Abstract: A method and a system directed to location-based services within a wireless telecommunications or data communications network, and more particularly to other technical fields such as technologies used to authenticate secure payment card transactions, technologies to verify and validate payment card user identities, and for use with any application where the results of comparing two or more geographic locations has some utility or value. The method includes receiving information from a transaction device involving a payment card holder initiating a payment card transaction; identifying a location of the transaction device; identifying a location of a mobile device associated with the payment card holder; comparing the location of the transaction device with the location of the mobile device to determine a relative degree of proximity of the transaction device with the mobile device; and assessing the determined relative degree of proximity to determine whether the payment card transaction is valid or invalid.

Abstract: An equalizer is applied to a signal to be transmitted via at least one multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel or received via at least one MIMO channel using a matrix equalizer computational device. Channel state information (CSI) is received, and the CSI is provided as an input to the matrix equalizer computational device when the matrix equalizer computational device is not needed for matrix equalization. One or more transmit beamsteering codewords are selected from a transmit beamsteering codebook based on output generated by the matrix equalizer computational device in response to the CSI input to the matrix equalizer computational device.

Abstract: A method includes reading purchased-item information by a point-of-sale (POS) device from a purchased item presented to the POS device. The method further includes determining by the POS device that the purchased item is eligible for warranty registration, and reading a payment card by the POS device. The method also includes querying a customer by the POS device as to whether the customer wishes to trigger warranty registration for the purchased item, and receiving by the POS device an indication from the customer to trigger warranty registration for the purchased item. In addition, the method includes sending by the POS device a message to a customer profile server to trigger warranty registration of the purchased item.

Abstract: A seal includes an annular mounting portion having an axial leg extending axially from the annular mounting portion toward the air side. A radial leg portion extends radially inward from an end of the axial leg. A lay down sealing lip extends radially inward and axially toward the oil side from an end of the radial leg portion. A dust lip extends from the end of the radial leg portion in a direction opposite the lay down sealing lip. When the oil side is under negative pressure and when the lay down sealing lip begins to lift radially off the shaft, there is a counterbalance force applied to the axial leg that is designed to be flexible enough that the oil side vacuum “rocks” the seal bringing the dust lip into contact with the shaft and blocking airflow.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to resolving merge conflicts that prevent blocks of program code from properly being merged. A merge conflict that prevents blocks of program code from properly being merged can be identified. Responsive to identifying the merge conflict, a pattern of a respective portion of at least one of the blocks of program code can be identified, and a determination can be made as to whether the pattern matches an existing merge rule. Responsive to determining that the pattern matches the existing merge rule, the existing merge rule can be validated against a syntax of the portion of at least one of the blocks of program code. Responsive to the existing merge rule successfully validating against the syntax of the portion of at least one of the blocks of program code, the existing merge rule can be applied to resolve the merge conflict.

Abstract: A method for discounting a payment transaction include: storing, in a memory, transaction data for a payment transaction, wherein the transaction data includes at least a transaction amount; receiving, by a receiving device, payment data associated with a payment account, wherein the payment data includes at least a payment account number; receiving, by the receiving device, offer data, wherein the offer data includes an offer identifier associated with the payment account and a transaction modifier; encrypting, using a predetermined encryption key, at least a portion of the payment account number to obtain an encrypted account number; and updating, in the memory, the transaction amount included in the transaction data based on the transaction modifier if the encrypted account number corresponds to the offer identifier.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for forming a search query includes receiving a search request for searching at least one output document based on a first input document, extract a first metadata from the first input document, a second metadata from at least one second input document, and a third metadata from synonyms of the first and second metadata, form a first set of metadata by combining the first, second and third metadata, rank a first set of categories, wherein a category associated with a highest number of input documents is ranked highest, forming a second set of categories by excluding a predefined number of categories, forming a second set of metadata by excluding at least one definition metadata from the first set of metadata, and forming a search query by combining the second set of metadata and second set of categories.

Abstract: A power-source protection circuit includes a power source including a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail, a pass switch connected across the first voltage rail and a third voltage rail, a control switch connected to the second voltage rail and a control terminal of the pass switch, such that the pass switch turns on in response to the control switch turning on and the pass switch turns off in response to the control switch turning off, and output terminals connected to the third voltage rail and the second voltage rail. The control switch is arranged to switch on when the power source is started and the control switch is arranged to switch off when the output terminals are short-circuited and to switch on when the short-circuit is removed.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to resolving merge conflicts that prevent blocks of program code from properly being merged. A merge conflict that prevents blocks of program code from properly being merged can be identified. Responsive to identifying the merge conflict, a pattern of a respective portion of at least one of the blocks of program code can be identified, and a determination can be made as to whether the pattern matches an existing merge rule. Responsive to determining that the pattern matches the existing merge rule, the existing merge rule can be validated against a syntax of the portion of at least one of the blocks of program code. Responsive to the existing merge rule successfully validating against the syntax of the portion of at least one of the blocks of program code, the existing merge rule can be applied to resolve the merge conflict.

Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for processing data associated with a purchasing entity. In an exemplary embodiment, a method generally includes accessing transaction data including a plurality of payment card events, each of the plurality of payment card events occurring within a time interval and being associated with the purchasing entity. The method further includes accessing social network data based on a parameter of the purchasing entity, linking the transaction data and the social network data based on the purchasing entity, determining a predictor based on both the transaction data and the social network data, the predictor indicative of a possible future transaction by the purchasing entity and transmitting, to at least one of the purchasing entity and a merchant, the predictor and/or an offer associated with the predictor.

Abstract: An integrated process for producing naphtha fuel, diesel fuel and/or lubricant base oils from feedstocks under sour conditions is provided. The ability to process feedstocks under higher sulfur and/or nitrogen conditions allows for reduced cost processing and increases the flexibility in selecting a suitable feedstock. The sour feed can be delivered to a catalytic dewaxing step without any separation of sulfur and nitrogen contaminants. The integrated process includes an initial dewaxing of a feed under sour conditions, optional hydrocracking of the dewaxed feed, and a separation to form a first diesel product and a bottoms fraction. The bottoms fraction is then exposed to additional hydrocracking and dewaxing to form a second diesel product and optionally a lubricant base oil product. Alternatively, a feedstock can be hydrotreated, fractionated, dewaxed, and then hydrocracked to form a diesel fuel and a dewaxed, hydrocracked bottoms fraction that is optionally suitable for use as a lubricant base oil.

Abstract: A device-to-device (D2D) pairing assembly comprises: a first and a second device detecting and communicating (DDC) component communicatively coupled to each other and to a microprocessor that executes a device pairing parameter exchange (DPPE) utility, which configures the D2D pairing assembly to: detect a communicative coupling of a first user device to the first DDC component; receive from the first user device at least one first pairing parameter, which first pairing parameter enables another device to connect to and participate in a pairing session with the first user device; detect a communicative coupling of a second user device to the second DDC component; and communicate the at least one first pairing parameter to the second user device, via the second DDC component, to trigger the second user device to connect to and participate in a pairing session with the first user device via a direct device-to-device communication channel.

Abstract: The various aspects provide for wirelessly connecting mobile devices and wearable devices, which may enhance battery life and user experience. The embodiments may determine whether the mobile device is streaming audio data to a wirelessly connected peripheral audio device. Requests from the mobile device to wirelessly connect to the wearable device may be deferred while the mobile device is streaming audio data to the peripheral audio device using the same communication protocol as the wireless connection to be made between the mobile device and the wearable device. The mobile device may determine when streaming of audio data to the peripheral audio device has stopped. The mobile device may send a request to wirelessly connect to the wearable device when the mobile device is not streaming audio data to the peripheral audio device using the same communication protocol.

Abstract: The present invention provides biological compositions and methods for making the same.

Abstract: A mail server based approach to task management. In an embodiment, a first user sends a task assignment email indicating a task sought to be assigned, a list of assignees and a list of recipients. The mail server forwards the email message to all the recipients, while maintaining information of a current status of the task. The assignees may send status updates and the current status is accordingly updated. The status information on the server can be accessed by various users.

Abstract: The present application provides a stage of a turbine engine. The stage may include a bucket, a shroud facing the bucket, and a contoured honeycomb seal on the shroud. The contoured honeycomb seal may include a first step with a first shape and a second step with a contoured shape.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating an amount of carbon support loss in fuel cells of a fuel cell stack in a vehicle, for example, during vehicle off-times. The system and method include estimating an amount of time that a hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell stack is zero and calculating an amount of carbon loss based on the amount of time that the hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell stack is zero.

Abstract: A system for operating an on-load tap changer (OLTC) includes a plurality of legs that include mechanical switches. At least one leg switches from a first to a second tap of the OLTC on receipt of a tap change signal. At least one mechanical switch is activated to establish an electrical connection between one of the first and the second tap and a power terminal of the OLTC. Further, the system includes semiconductor switches that are parallel to the mechanical switches and when activated electrically couple one of the first and the second tap and the power terminal. The system includes a processing unit that selectively activates and deactivates the mechanical and semiconductor switches in such a way that electrical contact is maintained between at least one of the taps and the power terminal during the transition of at least one leg from the first tap to the second tap.

Abstract: Methods of facilitating gate height uniformity by controlling recessing of dielectric material and semiconductor devices formed from the methods are provided. The methods include, for instance, forming a transistor of the semiconductor device with an n-type transistor and a p-type transistor, the n-type transistor and the p-type transistor including plurality of sacrificial gate structures and protective masks at upper surfaces of the plurality of sacrificial gate structures; providing a dielectric material over and between the plurality of sacrificial gate structures; partially densifying the dielectric material to form a partially densified dielectric material; further densifying the partially densified dielectric material to create a modified dielectric material; and creating substantially planar surface on the modified dielectric material, to control dielectric material recess and gate height.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices synchronize data streams by hashing received data frames to generate a sequence of hash values, comparing the generated hash value sequence to a hash value sequence received in a control stream, and processing data frames when the hash value sequences match. A source device and multiple receiver devices may synchronize audio data encoded in data frames, applying a hash function to each data frame to generate a first sequence of hash values, transmitting the data frames on a first channel and the first sequence of hash values on a control channel, receiving the data frames and the first sequence of hash values in the receiver devices, applying the hash algorithm to received data frames to generate a second sequence of hash values, comparing the first and second sequences of hash values, and processing data frames when the first and second sequences of hash values match.