Abstract: Digital rights management and audience measurement systems and methods are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a request to upload media content to a content distributor, attempting to obtain a code associated with the media content, querying a program information database for program information associated with the media content using the code, and applying a business rule to the media content based on the program information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect carrying of a portable audience measurement device are disclosed herein. An example portable audience measurement device includes a media detector carried by a housing to collect media exposure data; a distance comparator to compare a first distance to an object at a first time and a second distance to the object at a second time; and a compliance detector to validate the media exposure data based on the comparison of the distance comparator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage bypass paths in an Internet protocol (IP) network are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving IP traffic at an aggregation router and measuring a bandwidth value of the IP traffic forwarded from the aggregation router to an IP router at a starting node. The example method also includes establishing a first non-routed bypass path between a switch at the starting node and a first switch at a first destination node when a measured traffic throughput value of the IP router at the starting node exceeds a first threshold value, and sending the IP traffic from the aggregation router via the bypass path.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to trigger maintenance and upgrades of access networks are disclosed. An example method comprises obtaining a first value representing a number of unassigned ports associated with a first digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), obtaining a second value representing a projected number of ports associated with the first DSLAM needed to satisfy at least one of anticipated, projected or pending service requests, and determining whether to automatically submit a preventative maintenance trouble ticket for the first DSLAM based on the first and second values.

Abstract: Forms having return postcards are described herein. An example form to be folded as an outgoing mailer includes a quadrate sheet of paper having a first face opposite a second face, substantially parallel top and bottom edges, and substantially parallel first and second side edges, where the first and second side edges are substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom edges. The form includes at least first, second, and third fold lines parallel to the top and bottom edges to divide the sheet into at least first, second, third, and fourth panels. The second face of the second panel and the second face of the third panel fold onto each other to form a postcard when the sheet is double parallel folded about the fold lines. At least a first portion of the second face of the second panel and at least a second portion of the second face of the third panel include a first adhesive area to couple the second and third panels when the sheet is folded along the fold lines.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to allocate resources associated with a distributive computing network are disclosed.

Abstract: A disclosed example method for compensating a temperature-dependent change of position on a machine tool having at least one first linear axis involves detecting at least one first temperature at a first temperature measuring position of the first linear axis of the machine tool. The example method also involves obtaining a first difference in temperature between a first reference temperature and the first temperature and determining a first compensation value based on the first difference in temperature. In addition, the example method involves compensating a temperature-dependent change of position based on the first compensation value, the first compensation value is additionally determined based on an axis position of the first linear axis.

Abstract: In order to provide a device for separating wet paint overspray from a stream of crude gas containing overspray particles which includes at least two filter devices each of which has an inlet opening through which a partial stream of crude gas enters the respective filter device and each of which includes at least one filter element for separating the overspray from the partial stream of crude gas, which allows one to maintain the fluidity of the mixture including of filter aid material and wet paint overspray that has been cleansed from the filter elements in the filter aid material reservoirs in a simple and efficient manner, it is proposed that the device should comprise at least one reservoir for receiving material which has been cleansed from the filter elements of a plurality of filter devices and a mixing device for mechanically blending the cleansed material from a plurality of filter devices.

Abstract: An operating system for a gaming system includes a data producer which generates non-reproducible data relating to a transaction carried out in respect of the gaming system. A data consumer is in communication with the data producer for storing data relating to the non-reproducible data. A game controller is in communication with the data producer and the data consumer which effects communications between the data producer and the data consumer by means of a transaction-based protocol. The invention also relates to the use of data storage device for a gaming system that includes a local power supply.

Abstract: A method for use with a gaming machine arranged to provide a spinning reel game in which symbols are spun up on a plurality of reels to form at least one outcome and, if a winning outcome occurs, the gaming machine awards an award. The method includes (a) if at least one specified symbol is spun up and displayed in a resultant position on a reel, holding the specified symbol in the resultant position for at least one further game in which at least the reel carrying the specified symbol is re-spun; and (b) awarding the award if a winning outcome occurs, wherein a specified symbol comprising part of a winning outcome has the effect of increasing the award if the specified symbol is adjacent at least one other specified symbol.

Abstract: A method for efficiently handling interrupts in a virtual technology environment with integrity services is provided. The method comprises assigning an interrupt to a virtual machine that is running a software agent; suspending the software agent; invoking a protected interrupt handler; copying the interrupt's memory content to a protected location, in response to successfully verifying the integrity of the content; replacing the interrupt's return address with a return address for a protected function; switching from the software agent's protected context to its active context; executing the original interrupt handler; returning control to the protected function to ensure that execution of the software agent resumes safely; switching back to the software agent's protected context, in response to successfully verifying the integrity of the content; and passing control back to the software agent to resume execution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to adjust signature matching results for audience measurement are disclosed. An example method to adjust a signature matching result associated with monitoring a media content presentation disclosed herein comprises obtaining a monitored signature representative of the monitored media content presentation from a monitoring device, obtaining an environmental characteristic associated with the monitored signature from the monitoring device, and adjusting the signature matching result using an adjustment value when the monitored signature is determined to match a reference signature representative of reference media content, the adjustment value selected from a plurality of adjustment values based on the matched reference signature and the environmental characteristic.

Abstract: In order to produce a connecting means for connecting a first component and a second component and especially for connecting furniture parts or machine parts which will enable two components consisting of a multiplicity of materials to be securely connected to one another without giving rise to the danger of damaging the two components during the assembly process, wherein the device comprises a first connecting element that it arranged on the first component in the connected state of the components and a second connecting element that is arranged on the second component in the connected state of the components, it is proposed that at least one of the connecting elements should comprise a non self-cutting holding projection which has a curved support surface that is in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section, wherein the holding projection can be inserted into a groove which is provided in one of the components and has a curved undercut surface that is in the form of an arc of a circle in longit

Abstract: A home automation and security system is provided in which a home automation and security controller in a customer premises is coupled with a remotely located central control facility using a continuous connectivity access line providing a data channel separate from a voice channel. The controller at the customer premises is responsible for monitoring and applying control signals to devices in the home and for supporting a human interface. The remotely located central control facility is responsible for providing the computational and database resources to the controller. By redistributing functionality, the network-based structure of this home automation and security system can overcome the disadvantages of conventional home automation and security systems.

Abstract: A disclosed example method for managing media content includes retrieving metadata for a plurality of encodings of the media content, wherein the metadata includes a first uniform resource locator (URL) and a first set of byte offsets for a first portion of the media content having a first encoding and a second URL and a second set of byte offsets for a second portion of the media content having a second encoding. The example method also includes requesting the first portion of the media content utilizing the first URL and the first set of byte offsets.

Abstract: A method of gaming comprising: providing a table game of the type where a player seeks to sink one or more balls of a set of balls in one or more pockets of the table by striking the balls with a cue ball in accordance with the rules of the table game; receiving a wager from a player additional to any amount required to play the table game, the wager entitling the player to receive at least one bonus associated with an event if the player achieves the event; and electronically monitoring play of the table game to determine whether the player achieves the event and the bonus should be awarded to the player.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically rerouting data. In accordance with a disclosed example method, congestion is identified in a logical circuit. The logical circuit comprises at least a first communication path in a first local access and transport area, a second communication path in an inter-exchange carrier, and a third communication path in a second local access and transport area. The example method also involves determining that the congestion is isolated to the second communication path in the inter-exchange carrier. Data associated with the logical circuit is rerouted without manual intervention using an alternate communication path to bypass the inter-exchange carrier. The rerouting comprises routing the data through the first local access and transport area, the alternate communication path, and the second local access and transport area.

Abstract: A signature is extracted from the audio of a program received by a tunable receiver such that the signature characterizes the program. In order to extract the signature, blocks of the audio are converted to corresponding spectral moments. At least one of the spectral moments is then converted to the signature. Also, a test audio signal from a receiver is correlated to a reference audio signal by converting the test audio signal and the reference audio signal to corresponding test and reference spectra, determining test slopes corresponding to coefficients of the test spectrum and reference slopes corresponding to coefficients of the reference spectrum, and comparing the test slopes to the reference slopes in order to determine a match between the test audio signal and the reference audio signal.

Abstract: In certain examples, this invention provides an inorganic composite binder with high-temperature resistance comprising 5-12% of aluminum hydroxide, 15-35% of phosphoric acid, 0.1-1% of rare earth oxide, 5-20% of silica sol, 1-15% of polyaluminum phosphate, 1-5% of borax, based on the total weight of said binder, and the rest being water, and a method for producing the same. The binder of the example can be used in temporary protective coating layer such as the high temperature coating and the high temperature antioxidation coating layer during the heat treatment of the metal workpiece, can make it possible to form an antioxidation coating layer immediately upon directly spraying the coating onto the substrate surface of the metal at high temperature of 400-1000° C.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect a time-shift event associated with the presentation of media content are disclosed. A disclosed system generates a first metering event representative of a first time period in which a program was continuously presented and a second metering event representative of a second time period in which a program was continuously presented. A time-shift detector receives the first and second metering events and calculates a presentation gap value and a broadcast time jump value. The time-shift detector compares the presentation gap value and the broadcast time jump value to determine whether a pause event, a fast forward event or a rewind event occurred.