Abstract: A target user's profile may be generated based on scanning metadata related to various content items made available for sharing by the user. For instance, some content items may be made available for sharing by the target user while other items are made available for sharing by one or more other users in the target user's social network. A list of keywords related to each item may be generated from the metadata. Each keyword may then be scored using social network data. For example, social network data corresponding to one or more users associated with each content item may be used to score keywords related to that item. Scoring may be based on factors such as social network distance, relationship type, trust, length of time in the social network, amount of content, amount of metadata, and other factors.

Abstract: A message propagation scheme for a distributed virtual world is provided. In general, each of a number of peer servers hosts a cell of the virtual world, where the cell is also referred to herein as a virtual space. A peer server issues an advertisement/subscription (ad/sub) message, or message flow path setup message, identifying message types produced by the virtual objects in the virtual space hosted by the peer server and message types consumed by the virtual objects in the virtual space hosted by the peer server. Based on the ad/sub message, for each message type produced, message flow paths from the peer server to other peer servers hosting virtual objects that are consumers of the message type are identified. Likewise, for each message type consumed, message paths from other peer servers hosting virtual objects that are producers of the message type to the peer server are identified.

Abstract: The present invention provides combining and separation circuitry, which allows multiple signals in different frequency bands to travel in either direction over a single cable and be combined and separated as desired. In one embodiment, the combining and separation circuitry includes first, second, third, and fourth ports. The first port is configured to send or receive signals in a first frequency band, the second port is configured to send or receive signals in a second frequency band, and the third port is configured to send or receive DC signals, baseband signals, or a combination thereof. The fourth port is configured to be coupled to a cable in which the signals in the first and second frequency bands, as well as the DC and/or baseband signals, can be sent in either direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an interconnect device that connects a source device to a destination device, and allows the source device's non-compliant rights management (RM) interface to deliver media content with little or no restriction to the destination device's compliant RM interface.

Abstract: A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction. A controller controls heat applied to the outside of the eyelid to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands. The application of heat assists in the expression of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands to restore sufficient sebum flow to the lipid layer to treat dry eye. A force is also applied to the outside of the patient's eyelid during the application of heat to improve conductive heat transfer and reduce blood flow in the eyelid that causes convective heat loss. Thus, the application of force can further increase the temperature level and/or reduce the time to reach desired temperature levels for removing obstructions or occlusions. Reaching increased temperature levels may improve the melting, loosening, or softening of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands while reducing the amount of time to reach desired temperature levels and/or aid in reducing discomfort to the patient during treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus for communicating simulation data is disclosed. The apparatus includes an assembly for mounting the apparatus on an edifice. The apparatus further includes a receiver for receiving simulation data from a plurality of players within a specified area of the edifice and for receiving simulation data from a central controller. The apparatus further includes a transmitter for transmitting simulation data to the plurality of players and to the central controller, wherein simulation data is transmitted to the central controller only when a simulation event occurs. In one alternative, the apparatus further includes an infrared camera for capturing video and still images of simulation events. In another alternative, the apparatus includes an infrared radiator for producing infrared light for illuminating video and still images captured by the infrared camera.

Abstract: A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction. A controller controls heat applied to the inside of the eyelid to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands. The application of heat assists in the expression of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands to restore sufficient sebum flow to the lipid layer to treat dry eye. Temperatures at the meibomian glands reach desired levels more quickly and efficiently when heating the inside of the eyelid. Reaching such higher temperature levels may be instrumental in removing obstructions in the meibomian glands. Less time may also be required to reach desired temperature levels when applying heat to the inside of the eyelid. A force may also be applied to the inside of the patient's eyelid to improve conductive heat transfer and reduce blood flow in the eyelid that causes convective heat loss.

Abstract: As a client connects to a peer in a distributed virtual environment, the peer provides the client with virtual objects that are relevant to the client so that the virtual objects can be rendered by the client and displayed to a user via a display device. In the distributed virtual environment, the client may require that each peer to which the client connects provide the client with virtual objects, referred to herein as content virtual objects, depicting a landscape of a region hosted by the peer. The client can render the content virtual objects on the display device for the user, depicting the region hosted by the respective peer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for editing heterogeneous media objects in a digital imaging device having a display screen, where each one of the media objects has one or more media types associated therewith, such as a still image, a sequential image, video, audio, and text. The method aspect of the present invention begins by displaying a representation of each one of the media objects on the display screen to allow a user to randomly select a particular media object to edit. In response to a user pressing a key to edit a selected media object, one or more specialized edit screens is invoked for editing the media types associated with the selected media object. If the media object includes a still or a sequential image, then an image editing screen is invoked. If the media object includes a video clip, then a video editing screen is invoked. If the media object includes an audio clip, then an audio editing screen is invoked. And if the media object includes a text clip, then a text editing screen is invoked.

Abstract: A detector having a field of view in elevation on the order of one hundred eighty degrees in one plane and three hundred sixty degrees in a perpendicular plane includes a generally hemispherical lens in combination with an optical frustum. The combination directs incident radiant energy within the field of view onto a centrally located sensor.

Abstract: The present invention allows individual providers to be assigned to one or more roles. A role corresponds to a function, service, or action that can be fulfilled by the provider who is assigned to the role. A media session may be initiated by sending a session request from a requester toward a given role instead of being initiated directly to a particular provider. The media session may include a voice or video call, instant messaging session, file transfer session, application sharing session, or the like. The session request is routed to a role server, which may direct the session request to the provider who is assigned to the corresponding role. Once a decision is made to route the session request to a particular provider, provider routing rules may further control how the session requests are routed to the provider terminals of the particular provider.

Abstract: An origination terminal initiates a call by providing a third party call control message in association with a traffic channel request. While the traffic channel is being established, the service node may initiate third party call control to initiate a call leg to the destination terminal on behalf of the origination terminal. As such, the destination call leg is initiated earlier. Since the destination call leg is initiated earlier, a corresponding ringback message indicating that a call is being presented to the called party is provided to the origination terminal sooner. When the ringback message is received quickly, a corresponding ringback indication may be presented to the caller in less time than was previously possible. The process is made even more efficient by waiting until the ringback message is received from the destination terminal before providing the SDP information, or communication information, for the origination terminal to the destination terminal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for obtaining status updates relevant to a segment of a media content stream for presentation during playback. In general, a status updating service collects status updates sent by users via corresponding mobile devices of the users. A media playback device of a user receives a media content stream and obtains data defining a time of capture and, in some embodiments, a location of capture of a segment of the media content stream. Either prior to or during playback of the media content stream, the media playback device obtains status updates that are relevant to the segment of the media content stream directly or indirectly from the status updating service. The media playback device then presents the relevant status updates, or at least a subset thereof, during playback of the media content stream and preferably during playback of the segment of the media content stream.

Abstract: A service is configured to analyze multimedia communications to determine a likelihood that the communication is unsolicited. For example, the service may inspect e-mail messages, instant messaging messages, facsimile transmissions, voice communications, and video telephony, and analyze these forms of communication to determine whether an intended communication is unsolicited. In connection with voice and video telephony, a voice sample may be obtained from the caller and voice recognition may be performed on the sample to determine an identity of the person or the identity of the voice. The voice sample may also be used to determine the type of voice—i.e. if the voice is live, machine generated, or prerecorded. Where the call is a video telephony call, image recognition may be used to inspect an image of the person. The information obtained from voice recognition, voice type recognition, and image recognition may be used to detect whether the messages if from a known source of unsolicited communications.

Abstract: The present invention employs hierarchical modulation to simultaneously transmit information on different modulation layers using a carrier RF signal. Initially, first data to be transmitted is assigned to a first modulation layer and second data is assigned to a second modulation layer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second data are assigned based on reliability criteria. The first and second modulation layers are hierarchical modulation layers of the carrier RF signal. Once assigned, the first data is transmitted using the first modulation layer of the carrier RF signal and the second data is transmitted using the second modulation layer of the carrier RF signal. In one embodiment of the present invention, information may be transmitted to one end user using one modulation layer, and information may be transmitted to a different end user using a different modulation layer.

Abstract: Methods are provided that include recursively negotiating a boundary between a first virtual space controlled by a first peer and a second virtual space controlled by a second peer in a distributed virtual environment responsive to profile data of the first peer and the second peer. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed.

Abstract: Symbol detection and soft dempapping methods and systems are provided. Individual subset symbol detection according to an embodiment of the invention involves identifying a search subset of a transmission symbol set for a transmission symbol. For each other transmission symbol in communication signals, multiple search subsets of the transmission symbol set are identified. The multiple search subsets include respective search subsets based on each transmission symbol in either the search subset for the first identified one of the transmission symbols or each of the multiple search subsets identified for a different one of the other transmission symbols. Symbol detection errors may be detected by identifying competing symbols and computing competing distances. Soft demapping may be provided by calculating soft decision results based on detected symbols and weighting the soft decision result.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying one or more media items played within a geographic area selected by a user. In one embodiment, a media service tracks play histories for a number of users registered with the media service, where each play history identifies media items played by the corresponding user as well as the locations at which at least a subset of the media items were played by the corresponding user. The media service enables a requesting user to select or otherwise define one or more geographic areas of interest. Then, based on the play histories, the media service identifies one or more media items played within the one or more geographic areas of interest. The media service then provides data reflecting the one or more media items played within the one or more geographic areas of interest to a device of the requesting user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combined user agent, which acts on behalf of multiple packet-based communication clients that may have different media capabilities. The combined user agent allows the different communication clients to cooperate with one another and participate in the same multimedia session. Different ones of the communication clients may support different types of media sessions. The combined user agent may present a single interface, which is associated with a single identification, on behalf of the supported communication clients to remote communication clients. As such, the combined user agent may appear to remote communication clients as a single communication client having the combined capabilities of the supported communication clients.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for routing mobile users to safe, or secure, locations. In one embodiment, based on threat information obtained from one or more source, a threat level is determined for a location of a user of a mobile device. The threat level is indicative of physical safety and/or network safety at the location of the user of the mobile device. The threat level may be a function of a transaction type of a transaction being performed or desired to be performed by the user of the mobile device. If the location is unsafe, a safe location is identified, and the user of the mobile device is routed to the safe location.