Abstract: A personal alarm device for warning an individual of the presence of an unhealthy amount of carbon monoxide in the blood of the individual, comprising a mouthpiece, a carbon monoxide detector, and an alarm device. The mouthpiece is adapted to detect a minimum predetermined amount of carbon monoxide in the breath and to emit an alarm when the minimum predetermined amount is detected. The personal alarm device is particularly udeful in patient-controlled method of treatment to abate tobacco use.

Abstract: A system and method for providing self-installing software components for network service execution is presented. A basic communication framework is established with a service host system executing a network service software component to provide a network service. Availability of the network service software component is determined and prerequisites against a runtime environment are verified through the service host system. A code bundle providing the network service software component through the service host system logically grouped with installation instructions for the network service software component is executed.

Abstract: An Internet-scale file sharing system includes a client-side file sharing application that allows file-sharing users to identify files to share and transmit metadata corresponding to those files to a metadata repository. A server-side application operating on the metadata repository tracks metadata received from associated file-sharing users, as well as metadata from other affiliated metadata repositories. Each metadata repository acts as a search engine for any querying users and can provide search results based on locally stored metadata alone. Each metadata repository may additionally choose to locally-store popular files from an associated file-sharing user so as to alleviate transmission burdens on that file-sharing user. Associated metadata repositories each periodically synchronize their stored metadata so that all metadata repositories may generate similar search results.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable connection system comprising a first fiber optic connector including a ferrule within which an optical fiber is mounted and a fiber optic adapter for receiving the first fiber optic connector including a sleeve for receiving the ferrule. The first fiber optic connector is mounted within a first threaded body with the fiber optic cable extending through an opening in a distal end of the first threaded body and the ferrule accessible through a proximal end of the first threaded body. The fiber optic adapter is mounted within a second threaded body and the second threaded body adapted for mounting to a bulkhead. The second threaded body adapted to engage the proximal end of the first threaded body with the first connector engaging the adapter and the ferrule extending into the sleeve. An outer housing is threadably mounted about both the first and second threaded bodies when the second threaded body is engaging the proximal end of the first threaded body.

Abstract: System and method for enabling arbitrary components to control communications without having or requiring prior knowledge of each other. The system includes a first component that creates controller objects and provides the objects to other components. The controller objects include instructions which when executed by the other components enable the components to generate user interfaces for controlling the first component. Further, the controller objects are encrypted and are used to authenticate the senders or receivers of the objects.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates dynamic delivery of service profiles to a client. During operation, the system performs a discovery operation to allow the client to discover new services on a network. If a new service is discovered for which the client does not possess a service profile, the client to obtains the service profile from the new service and subsequently installs it, thereby enabling the client to interact with the new service.

Abstract: A telecommunications cabinet comprising a top, a floor, a pair of opposing sides, a front wall and a rear wall defining an interior, the front including an access door for accessing the interior. Within the interior are mounted a cable management structure, an adapter panel with an adapter configured to optical connector two optical fiber cables terminated with fiber optic connectors, and a fiber optic connector holder mounted in openings of the adapter panel. The connector holder has an opening configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap, the opening accessible from a front side of the adapter panel. A fiber optic connector including a ferrule with a polished end face holding an end of an optical fiber with a dust cap placed about the ferrule and polished end face is inserted within the opening of a fiber optic connector holder. And a fiber optic connector is inserted within the rear side of one of the adapters.

Abstract: An illuminated sign (2) comprises a sign panel (5) and at least two elements of electroluminescent material (14, 15) each element being individually selectively actuable and arranged to emit light so as to illuminate the sign panel. Each element may be used as a photodetector or a photo-emitter. A retro-reflective strip (10) may provide additional visibility.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing data transfer security mechanisms. The method includes a first component transferring a data type handler object to a second component. The second interface invokes an interface accessible through the date type handler object which includes instructions that are executed by the second component to implement a data transfer security mechanism. Further, the data type handler interface can be encrypted, include cryptographic keys, and/or include digital signatures.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing component capability to accept and execute mobile code includes a first component coupled via a network to a second component. The first component uses a predicate object to determine whether the second component can accept mobile code, such as a data type handler object or an applet. The instructions included in the predicate object are executed in the environment of the second component, although they can be executed in the first component environment. The execution of these instructions in the second component environment causes the second component to respond to a series of basic tests, such as whether the second component has access to required libraries, software versions and/or peripherals. Additionally, a predicate object creation module is disclosed for generating predicate objects that are specific to the objects desired, such as a data type handler object or a controller object.

Abstract: A method and system for unifying component metadata includes components, such as computers, laptops or flat panel display devices and software entities, connected together by one or more networks. A method includes a first component, such as a laptop device, obtaining intrinsic metadata associated with one or more other components, such as a computer and a flat panel display device. The first component combines intrinsic metadata received from each component with extrinsic metadata of the first component, and provides the combined metadata to the other components, although the first component may also utilize the combined metadata. The components are able to obtain a consistent, unified view of the combined metadata without needing any prior programming and without requiring the use of centralized servers.

Abstract: System and method for providing secure resource management. The system includes a first device that creates a secure, shared resource space and a corresponding root certificate for the shared space. The first device associates one or more resources that it can access with the shared space. The first device invites one or more other devices to join as members of the space, and establishes secure communication channels with the devices that accept this invitation. The first device generates a member certificate for each accepting device, and sends the root certificate and the generated member certificate to the device through the secure channel. These devices may then access resources associated with the shared space by presenting their member certificates. Further, members of the shared space may invite other device to join the space, and may create member certificates in the same manner as the first device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling arbitrary components to control communications, such as data transfers, without having or requiring prior knowledge of each other. The system includes a component that creates controller objects for a communication, such as a data transfer involving several components. Further, the component associates the controller objects with a communication session object of the data transfer, such as a data transfer session object. One or more of the components involved in the data transfer obtain the controller objects through the data transfer session object and execute source-specific instructions included in the obtained controller objects to generate user interfaces. The user interfaces enable the components to control aspects of the communication, such as the data transfer.

Abstract: A system and method for handling data at one of a plurality of components includes at least a sink component and a source component in the plurality of components. The source component transfers data to the sink component, and the sink component accesses an obtained data type handler object to invoke an interface implemented by the handler object. The invoked type handler interface includes source-specific instructions that are executed by the sink component to be able to interact with the data sent to the sink component regardless of whether the data is a format that the sink natively understands.

Abstract: A system for enabling components on arbitrary networks to communicate includes a plurality of arbitrary components, such as computers, servers, laptops, facsimile machines, copier machines and cellular telephones, including applications operating on those components, such as word processing or data base applications, connected together by one or more networks that may use the same or different protocols. A method includes a first component, such as a computer, obtaining aggregate objects from other components, such as a laptop or server. Each of the aggregate objects are associated with discovered component objects of the other components, such as the laptop or server. The first component selects at least one of the components associated with the aggregate objects, and invokes universal interfaces associated with the selected arbitrary components to communicate with other arbitrary components.

Abstract: A personal alarm device 1, for warning an individual of the presence of an unhealthy amount of carbon monoxide in the blood of said individual, comprises a mouthpiece 5, a carbon monoxide detector and means for emitting an alarm. The mouthpiece is adapted to receive the breath exhaled by an individual and direct the breath to said detector. The detector is adapted to detect a minimum predetermined amount of carbon monoxide in said breath and to emit an alarm when said minimum predetermined amount is detected.

Abstract: A process for producing natural gas hydrate comprises three states (i), (ii), and (iii). State (i) comprises three pressure vessels (A1, A2, and A3), stage (ii) two pressure vessels (A4 and A5), and stage (iii) the pressure vessel (A6). The conditions of temperature and pressure in the pressure vessels are such that the gas hydrate is formed in the vessels. The formed hydrate is taken off through pipes (e1, e2, e3, e4, e5, and e6) from the pressure vessels to a manifold (34). Chilled water which is both the reactant water and coolant for the process is provided by cooling means (20) and supplied simultaneously to the lower part of each pressure vessel via pipe (22), manifold (32) and pipes (b1, b2, b4, b5, and b6). Natural gas from supply (26) is fed via pipe (30), manifold (32) and pipes (c1, c2, and c3) to nozzles in the lower part of each vessel (A1, A2, and A3) from which nozzles the gas bubbles upwards through the columns of water in vessels (A1, A2, and A3).

Abstract: An article of furniture adapted for nestwise stacking engagement with a substantially identical article of furniture wherein the article of furniture comprises a body portion and a removable seat portion, the body portion having attached thereto at least one front leg and at least one rear leg wherein at least one of the front or rear legs are adapted to pass through the seat cavity of the body created by the removal of the seat portion and thereby facilitate the nestwise stacking of a plurality of the articles of furniture.

Abstract: A dual compartment bottle system for dispensing of two separate products, such as shampoo and conditioner, from within one convenient bottle which separates the two separate products. The device includes a substantially cylindrical bottle including a vertical partition which creates two distinct compartments, and a threaded dispensing cap secured to a threaded neck of the cylindrical bottle. The threaded dispensing cap having two passages, one passage into each separate compartment, such that a user can separately dispense the desired product without contamination from the other product within the cylindrical bottle.