Abstract: A shooting system includes a collapsible ball capture support adapted to support a ball capture device and a ball return. The ball return detects a ball captured by the ball capture device and returns the ball to a user in response to the detected ball. To return the ball to the user, the system identifies a location of the user with respect to the shooting system, orients the ball return toward the user, and accelerates the ball along a trajectory based on a distance between the user and the shooting system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a vehicle. An example system for controlling operation of a vehicle includes one or more data collection components and one or more processors. The one or more data collection components are configured to collect data representative of a physical configuration of an interior vehicle component. The one or more processors are configured to access the collected data, determine, by processing the collected data, the physical configuration of the interior vehicle component, select a manner of operation based upon the determined physical configuration of the interior vehicle component, and cause the vehicle to operate according to the manner of operation.

Abstract: A shooting system includes a collapsible ball capture support adapted to support a ball capture device and a ball return. The ball return detects a ball captured by the ball capture device and returns the ball to a user in response to the detected ball. To return the ball to the user, the system identifies a location of the user with respect to the shooting system, orients the ball return toward the user, and accelerates the ball along a trajectory based on a distance between the user and the shooting system.

Abstract: A method and processing system for managing user access to one or more resources is disclosed. A central service may receive an access change request message regarding a user. The access change request message may include a user identifier, a user role, and an access action for the user. Example access actions may include adding or removing user access with respect to a resource. The central service may determine which resources are associated with the user role and transmit one or more event messages to the resources to implement the access actions. The resources may send acknowledgement messages to the central service to confirm that the access actions have been completed.

Abstract: A shooting system includes a collapsible ball capture support adapted to support a ball capture device and a ball return. The ball return detects a ball captured by the ball capture device and returns the ball to a user in response to the detected ball. To return the ball to the user, the system identifies a location of the user with respect to the shooting system, orients the ball return toward the user, and accelerates the ball along a trajectory based on a distance between the user and the shooting system.

Abstract: A ball return system for returning balls shot at a target to a user of the ball return system includes an ejector adapted to accelerate balls out of the ball return system toward a target destination. The ball return system also includes a mast disposed on a base on which the ejector is disposed. The ball return system further includes a collapsible net support adapted to transition between a collapsed state and an expanded state. The collapsible net support is connected to the mast by a joint that enables the collapsible net support to transition between: a first orientation in which a length of the collapsible net support is aligned with a length of the mast, and a second orientation in which the collapsible support net is stacked on top of the ejector.

Abstract: A method and processing system for managing user access to one or more resources is disclosed. A central service may receive an access change request message regarding a user. The access change request message may include a user identifier, a user role, and an access action for the user. Example access actions may include adding or removing user access with respect to a resource. The central service may determine which resources are associated with the user role and transmit one or more event messages to the resources to implement the access actions. The resources may send acknowledgement messages to the central service to confirm that the access actions have been completed.

Abstract: A tax return is processed by receiving tax information associated with a taxpayer where the tax information is in a plurality of formats. The tax information is converted into a common electronic format. A determination is made whether the tax information is sufficient to generate a tax return therefrom. A tax return is generated if the tax information has been determined to be sufficient.

Abstract: A shooting system includes a collapsible ball capture support adapted to support a ball capture device and a ball return. The ball return detects a ball captured by the ball capture device and returns the ball to a user in response to the detected ball. To return the ball to the user, the system identifies a location of the user with respect to the shooting system, orients the ball return toward the user, and accelerates the ball along a trajectory based on a distance between the user and the shooting system.

Abstract: Building materials include a dampening layer which contains a plaster, and hollow microspheres, such as polymeric microspheres. Methods of making a sound dampening material include providing a plaster mixture. The mixture may include hollow microspheres. The plaster mixture is combined with water to form a slurry. The slurry is applied to a surface so that it sets to form a sound dampening layer. Methods of dampening sound through a structure include disposing a dampening layer on a surface of or within a wall, door, floor, ceiling, roof, or floor/ceiling assembly.

Abstract: Building materials include a dampening layer which contains a plaster and a viscoelastic polymer, such as polyvinyl butyral. The dampening layer may also include a barium salt. Methods of making a sound dampening material include providing a plaster mixture. The mixture may include a viscoelastic polymer and/or a barium salt. The plaster mixture is combined with water and/or a viscoelastic polymer dispersion, to form a slurry. The slurry is applied to a surface and set to form a sound dampening layer.

Abstract: Building materials include a dampening layer which contains a plaster and a viscoelastic polymer, such as polyvinyl butyral. The dampening layer may also include a barium salt. Methods of making a sound dampening material include providing a plaster mixture. The mixture may include a viscoelastic polymer and/or a barium salt. The plaster mixture is combined with water and/or a viscoelastic polymer dispersion, to form a slurry. The slurry is applied to a surface and set to form a sound dampening layer.

Abstract: Building materials include a dampening layer which contains a plaster, and hollow microspheres, such as polymeric microspheres. Methods of making a sound dampening material include providing a plaster mixture. The mixture may include hollow microspheres. The plaster mixture is combined with water to form a slurry. The slurry is applied to a surface so that it sets to form a sound dampening layer. Methods of dampening sound through a structure include disposing a dampening layer on a surface of or within a wall, door, floor, ceiling, roof, or floor/ceiling assembly.

Abstract: A tax return is processed by receiving tax information associated with a taxpayer where the tax information is in a plurality of formats. The tax information is converted into a common electronic format. A determination is made whether the tax information is sufficient to generate a tax return therefrom. A tax return is generated if the tax information has been determined to be sufficient.

Abstract: A system that enables parties to a real estate transaction to remotely access the system via the internet to initiate and consummate the offer/counter-offer process leading up to and including execution of a definitive purchase agreement between buyer and seller, wherein parties to the real estate transaction include the Buyer, the Seller and their respective agents. The system provides for a user interface that enables input of the transaction specification information which is typically input by the real estate agent. Subsequently, the system enables secure routing of the transaction between the parties for their online review and response. The system also provides for unique identity verification, logging and tracking functions to ensure validity and enforceability of electronic acceptance of transactions and related purchase agreements and documents by all parties.

Abstract: Laser beam scan line nonlinearity is compensated for by providing algorithms for generating linearity profiles which are used by a corresponding registration system in an electrophotographic device to determine the placement of Pels across a scan line.

Abstract: The dynamic range of an electrophotographic device may be shifted by calibrating a laser power of a laser source to operate within a first range of power levels during a laser power adjustment operation. At least one laser control parameter is modified after calibrating the laser power so that the laser source is operable within a second range of power levels different from the first range of power levels and a beam emitted by the laser source is controlled within the second range of power levels when the beam is directed towards an image area of a photoconductive surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for electronically adjusting an image to compensate for laser beam process direction position errors in an electrophotographic device. Initially, a bow profile is defined that characterizes the process direction position errors of a laser beam across a scan line. The device subsequently reads an image to be printed from a first memory location, performs pixel shifts on select columns thereof based upon the bow profile, and temporarily stores the adjusted image data to a second location of memory. The adjusted image data is then communicated to a printhead of the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for characterizing laser beam process direction position errors in an electrophotographic device. Once the process direction position errors of a given beam laser beam system have been characterized, an image is adjusted or warped prior to being processed by the laser beam system to compensate for laser beam process direction position errors, e.g., bow and skew.

Abstract: The dynamic range of an electrophotographic device may be shifted by calibrating a laser power of a laser source to operate within a first range of power levels during a laser power adjustment operation. At least one laser control parameter is modified after calibrating the laser power so that the laser source is operable within a second range of power levels different from the first range of power levels and a beam emitted by the laser source is controlled within the second range of power levels when the beam is directed towards an image area of a photoconductive surface.