33results about How to "Inexpensive to deploy" patented technology

A method for obtaining information about a subsurface formation from acoustic signals that contain information about to the subsurface formation, comprises: providing a fiber optic having a proximal end and a remote end, with the proximal end being coupled to a light source and a proximal photodetector, wherein said fiber optic cable includes randomly spaced impurities and selectively placed Bragg gratings and wherein the fiber optic cable is acoustically coupled to the subsurface formation so as to allow the acoustic signals to affect the physical status of at least one grating: transmitting at least one light pulse into the cable; receiving at the photodetector a first light signal indicative of the physical status of at least one first section of the cable, and outputting at least one item of information to a display.

A portal system for secure, aggregated and centralized management and access of disparate customer service and social networking environments is disclosed. A user interface provides multiple, parameter-based automated service scripts, each configured to utilize customer information. The scripts link to vendor-specific, scenario-specific, and social networking-specific interfaces that have common user interface elements. Shared and dedicated reverse automation gateways are configured to emulate the step-by-step self-service aspects of web sites and interactive voice response systems. The portal system eliminates or reduces inbound toll-free telephone charges for vendor contact centers and additionally links the same to social networking systems.

A method for obtaining location information about a well as it is being drilled through a subsurface, comprises: providing at least one fiber optic cable deployed in a borehole within acoustic range of the well, the proximal end of the cable being coupled to a light source and a photodetector, the fiber optic cable being acoustically coupled to the subsurface formation so as to allow acoustic signals in the subsurface to affect the physical status of the cable, providing an acoustic source in the well, transmitting at least one light pulse into the cable, receiving at the photodetector a first light signal indicative of the physical status of at least one first section of the cable. The first section is selected so that the first light signal provides information about the position of the acoustic source, and outputting at least the information to a display.

A system for handling transport information comprising hardware to receive information, hardware to transmit information and optionally hardware to store information.

A real-time, signature-free, blocker prevents buffer overflow attacks. The system and method, called SigFree, can filter out code injection buffer overflow attack packets targeting at various Internet services such as web services. Motivated by the observation that buffer overflow attacks typically contain executables whereas legitimate client requests never contain executables in most Internet services, SigFree blocks attacks by checking, without any preknowledge of the real attacks, if “executable” instruction sequences can be blindly disassembled and extracted from a packet. Being signature-free, the invention can block new and unknown buffer overflow attacks. It is immunized from almost every attack-side code obfuscation method, and transparent to the servers being protected. The approach is therefore suited to economical Internet-wide deployment with very low deployment and maintenance costs. SigFree can also handle encrypted SSL packets. An experimental study shows that SigFree can block all types of code-injection attack packets without yielding any false positives or false negatives. Moreover, SigFree causes negligible throughput degradation to normal client requests.

An apparatus and method for setting up and operating a digital multi-media library configured in such as way as to enable the creation of custom sub-libraries. In this system users are able to create private themed sub-libraries that contain information assets that are excerpts of the main library's information assets. This is accomplished via a special proxy asset structure. The apparatus and method further enables, via use of the custom library feature and the special proxy asset structure, the deployment of digital libraries more quickly than current methods allow, and in a manner that spreads more of the set-up cost into the post-deployment period.

Articles constructed of a plurality of scuffed sheets have improved sheet-to-sheet bond strength and surfaces with high coefficients of friction. Articles constructed out of three scuffed sheets include exterior intumescent polymeric surfaces resisting the spread of combustion flames and insulating the interior surfaces from the high temperature of fire. Articles include electronic apparatus sending an emergency 911 call to a remote monitoring station. Articles are advantageously reinforced with optional rigidifying structures without article modification. Members are joined with snap together features providing an assembled article. Articles include handles for ergonomic manipulation by workers. Articles include elements amenably receiving unitization accessories. The article improvements are demonstrated in the form of industrial platforms, particularly material handling pallets.

A solar concentrator, which is modular, durable, lightweight, and cost-efficient is described. The solar concentrator is constructed from a plurality of interconnected reflector panels that are secured to a contoured support frame assembly by means of an adjustable fastening mechanism. The reflector panels are preferably fabricated from a low-cost composite material and have an optically flat front surface. A specularly reflective front surface is formed on the reflector panel by deposition of a plurality of thin films which are highly reflective. Individual reflector panels can be interconnected and arranged into a two-dimensional grid having a predetermined degree of curvature by means of the contoured support frame assembly. Electromagnetic radiation incident upon the reflector panel arrangement is reflected to and concentrated upon a collector plate or receiving surface or receiver where it may be converted into a usable form of energy.

A combined solar reflector and desalination assembly is provided for generating energy and fresh water from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A combined solar reflector and desalination assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. At least one catchment device and collection assembly are coupled to the tube. The elongated tube may have an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid.

A computing apparatus that is integrated within a flotation module, the system obtaining the energy required to power its computing operations from waves that travel across the surface of a body of water on which the flotation module sets. Additionally, the self-powered computing apparatus employs novel designs to utilize its close proximity to the body of water and / or to strong ocean winds to significantly lower the cost and complexity of cooling their computing circuits.

Latent fingerprints on a porous substrate such as paper are developed for viewing and recordal by applying heat to cause the fingerprint to be clearly viewed under radiation to cause the fingerprint to fluorescence (e.g. a few seconds heating with air or client contact with a heated device at around 260° C.) and viewing under e.g. light of 200 nm to 550 nm with a filter in the yellow to orange wavelength region. Alternatively more extended heating can render the fingerprint assemble under ultraviolet light, and under yet more extended heating permits viewing under white light.

A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. A solar reflector assembly comprises an inflatable elongated tube having an upper portion formed at least partially of flexible material and a lower ballast portion formed at least partially of flexible material. A reflective sheet is coupled to a wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid. The lower ballast portion may contain photocatalytic particles.

A modular node for an optical communication network includes one or more transceiver modules of a plurality of transceiver modules, and a node core including a plurality of electrical connectors to electrically join up to the plurality of transceiver modules to the node core. At least some of the transceiver modules has an optical transceiver configured to emit optical beams carrying data and without artificial confinement, and detect optical beams emitted and without artificial confinement. The up to the plurality of transceiver modules electrically joined to the node core are spatially separated to provide configurable coverage for optical communication based on their number and placement. And the node core further includes switching circuitry configured to connect the one or more transceiver modules to implement a redistribution point or a communication endpoint in the optical communication network.

A first mobile device (for example, a cellular telephone) learns of the presence of second mobile devices (for example, other cellular telephones) that are located nearby the first mobile device. A relatively short range wireless communication mechanism (for example, Bluetooth) of the mobile devices may be used to discover other nearby devices automatically by establishing direct mobile-to-mobile communications without use of the cellular telephone functionality of the mobile devices. Regardless of how the presence of other nearby mobiles is detected, information on the presence of these nearby mobiles can be matched with other information on the users of the nearby mobiles such as user class information. The collected information is then used as an input to a context-aware functionality. The context-aware functionality applies a rule that causes the first mobile to be configured in a way that is better suited the situation and / or to who the other nearby cellular telephone users are and what they are doing.

Embodiments of a device for providing an interface to the Internet using standard analog telephones and household telephone lines are described. An interactive console incorporates a display panel, analog telephone adapter, broadband router, and wireless Internet protocol interface in an integrated housing. The interactive console connects to a standard analog telephone, and interfaces the telephone to an Internet protocol network. A server computer coupled to the Internet protocol network provides Internet and digital network services to users of the console, as well as interconnection to other server computers and resources on the Internet. The interactive console and server system thus provide an interface for existing telephone users to gain Internet intelligence and interact with the greater Internet community.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed utilizing selected infrared spectrum spatial observations to determine selected profiles of interest. A correlative system is constructed and installed at a processor. Thermal profiles and structure in the wavebands of interest are extracted from observed infrared spectrum multiband observations received for processing at the processor by the correlative system. The output provides the selected profiles of interest in the wavebands of interest. The apparatus includes an infrared receiver system and means for controlling and measuring angular displacement of received emissions relative to a horizon. The processor converts received emission into equivalent blackbody temperatures across the observations and correlates structure and vertical distribution of the temperatures.

The invention provides systems and methods for standalone flame effects. Various aspects of the invention described herein may be applied to any of the particular applications set forth below or for any other types of fire displays. A flame effect may include a local fuel source, a burner configured to receive a flammable fuel from the fuel source, a local power source, and a wireless communication module in electrical communication with the local power source. The location of one or more flame effects may be automatically determined, and may be used in creating a desired fire display.

A deployable vehicle window shield system is provided comprising an outer protective surface that is deployable over a transparent vehicle window and retained within the vehicle door. The system comprises a first and second window regulator, the first for the transparent vehicle glass and the second for the outer protective surface. The vehicle door comprises a first and second window track for supporting the glass interiorly with respect to the outer protective surface. The window regulator for the outer protective surface is controlled by the user via in-vehicle controls or by remote, wherein the regulator is functional only when the vehicle engine is stopped or the vehicle is in park, while the protective surfaces retract when the vehicle starts. This prevents activation of an opaque surface over the vehicle glass while the vehicle is in operation.

The present invention provides a practical and economical means of growing of kelp and other types of macroalgae in large quantities on and in the ocean. Through the use of catenary principles and innovative structural designs, efficient designs emerge that translate into lightweight and low-cost components. The novel design described allows cost-efficient macroalgae farming at scales and at depths unsuitable for present macroalgae farming techniques. The device and methods described present a means of farming these seaweeds for the purpose of providing food, chemical feed stocks, and a biomass suitable for the production of biofuels.

A solar concentrator, which is modular, durable, lightweight, and cost-efficient is described. The solar concentrator is constructed from a plurality of interconnected reflector panels that are secured to a contoured support frame assembly by means of an adjustable fastening mechanism. The reflector panels are preferably fabricated from a low-cost composite material and have an optically flat front surface. A specularly reflective front surface is formed on the reflector panel by deposition of a plurality of thin films which are highly reflective. Individual reflector panels can be interconnected and arranged into a two-dimensional grid having a predetermined degree of curvature by means of the contoured support frame assembly. Electromagnetic radiation incident upon the reflector panel arrangement is reflected to and concentrated upon a collector plate or receiving surface or receiver where it may be converted into a usable form of energy.

A sliding jump cup system allows for the efficient modification of jump heights comprises a sliding jump cup and a shaft that serves as a sliding support for the cup and that can be mounted onto an existing jump standard or which itself serves the purpose of a standard.

The present invention relates to EWI (email waiting indication) queries of a mail server (MS) in a packet-switched network (IPNET) via a PSTN terminal device (TEL). The subscriber to the EWI service requests EWI information by entering a service access code (SAC(E.164)) at the PSTN terminal device. The subscriber's input provides a trigger for the generation of an EWI request (rq(aid, E.164, iauth, adEWIS)) in an internode module (INM). The EWI request (rq(aid, E.164, iauth, adEWIS)) is dispatched to an application server (EWIS), adapted for transmission over the packet-switched network (IPNET) and processed by the application server (EWIS). Upon processing of the EWI request (rq(aid, E.164, iauth, adEWIS)) the application server (EWIS) directs an EWI query (qu(uid, PW, adMS, adEWIS)) to the mail server (MS). The present invention provides an EWI service that is largely independent of providers and network equipment, requires no add-ons at the endpoints, i.e. PSTN terminal device (TEL) and mail server (MS), and avoids multiple access interference.

Apparatus and methods for controlling the insertion of a membrane channel into a membrane are disclosed. In one arrangement a first bath holds a first liquid in contact with a first surface of a membrane. A second bath holds a second liquid in contact with a second surface of the membrane. The membrane separates the first and second liquids. A first electrode contacts the first liquid. A second electrode contacts the second liquid. A driving unit applies a potential difference across the membrane via the first and second electrodes to promote insertion of a membrane channel into the membrane from the first liquid or the second liquid. A membrane voltage reduction unit is connected in series with the membrane. The driving unit applies a driving voltage across the membrane voltage reduction unit and the membrane, the driving voltage providing the potential difference across the membrane. The membrane voltage reduction unit is configured such that a reduction in resistance through the membrane caused by insertion of a membrane channel intrinsically increases a potential difference across the membrane voltage reduction unit thereby lowering the potential difference across the membrane. The lowering of the potential difference across the membrane is sufficient to prevent or reduce promotion of insertion of a further membrane channel.

A modular node for an optical communication network includes one or more transceiver modules of a plurality of transceiver modules, and a node core including a plurality of electrical connectors to electrically join up to the plurality of transceiver modules to the node core. At least some of the transceiver modules has an optical transceiver configured to emit optical beams carrying data and without artificial confinement, and detect optical beams emitted and without artificial confinement. The up to the plurality of transceiver modules electrically joined to the node core are spatially separated to provide configurable coverage for optical communication based on their number and placement. And the node core further includes switching circuitry configured to connect the one or more transceiver modules to implement a redistribution point or a communication endpoint in the optical communication network.

A solar reflector assembly is provided for generating energy from solar radiation. The solar reflector assembly is configured to be deployed on a supporting body of liquid and to reflect solar radiation to a solar collector. The solar reflector assembly has an elongated tube having an inner portion to facilitate liquid ballast, made of semi-rigid material and a flat section built into a wall of the tube or attached to the wall of the tube. A reflective material attached to said flat section of the wall of the tube to reflect solar radiation. The elongated tube has an axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to a surface of a supporting body of liquid. The elongated tube may be elastically or plastically deformed by application of a torque along its length, so as to bring flat-surface normal vectors at each end of the tube largely into alignment with each other.