Abstract: A method for reaccommodating of at least one passenger during irregular operations is disclosed. The method includes continuously receiving transportation information from a transportation system. Based on the transportation information and predefined rules, a reaccommodation event associated with the irregular operations is determined. The passenger affected by the reaccommodation event is identified and data concerning the passenger is received. The data may include personal data, itinerary information, and status information concerning the passenger. The passenger can be prioritized based on the received data. Based on the prioritizing and the transportation information, at least one reaccommodation option is generated and provided to the at least one passenger. The passenger can select or decline the provided option. The passenger is reaccommodated in real time based on the received selection.

Abstract: A method for guaranteeing a price of an itinerary is disclosed herein. The method comprises receiving travel attributes from a customer. Based on the travel attributes, one or more itineraries can be generated. The itineraries can be provided to the customer along with options to lock the price of the itineraries for a predetermined time in consideration of a payment. The payment for locking the price for a selected itinerary may be received from the customer. Upon making the payment, the customer may be able to purchase the itinerary at the price within the predetermined time.

Abstract: An integrated key duplication machine includes a machine-based key identification module and a key cutting module. The key identification module is configured to identify a second master key while the key cutting module cuts a key blank corresponding to a first master key. A key blank corresponding to the second master key can be cut on either the integrated machine or a stand-alone machine having only key cutting capabilities.

Abstract: A separation system includes an air separator that, in one embodiment, primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing a mixture of relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers and relatively heavy MSW such as textiles, food waste, yard debris, etc. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyor while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyor. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat fiber and plastic film materials from the other paper, plastic and metal containers. In another separation stage, an electrostatic emitter is positioned adjacent to a conveyor for applying an electrostatic charge to the fiber and plastic materials.

Abstract: An optical device with at least one interconnection tab is provided. The optical device includes a pair of opposed substrates with a gap therebetween filled with an electro-optic material. Each substrate has a facing surface with a substrate electrode disposed thereon. A sealing material is disposed between the pair of opposed substrates to contain the electro-optic material. At least one interconnection tab is interposed between the substrates. The interconnection tab includes an insulator layer with opposed surfaces. A tab electrode is provided on each surface, wherein each tab electrode is in electrical connection with a corresponding substrate electrode facing the tab electrode. And a pad electrode is also provided on each surface, wherein each pad electrode is in electronic connection with the substrate electrode facing the opposed surface of the insulator layer.

Abstract: A separation system includes an air separator that, in one embodiment, primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing a mixture of relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers and relatively heavy MSW such as textiles, food waste, yard debris, etc. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyor while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyor. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat fiber and plastic film materials from the other paper, plastic and metal containers. In another separation stage, an electrostatic emitter is positioned adjacent to a conveyor for applying an electrostatic charge to faciliate separation of the MSW recyclable materials.

Abstract: Systems and methods that process natural language travel requests are described herein. According to some embodiments, methods for processing natural language travel requests may include: (a) decoding itinerary components from a natural language travel request, (b) determining a node type for each of the itinerary components, (c) ascertaining dependencies between each of the itinerary components based upon respective node types, (d) generating an unconstrained schedule using the itinerary components and respective dependencies therebetween, and (d) allocating available inventory to each of the itinerary components according to the unconstrained schedule to fulfill the natural language travel request.

Abstract: An exchange that fulfills natural language travel requests is described herein. According to some embodiments, systems for managing an exchange that fulfills natural language travel requests may include a publishing module that receives a plurality of inventory records from a plurality of suppliers, each of the plurality of inventory records pertaining to an available offering, the offering being defined by a set of metadata attributes, and a pattern recognition artificial intelligence engine that generates equivalent phrases for the set of metadata attributes from each inventory record by applying pattern recognition artificial intelligence to the set of metadata attributes, the equivalent phrases representing possible natural language queries to which an inventory record may correspond.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for efficient matching of suppliers and customers for travel-related and other types of goods and services. These methods and systems are based on an exchange or market concept, in which a computer system performs matching between different parties. Specifically, an exchange system may compare customers' requests with suppliers' content records. In certain embodiments, an exchange system sends notifications of customers' requests to suppliers based on criteria presented by the suppliers. Users' requests and/or vendors' content records may be processed using natural language parser to determine appropriate components for searches and matches. This substantially improves efficiency of the exchange system and makes it more user friendly as users and vendors may present different terms in their respective searches and entries. An exchange system may include a pattern recognition component and semantic natural language parser to perform this function.

Abstract: Methods for scheduling a transportation operation such as the operation of an airline. The method desirably selects a demand (100) for transportation specifying an origin, destination, and time of arrival or departure, and selects resources from a database of available resources such as aircraft (508), crew, and departure gates. The resource selection desirably is conducted so as to optimize a result function such as contribution to margin or other financial result from the particular operation specified in the demand. Upon developing a schedule fragment (108), the specified resources are committed, and the database of available resources is modified (110) to indicate that the resources are no longer available at the relevant times. The system then treats another demand and repeats the process so as to develop a full schedule. The system can develop a feasible schedule, even for a complex transportation operation in a brief time, typically in minutes or less.

Abstract: A goggle includes a lens assembly which comprises a front lens, a rear lens spaced apart from the front lens, and a liquid crystal device disposed on one of the lenses. The goggle includes a frame, which defines an aperture and a peripheral channel. The peripheral channel receives the front lens and the rear lens is positioned rearward of the channel so that the aperture receives the lens assembly. A power unit includes a battery and a drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit is connected to a pair of prongs that are electrically connectable to the liquid crystal device for operation thereof. The power unit provides a master switch connected to the battery to control application of power to the drive circuit, and a state change switch to control application of power from the drive circuit, through the prongs, to the liquid crystal device.

Abstract: An electro-optic eyewear assembly having a frame with opposed ends, a pair of temples, and a hinge mechanically interconnecting each temple to a corresponding end of the frame. Each temple moveable between a wearing position and a storage position and at least one electro-optic lens carried by the frame and a control circuit carried by at least one of the temples. The electrical connection between the control circuit and the at least one electro-optic lens being made by moving one of the temples into physical contact with the frame when the temple carrying the control circuit is moved to a wearing position.

Abstract: An optical device with at least one interconnection tab is provided. The optical device includes a pair of opposed substrates with a gap therebetween filled with an electro-optic material. Each substrate has a facing surface with a substrate electrode disposed thereon. A sealing material is disposed between the pair of opposed substrates to contain the electro-optic material. At least one interconnection tab is interposed between the substrates. The interconnection tab includes an insulator layer with opposed surfaces. A tab electrode is provided on each surface, wherein each tab electrode is in electrical connection with a corresponding substrate electrode facing the tab electrode. And a pad electrode is also provided on each surface, wherein each pad electrode is in electronic connection with the substrate electrode facing the opposed surface of the insulator layer.

Abstract: A hypodermic needle protector (10) comprising: a sleeve having an open end (30) to accommodate a needle assembly (22,24) and a portion of a syringe cylinder (18) and a closed end (32) that has an opening (34) to receive a needle (22) of a needle assembly (22,24) there through a positioning member (44) within the sleeve, the positioning member (44) having an opening to engage the needle assembly (22,24) and the sleeve having at least one formation for releasably engaging the positioning member (44) and—a biasing member (48) situated in the sleeve between the positioning member and the closed end (32) of the sleeve.

Abstract: A cross-flow air separation system comprises a conveyor configured to project material out over an end of the conveyor generally along a trajectory path into a far receiving bin. An optical sensing system is configured to identify particular objects in the projected material. A first air ejection system is configured to generate a first airstream that ejects the identified objects from the trajectory path into a second near receiving bin. A second cross air current system is configured to generate a second airstream that reduces air resistance for the materials projected along the trajectory path. The second airstream reduces certain aeronautic phenomena that would cause some of the projected materials to unintentionally fall into the wrong receiving bin, thus creating a higher purity/less contaminated materiel stream into the near bin.

Abstract: An optical device with at least one interconnection tab is provided. The optical device includes a pair of opposed substrates with a gap therebetween filled with an electro-optic material. Each substrate has a facing surface with a substrate electrode disposed thereon. A sealing material is disposed between the pair of opposed substrates to contain the electro-optic material. At least one interconnection tab is interposed between the substrates. The interconnection tab includes an insulator layer with opposed surfaces. A tab electrode layer is provided on each surface, wherein each tab electrode layer contacts a corresponding substrate electrode. And each tab electrode layer includes a portion that extends from the pair of opposed substrates on selected portions of the insulator layer.

Abstract: A separation system includes an air separator that, in one embodiment, primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing a mixture of relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers and relatively heavy MSW such as textiles, food waste, yard debris, etc. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyor while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyor. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat fiber and plastic film materials from the other paper, plastic and metal containers. In another separation stage, an electrostatic emitter is positioned adjacent to a conveyor for applying an electrostatic charge to faciliate separation of the MSW recyclable materials.

Abstract: A separation system includes an air separator that in one embodiment primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyer while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyer. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat paper and cardboard from the plastic and metal containers.

Abstract: A method of constructing a curved optical device includes assembling of at least one cell having opposed flexible substrates with a controlled distance therebetween to form a gap adapted to receive a fluid. The process continues by holding only a portion of the cell in a fixture, positioning a curved mold surface proximal the cell and heating at least one of the curved mold surface and cell. Next, the cell is conformed to the mold surface so that the cell substantially retains the curved shape when the heat and the mold surface are removed.