Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for effectively performing a streamlined photo distribution procedure is disclosed. A source device initially captures a photographic image of a target or subject using known techniques. The term “photographic image” as used herein is not limited to single photographs but includes moving pictures, video images and any other known or future means of capturing an image of an event. The source device is likewise broadly defined and includes, but is not limited to, digital cameras, video cameras, cell phones with digital photo capture means, computers, including PDA's or other devices or combination of devices with communication and photo capture means, as well as other image capture means.

Abstract: A method of treating inflammation, an inflammatory condition, or AIDS-associated neurological disorder in a subject in need of such treatment is disclosed. The method includes administering to said subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of substantially purified hydroxytyrosol or a substantially purified mixture of hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein. Also disclosed are compositions for use in practicing the method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing viability and marketability of an asset are provided. In exemplary embodiments, an asset assessment system receives disclosure information for the asset. The disclosure information comprises information indicating at least one taxonomy segment associated with the asset. An attribute grade may then determined based on the disclosure information, while a market grade may be determined based on market data for the at least one taxonomy segment. A final grade based on the attribute grade and the market grade is then calculated. This final grade provides an indication of the viability and marketability of the asset. The final grade may then be output.

Abstract: A statistical translation model (TM) may receive a parse tree in a source language as an input and separately output a string in a target language. The TM may perform channel operations on the parse tree using model parameters stored in probability tables. The channel operations may include reordering child nodes, inserting extra words at each node (e.g., NULL words) translating leaf words, and reading off leaf words to generate the string in the target language. The TM may assign a translation probability to the string in the target language.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector release mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism may be used to release a transceiver module housed in a cage that is permanently mounted on a printed circuit board. The release mechanism may include a cam mounted bail that rotates a U-shaped flange through a two stage travel path to urge the bail forward in a slide path on the transceiver module. As the bail begins to move forward, wedge elements at the end of a pair of slide arms extending rearward from the bail may contact locking tabs on the cage, forcing the locking tabs outward. As the locking tabs are forced outward, the shoulders of the transceiver module are released, and the transceiver module is free to slide out of the cage as the operator pulls on the bail.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive processing of a close microphone array in a noise suppression system are provided. A primary acoustic signal and a secondary acoustic signal are received. In exemplary embodiments, a frequency analysis is performed on the acoustic signals to obtain frequency sub-band signals. An adaptive equalization coefficient may then be applied to a sub-band signal of the secondary acoustic signal. A forward-facing cardioid pattern and a backward-facing cardioid pattern are then generated based on the sub-band signals. Utilizing cardioid signals of the forward-facing cardioid pattern and backward-facing cardioid pattern, noise suppression may be performed. A resulting noise suppressed signal is output.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling lighting conditions in a user environment in the context of an image capture device are disclosed. An inner frame area and an outer frame area adjust certain lighting conditions in the user environment in response to certain lighting conditions detected by the image capture device. The frame areas may be dynamically controlled as to affect the brightness and/or color of the particular user environment. Multiple image capture devices may be used to video conference.

Abstract: A system and a method for money sharing are provided. The system includes a processor configured to receive a deposit amount and assign an account value to a stored-value account. The stored-value account is stored in a storage device. The processor then dispenses two or more stored-value cards associated with the stored-value account. The stored-value cards can be distributed among two or more cardholders who may withdraw money from the stored-value account at a remote access unit configured to accept any of the distributed stored-value cards associated with the same account. Additional deposit amounts can be received into the stored-value account from a cardholder of any distributed stored-value cards associated with the same account. The remote access unit can be unattended. The cards can be ATM-enabled.

Abstract: An audio device performs self calibration with respect to an audio source location when processing an audio signal frame determined likely to be dominated by the audio source. One or more conditions for sub-bands within the audio frame are evaluated to help identify whether the frame is dominated by the audio source. If the conditions meet a threshold value for a number of sub-bands within the frame, the audio signal may be identified as one dominated by the desired audio source and an audio source location coefficient may be adapted. Additionally, when the audio source location coefficient falls below a threshold value, (e.g., suggesting that one of two or more microphones is blocked), noise suppression is reduced or eliminated for the frame or frame sub-bands to prevent suppression of a desired audio source component along with the noise component.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting encrypted bot command and control communication channels are provided. In the exemplary method, the presence of a communication channel between a first network device and a second network device is monitored. Active and inactive periods of the network device are detected and a reverse channel is determined based on the detection. The first network device may then be flagged as potentially infected or suspected based on the reverse channel determination.

Abstract: Systems and methods of decoding data streams and conserving power are described. In some embodiments, a stream of data containing audio and other data is divided into a plurality of timeslots. A first timeslot of the plurality of timeslots is allocated to a first service. A grant location message which indicates a location of the first timeslot allocated to the first service is generated. The grant allocation message and the plurality of timeslots are transmitted to a receiver. The receiver may receive and decode the grant allocation message to identify OFDM symbols that carry information regarding the first service. The receiver may also receive the plurality of timeslots. The receiver may set a power mode of a component during OFDM symbols that indicate a status of the first service.

Abstract: Maternity wear of the invention accommodates the changing shape of a woman's body during pregnancy, minimizing the need for maternity clothes. In one aspect of the invention, pants or a skirt are worn with the upper end unfastened so as to conform to the shape of the swelling torso in pregnancy, and an elastic band shaped similarly to a tube top is worn generally around the waist, so as to overlap the top of the unfastened pants or skirt and retain them on the body. A top, such as a blouse or shirt, can be worn with its tail end extending over the band. In another aspect of the invention, too-large maternity clothing is worn with the band garment engaged over the upper end. If desired the band garment can be folded over on itself, thus doubling its thickness.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing inter-microphone level differences (ILD) to attenuate noise and enhance speech are provided. In exemplary embodiments, primary and secondary acoustic signals are received by omni-directional microphones, and converted into primary and secondary electric signals. A differential microphone array module processes the electric signals to determine a cardioid primary signal and a cardioid secondary signal. The cardioid signals are filtered through a frequency analysis module which takes the signals and mimics a cochlea implementation (i.e., cochlear domain). Energy levels of the signals are then computed, and the results are processed by an ILD module using a non-linear combination to obtain the ILD. In exemplary embodiments, the non-linear combination comprises dividing the energy level associated with the primary microphone by the energy level associated with the secondary microphone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing single microphone noise suppression fallback are provided. In exemplary embodiments, primary and secondary acoustic signals are received. A single microphone noise estimate may be generated based on the primary acoustic signal, while a dual microphone noise estimate may be generated based on the primary and secondary acoustic signals. A combined noise estimate based on the single and dual microphone noise estimates is then determined. Using the combined noise estimate, a gain mask may be generated and applied to the primary acoustic signal to generate a noise suppressed signal. Subsequently, the noise suppressed signal may be output.

Abstract: Various aspects include a rack module comprising a side including one or more receptacles. A receptacle may include a contact surface shaped to receive a container. A rack module may include one or more engagement features operable to removably attach the rack module to another rack module having complementary engagement features. The other rack module may also have a side including one or more receptacles, and the attached rack modules may commonly orient their respective receptacles such that the containers received therein may be used.

Abstract: Systems and methods for blind subband acoustic echo cancellation postfiltering in a communication device are provided. In exemplary embodiments, an acoustic signal is received via a microphone of the communication device. Acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) is applied to the acoustic signal to obtain an AEC masked signal. Because residual echo may still exist in the AEC masked signal, blind subband AEC postfiltering on the AEC masked signal may be performed to obtain an echo-free acoustic signal. The echo-free signal may then be output.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing ultra-short optical pulses are provided. According to various embodiments, optical pulses are generated, stretched, amplified, and compressed to ultra-short lengths. In order to achieve the ultra-short lengths, dispersion compensation is provided prior to amplification and optionally before compression. Dispersion compensation prior to amplification can be performed by passing the optical pulses through a polarization-maintaining fiber that includes a nonlinear Bragg grating. In some embodiments, the optical pulses are repeatedly circulated through the polarization-maintaining fiber that includes the nonlinear Bragg grating. Dispersion compensation before compression can be achieved by passing the amplified optical pulse through another length of polarization-maintaining fiber.

Abstract: The invention disclosed here teaches methods to fabricate and utilize a non-dispersive holographic wavelength blocker. The invention enables the observation of the Raman signal near the excitation wavelength (˜9 cm?1) with the compactness of standard thin film/holographic notch filter. The novelty is contacting several individual volume holographic blocking notch filter (VHBF) to form one high optical density blocking filter without creating spurious multiple diffractions that degrade the filter performance. Such ultra-narrow-band VHBF can be used in existing compact Raman instruments and thus will help bring high-end research to a greater number of users at a lower cost.

Abstract: An X-ray line-scan camera utilizes an image transferring means to alter the optical path and thus eliminates the X-ray radiation damage on the electrical components of the camera system. The camera comprises a layer of scintillating material, a fiber optic face plate (FOFP) block, and an array of image sensors. One face of the FOFP block is bonded to the surface of the image sensors. The layer of scintillating material is placed on other face of the FOFP block and used to convert an impinging X-ray beam into visible light. The FOFP block is used to transfer the visible light from the scintillating layer onto the image sensor array, which in turn converts the visible light into electrical video signals. The FOFP block has a rotation angle of 32 to 40 degree relative to the impinging X-ray beam to prevent direct impingement of the X-ray beam onto the image sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing voice equalization are provided. In exemplary embodiments, acoustic signals are received from both a near-end and a far-end environment. A power spectrum estimate for the far-end signal and a noise estimate based on the near-end signal are determined. A voice equalization mask based on the power spectrum estimate of the far-end signal and the noise estimate based on the near-end signal is generated and applied to the far-end signal to obtain a modified signal. The modified signal may then be dynamically processed to obtain an enhanced audio signal. The enhanced audio signal is then output.