Abstract: An efficient spin polarizer in nonmagnetic semiconductors is provided. Previous spin injection devices suffered from very low efficiency (less than 35%) into semiconductors. An efficient spin polarizer is provided which is based on ferromagnetic-semiconductor heterostructures and ensures spin polarization of electrons in nonmagnetic semiconductors close to 100% near the ferromagnetic-semiconductor junctions at wide temperature intervals ranging from very low temperatures to room temperatures even in the case when spin polarization of electrons in the ferromagnetic layer is relatively low.

Abstract: Multi-modal applications are capable of interacting with a user in a voice mode, a visual mode, and/or other modes of communication. Mode swapping refers to the process of changing from one mode of communication (or one combination of modes) to another. Mode swapping may be initiated by a user, by an application, or by another entity. Mode swapping may be performed “adaptively,” in that an entity monitors the effectiveness of a communication mode and initiates a mode swap if communication is proceeding non-optimally in the current mode. Mode swapping may be performed by dropping a call to a telephone terminal in the currently-open mode and placing a call to that same device in another mode. In one embodiment, logic for mode swapping resides on a gateway proxy that mediates communication between an application and a telephone terminal.

Abstract: A method and system for receiving, processing and distributing SMS and MMS messages, which consists of a message processor and virtual or desktop clients. The message processor comprises of a rule processing agent that intelligently analyses incoming messages using a set of predetermined logic rules and directs the dispatching agent to deliver the final processed message to the recipients using one or more communication channels such as SMS, MMS, pop up message, e-mail, fax or phone call. The message processing system consists of virtual secretaries that are customizable for each user of the message processing system, each virtual secretary contains a set of user specific processing rules that accepts the user's request and applies its own set of processing rules, conducts a set of processing actions, and if required invokes the message processor to further carry rule processing or uses the dispatching agent to distribute the message.

Abstract: A teleconference system and method in which an initiator of a teleconference sends a request or instructions to the teleconference server. The teleconference server communicates with the intended participants using basic communication tools that are generally compatible regardless of the network that the participant is subscribed to. The teleconference server stores the information, creates and sends a teleconference notification message to the intended participant that she has been invited to a teleconference. The notification message includes a unique access address associated with the teleconference, at which the participant can access to join the teleconference at the prescribed time. Different unique access addresses are associated with different teleconferences.

Abstract: A technique for enabling a browser to update its state upon a change between voice and visual mode. A deck of visual content cards is loaded into a visual browser, wherein one card contains a link to change from visual to voice mode. Selecting the link directs the visual browser to an update card, which has a first event handler which enters voice mode by placing a voice call to a telephone number in response to forward entry into the update card. The update card also includes a second event handler which contacts an update site to determine what content to point the visual browser to when visual mode resumes. In a first embodiment, the second event handler is actuated by backward entry into the update card upon completion of the voice call. In a second embodiment, the second event handler is actuated by expiration of a timer.

Abstract: A technique for allowing an automated participant in a telephone conversation, such as an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system or a voice browser, to react to the placing of the conversation “on hold.” When a conversation between an automated participant and a human participant is placed on hold, a signal is provided to the automated participant indicating that the voice circuit between the two participants has been broken. In response to the signal, the automated participant may take appropriate action, such as suspending its participation in the conversation, extending the time for which it awaits a response from the human participant, continuing the conversation in a “visual” mode using the keypad and display on the human participant's handset, or some other appropriate action.

Abstract: A method and system that enables a customer to delegate or authorize another individual to perform a financial transaction is provided. This system uses a smart card and a biometric scanner or reader writer, or a biometric device without a smart card. The smart card holds personal and financial accounts information about the customer including a set of biometric templates of the customer. The second smart card owner is identified as the true owner of a smart card after the second smart card passes a biometric authentication using a read write device. The first smart card owner specifies the desired transaction that is to be performed by the second smart card. The delegated or authorized transaction created by the first smart card is encrypted and stored in the second smart card and/or to a remote back-end host server.

Abstract: A system and method for interacting with content, such as web-based markup content, using visual and voice browsers. A first browser facilitates communication in a first mode (e.g., an HTML browser that facilitates visual/tactile interaction with HTML content), and a second browser facilitates communication in a second mode (e.g., a VXML browser that facilitates audio interaction with VXML content). HTML and VXML content is created that: (1) indicates a correspondence between HTML and VXML pages that represent the same underlying content; and (2) contains specialized tags that indicate information to be send from one browser to the other to synchronize each browser to equivalent parts of the content. The HTML browser is adapted to use relative links as signals that information is to be sent to the VXML browser, and the platform on which the VXML browser runs is adapted to recognize a “hit” on its own port 80 as a signal that information is to be sent to the HTML browser.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and computer program product for developing distributed applications, integrating component programs, integrating enterprise applications and managing change. The invention provides for an infrastructure where component programs that are the computational logic of the distributed application are installed over a network of computing units having controller programs running on each of these computing units. The invention provides for separating the concerns of computation, installation, execution and monitoring of the distributed application in terms of time, space and people involved. This is accomplished as the component programs simply perform the computation task and the communication between the component programs and their monitoring is handled by the controller programs.