Abstract: Customizable multimedia content is transmitted in a form where some content is described by content descriptors. The content descriptors are used in the receiving device to synthesize a final version of the content. Content descriptors may include information relating to content length, expecting user mood, expected user location, content type, expected time of day of receipt, expected display device, and/or language in which the content is described. Local information may be used to inform the synthesis process. Local information may include user preferences generated from a user profile, context information detected automatically, or user preferences entered manually by a user. Alternatively, some synthesis instructions may be part of the content descriptors. Synthesizing creates a presentation of the content which may include a synthesized person, a cartoon character, an animal, a talking object, text, and/or audio.

Abstract: A composition is provided for MOC that contains compounds with the structure: wherein R1 is a hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkoxy, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; R2 is an alkyl having greater than 6 carbons, a substituted aryl, or unsubstituted aryl. Preferably these compounds have a low odor intensity. These compounds may be used with other MOC ingredients that act synergistically or additively with them.

Abstract: The present invention is a candle. The candle includes a container having a bottom and a side wall defining a cavity and a top rim delimited by the side wall, a first region containing a material that is opaque at room temperature, which material is disposed within the cavity of the container, a second region containing a polymer-oil blend that is substantially transparent at room temperature, which is disposed within the cavity of the container and adjacent to the first region; and a wick disposed within the container, which passes through both the first and second regions. A process for making such a candle is also provided.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the performance of an algorithm for detecting predetermined content in a media information stream, and a program and apparatus that operate in accordance with the method. The algorithm is a function of a set of parameters. The method comprises the steps of performing the algorithm at least once to detect the predetermined content in the media information stream, while employing a respective set of parameters in the algorithm for each performance thereof, and automatically evolving at least one respective set of parameters employed in the algorithm to maximize the degree of accuracy at which the algorithm detects the predetermined content in the media information stream.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for detecting commercials or other particular types of video content in a video signal. In an illustrative embodiment, color histograms are extracted from frames of the video signal. For each of at least a subset of the extracted color histograms, the extracted color histogram is compared to a family histogram. If the extracted color histogram falls within a specified range of the family histogram, the family histogram is updated to include the extracted color histogram as a new member. If the extracted color histogram does not fall within the specified range of the family histogram, the family histogram is considered complete and the extracted color histogram is utilized to generate a new family histogram for use in processing subsequent extracted color histograms. The resulting family histograms are utilized to detect commercials or other particular type of video content in the video signal.

Abstract: Aroma chemicals emitted from an aroma-emitting source are obtained by an apparatus and process for obtaining the chemicals. The apparatus includes the use of one or more capillary tubes which have on their interior surfaces an absorbent material, a suction device for drawing the aroma chemicals through the capillary tubes, and a connecting tube which connects the capillary tubes and the suction device. A system for collecting and analyzing the aroma chemicals emitted from an aroma-emitting source is disclosed which has one or more capillary tubes, a suction device, a connecting tube, a thermal desorber which desorbs the aroma chemicals directly from the capillary tubes, a cryogenic focusing device, and a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry instrument.

Abstract: A video indexing system analyzes contents of source video and develops a visual table of contents using selected images. A system for detecting significant scenes detects video cuts from one scene to another, and static scenes based on DCT coefficients and macroblocks. A keyframe filtering process filters out less desired frames including, for example, unicolor frames, or those frames having a same object as a primary focus or one primary focuses. Commercials may also be detected and frames of commercials eliminated. The significant scenes and static scenes are detected based on a threshold which is set based on the category of the video.

Abstract: A process is provided for absorbing moisture and/or malodor and providing a fragrance to the surrounding ambience that includes providing a delivery vehicle containing an enrobement material, a fragrance, and a fixative, combining the delivery vehicle with an absorbent material, and contacting the mixture of delivery vehicle and absorbent material with moisture and/or a malodor source.

Abstract: A fabric refreshing composition is disclosed, which provides long-lasting fragrance retention, malodor reduction, and wrinkle abatement. This composition includes a water soluble silicone of the formula I: wherein M is 40 to 200, N is 0 to 20, and R1 is a polyethylene or a polypropylene ether; a fragrance composition; and an aqueous carrier comprising an emulsifier. Processes for refreshing fabrics using such compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A composition is provided for MOC that contains compounds with the structure: 1

Abstract: A video indexing system analyzes contents of source video and develops a visual table of contents using selected images. A system for detecting significant scenes detects video cuts from one scene to another, and static scenes based on DCT coefficients and macroblocks. A keyframe filtering process filters out less desired frames including, for example, unicolor frames, or those frames having a same object as a primary focus or one primary focuses. Commercials may also be detected and frames of commercials eliminated. The significant scenes and static scenes are detected based on a threshold which is set based on the category of the video.

Abstract: The process of compressing video requires the calculation of a variety data that are used in the process of compression. The invention exploits some or all of these data for purposes of content detection. For example, these data may be leveraged for purposes of commercial detection. The luminance, motion vector field, residual values, quantizer, bit rate, etc. may all be used either directly or in combination, as signatures of content. A process for content detection may employ one or more features as indicators of the start and/or end of a sequence containing a particular type of content and other features as verifiers of the type of content bounded by these start/end indicators. The features may be combined and/or refined to produce higher-level feature data with good computational economy and content-classification utility.

Abstract: The present invention is a candle. The candle includes a container having a bottom and a side wall defining a cavity and a top rim delimited by the side wall, a first region containing a material that is opaque at room temperature, which material is disposed within the cavity of the container, a second region containing a polymer-oil blend that is substantially transparent at room temperature, which is disposed within the cavity of the container and adjacent to the first region; and a wick disposed within the container, which passes through both the first and second regions. A process for making such a candle is also provided.

Abstract: A video signal is processed to identify segments that are likely to be associated with a commercial or other particular type of video content. A signature is extracted from each of the segments so identified, and the extracted signatures are used, possibly in conjunction with additional temporal and contextual information, to determine which of the identified segments are in fact associated with the particular video content. One or more of the extracted signatures may be, e.g., a visual frame signature based at least in part on a visual characteristic of a frame of the video segment, as determined using information based on DC and motion coefficients of the frame, or DC and AC coefficients of the frame. A given extracted signature may alternatively be an audio signature based at least in part on a characteristic of an audio signal associated with a portion of the video segment. Other types of signatures can also be used.

Abstract: A fabric refreshing composition is disclosed, which provides long-lasting fragrance retention, malodor reduction, and wrinkle abatement.

Abstract: A post-foaming composition in combination with a dispenser adapted to dispense a fine stream of the composition onto skin that foams upon contact. The composition contains a material which is a volatile liquid at atmospheric pressure and between 5%-50% w/w surfactant solids. The composition may be dispensed as a mist, foam, gel or liquid at a rate between 0.5 grams/sec and 10 grams/sec.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fragrance delivery vehicle including a water insoluble oil, a conditioner containing a cationic active at a level above about 0.5%(wt), and at least about 0.1%(wt) of a fragrance composition comprising a first aroma chemical with a clogP of 3.0 or less and a second aroma chemical having a clogP of at least 4.0. Processes for conditioning and fragrancing a substrate, for enhancing the fragrance of a consumer product, and for designing a fragrance delivery vehicle are also provided.

Abstract: Aroma chemicals emitted from an aroma-emitting source are obtained by an apparatus and process for obtaining the chemicals. The apparatus includes the use of one or more capillary tubes which have on their interior surfaces an absorbent material, a suction device for drawing the aroma chemicals through the capillary tubes, and a connecting tube which connects the capillary tubes and the suction device. A system for collecting and analyzing the aroma chemicals emitted from an aroma-emitting source is disclosed which has one or more capillary tubes, a suction device, a connecting tube, a thermal desorber which desorbs the aroma chemicals directly from the capillary tubes, a cryogenic focusing device, and a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry instrument.

Abstract: Aroma chemicals emitted from an aroma-emitting source are obtained by an apparatus and process for obtaining the chemicals. The apparatus includes the use of one or more capillary tubes which have on their interior surfaces an absorbent material, a suction device for drawing the aroma chemicals through the capillary tubes, and a connecting tube which connects the capillary tubes and the suction device. A system for collecting and analyzing the aroma chemicals emitted from an aroma-emitting source is disclosed which has one or more capillary tubes, a suction device, a connecting tube, a thermal desorber which desorbs the aroma chemicals directly from the capillary tubes, a cryogenic focusing device, and a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry instrument.

Abstract: A post-foaming composition in combination with a dispenser adapted to dispense a fine stream of the composition onto skin that foams upon contact. The composition contains a material which is a volatile liquid at atmospheric pressure and between 5%-50% w/w surfactant solids. The composition may be dispensed as a mist, foam, gel or liquid at a rate between 0.5 grams/sec and 10 grams/sec.