Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for a system for tracking a movement of a dollar bill. The apparatus may include a dollar bill. The dollar bill may include an embedded sensor. The sensor may be embedded in a thickness of the bill. The sensor may have a thickness of less than 0.0043 inches. The sensor may include a memory for storing data and a transmitter. The apparatus may also include a receiver positioned on a brick and mortar banking center. The receiver may be configured to detect data transmitted from the bill and a direction of movement of the bill.

Abstract: A bottom-up hierarchical computer network architecture is provided. The architecture may include a central server. The architecture may also include a plurality of edge nodes that may be coupled to the central server. At least a first one of the edge nodes may be configured to process a transaction, compile data associated with the transaction, and store the data as a master dataset in the first edge node. The architecture may also include a data administration module. The data administration module may be configured to compare the master dataset in the first edge node to transactional data in the central server. When the transactional data in the central server is inconsistent with the master dataset in the first edge node, the data administration module may be configured to update the transactional data in the central server to be consistent with the master dataset in the first edge node.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for retaining the shape of a shoe. The shoe insert provided herein for retaining the shape of a shoe includes a toe fabric bag and a vamp fabric bag. Each fabric bag may be made of a malleable form-fitting fabric. Each fabric bag may be of different sizes and shapes to fit shoes of different sizes and shapes. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing a shoe insert and methods of using a device for retaining the shape of a shoe.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a federated edge-node computing system are provided. The federated system may allow customers to work in offline mode (e.g., during a disaster). Local data stored on edge-nodes may be used to process offline transactions. Offline transactions may include money transfers and merchant payments using mobile wallets. A plurality of nodes may form a consortium. The consortium may be formed based on geographic proximity of nodes. Member of the consortium may locally store geographically relevant data for authorizing offline transactions.

Abstract: A method for aggregating outage data via an edge computing system is provided. The method may include transmitting, by each edge-node included in a network, a self-identifying, self-locating, communication. The method may include receiving, at each edge-node included in the network, self-identifying, self-locating, communications from one or more edge-nodes included in the network. The method may include detecting an outage relating to a first edge-node included in the network. The outage may be detected by at least one edge-node included in the network. The at least one edge-node may not be the first edge-node. The at least one edge-node may be the first edge-node operating in limited capacity. The method may include identifying a most-recently confirmed location of an entity co-located with the first edge-node. The method may include dispatching outage-restoration-assistance to the most-recently confirmed real-time location of the entity co-located with the first edge-node.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention a method provides for processing a mention in textual content being input to a content provider. The method can include detecting input by a user of the content provider of the mention and identifying a member of a mention provider such as a social network based on the mention while maintaining privacy of information about the member with respect to the content provider. In some embodiments a computer program product for processing the mention includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. In some embodiments of the invention, a system for processing the mention includes a computer system readable media with a program module embodied therewith to detect the mention in the textual content as provided to a content provider. A network adapter with the system can provide the program module or program modules over a network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating a multi-player game session including a set of players with compatible preferences and behaviors. Each player can be associated with a set of behaviors exhibited by that player, as well as a set of preferences for those behaviors. On a request to initiate a game session, a first player can be paired with a set of other players whose behaviors are compatible with the preferences of the first player. Graph analysis may be used to facilitate selection of players. For example, each player may be represented as a node within a graph, and be connected to other nodes via an edge weighted according to a compatibility of preferences of the two players with their respective behaviors. In some instances, behaviors or preferences of players are determined based on analysis of in-game actions.

Abstract: A method for pre-authenticating a user on the user's mobile device is provided. The method may be implemented on the device. The method may include tracking commonly accessed applications over a pre-determined amount of time. The method may include tracking and storing on the mobile device, application data associated with each commonly accessed application. When a determined current time of day is a pre-determined amount of time prior to the tracked start time of access to a one or more commonly accessed applications, the method may include capturing, autonomously, via each of a plurality of sensors, an attribute associated with the user. The method may further include comparing a value of the attribute captured to a historically stored attribute value. The method may further include verifying and pre-authenticating the user based on the comparing. The method may also include pre-loading the user's mobile device with the commonly accessed application.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for retaining the shape of a shoe. The shoe insert provided herein for retaining the shape of a shoe includes a toe fabric bag and a vamp fabric bag. Each fabric bag may be made of a malleable form-fitting fabric. Each fabric bag may be of different sizes and shapes to fit shoes of different sizes and shapes. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing a shoe insert and methods of using a device for retaining the shape of a shoe.

Abstract: An electronically controlled burner management system for oilfield separators. The system includes an autonomous standing pilot spark ignition that includes a self-aligning clamp that holds the igniter to the burner nozzle. The self-aligning clamp enables rapid installation and removal, lowering the total cost of ownership. The autonomous spark ignition system incorporates temperature sensors to determine when the standing pilot needs to be relit, and can shut off the gas or other fuel flow to the standing pilot and the main burner when the pilot is not lit. The system increases oil and gas production from the well, reduces fugitive emissions of unburned gas, and improves oilfield worker safety. When installed or retrofitted into an existing oilfield separator, the original burner control components are left in place, allowing the user to revert to traditional operation in case of failure of any electronic component of the present system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate a scanning light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device configured to provide an asymmetric illumination pattern. An example system includes a rotatable base configured to rotate about a first axis and a mirror assembly. The mirror assembly is configured to rotate about a second axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The system also includes an optical cavity coupled to the rotatable base. The optical cavity includes a photodetector and a photodetector lens arranged so as to define a light-receiving axis. The optical cavity also includes a light-emitter device and a light-emitter lens arranged so as to define a light-emission axis. At least one of the light-receiving axis or the light-emission axis forms a tilt angle with respect to the first axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical devices and systems, specifically those related to light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems. An example device includes a shaft defining a rotational axis. The shaft includes a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The device also includes a rotatable mirror disposed about the shaft. The rotatable mirror includes a multi-sided structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The multi-sided structure includes a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The second coefficient of thermal expansion is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The multi-sided structure also includes a plurality of reflective surfaces disposed on the exterior surface of the multi-sided structure. The multi-sided structure yet further includes one or more support members coupled to the interior surface and the shaft.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to LIDAR systems with multi-faceted mirrors. An example embodiment includes a LIDAR system. The system includes a multi-faceted mirror that includes a plurality of reflective facets, which rotates about a first rotational axis. The system also includes a light emitter configured to emit a light signal toward one or more regions of a scene. Further, the system includes a light detector configured to detect a reflected light signal. In addition, the system includes an optical window positioned between the multi-faceted mirror and the one or more regions of the scene such that light reflected from one or more of the reflective facets is transmitted through the optical window. The optical window is positioned such that the optical window is non-perpendicular to the direction toward which the light emitted along the optical axis is directed for all angles of the multi-faceted mirror.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention a method provides for processing a mention in textual content being input to a content provider. The method can include detecting input by a user of the content provider of the mention and identifying a member of a mention provider such as a social network based on the mention while maintaining privacy of information about the member with respect to the content provider. In some embodiments a computer program product for processing the mention includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. In some embodiments of the invention, a system for processing the mention includes a computer system readable media with a program module embodied therewith to detect the mention in the textual content as provided to a content provider. A network adapter with the system can provide the program module or program modules over a network.

Abstract: A method for pre-authenticating a user on the user's mobile device is provided. The method may be implemented on the device. The method may include tracking commonly accessed applications over a pre-determined amount of time. The method may include tracking and storing on the mobile device, application data associated with each commonly accessed application. When a determined current time of day is a pre-determined amount of time prior to the tracked start time of access to a one or more commonly accessed applications, the method may include capturing, autonomously, via each of a plurality of sensors, an attribute associated with the user. The method may further include comparing a value of the attribute captured to a historically stored attribute value. The method may further include verifying and pre-authenticating the user based on the comparing. The method may also include pre-loading the user's mobile device with the commonly accessed application.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating a home-improvement product purchasing experience by facilitating contextual visualizations in which images of currently available products are shown as being installed in an installation location associated with a potential customer's property. The currently available product information is maintained in a quoting database that is also used to generate product quotes, including current prices. A portable device may include an imaging device and may instantiate a visualizer to facilitate viewing contextual visualizations of product locations on-site.

Abstract: A cutting element has an intercrystalline-bonded diamond body that includes an inner region and an outer surface that includes a working surface of the cutting element. The outer surface is treated, after formation of the intercrystalline-bonded diamond by high-pressure/high-temperature process, to have a level of surface compressive stress that is greater than a compressive stress of the inner region.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention a method provides for processing a mention in textual content being input to a content provider. The method can include detecting input by a user of the content provider of the mention and identifying a member of a mention provider such as a social network based on the mention while maintaining privacy of information about the member with respect to the content provider. In some embodiments a computer program product for processing the mention includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. In some embodiments of the invention, a system for processing the mention includes a computer system readable media with a program module embodied therewith to detect the mention in the textual content as provided to a content provider. A network adapter with the system can provide the program module or program modules over a network.

Abstract: Cutting elements include polycrystalline diamond which may be attached to a substrate. The polycrystalline diamond may have a ratio of cubic to hexagonal cobalt crystalline structures of greater than about 1.2. The polycrystalline diamond may have a high level surface compressive stress of greater than about 500 MPa.