Abstract: A biocompatible polymer hybrid nanocomposite coating on a surface of a substrate, such as titanium and its alloys. The coating can be achieved by an electrostatic spray coating, preferably using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) as a matrix for the coating. For example, up to 2.95 wt. % carbon nanotubes can be used as reinforcement, as can up to 4.95 wt. % hydroxyapatite. A dispersion of CNTs and HA in the coating is substantially uniform. The tribological performance of such coatings include high hardness, improved scratch resistance, excellent wear resistance, and corrosion resistance compared to pure UHMWPE coatings.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing digital rights management within a connected service and content ecosystem. The approach involves receiving a request for content for use at at least one device, wherein the request originates from at least one companion device. The approach also involves causing at least in part, a packaging of the content according to at least one digital rights management format based, at least in part, on identification information associated with at least one of: the at least one device; the at least one companion device; at least one user associated with the at least one device, the at least one companion device, or a combination thereof; and the content. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a transmission of the packaged content, at least one link to the packaged content, or a combination thereof to the at least one device, the at least one companion device, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A neuromorphic processing module (1) for time-multiplexed execution of a spiking neural network is provided that comprises a plurality of neural units. Each neural unit is capable of assuming a neural state, and has a respective addressable memory entry in a neuron state memory unit (11) for storing state information specifying its neural state. The state information for each neural unit is computed and updated in a time-multiplexed manner by a processing facility (10, neural controller) in the processing module, depending on event messages destined for said neural unit.

Abstract: A biocompatible polymer hybrid nanocomposite coating on a surface of a substrate, such as titanium and its alloys. The coating can be achieved by an electrostatic spray coating, preferably using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) as a matrix for the coating. For example, up to 2.95 wt. % carbon nanotubes can be used as reinforcement, as can up to 4.95 wt. % hydroxyapatite. A dispersion of CNTs and HA in the coating is substantially uniform. The tribological performance of such coatings include high hardness, improved scratch resistance, excellent wear resistance, and corrosion resistance compared to pure UHMWPE coatings.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing digital rights management within a connected service and content ecosystem. The approach involves receiving a request for content for use at at least one device, wherein the request originates from at least one companion device. The approach also involves causing at least in part, a packaging of the content according to at least one digital rights management format based, at least in part, on identification information associated with at least one of the at least one device; the at least one companion device; at least one user associated with the at least one device, the at least one companion device, or a combination thereof; and the content. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a transmission of the packaged content, at least one link to the packaged content, or a combination thereof to the at least one device, the at least one companion device, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing digital rights management within a connected service and content ecosystem. The approach involves receiving a request for content for use at a least one device, wherein the request originates from at least one companion device. The approach also involves causing at least in part, a packaging of the content according to at least one digital rights management format based, at least in part, on identification information associated with at least one of: the at least one device; the at least one companion device; at least one user associated with the at least one device, the at least one companion device, or a combination thereof; and the content. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a transmission of the packaged content, at least one link to the packaged content, or a combination thereof to the at least one device, the at least one companion device, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing digital rights management within a connected service and content ecosystem. The approach involves receiving a request for content for use at a least one device, wherein the request originates from at least one companion device. The approach also involves causing at least in part, a packaging of the content according to at least one digital rights management format based, at least in part, on identification information associated with at least one of: the at least one device; the at least one companion device; at least one user associated with the at least one device, the at least one companion device, or a combination thereof; and the content. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a transmission of the packaged content, at least one link to the packaged content, or a combination thereof to the at least one device, the at least one companion device, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining that a user has been authenticated for an access to at least one service using a federated identity (401). The approach also comprises determining federated account information associated with the user based, at least in part, on one or more user accounts associated with the federated identity, the at least one service, the at least one or more other services, or a combination thereof (403). The approach further comprises determining one or more functions of the at least one service, the at least one or more other services, or a combination thereof to make available to the user based, at least in part, on the federated account information (411).

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing vehicle-related payment and/or billing transactions using a navigation-based user interface. A navigation extensions platform determines payment information, billing information, or a combination thereof associated with one or more vehicle related services. The navigation extensions platform causes, at least in part, a rendering of the payment information, the billing information, or a combination thereof on a navigation-based user interface associated with a vehicle, a device associated with the vehicle, or a combination thereof. The navigation extensions platform further causes, at least in part, an initiation of one or more payments to the one or more vehicle-related services based, at least in part, on one or more interactions with the navigation-based user interface.

Abstract: An approach is provided for determining that a user has been authenticated for an access to at least one service using a federated identity (401). The approach also comprises determining federated account information associated with the user based, at least in part, on one or more user accounts associated with the federated identity, the at least one service, the at least one or more other services, or a combination thereof (403). The approach further comprises determining one or more functions of the at least one service, the at least one or more other services, or a combination thereof to make available to the user based, at least in part, on the federated account information (411).

Abstract: An approach is presented for performing a transaction via a sponsor account. The transaction manager receives a request to sponsor payment for one or more client accounts by a sponsor account. Further, the transaction manager determines payment information associated with the sponsor account. Then, the transaction manager determines to associate the payment information with the one or more client accounts.

Abstract: Techniques for purchasing items within an application on user equipment comprises determining at a network service store that a first message is received through a communications network from an application on user equipment. The message indicates a first item to purchase. A publisher different from the network service store has granted approval to use the application on the user equipment. The network service store determines whether payment is arranged from a user of the user equipment to pay for the first item. If payment is arranged, then the network service store causes, at least in part, actions that result in approval from the publisher to use the first item on the user equipment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to facilitate access to a network-based publication system. In an embodiment, a user or third party affiliate of a network-based publication system uploads a style sheet or other presentation format file to a database in the network-based publication system. Thereafter, the user or third party affiliate sends a request to the network-based publication system, and the publication system uses one or more of the uploaded style sheets to format the response to be transmitted back to the third party affiliate.

Abstract: A server system facilitates an exchange of messages with a remote client application. The server system includes a plurality of application servers hosting a plurality of applications. A plurality of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) provides programmatic access to the plurality of applications, each of the APIs being configured to receive request messages compiled by the remote client application. First and second request messages, respectively addressed to first and second APIs of the plurality of APIs by a remote client application, each comprise at least one common data component. Further, the first request message includes a first payload specific to the first API, and the second request message includes a payload specific to the second API.

Abstract: A method of accommodating at least one difference between a first database schema and a second database schema is provided. The method includes receiving a request from a first application program that is operationally dependent upon the first database schema, the request being received at a second application program that is operationally dependent upon the second database schema. Thereafter, the method identifies if there is a difference between the first database schema and the second database schema. When there is a difference, the method identifies the difference between the first database schema and the second database schema to identify at least one different schema definition element and associates the different schema definition element with a reserved element. The reserved element may have a corresponding reserved element provided in the first database schema. A response is then communicated to the first application program including the reserved element.

Abstract: A server system facilitates an exchange of messages with a remote client application. The server system includes a plurality of application servers hosting a plurality of applications. A plurality of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) provides programmatic access to the plurality of applications, each of the APIs being configured to receive request messages compiled by the remote client application. First and second request messages, respectively addressed to first and second APIs of the plurality of APIs by a remote client application, each comprise at least one common data component. Further, the first request message includes a first payload specific to the first API, and the second request message includes a payload specific to the second API.

Abstract: A server system facilitates an exchange of messages with a remote client application. The server system includes a plurality of application servers hosting a plurality of applications. A plurality of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) provides programmatic access to the plurality of applications, each of the APIs being configured to receive request messages compiled by the remote client application. First and second request messages, respectively addressed to first and second APIs of the plurality of APIs by a remote client application, each comprise at least one common data component. Further, the first request message includes a first payload specific to the first API, and the second request message includes a payload specific to the second API.

Abstract: An object-oriented, semantic information model and method are provided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to facilitate access to a network-based publication system. In an embodiment, a user or third party affiliate of a network-based publication system uploads a style sheet or other presentation format file to a database in the network-based publication system. Thereafter, the user or third party affiliate sends a request to the network-based publication system, and the publication system uses one or more of the uploaded style sheets to format the response to be transmitted back to the third party affiliate.

Abstract: A metal pipeline section that has a metal flange at one end is lined with a plastic liner such that some of the liner extends beyond the flange end of the pipeline section. An annular plastic member is electrofusion joined onto the outside of the portion of plastic liner which extends beyond the flange end of the pipeline section and any liner extending beyond the annular plastic member is trimmed off to make the liner flush with the annular plastic member. The annular plastic member is then positioned adjacent the annular plastic member of another similarly prepared pipeline section and a containment ring is secured around them to restrain any outward movement of the annular plastic members when the pipeline is in use. The metal flanges are secured to each other such that the annular plastic members are compressed between them to prevent leakage.