Abstract:
The invention relates to hardware, software and electronic service components and systems to provide large-scale, reliable, and secure foundations for distributed databases and content management systems, combining unstructured and structured data, and allowing post-input reorganization to achieve a high degree of flexibility. This system may be combined with various syndication techniques to provide a platform for disaster preparation, response, and relief The invention described herein may allow disaster relief data to be stored in a syndication format, processed, and published through a plurality of disaster management data feeds. The syndicated content may be used by disaster relief participants in the preparation, response and relief efforts associated with a disaster.
Abstract:
A system to notify a concerned or responsible party of a change in system status of one or multiple home comfort systems includes a web server connected to the Internet. The web server is programmed to access the one or multiple home comfort systems. The remote access module monitors the state of the one or multiple home comfort systems and generates a message triggered by the change in system status. The remote access module sends the message to the web server. The web server converts the message to a notification. A concerned or responsible party receiving device allows the concerned or responsible party to receive the notification of the change in system status related to the one or multiple home comfort systems via the web server.
Abstract:
A system allows a consumer to remotely access the status and settings of multiple home comfort systems by telephone. The system comprises a web server connected to the Internet. The web server is programmed to access the multiple home comfort systems. The web server has a data storage device, a connection to the Internet to communicate with the consumer, and a messaging gateway coupled to a network to communicate with the multiple home comfort systems. An integrated voice response (“IVR”) system is connected to a telephone network and to the web server to communicate with the consumer. The IVR generates voice prompts to a consumer's telephone and to receive responses from the consumer's telephone. The IVR acts as a consumer telephone to web server interface wherein the consumer can remotely access and control the multiple home comfort systems from the consumer's telephone.
Abstract:
A system and method for treating ballast water within an ocean going vessel by generating hypochlorite for treating the ballast water. The system comprises one or more hypochlorite electrolytic cells in fluid communication with a stream of ballast water. A chlorine analyzer is positioned downstream from the electrolytic cells to determine the chlorine concentration of the treated ballast water. A hydrogen separator is connected to the hypochlorite electrolytic cells for venting hydrogen. In the method of this invention, water is taken aboard the ship for ballast in one port. A treatment stream is separated from the ballast water stream and piped to hypochlorite electrolytic cells. Hypochlorite is generated into the treatment stream and the hydrogen byproduct is separated by the hydrogen separators. The treatment stream is then reintroduced to the ballast water to eliminate marine species and pathogenic bacteria from ballast water. The ballast water undergoes de-chlorination prior to being discharged into a new port.
Abstract:
Composition and methods relating to a lipopolysaccharide isolated from Rhizobium galegae that enhances an immune response against an antigen yet does not induce a significant inflammatory response are described herein.
Abstract:
This invention combines several processes into on easy to use product. The glass sphere dramatically enhances the aeration procedure by gently exposing air to thin waves of wine as wine passes over the surface of the sphere. The integrated filter provides a larger surface than normally found in wine filtration devices. The supporting structure secures the decanter in such a way that consumers can easily dispense wine without handling a wine bottle or conventional decanter.
Abstract:
A variable loading rate method of starting a plurality of gas turbines (GT1, GT2) used in a combined cycle power plant for generating electricity. A first gas turbine is started and allowed to operate at a minimum load condition. The turbine is maintained at this load level while a second gas turbine is started brought up to its minimum load condition. Start-up of a steam turbine (ST) to which the gas turbines are operationally coupled is initiated while both gas turbines are maintained at their minimum load conditions. The load on both gas turbines is then increased to a predetermined level, which is greater than their minimum load levels, once operating temperatures within the steam turbine reach predetermined levels. Subsequently, both gas turbines are loaded as function of the load on the a steam turbine at to which the gas turbines are coupled. This variable loading rate starting sequence lowers the amount of NO2 produced during start-up of the turbines and reduces the occurrence of a visible yellow plume at a power generating plant.
Abstract:
A multi-level and/or demand based method and apparatus for interdicting unauthorized copying in a decentralized network are described. In their preferred embodiments, the method and apparatus start out by performing search result manipulation to interdict unauthorized copying of protected files. If a trigger event is detected in network communications, however, such as a threshold number of requests being exceeded for a protected file by a network node, then the method floods that node with decoys of the protected file to enhance interdiction efforts.
Abstract:
An improved pressurizable wide mouthed vessel is provided which is capable of storing beverages under pressure and also of being used as a drinking vessel. The wide mouthed drinking vessel is closed by a closure urging a seal to sealingly engage the vessel. The closure is so configured that when the vessel is pressurized, the closure is deformed to transmit additional pressure to the seal to effect tighter sealing engagement with the vessel. The closure has pressure release means for venting the vessel in order to release the pressure on the seal, and so allow the closure to be more readily removed from the mouth of the vessel.
Abstract:
A selected impurity in a crystal is provided as a narrow-band absorption filter for optical radiation. The crystal lattice constant may be adjusted, for example, by forming a mixed crystal, to adjust the absorption frequency.