Abstract: An UML model can be visually rendered upon a canvas of a graphical user interface of a software modeling application. The UML model can include at least one stereotype that extends an UML modeling element. A stereotype application can include values of attributes that are part of the stereotype that is applied on the UML modeling element. The visual rendering can include a stereotype application object which is able to be edited. Editing of the stereotype application object can result in changes to values of attributes of the stereotype application.

Abstract: A method of tracking objects uses an anchor beacon that can emit a broadcast over a range that is detectable by an object tracking device. The object tracking device can automatically detect a presence or absence of the broadcast. When the broadcast is present, the object tracking device can take no action. When the broadcast is absent, the object tracking device can determine a current location for the object tracking device and can convey an OTA communication to a tracking server. The OTA communication can indicate the absence of the broadcast and can also including the current location. The tracking server can selectively send a notification to a previously designated communication device to notify a user that the object tracking device is outside the range.

Abstract: A method for converting credits to funds can include a step of a Web site receiving user identification information. Non-negotiable credits can be identified that are associated with an entity with which the user has previously interacted. The previous interactions could have earned the non-negotiable credits. Responsive to a user request, a conversion agency can convert a quantity of the non-negotiable credits into a quantity of negotiable funds. The conversion agency can be an agency not directly associated with the entity. The user can be permitted to access the quantity of negotiable funds. The quantity of negotiable funds can be applied to user specified purchases. At least a portion of the purchases can involve at least one vender that does not honor the non-negotiable credits.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a contact center system based upon open standards. The contact center system can include at least one agent node, a portal server, and an application server. An agent node can include a standard HTTP browser that communicates over a standard Internet Protocol network using standard protocols. The portal server can be configured to communicate with an agent node via an agent portal, which can consist of multiple agent portlets to present information. The application server can be configured to execute contact center applications that can collect and distribute information via the agent portlets and transfer calls to agents.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution of a server-side result distribution service software program. The program can receive and store results related to a request context from different content providing servers. Asynchronous requests can be received from a client, which initiated a content request that defines the request context. A level of completeness for the request results that satisfies the received client request can be determined. The level of completeness can be compared against a previously established threshold. Either dynamically processed results or previously cached results can be delivered to the client depending upon an outcome of the comparing step. Server-side operations that produce the dynamically processed results can be operations initiated after the content request is sent by the client. Previously cached results can be generated from processes initiated before the content request is sent by the client.

Abstract: The concept of “renderers” and “translators” is introduced in connection with bidirectional conversion between object models and XML. A renderer embodies the logic responsible for mediating the parser specific APIs for reading and writing XML. It utilizes a plurality of translator objects, which embody the mapping information needed to convert the XML into object model instances. The translator objects themselves do not contain “knowledge” of parser implementations; thus, the translators are common and can be shared and reused by any and all renderer implementations. Since each translator embodies the knowledge and rules regarding how to convert an XML model to an object model, and how to convert object models to XML, it is thus independent of the particular renderer that is being used, whether it be SAX, DOM, or some other renderer.

Abstract: A method and system for grid computing. In an embodiment, a plurality of client machines are interconnected to at least one master machine. The master machine assigns a portion of a computing task to each one of the client machines. If any given client machine fails, or is delayed, in the performance its portion of the task, the master machine uses an estimate of that particular portion when presenting output for the task.

Abstract: An interactive virtual model of a physical storefront can be presented to a shopper within a user interactive interface of a computing device remotely located from the physical storefront. At least a portion of the organizational structure of the interactive virtual model can be identical a portion of the organizational structure of the physical storefront. The organization structure can varies from storefront-to-storefront of different physical storefronts, each being related to a different interactive virtual model. A change involving at least one physical object within the physical storefront can be sensed. Responsive to sensing the change, a virtual object presented in the interactive virtual model can be changed so that the change to the physical object occurring in the physical storefront is reflected in the interactive virtual model and is shown in the user interactive interface.

Abstract: A trace file providing details of an execution of a software application experiencing unexpected behavior can be identified. The trace file can be converted into a graph structure (e.g., Function Call Graph), which details functions called during the execution, a calling relationship, and errors encountered during the execution. The converted graph structure can be programmatically matched against a set of stored graph structures to determine matched results. Each stored graph structure can correspond to unique record of a symptom database. Each unique record can be associated with a determined problem. The matched results can be provided as possible problems causing the unexpected behavior of the software application.

Abstract: An event to initialize a portlet palette within a user interface having an open portal to which the portlet palette is associated can be detected. The portlet palette can be a user interface control that includes a portlet set of at least one portlet. The portlet palette can be configured so that a selection of a portlet from the portlet set causes the portlet to be added to the open portal. A set of portlets can be automatically determined from a set of stored portlets that are relevant to the open portal based upon previously defined programmatic rules and contextual information associated with the open portlet. The portlet palette can be dynamically populated with the determined set of portlets. The populated portlet palette can be presented within the user interface.

Abstract: A workload to be handled by a database system can be identified. The workload can include at least one query that the database system is to handle. A set of at least one candidate statistical views (statviews) to be utilized when optimizing the workload can be enumerated. A benefit value and a cost value of the each of the enumerated candidate statistical views relative to the entire workload can be computed. The cost value can reflect a cost of constructing and collecting statistics on the associated statistical view. A set of the candidate views most beneficial for handling the workload can be determined based upon the computed benefit values and computed cost values. A generalization phase that augments the candidate view set with higher value candidate views for consideration during the recommendation phase. The optimum subset of views from the determined set of candidate views can be recommended, which can cause them to be constructed and utilized by a database optimizer.

Abstract: A quasi-PM fused optical coupler device and method for forming the same. The optical coupler device includes a first polarization maintaining (PM) input section providing a first PM input for the fused optical coupler device for receiving a linearly polarized signal and a first PM input section output. A non-PM fiber including fusion region has an input optically coupled to the first PM input section output, the fusion region including a fusion region output. A first intermediate non-PM output and a second intermediate non-PM output are both optically coupled to the fusion region output. A first support structure is provided for securing the fusion region thereto, wherein the first intermediate non-PM output includes a cleaved output near an outer edge of the first support structure to provide a shortened first intermediate non-PM output.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube reinforced metal nanocomposite material includes a continuous metal phase, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in the continuous metal phase. The metal phase extends throughout substantially an entire thickness of the nanocomposite material. The nanotubes are preferably single wall nanotubes (SWNTs). Carbon nanotube reinforced metal nanocomposites according to the invention provide thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity which are generally significantly higher than the pure metal continuous phase material, mechanical strength is 2 to 3 times greater than that of the pure metal, and a tailorable coefficient of thermal expansion obtainable through changing the percentage of nanotubes in the nanocomposite.

Abstract: A pressure sensing apparatus (1) includes an elastically deformable pressure-sensitive diaphragm assembly (13) having a pressure-sensitive metal or metal alloy diaphragm (14). A functional filled dielectric layer (25) is on the diaphragm and includes a base dielectric material and at least one CTE raising filler. A CTE of the functional filled dielectric layer provides a CTE @ 800° C.?8 ppm/° C., such as ?10 ppm/° C. A plurality of piezoresistive elements (27) are on the functional filled dielectric layer (25).

Abstract: A volumetric fluid flow sensor (100) includes a flow channel (120) for flowing a fluid therein; and a diaphragm (110) having an outer surface within the flow channel (120). The diaphragm (110) includes at least one flow disrupting feature mechanically coupled to or emerging from the outer surface of the diaphragm (110). A sensing structure (126) is coupled to the diaphragm (110) for generating a sensing signal responsive to a pressure signal on the diaphragm (110).

Abstract: A current sensor includes a magnetic field sensing element, a first conductor including sandwich structure and second conductor including sandwich structure electrically coupled to one another. The magnetic field sensing element is interposed between the first and second sandwich structure. The magnetic field sensing element is operable to receive magnetic flux lines resulting from current flowing through the first and second conductor sandwich structure. The first and second conductor sandwich structure each include a top portion including at least a first electrical conductor, a bottom portion including at least a second electrical conductor, and a layer of magnetic permeable material different from the first and second electrical conductor interposed between the top portion and bottom portion.

Abstract: A frequency selective surface-based (FSS-based) device (200) for processing electromagnetic waves providing at least a third-order response. The FSS-based device includes a first FSS (202), a second FSS (210), and a high quality factor (Q) FSS (206) interposed between the first and second FSSs. A first dielectric layer (204) and a second dielectric layer (208) separate the respective FSS layers. The first and second FSSs have first and second primary resonant frequencies, respectively. The high Q FSS has a lower primary resonant frequency relative to the first and second primary resonant frequencies. The overall electrical thickness of the FSS device can be <?/10. The high Q FSS has a loaded quality factor of at least thirty at the lower primary resonant frequency.

Abstract: A method of forming a CIGSS absorber layer includes the steps of providing a metal precursor, and selenizing the metal precursor using diethyl selenium to form a selenized metal precursor layer (CIGSS absorber layer). A high efficiency solar cell includes a CIGSS absorber layer formed by a process including selenizing a metal precursor using diethyl selenium to form the CIGSS absorber layer.

Abstract: An optical combination includes a substrate, a linear polarizer on the substrate, and a first frequency selective surface (FSS) based elliptical polarization filter on the linear polarizer. The first FSS comprises at least one periodic pattern of spaced apart electrically conductive lines having a sub-wavelength line-to-line spacing orientated along a first axis. The pattern is operable to impose a phase differential for one orthogonal linear polarization state relative to the other linear polarization state for electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength between 400 nm and 1 mm, such as 1 ?m to 12 ?m. An identification system and associated method for identifying objects includes at least one tag having encoded information attached to the surface of an object to be identified, wherein the tag includes a first FSS-based elliptical polarization filter which provides the encoding.

Abstract: An integrated sub-millimeter and infrared reflectarray includes a reflective surface, a dielectric layer disposed on the reflective surface, and a subwavelength element array and a subwavelength element array electromagnetically coupled to the reflective surface. The subwavelength element array includes (i) electrically conductive subwavelength elements on the dielectric layer, (ii) wherein the dielectric layer comprises a plurality of dielectric subwavelength elements, or (iii) the dielectric layer includes a plurality of embedded dielectric subwavelength elements. The array includes at least one of a plurality of substantially different inter-element spacings and a plurality of substantially different dimensions for the elements.