Abstract: A technique for operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a terminal area from which the UAVs are staged includes charging a plurality of the UAVs on charging pads disposed in a staging array at the terminal area. Merchant facilities for preparing packages for delivery by the UAVs are disposed about a periphery of the staging array. The UAVs are relocated under their own propulsion from interior charging pads to peripheral loading pads of the staging array as the peripheral loading pads become available and the UAVs are deemed sufficiently charged and ready for delivery missions.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a digital surface model of an area for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation. The digital surface model represents an environmental surface in the area. The method includes determining, for each grid cell of a plurality of grid cells in the area, a confidence value of an altitude of the environmental surface at the grid cell and determining a terrain clearance value based at least on the confidence value of the altitude of the environmental surface at the grid cell. The method includes determining a route for a UAV through the area such that the altitude of the UAV is above the altitude of the environmental surface at each grid cell of a sequence of grid cells of the route by at least the terrain clearance value determined for the grid cell. The method includes causing the UAV to navigate through the area using the determined route.

Abstract: A technique for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in proximity to a terminal area from which the UAVs are staged includes charging a plurality of the UAVs on charging pads disposed in a staging array at the terminal area. Merchant facilities for preparing packages for delivery by the UAVs are disposed about a periphery of the staging array. The UAVs are relocated under their own propulsion from interior charging pads to peripheral loading pads of the staging array as the peripheral loading pads become available and the UAVs are deemed sufficiently charged and ready for delivery missions.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of distributing noise exposures to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over a neighborhood includes: accessing a noise exposure map stored in a database and generating a new flight path over the neighborhood for a first UAV of the UAVs based at least in part on the noise exposure map. The noise exposure map includes noise exposure values indexed to locations within the neighborhood. Each of the noise exposure values quantifies a cumulative noise exposure of a corresponding one of the locations due at least in part to historical flight paths of the UAVs over the neighborhood.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of distributing noise exposures to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over a neighborhood includes: accessing a noise exposure map stored in a database and generating a new flight path over the neighborhood for a first UAV of the UAVs based at least in part on the noise exposure map. The noise exposure map includes noise exposure values indexed to locations within the neighborhood. Each of the noise exposure values quantifies a cumulative noise exposure of a corresponding one of the locations due at least in part to historical flight paths of the UAVs over the neighborhood.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of distributing noise exposures to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over a neighborhood includes: receiving flight routing requests to fly the UAVs over the neighborhood; accessing a noise exposure map stored in a noise exposure database in response to the flight routing requests; and generating new flight paths for the UAVs over the neighborhood that load level additional noise exposures that the new flight paths will contribute to the noise exposure map. The noise exposure map includes noise exposure values indexed to properties within the neighborhood. The noise exposure values quantify cumulative noise exposures of the properties due to historical flight paths of the UAVs over the neighborhood.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of distributing noise exposures to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over a neighborhood includes: receiving flight routing requests to fly the UAVs over the neighborhood; accessing a noise exposure map stored in a noise exposure database in response to the flight routing requests; and generating new flight paths for the UAVs over the neighborhood that load level additional noise exposures that the new flight paths will contribute to the noise exposure map. The noise exposure map includes noise exposure values indexed to properties within the neighborhood. The noise exposure values quantify cumulative noise exposures of the properties due to historical flight paths of the UAVs over the neighborhood.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.

Abstract: This invention safeguards the integrity of a machine-printed paper document by entangling a characteristic signature derived from the document's paper grain structure with the identities of the printing device and the person or organization which issued the document. This protection is achieved using a certification phase performed by an augmented document printer and an authentication phase performed by an augmented document scanner. In the certification phase, the grain structure of a specific area of the original paper is imaged and processed to generate a unique signature for the paper. This signature is doubly encrypted using the private keys of the augmented printer and the certifier. These encryption steps entangle the signature of the paper with its source information in a way that thwarts counterfeiting attacks which either copy the document or falsely attribute its source to a specific printer and/or certifier.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The viewer may request that certain content be captured. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred content. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The invention provides objects called a capture requests that are sent by the service to client systems. Capture requests reflect local storage management decisions about how the client system storage is partitioned.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred content. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The invention provides objects called a capture requests that are sent by the service to client systems. Capture requests reflect local storage management decisions about how the client system storage is partitioned.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred content. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The invention provides objects called a capture requests that are sent by the service to client systems. Capture requests reflect local storage management decisions about how the client system storage is partitioned.

Abstract: This invention safeguards the integrity of a machine-printed paper document by entangling a characteristic signature derived from the document's paper grain structure with the identities of the printing device and the person or organization which issued the document. This protection is achieved using a certification phase performed by an augmented document printer and an authentication phase performed by an augmented document scanner. In the certification phase, the grain structure of a specific area of the original paper is imaged and processed to generate a unique signature for the paper. This signature is doubly encrypted using the private keys of the augmented printer and the certifier. These encryption steps entangle the signature of the paper with its source information in a way that thwarts counterfeiting attacks which either copy the document or falsely attribute its source to a specific printer and/or certifier.