Abstract: A method comprises identifying a candidate entity for matching with one or more target entities from a plurality of target entities, and for one or more of the target entities: determining a target suitability measure indicative of a suitability of the target entity to the candidate entity based on desired target entity attributes of the candidate entity and corresponding one or more target entity attributes associated with the target entity; determining a candidate suitability measure indicative of a suitability of the candidate entity to the target entity based on one or more desired candidate entity attributes of the target entity and corresponding one or more candidate entity attributes associated with the candidate entity; determining a matching score for the candidate entity and target entity pair as a first function of the target suitability measure and the candidate suitability measure; and. determining suggested target entities for matching with the candidate entity.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining entity characteristics. The method comprising: determining a numerical representation of each of a plurality of second entities, each numerical representation comprising a multi-dimensional vector characteristic of the respective second entity, wherein each second entity is associated with one or more first entities; reducing the dimensionality of the numerical representations to produce a plurality of reduced dimensionality numerical representations; and determining a specialisation of each of the plurality of first entities based on the respective reduced dimensionality numerical representations.

Abstract: An expandable and compressible carport is provided. The carport includes vertical supports adjustable in height and trusses adjustable in width. A first vertical support is adjustable in height by way of an inner tube telescoping with an outer tube. A first truss is coupled to a top end of the first vertical support and includes an adjustable width by way of an inner tube telescoping with an outer tube. The present invention further includes a second vertical support that is adjustable in height by way of an inner tube telescoping with an outer tube. A second truss is coupled to a top end of the second vertical support and includes an adjustable width by way of an inner tube telescoping with an outer tube. A ridge board connects the first truss and the second truss together.

Abstract: An expandable and compressible carport is provided. The carport includes vertical supports adjustable in height and trusses adjustable in width. A first vertical support is adjustable in height by way of an inner tube telescoping with an outer tube. A first truss is coupled to a top end of the first vertical support and includes an adjustable width by way of an inner tube telescoping with an outer tube. The present invention further includes a second vertical support that is adjustable in height by way of an inner tube telescoping with an outer tube. A second truss is coupled to a top end of the second vertical support and includes an adjustable width by way of an inner tube telescoping with an outer tube. A ridge board connects the first truss and the second truss together.

Abstract: A case for storing a paint roller comprising a cylindrical case element including means for opening the case element and adapted for enclosing a paint roller attached to a roller tool. The case includes a circular opening in one end of the cylindrical case element, the circular opening adapted to allow a roller tool to extend from the case element when in a closed position, and the circular opening further adapted to allow removal of the roller tool from the case element in the closed position, while allowing the paint roller to remain within the case element. The case includes a solid cap for closing the circular opening when the case element is in the closed position and encloses solely a paint roller. The case includes a slotted cap for closing the circular opening when the case element is in the closed position.

Abstract: An inline bitumen froth steam heater system including steam injection and static mixing devices is provided. The system heats and de-aerates input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The system is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes steam with bitumen resulting in output bitumen material having temperature of about 190° F. The system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving information associated with a first transaction, where the first transaction involves a deposit account; (b) receiving information associated with a second transaction, where the second transaction involves the deposit account; (c) determining, based at least partially on the information associated with the first transaction, that an available balance associated with the deposit account is based at least partially on the first transaction; (d) determining, based at least partially on the information associated with the second transaction, that the available balance is not based on the second transaction; (e) posting first information to an online banking account, where the online banking account is associated with the deposit account, and where the first information indicates that the available balance is based at least partially on the first transaction; and (f) posting second information to the online banking acc

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method that includes: (a) receiving information associated with a deposit account; (b) determining, based at least partially on the information associated with the deposit account, an available balance associated with the deposit account; (c) determining, based at least partially on the information associated with the deposit account, a second amount associated with the deposit account; (d) determining, based at least partially on the available balance and the second amount, an estimated balance associated with the deposit account; and (e) posting the estimated balance to an online banking account, where the online banking account is associated with the deposit account.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method that includes: (a) receiving information associated with a deposit transaction, where the deposit transaction involves a deposit account, and where the deposit transaction includes a total deposit amount; (b) determining, based at least partially on the information associated with the deposit transaction, that a first amount of the total deposit amount is immediately available; (c) determining, based at least partially on the information associated with the deposit transaction, that a second amount of the total deposit amount is not immediately available, (d) posting first information to an online banking account, where the online banking account is associated with the deposit account, and where the first information indicates that the first amount is immediately available; and (e) posting second information to the online banking account, where the second information indicates that the second amount is not immediately available.

Abstract: An inline bitumen froth steam heater system including steam injection and static mixing devices is provided. The system heats and de-aerates input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The system is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes steam with bitumen resulting in output bitumen material having temperature of about 190 ° F. The system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300 ° F. The saturated steam is contacted with bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.

Abstract: An inline bitumen froth steam heater system including steam injection and static mixing devices is provided. The system heats and de-aerates input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The system is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes steam with bitumen resulting in output bitumen material having temperature of about 190° F. The system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing bitumen froth comprising a cyclone body having an elongated conical inner surface defining a cyclone cavity extending from an upper inlet region with a diameter DC to a lower apex outlet with a diameter DU of not less than about 40 mm; an inlet means forming an inlet channel extending into the upper inlet region of said cyclone cavity; and a vortex finder forming an overflow outlet of a diameter DO extending into the upper inlet region of said cyclone cavity toward said lower apex outlet and having a lower end extending an excursion distance below said inlet channel, said excursion distance being operable to permit a portion of bitumen that passes through said inlet channel to exit said overflow outlet without having to make a spiral journey down said cyclone cavity, wherein a lower end of the vortex finder within the cyclone cavity is disposed a free vortex height (FVH) distance from said lower apex outlet.

Abstract: An inline bitumen froth steam heater system including steam injection and static mixing devices is provided. The system heats and de-aerates input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The system is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes steam with bitumen resulting in output bitumen material having temperature of about 190° F. The system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing pests sensitive to light from inhabiting an enclosed area. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a strobe light configured to emit high intensity flashes of light in a continuously repeated pattern, a mounting mechanism configured to mount the strobe light in the enclosed area, and a power source configured to supply energy to the strobe light; placing the strobe light in the enclosed area in a relatively central location; providing power to the strobe light; and driving pests sensitive to light from the enclosed area.

Abstract: An inline bitumen froth steam heater system is comprised of steam injection and static mixing devices. The steam heater system heats and de-aerates an input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The inline bitumen froth steam heater is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes the steam with bitumen resulting in an output bitumen material having a homogenous temperature of about 190° F. The heating system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with a bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide a surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and the increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and also allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing pests sensitive to light from inhabiting an enclosed area. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a strobe light configured to emit high intensity flashes of light in a continuously repeated pattern, a mounting mechanism configured to mount the strobe light in the enclosed area, and a power source configured to supply energy to the strobe light; placing the strobe light in the enclosed area in a relatively central location; providing power to the strobe light; and driving pests sensitive to light from the enclosed area.

Abstract: Discloses apparatus to perform a process to remove water and minerals from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process. A bitumen froth feed stream is diluted with a solvent and supplied to a primary inclined plate separator stage, which separates the bitumen into an overflow stream providing a bitumen product output from the circuit and a bitumen depleted underflow stream. A primary cyclone state, a secondary inclined plate separator stage and a secondary cyclone stage further process the underflow stream to produce a secondary bitumen recovery product stream and a recycle stream. The secondary bitumen recovery product stream is incorporated into and becomes part of the circuit bitumen product output stream. The recycle stream is incorporated into the bitumen froth feed stream for reprocessing by the circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating bitumen from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process comprises an inclined plate separator (IPS) for providing a first bitumen separation stage and a cyclone for providing a second bitumen separation stage. The cyclone overflow is recycled to the IPS inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing bitumen froth comprising a cyclone body having an elongated conical inner surface defining a cyclone cavity extending from an upper inlet region with a diameter DC to a lower apex outlet with a diameter DU of not less than about 40 mm; an inlet means forming an inlet channel extending into the upper inlet region of said cyclone cavity; and a vortex finder forming an overflow outlet of a diameter DO extending into the upper inlet region of said cyclone cavity toward said lower apex outlet and having a lower end extending an excursion distance below said inlet channel, said excursion distance being operable to permit a portion of bitumen that passes through said inlet channel to exit said overflow outlet without having to make a spiral journey down said cyclone cavity, wherein a lower end of the vortex finder within the cyclone cavity is disposed a free vortex height (FVH) distance from said lower apex outlet.