Abstract: A method is provided comprising receiving tradeline data associated with a consumer related to a tradeline, determining payment terms of the tradeline by selecting the greatest of a minimum potential payment amount, a fixed percentage potential payment amount, and a fixed percentage plus finance charge potential payment amount, and calculating (in response to selection of the fixed percentage plus finance charge potential payment amount) an APR of the tradeline.

Abstract: Methods and systems for personalizing access to client devices using near field communication is disclosed. In a transaction between a client and a server, the client may detect the presence of a computing device using near field communication, and the device may be identified as an assistive computing device. Based on this information, the client may send the assistive computing device user interface data such that the transaction can be completed on the assistive computing device instead of the client.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for improving perpendicular magnetic recording media. The present invention provides media, and a method of fabricating media in a cost-effective manner, with a reduced ruthenium (Ru) content interlayer structure, while meeting media performance requirements. A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is provided comprising a non-magnetic substrate having a surface, and a layer stack situated on the substrate surface. The layer stack comprises, in overlying sequence from the substrate surface a magnetically soft underlayer; an amorphous or crystalline, non-magnetic seed layer; an interlayer structure for crystallographically orienting a layer of a perpendicular magnetic recording material situated on the underlayer; and at least one crystallographically oriented, magnetically hard, perpendicular magnetic recording layer situated on the interlayer structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for personalizing access to client devices using near field communication is disclosed. In a transaction between a client and a server, the client may detect the presence of a computing device using near field communication, and the device may be identified as an assistive computing device. Based on this information, the client may send the assistive computing device user interface data such that the transaction can be completed on the assistive computing device instead of the client.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for improving perpendicular magnetic recording media. The present invention provides media, and a method of fabricating media in a cost-effective manner, with a reduced ruthenium (Ru) content interlayer structure, while meeting media performance requirements. A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is provided comprising a non-magnetic substrate having a surface, and a layer stack situated on the substrate surface. The layer stack comprises, in overlying sequence from the substrate surface a magnetically soft underlayer; an amorphous or crystalline, non-magnetic seed layer; an interlayer structure for crystallographically orienting a layer of a perpendicular magnetic recording material situated on the underlayer; and at least one crystallographically oriented, magnetically hard, perpendicular magnetic recording layer situated on the interlayer structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a parameter of a measurement device during polishing, damage to a specimen during polishing, a characteristic of a polishing pad, or a characteristic of a polishing tool are provided. One method includes scanning a specimen with a measurement device during polishing of a specimen to generate output signals at measurement spots on the specimen. The method also includes determining if the output signals are outside of a range of output signals. Output signals outside of the range may indicate that a parameter of the measurement device is out of control limits. In a different embodiment, output signals outside of the range may indicate damage to the specimen. Another method includes scanning a polishing pad with a measurement device to generate output signals at measurement spots on the polishing pad. The method also includes determining a characteristic of the polishing pad from the output signals.

Abstract: A computer usable medium including computer usable program code for determining an oilfield parameter for a drilling operation. The computer usable program code when executed causing a processor to identify first decision factors and second decision factors about the drilling operation, where each of the first decision factors is contained within first nodes, and where each of the second decision factors is contained within second nodes, where the first and second nodes contain common nodes. The computer usable program code further causing the processor to associate the first nodes to create a first belief network and associate the second nodes to create a second belief network, associate the common nodes of the first belief network with the common nodes of the second belief network to form a multinet belief network, and generate at least one oilfield parameter from the multinet belief network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a parameter of a measurement device during polishing, damage to a specimen during polishing, a characteristic of a polishing pad, or a characteristic of a polishing tool are provided. One method includes scanning a specimen with a measurement device during polishing of a specimen to generate output signals at measurement spots on the specimen. The method also includes determining if the output signals are outside of a range of output signals. Output signals outside of the range may indicate that a parameter of the measurement device is out of control limits. In a different embodiment, output signals outside of the range may indicate damage to the specimen. Another method includes scanning a polishing pad with a measurement device to generate output signals at measurement spots on the polishing pad. The method also includes determining a characteristic of the polishing pad from the output signals.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an image capturing system comprising a printed circuit board and an image capturing module. The image capturing module comprises a processing device, an image capturing device, a lens and a housing. The processing device is disposed above the printed circuit board and electronically connected with the printed circuit board. The image capturing device is disposed above the processing device and electronically connected with the processing device. The lens is disposed above the image capturing device, and the housing is disposed on the printed circuit board and encloses the processing device, the image capturing device and the lens.

Abstract: A method and integrated hardware system for multicast transmission shaping in EPONs which employs a selective multicast algorithm that significantly reduces the complexity of traffic shaping for multicast traffic. Unlike prior art methods, my method exploits the broadcasting nature of the downstream point-to-multipoint access system including EPONs. Operationally, the method transforms a multicast traffic shaping problem into a unicast traffic shaping problem by selecting a multicast subscriber and subsequently treating packets addressed to that selected multicast subscriber as unicast. Advantageously, these packets are still available to other members of the multicast group. And since these packets are treated as unicast from the perspective of traffic shaping, my inventive method significantly reduces traffic shaping complexity in multicast environment.

Abstract: A computer usable medium including computer usable program code for determining an oilfield parameter for a drilling operation. The computer usable program code when executed causing a processor to identify first decision factors and second decision factors about the drilling operation, where each of the first decision factors is contained within first nodes, and where each of the second decision factors is contained within second nodes, where the first and second nodes contain common nodes. The computer usable program code further causing the processor to associate the first nodes to create a first belief network and associate the second nodes to create a second belief network, associate the common nodes of the first belief network with the common nodes of the second belief network to form a multinet belief network, and generate at least one oilfield parameter from the multinet belief network.

Abstract: A method is described for determining an oilfield parameter for a drilling operation in an oilfield, the oilfield having a well site with a drilling tool advanced into a subterranean formation with geological structures and reservoirs therein. A first set of decision factors and a second set of decision factors about the drilling operation are identified. Each of the first set of decision factors is contained within a first set of nodes, and each of the second set of decision factors is contained within a second set of nodes. Both the first set of nodes and the second set of nodes contain a set of common nodes, which are common to both the first and second sets. The first set of nodes is associated to create a first belief network and the second set of nodes is associated to create a second belief network. Then, the set of common nodes of the first belief network is associated with the set of common nodes of the second belief network to form a multinet belief network.

Abstract: Forwarding loop prevention apparatus and methods are provided. After a communication traffic block such as a packet is received, a determination is made as to whether the packet is to be broadcasted to a number of communication devices. If the packet is to be broadcasted, the packet is modified to include an indication that the packet is reflected, and the packet is broadcasted. A device that receives the broadcasted packet determines whether it is reflected and whether the identifier is associated with the device. If the packet is reflected and the identifier is associated with the device, the device discards the packet. Otherwise it forwards the packet. Forwarding loops may instead be avoided without modifying packets, based on an amount of time elapsed between sending and receiving a packet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for improving perpendicular magnetic recording media. The present invention provides media, and a method of fabricating media in a cost-effective manner, with a reduced ruthenium (Ru) content interlayer structure, while meeting media performance requirements. A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is provided comprising a non-magnetic substrate having a surface, and a layer stack situated on the substrate surface. The layer stack comprises, in overlying sequence from the substrate surface a magnetically soft underlayer; an amorphous or crystalline, non-magnetic seed layer; an interlayer structure for crystallographically orienting a layer of a perpendicular magnetic recording material situated on the underlayer; and at least one crystallographically oriented, magnetically hard, perpendicular magnetic recording layer situated on the interlayer structure.

Abstract: A router identifies in a data packet an address of a network device. An algorithm determines that the address and a first prefix in a tree data structure match up to a first mask length of the first prefix. The algorithm maintains the first prefix in a temporary storage location if there is a match, and determines whether the address and a second prefix in the tree data structure match up to a second mask length of the second prefix, wherein an external node of the second prefix is linked below an external node of the first prefix, and wherein the second mask length is longer than the first mask length. The algorithm maintains the second prefix as a better match of the address, if the address and the second prefix match up to the mask length of the second prefix.

Abstract: A method is described for determining an oilfield parameter for a drilling operation in an oilfield, the oilfield having a well site with a drilling tool advanced into a subterranean formation with geological structures and reservoirs therein. A first set of decision factors and a second set of decision factors about the drilling operation are identified. Each of the first set of decision factors is contained within a first set of nodes, and each of the second set of decision factors is contained within a second set of nodes. Both the first set of nodes and the second set of nodes contain a set of common nodes, which are common to both the first and second sets. The first set of nodes is associated to create a first belief network and the second set of nodes is associated to create a second belief network. Then, the set of common nodes of the first belief network is associated with the set of common nodes of the second belief network to form a multinet belief network.

Abstract: For each packet for a subscriber, a policer or method: compares the number of bytes available to the subscriber to the size of the packet; if the size is less than or equal to the number of bytes, passes the packet; if the size is larger than the number of bytes available and a priority of the packet is a first priority, processes the packet as non-conforming; if the size is larger than the number of bytes available and the priority is a second priority, and if allowing the packet to be passed will result in a deficit not exceeding a predetermined deficit value, passes the packet; and if the size is larger than the number of bytes available and the priority is the second priority, and if allowing the packet to be passed will result in a deficit exceeding the predetermined deficit value, processes the packet as non-conforming.

Abstract: A highly reliable, carrier class passive optical network and associated devices which employs multiple instances of operating software in host systems, as well as mechanisms to automatically determine whether an individual OLT device has entered or left the system without disruption to overall system operation.

Abstract: A method and integrated hardware system for dynamic bandwidth allocation in EPONs which—in sharp contrast to the prior art—provides superior upstream transmission characteristics including QoS considerations consistent with any Service Level Agreement that exists between a customer and a service provider. Advantageously, our inventive method and system for dynamic bandwidth allocation provides fair and efficient upstream bandwidth management in addition to enhanced traffic performance for customer traffic within the EPON. For a service provider, our invention permits the deployment of intelligent traffic management and QoS characteristics capable of supporting existing or novel voice, video, and data services over the EPON.

Abstract: A highly reliable, carrier class passive optical network and associated devices which employs multiple instances of operating software in host systems, as well as mechanisms to automatically determine whether an individual OLT device has entered or left the system without disruption to overall system operation.