Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a library of template polynucleotides and use thereof in methods of solid-phase nucleic acid amplification. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for preparing a library of template polynucleotides that have common sequences at their 5? ends and at their 3? ends.

Abstract: A soluble derivative of a soluble polypeptide, which comprises two or more heterologous membrane binding elements with low membrane affinity covalently associated with the polypeptide, the elements being soluble in aqueous solution, and the elements being capable of interacting, independently and with themodynamic additivity, with components of cellular or artificial membranes exposed to extracellular fluids, characterized in that the membrane binding elements target lipid raft components of the membrane and bind to the lipid rafts to localize the polypeptide at the lipid rafts.

Abstract: Modified DNA polymerases have an affinity for DNA such that the polymerase has an ability to incorporate one or more nucleotides into a plurality of separate DNA templates in each reaction cycle. The polymerases are capable of forming an increased number of productive polymerase-DNA complexes in each reaction cycle. The modified polymerases may be used in a number of DNA sequencing applications, especially in the context of clustered arrays.

Abstract: DVR-based targeted advertising is described. In an embodiment, a targeted advertisement system includes a DVR, an advertisement data store, and an advertisement manager. The DVR records media content, maintains the recorded media content for on-demand viewing, and provides the recorded media content for viewing when requested. The advertisement manager designates advertisement region(s) in the recorded media content as the media content is being recorded, where an advertisement region includes a first boundary and a second boundary to designate the advertisement region in the media content. The advertisement manager monitors a first data stream of the recorded media content when it is rendered for viewing to detect that a playback position of the first data stream has crossed an advertisement region boundary, and to initiate that an advertisement obtained from the advertisement data store be provided as a second data stream to render the advertisement for viewing.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified polymerase enzymes which exhibit improved incorporation of nucleotide analogues bearing substituents at the 3? position of the sugar moiety that are larger in size than the naturally occurring 3? hydroxyl group. Also described are methods of using the polymerases to incorporate nucleotides into polynucleotides, particularly in the context of DNA sequencing.

Abstract: Tiered command distribution is described. In an embodiment, a pipeline architecture includes processor chains of data processors that process control events received from an application interface control. A tier assignment algorithm determines the longest path of data processors through the processor chains to determine a tier allocation for each data processor in the set of processor chains. Each tier includes a data processor from one or more of the processor chains where a first set of data processors in a first tier each receive a control event and process the control event and/or process the data according to the control event before a second set of data processors in a second tier each receive the control event.

Abstract: Retry request overload protection is described. A server system determines a client status based on retry requests received from the client. The client status may be used to determine whether to accept and/or process new retry requests received from the client and/or whether to transmit previously requested retry packets to the client. The client status may be based on a number of retry requests received from the client, a number of retry packets requested by the client, and/or a number of bytes of data associated with the retry requests received from the client. The client status may be updated periodically, enabling a non-favorable client status to be modified to a favorable client status if retry requests recently received from the client are within favorable limits.

Abstract: The invention disclosure herein describes a method and formulations to produce dry tinted cement mixture, with product colors to match desired landscapes. The methods described produce a solid durable concrete-like structure, with a water permeable structure and with color to match a surrounding environment. Dry tinted cement mixture comprises a mixture of colorant and cement, which is blended together with crushed rock aggregate. The dry mixture is then slightly moistened while blending, such as with light mistings of water in a typical cement mixer. Once the mixture is blended and moistened, and before the cement sets and hardens, the slightly moistened mixture is poured into the desired location, spread, and compressed to grade, such as with rollers or tamping devices. As the material sets, light mistings of water can be applied to facilitate good hardening, and the top surface of the material can be smoothed or textured.

Abstract: A MediaDescription data structure that includes both descriptive metadata, such as EPG information, about a multimedia content item and instructions for acquiring the content item is assigned to each multimedia content item in a multimedia system. A MediaDescription data structure is transferable as a token for representing the content item. The acquisition information may also include information about presenting the content item in different view contexts, as well as information about relationships to other pieces of content, and information about how each different version of the content item is to be acquired and displayed. MediaDescription data structure tokens can be used to facilitate digital video recording (DVR) processes, Internet content rendering processes, multimedia search processes, search results aggregating processes, video-on-demand (VOD) processes, pay-per-view processes, and program guide rendering processes.

Abstract: A mixed-media service collection for multimedia platforms allows simultaneous access to various mixed-media services for rendering multimedia content, depending on current client conditions. In one implementation, in response to the client accessing a service collection, for example, by changing channels, only some of the mixed-media services in the service collection are simultaneously actuated based on client conditions. The client conditions may include the availability of subsystems to implement services and the client's authorization to receive services. If client conditions do not allow some services in the service collection to be actuated, then other services in the service collection are available to be actuated instead.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light emitting device consisting of one or more light sources coupled to a light guide containing diffuser particles having a refractive index close to the refractive index of the core of the light guide. The diffuser particles cause a scattering of the light emitted from the light sources so that light emitted from the light emitting device has colour variation imperceptible to the human eye and small and gradual variations in intensity.

Abstract: The invention relates to side-scattering light guides that generally comprise a core of transparent optically homogenous material seeded with diffuser particles. The light guide also comprises an optically transmitting sheath, having a lowerrefractive index than the core, surrounding and in contact with the sides of the core to prevent any light being transmitted along the core from escaping through the core's sides. In general, the diffuser particles impart only a small deviation to light rays incident upon them, and are distributed to scatter light being transmitted along the core so that at least some of the scattered light exits the sides of the core. A diffusing jacket is arranged to intercept scattered light exiting the sides of the core.

Abstract: Strategies are described for determining a configuration of information-transmission infrastructure. The information-transmission infrastructure includes a number of server modules for providing services to a collection of client modules. The configuration first involves determining whether a number of specified requirements can be satisfied using an input scaling equation. If so, the configuration proceeds by determining the number of server modules to deploy to satisfy the requirements using an output scaling equation, which determines the number m of server modules based on a linear transformation of the expected number of client modules. The configuration then involves assigning particular services to the server modules using either a probabilistic technique or a hash table technique. When deployed, all of the m server modules function as active sever modules (e.g., without the use of dedicated standby modules).

Abstract: The present invention provides a light transfer component formed from a material that is transparent for light of a predetermined range of wavelengths. The light transfer component comprises a first substantially flat portion, a second rounded portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and the second portion. The light transfer component is arranged for guiding light from the first portion through the intermediate portion to the second portion in a manner such that the light will not experience a reduction in cross-sectional area of more than 20% of the material through which it is guided.

Abstract: Accelerated channel change (ACC) strategies are described for supplying a client module with media information by transitioning between a first delivery of media information provided by first delivery functionality and a second delivery of media information provided by second delivery functionality without exceeding prescribed data rate limitations. The first delivery functionality can represent server-based functionality for delivering a unicast stream of media information at a data rate (or maximum data rate) of some excess amount over the nominal rate of delivery, starting at a selected location within the media information. The second delivery functionality can represent any functionality for delivering the media information at the data rate (or maximum data rate) of the nominal rate of delivery. A join interval separates the first delivery at the excess rate and the second delivery at the nominal rate.

Abstract: A method of determining a geographical location of an asset tracking device, includes searching, by the asset tracking device, for available location determination schemes at the geographical location, selecting one of the available location determination schemes, and determining coordinates of the geographical location using the selected location determination scheme. Some embodiments also include making a decision based, at least in part, upon the geographical location coordinates determined by using the selected location determination scheme. Some embodiments include transmitting a location message, the location message including the coordinates of the geographical location and an indication as to the selected location determination scheme.

Abstract: Strategies are described for performing retry analysis in an environment which involves the transmission of media information from a source module to a target module. In the context of the source module, the retry analysis determines whether the source module should satisfy the retry requests issued by the target module. In the context of the target module, the retry analysis determines whether the target module should generate the retry requests in the first place. Novel request reporting formats are also described. The target module performs analysis to determine what reporting format it should use to convey the retry requests to the source module.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling communication include a third party wireless access point and authorization mechanism that forwards messages between an asset tracking device and a remote tracking entity based, at least in part, upon whether an outbound message contains a destination address that is on an approved list maintained by the authorization mechanism, and upon whether an inbound message contains a source address that is on an approved list maintained by the authorization mechanism. In further aspects of the present invention, error handling is provided for circumstances in which the destination or source addresses are not on the approved list maintained by the authorization mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light collector. The light collector has a concentration C of dye molecules which absorb and emit light. The dye molecules are dispersed in a light transmissive medium and the concentration C is selected to reduce attenuation that light will suffer due to re-absorption or scattering in the main emission wavelength range of the dye molecules so that the combined emission and absorption efficiency of the light collector is increased.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the use of vaccinia virus or other poxviruses as vectors for expression of foreign genes. Expression of foreign genes is obtained by combining vaccinia virus transcriptional regulatory sequence with uninterrupted foreign protein coding sequences in vitro to form a chimeric gene. The chimeric gene is flanked by DNA from a non-essential region of the vaccinia virus genome to provide sites for in vivo homologous recombination. These steps are facilitated by the construction of plasmids that contain multiple restriction endonuclease sites, next to the vaccinia transcriptional regulatory sequences, for insertion of any foreign protein coding sequence. Transfection procedures are used to introduce the DNA into cells where homologous recombination results in the insertion of the chimeric gene into a non-essential region of the vaccinia virus genome.