515results about How to "Reduce operating expenses" patented technology

A system is disposed at a location of a utility commodity subscriber for informing the subscriber of and controlling utility commodity usage. The system includes utility meters, an information and control apparatus, and a first and second data communication link. The meters measure usage and and generate usage signals. The information and control apparatus includes a microprocessor, a memory, a clock, and a user interface. The first data communication link is between the utility meters and the information and control apparatus and the second data communication link is between the information and control apparatus and one or more central locations. The second communication link also provides rate information to the information and control apparatus and utility commodity usage data to the central location. The microprocessor computes an accumulated cost of utility commodity for a predetermined period of time. Information related to the accumulated cost is output to the subscriber.

A system is disposed at a location of a utility commodity subscriber for informing the subscriber of utility commodity cost and usage and for controlling utility commodity usage. The system includes one or more utility meters, an information and control apparatus, a first data communication link, and a second data communication link. The one or more meters measure usage of one or more utility commodity and for generating one or more usage signals including a measurement of the subscriber's usage of the one or more utility commodities. The information and control apparatus includes a microprocessor, a memory, a clock, and a user interface, for inputting and outputting information. The first data communication link is between the one or more utility meters and the information and control apparatus and provides the one or more usage signals to said information and control apparatus for storage in the memory. The second data communication link is between the information and control apparatus and one or more central locations associated with the one or more utility commodity. The second communication link also provides rate information related to usage of the one or more utility commodity from the one or more central location to the information and control apparatus and provides utility commodity usage data from the information and control apparatus to the one or more central location. The microprocessor computes an accumulated cost of one or more utility commodity for a predetermined period of time according to the clock, the one or more usage signal, and the rate information. Information related to the accumulated cost is provided to the user interface for output to the subscriber.

A customer originated and directed dispatching system to provide direct coordination of requested service to service providers without the need for intermediary dispatching assistance. A database stores records each documenting needed services and customer and service provider profiles. Processing circuitry (which may be one or several networked computers) performs a dispatching process which reviews these records, locates records indicating a need for immediate service, locates the customer, identifies potential service responders, carries out an auction for the requested service and collects a list of potential service provides with their bids and profiles. The processing circuitry also performs a monitoring process which monitors service provider's activities by reviewing the records, and automatically obtained service provider's activity information, and records customer and service provider performance ratings to the database. Communications circuitry enables direct communication between the service provider and the customer as well as updates of the service provider's activity and review customer and service provider performance records.

Methods for system management and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes detecting, in the management system, a fault condition in a management system device during an analysis period. The method includes determining the duration of the fault condition in the management system device during the analysis period. The method includes determining a total duration of a system state during the analysis period in which the management system device could produce the fault condition. The method includes assigning a prioritization to the fault condition according to the duration of the fault condition and the total duration of the system state. The method includes storing the prioritization of the fault condition.

A data center cooling system includes a data center having electronic equipment that is supported in multiple racks; a cooling fluid source; multiple cooling units in the data center, where each cooling unit is configured to cool air warmed by a sub-set of the electronic equipment in the data center; multiple control valves, including a control valve associated with a particular cooling unit of the cooling units; and a controller arranged to modulate the control valve associated with a particular cooling unit, to open or close the control valve to substantially maintain an approach temperature set point of the particular cooling unit.

The invention discloses an industrial control identity authentication method and device with state cryptographic algorithms, and relates to the field of industrial control safety. The device is composed of an identity authentication authorization management server and a state cryptographic serial port identity authentication terminal, wherein the identity authentication authorization management server comprises a TCM security chip, an operating system, an identity authentication authorization management system, an industrial firewall, an outer network interface, an inner network interface and a BIOS, and the state cryptographic serial port identity authentication terminal comprises a CPU, a confidentiality memorizer and a chip operating system. The reliable operation of the identity authentication authorization management server, the authorization of different authority limits of a read-only access terminal, a configuration modification terminal and a safety management terminal and the authority limit achieving method of three kinds of state cryptographic serial port identity authentication terminals for accessing an industrial control system through an outer network are achieved through the combining application of the state cryptographic algorithms, SM1, SM2 and SM3. The method and device can effectively and strictly manage the boundary of the industrial control system and the outer network to meet the needs of the industrial control system safety of our country, and the method and device have the advantages of being safe and reliable, fast in promotion, easy and convenient to maintain, low in operating cost and universal in use.

A bandwidth allocation and management system for cellular communication networks. The system includes at least one master optical switch and processing station, a number of aggregation base stations that are in optical fiber communication with a master optical switching and processing station and a number of auxiliary cellular base stations surrounded by and supported by each aggregation base station. In preferred embodiments a plurality of sets of three neighboring base stations are each adapted to receive and process RF signals transmitted by cellular users within a broadcast and receive range and transmit the RF signals received, by each of the three neighborhood base stations, from each of the cellular users in analog form to the master optical switching and processing station. The master optical switching and processing station processes the three RF signals and combine, for each user within the broadcast and receive range, the three RF signals and to convert the combined RF signals to digital form for transmission to other users in the communication network.

A multiple contact electrical connector for interconnecting multiple power and / or communication transmission lines is provided. The invention is particularly useful in wet environments. The electrical connector includes male and female connector assemblies. A male pin assembly having a plurality of annular contacts is configured to repeatedly engage and disengage with a female socket assembly having a corresponding plurality of ring contact assemblies. Various exemplary embodiments further include retractable members deployed for sealingly isolating the annular contacts and the ring contact assemblies from fluids exterior to the male and female connector assemblies.

A failover procedure for a computer system includes steps for routing traffic from a routing device to a first server, storing in the routing device data representing a fingerprint of the first server, receiving periodically at the routing device a status message from the first server, detecting at the routing device an invalid status message from the first server by absence of the fingerprint in a status message from the first server within a predetermined time period after last receiving a valid status message, and routing the traffic from the routing device to a second server in response to detecting the invalid status message from the first server. A redundant server system implementing the failover procedure may include servers each capable of generating its fingerprint by reading current system configuration data.

A multiple contact electrical connector for interconnecting multiple power and / or communication transmission lines is provided. The invention is particularly useful in wet environments. The electrical connector includes male and female connector assemblies. A male pin assembly having a plurality of annular contacts is configured to repeatedly engage and disengage with a female socket assembly having a corresponding plurality of ring contact assemblies. Various exemplary embodiments further include retractable members deployed for sealingly isolating the annular contacts and the ring contact assemblies from fluids exterior to the male and female connector assemblies.

The invention relates to a coverage and capacity self-optimization device of a self-organization network in LTE / LTE-A and a method thereof. A fault detection unit monitors faults related to the coverage and the capacity in real time in a mobile communication network, a learning and matching unit learns and matches with history event knowledge, and wireless parameters are initially configured according to the most similar event. Then a parameter decision unit adjusts the initially configured wireless parameters on the premise of taking account of the mutual influence of different wireless configuration parameters, and a utility function is introduced to evaluate the efficiency of the self-optimization process to finally finish the utility maximization on the premise of comprehensively taking account of network / business and the requirements of operators, and realize the coverage and capacity automatic optimization of the self-organization network in the LTE / LTE-A. The invention has the advantages that the invention realizes the accurate position of fault sources and the correct decision by using the existing coverage and capacity self-optimization model, thereby achieving the target of coverage and capacity self-optimization.

A system for linearizing the output of a high power amplifier (HPA) designed to transmit an RF modulated signal includes in its transmit section a digital up-converter for processing baseband input signals and generating a desired digital RF waveform, T(s). The desired digital RF waveform T(s) is then fed to a digital predistorter circuit for producing a predistorted digital RF waveform P(s)T(s) which, as modified, may be applied via a high sampling speed high linearity digital to analog converter to the high power amplifier (HPA) to produce an output signal which is a linear function of the baseband input signal. The digital predistorter circuit may be of the adaptive type or of the predictive type. Circuits embodying the invention may include encoding circuitry for converting multi-bit signals to a serial stream of single-bit pulses for enabling simplification in the digital to analog conversion. In accordance with the invention, corrections for non-linearity of the HPA may be made directly on the RF waveform using ultra-high speed superconducting electronics (SCE) and decreasing the time delay between sensing a transmitted signal and generating a correcting (linearizing) signal.

A process for upgrading whole crude oil utilizing a recovery fluid, depressurizing an extracted whole crude oil / recovery fluid mixture in a step-wise fashion, and subsequently contacting at least a portion of the whole crude oil with supercritical water fluid to produce high value crude oil having low sulfur, low nitrogen, and low metallic impurities for use as hydrocarbon feedstock.

The invention relates to a tool used in an insulation brick manufacturing process, in particular to a production line for self-insulation building blocks, which comprises a stirring machine. The production line is characterized in that automatic metering devices are arranged on a feeding port and at the bottom of the stirring machine, a production track capable of automatically conveying molds isdisposed below a distributing port of the stirring machine, a stripper is further arranged on the production track and is spaced from the stirring machine by a proper distance, a return track and a track leading into a maintenance area are respectively disposed on two sides of the other end of the stripper, the return track sequentially penetrates through a cleaning area, an oil injection area and a core setting area, a link plate machine is arranged at the other end of the maintenance area, and a manipulator is disposed at the other end of the link plate machine. The production line is high in production efficiency and annual yield, occupied land area and workshop investment are reduced, operating expense is saved, and the production line can operate continuously.

The invention relates to an intelligent warehousing management system and management method of RFID. Electronic tags are allocated after goods are qualified through quality inspection and checked andaccepted, and the electronic tags are bound with goods information; a to-be-processed warehouse-in bill is viewed by a reader-writer, the electronic tags on the goods are scanned, the goods are storedin designated warehouse locations, and goods images are shot when the goods tags are scanned by the reader-writer; and a large image containing personnel, the goods and goods locations is captured byvideo equipment after confirmation of the management system. According to the intelligent warehousing management system and management method of RFID of the invention, highly intelligent and digitalmanagement of warehousing is realized, storage states of the goods are also monitored in real time, a scene in error occurrence can be traced in error occurrence, responsibility division and further perfection of warehousing management are facilitated, existing ERP, financial software and e-commerce shipment platforms can be connected in a butt-joint manner if necessary, integrated management of goods storage, circulation and financial-settlement is realized, and real-time data counting is carried out.

A luminaire comprising a light transmissive optical element, a plurality of light sources, a light source support structure, and a light reflective surface. The light transmissive optical element, which preferably is a quasi-toroidal light transforming collector, is spaced from and disposed about an axis. The plural light sources are disposed radially outwardly of the optical element relative to the axis, to produce a corresponding plurality of light beams. Each light source directs its light beam toward the optical element. The optical element is shaped and adapted to collect and transform the light beams and pass them in the direction of the axis. The light reflective surface, which preferably is a curved conical collimating combiner, is spaced from the optical element, and is disposed along the axis. The light reflective surface is optically shaped to redirect along the axis and combine the plurality of light beams passed by the optical element to produce a collimated beam of light from the re-directed plurality of light beams.

A process for the extraction and recovery of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons (C2+) from LNG. The process covered by this patent maximizes the utilization of the beneficial cryogenic thermal properties of the LNG to extract and recover C2+ form the LNG using a unique arrangement of heat exchange equipment, a cryogenic fractionation column and processing parameters that essentially eliminates (or greatly reduces) the need for gas compression equipment minimizing capital cost, fuel consumption and electrical power requirements.This invention may be used for one or more of the following purposes:to condition LNG so that send-out gas delivered from an LNG receiving and regasification terminal meets commercial natural gas quality specifications;to condition LNG to make Lean LNG that meets fuel quality specifications and standards required by LNG powered vehicles and other LNG fueled equipment;to condition LNG to make Lean LNG so that it can be used to make CNG meeting specifications and standards for commercial CNG fuel;to recover ethane, propane and / or other hydrocarbons heavier then methane from LNG for revenue enhancement, profit or other commercial reasons.

A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.

A computer-based system and method for resolving disputes between a customer and an electronic payment provider concerning an electronic transaction between the customer and a merchant, including receiving data related to the transaction in a computer; transmitting the data from the computer to a dispute resolution server; comparing the transaction data to predetermined eligibility criteria for dispute resolution in the dispute resolution server, and if the dispute resolution criteria is met, declining future transactions from the merchant for the disputing consumer; and, comparing the transaction data to predetermined eligibility criteria for transaction credit, and if the credit criteria is met, and transmitting a credit instruction for the transaction.

Disclosed is a process for the upgrading of heavy oils and bitumens, where the total feed to the process can include heavy oil or bitumen, water, and diluent. The process can include the steps of solvent deasphalting 110 the total feed 105 to recover an asphaltene fraction 116, a deasphalted oil fraction 118 essentially free of asphaltenes, a water fraction 112, and a solvent fraction 114. The process allows removal of salts from the heavy oils and bitumens either into the aqueous products or with the asphaltene product.

The invention relates to a method for achieving public wifi authentication through WeChat. The method comprises the steps that a, a user has access to a WIFI router for the first time and is intercepted after trying having access to a network; b, the WIFI router applies to a RADIUS server for authentication through an MAC address and is refused due to the absence of records; c, a WEB page reminds the user that the user can have access to the network only after following a WeChat public ID; d, after the user follows the public account, a WeChat API server records the ID and automatically sends a 'network access' link address, and the router sends the MAC address to the server at the same time; e, the user will access the server after clicking on the 'network access' link address in an AP network, and the server collects WeChat ID information and MAC address information and writes the WeChat ID information and the MAC address information into a database; f, the user tries accessing the webpage again, and the WIFI router applies to the server for the authentication; g, the server queries whether the MAC address exists by matching, the current interface returns and the router passes the authentication if the MAC address exists, and the user can have access to the outer network normally.

The invention discloses a method for simultaneously desulfurizing, denitrating and purifying flue gas and belongs to the field of flue gas purification. The method comprises the following steps: spraying the flue gas at the temperature of 50-90 DEG C by using ammonia absorption liquid to obtain a solution, and aerating and oxidizing the solution to obtain an ammonium sulfate solution; exchanging heat between the obtained flue gas and the original flue gas, heating to 120-350 DEG C, and supplementing ammonium hydroxide; converting NO and NO2 in the flue gas into N2 by addition or non-addition of an activated carbon material of a catalyst; performing reaction on the remaining SO2, ammonia and water vapor to generate ammonium sulfate; adsorbing mercury, dioxin, furan, a volatile organic compound, ammonia sol and other trace toxic substances by activated carbon; and regenerating the activated carbon after absorption and adsorption by using washing and heating methods. The method has the advantages that the process is simple and convenient, and the desulfurizing and denitrating efficiency is high; various toxic substances and fine particles in the flue gas can be adsorbed, a good prevention effect on PM2.5 pollution of industrial flue gas is achieved, ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate fertilizer byproducts are obtained, and resources can be recycled. The method can be applied to purification of sulfur-containing and nitrate-containing flue gas in the fields of boilers, metallurgy, chemical industry, thermoelectricity and garbage incineration power generation.

A method comprises an operation for facilitating authentication of a client device attempting to connect to a port of a network element. Facilitating authentication includes determining whether the client device is configured for being authenticated using a first authentication mechanism and, in response to determining that the client device is not configured for being authenticated using the first authentication mechanism, determining whether the client device is configured for being authenticated using at least one other authentication mechanism. For each one of the authentication mechanisms, an operation is provided for providing the client device with network connectivity dependent upon a respective first classification policy structure in response to the client device being successfully authenticated and an operation is provided for providing the client device with network connectivity dependent upon a respective second classification policy structure different that the first classification policy structure in response to the client device failing to be successfully authenticated.

A process for the extraction and recovery of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons (C2+) from LNG. The process covered by this patent maximizes the utilization of the beneficial cryogenic thermal properties of the LNG to extract and recover C2+ form the LNG using a unique arrangement of heat exchange equipment, a cryogenic fractionation column and processing parameters that essentially eliminates (or greatly reduces) the need for gas compression equipment minimizing capital cost, fuel consumption and electrical power requirements. This invention may be used for one or more of the following purposes: to condition LNG so that send-out gas delivered from an LNG receiving and regasification terminal meets commercial natural gas quality specifications; to condition LNG to make Lean LNG that meets fuel quality specifications and standards required by LNG powered vehicles and other LNG fueled equipment; to condition LNG to make Lean LNG so that it can be used to make CNG meeting specifications and standards for commercial CNG fuel; to recover ethane, propane and / or other hydrocarbons heavier then methane from LNG for revenue enhancement, profit or other commercial reasons.

The invention discloses a distributed type power supply zone branch circuit three-phase load current balance monitoring method and device and belongs to the field of power supply and distribution devices. At least one three-phase load current balance main controller is arranged, load current signals of each phase circuit in each branch loop are collected, according to the obtained load current signals of each phase circuit, the three-phase current unbalance rate or the mean value of the three-phase current unbalance rate of each branch loop is computed, and the unbalance situation of three-phase load current of each branch loop is judged. The magnitude of load current in each unit meter box of each branch loop is collected, and the phase of unit meter box load which needs to be adjusted is determined. According to the three-phase load current unbalance situation of a certain branch, a control instruction is issued to an automatic phase-changing switch in a unit meter box corresponding to the branch loop, converting of load phases is carried out, adjusting of three-phase load current balance of each branch loop on the low-voltage side of a distribution transformer is achieved, and the real balance of distribution transformer low-voltage side main loop three-phase load current is guaranteed.

The present invention is directed to incrementing a well service rig in such a manner that activity-based and / or time-based data for the well site is recorded. The acquired data can be transmitted via wired, wireless, satellite or physical to a data center preferably controlled by the work-over rig owner, but alternately controlled by the well owner or another. The data can thereafter be used to provide the customer a detailed invoice or a searchable, secure web-based database. With such information, the customer can schedule other services at the well site. Further, the customer will have access to detailed data on the actual service performed. The present invention fosters a synergistic relationship among the customer and the service companies that promotes a safe environment by monitoring crew work activities and equipment speeds; improving productivity; reducing operation expenses through improved job processes; and better data management and reduced operational failures.

A deck of cards have conventional markings and at least some of the cards carry symbols associated with events in an independent game of chance.

A system and method for theft recovery, data recovery, and privacy protection for portable devices with IP connectivity is implemented either according to a peer-to-peer or client-server model, with a serverless or a server-based infrastructure. In the P2P model, a distributed hash table (DHT) algorithm is used for storing and retrieving the device IP addresses and the device location coordinates when available. An authorized user can set a protected device into a locked mode or the device automatically enters into a locked mode after the device has been operated without proper authorization. In a locked mode, private data is deleted, transferred to a pre-selected storage system, alerts and location coordinates, when available, are to be sent to preselected accounts. Data on a lost portable device can be synchronized with a pre-selected storage system and be restored when the lost device is recovered.

An IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) network includes a plurality of network elements that are interconnected for directly or indirectly communicating with one another. One of the network elements houses (or embodies) a consolidated subscriber database. The consolidate subscriber database is the only data storage entity in the IMS network for non-transitory storage of consolidated user data (that is, data relating to multiple user), for purposes of carrying out the core communication functions of the network. The user data is data relating to subscribers (e.g., end users) and subscriber services in the IMS network, such as user profile data and data relating to supplementary user services, e.g., call forwarding, call waiting, and the like. The consolidated database replaces the multiple database typically present in an IMS network, thereby lowering operational expenditures and simplifying data management operations.

Information presented as images at a display are provided by a panel self-refresh module of the display instead of a graphics system, with the panel self-refresh module using a reduced refresh rate of the image to reduce power consumption. During a panel self-refresh mode, brightness of an image presented at the display is managed locally at the display to support power down of a graphics system interfaced with the display.