Abstract: A method of improving electronic security establishes a secure trusted path between a user and an institution seeking an electronic signature to verify a transaction before any request for signature and completing electronic transaction activities occurs. The secure trusted path providing the user with a first predetermined portion of a branded watermark, for instance an advertisement, provided from the institution in conjunction with the request, and a second predetermined portion of the branded watermark being provided upon a personalized device that cannot be intercepted or manipulated by malware, allowing the user to verify that the request as displayed upon the user's primary computing device is valid.

Abstract: Examples described include memory units coupled to a controller using a daisy chain wiring configuration. A filter located between a first memory unit and the controller attenuates a particular frequency, which may improve ringback in a signal received at the memory units. In some examples, a quarter-wavelength stub is used to implement the filter. In some examples, signal components at 800 MHz may be attenuated by a stub, which may improve ringback.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a recloseable bag, comprising front and rear panels joined together along a joined region at lateral and bottom sides to define an inner pocket, the panels defining a principal opening at a top side thereof for removably receiving contents into the inner pocket; and a resealable closure having first and second lateral ends and disposed on a top side of the panels and configured for releasably joining the panels at the top side to releasably close the principal opening to retain the contents in the inner pocket wherein the front and rear panels define an assistive opening for facilitating opening of the bag for insertion and removal of the contents.

Abstract: An exposure pattern is written on a substrate, by scanning a light spot along a trajectory over the substrate and switching it on and off according to a desired pattern. Respective spot sizes of the light for illuminating the substrate in respective parts of the trajectory according to a geometry of the pattern. Respective pitch values between successive ones of the parts of the trajectory are selected, in relation to the spot size selected for the respective parts. The light spot is scanned over the substrate along the trajectory, with the selected pitch values between the trajectory parts and a position dependent spot size along the trajectory. In an embodiment a helical trajectory is used.

Abstract: A wheel stop is disclosed which is engaged by a wheel of a vehicle in an attempt to be parked in a parking lot, to limit movement of the vehicle. The wheel stop includes a middle extending portion, first and second leg portions, all of which are integrally formed with a metal pipe. The wheel stop further includes first and second anchor plates affixed to the first and second leg portions, respectively, the anchor plates being anchored to the parking lot; an electric cable disposed within the metal pipe; and an electric outlet disposed on an outer surface of the metal pipe, and connected with the electric cable, to thereby allow, when the vehicle parked in the parking lot is an electric car, a power supply cable extending from the electric car to be plugged into the electric outlet.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein include devices, systems and methods, such as those directed to non-volatile memory devices and systems capable of determining a degradation parameter associated with one or more memory cells. Disclosed devices and systems according to embodiments of the present invention include those that utilize the degradation parameter to adjust control signals coupled to the memory cells.

Abstract: A portable multimedia player is used to wirelessly access and control a media server that is streaming digital media by way of a wireless interface to a media unit such as a stereo/speakers in the case of streaming digital audio. In one embodiment, the portable multimedia player is wirelessly synchronized to a selected one(s) of a number of digital media files stored on the media server in such a way that digital media file metadata (song title, author, etc.) associated with the selected digital media file(s) only is transferred from the media server to be stored in the portable media player.

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for grouping medical records implements a multi-level analysis of the records. The level of analysis for each record is determined based upon the time proximity of each record to the defining medical procedure or service (anchor procedure) to be analyzed. Once an anchor procedure is identified, claim records are processed to determine whether any of the records should be grouped with the anchor procedure into a procedure episode group (PEG). First, the date of service for each claim record is identified to determine whether the claim record falls within time window. The claim records falling within the window then are assessed to determine whether each claim record is sufficiently related to the anchor procedure (for example, by determining whether the diagnostic, procedure, or episode treatment group coding of each claim record is associated with the anchor procedure).

Abstract: A method of biodegrading municipal solid waste includes providing a quantity of municipal solid waste and promoting anaerobic digestion in the quantity of municipal solid waste by methanogenic organisms to produce methane. The methane production is monitored and when it is determined that production of methane from the quantity of municipal solid waste has subsided, aerobic digestion of the quantity of municipal solid waste is promoted. A gas collection system in operative association with the quantity of organic waste collects biogas and the biogas is monitored and the rate of gas collection is adjusted as necessary to maximize methane collection. A leachate collection system collects leachate from the quantity of municipal solid waste and circulates the leachate back to the quantity of organic waste during the anaerobic digestion and aerobic digestion steps.

Abstract: Optical gratings that perform a number of functions at various wavelengths are formed by various methods that preserve spectral information within a wavelength band, the functions including: coupling radiation from one waveguide (7a3) to another (7a2), controllable gratings that operate on different wavelengths in response to external control signals.

Abstract: A metal plate material hot molding apparatus is provided for press molding a heated metal plate material. The apparatus may include supply piping for a cooling medium in a mold, and ejection holes penetrating from a molding surface of the mold to the supply piping. The exemplary apparatus may also include discharge piping for the cooling medium situated in the mold, and discharge holes penetrating from the molding surface of the mold to the discharge piping, and cooling piping. Molding procedure can be performed while the cooling medium is ejected from the ejection holes to a gap between the metal plate material and the mold.

Abstract: A motor-drive system for retractable covering having a headrail with a horizontally disposed roller supporting a top edge of a flexible fabric material includes an electric motor mounted within a housing and interconnected to the roller to selectively rotate the roller in opposite directions while minimizing noise created from vibrations within the system. This system includes motor mounts within the housing which separate and absorb vibrations of the motor within the housing and a drive disk of a moderately soft material, which is firm enough to transfer torque from the motor to the roller while being soft enough to absorb vibrations which would otherwise be transmitted from the motor to the roller. An interconnect mounting the drive disk to the drive shaft of the motor is also made of a third relatively soft material, which is harder than the drive disk to more ably transmit torque but soft enough so as not to unduly transmit noise.

Abstract: A customizable folder is disclosed. The folder has an edge portion missing from a cover thereof, and is adapted to receive thereto a complementary piece to complete the space formed by the missing edge portion. Also disclosed is a kit for a customizable folder comprising a customizable folder and a plurality of complementary pieces.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for automatically detecting and correcting red eye in a photo taking process. The method utilizes a preview function which all of the current digital cameras have. When flash light is needed during the photo taking process, an image which is closest to the shutter pressing time is read from a preview image sequence and this image is stored. Then, red eye detection is performed according to various related information (e.g., chroma information) of this image and the image actually taken. A correction process is conducted on the detected red eye area. The corrected image is stored as a resulting image in a storage unit in the camera. Therefore, the red eye is removed rapidly and accurately during a single normal exposure process and the image without red eye is thus obtained.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a housing and a connector assembly coupled to the housing. The connector assembly can include a microphone port. The electronic device can further include a microphone mounted within the housing and a channel that fluidically couples the microphone to the microphone port. A joint connector and microphone assembly is also provided. The assembly can include a microphone with a top surface and side surfaces. The top surface of the microphone can include a microphone input. The assembly can include a microphone boot mounted to the microphone such that the boot interfaces with a portion of the top surface and the side surfaces to form a seal around the microphone input. The microphone boot can include a connector sealing portion and an aperture for fluidically coupling the microphone input to a microphone port. The assembly can include a connector plate mounted to the connector sealing portion.

Abstract: A wick assembly for installation under a roadway according to the invention includes a perforated drain pipe, an inner sheet of a wicking fabric disposed on the perforated drain pipe in a manner effective to cover the perforations therein, an outer sheet of a wicking fabric, and a layer of filter aggregates confined between the inner and outer wicking fabric sheets to form a wick drain in combination with the perforated drain pipe. Water passes through the sheets and filter aggregates in order to enter the perforated drain pipe through the perforations therein. The wick drain may be disposed inside an outer pipe with the outer fabric sheet in slidable contact with the inner periphery of the pipe casing. The outer pipe casing serves to protect the wick drain during installation and is later removed once the wick drain is in position.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide a method for producing hot dip galvannealed steel sheet which exhibits high strength, high ductility, and a significant degree of alloying. Such exemplary method can be applied to, e.g., a pickled hot rolled steel sheet or an annealed and pickled cold rolled steel sheet containing between about 0.02% and about 0.2% C and between about 0.15% and about 2.5% Mn, and may include one or more procedures for rinsing the sheet, preplating the sheet with Ni, rapidly heating the sheet in a nonoxidizing atmosphere to a sheet temperature of about 430° C. to 500° C., then hot dip plating the sheet in a galvanizing bath containing between about 0.05% and about 0.2% Al, and then immediately heating the sheet rapidly for an alloying treatment. Such exemplary method can provide an improved alloying speed, improved plating appearance and better plating adhesion.