Abstract: An improved adjustable gable end line puller is disclosed. A method for using the improved adjustable gable end line puller is also disclosed.

Abstract: An enhanced interactive television broadcast is disclosed wherein an audio/video broadcast is viewed on a first display system, and an “enhancement” to the broadcast is simultaneously viewed or experienced on a second, separate display system. The “enhancement” is synchronized to the broadcast, and delivered to a user as a code fragments, such as a JavaScript message. URLs are not required. Portions or elements of a web page are reduced to single code fragments, rendered client-side upon receipt. The invention implements Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize the client's application clock to global time. Messages, or JavaScript code fragments, are time-stamped and evaluated based on the client's application clock.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of search fusion methods for querying multimedia databases and more specifically to a method and system for constructing a multi-modal query of a multimedia repository by forming multiple uni-modal searches and explicitly selecting fusion methods for combining their results. The present invention also relates to the integration of search methods for content-based retrieval, model-based retrieval, text-based retrieval, and metadata search, and the use of graphical user interfaces allowing the user to form queries fusing these search methods.

Abstract: A remote controlled pick-up device adapted for use by individuals from elevated positions, examples of which include, e.g., a hunter position in a tree stand, a worker on a scaffold or roof, or a police officer or fireman retrieving an object from a storm drain. The device is operated remotely from any desired elevation, enabling the operator to grip or otherwise manipulate objects or articles that are located at a different (e.g., lower) position in order to retrieve or otherwise reposition them as so desired.

Abstract: An arrangement for supporting a flat panel display wherein an actuating arrangement responsively alters a physical disposition of the supporting arrangement in a manner to avert physical damage to said flat panel display. Preferably, a flat panel display cover on a laptop will “bow” or arch in a direction away from the flat panel display and the actuating arrangement can be embodied, e.g., by a lattice or grid of wiring, or by a bimetallic sheet. Electronic or mechanical actuation is conceivable and the actuating arrangement can be triggered by, e.g., the imposition of a potentially damaging object and/or by closure of the laptop. While a laptop embodiment is broadly contemplated, other applications are possible.

Abstract: A USB connection arrangement, where more secure locking is afforded than has hitherto been achieved. With a first USB connecting portion and a second USB connecting portion, a locking arrangement is provided for physically securing the first USB connecting portion and the second USB connecting portion with respect to one another. The locking arrangement includes at least one receptor portion disposed on at least one of the first and second USB connecting portions, and at least one pin portion engageable with the at least one receptor portion for physically securing at least one of the first and second connecting portions with respect to the other of the first and second connecting portions.

Abstract: A computer system includes a security subsystem which is able to trustfully track which files or storage areas of a storage device have been altered since a last virus scan. The trusted information can then be used to accelerate scans for undesirable code or data such as viruses and invalid or corrupt registry entries. In the case of viruses, files or storage areas which have been altered are scanned against a super-set of virus definitions. Unaltered files or storage areas are scanned against a subset of virus definitions.

Abstract: A computer system includes a security subsystem which is able to trustfully track which files or storage areas of a storage device have been altered since a last virus scan. The trusted information can then be used to accelerate scans for undesirable code or data such as viruses and invalid or corrupt registry entries. In the case of viruses, files or storage areas which have been altered are scanned against a super-set of virus definitions. Unaltered files or storage areas are scanned against a subset of virus definitions.

Abstract: Transferring content between one or more input streams and one or more output streams via an application running on a host system. A kernel-level service is provided which is adapted to perform application-specific processing and which attends to transfer of content from at least one input stream to at least one output stream. With the kernel-level service, an operation is performed for the collection of at least one input stream and at least one output stream via: performing application-specific processing; and attending to the transfer of content from at least one input stream to at least one output stream.

Abstract: A channel letter or light box illumination apparatus wherein the channel letter or light box is illuminated from a luminaire located at some distance from the channel letter or light box, ideally in a location expeditious to servicing replaceable components such as lamps and driver electronics. A light engine includes one or more light ports, with each port capable of conveying light via optical light guides for the purpose of illuminating a portion or entirety of the light box or channel letter. A singular light guide or plurality of light guides enters the side or rear of the channel letter or light box and are coupled to side-lit light guides. The side-lit light guides, which may be bent and formed, convey light and distribute it through out the channel letter or light box.

Abstract: Unlike traditional clustering methods that focus on grouping objects with similar values on a set of dimensions, clustering by pattern similarity finds objects that exhibit a coherent pattern of rise and fall in subspaces. Pattern-based clustering extends the concept of traditional clustering and benefits a wide range of applications, including e-Commerce target marketing, bioinformatics (large scale scientific data analysis), and automatic computing (web usage analysis), etc. However, state-of-the-art pattern-based clustering methods (e.g., the pCluster algorithm) can only handle datasets of thousands of records, which makes them inappropriate for many real-life applications. Furthermore, besides the huge data volume, many data sets are also characterized by their sequentiality, for instance, customer purchase records and network event logs are usually modeled as data sequences.

Abstract: A general framework for mining concept-drifting data streams using weighted ensemble classifiers. An ensemble of classification models, such as C4.5, RIPPER, naive Bayesian, etc., is trained from sequential chunks of the data stream. The classifiers in the ensemble are judiciously weighted based on their expected classification accuracy on the test data under the time-evolving environment. Thus, the ensemble approach improves both the efficiency in learning the model and the accuracy in performing classification. An empirical study shows that the proposed methods have substantial advantage over single-classifier approaches in prediction accuracy, and the ensemble framework is effective for a variety of classification models.

Abstract: A method for the continuous process of fluids is based on mixing the fluid with a supercritical fluid. The mixing of the two fluids may be accomplished using either a co-flow or counter-flow process. The process focuses on the difference in the solubilities of the desired and the undesired components into supercritical fluid and de-emphasizes the influence of the contaminating components of the fluid to be processed. The process of the present invention is particularly advantageous to the recycling of industrial waste fluids, such as used oil, wherein the process is carried out by jet spray micro-orifices atomization of waste material with a supercritical fluid to dissolve oil from the waste material. Additional mixing devices such as an ultrasonic gun may be employed. Thereafter, un-dissolved components are separated first and the dissolved fluid is then separated from the supercritical fluid.

Abstract: To conserve energy, components in mobile devices have to transition less frequently between “active” and “sleep” modes, and to sleep for longer intervals. In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is broadly contemplated herein an approach for remote discovery of wireless client and access point configurations, especially those settings associated with the power consumption of the client's wireless interface. Methods contemplated in the preferred embodiment use packet probing techniques to determine the client and access point configurations remotely. The probing techniques include sending packets to the client device, over the wireless LAN, at intervals calculated using data publicly available on the wireless LAN technology in use and results of previous packet probing measurements. Measurements from several packet probes and methods for statistical data processing are used to make a determination.

Abstract: An arrangement which eliminates the need to remove a computer system from its packaging in order to initiate a re-imaging process. Particularly, there is broadly contemplated herein the use of a position-sensitive switching arrangement, such as a mercury switch, that is configured to power selected control circuitry in a computer so as to receive additional information or data as needed to update imaging or other aspects of a computer's operating system.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling the presentation of electronic media according to a credit-based scheme. “Debit-bearing” media may include video, audio, interactive software, etc. “Credit-bearing” media typically include commercials or banner ads. Other credit factors include cash, prizes, etc. The customer determines how to accumulate credits and how to spend them.

Abstract: The employment of cascoding in connection with improving mixer isolation in a Gilbert mixer circuit is provided. In this vein, there is broadly contemplated herein, inter alia, the provision of a mixer suitable for use in a direct-conversion radio receiver operating in the 57-64 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. Such a receiver may be integrated along with a transmitter entirely on a silicon integrated circuit and can be used to receive and transmit data signals in such applications as wireless personal-area networks (WPANs). Numerous other applications, of course, are available for a mixer with improved LO-to-RF isolation, particularly at millimeter-wave frequencies where high LO-to-RF isolation is difficult to achieve.

Abstract: A fansink arrangement for a laptop computer wherein two distinct patterns of air intake can be employed. Particularly, dual air intakes of the laptop can be managed and controlled depending upon an operating mode of the computer. Thus, when the computer is in a “stand alone” mode, only one air intake is employed while in a “docking” mode of the computer two air intakes are employed.

Abstract: In connection with speech recognition, the design of a linear transformation ??p×n, of rank p×n, which projects the features of a classifier x?n onto y=?x?p such as to achieve minimum Bayes error (or probability of misclassification). Two avenues are explored: the first is to maximize the ?-average divergence between the class densities and the second is to minimize the union Bhattacharyya bound in the range of ?. While both approaches yield similar performance in practice, they outperform standard linear discriminant analysis features and show a 10% relative improvement in the word error rate over known cepstral features on a large vocabulary telephony speech recognition task.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for accessing a storage structure. Included are an arrangement for providing a storage access instruction, an arrangement for inputting an address into a storage structure data cache responsive to a storage access instruction, an arrangement for extending a storage access instruction with a predicted register number field, the predicted register number field containing a predicted register number corresponding to a speculative location of a load/store operand associated with a storage access instruction, an arrangement for speculatively accessing a storage structure with a storage access instruction extended by the extending arrangement, and an arrangement for reverting to the arrangement for inputting an address if the load/store operand is not in the speculative location.