Abstract: An electronic account is provided to a customer to enable the customer to access electronic services, such as e-mail and electronic transactions. The electronic account links an electronic address of the customer to a physical address of the customer. Using the electronic account, electronic services can be provided to the customer at either the electronic or physical address, or both. The services can be both secure and non-secure and can be provided by any service provider, such as an online merchant, a government agency, or a bank.

Abstract: A method for replacing defective pixels in a digital color image includes determining whether each pixel has defective data in a selected color channel; for the pixel, determining whether a first reference color channel exists and, if so, correcting the defective data by defining a group of neighboring pixels; for each of m neighboring pixels having non-defective data in the selected color channel and the reference color channel, computing a sum of the differences between the non-defective data in the selected color channel and the non-defective data in the first reference color channel; adding the sum of the differences divided by m to the non-defective data value from the first reference color channel to obtain a result; dividing the result by two to obtain a substitution data value; and substituting the substitution data value for the defective data.

Abstract: A surgical light has a plurality of LEDs and a main reflector which directs the light of the LEDs onto an operating field. The main reflector is made in areal form and is divided into a plurality of reflector zones.

Abstract: A new approach to network security includes manipulating an access point such that an initial communication from an external device is passed to a restricted subset of a computing network including a gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is configured to enforce a security policy against the external device before granting access to a less-restricted subset of the computing network. If requirements of the security policy are satisfied, then the gatekeeper reconfigures the access point such that further communication from the external device may be received by elements of the less-restricted subset. Enforcement of the security policy optionally includes performing a security audit of the external device.

Abstract: A multi-homed web server is disclosed including a plurality of virtual hosts operable in a web server. The web server is configured to serve animations to clients over the web. The web server may determine whether the specified time to send a subsequent graphic in a series of graphics has passed, and if the specified time has passed, then send a next graphic the next appropriate time.

Abstract: Methods for game aim assist are provided. In electronic games, a game player may control the actions of a game character within a game environment. The game environment, which includes a focus area, may be displayed from a perspective of or with respect to a game character. During game play, one or more objects may be detected in the focus area. One of the objects may then be selected based on the distance between the object and the center of the focus area. The aim of the game character is then automatically adjusted toward the selected object, which allows the game player to direct an attack action on the object.

Abstract: A new approach to network security includes manipulating an access point such that an initial communication from an external device is passed to a restricted subset of a computing network including a gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is configured to enforce a security policy against the external device before granting access to a less-restricted subset of the computing network. If requirements of the security policy are satisfied, then the gatekeeper reconfigures the access point such that further communication from the external device may be received by elements of the less-restricted subset. Enforcement of the security policy optionally includes performing a security audit of the external device.

Abstract: A multi-homed web server is disclosed including a plurality of virtual hosts operable in a web server. The multi-web server is configured to serve animations to clients over the web. The multi-web server may determine whether the specified time to send a subsequent graphic in a series of graphics has passed, and if the specified time has passed, then send a next graphic the next appropriate time. The web server software may be compiled as part of the native web server code.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that enables a carrier of a mailpiece, such as a national postal service, to track a mailpiece as it passes from the control of a first carrier to the control of another, second carrier. The tracking of the mailpiece continues until the mailpiece is delivered, by the second carrier, to its ultimate recipient. In this manner the first carrier, who had control of the mailpiece when first posted, can monitor the handling of the mailpiece and can calculate delivery times when the mailpiece was in the control of the second carrier. The method and system of the present invention will find particular application to a national postal service seeking to track delivery performance of internationally addressed express mail that is first domestically posted and then ultimately delivered in a foreign country by the postal service of the foreign country.

Abstract: A task processor includes a CPU, a save circuit, and a task control circuit. A task control circuit is provided with a task selection circuit and state storage units associated with respective tasks. When executing a predetermined system call instruction, the CPU notifies the task control circuit accordingly. When informed of the execution of a system call instruction, the task control circuit selects a task to be subsequently executed in accordance with an output from the selection circuit. When an interrupt circuit receives a high-speed interrupt request signal, the task switching circuit controls the state transition of a task by executing an interrupt handling instruction designated by the interrupt circuit.

Abstract: A multiple criteria buying and selling system and method is provided. A seller initially establishes a deal structure for a product, which provides seller defined selling criteria information relating to the purchasing of the product, such as volume per unit price, quality, delivery time and warranty information. A buyer will be able to review a list of deals if the seller's selling criteria matches a buyer defined buying criteria. The deal structure is preferably set up so as to provide buyers with both price and non-price criteria information that the buyer's would consider important in a purchase of the type of product being offered by the seller. The deal structure is electronically made available to potential buyers of the product. For example, the deal structure may be displayed on an Internet site.

Abstract: The present invention enables the transparent bridging of an audio controller over a network between a host PC and a remote user interface system by providing a host module that presents the interface of an audio controller to a system bus of a host computer and a remote module that presents an audio link interface to codecs in a remote system. By bridging the controller at these interfaces, the effects of network delays and data loss can be controlled inside the user's human perception limits without introducing signal timing problems at the two specified interfaces.

Abstract: A supersonic cooling system operates by pumping liquid. Because supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the compression system does not require the use a condenser. Compression system utilizes a compression wave. The evaporator of compression system operates in the critical flow regime where the pressure in an evaporator tube will remain almost constant and then ‘jump’ or ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure.

Abstract: An oral hydration system includes a holster configured to be mounted to a mounting structure. A hydration liquid bladder is removably disposed in the holster. A feed tube has a proximal end communicating with the hydration liquid bladder. A backflow-prevention bite valve is coupled to a distal end of the feed tube.

Abstract: A fan or rotor design where the surface profile may be configured to desired dimensions particular to a given operating environment is disclosed.

Abstract: A task processor includes a CPU, a save circuit, and a task control circuit. The CPU is provided with a processing register and an execution control circuit operative to load data from a memory into a processing register and execute a task in accordance with the data in the processing register. The task control circuit is provided with a task selecting circuit and state storage units respectively associated with tasks. In executing a predetermined system call, the execution control circuit notifies the task control circuit as such. Upon being notified of the execution of the system call instruction, the task control circuit switches a task to be executed next in accordance with an output from the task selecting circuit. The task selecting circuit selects a task in accordance with an output from the state registers.

Abstract: A memory cell includes a non-volatile p-channel transistor having a source coupled to a first potential, a drain, and a gate. A non-volatile n-channel transistor has a source coupled to a second potential, a drain, and a gate. A switch transistor has a gate coupled to a switch node, a source, and a drain. A stress transistor has a source and drain coupled between the drain of the non-volatile p-channel transistor and the drain of the non-volatile n-channel transistor, the stress transistor having a gate coupled to a gate bias circuit. Where one of the first or second potentials is a bit line, an isolation transistor is coupled between the other of the second potentials and one of the non-volatile transistors.

Abstract: A method of making a treating wash includes mixing brass granules with acetone, mixing carbon nanotube material, iron pyrite granules and copper granules in the acetone brass mixture, and straining the liquid from the remaining solid material. Methods of treating materials such as brass granules, iron pyrite granules, carbon nanotube material, and brass granules comprises washing the materials in the treating wash, followed by straining and drying the materials.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to perform multiple packet payload analysis have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of data packets, each of the plurality of data packets containing a portion of a data pattern, determining whether each of the plurality of data packets is out of order, and making and storing a local copy of the corresponding data packet if the corresponding data packet is out of order. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.

Abstract: A wireless device having vertically and horizontally polarized antenna arrays can operate at multiple frequencies concurrently. A horizontally polarized antenna array allows for the efficient distribution of RF energy in dual bands using, for example, selectable antenna elements, reflectors and/or directors that create and influence a particular radiation pattern. A vertically polarized array can provide a high-gain dual band wireless environment using reflectors and directors as well. The polarized horizontal antenna arrays and polarized vertical antenna arrays can operate concurrently to provide dual band operation simultaneously.