Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed that enable advertisers, publishers, and consumers to interact to provide well-targeted advertisement impressions, while preserving consumer privacy. Particularly, the system and methods enable accurate and reliable targeting of advertisements without the need for privacy-invasive tracking and collection of consumer information by advertisers or publishers. Instead, the consumer retains complete control of his or her own private information, even while that private information is used for programmatic targeting of advertisements. The system and methods disclosed herein advantageously utilize blockchain as a tool for arbitrating data, which accounts for and helps to eliminate fraud, costly arbitrage, and brand safety concerns by providing the programmatic advertising ecosystem with trust, permanence, transparency, and auditability.

Abstract: A bicycle saddle can be customized to a rider's body to achieve desired support and comfort. The support shell is configured to support a rider's body and can be heated by an external heater and/or at least one internal thermal element operable to heat the bicycle saddle such that the saddle is molded to the rider.

Abstract: A method for auditing an advertisement impression in which a first advertisement was presented in conjunction with first media content is disclosed. The method generally comprises transmitting to a plurality of second computing devices a plurality of randomly generated first cryptographic proofs; receiving, a first message from a second computing device indicating that the first advertisement was presented in conjunction with the first media content; and evaluating the first targeting model for the first advertisement based on the at least one media content classifier.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically attaching optical character recognition data to images are provided. The techniques include receiving an image file containing an image and performing optical character recognition on the image to generate text output. The techniques then continue by identifying a particular text item from within the generated text output and determining that the particular text item is a value for particular corresponding key. Then metadata that indicates that the particular text item is a value for the particular key is stored in the image file.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically attaching optical character recognition data to images are provided. The techniques include receiving an image file containing an image and performing optical character recognition on the image to generate text output. The techniques then continue by identifying a particular text item from within the generated text output and determining that the particular text item is a value for particular corresponding key. Then metadata that indicates that the particular text item is a value for the particular key is stored in the image file.

Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed that enable advertisers, publishers, and consumers to interact to provide well-targeted advertisement impressions, while preserving consumer privacy. Particularly, the system and methods enable accurate and reliable targeting of advertisements without the need for privacy-invasive tracking and collection of consumer information by advertisers or publishers. Instead, the consumer retains complete control of his or her own private information, even while that private information is used for programmatic targeting of advertisements. The system and methods disclosed herein advantageously utilize blockchain as a tool for arbitrating data, which accounts for and helps to eliminate fraud, costly arbitrage, and brand safety concerns by providing the programmatic advertising ecosystem with trust, permanence, transparency, and auditability.

Abstract: A system for providing non-repudiation and data integrity of communications online is shown and described. The system has one or more servers communicably connected to a communications network, the one or more server including at least one processor configured for receiving, from a first party, an ad request for an ad impression available for sale. The ad request includes a plurality of attributes associated with the ad impression and a first cryptographic proof that provides non-repudiation and data integrity of the ad request, wherein the first cryptographic proof comprises a second cryptographic proof of the first party; and, authenticating non-repudiation and data integrity of the ad request by querying a blockchain having a public key infrastructure. The public key infrastructure also has a public key associated with the first party. Furthermore, the public key infrastructure authenticates the second cryptographic proof against the public key associated with the first party.

Abstract: A system for providing non-repudiation and data integrity of communications online is shown and described. The system has one or more servers communicably connected to a communications network, the one or more server including at least one processor configured for receiving, from a first party, an ad request for an ad impression available for sale. The ad request includes a plurality of attributes associated with the ad impression and a first cryptographic proof that provides non-repudiation and data integrity of the ad request, wherein the first cryptographic proof comprises a second cryptographic proof of the first party; and, authenticating non-repudiation and data integrity of the ad request by querying a blockchain having a public key infrastructure. The public key infrastructure also has a public key associated with the first party. Furthermore, the public key infrastructure authenticates the second cryptographic proof against the public key associated with the first party.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a camera, a dark field illumination source, and a fiber inspection housing including a fiber connector input situated to receive an optical fiber connector so that an optical fiber output end of the optical fiber connector is removably insertable into an interior region of the fiber inspection housing and securable at a predetermined location in the interior region, a camera input situated to receive and secure the camera so that the camera is in optical communication with the interior region and the optical fiber output end, and a dark field illumination source input situated to receive the dark field illumination source so that light emitted from the dark field illumination source is received by the optical fiber output end at a dark field illumination angle and is scattered by contamination or defects associated with the optical fiber output end so as to be detectable by the camera.

Abstract: A bicycle saddle can be customized to a rider's body to achieve desired support and comfort. The support shell is configured to support a rider's body and can be heated by an external heater and/or at least one internal thermal element operable to heat the bicycle saddle such that the saddle is molded to the rider.

Abstract: A system for providing authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation to advertising technology. At least one processor receives an ad request for an ad impression available for sale. The ad request includes attributes associated with the ad impression and a cryptographic proof that provides non-repudiation and data integrity of the ad request. The ad request is authenticated by querying a blockchain. The processor accesses a database of second parties seeking to purchase ads online. The database stores attributes associated with each second party, matches the ad request with a selected second party based on the attributes associated with each second party in the database and the attributes associated with the ad impression of the ad request. The processor transmits to the first party a message having an ad and a cryptographic proof of the message, so as to fill the ad impression with the ad for the selected second party.

Abstract: A system for providing authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation to advertising technology. At least one processor receives an ad request for an ad impression available for sale. The ad request includes attributes associated with the ad impression and a cryptographic proof that provides non-repudiation and data integrity of the ad request. The ad request is authenticated by querying a blockchain. The processor accesses a database of second parties seeking to purchase ads online. The database stores attributes associated with each second party, matches the ad request with a selected second party based on the attributes associated with each second party in the database and the attributes associated with the ad impression of the ad request. The processor transmits to the first party a message having an ad and a cryptographic proof of the message, so as to fill the ad impression with the ad for the selected second party.

Abstract: Fiber bending mechanisms vary beam characteristics by deflecting or bending one or more fibers, by urging portions of one or more fibers toward a fiber shaping surface having a selectable curvature, or by selecting a fiber length that is to be urged toward the fiber shaping surface. In some examples, a fiber is secured to a flexible plate to conform to a variable curvature of the flexible plate. In other examples, a variable length of a fiber is pulled or pushed toward a fiber shaping surface, and the length of the fiber or a curvature of the flexible plate provide modification of fiber beam characteristics.

Abstract: Sulfate and sulfonate derivatives of unsaturated fatty alcohols, processes for making them, and methods of using them are disclosed. In one aspect, a monounsaturated fatty alcohol composition is made by reducing a metathesis-derived monounsaturated alkyl ester. The fatty alcohol composition is then converted to a sulfate or sulfonate derivative by one or more of alkoxylation, sulfation, sulfonation, and sulfitation. Of particular interest are the sulfate and ether sulfate derivatives. Microscopy studies indicate that the unsaturated sodium sulfates in particular have a lamellar phase that should enable formulation at high actives levels. Sulfate compositions comprising 40 to 60 wt. % of a monounsaturated fatty primary alcohol sulfate and 40 to 60 wt. % of a secondary hydroxyalkyl primary alcohol sulfate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cross-cylinder objective assembly includes a fast axis objective (FAO) situated along an optical axis for focusing an incident laser beam along a fast axis, a slow axis objective (SAO) situated along the optical axis for focusing the incident laser beam along a slow axis, and a lens cell having fast and slow axis objective receiving portions for registering the FAO and SAO at a predetermined spacing along the optical axis.

Abstract: Sulfate and sulfonate derivatives of unsaturated fatty alcohols, processes for making them, and methods of using them are disclosed. In one aspect, a monounsaturated fatty alcohol composition is made by reducing a metathesis-derived monounsaturated alkyl ester. The fatty alcohol composition is then converted to a sulfate or sulfonate derivative by one or more of alkoxylation, sulfation, sulfonation, and sulfitation. Of particular interest are the sulfate and ether sulfate derivatives.

Abstract: Fiber bending mechanisms vary beam characteristics by deflecting or bending one or more fibers, by urging portions of one or more fibers toward a fiber shaping surface having a selectable curvature, or by selecting a fiber length that is to be urged toward the fiber shaping surface. In some examples, a fiber is secured to a flexible plate to conform to a variable curvature of the flexible plate. In other examples, a variable length of a fiber is pulled or pushed toward a fiber shaping surface, and the length of the fiber or a curvature of the flexible plate provide modification of fiber beam characteristics.

Abstract: Techniques for optical character recognition improvement based on inline location determination is provided. The techniques include receiving a digital data stream containing a digital image. As the digital data stream arrives, a determination is made whether a number of received bytes associated with a header portion of the digital image has reached a target number. In response to determining that the number of received bytes associated with the header portion of the digital image has reached the target number, the bytes associated with the header portion of the digital image are cloned. While the digital data stream is received, location data from the cloned bytes associated with the header portion are determined. After the digital image has been received, text in the digital image is caused to be recognized by an optical character recognition system based, at least in part, on the location data.

Abstract: A method of making a three-dimensional object. The method comprises: a) positioning a layer of particles over a build plate; b) exposing the layer of particles to a first laser beam having a first set of beam characteristics, thereby heating the layer sufficiently to fuse at least a portion of the particles together to form a build layer; c) exposing a first region of one of i) the layer of particles or ii) the build layer to a second laser beam having a second set of beam characteristics to provide a first temperature profile for the first region; and d) exposing a second region of one of i) the layer of particles or ii) the build layer to a third laser beam having a third set of beam characteristics to provide a second temperature profile for the second region, the second temperature profile being different than the first temperature profile, wherein both the first region and the second region are in the layer of particles or both the first region and the second region are in the build layer.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems comprising a fiber-coupled laser and time-varying beam characteristics. A laser may generate an optical beam that is launched into one or more lengths of fiber, at least one of which comprises a confinement region that is optically coupled to an output. A perturbation device may modulate, through action upon the one or more lengths of fiber, a beam characteristic over a time period during which the laser is energized. A controller may cause the perturbation device to act upon the one or more lengths of fiber to impart a time-averaged beam characteristic and/or to induce a continuous variation in one or more beam characteristics during system use. A process monitor may sense a metric external to the optical system, and a feedback signal from the process monitor may be coupled into the controller. Dynamic beam characteristics may be modulated based on the feedback signal.