Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of capturing the reading style, reading plan and private ontology of a user, collectively referred to as the worldview. The process of capturing and applying the reading style includes the following activities: determining the reading style of the user, creating a worldview of the user using the reading style, applying the worldview to a document corpus, determining the information of interest, and reporting the desired information to the user in a report format. The worldview of the user is constructed out of the reading style and the reading plan of the user. Optionally, the user can choose to use a predetermined external ontology to create his/her worldview.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing a location based social networking is provided. A client application is provided on a communications device of a user seeking to establish the location based social network. The user creates a personal profile and a preference profile using the client application. The preference profile refers to characteristics the user seeks in potential members of the location based social network. The user transfers the personal and preference profiles to the social networking server which registers a location and range selected by the user. The social networking server identifies potential members within the registered location and range by matching the personal profile of each of the potential members with the preference and personal profiles of the user. The social networking server provides communications link between the user and the identified potential members upon mutual confirmation between the user and the identified potential members.

Abstract: The computer implemented method and system disclosed herein automates business processes of a health plan organization using a plurality of portals. The portals comprise a sales portal, a member portal, an employer portal, an administration portal, and a provider portal. Health plans are listed using the sales portal. A sales agent proposes at least one of the health plans to a consumer using the sales portal. The administration portal generates insurance quotes for the proposed health plans. The consumer enrolls for the proposed health plans using one of the member portal and the employer portal. The consumer is billed for the enrolled health plans based on the insurance quotes using the administration portal. The consumer pays a premium amount online for the enrolled health plans using the member portal or the employer portal. The administration portal then generates commissions for the sales agent for the enrolled health plans.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for allowing voice short message service (SMS) messaging using methods of recipient addressing as used by text SMS messaging. A user creates a text SMS message and addresses the message to a recipient. The address of the recipient may be obtained from the address book stored locally on the user's mobile device. A client application intercepts the text SMS message and prompts whether the user wants to include a voice SMS message. If the user wants to include the voice SMS message, the user's voice message is recorded on a server. The text message along with a notification of the voice message is transmitted to the recipient. The recipient may use the information in the voice message notification to access and listen to the user's recorded voice message.

Abstract: The computer implemented method and system disclosed herein automates business processes of a health plan organization using a plurality of portals. The portals comprise a sales portal, a member portal, an employer portal, an administration portal, and a provider portal. Health plans are listed using the sales portal. A sales agent proposes at least one of the health plans to a consumer using the sales portal. The administration portal generates insurance quotes for the proposed health plans. The consumer enrolls for the proposed health plans using one of the member portal and the employer portal. The consumer is billed for the enrolled health plans based on the insurance quotes using the administration portal. The consumer pays a premium amount online for the enrolled health plans using the member portal or the employer portal. The administration portal then generates commissions for the sales agent for the enrolled health plans.

Abstract: The Invention is an apparatus and method of providing a valet telephone service. A dedicated wireless telephone is provided to a subscriber as a benefit of subscription. The dedicated wireless telephone will place calls only to and receive calls only from a service provider central computer. Incoming and outgoing calls to or from subscriber over said dedicated wireless telephone are screened or completed by an operator. Outgoing calls are completed by the operator to private contacts at locations ranked by time of day and day of the week. Incoming calls to subscriber are connected to subscriber at locations ranked by time of day and day of the week. Calls to subscriber outside telephone numbers are forwarded permanently to the central computer and screened by the operator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system that progressively relaxes search terms provided by a user. Data of predefined types is stored in a database. The data is obtained by uniquely modifying data previously stored in the database, based on the predefined types. Search terms of predefined types are accepted from the user. The search terms are compared with the stored data to find exact matches, if length of the search terms exceeds a predefined value. On not finding exact matches, the accepted search terms are modified uniquely based on the predefined types to structure first alternative queries. The first alternative queries are compared with the stored data to find exact matches. On not finding exact matches, the first alternative queries are modified based on the predefined types to structure second alternative queries. The second alternative queries are compared with the stored data to find approximate matches.

Abstract: An electric plug device and a method for extending and replacing a malfunctioning female power outlet are provided. The electric plug device comprises a mains plug, an extension cable, and a power extender. The mains plug comprises a male power inlet and multiple first female power outlets. The male power inlet is electrically connected to the first female power outlets and provides an electrical input pathway. The first female power outlets provide electrical output pathways. The malfunctioning female power outlet may be one of the first female power outlets. The extension cable electrically connects the malfunctioning female power outlet to the power extender. The power extender comprises multiple second female power outlets. The malfunctioning female power outlet is connected to the second female power outlets by the extension cable. The extension cable and the power extender enable the extension and the replacement of the malfunctioning female power outlet respectively.

Abstract: A hose handling apparatus for gripping, advancing, and maneuvering a high pressure hose is provided. The hose handling apparatus comprises a support member comprising a first end, a middle section, and a second end, a generally cylindrical handle detachably connected to and substantially perpendicular to the first end of the support member forming a rigid connection with the support member to provide grip to a user's hand, a first generally cylindrical curvilinear gripping element detachably connected to and substantially perpendicular to the middle section of the support member, and a second generally cylindrical curvilinear gripping element detachably connected to and substantially perpendicular to the second end of the support member. The support member is angled at the middle section. The handle and the gripping elements form a parallel configuration which is perpendicular to a planar surface of the support member. The gripping elements grip the hose positioned between them firmly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an animal isolator and method for isolating one or more animals from a herd. The animal isolator comprises a meshing enclosure for confining the animals. The meshing enclosure comprises a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of opposing side walls, a partially closed base partially closing a first end of the open ended enclosure, a vehicle mounting assembly, and a gate. The meshing enclosure is detachably attached to the rear end or the front end of a vehicle using the vehicle mounting assembly and is raised above ground surface. The vehicle is driven through the herd. The meshing enclosure is then lowered over the animals and the animals are captured through the opening of the partially closed base. The captured animals are driven onto the platform and are confined to a region defined by the platform using the gate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting by the simultaneous electrical stimulation of the pericardium meridian six point and pericardium meridian seven point on the ventral side of the wrist of a patient. The meridian stimulator comprises a wrist-band like housing that is worn on the ventral side of the human wrist and contains a circuitry means included within the said housing and electrically coupled to the electrodes. A negative electrode is positioned on the pericardium meridian six point and a positive electrode is placed on the pericardium meridian seven point and a low amperage current is passed through these points via electrodes positioned at these points. A liquid crystal display unit reads the current supplied to the electrodes and indicates via an indicator light when current is being supplied to the meridian stimulator and further comprises a touch screen for a power on and off button and for increasing the rate of electrical stimulations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a reconfigurable smoking pipe and a method of using the same for single handed operation. The reconfigurable smoking pipe comprises a base unit, a lighter holder, a bowl, a smoke chamber, a carburetor, a mouthpiece, and a plug. The base unit comprises multiple ports. The lighter holder is attached to the base unit. Each of the bowl, the smoke chamber, the carburetor, and the plug are detachably attached to any one of the ports of the base unit. A mouthpiece is detachably attached to anterior end of the smoke chamber. A user assembles the reconfigurable smoking pipe and inserts a lighter into the lighter holder. The user holds the reconfigurable smoking pipe in a smoking position using a single hand by gripping the inserted lighter and lights a smoking substance held in the bowl by operating the gripped lighter using the single hand.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a therapeutic device and method for achieving and sustaining erection of a penile organ. The therapeutic device comprises a flexible belt worn by the user for producing an external pressure on one or more regions of the penile organ. The flexible belt comprises a waist section and a loop section. The waist section is worn around waist of the user for adjusting the external pressure by the user. The loop section is worn on the dorsal region of the penile organ for producing the external pressure. A magnetic unit placed inside the loop section produces a magnetic field. The magnetic field increases level of oxygen to augment blood flow in the penile organ. The magnetic field applied and the adjustment of the external pressure enables the user to achieve and sustain the erection of the penile organ.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for customizing an image to be printed on a printable surface of an item selected by a user. The user submits an image on a host website. The user selects at least one of multiple image filters provided on the host website. The user adjusts settings of the selected image filters to be applied on the image. The user may also set transparency of one or more colors of the image. The colors are selected from a palette comprising the colors of the image. The user customizes the image using the adjusted settings of the selected image filters. The host website regenerates the customized image for each of the adjusted settings. The user selects an item on the host website and customizes external attributes of the item. The customized image is then printed on the printable surface of the selected item.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for rewarding health care providers using an integrated medical management system. A web application analyzes performance of the health care providers. The web application acquires information from integrated medical management system. The acquired information includes information of health care quality improvement analysis, disease and case based management, utilization analytics, physician profiling, authorizations management, lab and imaging information, and health risk assessment information. The web application determines performance indices for the health care providers based on the acquired information. The performance indices include a quality index, an economic index, and a relative value unit index of the health care providers. The web application analyzes the performance of the health care providers based on the performance indices. The analysis includes identifying health care providers eligible for a reward.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system that addresses the need for utilization analysis and performance evaluation of providers in a health care organization. The health care data comprising health plan information of consumers, providers, claims, and hospitals is collected, translated, and organized in a structured relational format and stored in standard tables. The organized health care data is analyzed by calculating consumer statistics for a health plan using the health plan information of the consumers. The claims of the consumers are processed to classify the claims based on age, gender, disease, and comorbid conditions of the consumers. A plurality of costs of the health care organization is determined using one or more of the health plan information. The performance of the providers is assessed using the determined plurality of costs. The providers comprising primary care physicians are analyzed based on entire population of the associated consumers.

Abstract: A portable apparatus and method for providing real time visual feedback of a sports swing to a user is provided. The portable apparatus comprises a rotatable reflecting surface housed in a frame, an attachment assembly connected to a rear section of the frame, a telescopic pole rotatably attached to the attachment assembly, and a fastener. The rotatable reflecting surface enables the user to view the sports swing. The attachment assembly facilitates rotation of the rotatable reflecting surface housed in the frame about a first axis. The telescopic pole facilitates rotation of the rotatable reflecting surface about a second axis. In an embodiment, the telescopic pole is rigidly attached to a pole holder that accommodates the telescopic pole. The fastener is pivotally attached to the telescopic pole for facilitating rotation of the telescopic pole about a third axis. The fastener enables attachment of the portable apparatus to different sports equipment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for isolating business logic from system operations by attaching and organizing a set of java interceptor components, using XML configuration and java dynamic proxy functionality, around an existing standard software java business component. The interceptor components are configured by pre-configuring a set of interceptor classes in an XML configuration file. An interceptor framework is provided which configures, initializes and maintains the interceptor classes. A proxy of the business component is created and returned to a calling client program. The interceptor framework parses the XML configuration file for initializing all the interceptor classes. An interceptor chain is created associated with the business component, when the client program invokes the methods on the proxy business component. Each interceptor acts as a proxy to a previous interceptor in the interceptor chain.