Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically obtaining cost-efficient access to a media content collection are provided. A user selection of a media content collection, which consists of a number of media assets, is received. A first price is determined for receiving access to the entire media content collection using a single transaction. For each media asset of the media content collection a set of providers of the media asset are identified, and the lowest price for receiving access to each media asset is determined. The lowest price for receiving access to each media asset of the media content collection is accumulated to determine a second price for receiving access to the media content collection using multiple transactions. The first and the second price are compared, and access to the media content collection is received based on this comparison.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically generating a media asset segment based on verbal input are provided. Verbal input is received from a user while a media asset is being presented to the user. The verbal input is processed to extract an instruction and comment information included in the verbal input. The instruction is cross-referenced with a command database to determine whether the instruction corresponds to a segment generation command. In response to determining the instruction corresponds to the segment generation command, a segment that includes a portion of the media asset that was presented to the user when the verbal input was received is generated. The comment information is associated with the generated segment. A message that includes the generated segment and the associated comment information is transmitted to a remote server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving multiple user messages that identify a media asset segment position are provided. A plurality of messages from a plurality of users is received with a remote server. Each message identifies a segment within the media asset through which a fast-access playback operation was performed. The received messages are processed to extract media asset information and the identified segment. The extracted media asset information of each message is cross-referenced with a media asset information database to identify the media asset that corresponds to each of the received messages. The identified segments extracted from each of the plurality of messages are processed to determine a position of the segment within the identified media asset. The position of the segment within the media asset is stored in the media asset information database for the media asset that corresponds to each of the received messages.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing input from a plurality of users to identify a type of media asset segment are provided. A plurality of messages is received from a plurality of users at a remote server. The received messages are processed to extract a plurality of words from each message. Each of a first plurality of the words is cross-referenced with a first database of media asset information to identify a media asset that corresponds to a portion of the received messages. A segment within the media asset is identified based on the portion of the received messages. Each of a second plurality of the words of the portion of the received messages is cross-referenced with a second database of segment types to assign a type to the identified segment. Information is stored for the media asset identifying a position and type of the segment within the media asset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing access to a segment of a media asset during a fast-access playback operation are provided. A media asset is retrieved from storage. A user request to perform a fast-access playback operation on the media asset is received. Information that identifies the segment of the media asset is retrieved. The information is generated based on input received from a crowd that includes a plurality of users that have previously consumed the media asset. The fast-access playback operation is automatically terminated before the segment is reached based on the retrieved information.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and systems for gathering gamification data from business applications. Common gamification data that describes a user that accesses a business software environment, and specific gamification data that describes the user and is specific to a particular computer system in the business environment are identified at a user interface of a client device in response to a request from a gamification engine. By executing gamification logic in the user interface, the common gamification data and the specific gamification data are collected at the user interface and provided to the gamification engine. For example, the gamification data can be gathered by monitoring interactions between the user and the client device that is connected to the gamification engine at the user interface, and provided to the gamification engine independent of the business computer system to which the client device is connected.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bioactive fluid dose on an ingestible sheet, comprising the steps of advancing the ingestible sheet to a dispense position, and activating a fluid ejector to dispense essentially a drop of a bioactive fluid onto the ingestible sheet.

Abstract: A method of applying an orally-ingestible medicament to an orally-ingestible carrier comprising the steps of controlling a relative position between a fluid ejector and the carrier, and ejecting a plurality of drops of solution onto the carrier, wherein the plurality of drops includes a desired therapeutic quantity of the orally-ingestible medicament.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting user input in a media guidance application is provided. A visual keypad including a non-alphanumeric pane with at least one non-alphanumeric or function button may rotate, or orbit, around some or all of the core alphabet block. The non-alphanumeric pane may be redisplayed or repositioned closer or adjacent to the current cursor position within the visual keypad. Enhanced user input features, such as automatic string completion, automatic next character selection, automatic cursor movement, and automatic character removal, may be combined with the non-alphanumeric pane.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simplifying text entry are provided. A visual keypad may include a plurality of user-selectable buttons corresponding to at least some of the buttons of the alphabet. The layout of the visual keypad may be determined based on an n-gram table. The layout of the visual keypad may be rearranged based at least in part on the most likely next character in response to receiving a user selection of a button on the visual keypad.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer program products, for abstracting rendering logic and automatically generating platform-specific renderers from the abstracted rendering logic for multiple platforms. A platform-independent description of rendering logic for a control is specified. The platform-independent description is used to generate a platform-specific renderer for the control. The platform-specific renderer is operable to be executed on a specific platform to produce code that can be used in rendering the control on a client computer. Some implementations enable code for platform-specific renderers to be generated automatically based on centrally defined rendering logic. Rendering logic can thus be modified once and used to automatically update code and libraries for platform-specific renderers on multiple platforms.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to odor-releasing ink-jet inks and methods for releasing odors from printed images. The ink-jet ink includes an ink vehicle; an effective amount of an electro-thermal material dispersed within the ink vehicle; and an effective amount of an odor-releasing additive within the ink vehicle wherein an odorant is releasable from the odor-releasing additive upon substantial activation of the electro-thermal material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bioactive fluid dose on an ingestible sheet, comprising the steps of advancing the ingestible sheet to a dispense position, and activating a fluid ejector to dispense essentially a drop of a bioactive fluid onto the ingestible sheet.

Abstract: Circuit Elements such as capacitors and inductors are formed from electroconductive material printed on a sheet. By printing lines in electroconductive material on both sides of a sheet, a capacitor is generated with the sheet serving as the capacitor's dielectric. If a series of parallel lines is printed at an angle with respect to a sheet and the sheet is subsequently rolled so that one end of each line engages another line to create a coil and the ends of the coil are connected across a current source, an inductor is created. The inductor can be used with another inductor to form a transformer. If two identical inductor sheets are placed one on top of the other and both are rolled to form concentric inductors, the resultant circuit element has both inductance and capacitance properties.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer program products, for abstracting rendering logic and automatically generating platform-specific renderers from the abstracted rendering logic for multiple platforms. A platform-independent description of rendering logic for a control is specified. The platform-independent description is used to generate a platform-specific renderer for the control. The platform-specific renderer is operable to be executed on a specific platform to produce code that can be used in rendering the control on a client computer. Some implementations enable code for platform-specific renderers to be generated automatically based on centrally defined rendering logic. Rendering logic can thus be modified once and used to automatically update code and libraries for platform-specific renderers on multiple platforms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic printing media that is used in a laser or inkjet printer. The magnetic printing media is comprised of at least three layers, including a base layer, at least one magnetic layer, and at least one ink receptive layer. Magnetically encoded information is recorded onto the magnetic layer(s), while text and graphics are printed onto the ink receptive layer(s). In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic printing media is used to verify the authenticity of a document. In an alternate embodiment, the magnetic printing media is used to record additional information that is protected from view and from photocopying.

Abstract: A fluid ejection cartridge for dispensing a bioactive fluid including a first reservoir containing the bioactive fluid and a first fluid ejector fluidically coupled to the first reservoir. The first fluid ejector ejects at least a drop of the bioactive fluid onto the ingestible sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to odor-releasing ink-jet inks and methods for releasing odors from printed images. The ink-jet ink comprises an ink vehicle; an effective amount of an electro-thermal material dispersed within the ink vehicle; and an effective amount of an odor-releasing additive within the ink vehicle wherein an odorant is releasable from the odor-releasing additive upon substantial activation of the electro-thermal material.

Abstract: A fluid ejection cartridge for dispensing a bioactive fluid including a first reservoir containing the bioactive fluid and a first fluid ejector fluidically coupled to the first reservoir. The first fluid ejector ejects at least a drop of the bioactive fluid onto the ingestible sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to odor-releasing ink-jet inks and methods for releasing odors from printed images. The ink-jet ink comprises an ink vehicle; an effective amount of an electro-thermal material dispersed within the ink vehicle; and an effective amount of an odor-releasing additive within the ink vehicle wherein an odorant is releasable from the odor-releasing additive upon substantial activation of the electro-thermal material.