Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may include managing electrostatic discharge events by using a semiconductor device having a non-aligned gate to implement a snap-back voltage protection mechanism. Such devices may be formed by doping a semiconductor substrate to form a first conductive region as a well, forming one of a source region and a drain region in the well, depositing a layer of polysilicon on the substrate to establish a gating area that does not overlap the one of the source region and the drain region, and forming an integrated circuit supported by the substrate to couple to the one of the source region and the drain region to provide snap-back voltage operation at a node between the integrated circuit and the source or drain region. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: To display a news feed in a social network environment, a social networking system generates news items regarding activities associated with a user of a social network environment. The social networking system may also attach an informational link associated with at least one of the activities to at least one of the news items, limit access to the news items to a predetermined set of viewers, and assign an order to the news items. The news items may be displayed in the assigned order to at least one viewing user of the predetermined set of viewers, and the number of news items displayed may be dynamically limited.

Abstract: A touch sensitive optical control device comprising a set of light emitters 14, 22 and light detectors 18, 24 arranged relative to a touchable surface 30 such that light transmitted by the emitters is received by the detectors along multiple intersecting beams which pass transversely of the surface and touching the surface at a beam interrupts the light transmitted along the beam. Candidate touch points T1, T2, F1, F2 are defined at the intersections of interrupted beams and are confirmed or not as actual touch points by examining test beams 40, 42, 54, 56 near to or coincident with the candidate touch point.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for controlling a robot that is falling down from an upright posture. Inertia shaping is performed on the robot to avoid an object during the fall. A desired overall toppling angular velocity of the robot is determined. The direction of this velocity is based on the direction from the center of pressure of the robot to the object. A desired composite rigid body inertia of the robot is determined based on the desired overall toppling angular velocity. A desired joint velocity of the robot is determined based on the desired composite rigid body inertia. The desired joint velocity is also determined based on a composite rigid body inertia Jacobian of the robot. An actuator at a joint of the robot is then controlled to implement the desired joint velocity.

Abstract: A security system monitors the trustworthiness and firewall configurations of a set of clients, where a firewall configuration comprises a set of firewall rules that control access by an application to network communication functionalities of a client. Based on the firewall rules used by other clients and the reputation of those clients, the system determines a set of default firewall rules by selecting one or more rules that are used by the more trustworthy clients. The default firewall rules are made available to other clients, which may use these default rules. This leverages community knowledge about how much network access to allow for a particular application.

Abstract: Security from malicious attack is provided for a user environment running in a virtualized environment by a virtual security appliance (VSA) running outside of the user environment, but on the same computer system as the user environment. For example, a VSA running in a virtual machine can provide security for a user environment running in a second virtual machine. The separation of the VSA from the user environment enhances the robustness of the VSA against malicious attacks seeking to disable/bypass the protections of the VSA, while avoiding the costs and complexities of a physical security appliance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating poses of a subject by grouping data points generated by a depth image into groups representing labeled parts of the subject, and then fitting a model representing the subject to the data points using the grouping of the data points. The grouping of the data points is performed by grouping the data points to segments based on proximity of the data points, and then using constraint conditions to assign the segments to the labeled parts. The model is fitted to the data points by using the grouping of the data points to the labeled parts.

Abstract: Distance from a moving image capture device to one or more points is determined. An optical flow is calculated from a first image and a second image captured by the moving image capture device. The horizontal component of the optical flow is used to generate a horizontal distance map including horizontal distances and the vertical component of the optical flow is used to generate a vertical distance map including vertical distances. Horizontal weights are applied to the horizontal distance map to generate a modified horizontal distance map where horizontal distances proximate to a vertical line intersecting a focus of expansion are attenuated. Vertical weights are applied to the vertical distance map to generate a modified vertical distance map where vertical distances proximate to a horizontal line intersecting the focus of expansion are attenuated. The modified vertical distance map and the modified horizontal distance map are then summed.

Abstract: A hook is set for one or more downloading functions. Subsequently, code is executed within an application process. Responsive to the executed code calling one of the hooked functions to download code, a return address of the called function is examined. If the return address is within a memory area not marked executable, the code is permitted to be downloaded and the downloaded code is submitted to a security server for analysis.

Abstract: Conditioned data is generated from multi-dimensional data populations. The multi-dimensional data populations include time-based media data, such as video data, or data associated with time-based media. The conditioned data is scaled such that dimensions of greater distinguishability are emphasized. To generate the conditioned data, a data conditioner receives populations of multi-dimensional data that have the same dimensions in the data. Data of a dimension is scaled based on a distinguishability factor calculated for the dimension. The distinguishability factor is calculated based on distributions in the dimension for the data populations. The data conditioning approach is scalable to any number of data populations and any number of data dimensions.

Abstract: A server includes a scanning module for determining whether an application is free of malware, a module for packaging the application into blocks for delivery via application streaming, a module for providing the blocks to a client on request, and a module for adding to each block an indication of whether the associated application has already been determined to be free of malware. A client includes a module for requesting blocks of a streamed application from the server. When the client receives a block, it employs a module for verifying that the associated applications have been determined to be free of malware by examining the indication provided by the server. If verification is successful, then the block's code is executed without first receiving and scanning any additional blocks from the server.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating predictors performs motion estimation of a target macroblock in a target field against data segments in reference fields. The same motion estimation engine is used to perform various image processing operations to efficiently use resources of the apparatus. Different reference fields are used depending on modes of operation. In a deinterlacing mode, deinterlacing is performed using directional interpolation, recursive motion compensated deinterlacing, and motion adaptive deinterlacing.

Abstract: A computer is programmed to use at least one rule to identify from within a layout of an IC design, a set of regions likely to fail if fabricated unchanged. An example of such a rule of detection is to check for presence of two neighbors neither of which fully overlaps a short wire or an end of a long wire. The computer uses at least another rule to change at least one region in the set of regions, to obtain a second layout which is less likely to fail in the identified regions. An example of such a rule of correction is to elongate at least one of the two neighbors. The computer may perform optical rule checking (ORC) in any order relative to application of the rules, e.g. ORC can be performed between detection rules and correction rules i.e. performed individually on each identified region prior to correction.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively storing event data. In one described method, an event associated with an article is captured. The captured event can comprise event data. The method further comprises evaluating the event for satisfaction of a criterion. If the event satisfies the criterion, it is indexed.

Abstract: A method is described to greatly improve the efficiency of and reduce the complexity of image compression when using single-sensor color imagers for video acquisition. The method in addition allows for this new image compression type to be compatible with existing video processing tools, improving the workflow for film and television production.

Abstract: Access of a social networking profile on a social networking website is detected. Characteristics of the social networking profile are analyzed to determine whether the social networking profile is malicious. Responsive to determining that the social networking profile is malicious, the social networking profile is reported as being malicious.

Abstract: A baby support device is described. The baby support device comprises an elongate first surface adapted to support all or part of a baby and a shorter second surface adapted to support at least part of a baby, the first and second surfaces being arranged at an angle with respect to one another such that the first surface alone or the first and second surfaces together can, in use, fully support a baby in both the prone or supine orientations.

Abstract: A power supply unit that obviates the need for an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) for a server in a data center by receiving a DC power from a temporary backup power source. The power supply unit converts AC power received from a power utility service into a DC power for operating one or more motherboards of the server. An AC to DC converter in the power supply unit senses an input AC voltage and activates a DC to DC converter coupled to the temporary backup power source. The DC to DC converter powers the one or more motherboards until a generator serving as an auxiliary AC power source becomes operational. The power supply unit resumes connection to the AC to DC converter after the generator becomes operational.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a game of chance based on historical events. The method consists of randomly selecting a set of competitors from an event database. The competitors are presented to a player. A set of criteria comprising a subset of the competitors are received from the player. The database of events is filtered to produce a set of events comprising those events that match the set of criteria. A single event is randomly selected from the set of events to determine an outcome for the game.