Abstract: There are disclosed devices, system and methods for predicting a likelihood of whether digital video ads will start on a given user device using a predictive model of the user device. The predictive model simulates a start of play in the user device and determines if the digital video ad started to play.

Abstract: A golf ball aligning device comprises a shaft having a first and a second end, a handle mounted to the first end and a head member mounted to the second end. The head member further comprises a ball opening extending through the height of the head member having a chamfered or rounded bottom edge to engage a golf ball. An alignment grid on the top face of the head member comprises a crosshair pattern centered with the ball opening. A golf ball engaged with the bottom edge may be manipulated and oriented relative to the alignment grid for setting the trajectory of a shot.

Abstract: A golf ball aligning device comprises a shaft having a first and a second end, a handle mounted to the first end and a head member mounted to the second end. The head member further comprises a ball opening extending through the height of the head member having a chamfered or rounded bottom edge to engage a golf ball. An alignment grid on the top face of the head member comprises a crosshair pattern centered with the ball opening. A golf ball engaged with the bottom edge may be manipulated and oriented relative to the alignment grid for setting the trajectory of a shot.

Abstract: There are disclosed devices, system and methods for predicting a likelihood of whether digital video ads will start on a given user device using a predictive model of the user device. The predictive model simulates a start of play in the user device and determines if the digital video ad started to play.

Abstract: There are disclosed devices, system and methods for video ad delivery. The disclosed platform optimizes video advertisements, specifically VAST (and VPAID) content, that is delivered to end users through video players.

Abstract: There are disclosed devices, system and methods for video ad delivery. The disclosed platform optimizes video advertisements, such as VAST and VPAID content, that is delivered to end users through video players. An optimization server may run video ads in a sandbox environment which mimics a real environment and runs video ads within the sandbox environment to produce verification of playback which is unavailable in the real environment.

Abstract: There are disclosed devices, system and methods for video ad delivery. The disclosed platform optimizes video advertisements, specifically VAST (and VPAID) content, that is delivered to end users through video players.

Abstract: Various computer-implemented methods are disclosed for selecting items, including but not limited to user-submitted blurbs, to present to users. One such method comprises using a plurality of personalized selection algorithms to select items to nominate for presentation to a target user. Each personalized selection algorithm outputs one or more item nominations for the target user together with an associated relevance score for each nominated item. The method further comprises receiving the item nominations and associated relevance scores from the personalized selection algorithms, normalizing the relevance scores, and using at least the normalized relevance scores to select particular items to present to the target user.

Abstract: Various computer-implemented methods are disclosed for selecting content items, including but not limited to user-submitted blurbs, to present to users. One such method comprises storing user-specific item selection history data identifying particular items, such as catalog items, selected by particular users, and recording responses of a plurality of the users to a content item. The method further comprises determining whether the content item should be presented to a target user based, at least in part, on a degree to which the item selection history of the target user is similar to item selection histories of users who responded favorably to the content item.

Abstract: A system provides an interface for users to author and post pieces of content, referred to as “blurbs,” for viewing by other users. Blurbs may also be obtained from external sources, such as from blogs hosted by various web sites. A personalized blurb selection component selects blurbs to present to users based on histories of catalog items selected by such users, and/or based on various other criteria. User feedback provided on specific blurbs may be taken into consideration by the personalized blurb selection algorithms.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing road insurance for a road construction project. In one embodiment, a customer may request a first insurance coverage amount for a road in a road insurance management system. The road insurance management system may determine, based on one or more design requirements, a design score for the road, and determine, based on one or more build requirements, a build score for the road. The road insurance management system may further determine a road project score based on the design score and the build score. The road insurance management system may determine a road insurance premium based on the first insurance coverage amount and the road project score.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for clearing an external driving mirror on a vehicle. The system and method comprise providing a stream of compressed air to clear water, dirt, and/or other substances from the reflective surface of an external driving mirror. This system uses the air source of the vehicle in conjunction with a safety pressure protection valve. This pressure protection valve will shut down the mirror clearing system in the event that the vehicle's primary air system cannot provide a certain minimum amount of air pressure.

Abstract: An electronic catalog system provides an interface for users to author and post pieces of content, referred to as “blurbs,” for viewing by other users. The blurbs submitted by a particular author are made available for viewing in an author-specific blog (web log) format. Blurbs may also be obtained from external sources, such as from blogs hosted by various web sites. A personalized blurb selection component selects blurbs to present to users based on histories of catalog items selected by such users, and/or based on various other criteria. The blurbs selected for a particular user are presented within a personal log or “plog,” which may be updated daily and will typically contain entries from many different authors. User feedback provided on specific blurbs is taken into consideration by the personalized blurb selection algorithms.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for clearing an external driving mirror on a vehicle. The system and method comprise providing a stream of compressed air to clear water, dirt, and/or other substances from the reflective surface of an external driving mirror. This system uses the air source of the vehicle in conjunction with a safety pressure protection valve. This pressure protection valve will shut down the mirror clearing system in the event that the vehicle's primary air system cannot provide a certain minimum amount of air pressure.

Abstract: An extensible set of information is defined within a Web page, which is retrievable in an ordered manner. Web page variables are defined and populated with commands and data which are executed according to the order defined by the naming convention employed in defining the Web page variable names. Within a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document, an open-ended series of commands are defined to be read and processed by a control without having to extend HTML or using an alternative language. For instance, a series of vector graphics commands can be defined using PARAM Tag statements and subsequently executed by a Web control in the specified order. Moreover, by defining an graphics object in this manner, a standard ASCII text editor can be used to review and modify the commands, and the graphics can be completely defined within the HTML document which does not require any external reference and thus reduces processing and network overhead.

Abstract: An invention for specifying and synchronously executing an extensible set of events along a single timeline is disclosed. More specifically, an invention for specifying an extensible set of multimedia events within an HTML document and for synchronously invoking the specified events along a single timeline within a Web environment is disclosed. First, a plurality of multimedia events are specified, with each event having a single or plurality of scheduled time(s) on the timeline for its invocation. After the playing of the timeline is started, events from the extensible set of events are executed at their respective predetermined time(s). Furthermore, an arbitration mechanism is provided for determining the order to execute a plurality of events scheduled to be executed at the same time, and a drop threshold mechanism is provided for not executing an event when its actual execution time has exceeded its scheduled execution time by more than a specified window of execution.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying server-side components in a visual development environment. Upon a triggering event, code is requested from a server. The code represents a user interface for a server-side object. The code is then processed to deactivate interactive elements. Further processing may occur to fix references to images. Then, a graphical representation of the server-side object is displayed in the visual development environment.

Abstract: An extensible set of information is defined within a Web page, which is retrievable in an ordered manner. Web page variables are defined and populated with commands and data which are executed according to the order defined by the naming convention employed in defining the Web page variable names. Within a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document, an open-ended series of commands are defined to be read and processed by a control without having to extend HTML or using an alternative language. For instance, a series of vector graphics commands can be defined using PARAM Tag statements and subsequently executed by a Web control in the specified order. Moreover, by defining an graphics object in this manner, a standard ASCII text editor can be used to review and modify the commands, and the graphics can be completely defined within the HTML document which does not require any external reference and thus reduces processing and network overhead.

Abstract: An extensible set of commands to be executed in an ordered manner, such as a series of vector graphics commands, is provided in a Web page written in a markup language. The commands are embedded in statements in the Web page in a format that is conventionally used to define property variables. In each of such statements with embedded commands, the command and its associated data are included as the value specified for the property variable of that statement. The names of the property variables of the statements are provided according to a predetermined naming convention such that they indicate the sequence in which their associated commands as specified by their respective values are to be executed. When a Web control reads the Web page, it extracts the commands and their associated data from the values of the property variables of the statements, and executes the commands according to the sequence indicated by the names of the property variables.