Abstract: A system and method are provided for receiving speech and/or non-speech communications of natural language questions and/or commands and executing the questions and/or commands. The invention provides a conversational human-machine interface that includes a conversational speech analyzer, a general cognitive model, an environmental model, and a personalized cognitive model to determine context, domain knowledge, and invoke prior information to interpret a spoken utterance or a received non-spoken message. The system and method creates, stores and uses extensive personal profile information for each user, thereby improving the reliability of determining the context of the speech or non-speech communication and presenting the expected results for a particular question or command.

Abstract: At least certain embodiments describe methods, apparatuses, and systems for converting energy from electro-magnetic (EM) radiation into electric power using a simultaneous collector of ambient radio frequencies (SCARF) circuit. In one embodiment this is done by capturing EM radiation from a plurality of ambient signals using an array of antennae where each signal has a resonant frequency and aggregating the ambient signals to generate an aggregated signal having a single frequency with greater AC power than the AC power of each of the plurality of ambient signals individually. The single frequency can be produced by either the sum of the resonant frequencies of the ambient signals or the difference between the resonant frequencies of the ambient signals.

Abstract: A black resin composition capable of forming a black matrix having high OD value and high adhesion as well as high resistance is disclosed. The black resin composition is a black resin composition comprising at least a light shielding agent, a resin and a solvent, which light shielding agent contains at least titanium nitride compound particles, wherein the angle of diffraction 2? of the peak originated from (200) plane of the titanium nitride compound particles when CuK? line is used as the X-ray source is not less than 42.5° and not more than 42.8°. Using this black resin composition allows a thin resin black matrix having a high light shielding property and high resistance to be readily attained.

Abstract: A toll violation enforcement system that contains a capture unit that receives a trigger signal and takes vehicle images of passing vehicles. A lighting unit configured to operate continuously is provided to establish a major lighting source incident on the vehicle. A processing unit is provided that processes the vehicle image and controls the settings employed by the capture unit. The processing unit preferably contains a plate location module for extracting an original resolution license plate area image from a first vehicle image; an exposure control module for controlling the exposure setting on the capture unit to provide consistent intensity of the license plate area; a resolution reset module for changing the image resolution for a second vehicle image; an image enhancement module for brightening pixels of the second vehicle image; and an image compression module for compressing the license plate area image and second vehicle image to a predetermined format.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a tradable (e.g., exchange-listed) instrument by securitizing foreign currency using a foreign currency trust or other special-purpose vehicle that is established to hold one or more particular foreign currency and to issue foreign currency trust shares and/or receipts corresponding to the value of the foreign currency(s) held by the Trust. The foreign currency trust shares may represent a proportional interest in the Trust and/or the foreign currency held by the trust. The Trust may include one or more Trust accounts to receive and store the foreign currency deposited with the Trust. The Trust can operate to receive an investment amount in a first currency and provide shares or Trust receipts having a value in a second currency. The shares or receipts of the trust can be listed, quoted, and traded on a trading system.

Abstract: Antenna structures made of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys and methods of making antenna structures from such bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are described. The bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys providing form and shape durability, excellent resistance to chemical and environmental effects, and low-cost net-shape fabrication for the highly intricate antenna shapes.

Abstract: High performing nanoparticle compositions suitable for printing, such as by inkjet printing, are provided herein. In particular, there is provided a conductive ink formulation comprising silver nanoparticles which has optimal performance, such as, reduced coffee ring effect, improved adhesion to substrates, and extended printhead de-cap time or latency time. The ink formulation comprises two or more solvents and a resin.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a blade including heating and quenching a coil of strip steel material to harden the material, heating the strip steel material to temper the material, grinding a first angle along an edge of the material, and subsequent to the grinding, re-hardening, for example by induction heating, the edge of the material.

Abstract: The system and method described herein may dynamically generate a recognition grammar associated with a conversational voice user interface in an integrated voice navigation services environment. In particular, in response to receiving a natural language utterance that relates to a navigation context at the voice user interface, a conversational language processor may generate a dynamic recognition grammar that organizes grammar information based on one or more topological domains. For example, the one or more topological domains may be determined based on a current location associated with a navigation device, whereby a speech recognition engine may use the grammar information organized in the dynamic recognition grammar according to the one or more topological domains to generate one or more interpretations associated with the natural language utterance.

Abstract: An automated auctioning system includes a customer, a web services register server (such as an Extended Markup Language (XML)-based registry server like an Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) registry) and a number of web service providers. Automated auctioning processes of a web service desired by the customer are undertaken between the potential customer and the web service providers. The potential customer issues a bid request, and each web service provider determines whether the value of a bid in response to the bid request is below a value warranted by market demand and issues the bid if the value is higher. The potential customer assesses the bid, creating a bid assessment score. The potential customer performs an iteration on the bid assessment score using a new bid request if the score has improved since a last iteration, while engaging the web service if the score has not improved.

Abstract: A holder for securing eyeglasses, sunglasses or other personal items that may be securely incorporated into an article of clothing at the time the article is manufactured. The holder includes a base member that can be inserted into an article of clothing. The base member can be securely attached to an interconnecting cord. The cord may have one end threaded through the article of clothing and securely affixed to the base member and the other end securely affixed to the external part of the holder. The external part of the holder can include a hanger with a support base and a loop. The holder allows a wearer to insert a temple piece of a pair of eyeglasses, or a hook attached to another personal item, through the loop and allows the item to assume a secure and relatively flat position against the wearer's body. The holder may also in include an RFID tag. The holder may also include a covered loop. The covering may be either internal or external. The covering may include a design, logo or monogram.

Abstract: A stapler capable of dispensing staples therefrom and comprising a head and a handle. The head comprises a staple dispenser configured to dispense a staple from the stapler when a compressive force is applied to the staple dispenser, and a blade carriage that carries a blade and is configured such that the blade is extendable from the head of the stapler and is retractable into the head of the stapler. The handle is attached to the head, and permits the stapler to be swung like a hammer to drive staples dispensed from the staple dispenser.

Abstract: A system and method for processing multi-modal device interactions in a natural language voice services environment may be provided. In particular, one or more multi-modal device interactions may be received in a natural language voice services environment that includes one or more electronic devices. The multi-modal device interactions may include a non-voice interaction with at least one of the electronic devices or an application associated therewith, and may further include a natural language utterance relating to the non-voice interaction. Context relating to the non-voice interaction and the natural language utterance may be extracted and combined to determine an intent of the multi-modal device interaction, and a request may then be routed to one or more of the electronic devices based on the determined intent of the multi-modal device interaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer program product that includes electronic transcripts, exhibits, and an association therebetween. In one example, the method includes providing one or more electronic transcript files; providing one or more exhibit files associated with the one or more electronic transcript files; and providing an executable viewer file. The transcript and exhibit image files and their association, as well as the executable viewer file, may be stored in a local, remote, or removable media. In this manner, a user can activate the viewer and view the electronic transcripts and associated exhibits without the need for any additional software.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus are described that form a solar cell absorber on a surface of a workpiece by reacting a precursor layer disposed on the surface of the workpiece with an absorber constituent vapor in a heating chamber. The absorber constituent material is delivered from an absorber constituent material delivery system in molten form into a container in the heating chamber and vaporized to be used during the reaction.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a tradable (e.g., exchange-listed) instrument by securitizing a commodity using a commodity trust or other special-purpose vehicle that is established to hold one or more physical commodities and to issue commodity trust shares and/or receipts corresponding to the value of the physical commodity held by the Trust. The commodity trust shares may represent a proportional interest in the Trust and/or the physical commodity held by the trust, e.g., precious metals such as gold, or base metals such as copper. The Trust may include one or more Trust accounts to receive and store the physical commodity deposited with the Trust. The shares or receipts of the trust can be listed, quoted, and traded on a trading system, e.g., an Electronics Communication Network (ECN), and may be traded as Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) shares on a securities exchange.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for receiving speech and non-speech communications of natural language questions and/or commands, transcribing the speech and non-speech communications to textual messages, and executing the questions and/or commands. The invention applies context, prior information, domain knowledge, and user specific profile data to achieve a natural environment for one or more users presenting questions or commands across multiple domains. The systems and methods creates, stores and uses extensive personal profile information for each user, thereby improving the reliability of determining the context of the speech and non-speech communications and presenting the expected results for a particular question or command.

Abstract: Networked resources that are not located behind a proxy authentication server may be enabled to use the proxy authentication server for authentication. This may provide one or more of the features associated with a proxy authentication server (e.g., centralized administration of authentication and/or access information, enhancing software security, centralized administration of permission information, and/or other features) for the resources not located behind the proxy authentication server. These features may be provided without requiring substantial modification of the proxy authentication server.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line ‘XDSL’ communication system for optimizing dynamic range in digital multi-tone modulated (DMT) modems. The system comprises a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) and at least one modem. The DSLAM distributes a near end crosstalk (NEXT) model of anticipated disturbance from neighboring disturber subscriber lines. The at least one modem has shared and discrete components forming a transmit path and a receive path. The at least one modem couples to the DSLAM and is responsive to the distributed NEXT model there from to adjust a dynamic range of an analog portion of the receive path to accommodate the anticipated disturbance modeled in the distributed NEXT model.

Abstract: This invention relates to the printing of a substrate having a pre-printed “print pattern” with a “design layer” of ink where there is differential adhesion within and without the print pattern. The print pattern is receptive to an ink, and the design layer ink forms a durable image material with good bond to the print pattern, but the ink does not form a durable image material on the portions of the substrate outside the print pattern. The design layer ink is a UV-curable ink, and the print pattern may have a higher surface energy than the portions of the substrate outside the print pattern.