Abstract:
A method and apparatus for facilitating computer-supported collaborative work sessions solicits ideas from participants in a collaborative work session, and then prompts the participants to group the generated ideas into discrete clusters of related ideas. The participants' clusters are then aggregated to form collective clusters that represent overarching themes or ideas generated in the collaborative work session. The collective clusters and the ideas contained therein may be used by an organization, for example to address a specific need or to shape a policy.
Abstract:
An instructional apparatus for providing instructions to an individual for bathing includes a housing and a control circuit being mounted in the housing. A display screen is electrically coupled to the control circuit and is mounted to a front side of the housing. The control circuit is programmed when actuated to display on the display screen a sequence of images indicating a sequence of a plurality of areas of a body of an individual to be cleaned. A method of using the instructional apparatus to instruct the individual to wash the individual's body is also claimed.
Abstract:
Systems, devices, and methods for software development or modification. Systems transform interactions with physical blocks by a human developer on an activity surface into computer-understandable digital information or logic for developing or modifying software (e.g., websites or mobile applications) in real-time or near real-time. The physical blocks are representative of software elements used in software development. For example, the structures, colors, shapes or hardness/softness/squeeze/bend/flex/elastic/shape-memory/rigid properties, whether symmetrical or asymmetrical, whether open-shaped or close-shaped of the physical blocks can determine which software elements are being developed and the arrangement of the blocks can be mapped to how the software elements are to be included in the software. Users located remotely from the developer can provide annotations or feedback to the software being developed in real-time.
Abstract:
A blade closing detector for an electric power switch includes a blade closing detector and an electronic or visual indicator. A first type of detector uses a gravity switch and a magnetic pickup to detect proper engagement between the blade and the switch. A second type of detector uses a sliding latch with a visual indicator rod to provide a visual indication of proper engagement of the blade within the jaws. A third type of detector uses a magnetic switch with a pivot arm and a dome shaped visual indicator. These detectors may be deployed individually or in combination and may be augmented with communication equipment to transmit switch status to a remote location. It will be understood that specific embodiments may include a variety of features in different combinations, as desired by different users.
Abstract:
An interface between a local file system and a data store (e.g., a “write-once”store) generates and exports to the data store a “versioned” file system. The state of the local file system at a given point in time can be determined using the versioned file system. The versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations that comprise metadata associated with actual file system data. The interface creates and exports to the data store structured data representations, which correspond to versions of the local file system, as well as the actual file system data that these structured data representations represent. A cache associated with the interface stores recently used data and metadata, as well as write data and metadata waiting to be transferred to the data store. Prior to transfer, data transformations, such as compression, encryption, and de-duplication, may be applied to the data and metadata.
Abstract:
A spacer formed of an intermetallic compound, such as nitinol. The spacer includes two segments shaped in opposing arches. The unique properties of the intermetallic compound enable the material to be deformed into a planar, insertable shape when the material is cooled below a transition temperature and returns to the undeformed shape when the material returns to an ambient, operational temperature. An expansion mechanism assembly can engage with the spacer to apply an expansion force. The expansion force extends the spacer longitudinally drawing the spacer into the planar configuration. The expansion mechanism assembly can be used to guide the spacer into the desired position within the patient. The spacer control mechanism assembly is subsequently removed, relieving the expansion force. The spacer returns to the natural undeformed shape as it returns to body temperature. Retention features can be integrated in the spacer to aid in retaining the spacer in location.
Abstract:
An archive cluster application runs across a redundant array of independent nodes. Each node runs an archive cluster application instance comprising a set of software processes: a request manager, a storage manager, a metadata manager, and a policy manager. The request manager manages requests for data, the storage manager manages data read/write functions, and the metadata manager facilitates metadata transactions and recovery. The policy manager implements policies, which are operations that determine the behavior of an “archive object” within the cluster. The archive cluster application provides object-based storage. It associates metadata and policies with the raw archived data, which together comprise an archive object. Object policies govern the object's behavior in the archive. The archive manages itself independently of client applications, acting automatically to ensure that object policies are valid.
Abstract:
An infrared heat lamp (200) having a vertical burning position includes an outer tubular member (202) and a heating element (208) having a coiled portion (214) at least partially disposed within the outer tubular member (202). The heating element (208) includes first and second terminal ends (210, 212), wherein the coiled portion (214) is defined therebetween, the coiled portion (214) having a plurality of turns (216) defining a through passage (218). The heat lamp (200) further includes an inner elongate member (222) disposed within the through passage (218) of the coiled portion (214), the inner elongate member (222) having a plurality of support members (224) extending therefrom. Each of the plurality of support members (224) engages at least one of the plurality of turns (216) of the coiled portion (214), whereby the coiled portion (214) is supported by the plurality of support members (224) when the heating element (208) is in a vertical orientation.
Abstract:
A method and system for gas turbine emissions management through delivery of a diluent fluid stream (steam, CO2, N2 etc) into a gas turbine combustion system while the gas turbine is operating on a conventional fuel such as light distillate oil or natural gas. The diluent injection system delivers required diluent-to-fuel ratios over the emissions compliance operating range of the gas turbine. The method for diluent injection is coupling the injection system to a gas turbine compressor discharge purge system, such that the diluent fluid is mixed with compressor discharge air. The mixed compressor discharge purge air and diluent stream are injected into the gas turbine combustor through a non-fueled combustion fuel nozzle passage to achieve emissions guarantee compliance.
Abstract:
A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations, such as XML. In a representative embodiment, at a first time, the interface creates and exports to the data store a first structured data representation corresponding to a first version of the local file system. The first structured data representation is an XML tree having a root element, one or more directory elements associated with the root element, and one or more file elements associated with a given directory element. Upon a change within the file system (e.g., file creation, file deletion, file modification, directory creation, directory deletion and directory modification), the interface creates and exports a second structured data representation corresponding to a second version of the file system. The second structured data representation differs from the first structured data representation up to and including the root element of the second structured data representation. The interface continues to generate and export the structured data representations to the data store, preferably at given “snapshot” times when changes within the file system have occurred. The data store preferably comprises one or more cloud storage service providers. As necessary, a given structured data representation is then used to retrieve an associated version of the file system. In this manner, the versioned file system only requires write-once behavior from the data store to preserve its complete state at any point-in-time.