plan, the spectrum management system can allocate an RF spectrum frequency “slot” (i.e., timeslot, subchannel, or resource block) for the aircraft to use during its intended flight. The spectrum management system can take into account available spectrum as well as the predicted network traffic and their spectrum allocations to determine an RF spectrum slot that can provide a stable and continuous communications channel to the aircraft during its flight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a convertible article of furniture. The article includes a pair of side rails, with braces formed along an intermediate extent of the side rails. A series of pivotal support bars are also positioned along the pair of side rails. Forwardly and rearwardly located legs are included for supporting the side rails above the ground. The legs are pivotally related to the side rails. The article also includes a series of shelves, with each shelf being pivotally mounted between the pair of side rails. As such, the support bars can be used to selectively support the shelves at an angle relative to the side rails. Alternatively, the shelves can be supported by the braces such that the shelves are aligned with the side rails.

Abstract: Disclosed is a convertible article of furniture. The article includes a pair of side rails, with braces formed along an intermediate extent of the side rails. A series of pivotal support bars are also positioned along the pair of side rails. Forwardly and rearwardly located legs are included for supporting the side rails above the ground. The legs are pivotally related to the side rails. The article also includes a series of shelves, with each shelf being pivotally mounted between the pair of side rails. As such, the support bars can be used to selectively support the shelves at an angle relative to the side rails. Alternatively, the shelves can be supported by the braces such that the shelves are aligned with the side rails.

Abstract: An electronic parcel delivery system for delivering digital information between computer systems over a network is described. The parcel delivery system includes a server system interposed between a sending system and a receiving system. The server system stores digital information received over the network. The digital information can represent a parcel, document, image, executable software, audio file, etc. The sending system transmits a notification to the receiving system. The notification signifies that the sending system is transmitting the digital information to the server system over the network and that the digital information may be accessible by the receiving system. The receiving system can receive the notification directly from the sending system or through a second server system connected to the network. The server system can receive the digital information directly from the sending system or through a second server system connected to the network.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for using an authentication proxy server for a destination server to authenticate the identity of the user of a client system based on a digital certificate and a user password. The authentication proxy server also cryptographically associates a digital signature with hardware of a particular client system and later authenticates the hardware of the client system based on the digital signature associated with the hardware. When these techniques are combined with authenticating the destination server based on a digital certificate and authentication the encryption of communications between a browser of the a client system and the a destination server, an authenticated identity for an application user may be provided to the application and the need for the application to request and authenticate a user identifier and password is eliminated.

Abstract: Substituted polyphenylenes and methods for producing such substituted polyphenylenes using supported transition metal catalysis are provided.

Abstract: A golf training apparatus is formed of a body of a typically rigid material and includes a head portion corresponding in shape and dimensions to that of a regulation golf ball, and a stem portion, extending from the head portion. Adhesive is placed on a side of the body at the head and the stem portions, allowing the stem portion to attach the body to a support member, while the remaining portion of the body, including the head portion, extends upward and stands unsupported. A golf club can now be brought into contact with the body, and if contact is made between the club head and the first portion, the body will separate from the support member and the first portion will adhere to the club head, indicating the location on the club head where it contacted the golf ball. Based on this information, the golfer can adjust his swing, such that contact with a golf ball will be made at the desired “sweet spot” or other location on the club head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing protection from unauthorized use of messages received by a system is described. The receiving system can receive a message from a sending system, for example, over a network or from local media. The message can be an e-mail message, the contents of a Web page, music, or software, etc. The receiving system stores the digital information in a storage device in a manner designed to conceal the message from unauthorized access. When a user of the receiving system wants to view the message, the digital information is accessed, the message is generated from the digital information and displayed at the receiving system. Use of this generated message is restricted. In another embodiment, this use is limited to outputting (i.e., displaying and producing sound) the generated message at the receiving system. The receiving system cannot copy, modify, save, forward, or capture any portion of the generated message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing protection from unauthorized use of messages received by a system is described. The receiving system can receive a message from a sending system, for example, over a network or from local media. The message can be an e-mail message, the contents of a Web page, music, or software, etc. The receiving system stores the digital information in a storage device in a manner designed to conceal the message from unauthorized access. When a user of the receiving system wants to view the message, the digital information is accessed, the message is generated from the digital information and displayed at the receiving system. Use of this generated message is restricted. In another embodiment, this use is limited to outputting (i.e., displaying and producing sound) the generated message at the receiving system. The receiving system cannot copy, modify, save, forward, or capture any portion of the generated message.

Abstract: An electronic mail system is modified to produce a secure delivery system by modifying a user interface of the electronic mail system to present a secure delivery icon and causing the electronic mail system to initiate a secure delivery in response to actuation of the secure delivery icon. The secure delivery uses a delivery protocol different from a protocol provided by the electronic mail system, and the secure delivery icon is presented in addition to a normal delivery icon of the electronic mail system.

Abstract: A system is provided for the remote control of one computer from another in which selectable compression speeds are utilized to minimize overall screen refresh time. In one embodiment, an algorithm selection module at one computer chooses the highest compression available corresponding to a worst case scenario, followed by measurement of the compression time and the transmission time, with the ratio of compression time to transmission time being used to select a decreased compression, thereby to lower compression time and consequently lower the overall screen refresh time. By adjusting both the send time and the compression time on the transmit side, the above ratio can be made to equal one, which corresponds to the most efficient utilization of the available bandwidth and CPU power, which in turn translates into the quickest screen refresh time for the remote control operation.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for controlling and managing digital assets. These systems and techniques are particularly useful when digital assets are transmitted electronically using, for example, the Internet, as these techniques serve to make the Internet secure for communication and control of digital assets. In addition, they permit dynamic control and management of digital assets, regardless of where the assets reside. Use of these systems and techniques promises to enable new, Internet-based distribution models, and to provide superior insight with respect to the use and status of digital assets. Particular implementations of the systems and techniques permit features such as lifetime control of digital content, multi-level control of digital content (including session encryption, asset encryption, and remote management), and try-before-you buy marketing approaches.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for controlling and managing digital assets. These systems and techniques are particularly useful when digital assets are transmitted electronically using, for example, the Internet, as these techniques serve to make the Internet secure for communication and control of digital assets. In addition, they permit dynamic control and management of digital assets, regardless of where the assets reside. Use of these systems and techniques promises to enable new, Internet-based distribution models, and to provide superior insight with respect to the use and status of digital assets. Particular implementations of the systems and techniques permit features such as lifetime control of digital content, multi-level control of digital content (including session encryption, asset encryption, and remote management), and try-before-you buy marketing approaches.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for controlling and managing digital assets. These systems and techniques are particularly useful when digital assets are transmitted electronically using, for example, the Internet, as these techniques serve to make the Internet secure for communication and control of digital assets. In addition, they permit dynamic control and management of digital assets, regardless of where the assets reside. Use of these systems and techniques promises to enable new, Internet-based distribution models, and to provide superior insight with respect to the use and status of digital assets. Particular implementations of the systems and techniques permit features such as lifetime control of digital content, multi-level control of digital content (including session encryption, asset encryption, and remote management), and try-before-you buy marketing approaches.