Abstract: System and method for controlling the presentation of information, such as dynamically displayed text, includes a computer with a display device and one or more sets of electrode plates and capacitive field sensors arranged facing each other on a substantially flat and substantially stationary surface, such as a table top. The method includes forming capacitive fields between the electrodes and sensors by electrically charging the electrode plates. The sensors monitor for gestural movements made by a user's hands within the fields by detecting changes in voltage levels of the fields. In response to detected gestural movements, the computer adjusts the manner in which the information is presented in the display device, such as the display rate, information source, font size and contrast control.

Abstract: A system and method for providing multimedia content between a plurality of user terminals is presented. A first multimedia presentation on a first user terminal is selected by a first user. Data corresponding to the first multimedia presentation is transmitted to a second user terminal. Data is received corresponding to a second multimedia presentation from the second user terminal by the first user terminal. The first multimedia presentation or the second multimedia presentation is displayed on the first user terminal and the second user terminal based on, respectively, a first profile of the first user terminal and a second profile of the second user terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for generating cluster spine groupings for display is provided. A set of spines is obtained. Each spine in the set includes a grouping of clusters that share a common concept and are arranged linearly along a vector. Those spines that are unique from each other spine are identified. At least one remaining spine from the set of spines is selected. The remaining spine is compared to the unique spines. At least one spine group is formed by grafting the remaining spine onto the unique spine that is most similar. The spine group is displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing metadata interaction and visualization with task-related objects is described. A plurality of task-oriented items is defined. Each task-oriented item includes a storage component specifying metadata relating to at least one of planning, executing or completing a task. A visualization is provided to tie in the task-oriented items and associate modeling logic operating on at least one such task-oriented item. The visualization is displayed by highlighting at least one of interdependencies and conflicts between the metadata of the task-oriented items.

Abstract: A system and method for accumulating a historical context of interactions between components is presented. A plurality of components that each have a component context and which include at least one of a requester component and at least one of a service component are maintained. An interaction including the requester component requesting an operation to be performed by the service component is identified by sending the component context of the requester component to the service component. The component context of the requester component is recorded into the component context of the service component as contextual metadata.

Abstract: A system and method for financial transactions in a rideshare system is provided. A rideshare environment with multiple rideshare transactions is maintained. Each rideshare transaction includes one or more participants. Bids are received from potential participants for a position in at least one of the rideshare transactions. At least one potential participant is assigned to one of the rideshare transactions based on one of the bids.

Abstract: A method and system for spectroscopy of surface plasmons is presented. An electromagnetic wave is made incident on a diffraction grating. Surface plasmons are excited on a medium coincident to the diffraction grating and dispersion of a wavelength spectrum of the electromagnetic wave are simultaneously performed through diffraction. Changes in spatial distribution of intensity in the wavelength spectrum of the diffracted electromagnetic wave due to the excitation of the surface plasmons are measured.

Abstract: A method and system for matching participants in a rideshare program is provided. A participant rating is identified in a rideshare environment. A rideshare participation score is generated for the identified participant. The identified participant is assigned to a rideshare transaction with at least one other participant in the rideshare program based on the rideshare participation score.

Abstract: In order to provide a radio wave absorber that can be produced easily and has excellent radio wave absorption characteristics, a conductive surface 2 of a conductive paint 6 is formed on one surface 1a of a mat-shaped inorganic fiber bulk material 1.

Abstract: A system and method for providing print advertisements is presented. A target audience is assembled from characteristics about readers. Advertising content is targeted to the target audience. The characteristics of the target audience are analyzed against the advertising content to identify potential advertisers. At least one of the potential advertisers is selected. At least one print advertisement for the selected advertiser is included on the document.

Abstract: A system and method for reorienting clusters within a display is provided. Clusters are maintained within a display. Each cluster includes a center located at a distance relative to a common origin for the display and a radius measured from the center. A pair of the clusters is selected and a bounding region is determined for each cluster in the pair by forming a pair of tangent vectors about the cluster and originating at the common origin. The bounding regions of the clusters in the pair are compared. The distance from the common origin of one of the clusters in the pair is increased upon overlap of the bounding regions as a perspective-corrected distance, which is determined as a function of the distances, the radii, and an angle between tangent vectors. The one cluster is moved to reorient the cluster's center at the perspective-corrected distance in the display.

Abstract: A theft-resistant mailbox for parcels and method of construction thereof are presented. An inner door is pivotably affixed to a top inner surface of a housing and is rotatably moveable on a top edge around a sphere of rotation. An outer door is pivotably affixed to a front surface of the housing and is rotatably moveable on a bottom edge. At least one connecting member is rotatably attached on one end to a side edge of the inner door and on the other end to a common side edge of the outer door. An inner panel is fixedly attached to the bottom edge of the outer door and is rotatably moveable on a proximal edge in the same direction as the outer and inner door. The inner panel is comprised of a distal edge defining a sphere rotatably distinct from the sphere of rotation for the inner door.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a computer controlled method for use with a communication system. The method includes a step of receiving a plurality of communications, where each one of the plurality of communications is from one of a plurality of communication sources; includes a step of mixing (that is responsive to a plurality of floor controls) the plurality of communications for a plurality of outputs associated with plurality of communication sources; and includes a step of analyzing, for a plurality of users associated with the plurality of communication sources, one or more conversational characteristics of two or more of the plurality of users. The method also includes a step of automatically adjusting the plurality of floor controls responsive to the step of analyzing. Other embodiments include systems and devices that use the method as well as program products that cause a computer to execute the method.

Abstract: A system and method for financial transactions in a rideshare system is provided. An economic demand is determined for a rideshare transaction. An economic supply is also determined for the rideshare transaction. A rideshare transaction price is set based at least in part upon the economic supply and the economic demand determined for the rideshare transaction.

Abstract: A system and method for performing proximity-based communications through dynamic communication device registration is presented. Uniquely identified mobile communication devices are registered with a Service provider notice server. Subscribers of the mobile communications devices configure descriptive parameters, a localized physical coverage area, contact information and privacy preferences. Subscriber groups of subscriber mobile communications devices with matching descriptive parameters are formed. Subscriber group information for a plurality of the mobile communication devices within the localized physical coverage area is provided. Subscribers send a request to communicate with at least one other subscriber in a matching subscriber group.

Abstract: A system and method for providing education-related alerts in an online learning environment is provided. An online learning environment including a plurality of users participating in online educational activities is monitored. An online database including event rules and education-related information for the online educational activities is maintained. An event occurring in the online learning environment is identified. The event satisfies at least one of the event rules. A benchmark is determined for the event. The benchmark includes at least one of information selected from and information indicated by the education-related information. An alert is generated for the event by selecting a template for the event and populating the template with the benchmark as the alert. The alert is provided to one or more of the users.

Abstract: A system and method for providing reallocation and reverse optimization of a financial portfolio using a parametric leptokurtic distribution are provided. A time series including risk factors applicable over at least one time horizon, a portfolio including financial assets, a quantile, and one or more risk adjusted return points for the financial assets is stored. The financial assets are associated with the risk factors. A subordinated parametric distribution model exhibiting leptokurtic behavior is generated. A function of expected tail loss for the quantile based on the subordinated parametric distribution model exhibiting leptokurtic behavior is expressed. A set of portfolio asset weight changes for each of the financial assets is determined based on the expected tail loss at each such time horizon and for each risk adjusted return point. Reallocation of the portfolio is provided based on the portfolio asset weight changes for each risk adjusted return point for the portfolio.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying clusters is provided. A plurality of clusters are generated. Each cluster includes one or more documents. A cluster concept selected from the documents is identified. The cluster concepts that satisfy an acceptance criteria are selected. Spines are formed from the clusters associated therewith. The clusters including the cluster concepts not selected are assigned to one of the spines, which provides a best fit with the cluster concept. The spines are placed into a display, wherein each placed spine is unique. An anchor cluster with an open edge on the placed spines is identified. One or more of the spines not already in the display are placed. Similarity between the non-placed spine and each anchor cluster is determined. The anchor cluster most similar is selected. The non-placed spine is set on the open edge of the anchor cluster.