Abstract: A remote wakeup capability for an imaging device, such as a multifunction printer (MFP) device. When the imaging device enters a power saving mode, a remote wakeup web service remains awake and initiates wakeup of the imaging device in response to a valid wakeup request received from a remote wakeup web service client module. Wakeup of the imaging device is thus achieved without a need for action on the imaging device front panel or a local client device connected to the imaging device via a serial or parallel port, and without wasting resources processing a superfluous imaging job.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining a high reliability logical connection between hosts employs adaptive transparent pinging, clone blocking and bandwidth leveling to realize improvements in the areas of connection status verification, security and bandwidth management. In adaptive transparent pinging, a ping interval that defines a frequency at which ping messages are transmitted from an initiating host to a receiving host to check connection status is dynamically regulated based on data indicative of the reliability of a connection. In clone blocking, the receiving host verifies that a new connection that appears redundant is a re-established connection from the initiating host rather than a cloned connection. In bandwidth leveling, data bursts pending on initiating hosts that exceed a predetermined size are scheduled for transmission to receiving hosts.

Abstract: Method and system for facilitating group organization using mobile devices and near field communication (NFC). Such a method in one aspect comprises the steps of selecting a first member of a group to create resources for the group, creating the resources by the first member using a mobile device belonging to the first member, bringing the mobile device belonging to the first member and a mobile device belonging to a second member of the group into proximity whereby a NFC connection is established between the mobile devices, uploading from the mobile device belonging to the second member to the mobile device belonging to the first member via the NFC connection information about the second member and adding the information about the second member to the resources.

Abstract: A trustable community for a computer system includes multiple software components that have security interdependence. A trustable community attempts to stop malware from compromising one software component within the community by conditioning operation of the software component upon a determination of present trustworthiness of itself and other software components within the community. Present trustworthiness may be determined through hash checks and application of community rules defining conditions under which software components are trustworthy.

Abstract: A Web Services interface extension channel exposes new operations for a Web Service without requiring changes to the WSDL definitions for the Web Service. In some embodiments, extended operation requests and responses are transmitted over the extension channel using SOAP methods reserved for extended operation requests and responses, respectively.

Abstract: Enhanced power saving methods and systems for a powerline network improve power conservation by adaptively regulating the monitoring of a shared carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) region of a beacon period based on current need. The methods and systems include one or more enhanced power saving modes (EPSM). In some embodiments, EPSM include one or both of an enhanced priority resolution (EPR) mode and an enhanced idle sensing (EIS) mode. In some embodiments, an EPSM is selected from a plurality of EPSM in response to an EPSM indicator detected in a beacon region of the beacon period.

Abstract: Methods and systems for ensuring that a default contact list display name presented on a mobile electronic device is meaningful to a user of the mobile electronic device. Such a mobile electronic device in some embodiments comprises a user interface, a wireless interface and a processor wherein in response to a login to a server having a contact list a device-selected default contact list display name is presented on the user interface and wherein prior to presenting the device-selected default contact list display name the device causes a previous default contact list display name associated with the contact list to be replaced with the device-selected default contact list display name.

Abstract: An imaging device utilizes click count fragmentation to provide separate click counts for service and billing purposes. Click count fragmentation maintains uninterrupted service counts and derives from service counts billing counts that more accurately reflect the number of pages generated that are usable by a customer. Billing counts may be paused, resumed, reset and displayed by authorized personnel via a local or remote imaging device interface. Accesses of billing counts by authorized personnel may be recorded in an audit trail.

Abstract: A trusted enclave for a software system of a computer node provides relatively high assurance protection of a section of the software system. The trusted enclave attempts to stop malware from compromising parts of the software system within the trusted enclave. If a software system process outside the trusted enclave becomes compromised, the compromised process may be prevented from compromising software system resources within the trusted enclave. Compromise of a process or resource of the software system refers to, for example, malware access, alteration or control of the process or resource.

Abstract: Method and system for receiving an advance decision from a wireless communication device user to terminate a video sequence captured by the user at a limit length of a target use for the video sequence and enforcing the advance decision upon reaching the limit length. The method and system relieve the user of the burden to continuously monitor the length of video sequences and terminate video sequences at just the right time.

Abstract: A computerized system for targeted horticultural advertising. In some embodiments, the system comprises a computer. The computer receives environmental data collected at a horticultural site. The computer determines conformance of the environmental data to a plant species profile and directs a user to commercial information regarding a plant associated with the plant species profile based on the conformance. In some embodiments, the system is used in plant selection and purchasing. In some embodiments, the system is used in plant health diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Abstract: The present invention provides virtual batteries for a wireless communication device. Generally speaking, a virtual battery is a logical construct on a wireless communication device that powers a defined set of wireless communication device applications and has a defined power budget from one or more physical batteries on the device. Through judicious assignment of wireless communication device applications and power budgets to virtual batteries, a user of a wireless communication device can efficiently allocate power among competing wireless communication device applications.

Abstract: A computerized plant selection system comprises a probe and a computer. The probe is installed at a proposed site for a plant. The probe collects environmental data at the site. The environmental data are uploaded to a computer. The computer identifies one or more compatible plant species using the environmental data. Information regarding the compatible plant species is displayed to a user, which advantageously enables the user to select a plant that is environmentally compatible with the proposed site. The compatible plant species may be further identified using user interview data, which enables the user to advantageously select a plant that is compatible with the user's aesthetic and utilitarian preferences. The computer may further identify purchasing information, which advantageously saves the user time and effort in locating a plant and enables the user to purchase a plant that is compatible with the user's budget.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device with fragmented device settings enables preservation of user-defined settings during over-air software updates. Such a device in one aspect comprises a memory adapted to store at least one device setting including a default setting determined independent of any user of the device and a user setting determinable by a user of the device; a wireless interface adapted to receive a software update; and a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless interface and the memory and adapted to update the default-setting in response to the software update.

Abstract: A probe for use in a computerized plant selection and health maintenance system comprises a controller having a processor adopted to process environmental data received from a plurality of sensors and a communications interface adapted to transmit environmental data; and a soil mount removably engaged with the controller having a receptacle adapted to snugly receive the communications interface and a stake adapted to removably engage with soil. The receptacle advantageously allows engagement and disengagement of the controller from the soil mount by hand without the need for tools or independent attachment mechanisms, which has heightened importance where portability of the controller is required, and protects sensitive electronic components of the controller, such as the communications interface, from environmental contaminants.

Abstract: Initialization of a sensor for monitoring the structural integrity of a building involves the sensor, a gateway and an installer device. An automated initialization brings the sensor online and enables the sensor for remote monitoring without requiring on-site manual configuration. Through the automated initialization, the sensor joins a logical communication group and a GPS location associated with the sensor becomes remotely accessible by a human network administrator.

Abstract: A method for controlling the frequency dependence of insertion loss in an etalon-lens-fiber (ELF) optical assembly comprises defining target frequencies and insertion loss objectives therefor and adjusting the optical path length between pairs of the etalon, lens and fiber components until insertion loss objectives are achieved. Insertion loss objectives include insertion loss and insertion loss ripple objectives. The method allows for control of the frequency dependence of insertion loss and insertion loss ripple without introducing additional components, such as spectral filters, into the system.

Abstract: A chromatic dispersion compensator comprises a beam delay element, such as one or more Gires-Tournois etalon (GTEs); a beam director, such as a polarizing beam splitter (PBS), a prism polarizer, a dielectric polarizer or a crystal polarizer; and a polarization changer, such as one or more quarter-wave plates. The beam director directs an inbound optical beam based on its polarization toward the beam delay element whereat a first unit of group delay is induced. The optical beam traverses the beam delay element and enters a polarization changer whereat the optical beam obtains a new polarization. The optical beam traverses the polarization changer and re-enters the beam director whereupon a path change is induced on the optical beam based on its new polarization and the optical beam is redirected toward the beam delay element whereat a second unit of group delay is induced.

Abstract: A spectral interleaver providing flat top spectral transmission passbands and athermal operation is disclosed. The spectral interleaver may comprise a pentagon-shaped birefringent crystal, a polarization beam splitter, and a dielectric mirror at one facet of the crystal. Prisms and polarizing beam splitters can be employed for operation with an unpolarized input beam. The cavity formed by the mirror and the crystal serves as a spectrally dispersive mirror. Front mirror reflectivity is provided by the air-crystal (or other medium-crystal) interface. Proper mirror reflectivities can be achieved by selecting the angle ? of the pentagon-shape crystal. By selecting the proper air space between the mirror and the crystal surface and the crystal length, the interleaver can have a flat top transmission function. A combination of two different crystals which exhibit different thermal-optic effects may be employed such that the total phase retardation is independent of the temperature, leading to athermal operation.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a fiber optic pigtail, a sleeve in which the pigtail is housed, a collimating lens, a rod upon which is mounted an optical device and a lens sleeve in which the lens and rod are housed. Bonding lines bond the rod and lens to the lens sleeve, the pigtail to the pigtail sleeve, and the pigtail sleeve to the lens sleeve. The optical assembly and method of fabrication thereof support multiple optical device geometries, longitudinal adjustment of the position of the optical device within the optical assembly, an extended bonding line between the optical device and the environment outside the optical assembly, full x-y-z positioning of the pigtail relative to the lens and reduced reliance on bonding line thickness irregularities.