Abstract: A refrigerator includes a freezer compartment provided with an automatic icemaker incorporating a mold configured to produce truncated, crescent-shaped ice cubes. With this arrangement, the icemaker produces cubes that are shorter than full, standard crescent-shaped cubes. The reduced mold size advantageously enables the icemaker to take less space in a freezer compartment, without a significant reduction in ice cube volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice dispenser apparatus having an ice storage bin removably mounted to the refrigerator for receiving and storing ice pieces from an ice maker, a metering device for separating individual ice pieces, and a sensing device for detecting the presence of ice pieces. Actuation of a motor causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces before, after, or during dispensing.

Abstract: A cryogenic apparatus is provided having a nested thermally insulating structure, thermal links, a vacuum shroud, and a cryo-cooler. The nested thermally insulated structure holds a sample to be cooled while dampening the external vibrations caused by the cryo-cooler, the surrounding environment or cryo-cooler mounting surface. The thermal link is made of thermally conductive wires which connect the nested thermally insulated structure and the cryo-cooler thereby allowing the apparatus to reduce vibrations inherent in the operation of the cryo-cooler.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer-implemented interactive content delivery system having a central control device operable for processing and verifying information, at least one messaging device operable for communicating with the central control device, a location control unit in communication with the central control device, and a service for obtaining data and information. The service is in communication with the central control device and the location control unit. The present invention further includes a user having a mobile communication device operable for sending a signal to the at least one messaging device. When the messaging device receives the signal from the mobile communication device, the messaging device will verify information of the user and communicate information to the central control device. The location control unit will receive information from the central control device and the service, and the location control unit will deliver information to the user.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a freezer compartment provided with an automatic icemaker incorporating a mold configured to produce truncated, crescent-shaped ice cubes. With this arrangement, the icemaker produces cubes that are shorter than full, standard crescent-shaped cubes. The reduced mold size advantageously enables the icemaker to take less space in a freezer compartment, without a significant reduction in ice cube volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice dispenser apparatus having an ice storage bin removably mounted to the refrigerator for receiving and storing ice pieces from an ice maker, a metering device for separating individual ice pieces, and a sensing device for detecting the presence of ice pieces. Actuation of a motor causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces before, after, or during dispensing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for providing security architecture for content management systems. An audit log table separates security concerns in framework code from application concerns in application code. Application developers place database access code in stored procedures. Each stored procedure records a unique identifier for each object involved in the database access code into an audit log, for later security checking by framework code. After executing the stored procedure, the framework code determines whether the stored procedure was authorized by checking the audit log and access control lists stored in the database. If not, an access violation error may be returned and the database may be rolled back.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for private information exchange in smart card commerce is disclosed. The method includes, in response to determining that an item of biometric data received on a biometric reader corresponds to an authorized user, unlocking a communication channel on a communication port, exchanging public keys between the user and authorized point of sale, receiving an information request from an external point of sale machine across the communication channel, decrypting an information request and parsing a data token.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for “cloaked” data objects in an electronic content management system. A “cloaked” data object is one that is inaccessible and unreadable by a user, but one which the user is permitted to know exists. The cloaked object may allow the user to know the scope of use of an object, without revealing the substantive content of the data object. A client application may process the cloaked object in a manner that is no different than manner in which the client processes an uncloaked version of the same data object.

Abstract: A system and a concomitant method for providing programming content in response to an audio signal. The programming content and the audio signal are transmitted in a network having a forward channel and a back channel. In one embodiment, the system comprises a local processing unit and a remote server computer. A first user provides a first audio signal containing a request for programming content from a service provider. The local processing unit receives the first audio signal and transmits the received first audio signal to a service provider via the back channel. The remote server computer receives the first audio signal from the back channel, recognizes the first user and the request for programming content, retrieves the requested programming content from a program database and transmits the programming content to the local processing unit via the forward channel.

Abstract: In a method for aiding a user to customize a motion film selection, a film clip including a video track and a sound track comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track is selected, the sound track is modified to remove a selected actor voice track, the film clip with the modified sound track is displayed to the user, text representative of the selected actor voice track is displayed in synchrony with selected actor voice track while displaying the film clip to the user, a new voice track generated by the user is recorded for synchronized playback with the selected actor, and a new sound track including the modified sound track and the new voice track is saved.

Abstract: Method and system for customizing a motion film selection by selecting a film clip including a video track and a sound track comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track, modifying the sound track to remove a selected actor voice track, recording a new voice track for synchronized playback with the selected actor, and saving a new sound track including the modified sound track and the new voice track.

Abstract: Method and system for customizing a motion film selection by selecting a film clip including a video track and a sound track comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track, modifying the sound track to remove a selected actor voice track, recording a new voice track for synchronized playback with the selected actor, and saving a new sound track including the modified sound track and the new voice track.

Abstract: Method and system for customizing a motion film selection by selecting a film clip including a video track and a sound track comprising one or more actor voice tracks and a background track, modifying the sound track to remove a selected actor voice track, recording a new voice track for synchronized playback with the selected actor, and saving a new sound track including the modified sound track and the new voice track.

Abstract: A handwriting recognition system achieves a higher recognition rate by using a feature extraction method which computes features based on multiple data frames. A plurality of data frames is generated from handwritten text received by the system. Each data frame includes samples taken from the handwritten text. Individual-frame features are extracted from individual data frames, and in turn, multi-frame features are extracted from individual-frame features which correspond to different data frames.

Abstract: A decorative magnetic occluding device for decoratively and uniformly occluding opposing surface portions of a non-magnetic panel which includes a matched pair of sheet magnets, each being the mirror image configuration of the other. Each magnet has a decorative surface, which is a mirror image configuration of the decorative surface of the other magnet, and an opposite magnetized surface. The magnetized surfaces have alternating North and South stripes of polarity, with the stripes of polarity of one of the magnetized surfaces being offset by one stripe from the corresponding stripes of polarity of the other of the magnetized surfaces. Each magnet has visual orientation means to ensure that the corresponding stripes of polarity of each magnet will be opposite in polarity when the magnets are mated.