Abstract:
A universal smart mobile electronic gear hub and specialty earphone case device for providing a user with functional tools, sensors, input/output interfaces, and electronic features in an easy to use, handheld, 360 degree form factor. The universality of the present invention in a novel form factor facilitates a new level of user interface, connectivity, monitoring, and systems for a plurality of technology devices. The smart mobile electronic gear hub and specialty earphone case provides a profound technological advancement and is the next logical progression to the smartphone.
Abstract:
The present invention provides, in at least one embodiment, a customized hair curler with a barrel, and a handle that fits multiple types of barrels, the barrels being detachable and attachable. The handle has a release latch that allows a quick and simple detachment of the barrel from the handle, and a rotation switch for bidirectional rotation of the barrel with respect to the handle. The hair curler also has a heater and a user control interface for precise temperature control of the heater.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a converter circuit and accompanying switch mode power conversion technique to efficiently capture the power generated from a solar cell array that would normally have been lost, for example, under reduced incident solar radiation. In an embodiment of the invention, the converter circuit generates an output current from the solar cell power source using a switch mode power converter. A control loop is closed around the input voltage to the converter circuit and not around the output voltage. The output voltage is allowed to float, being clamped by the loading conditions. If the outputs from multiple units are tied together, the currents will sum. If the output(s) are connected to a battery, the battery's potential will clamp the voltage during charge. This technique allows all solar cells in an array that are producing power and connected in parallel to work at their peak efficiency.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses a technique provisioning network cryptographic keys to a client when direct physical transfer is not feasible. In an embodiment of the invention, a client token generates a temporary key encrypted with a first secret key known only in a master token database and passes this on to an enterprise network token of a network to which service is requested. The enterprise network token then further encrypts the encrypted temporary key with a second secret key and passes that on to the master token database. Since the second secret key is also known by the master token database, the originally encrypted temporary key can be securely decoded only by a master token coupled to the master token database. The decrypted temporary key can then be re-encrypted with a key known only by the enterprise network token and the master token, and returned to the enterprise network token. This allows the enterprise network token to gain secure access to the temporary key of the client token, thereby allowing the enterprise network token to securely provision the remote client token with the appropriate enterprise Network Keys.
Abstract:
An authentication and mass subscriber management technique is provided by employing a key table derived as a subset of a larger key pool, a network edge device, and authentication tokens attached on both the network edge device and on a subscriber’s computing device. The network edge device and subscriber’s computing device are provided with secure, tamper-resistant network keys for encrypting all transactions across the wired/wireless segment between supplicant (subscriber) and authenticator (network edge device ). In an embodiment of the invention, a secure, secret user key is shared between a number of subscribers based upon commonalities between serial numbers of those subscribers’ tokens. In another embodiment of the invention, a unique session key is generated for each subscriber even though multiple subscribers connected to the same network connection point might have identical pre-stored secret keys.
Abstract:
The invention provides a flossing device to remove debris, food, plaque, and bacteria from in between the proximal surfaces of teeth undergoing orthodontic treatment. In an embodiment of the invention, a dental flossing guide (100) comprises a lead portion (105) and floss filament (110) attached thereto and extending therefrom. The lead portion (105) comprises two wires (120, 130) mechanically entwined with the floss filament and a soft flexible coating (140), with a good portion of the floss filament extending long enough to be grabbed by two hands. The flossing guide features a small diameter to fit between the orthodontic wire and the front portion of the tooth. The soft coating and a curvilinear tip of the flossing guide protects the gingival tissue when inserted into a patient's mouth. The flossing guide is used on patients that are undergoing orthodontic treatment to promote a healthy oral cavity environment. The flossing guide is easy to use by all ages.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a submersible data center vessel that is towed to its operating site, moored to anchors on the ocean floor and connected to an appropriate power generating system. The vessel is then submerged to its recommended operating depth while preferably still allowing air exchange and service crew access to the vessel interior. In the event of extreme weather/sea conditions, the vessel can be submerged deeper for the duration of the extreme conditions and out of range of harmful wind and wave forces. The subsurface vessel is preferably powered by a renewable energy source such as, but not limited to marine hydrokinetic energy provided by wave, tidal, or marine current electric generators and/or offshore wind turbines. Alternatively, an onshore electric power grid supplies a portion or all of the electric power by submarine cable to the vessel. The computer servers housed within the vessel are cooled by heat exchangers drawing from cool ocean water, and continue to operate irrespective of weather and sea conditions on the surface.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved head restraint device for securing a person's head to a headrest such as those found on vehicle passenger seats. The head restraint immobilizes the person's head, neck, and spine in all degrees of freedom, e.g., lateral, longitudinal or frontal, and rotational, relative to the headrest. Yet, when a threshold amount of external force is applied to the person's head, particularly in a frontal or normal direction relative to the passenger seat, the person's head will separate itself from the headrest to prevent injury to the person.
Abstract:
Apparatus for and method of executing customized interactive computing services in a broadband network environment. A device on the broadband network (30) is capable of retrieving user-defined data over the network (50) and formal and display it on an associated display along with data broadcast over the broadband network (30). The device may be customer premise equipment (10) such as set-top-box, gaming console, or home gateway connected to the broadband network. In the case of a set-top-box, the broadcast data would be television programming. The device is preferably capable of retrieving data from a source on the internet. Retrieval and formatting are preferably carried out by compact software agents which are sent to the device through the network to be stored in and to execute on the device.
Abstract:
A switch router (201) and one or more gateways (203) incorporating a diagnostic and calibration system that performs RF characterization of an underlying cable plant. The switch router (201) is connected at a point of insertion (103) or point of distribution (105) and each gateway is located downstream, such as at corresponding subscriber locations. The switch router (201) and each gateway (203) sends a test signal with known characteristics and power level, and the receiving device (205) determines noise level and power loss for the corresponding downstream and upstream channel pair. The power loss information is used to calibrate the power level of the transmitters. The noise levels are used to determine if the selected modulation schemes employed for normal communications is realizable. A frequency analysis, such as FFT or the like, is performed on the upstream test signal spectrum to derive valuable frequency information for the upstream channel or the entire upstream bandwidth.