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Patent US20030041107 - Method and apparatus for community network communication - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA community network includes a central server and member systems. The member systems negotiate with one another to establish agreements with regards to the distribution of messages between the member systems. The central server transmits messages that are defined in the agreements between the member...http://www.google.com/patents/US20030041107?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20030041107 - Method and apparatus for community network communicationAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20030041107 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 09/360,282Publication dateFeb 27, 2003Filing dateJul 22, 1999Priority dateJul 22, 1999Publication number09360282, 360282, US 2003/0041107 A1, US 2003/041107 A1, US 20030041107 A1, US 20030041107A1, US 2003041107 A1, US 2003041107A1, US-A1-20030041107, US-A1-2003041107, US2003/0041107A1, US2003/041107A1, US20030041107 A1, US20030041107A1, US2003041107 A1, US2003041107A1InventorsDouglas O. Blattner, Meera M. Blattner, Minao KamegaiOriginal AssigneeDouglas O. Blattner, Meera M. Blattner, Minao KamegaiExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (28), Classifications (18), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod and apparatus for community network communication
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement of a community network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0018] [0018]FIG. 2A illustrates the general steps taken by a member system in proposing a message exchange between the member system and a target member system in one embodiment of the present invention; [0019] [0019]FIG. 2B illustrates the general steps in one embodiment of the present invention performed to process an offer for a message exchange; [0020] [0020]FIG. 3 illustrates a login screen of a message brokering server interface; [0021] [0021]FIG. 4A illustrates a message exchange offer creation screen; [0022] [0022]FIG. 4B illustrates a target member selection screen; [0023] [0023]FIG. 5 illustrates a message exchange offer lookup screen; [0024] [0024]FIG. 6A illustrates a message exchange offer management screen; [0025] [0025]FIG. 6B illustrates a second embodiment of a message exchange management screen; [0026] [0026]FIG. 7 illustrates a message request screen; [0027] [0027]FIG. 8 illustrates a message publication request acceptance screen; [0028] [0028]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the software architecture of the Satellite Control Systems including data flow paths within the Community Connector, and among a Home Automation Control System, a Community Connector and an Operating System. [0029] [0029]FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating connectivity and data flow paths of the Central Community System in one embodiment of the present invention. [0030] [0030]FIG. 11 illustrates an example Message Exchange Look-up Table. [0031] [0031]FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative arrangement of the modules of a member system; [0032] [0032]FIG. 13 illustrates the steps taken by a member system in providing events to the SynapServer and receiving events from the SynapServer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; [0033] [0033]FIG. 14 illustrates the steps taken by the SynapServer in processing event data received from member systems; and [0034] [0034]FIG. 15 illustrates steps performed by a target member or object in receiving and responding to event-based data.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0035] A computer network in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to an embodiment of a computer network and an arrangement with member systems and a central server. The operation from the point of view of a user of the system will first be described with reference to screens comprising a user interface of a computer network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The structure of a computer network will then be described with reference to figures illustrating one arrangement of a central server and member systems in a network. Finally, the operation of the modules of the computer network of the present invention will be described with reference to illustrations of the arrangement and operation of those modules. [0036] I. Definitions Applicable to a Preferred Embodiment of the Present Invention [0037] 1. Exchange Contract—a data distribution agreement between at least two member systems. The exchange contract authorizes the exchange of data between an offering member system and an accepting member system. [0038] 2. Object—a device that is associated with a system. Any module or component that is capable of providing or responding to data, including events or assertions, over the network may be considered an object. Examples include home automation systems and their subsystems such as alarms, lights, appliances, swimming pool pumps and heaters, sprinklers, garage doors and electricity, gas and water use meters, hospital systems, law enforcement systems, fire department systems, telephone systems, television and cable systems, data communication systems, water and sewer systems, gas and electric systems, security gates, and street lights and lamp posts. [0039] 3. Property—an identifier that is part of an object. A property is used to identify data that is associated with the object. [0040] 4. Event—data generated by a change in state of an object. [0041] 5. Message—any transmission of data including an exchange contract offer, an exchange contract acceptance, an e-mail notification, a stream of data, etc. [0042] 6. Bulletin Item—a term used to refer to a set of properties for an object. [0043] 7. CivicServer—a server that facilitates the negotiation of exchange contracts. The CivicServer allows member systems and objects to create and manage exchange contracts. [0044] 8. SynapServer—a server that facilitates the transmission of data between member systems and objects in accordance with exchange contracts. [0045] 9. Member Systems—individual community members, including, but not limited to, Satellite Control Systems. [0046] 10. Community Connector—an element of a member system, which facilitates a secure authenticated communication between the member system and the SynapServer. [0047] 11. Information Provider—a kind of member system supplying data made available to member systems. [0048] 12. Information Consumer—a kind of member system requesting data from member systems. [0049] 13. Service Agent—a kind of member system that responds to data from a member system to provide services. [0050] 14. Module—As used herein, the word module, whether in upper or lower case letters, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, possibly having entry and exit points, written in a programming language, such as, for example, C++. A software module may be compiled and linked into an executable program, or installed in a dynamic link library, or may be written in an interpretive language such as BASIC. It will be appreciated that software modules may be callable from other modules, and/or may be invoked in response to detected events or interrupts. Software instructions may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be further appreciated that hardware modules may be comprised of connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and/or may be comprised of programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays. The modules described herein are preferably implemented as software modules, but could be represented in hardware or firmware. [0051] II. Operation [0052] The operation of the present invention will now be described with reference to an example scenario of a user creating an offer for an exchange contract and a second user taking steps to accept an exchange contract. Additionally, the steps taken in accepting exchange contracts and offering exchange contracts to information suppliers and information providers, respectively, will be described. [0053] The illustrated system facilitates the creation of exchange contracts that result in a mapping of an entire set of properties from a first object to a second object. Nonetheless, the illustrated system can be extended to a system that selectively maps properties of a first object to properties of a second object. The mapping of data from select properties can be accomplished by providing a further level of selection to a user that is generating an exchange contract offer as described below. [0054] In coming years, increasing numbers of homes will have some form of intelligence such as that which is provided today by home automation systems. Therefore, there will be a need to broker communications between homes to allow the intelligence in the various homes to provide some collaborative value. For example, when an alarm system in one house is triggered, great value may be derived by transmitting a message to the four homes around the house plus notifying the central station. For various reasons and in response to a variety of events, vast arrays of objects may generate and respond to community conditions, whether intruder-based, media-based or health-related or based on weather patterns or other conditions. [0055] The community network of the present invention is focused on physical communities. The description below is in the context of a master planned community. Nevertheless, the description is equally applicable to any community, which may be a virtual community. [0056] As an illustration of the application of the system, consider a first home and a second home. Both homes have home information systems of some form. The community network provides a service to these systems by allowing the systems to communicate data between objects of the systems. For example, an alarm system may be an object of a home information system. The alarm system includes properties such as an “intruder” property. The “intruder” property may have a data value of “true” when an intruder is detected, and a data value of “false” otherwise. The owner of a first home may wish, if the alarm system in the first home goes off, to notify a second home, but not a third one. If a member wants the data from the alarm system to go to the homes on either side, the system can be used to facilitate the establishment of such agreement. [0057] It is important to note that a negotiation takes place between the member systems and/or objects to obtain authorization. It is also important that a trusted third party arbitrates the negotiation because the third party may potentially have visibility into all member systems. [0058] Two homes might be neighbors with automation systems capable of processing many types of events, but they may want to exchange and respond to only one key piece of data. For example, the two homes may only want to exchange a data value associated with an “intruder” signal, which may be generated when the alarm system of one of the homes is triggered. [0059] The system of the present invention provides a network of individual community members and objects linked to neighbor members and objects and other community members and objects via the community network. After establishing agreements between members, the SynapServer provides data, not only to the appropriate service agents, but also to other member systems and objects, to bring an unprecedented and advantageous level of cooperation to and throughout the community. [0060] For example, when a medical emergency is signaled by a community member, the response by the SynapServer may be to notify an appropriate emergency service, and simultaneously alert the community member's neighbors (who agreed to be so notified) to come to the aid of the member requesting help. The response time of the emergency service could be 10 to 15 minutes while the immediate neighbors can respond in one or two minutes. Under some circumstances, this may make the difference between life and death. Such a system expedites services and hence improves the quality of life in the community. [0061] The community network can provide for an indirect mapping of properties such that data from a first kind of object can be used by a second kind of object. For example, when a member sees a prowler going into another member's house the member may want to turn the other member's lights on. If the second member has agreed that the first member is permitted to take this action, the lights can be turned on by delivering the appropriate data from the first member system. For example, the first member can have a control panel on the wall with a special button labeled “lights in second member house.” The button press provides a data value to the SynapServer that is transformed to a data value, which the SynapServer transmits to the second member system, that has the effect of turning the lights on in the second member home. As a second example, indirect mapping may be provided when data from a device such as a thermostat is converted from Fahrenheit to Celsius when it is transmitted to a target thermostat that used Celsius scale data. [0062] [0062]FIG. 1 illustrates a general block diagram of the community network 102, linking together, via a central server 300, a plurality of member systems 201, 201A which include individual community members 201 (home/office) as well as service agents, retail businesses, emergency services, and other objects 201A. The central server 300 includes a data transmission module 103, a negotiation module 104, and a distribution module 102. [0063] The negotiation module 104 facilitates the negotiation of exchange contracts between member systems. The data transmission module 103 facilitates the transmission of data between member systems. The distribution module 102 is used to store exchange contract information. In a preferred embodiment, the negotiation module 104 is a CivicServer and the data transmission module 103 is a SynapServer which uses distribution data maintained by the distribution module 102. Data is transmitted through secure authenticated communication as described in greater detail below. The confidence and the trust in the SynapServer is a significant factor in acceptance of the system of the present invention on a large scale. [0064] With the architecture of the system, each member system need only have confidence in the SynapServer and in its ability to accurately and reliably deliver messages to other users in a confidential manner. The central community system is designed to allow a designated user for a given member system to “publish” that certain object data is available and direct the data to a specific destination system or systems. The object data may correspond to an event or assertion representing a state of a member system, subsystem or object. The designated user (or an object itself) for the destination system must first “approve” the proposed transfer before the SynapServer actually transfers data between the source and destination member systems. Any party to a communication may prevent the transfer by “revoking” permission to accept particular messages. The approval of the designated user of the target system creates an exchange contract. The exchange contract is created when an offer from one member is approved, or accepted, by the target member or proposed destination system. The process of creating offers for exchange contracts and updating the status of pending offers is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. [0065] In brief, the process starts when a member logs into a main system over a network, such as the Internet, and identifies himself or herself with a user name and password. The system maintains a database corresponding to the objects and events that are available in the user's local environment. The user is provided with a list of objects. It will be appreciated that, while, for simplicity of explanation, the embodiments discussed below identify objects that are selectable by a user, the present invention contemplates that users will select not only objects, but also properties of objects and potentially data values or ranges of properties. For example, a user may select a thermostat object and base an exchange contract on an event associated with the thermostat object. However, the present invention also contemplates that a user may alternatively base an exchange contract on a single property of the thermostat object such as a temperature property or a fan motor property or a cooling set point property. Furthermore, the present invention further contemplates that a user may base an exchange contract on particular data values or ranges associated with any one of those properties. [0066] The user then selects one of the objects, and selects community members from a list of community members. The system then notifies the identified community members of a pending offer of an exchange contract. When the identified members receive the notification, they log onto the system and either accept or reject the proposed exchange contract. If the identified members accept the offer, an exchange contract has been made. The central system will thereafter, in a reliable, authenticated and secure manner, transmit the assertion or event to each identified member each time it is notified of the assertion or event by the user member's local system. [0067] [0067]FIG. 2A illustrates the process of creating an offer for an exchange contract. In a first step 630, the user of the member system (“user”) first logs into a CivicServer to create an offer. The CivicServer facilitates negotiations of exchange contracts. The user directs the system to an offer creation page, which allows the user to create an offer for an exchange contract. The user selects an object which, from time-to-time, may generate an event in response to which data may advantageously be provided to target systems. The object is selected from a list of available objects which may, for example, correspond to event generating objects associated with the user's home automation system. [0068] The user also selects a target member system to which an offer will be transmitted. Thus, in a next step 632, the CivicServer responsively provides information to the user corresponding to identities of other member users. The target member system is selected from a list of members. The member list can be provided, for example, by an expandable tree view such as that used for file management in the Windows operating system. The expandable tree view may include member systems that are sorted according to geographic location and/or arranged in a hierarchical manner such that, for example, all members in a certain state collapse to a single branch, and all members in a certain city collapse to a single branch. [0069] Once a target member system is selected, the system prompts the member to enter a description for the object. In this manner, the recipients of the message are not provided with the direct object identifier, but are only provided with the description that the member desires to provide to the target members, a description which preferably describes the nature of the assertion offered. Masking the object identifier advantageously provides for a high level of member privacy. [0070] When the user is satisfied with the selection made, then in a step 634, the event and member data are transmitted to the CivicServer. The process of creating the offer for the exchange contract is complete and notifications regarding the exchange contract offer are sent to each of the target systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, the CivicServer generates e-mail messages to notify target members. To do this, the CivicServer maintains a table associating e-mail addresses with member identification valves. [0071] [0071]FIG. 2B illustrates the steps performed by a target member system to receive and respond to an offer for an exchange contract. In a first step 636, the target user views or browses the proposed exchange contracts by logging into the CivicServer. [0072] In a next step 638, the target member selects one of possibly many pending exchange contract offers and decides whether to accept or reject the selected offer. In one embodiment, offers are time limited, wherein an offer expires a predetermined time after the offer was extended. When a target member rejects an offer, a message may be automatically sent to the proposing party, such as, for example, by e-mail, notifying the party that the offer has been rejected. When a target member accepts an offer, a message is advantageously automatically sent to the proposing party notifying the proposing party that the offer has been accepted. An accepted exchange contract offer creates a new exchange contract. The exchange contract information is sent from the CivicServer to the SynapServer. The SynapServer then facilitates the delivery of data between member systems in accordance with existing exchange contracts. [0073] FIGS. 3-8 illustrate screens of an Internet-based implementation of a CivicServer. The CivicServer of FIGS. 3-8 is used to facilitate the negotiation of exchange contracts for linking objects of member systems. Nonetheless, the CivicServer can facilitate the negotiation of other kinds of exchange contracts such as those providing dynamic data from a property of a source object to a second property of a target object. [0074] [0074]FIG. 3 illustrates a log-in screen of the CivicServer of the present invention. The CivicServer facilitates the creation of exchange contract offers and exchange contract management by users of the system. The login screen includes a dropdown box 30 for a development identification, a dropdown box 32 for a community identification, and a pair of entry boxes 34, 36 for a login name and a password, respectively. The user selects the proper development and community from the dropdown boxes. The user enters his login name and password and clicks on the login control button 38. [0075] After the login procedure, the user is presented with a menu that includes several options. One of the options is to create a new exchange contract. The system first provides a user with a screen that is illustrated by FIG. 4A to create an exchange contract. The screen of FIG. 4A includes a first field for a bulletin item identification and a second field for a target identification. The bulletin item identification field includes a dropdown box 40 with event identifiers and a public item name entry box 42 to publicly identify the object that is selected from the dropdown box 40. The user uses the object dropdown box to select from the objects that are available on the user system such as, for example, the alarm system. The user enters the name for the object that the user wishes to provide in the exchange contract offer. The identity of the target member system to which the data is sent in response to the event is selected from either a personal group or a particular user identifier. The user clicks in the personal group box 44 to select a personal group that has been previously created. It should be noted that, when a personal group is selected, multiple exchange contracts are generated, one for each member in the group. The user can also click on a people box 46 to select individual members from a tree type selection interface that is provided by the system (not shown). [0076] [0076]FIG. 4B illustrates a target member selection screen of the CivicServer. The target member selection screen includes a first selection box 107 for a member system development or region. A second selection box 109 provides for a selection of a development community from within the development that was selected in the first selection box 107. The selection of a target member system can also be made from a screen that provides the member systems in a hierarchical manner. [0077] [0077]FIG. 5 illustrates a screen that is returned to a user in response to a request for viewing pending offers for an exchange contract. The screen of the CivicServer includes a bulletin direction column 52, a user at other end column 54, a bulletin item name column 56, and a new status column 62. [0078] The bulletin direction column 52 identifies the direction to which the exchange contract offer has been sent. Exchange contract offers that are received for the particular user are considered in-bound exchange contract offers and exchange contract offers that are submitted by the particular user are considered out-bound exchange contract offers. The user at the other end column 54 identifies the user that either has sent the exchange contract offer or is the target of an exchange contract offer. The bulletin item name column 56 identifies both the external and internal names that were specified in the exchange contract offer as discussed with reference to FIG. 4A. The new status column 62 allows the user to select a new status for the exchange contract offer, either deleting an exchange contract that has been accepted by a second party, or rejecting an exchange contract offer that has been received for the particular user. [0079] [0079]FIG. 6A illustrates an alternative arrangement for displaying information regarding exchange contract offers. The screen that is provided in FIG. 6A includes a bulletin publisher column 68, a bulletin name column 70, a status column 72, a when published column 74, and a last activity column 76. The bulletin publisher column 68 identifies the party that has sent the exchange contract offer. The bulletin name column identifies the object name that was provided to the public. The status column identifies the current status of the exchange contract offer and an action that may be taken by the user with regard to the particular exchange contract. The actions taken by the user can be selected from a selection box 78 which provides for a “do nothing” action, an “accept” action, and a “reject” action. The when published column 74 provides information as to the date that the exchange contract offer was sent or received. The last activity column 76 identifies the last action that was taken with regard to the particular exchange contract offer. [0080] [0080]FIG. 6B illustrates an alternate screen that is provided in response to a user request for changing the status of an exchange contract offer. The screen includes a table with a published by column 82, a bulletin item column 84, a status column 90, a when published column 94, and a last activity column 96. The columns of FIG. 6B correspond to the same information as the columns of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B further allows for greater freedom when the user modifies the information with regard to the exchange contract offer, such as by providing a box related to the last activity which allows the user to specify a future activity as well as a past activity. [0081] A user that has received an exchange contract offer such as those that can be browsed by the screens provided in FIGS. 6A and 6B can select to either accept or reject a particular offer. When an offer is accepted by the user, the exchange contract becomes an active exchange contract and is transmitted to the SynapServer which manages exchange contracts. The particular operation of the SynapServer is discussed below with reference to FIG. 14. From the user perspective, it is important to note that once an exchange contract has been accepted, the exchange contract becomes operative. Thereafter, an event or assertion transmitted from a member system causes data to be transmitted to the target member(s) specified in the exchange contract. [0082] In one embodiment, member systems may indicate that they will always accept exchange contracts of particular categories. The CivicServer in this embodiment maintains common categories of objects or properties, such as, for example, a security category, or a medical emergency category. Identities of the members who have provided such indications of standing acceptances are maintained by the CivicServer in a standing acceptance list, along with the categories they identified. When a user creates an exchange contract, the user can optionally select one of the common categories within which to include the exchange contract. When the user submits the exchange contract for acceptances by the target members, the CivicServer searches for all members who have previously agreed to accept exchange contracts in the particular standard category and automatically creates exchange contracts for each of them, and transfers the exchange contract information to the SynapServer. [0083] Exchange contracts can always be suspended or revoked in accordance with the user's wishes. An exchange contract can be suspended or revoked by any one of the parties to the particular exchange contract. [0084] After exchange contracts are created, either party can put an exchange contract on hold. For example, if a member is going on vacation, the member may want to alter event notifications, and can advantageously put one or more exchange contracts on hold without invalidating the exchange contract. [0085] To facilitate suspend or revoke functions, a screen of the SynapServer (not shown) offers a user with an exchange contract browse window by which the user may review all of his or her existing exchange contracts and select one. A user may then select a suspend option, whereupon the user is prompted to specify whether the suspension is indefinite or will end upon an entered date. If the user selects an indefinite suspension, then the SynapServer maintains a status variable for the selected exchange contract which indicates that the exchange contract is inactive. The SynapServer will maintain that status until the user again accesses this screen, and selects a make active option, whereupon the SynapServer again maintains the status of the exchange contract as active. If the user specifies a date upon which the suspension will expire, then the SynapServer posts a change status event comprising instruction which will execute on the specified date and cause the status of the suspended exchange contract to again become active. It will be appreciated that specifying a date to terminate a suspension effectively places the exchange contract on hold. If the user selects the revoke exchange contract option, the user is prompted with a message asking whether the user is sure that that step should be taken, and if the user confirms the revocation request, then the SynapServer will delete the selected exchange contract from the system. [0086] Member systems are provided with a separate set of screens when creating exchange contracts with information consumers and information providers such as Nevada Power (or other utility supplier), e-tack, weather, etc. Information consumers, such as Nevada Power, may wish to read electric meters. Information providers, such as weather, may provide members with useful information. A member can advantageously provide a list of information consumers that it wants to make information available to, and thus at his sole discretion, create an exchange contract. Alternatively, the member can choose from a list of information providers to receive certain information. [0087] The CivicServer allows the user to create an exchange contract with an information provider or an information consumer. FIG. 7 illustrates a screen that is provided in response to a user request to create an exchange contract with an information provider. A list of available information 101 is provided on one side of the screen. Control boxes labeled “next” and “reset” 103, 105 are provided to the right of the information selection box 101. When a user selects data to receive from an information provider, the exchange contract is automatically created between the user and the information provider. The information provider does not have to agree to the exchange contract. Once information is selected from the list 101, and once the user has identified a target object or a property thereof, the member system starts receiving the data when it becomes available. [0088] [0088]FIG. 8 illustrates an information provision screen. A user can use the screen to specify information to provide an information consumer. The screen includes a drop down selection box 114 to select the internal object and a text box 115 with which to assign a public name to that object. The screen further includes a selection box 117 to select an information consumer from a list of information consumers that may be interested in obtaining information from member systems. The member thereby specifies the object, provides a public name for the object, and then selects an information consumer such as an electrical utility that will receive data. When the user clicks on a confirm control button 119, the exchange contract is automatically created and data, when available, are sent to the information consumer from the particular object chosen. [0089] Another aspect of the community network is its ability to upload messages and system information. Because member systems make available their associated properties, the community connector may access the property data and upload it into a database at the SynapServer which is specific to the member system. Currently, the uploads from the member systems take place every time the member system community connector starts, or every time the environment changes. Alternatively, the uploads can take place periodically in accordance with a predetermined parameter. Either way, the system advantageously maintains a database that is up to date regarding objects available at member systems. Because the SynapServer has available information regarding a member system's properties, a member may log in over the Internet, or other network, select one of those properties and propose an exchange contract to one or more members. Advantageously, the SnyapServer scans a list of all target members designated to receive data upon a particular assertion or event and ensures that no target member receives data multiple times for the same event or assertion. [0090] Sample Scenarios [0091] As an example, Nevada Power may be a consumer of information when trying to read the power meters of member homes. The power company may offer a discount to customers that allow for the remote reading. The company is thus allowed to read the individual meters regardless of the transport mechanism. In this particular example, the SynapServer is used to transmit data from one object of a member system to a second object of a member system. The power company may wish to receive the data from several properties of a power meter. A single exchange contract can be created to transmit selective properties to the power company. [0092] An example of an information provider may be an Internet weather feed like the weather underground. The SynapServer takes the information from the service, such as the probability of precipitation and the projected temperature, and makes it available to the automation system at member homes. A member's home may respond to the message by, for example, changing the lawn watering schedule. Also, the local park authority or a golf course can change watering schedules. [0093] Another example of an information provider is E-tack, which provides traffic information to most of the news services and to communication devices such as the palm pilot. If a home automation system receives traffic information and maintains data regarding the route that the member takes to work, the member can manage time better. For example, with this information, the home automation system can activate a wake-up alarm early and suggest an alternate route. [0094] A system that allows for selective messaging between member systems can also be used to provide services such as “load shaping” and “load clipping” functions for local power companies. The load shaping function allows participating member systems to alter utilization to smooth out load on the power grid. In load shaping, participating member systems could smooth out projected power load in advance by, for example, turning on air conditioners early in the morning of a hot day, permitting a shut down of air conditioners during a peak consumption period later on in the day with minimal discomfort to the end users. Load clipping is an interactive function initiated by a power company to reduce the current load on the power grid. In the present embodiment, member systems that agree to receive the load clipping messages, in response to a load clipping request, may shut off certain high load devices (such as air conditioners) in order to instantaneously reduce the load a given community places on the power grid. [0095] III. System Architecture [0096] [0096]FIG. 9 illustrates the basic elements of a Satellite Control System 201 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Three subsystems make up each member system 201, a home automation control system 204, a community connector 211, and an operating system 213. Home automation control systems such as Cyber House and Home Director Pro are commercially available. For example, Home Director Pro from IBM permits user to control lights, heating and temperature. The operating system 213 is any conventional operating system, and is typically specific to the hardware environment involved. Examples of commonly available operating systems are Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows CE, DOS, OS/2, and LINUX. The present invention enhances such systems with a unique Community Connector 211. [0097] The Community Connector 211, in one embodiment, includes a Home Automation Interface 205, a Telemetry Module 203, an Internet Proxy Module 202, and a Future Applications Module 209. A Communication Engine 219 communicates with the other modular servers, and utilizes a Communications Encryption Module 215 and an Authentication Module 217 to establish a secure, authenticated, link to the Central Community System 301. In one embodiment, the security is based on SSL, as is known in the field. [0098] The Home Automation Interface 205 facilitates the exchange of data between the SynapServer and the Home Automation Control System 207. The Home Automation Control System 207 performs relevant tasks for the home/office environment. In one embodiment, the Home Automation Interface 205 receives application code executable by the Home Automation Control System 207. More particularly, the Home Automation Interface 205, in addition to communicating with the Home Automation Control System 207, can send and receive control programs or applets in the form of application code that can be executed by the Home Automation Control System 207. Thus, in addition to event data which may trigger a response by the target system, program or applet data may be received which could, for example, change an algorithm used by the target system thereby altering its response to event data. [0099] The Telemetry Module 203 monitors the status of the Satellite Control System 201. The telemetry module tracks information such as available disk space, free memory, temperature, and other resources, so as to maintain the Satellite Control System 201 in an optimal working order. The Telemetry Module 203 may also prompt for the execution of system diagnostics on a periodic or predetermined basis. Telemetry includes physical aspects, power conditioning, heat, as well as system metrics, available disk space and memory, etc. Collecting telemetry data allows for the monitoring of the status of a member system or object. [0100] In one embodiment, Internet-based protocols may be used to communicate between member systems or objects and the SynapServer. Client programs at member homes or object locations use standard Web protocols, which allow for using various transmission media such as modems, cables, or other devices that support Internet access. The standard protocols include certificates, such as those used by a bank to allow customers to do home banking. [0101] The Internet Proxy Module 202 may comprise, for example, a HTTP, a HTTP/S, and/or an FTP Proxy Server which serves as a hub for Internet communication for multiple PC's located in the environment at the Satellite Control System 201. Via the Internet Proxy Module 202, Internet services can be provided to a plurality of computers via the community network's secure, authenticated, communications channel with no additional IP addresses required. Upstream application modules, located in the SynapServer, can provide caching and content filtering services. By providing Internet service through the proxy module via the SynapServer, additional security and/or parental control may be exercised. The content filters, may reside at the central server instead of the local user's computer, advantageously decreasing the likelihood that they would be removed or disabled. [0102] An Internet content filter 324 (FIG. 10) may provide caching and content filtering services for the Internet proxy module 202, as described above. A designated user specifies, via the administration module 323, which Internet content is allowed or disallowed for a particular Internet proxy module 202. A satellite content filter 326 may provide content filtering services for satellite data. [0103] Each member system or object is assigned a Global User ID (GUID). The GUID is a unique identifier that associates a member system with a corresponding information database and identifies member systems or objects in exchange contracts. In addition to a GUID, the SynapServer stores an e-mail address as one of the member system properties. The GUID is used in the exchange contracts to identify the member systems thereby providing a greater level of confidentiality because only the SynapServer can access the detailed member identification data associated with the GUID. [0104] The exchange contract contains both the internal object identifier and an external identifier. As one example, when a home alarm is triggered, an event called “user 911” may be generated in one version of Cyber House. A member adds a description to the event, making it more meaningful to a target member. If the exchange contract is accepted, an internal event on the destination side must also be defined. Part of the discretion that the community network affords is in the fact that one member does not know which of another member's internal objects generated an event, it only knows the external description, and by the same token, the sending member cannot directly learn precisely how the target member responds to the event. Thus, there is a mapping that occurs on either end of the exchange contract. [0105] Due to the modular nature of the software elements, which are merely plugged into the Communication Engine 219, these elements can be replaced or updated independently in the future. Furthermore, any future application element 209 can be added without interfering with the other elements. [0106] [0106]FIG. 10 shows one arrangement of the elements in the central server 300. Messages from the Satellite Control System 201 arrive to a Firewall 303 which protects the SynapServer, as well understood in the art. The data is communicated to a Customer Server 307 by a Secure Central Connector 305. The Secure Central Connector 305 decodes and authenticates the message and forwards it to the Message Exchange 321 via a Customer Server 307. The Customer Server 307 can serve multiple customers. To accommodate increasing number of customers, the system may be scaled by replicating the modular group comprising the Firewall 303, the Secure Central Connector 305, the Communications Encryption 304, the Authentication module 306, and the Customer Server 307. [0107] The message exchange 321 is an event based message switching system that, based on source address and inbound message content, generates one or more outbound messages with predetermined content and destinations. The outbound messages are routed back through the system taking a path similar to the inbound messages, i.e. a secure, authenticated communication path. [0108] Message Exchange 321 is essentially a table look-up system which is shown in FIG. 11. A simple example event shown in FIG. 12 illustrates how the event message is handled by the message exchange 321. In this example, an event “BREAK-IN” occurs at House #1001 with a source address “00001001”. Upon receiving the inbound message, the Message Exchange generates outbound messages with predetermined destinations and content. Those destinations are Neighbor #1 with address “12311111”, Neighbor #2 “22311111”, and Police Station “99999999”. The content of message reads “BURG# 1001”. [0109] The Applications Server 325 provides event information to Message Exchange 321. For example, alerted by an approaching weather front transmitted from the Internet, Applications Server 325 provides a message to Message Exchange 321 to be distributed to the member systems and objects that agreed to receive the information. Another example may be a sudden fluctuation in temperature which alerts Applications Server 325 to send a message to Electric Power Company to make an appropriate adjustment in power supply of member systems and objects that agreed to receive such adjustment message. The message exchange database is continuously updated and managed by Administration 323. [0110] Similarly, if a high pressure region is approaching, a warning delivered by, for example, the Internet, satellite, or radio, can provide an alert to the application server 325 which may be monitored by the electric power company in the area. This allows the electric power company to automatically respond by preparing for a surge in power consumption. As another example, where there are frequent needs for emergency prescriptions at night, the application server 325 may access a database of doctors, patients, and their prescriptions, and contact a pharmacy open for delivery service at the hour at which the prescription is requested. Such database may be continually updated and maintained by the database administration 323. [0111] [0111]FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the software modules that are associated with a member system of the present invention. The software modules include a home automation module 207, a community connector module 211, a home automation interface 205, and a communication engine 219. The home automation module 207 and the community connector module 211 are configured to work with the operating system 213 which is used by the particular member system or object. The community connector 211 communicates with the home automation system 207 by a home automation interface 205 that is selected to be compatible with the particular home automation system. [0112] In one embodiment, the controls for interfacing with the home automation system 207 are provided by the manufacturer of the home automation system. Such controls may be OCX controls that can be easily integrated into a Visual Basic application to provide an interface between the two modules. In another embodiment, the home automation interface 205 may be a DLL that is provided by the home automation system manufacturer to interface with the home automation system 207. [0113] One of the home automation systems available today, Cyber House, has internal modules that communicate with the NAPCO alarm panel, thermostats, home theater systems, and the community connector. The community connector OCX controls allow the community connector to communicate with Cyber House. Cyber House also provides an API that includes a way of accepting messages. On system startup, the connector OCX, via TCP/IP, sets up a connection with the home automation module 207, which provides the community connector 211 with a list of devices associated with assertions or events. The device data are communicated to the SynapServer to update the particular member database. [0114] [0114]FIG. 13 illustrates the steps performed in one embodiment of the present invention by a member system or object in delivering data to and receiving data from, the central server. In a first step 620, the member system receives or is otherwise notified of new property data from the home automation system via the home automation interface. In a next step 622, the data is then transmitted to the control server by using the communication engine possibly in conjunction with transmission protocols provided by the operating system. The transmission preferably employs common Internet protocols such that data can be transmitted over any lines that are commonly used for Internet services. [0115] In a step 624, the member system or object, after sending the data to the central server, receives the data from the central server that are addressed to the member system. The member system then processes the received data, if any. Once the data are processed, the member system or object, in a further step 626, waits for a predetermined time period before re-initiating the process, by retrieving new data in the step 620. [0116] Thus, a member system continuously cycles through a series of steps in transmitting data, receiving data, and processing data. The use of continuous cycling, or polling, provides for a predetermined latency between the generation of an event by a first member system or object and the reception of data in response to the event by a second member system or object. For example, if the cycle outlined above repeats every ten seconds, the maximum latency between an event and the reception of a message in response to the event is 20 seconds, which includes a maximum time of 10 seconds to transmit new event data, and the maximum time of 10 seconds to receive the new event data at the target system. In another embodiment, the member systems are connected to the central server by a communication link that is continuously available for the transmission of messages. Using a continuous link, the member system or object may receive data in less than one second after a corresponding event occurs. [0117] In embodiments using polling, the SynapServer can adjust the polling interval, by changing the value of a polling interval value, for example, when the home automation module 207 next connects to the community connector 211. If congestion increases, the system can advantageously cause home systems or objects to decrease their polling rates to any rate necessary to relieve the congestion. [0118] [0118]FIG. 14 illustrates steps performed by the SynapServer in processing data received from member systems and objects and generating response messages. In a first step 650, the SynapServer receives event data from a member system or an object. When new data is received, the SynapServer, in a step 652, searches for an exchange contract corresponding both to the event data and the source system identification. If such an exchange contract is found in a step 654, the SynapServer, in a next step 656, sends data to the target member(s) identified in the exchange contract. If a fitting exchange contract is not found in the step 654, the SynapServer returns to the step 650. As may be appreciated, the operations undertaken by the SynapServer may be executed in parallel so as to continuously receive data and continuously process data. [0119] [0119]FIG. 15 illustrates steps performed in one embodiment of the present invention to receive and respond to event data. In a step 640, a target member system or object receives assertion or event data from the SynapServer in accordance with an accepted exchange contract. In a next step 642, the local system of the target member system or object parses the event data and responds to the event data in accordance with steps the operator of the member system or object has established to be taken when the local system recognizes the particular received event. [0120] The system is presently implemented by using sequel server seven, although one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that any database can be used. Internet-based data, such as a web page, that may be used with are embodiment of the CivicServer maybe dynamically generated from the database by submitting a query based on exchange contract data and member identification data. The records may be translated into HTML, and displayed as Web pages. [0121] The above described system is only one of many embodiments. The system can be modified to suit the community which it is intended to serve. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are many alternatives related to the embodiments of the invention described herein which may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the claims that follow. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7043566 *Oct 11, 2000May 9, 2006Microsoft CorporationEntity event loggingUS7519602 *Oct 31, 2006Apr 14, 2009Sap AgSystems and methods for information exchange using object warehousingUS7865887Nov 30, 2006Jan 4, 2011Sap AgContext based event handling and execution with prioritization and interrupt managementUS7937707 *Jun 30, 2004May 3, 2011Oracle America, Inc.Method for general resource exit negotiationUS8042048Nov 17, 2005Oct 18, 2011Att Knowledge Ventures, L.P.System and method for home automationUS8065160 *Apr 29, 2002Nov 22, 2011Millennium Pharmacy Systems, Inc.Centralized pharmacy business methodUS8504680 *Dec 23, 2008Aug 6, 2013Symantec CorporationAutomatically adjusting polling intervals based on remote administrative activityUS8504921Oct 6, 2011Aug 6, 2013At&T Intellectual Property I, LpSystem and method for home automationUS8598986Apr 28, 2009Dec 3, 2013Dialight CorporationRemote monitoring and control of LED based street lightsUS8775450Apr 19, 2007Jul 8, 2014Sap AgSystems and methods for information exchange using object warehousingUS8803662 *Jan 4, 2011Aug 12, 2014Dialight CorporationRemote monitoring and control of LED based street lightsUS8856897 *Sep 18, 2012Oct 7, 2014Sora Applications LlcMethod and apparatus for enabling a user to select an authentication methodUS8901846Apr 28, 2009Dec 2, 2014Dialight CorporationMethod and apparatus for multi-zoned illuminationUS9071643 *Apr 5, 2012Jun 30, 2015Rave Wireless, Inc.Personal security systemUS20050198241 *Mar 21, 2003Sep 8, 2005Rolf-Dieter PavlikWeb server comprising integrated automation functionality and access to a realtime operating systemUS20070112939 *Nov 17, 2005May 17, 2007Sbc Knowledge Ventures L.P.System and method for home automationUS20080104260 *Oct 31, 2006May 1, 2008Sap AgSystems and methods for information exchange using object warehousingUS20080133812 *Nov 30, 2006Jun 5, 2008Sap AgContext based event handling and execution with prioritization and interrupt managementUS20080263086 *Apr 19, 2007Oct 23, 2008Sap AgSystems and methods for information exchange using object warehousingUS20090182825 *Jun 13, 2008Jul 16, 2009International Business Machines CorporationMethod and system for providing source information of data being publishedUS20090210556 *May 30, 2006Aug 20, 2009Access Co., LtdTime division address management device and time division routing information management deviceUS20100271178 *Oct 28, 2010Rizwan AhmadRemote monitoring and control of led based street lightsUS20100324936 *Apr 22, 2010Dec 23, 2010Suresh-Kumar Venkata VishnubhatlaPharmacy management and administration with bedside real-time medical event data collectionUS20110095867 *Jan 4, 2011Apr 28, 2011Rizwan AhmadRemote monitoring and control of led based street lightsUS20120252399 *Apr 5, 2012Oct 4, 2012Rave Wireless, Inc.Personal security systemUS20130019287 *Jan 17, 2013American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Method and apparatus for enabling a user to select an authentication methodUS20140278028 *Mar 13, 2014Sep 18, 2014Vivint, Inc.Security system with traffic monitoringWO2006129839A2 *May 30, 2006Dec 7, 2006Access Co LtdTime division address management device and time division routing information management device* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification709/204International ClassificationG06Q10/10, H04L29/08, H04L12/18, H04B7/185Cooperative ClassificationH04L67/104, H04L67/327, H04L69/329, H04L67/1063, G06Q10/10, H04L12/1813, H04B7/18582European ClassificationG06Q10/10, H04B7/185S6, H04L29/08N9P, H04L29/08A7, H04L12/18D, H04L29/08N31YLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 21, 1999ASAssignmentOwner name: BLATTNER, DOUGLAS O., NEVADAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BLATTNER, DOUGLAS O.;BLATTNER, MEERA M.;KAMEGAI, MINAO;REEL/FRAME:010322/0266;SIGNING DATES FROM 19991011 TO 19991012RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

value: Google Patents is a search engine from Google that indexes patents and patent applications.


text: The archaeology excavation is being funded by a local quarrying company which wants to open up part of the hill so that it can continue to provide the distinctive local hamstone which has been used for building in the area since Roman times.

type: global

value: Blogger is an American online content management system (CMS) which enables multi-user blogs with time-stamped entries. Pyra Labs developed it before being acquired by Google in 2003.


text:
Jun'an Hostel (Yangzhou, China) - Guesthouse Reviews & Photos - TripAdvisor
Jun'an Hostel Guesthouse Reviews, Yangzhou
We can't find prices for this accommodation From {rate_price} {rate_periodicity} Return to Map Jun'an Hostel
In the Lane, No.229-231 Siwangting Road, Guangling District, Yangzhou, ChinaIn the Lane, No.229-231 Siwangting Road, Guangling District, Yangzhou, China
Savings alert: Best prices for your stay 11/06/2017 12/06/20171 room 1 room 2 adults 2 adults 0 children 0 children Ages of Children: change Please provide ages Child 1 Age Age Update Search When are you going? Enter your travel dates for the best rates Open Calendar Our online travel partners don't provide prices for this accommodation, but we can search other options in Yangzhou Add a photo OverviewRoomsReviewsAboutPhotosNearbyQ&ARoom TipsMore {"widget":{"name":"ibex_photo_carousel","moduleList":["handlers"],"template":"ibex_photo_carousel__widget","dust":{"nav_controls":"ibex_photo_carousel__nav_controls"},"divClasses":"prw_rup prw_ibex_photo_carousel","js":{"handlers":"(ta.prwidgets.getjs(this,'handlers'))"}},"scriptFlags":null,"containerClass":null}
Rooms 11 Jun12 Jun|Age1 room, 2 adults, 0 children1 room 1 room 2 adults 2 adults 0 children 0 children Ages of Children Age Age Update Search Update Standard Room Getting you more information on this room See More Free Cancellation Select Show Available Rooms Sorry, this partner no longer has rooms available on TripAdvisor. Please visit one of our 0 partner sites to see rooms from .We're sorry, there are no rooms available on TripAdvisor. 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Be one of the first to review Updating list... About Details LocationChina >Jiangsu >Yangzhou Show More Show Less Nearby Nearby HotelsSee all 384 hotels in YangzhouFX Hotel Yangzhou at Slender West Lake1 reviews .15 miles away Orange Hotel Yangzhou Shouxihu1 reviews .33 miles away Baifenghui Business Hotel Yangzhou Shouxihu.15 miles away Jing Hua Metropark Hotel Yangzhou118 reviews .33 miles away Vatica Hotel Yangzhou Shouxihu Dashiyuan4 reviews .07 miles away Nearby RestaurantsJiangJiaQiao Jiao MianDian (SiWangTing)13 reviews .15 miles away Liu Hu ChaFang.19 miles away GaoLi Yuan Korean Barbeque (YangZiJiang North Road).24 miles away U.B.C. Coffee (WenChang Middle Road).25 miles away Nearby AttractionsShouxi Lake (Slender West Lake)769 reviews .76 miles away Yangzhou Royal Wharf27 reviews .60 miles away Changchun Ridge46 reviews .64 miles away Yangzhou Eight Weird Memorial Hall30 reviews .63 miles away Questions & AnswersGet quick answers from Jun'an Hostel staff and past guests.Note: your question will be posted publicly on the Questions & Answers page.Posting guidelinesSubmitVerification: Is This Your TripAdvisor Listing? Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. Claim Your Listing Know better. Book better. Go better. © 2017 TripAdvisor LLC All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Cookie consent | Site MapSome photos provided by VFM Leonardo.* TripAdvisor LLC is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... (more) TripAdvisor LLC is not responsible for content on external web sites. Taxes, fees not included for deals content. EXPLOREAbout UsHelp CentreCURRENCY/COUNTRYUS$USDUnited Kingdom

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text:
Amazon.com: TomTom Car Mount for TomTom Rider motorcycle navigation: Cell Phones & Accessories
TomTom Car Mount for TomT... has been added to your Cart
Price: $39.35 & FREE Shipping.Details
Includes a high dual car charger so you don’t need to worry about an empty battery.
This item:TomTom Car Mount for TomTom Rider motorcycle navigation $39.35
LFOTPP 2PCS GLASS TomTom Rider 40 42 410 400 420 450 4.3 Inch GPS Screen Protector, 9H Tempered GLASS Guard Shield Scratch-resistant Ultra HD Extreme Clarity
This item TomTom Car Mount for TomTom Rider motorcycle navigation
3 out of 5 stars (15) 4 out of 5 stars (7) 0 out of 5 stars (0) 4 out of 5 stars (269)
$39.35$39.35 $59.99$59.99 $98.29$98.29 $9.95$9.95
Amazon.com MC-Powersports Motorangutan GPS City
3.54 x 3.15 x 7.87 in 3.54 x 1.57 x 7.87 in 3.54 x 3.15 x 7.87 in 2 x 2 x 2 in
#778 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > GPS System Accessories > Vehicle Mounts
#21,870 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Vehicle Electronics Accessories
Bought it used, the other reviews are correct, you cannot plug into the base and expect it to work, you have to plug into the unit.
Since I bought the TomTom for my motorcycle, I just needed something for my car. This fit the bill and the price was right.
My Rider 400 charges on my motorbike mount but not on this car mount. After reading reviews I did voltage comparisons and found the same issue of reverse polarity at the car mount pins. I opened the unit, swapped the soldered leads at the back of the pins and the unit is now charging. I can't believe Tom Tom is putting out units in this condition. Not happy I had to do this to make it work.
I bought this for my TomTom Rider 400. No I don't drive a motorcycle but wanted this TomTom for my roadster.Read more
This item: TomTom Car Mount for TomTom Rider motorcycle navigation
Garmin Zumo 665LM GPS Motorcycle Navigator (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

value: Amazon.com, Inc. ( AM-ə-zon) is an American multinational conglomerate which focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence.


text:
Permission Granted: Stand-Up | G.L.O.C.
← Women In Comedy Festival Wrap-Up
G.L.O.C. Launch Party: One Week ‘Til MAGIC! →
Posted on March 24, 2011	by caitoradecomedy
Women wait for permission. We want to make sure it’s OK to take the next step and that everyone approves of us in out new venture, whether it’s writing, acting, directing, producing, improvising or making a poster. What if we overstepped our boundaries and even one person didn’t think we were ready to do what we want to do? THE WORLD WOULD EXPLODE! Oh wait. No. Nothing would happen, except we’d be closer to achieving our goals and making it easier for other women to follow in our footsteps.
So I am going to give you permission. Who am I to give you permission to do anything? No one, but who are you waiting for anyway?
You can do stand-up. It’s standing and talking. If you can’t stand and talk, I’m worried about you. Of course, there’s much more to being a great stand-up: timing, originality, stage presence, being funny. But you’re not a great stand-up; you’re not even a stand up. If you were, why would you be reading this?
Even seasoned sketch and improv comedians view stand-up as a scary risk. Here’s the thing about stand-up: it’s not risky. Why? Because you will fail (at first). You will bomb. It’s going to happen, so embrace it. Your stand-up heroes like Joan Rivers, Janeane Garofalo and Kathy Griffin have all bombed in their time, so you’re a lot closer to being like them if you get up there and bomb, then if you sit around and do nothing.
Now let me address what you’re really afraid of: it’s not bombing, is it? It’s owning. You’re afraid of going up there and killing it and having the audience in your hands. It’s a powerful feeling and what if you don’t deserve it? Luckily, that’s not really a thing. Do you hear me? It’s not a thing. You need to drop that hang up because it’s keeping you (and likely the several other women you’d influence) back.
This entry was posted in Permission Granted and tagged Caitlin Tegart, janeane garofalo, Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin, Permission Granted, stand-up, Stand-up comedy. Bookmark the permalink.

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text:
Potential Location: Norris House Inn | H.B.I.C. - Head Bride In Charge
Potential Location: Norris House Inn	Posted by ManicBride under Ceremony, Location Leave a Comment Last Friday, D. and I spent the night at the Norris House Inn in Leesburg, VA. After a long and trying week, I called the Norris House Inn around 5:30pm on Friday. Not only did they have a room available, but they were also running a winter special, 15% off double occupancy rates. Since we were coming in late after the innkeeper’s office closed, they left our keys in an envelope in a basket on by the front door. There was no trouble getting settled in whatsoever, and the house was warm and inviting.


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Resource Insights: Principles for the Post-Peak Oil Job Market
Many types of jobs will cease to exist: public relations executive, marketing directors, et cetera. I think work will be very hands-on, and a lot of it will revolve around food production. -- James Howard Kunstler, 2003When I speak before college audiences about peak oil, I often ask if there are any engineers present. I suggest that they concentrate on jobs that will produce rather than consume energy, particularly energy that is renewable and doesn't create greenhouse gas emissions. While it is difficult to tell exactly what kinds of jobs will be available in the post-peak oil age, inklings of some broad principles are coming into view. To discern those principles I propose to contrast what is valued in today's job market with what will likely be valued in a post-peak oil job market. First, let's look at what has traditionally been valued in pre-peak industrial society. William Catton, Jr. explains in his book, Overshoot, that humans engage in two strategies to enlarge the carrying capacity of their habitat: takeover and drawdown. Takeover is essentially taking over habitat from another species. That takeover might take the form of farming which essentially appropriates habitat from other animals and plants and dedicates it to crops for feeding humans or their domestic livestock.Drawdown is the second major strategy. Drawdown is the drawing down of finite resources to provide increased carrying capacity temporarily. In this case, "temporarily" can mean more than a century. The prime example is the extraction of coal, oil and natural gas to produce the energy, fertilizers and myriad other products that allow more than 6 billion people to live on our planet.It is easy to see that drawdown is, by far, the more highly rewarded activity in pre-peak society. (After all, how many billionaire farmers have been celebrated in the business pages?) Huge fortunes have been made in the fossil fuel and mining industries. Today, those industries are thought to be the industries of the past, the old economy. But, in truth, they continue to provide the basis for the so-called new economy. Without our colossal extractive industries to produce the essentials of modern civilization such as oil, copper, zinc, platinum, and iron, the new economy wouldn't even exist. In fact, much of the new economy consists of manipulating information to increase our drawdown and takeover activities. (Admittedly, some of that technology creates more efficient use of resources; but to date it has failed to reduce overall demand for resources. For why this is so, see Jevons Paradox.) The new 3D seismic surveys of the deep ocean done in search of oil and the elaborate computer-controlled processes which extract oil from the Canadian oil sands are two excellent examples of how technology is used to abet drawdown. Countless other industrial processes are also aided by new economy technologies. Those technologies both increase demand for the products of drawdown and help accelerate that drawdown to meet that demand.The post-peak oil age will in all likelihood lack the essential ingredient for ever-accelerating drawdown, i.e. cheap energy. (While it is true that knowledge can also help humans increase drawdown, it is doubtful that knowledge can grow quickly enough to offset the somewhat imminent decline in the production of oil and other fossil fuels. Even if this were not the case, we would face another crisis later as other resource limits were reached.) Drawdown of oil and natural gas has enabled the creation of an industrial agriculture that erodes the soil and destroys its fertility. That agriculture then attempts to make up for the lost fertility with natural gas-derived nitrogen fertilizers and oil-based pesticides. So, the loss of cheap hydrocarbon fuels and feedstocks has large implications for agricultural productivity and for the type of agriculture we will be able to practice. The end of cheap fossil fuel also has implications for the availability of water, both for irrigation and drinking. Cheap energy has led to the drawdown of many sources of water much faster than they replenish. And, the pollution that industrial societies create has made water purification one of the largest uses of energy worldwide.These illustrations suggest that in a post-peak oil world a premium will be placed on decreasing drawdown through increased efficiency and through the outright curtailment of certain activities such as industrial farming with its heavy reliance on petrochemicals and irrigation. Takeover may also have to be curtailed in order to preserve species, land and waters which perform essential eco-services for human populations such as pollination and water retention and purification.Perhaps now we can say with a little more confidence what principles should animate those entering the post-peak oil job market in comparison to the pre-peak one:Pre-PeakPost-Peak General PrinciplesGeneral Principles Increase drawdownDecrease or eliminate drawdown Increase takeoverDecrease takeover Detailed PrinciplesDetailed Principles Emphasize quantityEmphasize quality Emphasize competitionEmphasize cooperation Emphasize powerEmphasize efficiency Mine soil nutrientsIncrease soil fertility Deplete finite resourcesBuild capacity of renewable resources Shift environmental costs to publicBear all environmental costs you can't eliminate Design linear product cycleDesign closed product cycle (Recycling) Build in planned obsolescenceBuild in long life for products Ignore necessary eco-services such as water purification and pollinationSafeguard and enhance needed eco-servicesFocus on financial profitabilityFocus on ecological sustainabilityI don't claim this list to be exhaustive. But I believe it offers a beginning for thinking about what mindsets and attitudes we need to inculcate in those who will be faced with working in a post-peak oil world. Right now most of what people learn in preparing themselves for work has little or no relationship to our ecological destiny. That needs to change and soon.
I agree. For the survival and well being of us all, we should adopt a new mindset. The details of the new way of thinking may vary, but I think you mentioned some of the fundamental and universal elements of such a mindset.
This should be one of the blogs with hundreds of comments after each posting. Thanks for the excellent insight.CN
Sir,I have read your article, "Principles for the Post-Peak Oil Job Market," with anthusiasm but unfortunately failed to find that it offered anything new to the subject it purports to address. However, the one specific "principle" I wanted to address with you or bring to your attention was that concerning Jevons' Paradox and your words to "emphasizing efficiency."I am so thankful that you mention Jevon's Paradox. It is quite real and something that makes all proclamations about fuel efficiency and "renewable [sic] energies" empty. However, after referencing it in your article in the fourth paragraph, you go on to apparently forget it in your chart further on in the article. I found myself thinking, "either you believe or you don't," or "either you get it or you don't."What starts out as an ambitious thesis becomes the same on limp-noodle quip about "cooperation, efficiency, recycling, sustainability (which doesn't exist), decreasing takeover, etc." I believe this is a huge topic but is given little scrutiny or forethought here. Jobs, roles and lifestyles are changing and that change will intensify as we go further down the slope and go off anticipated cliffs. Without going into my entire thesis here, a big question to ask is whether or not people will be willing to go back to high-human and animal-labor agrarian living and will that livelihood even be an option that our government will economically reward or socially allow? We must--if we want to survive and not be subjugated proles--be willing to reassume the work and live more and more with less fossil fuel inputs.Maybe therein lies the difference between "principles" and "realities."With respect and thanks for reading.
In the same vein as the previous comment I find it pretty useless to mull over "desirable" changes without questionning the process that could bring about those changes.Even if a "perfect" solution existed (still, for what values, for whom???) there is no guarantee that it could be implemented given the existing "social mechanisms" inherited from our tribal ancestry.People's silly ideas and habits are not anymore adaptive in the face of this kind of challenges.No matter which side they apparently choose (primitivists vs transhumanists for instance) these are just inflated versions of our "good old tricks".This is the most complicated and worse part of the problem.Arguments about technologies, economics, politics, nuclear, ethanol, permaculture, drawdown, takeover, egalitarianism, libertarianism, whatever... are subsidiary to the dynamics of change and the dynamics depends more on people's opinions than on any realistic assessement of the challenges.No matter what one would think, want or wish the inmates are de facto running the asylum.JLD


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Just a review: Los conectores nos ayudan a conectar varias frases
Los conectores nos ayudan a conectar varias frases
Las conjunciones (conjunctions) sirven como conectores que lo que hacen es unir dos frases en una. Al unir dos frases en una, la unión se representa con una coma. Resumo: antes de so, because, but, or y and (si viene en secuencia de varios enunciados), VA COMA. Aquí dejo las conjunciones más comunes en inglés con unos ejemplos. Because (porque)
-We could not attend the meeting, because the train was delayed.
(No pudimos asistir a la reunión, porque el tren estaba retrasado)
-I will be out of the office tomorrow, because I have to attend a conference in Brussels.
(Estaré fuera de la oficina mañan,a porque tengo que asistir a un congreso en Bruselas)
-I have not finished the report yet, but I hope to finish it tomorrow.
(Todavía no he terminado el informe, pero espero acabarlo mañana)
-The company received a lot of new orders, but still made a loss at the end of the year.
(La compañía recibió muchos pedidos nuevos, pero aún así perdió dinero al final del año).
So (así que)
-The sofa was reduced to half price, so we decided to buy it.
(El precio del sofá estaba reducido a la mitad, así que decidimos comprarlo)
-I couldn't buy the shoes in the end, so I bought a pair of trousers.
(No pude comprar las zapatillas al final, asi que me compre unos pantalones)
connectors improve your writing. They add variety and sophistication to your style
In this lesson we will learn about words and expressions used to show
In English, we use several different words to show cause and effect.
Examples are: for, because, as, since, therefore,
hence, as a result, consequently, due to, because of, as a result of, etc.
I helped him, because I liked him.
had not paid the rent, he was told to vacate the room.
is raining again, we will have to stay at home.
· So shows the effect. · As, since and because show the cause.
So — Purpose vs. Effect
The preposition so with a meaning expressing purpose or intent takes a that-clause as its complement, usually with can or could. That is often omitted in speech but not in writing.
ACTION TAKENPURPOSE
so that we could watch a meteor storm.¹
So has two meanings and uses for expressing effect: (1) a connective adverb expressing a result of the main clause; (2) an adverb, an intensifer, with a that-clause complement.
ACTION TAKENRESULT
We stayed up so late,
so we were able to see the meteor storm pass.²
(connective adverb)
that we kept warm all night.
(that-clause)
²were able to – is used for a single past event (not could)
hasn’t arrived yet, we will have to go without him.
We had to cancel the trip due
We had to cancel the match, because
I was late owing
train broke down.
Choose the appropriate linker:and ,so,but or because.
1-In summer we wear light clothesbutbecauseandso the weather is hot.
2-I have a tooth ache becausebutandso I must see a dentist as early as I can.
3-It is rainy becausebutandso windy today.
4-I like walking becausebutandso I never go to school on footbecauseandsobut it is 10 miles away from home.
5-My son is calm becausebutandso easy-goingbecauseandsobut my daughter is very moody becauseandbutso they never agree together.
6-I am English becauseandbutso I live in the USAbecauseandbutso I work with a company there.
7-I love painting becauseandbutso fishing becauseandbutso they teach me concentration.
8-Jane hates swimming becauseandbutso she spends her summer holidays on the beachbecauseandbutso she loves sunbathing.
9-It is always rainy in winter becauseandbutso you should always take an umbrella with you.
10-Fast foods are delicious becauseandbutso usually unhealthybecauseandbutso people should avoid them.
11-Peter is obesebecauseandbutso the doctor advised him to practise sport regularly.
12-Parents becauseandbutso children should have good relationships.
"Because or So?"
Micha worked all night. + Micha was tired.
Use because to give a reason:
Micha was tired because she worked all night.
Why was she tired? Because she worked all night.
Micha worked all night, so she was tired.
She worked all night, so what happened? She was tired.
---THE DINNER PARTY---Write BECAUSE or SO in the blanks below. Don't forget the comma!
Ruby enjoys cooking __________ she invited all of her classmates over for dinner.
Everyone enjoys a good home-cooked meal __________ everybody went to Ruby's house.
Taka ate two plates full of food __________ he was very hungry!
Larena and Tammi shared a plate of food __________ they like the same things.
Maria is a professional bartender __________ she mixed drinks for everybody.
There were lots of lemons on the table __________ Sam brought a big bag full of lemons.
Sara is a musician __________ she played the piano and sang to entertain everyone.
Leo and Kazu danced in the middle of the livingroom __________ they love to dance.
Filiz asked for the recipe __________ she loved the dinner.
Delma also loved the dinner __________ she asked for the recipe too.
Ruby's recipe is a secret family recipe __________ she couldn't give it away.
Filiz and Delma were disappointed __________ Ruby wouldn't share the recipe, but they understood why.
Ruby worked very hard to prepare the meal __________ she was very tired.
Lenny, Sandy and Sassy cleaned off the table __________ the dishes could be washed.
Abrahim, Hiro and Kadir offered to wash the dishes __________ poor Ruby was really tired.
All the classmates said, "Thank you!" __________ they enjoyed the dinner.
It was getting late __________ everybody started leaving.
Ruby slept for two days __________ she was exhausted!
When we are giving a reason, we use ________ .
When we are showing results, we use ________ .
MÁS EJERCICIOS SOBRE ESTE TEMA:
http://www.agendaweb.org/grammar/conjunctions-exercises.html


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Genius Loci: Two Creatures for any Setting - Armored Vine & Hangman's Tree
One of these two creatures makes an appearance in my upcoming two-page adventure "Joy in a Flask". Both, however, were created for the adventure but one had to be cut due to the page limitation. Enjoy! I hope everyone enjoys them and if anyone has any feedback I would love to hear it!
Special: Entangle, Poison, Move: 12 [60’]
The Armored Vine subsists off the fluids of living creatures; the blood, marrow, etc. Once its prey is dead the Armored Vine will begin to absorb these fluids over the course of 1d4 days. When its feeding is complete the Armored Vine will take the metal of the prey for its own use. Ecology
Special: Strangle Move: 0/60’ (vine)
Strangle –When any mortal creature walks beneath a Hangman’s Tree the tree has a 60% chance to attempt to lower a noose-like vine around the target’s neck and jerk back quickly. This counts as a surprise roll. If the Hangman’s Tree is successful the target has two rounds before he is suffocated and dies. Background
The Hangmans’s Tree are decedents of trees that were altered by Outsiders to make their hunting games against the mortal races of the world more fun. The Hangman’s Tree appears as any normal oak tree, except for a dark red vine that spirals up the trunk and through the branches. It is with this vine that the Tree feeds, first be strangling its target and then by devouring it much the same way a snake would its prey. Any treasure or belongings that the target had are deposited under the soil around the tree and entangled within its roots. Ecology
The Hangman’s Tree grows best in the northern temperate climates of the world, and typically live upwards to a thousand years. They are susceptible to the same diseases and blights that a normal oak tree would be susceptible to. The Hangman’s Tree reproduces in the same way as any other tree, their “nut”, however, is poisonous to eat (save vs. death roll) and coveted by man thieves and assassin guilds throughout the world. Posted by
3/22/2014 04:55:00 PM


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Articles written keywords Jobs, Ansættelse | Freelancer
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value: Freelance (sometimes spelled free-lance or free lance), freelancer, or freelance worker, are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance workers are sometimes represented by a company or a temporary agency that resells freelance labor to clients; others work independently or use professional associations or websites to get work.


text:
Wed Jan 22, 2014 | 11:43am EST
| ZURICH ZURICH The World Cup finals are not exempt from attempts to rig games and FIFA is leaving nothing to chance, the head of security at soccer's governing body told Reuters in an interview.Ralf Mutschke said FIFA could even postpone a match if there were indications it had been targeted for manipulation by criminal gangs, although he stressed such a measure would be a last resort.He added that there was a thin line between gambling-induced match-fixing and the scenario of teams playing to a cosy draw at the end of the group stage so that both qualified for the next round, something which he generally considered to be tactical and outside his main area of responsibility.Match-fixing has become a huge concern for soccer's authorities in the last few years as illegal gambling rings pay players, referees or officials to manipulate games and make enormous amounts of money by betting on the outcome.Often, manipulators prefer to act away from the limelight, concentrating on low-profile international friendlies and national leagues in smaller countries.However, Mutschke, a former high-ranking officer in the German federal police with more than 30 years' experience of crime-fighting, said that so much money was gambled on World Cup matches that criminals were bound to be tempted."You have big betting on the World Cup matches, you have a lot of money involved in that betting, therefore we have to consider that fixers would like to manipulate World Cup matches, therefore we have to counter that," Mutschke told Reuters."It would be stupid not to take into consideration that World Cup matches could be targets of fixers. We have to prepare ourselves and of course not believe that the World Cup is exempt," he added.Mutschke said FIFA security officers would be at each of the 64 matches during the June 12/July 13 tournament in Brazil, armed with a detailed dossier on which games carried the highest risk."We have a coherent strategy to counter match manipulation starting with risk assessment and focusing on teams playing, whether in the past there have been allegations of fixing or not, also at which stage the game is being played, is it a group match, at the beginning or the end," he said.
"All of our matches are monitored on the betting market through the Early Warning System and the entire FIFA security team will be in Brazil."LAST RESORT
"If unusual betting patterns were detected before a game, we would need even more than a strong indication that a fix is being set up before calling a match off. But if we had clear evidence of a fixed match why should we let such a match go? We have to protect the integrity of our competition," Mutschke added."Cancel, postpone, stop. Theoretically possible...but this is the last resort, it's really the last step you can take."If we had real information, immediately before a game, if we knew that fixers had infiltrated the match through players, or referees, this would be an option.
"But, obviously, we have other measures we could implement before that."He said that teams would be more vulnerable to attempted manipulation if the players had not been paid or been bickering over bonuses."Generally, and not only for the World Cup, if players are not paid accordingly, it raises the risk of them being approached, and of accepting a bribe, this is normal," he said. "But, it's only part of the whole picture."Mutschke said that cases of teams playing out a tame match in a group match to produce a result that suited both of them would not normally be considered match-fixing.There have been several incidents at the World Cup in the past, the most notorious being West Germany's 1-0 win over Austria at the 1982 World Cup which sent both sides into the knockout stages at the expense of Algeria.
"It's not linked to my core business, it's something I would qualify as tactics," said Mutschke."It's like where you have one team already qualified in a Champions League or World Cup game and they don't put out their first team because they don't want to risk injury, or they want to get some rest."It is a thin line, somehow....it's very difficult. What do you consider to be the tactical movement of a coach and what is the manipulation of matches?"This is not reflected on the betting market, it might be reflected because they might lower the rates for a draw, but it is not typically what we are aiming at."It's a really tough question: we had a strong discussion in our areas as well, but this is still to be considered as tactical freedom of the coach or the teams."Mutschke said the key was whether coaches had negotiated with each other."It's a wide-ranging discussion and something which has probably to be assessed on the particular match," he added."At the end, the competent judicial body will have to consider and decide on the case."(Reporting by Brian Homewood; Editing by Rex Gowar)

value: Reuters ( (listen)) is an international news organisation now owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide.


text:
1973 Topps Photography: Replacement For Two Hall of Fame Skippers
Matthew R January 12, 2012 at 1:16 AM
It's funny how Russell was the least heralded of the four infielders, but he was the only one to spend his whole career in LA.
Rumpleforeskin January 14, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Who is the second HOF manager he replaced? As far as I can tell, he only succeed Lasorda.
Chris Stufflestreet January 15, 2012 at 4:13 AM
He replaced Lasorda, who himself had replaced Walter Alston. Those are the two HOF managers. This in purely semantic, I probably could have worded that differently...but the Dodgers had 43 straight years of HOF managers that was broken when Russell took the helm.


text:
Pirate ship cross stitch pattern ship cross stitch chart | Etsy
Materials: pdf, email, chart, electronic, epattern, download, pattern, digital
Dinosaur cross stitch pattern / Counted Cross stitch chart / cross stitch pattern PDF / instant download
The pattern comes as a PDF file that you will be able to download immediately after purchase. It includes a list of the floss colours you'll need plus the finished dimensions for common fabric choices.
Grid size - - - - - - - - - - 60 stitches H x 50 stitches W
Finished Size - - - - - - -3.57'' H x 3.14'' W on 14-count Aida or 28-count linen
Colours Required - - - - - 9 DMC floss colours
© 2017 Craft with Cartwright
This piece was expertly stitched by the talented Shane Ali-Hales, if you would like to work with Shane you can contact her via the Facebook group - Embroidery Model stitchers and Designers.
Catherine Rosey 27 Mar, 2018
This was the very first time I've cross-stitched! Easy to follow pattern. I don't have a picture of my stitch all the way completed, but it came out great :)
pirate ship x-stitch
digiatl cross stitch

value: Etsy, Inc. is an American e-commerce company focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies.