Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for encouraging product referrals, including providing rewards in response to accepting a purchase transaction request for the referred product, executing a purchase transaction related to the request, and receiving referring consumer identification data. Referring consumer identification may be transmitted to the first electronic device after an account is created. A product data request relating to a referred product may be received from a first electronic device associated with a referring consumer, and the product data may be transmitted to the first electronic device. A purchase transaction request for the referred product and the referring consumer identification may be received from a second electronic device associated with a referred consumer. A reward may be provided to the referring consumer in response to executing the purchase transaction, and may be based on the purchase transaction request. A purchase reward for the referred product may also be provided.

Abstract: A method for social networking of mobile devices based upon telephone numbers of the mobile devices includes receiving user profile information and telephone numbers of contacts from a plurality of users' mobile devices; at least one of creating and updating respective user profiles based upon the telephone numbers of the users' mobile devices and the received profile information; identifying relationships among the users based at least upon the contacts contained in the contacts information; and establishing a social network group including at least two of the users based upon the identified relationships among the users.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and device to monitor the heart of a subject using radio signals. Availability of a portable heart monitor that can be used in a subject's home can increase patient compliance and improve diagnosis rates of cardiac conditions. A mobile heart monitor can be especially useful to those subjects who are elderly, incapacitated, or do not have easy access to a clinic, doctor's office, or hospital.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for determining the number and type of blood cells in a blood sample. The blood sample is collected and held in a slide. In the slide, the blood sample is separated and channeled into at least two sampling chambers, one for red blood cells, another for white blood cells, and optionally yet another for platelets. The sampling chambers have wetting agents, lysing agents, staining agents, or the like therein to mix with the blood and facilitate cell count. The slide is placed in a portable slide analyzer where the sampling chambers are illuminated and images of the sampling chambers are taken. These images are converted into electronic form and sent by a communications module of the slide analyzer to a remote external location where the images are analyzed to determine the number and type of blood cells in the blood sample.

Abstract: This disclosure describes the development of a sample preparation, measurement, and analysis method that permits accurate characterization of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells, including a 3-part differential of the white blood cells count, to be performed on small volumes of a biological sample. This method is compatible with compact and portable instrumentation that permits the sample collection to be performed in a subject's home and analysis to be performed elsewhere by transmission of the data to a laboratory or doctor's office.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible boot for at least partially encompassing an electronic device. In one embodiment, the boot includes a rear panel and a sidewall extending from the real panel. The sidewall includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of compressible hollow regions positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface. The rear panel and the inner surface of the sidewall at least partially define a cavity configured to receive the device. Other embodiments of the present disclosure provide a case for housing an electronic device. In one embodiment, the case includes an elastomeric boot and a rigid posterior portion defining an opening therethrough through which a portion of the boot extends. The boot includes a sidewall and is configured to receive the device such that the sidewall at least partially surrounds a plurality of lateral sides of the device.

Abstract: A case for holding a portable electronic device includes an anterior portion, a posterior portion, a boot, a transparent covering portion, and a plurality of fasteners. The anterior portion may have a front surface, a back surface, and a screen window. The posterior portion may have a front surface and a back surface. The boot may be flexible and may fit around the portable electronic device. The boot may have a sidewall, a flange extending inwardly from the sidewall, and a rear panel. The sidewall may be between the anterior portion and the posterior portion. The transparent covering portion may have an outer edge, a front surface, and a back surface. The outer edge may be between the boot and the back surface of the anterior portion. The plurality of fasteners may fasten the anterior portion and the posterior portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing referrals for referred products, including providing rewards in response to accepting a purchase transaction request for the referred product, executing a purchase transaction related to the request, and receiving referring consumer identification data. Referring consumer identification data may be transmitted to the first electronic device after an account is created. A product data request relating to a referred product may be received from a first electronic device associated with a referring consumer, and the product data may be transmitted to the first electronic device. A purchase transaction request for the referred product and the referring consumer identification data may be received from a second electronic device associated with a referred consumer. A reward may be provided to the referring consumer in response to executing the purchase transaction, and may be based on the purchase transaction request.

Abstract: A case for holding a portable electronic device includes an anterior portion, a posterior portion, a boot, a transparent covering portion, and a plurality of fasteners. The anterior portion may have a front surface, a back surface, and a screen window. The posterior portion may have a front surface and a back surface. The boot may be flexible and may fit around the portable electronic device. The boot may have a sidewall, a flange extending inwardly from the sidewall, and a rear panel. The sidewall may be between the anterior portion and the posterior portion. The transparent covering portion may have an outer edge, a front surface, and a back surface. The outer edge may be between the boot and the back surface of the anterior portion. The plurality of fasteners may fasten the anterior portion and the posterior portion.

Abstract: A protective case for housing a wireless communication device is provided. The protective case may include integral wireless communication circuitry independent of the wireless communication device. The wireless communication circuitry may be configured to enable communication between the protective case and one or more remote communication devices via a short range network. The protective case may further include an integral speaker configured to reproduce audio signals received by the integral wireless communication circuitry and an integral power source configured to provide power to at least the integral wireless communication circuitry and the integral speaker. The integral wireless communication circuitry and the integral speaker may be capable of functioning independently of the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A system and method for disinfecting hard surfaces in an area such as a hospital room including a light source emitting UV light and a reflector mounted behind the light source for concentrating and directing the light toward a target. The light source and reflector rotate to direct the concentrated beam around a room, thereby making more efficient use of the energy being emitted.

Abstract: Method and system embodiments of the present invention employ risk and return estimates in order to select and schedule display of advertisements. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to an advertising system that includes an advertising-selection-and-scheduling component and an information-provision system. The advertising-selection-and-scheduling component selects advertising for inclusion in information provided to users, prepares a schedule based on risk associated with including the selected advertising in the information provided to the users according to the schedule and based on return expected from including the selected advertising in the information provided to the users according to the schedule, and stores the prepared schedule in a computer-readable medium for subsequent access by the information-provision system.

Abstract: A controller for a video game is disclosed. The controller may be a generally U-shaped steering wheel including a pair of hand grips attached to and extending from a base connector. The ends of the hand grips may be angled downward. The design of the hand grips together with the downwardly extending ends provides for an ergonomic design of the controller with easy access to controls on the hand grips whether the controller is grasped with a pronated or supinated hand positions.