Abstract: A system that facilitates in situ determination of lubricity in a fluid comprises a multi-element sensor positioned within a machine, wherein the multi-element sensor obtains data regarding a plurality of parameters of a fluid. A component calculates lubricity of the fluid based at least in part upon the measured parameters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for controlling the record and reproduction of optical record medium in which plural non-record regions having different phase are arranged between recordable data regions for the distinction in the shape of the data region. The method and apparatus performs the servo using focus error signal and tracking error signal averaged by the low pass filter at the header region of the optical disc. Especially, the tracking servo is performed by holding a fixed DC off-set value at the header region existing on the L/G switching or holding the tracking error value of the previous same track region. As a result, the exact header region is detected, the track sliding phenomenon is removed, and the tracking servo is stabilized, resulting in preventing the degeneration of the record and reproduction characteristics.

Abstract: Methods are described for identifying events that would be considered surprising by people and identifying how and when to transmit information to a user about situations that they would likely find surprising. Additionally, the methods of identifying surprising situations can be used to build a case library of surprising events, joined with a set of observations before the surprising events occurred. Statistical machine learning methods can be applied with data from the case library to build models that can predict when a user will likely be surprised at future times. One or more models of context-sensitive expectations of people, a view of the current world, and methods for recording streams or events before surprises occur, and for building predictive models from a case library of surprises and such historical observations can be employed. The models of current and future surprises can be coupled with display and alerting machinery.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled current source includes a current source having temperature dependency, a voltage source having process dependency, a first signal conversion circuit which generates second voltage having temperature dependency and process dependency by use of current of the current source and first voltage of the voltage source, a second signal conversion circuit which converts a first control signal used to control transfer conductance into a second control signal by using the second voltage as a reference, and a voltage-controlled current source circuit whose transfer conductance is controlled according to the second control signal.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a developer agitation member has a mechanism to vary its driving force, and the driving force of the developer agitation member is changed by a control unit according to the information of the number of times of image formation from a counter.

Abstract: A unique system and method that facilitate automatic tracking of user data and providing on-demand site or merchant reputation information is provided. The system and method involve monitoring user input such as by keystrokes over a period of time and forming a long continuous string of characters. The string of characters can be monitored for repeating substrings or non-repeating substrings that indicate sensitive user information such as SSN or credit card number (CCN). The substrings can be displayed to the user in a digest form and order according to frequency of occurrence, for example. Thus, the user can readily view where and when their sensitive information has been entered. In addition, the typing of certain substrings such as CCNs or other sensitive field data can trigger a reputation service to retrieve the reputation data for the current site or merchant to mitigate dealing with fraudulent sites or merchants.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies that proactively push down and enforce policies of a server(s) on mobile devices, when such devices connect to the server(s) for data synchronization. The subject invention employs a policy delivery and enforcement logic that is integrated as part of a communication channel (e.g. a single communication channel) with the mobile device(s). A hand shake can take place between the mobile devices and the server every time that a new policy occurs. Accordingly, non-compliant devices are denied service from the server.

Abstract: A product location information retrieval system for use by a customer in a retail establishment including a computer terminal with an optical reader arranged to receive a data input query from the customer using the terminal and relating to a product, and a display in the terminal for displaying an image of a product to be accessed by the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology to facilitate extraction of information from a large unstructured corpora such as from the World Wide Web and/or other unstructured sources. Information in the form of answers to questions can be automatically composed from such sources via probabilistic models and cost-benefit analyses to guide resource-intensive information-extraction procedures employed by a knowledge-based question answering system. The analyses can leverage predictions of the ultimate quality of answers generated by the system provided by Bayesian or other statistical models. Such predictions, when coupled with a utility model can provide the system with the ability to make decisions about the number of queries issued to a search engine (or engines), given the cost of queries and the expected value of query results in refining an ultimate answer. Given a preference model, information extraction actions can be taken with the highest expected utility.

Abstract: A novel virtual calling card system and method aid in the formation of online relationships, serving as an introduction tool and as a contact mechanism. The calling card is an exchangeable entity that is automatically updated, ensuring that the recipient or viewer sees the most current version of the card. The card may display an aspect ratio that is the same as that of a traditional business card, and has front side and a reverse side. Furthermore, the card provides a number of avenues for the card owner to express themselves, including an array of affiliation symbols, a most recent mood symbol, and a text field. The reverse side of the card can display a representation of the owner's social network, so that recipients of the card may identify common friends and associates. Thus, the server-based card exchange appears to users as an exchange in the physical world.

Abstract: A system and method of providing edit and continue support in a software program debugging environment. “Edit and continue” support allows a user (e.g., programmer and/or developer) to update the code and/or data structure(s) of an executing program while it is running. After the user has finished editing their code and resumes execution, an integrated development environment (IDE) propagates the edit(s) into a common language runtime (CLR) environment before continuing. Therefore, from the CLR environment's perspective, an edit is a block of intermediate language code (IL) and/or metadata that is inserted into a running process. Moreover, The IDE can facilitate: determining “legality” of an edit; building the edit; sending the edit to the CLR environment; and/or, facilitating the CLR environment switch execution to the edited code.

Abstract: A handwritten or handdrawing messaging system employs a handwriting messaging component operable with a messaging client of a mobile device connected to the data transmission network to set up a handwriting data capture area in the messaging client into which the user can enter handwritten or handdrawn input through a suitable manual input device, and then operates to capture the handwritten or handdrawn input and send it as a handwritten electronic message to the intended recipient. It also sets up a graphical data viewing area within the messaging client for viewing handwritten electronic messages sent to the user. Preferably, it is a small-footprint software module installed with the messaging client of the mobile device. The mobile device can be any type of wired or wirelessly-connected portable device operating on a computing platform, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, game console or player device, or other mobile messaging device.

Abstract: An RFID reader and/or writer module in an industrial controller (e.g., PLC). The RFID module interfaces internally to the controller for tight integration therewith. The RFID module can also be part of a controller communications framework and as a standalone module with the PLC as a master device, and interact with the RFID module in the same manner as it interacts with other I/O devices connected to the controller. In another aspect, RFID read/write tag technology is incorporated into some or all major PLC and rack components, and utilized for wireless communication both between PLC system components and between the PLC and other devices, locations, and media. The RFID tag can be used to store and exchange electronic keying data, security information, module diagnostics and warranty information, series and revision levels code, I/O configuration data, and, replacement data. Artificial intelligence is also employed.

Abstract: A resource download process is provided which includes accepting and/or determining evidence about user based factors, accepting and/or determining resource based factors, and maximizing the expected value of downloading resources. A resource distribution process is provided which includes accepting and/or determining user based factors, accepting and/or determining resource based factors, accepting and/or determining intermediate storage facility based factors, and minimizing the total expected latencies between requesting and receiving resources. A process for distributing resources is provided which includes determining a change in value and a change in cost of storing resources on a first storage facility versus storing resources on a second storage facility, determining a value density based on the change in value and the change in cost, and maximizing a total value density given a total size of resources being less than the finite available capacity of the first storage facility.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate sharing of a memory, having a single channel of access, between two or more processors. A host processor can be operatively connected to a co-processor and the memory in series. The host processor can execute in place to enable it to execute code directly from the memory, and can arbitrate access to the memory bus and thus the memory, so that the host processor can perform all memory fetches to the memory without interruption by the co-processor. The co-processor can be implemented as a finite state machine, and only accesses the memory during read or write cycles issued by the host processor. Various types of co-processors can be employed to perform various functions, such as cryptography and digital signal processing, for example. The memory can be volatile or non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A system and method facilitating image retouching is provided. The invention includes an image retoucher having a boundary detector and an image extender. The invention provides for the image retoucher to extend care pixels of at least one of a foreground and a background near a detected spurious boundary by altering the binary mask used for compression of the foreground and/or the background.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology providing adaptive user interface capabilities in an industrial control environment. A user interface is provided that can operate across various software and/or hardware platforms. The platforms can be adapted with smart devices and/or wearable devices to facilitate access to a control system and can be adapted as a remote web service and/or adapted to interact with the service. The user interface can be tuned or adjusted in accordance with device capabilities operating the interface and can be adjusted or modified according to various operator or administrative preferences.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide search and/or query-relevant information and/or links thereto to a user as and/or with a search and/or query result. This information can be determined from summary information that can be included within a tag, header, body, meta-data, etc. of the data. A user can employ a local and/or web search utility along with a search word, phrase, sentence, etc. to search over a data repository to locate and retrieve data that satisfies the search criteria. The summary information of this data is obtained and matched against the results and/or search criteria to determine whether the data is relevant to the search and/or query. The summary information is utilized to determine a snippet that summarizes the data, based on the search and/or query, search criteria, etc. to provide the user with search and/or query-relevant results and/or one or more links thereto.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates integrating natural language input and graphics in a cooperative manner. In particular, as natural language input is entered by a user, an illustrated or animated scene can be generated to correspond to such input. The natural language input can be in sentence form. Upon detection of an end-of-sentence indicator, the input can be processed using NLP techniques and the images or templates representing at least one of the actor, action, background and/or object specified in the input can be selected and rendered. Thus, the user can nearly immediately visualize an illustration of his/her input. The input can be typed, written, or spoken—whereby speech recognition can be employed to convert the speech to text. New graphics can be created as well to allow the customization and expansion of the invention according to the user's preferences.

Abstract: Described herein are display devices that provide projection-type video output and use redundant sets of lasers to generate light. The laser set produces a desired amount of light, e.g., for a primary color. A redundant laser set includes more lasers than that needed to produce the desired amount of light. For example, a set of six lasers may only need five lasers to generate and emit a desired amount of light. The sixth laser allows failure of one laser in the set to not compromise operability of the entire set—and the display device. In addition, extra lasers in a laser set also allows the lasers to be cycled for heat purposes and to extend longevity of individual lasers in the set.