Abstract: An apparatus configured to control operation of a product. The apparatus includes an integrated RFID tag embedded in the product and configured to communicate with an external user device. The integrated RFID tag stores a first working key associated with the product and is further configured to receive a second working key transmitted from the external user device. The apparatus includes control logic operatively coupled to the integrated RFID tag and configured to read the first working key and the second working key from the integrated RFID tag. The control logic determines whether the first and second working keys match and, in response to a determination that the first and second working keys match, the control logic enables a controlled functionality of the product.

Abstract: The technology described herein controls what a user hears while in a virtual reality environment. A user may be exposed to multiple audio sources while in the virtual reality environment. All of these competing audio sources need to be combined to produce the audio content output to the user. Further, various entities have an interest in the user hearing different audio content. The interest can be expressed through settings made available by the VR platform. The VR platform can provide user settings, landowner settings, and platform settings. The sound settings can change based on where the user's avatar is located in the VR environment. For example, when the user's avatar is located on virtual property owned by an entity other than the VR platform or user, then entities sound-preferences are considered along with the user's sound preferences, and VR platform's sound preferences.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking data lineage and record lifecycle using a distributed ledger are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for tracking record lifecycle events may include: (1) creating, by a record lifecycle tool, a recordable artifact for a record lifecycle event in a record lifecycle, the recordable artifact comprising data for the record lifecycle event; (2) generating, by the record lifecycle tool, a hash of the data; (3) creating, by the record lifecycle tool, record lifecycle event metadata for the recordable artifact; (4) signing, by the record lifecycle tool, the record lifecycle event metadata; (5) writing the record lifecycle event metadata to supply chain metadata storage at a storage location, wherein the supply chain metadata storage may be cryptographically verifiable and immutable; and (6) writing the hash and an identifier for the storage location in the supply chain metadata store to a present state database.

Abstract: Embodiments of secondary batteries having electrode assemblies are provided. A secondary battery can comprise an electrode assembly having a stacked series of layers, the stacked series of layers having an offset between electrode and counter-electrode layers in a unit cell member of the stacked series. A set of constraints can be provided with a primary constraint system with first and second primary growth constraints separated from each other in a longitudinal direction, and connected by at least one primary connecting member, and a secondary constraint system comprises first and second secondary growth constraints separated in a second direction and connected by members of the stacked series of layers. The primary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction, and the secondary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth in the second direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A communication device includes a central processing unit (CPU); a non-transitory memory; and an RFID application stored on the non-transitory memory and comprising executable instructions that when executed by the CPU, cause the communication device to be configured to provide the communication device in an environment; receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from an RFID reader at a plurality of locations in the industrial environment, wherein the RF signal comprises a frequency in the cellular frequency range; determine a receive signal strength (RSS) of the RF signal at each of the plurality of locations; determine the RSS of the RF signal at each of the plurality of locations; and generate a map of an RFID read zone in the industrial environment based on the RSS of the RF signal at the plurality of locations.

Abstract: A communication device includes a central processing unit (CPU); a non-transitory memory; and an RFID application stored on the non-transitory memory and comprising executable instructions that when executed by the CPU, cause the communication device to be configured to provide the communication device in an environment; receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from an RFID reader at a plurality of locations in the industrial environment, wherein the RF signal comprises a frequency in the cellular frequency range; determine a receive signal strength (RSS) of the RF signal at each of the plurality of locations; determine the RSS of the RF signal at each of the plurality of locations; and generate a map of an RFID read zone in the industrial environment based on the RSS of the RF signal at the plurality of locations.

Abstract: A method for implementing a software-based (SB) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The method comprises storing first RFID identity data in a memory of the SB RFID tag, storing second RFID identity data in the memory of the SB RFID tag; and receiving via an antenna coupled to the SB RFID tag an RFID interrogation signal from an RFID reader and, in response determining by a processor of the SB RFID tag a status of an RFID identity selection criterion, selecting one of the first RFID identity data and the second RFID identity data, based on the status of the RFID identity selection criterion; and sending the selected one of the first RFID identity data and the second RFID identity data to the RFID reader via an antenna coupled to the SB RFID tag.

Abstract: Secondary batteries and methods of manufacture thereof are provided. A secondary battery can comprise an offset between electrode and counter-electrode layers in a unit cell. Secondary batteries can be prepared by removing a population of negative electrode subunits from a negative electrode sheet, the negative electrode sheet comprising a negative electrode sheet edge margin and at least one negative electrode sheet weakened region that is internal to the negative electrode sheet edge margin, removing a population of separator layer subunits from a separator sheet, and removing a population of positive electrode subunits from a positive electrode sheet, the positive electrode sheet comprising a positive electrode edge margin and at least one positive electrode sheet weakened region that is internal to the positive electrode sheet edge margin, and stacking members of the negative electrode subunit population, the separator layer subunit population and the positive electrode subunit population.

Abstract: A secondary battery for cycling between a charged and a discharged state, wherein a 2D map of the median vertical position of the first opposing vertical end surface of the electrode active material in the X-Z plane, along the length LE of the electrode active material layer, traces a first vertical end surface plot, EVP1, a 2D map of the median vertical position of the first opposing vertical end surface of the counter-electrode active material layer in the X-Z plane, along the length LC of the counter-electrode active material layer, traces a first vertical end surface plot, CEVP1, wherein for at least 60% of the length Lc of the first counter-electrode active material layer (i) the absolute value of a separation distance, SZ1, between the plots EVP1 and CEVP1 measured in the vertical direction is 1000 ?m?|SZ1|?5 ?m.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a secondary battery and method are provided. The electrode assembly comprises a population of unit cells and a constraint system. The electrode assembly comprises a population of electrode structures, a population of counter-electrode structures, and an electrically insulating separator material. The constraint system comprises (i) first and second primary growth constraints separated in the longitudinal direction, (ii) first and second connecting members separated in the vertical direction that connect the first and second primary growth constraints and a subset of the members of the electrode or counter-electrode population. The first and second connecting members are adhered to the subset by an electrically-insulating, thermoplastic, hot-melt adhesive having (i) a melting temperature in the range of 75° C. to 130° C., and (ii) a melt index value as measured according to ASTM D1238 in a range of at least 20 to no more than 350.

Abstract: A method of configuring a medical device for a patient comprising: receiving information relating to a patient, the patient requiring a medical device, determining and/or receiving a medical device configuration for the medical device, the medical device configuration being suitable for the patient, uploading the medical device configuration to a server, wherein, the medical device configuration on the server is for later download by the device when the patient has received their medical device and activated the medical device.

Abstract: Embodiments of secondary batteries having electrode assemblies are provided. A secondary battery can comprise an electrode assembly having a stacked series of layers, the stacked series of layers having an offset between electrode and counter-electrode layers in a unit cell member of the stacked series. A set of constraints can be provided with a primary constraint system with first and second primary growth constraints separated from each other in a longitudinal direction, and connected by at least one primary connecting member, and a secondary constraint system comprises first and second secondary growth constraints separated in a second direction and connected by members of the stacked series of layers. The primary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction, and the secondary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth in the second direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Described herein are multi-well separation devices configured to allow a composition comprising a target agent to be separated into multiple wells, subdivided, recombined into a single well, and/or re-separated into the same or a different configuration of wells. Also described herein are reagent loading devices configured to simultaneously deliver one or more test agents to a plurality of volumes without having to individually deliver the test agents. Together, these devices allow high throughput parallel processes without repetitive pipetting or liquid handling robotics, though they may also be used separately. Also described herein are kits and systems for chemical or biological assays, as well as methods for using the multi-well separation devices and reagent loading devices described herein.

Abstract: A collector ambient electromagnetic power harvesting (AEPH) device for collecting and forwarding data is disclosed. The device includes an antenna, an AEPH circuit converting RF energy from the antenna into electrical power, and a memory and a controller powered by the AEPH circuit. The controller receives in a first RF signal information from a reporter AEPH device, including data and the reporter ID. The controller stores the data in the memory with an association to the reporter ID. The controller receives in a second RF signal an interrogation signal. In response, the controller transmits a response via the antenna including the reporter ID and data in the memory associated with the reporter ID. The interrogation signal may be received and the response transmitted in a first RF band and/or communication protocol, and the information may be received in a second RF band and/or communication protocol.

Abstract: A data communication system serves a wireless communication device over a Non Third Generation Partnership Project (non-3GPP) network slice. The data communication system receives a request for the non-3GPP slice from the wireless communication device over a non-3GPP access node. The data communication system exchanges network signaling with a 3GPP network. The data communication system receives an authorization from the 3GPP network for the wireless communication device to use the non-3GPP network slice. The data communication system establishes a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for the wireless communication device over the non-3GPP access node in response to the authorization from the 3GPP network. The data communication system exchanges user data with the wireless communication device over the VPN. The data communication system exchanges the user data with a non-3GPP communication system over the VPN or another VPN for the non-3GPP communication system.

Abstract: A method for implementing a software-based (SB) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The method comprises storing first RFID identity data in a memory of the SB RFID tag, storing second RFID identity data in the memory of the SB RFID tag; and receiving via an antenna coupled to the SB RFID tag an RFID interrogation signal from an RFID reader and, in response determining by a processor of the SB RFID tag a status of an RFID identity selection criterion, selecting one of the first RFID identity data and the second RFID identity data, based on the status of the RFID identity selection criterion; and sending the selected one of the first RFID identity data and the second RFID identity data to the RFID reader via an antenna coupled to the SB RFID tag.

Abstract: A wireless communication network serves a wireless user device using N1 signaling. The wireless communication network establishes active N1 signaling links with the wireless user device and exchanges active N1 signaling with the wireless user device over the active N1 signaling links. The wireless communication network converts one of the active N1 signaling links for the wireless user device into an inactive N1 signaling link and exchanges inactive N1 signaling with the wireless user device to maintain the inactive N1 signaling link. The wireless communication network converts the inactive N1 signaling link for the wireless user device back into the one of the active N1 signaling links without performing a new registration for the wireless user device. The wireless communication network exchanges additional active N1 signaling with the wireless user device over the active N1 signaling links.

Abstract: A wireless communication device accesses a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device identifies an application identifier. The wireless communication device calls an Application Programming Interface (API) with the application identifier to identify a microservice API. The wireless communication device calls the microservice API to identify a hardware identifier. The wireless communication device transfers the hardware identifier to obtain access to the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A method of utilizing beamforming to selectively locate one or more ambient electromagnetic power harvesting (AEPH) chips, implemented by a reader apparatus comprising multiple antennas, the method comprises transmitting, to the AEPH chips, an interrogation signal from multiple transmit antennas by a reader application executing on a processor of the reader apparatus in a first frequency band to activate the AEPH chips; receiving, from at least one AEPH chip by multiple receive antennas of the reader apparatus, one or more signals in response to the interrogation signal; processing the one or more signals to determine a direction of the at least one AEPH chip; and adjusting, using a beamformer, a beam direction of the multiple transmit antennas of the reader apparatus in the direction of the at least one AEPH chip to deliver the maximum power to the at least one AEPH chip.

Abstract: A wireless communication system wirelessly detects a wireless network identifier and a product identifier that were wirelessly transmitted from a product. The wireless communication system selects an application based on the wireless network identifier. The wireless communication system performs a product-tracking transaction for the product by executing the selected application to process the product identifier.