Abstract: A device for reducing clogging of a gutter comprises a housing which fits in a gutter over the downspout. The device contains a motor-driven grinder mechanism which grinds up waterborne leaves and other debris passing through the housing, preferably as they exit through the outlet of the housing to the downspout. Preferably, the device also includes a plunger mechanism which helps push water and debris in the housing through the grinder mechanism. Also, preferable the device includes a water sensor and a debris sensor for operating the motor only when both water and debris are present.

Abstract: A device for reducing clogging of a gutter comprises a housing which fits in a gutter over the downspout. The device contains a motor-driven grinder mechanism which grinds up waterborne leaves and other debris passing through the housing, preferably as they exit through the outlet of the housing to the downspout. The grinder mechanism preferably comprises one or more rotary type blades located above an inlet of the downspout. The device may also include a plunger mechanism which helps push water and debris in the housing through the grinder mechanism. Also, preferable the device includes a water sensor and a debris sensor for operating the motor only when both water and debris are present.

Abstract: A collection case combines a trading card with an actual piece of associated memorabilia to enhance its value. The collection case encapsulates the two items together in a protective plastic slab for safe keeping. The process results in a new collectable product of increased value.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking and enforcing mutual put, i.e. early termination, requirements for contracts between a first financial institution and a second financial institution for underlying financial instruments is disclosed. The mutual puts comprise an option to unwind the underlying financial instrument at a future time. One embodiment of the system includes storing a plurality of sets of mutual put requirements for a plurality of trading parties, each set of mutual put requirements established by a first party for trades with a counterparty; receiving a trade indication identifying a pair of trading parties; retrieving the mutual put requirements for each of the counterparties; and calculating a set of mutual put parameters for the trade based on the stored bilateral mutual put requirements. The system may further verify that the trade entered into between the parties meets the calculated set of mutual put parameters.

Abstract: Dynamically filtering and classifying messages, as good messages, bulk periodicals, or spam. A regular expression recognizer, and pre-trained neural networks. The neural networks distinguish “likely good” from “likely spam,” and also operate at a more discriminating level to distinguish among the three categories above. A dynamic whitelist and blacklist; sending addresses are collected when the number of their messages indicates the sender is good or a spammer. A dynamically selected set of regular expressions input to the neural networks.

Abstract: A modular shoe system having interchangeable uppers and outsoles, comprising an internal support structure, a plurality of interchangeable first removable covers and a plurality of interchangeable second removable covers. The internal support structure includes a midsole, a heel counter and a toe box. The internal support structure has a front portion including the toe box and a rear portion including the heel counter. Each of the first removable covers includes a front upper and a front outsole. Each of the first removable covers is configured for being alternately removably attached to the front portion. Each of the second removable covers includes a rear upper and a rear outsole. Each of the second removable covers is configured for being alternately removably attached to the rear portion.

Abstract: An e-mail firewall (105) applies policies to e-mail messages (204) between a first site and a plurality of second sites in accordance with a plurality of administrator selectable policies (216). The firewall comprises a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) relay (202) for causing the e-mail messages (204) to be transmitted between the first site and selected ones of the second sites. A plurality of policy managers (216) enforce administrator selectable policies. The policies, such as encryption and decryption policies, comprise at least a first source/destination policy (218), at least a first content policy (202) and at least a first virus policy (224). The policies are characterized by a plurality of administrator selectable criteria (310), a plurality of administrator selectable exceptions (312) to the criteria and a plurality of administrator selectable actions (314, 316, 322) associated with the criteria and exceptions.

Abstract: An e-mail firewall applies policies to e-mail messages transmitted between a first site and a plurality of second sites. The e-mail firewall includes a plurality of mail transfer relay modules for transferring e-mail messages between the first site and one of the second sites. Policy managers are used to enforce and administer selectable policies. The policies are used to determine security procedures for the transmission and reception of e-mail messages. The e-mail firewall employs signature verification processes to verify signatures in received encrypted e-mail messages. The e-mail firewall is further adapted to employ external servers for verifying signatures. External servers are also used to retrieve data that is employed to encrypt and decrypt e-mail messages received and transmitted by the e-mail firewall, respectively.

Abstract: A global messaging system delivers messages to user devices by employing aliases, permissions, and protocols. A sender sends a message to an alias. The message is transmitted to devices associated with the alias. The system compares the message length to a maximum message length and modifies the transmission of the message when the message length exceeds the maximum message length by sending a concatenated message and adding a header to the message. Accordingly, messages can be delivered to recipients without the need to know a physical device address or have the ability to directly communicate with the device.

Abstract: A e-mail relay provides message filtering services to an e-mail network. The e-mail relay monitors incoming communication and intercepts e-mail messages. The e-mail relay compares attributes of the messages to data derived from SPAM messages, which is stored in a SPAM database. The e-mail relay restricts the delivery of message based on the comparison such as by restricting the delivery of messages having attributes close to those of SPAM messages from the SPAM database. The SPAM database is constructed by responding to user or administrator indications as to whether received messages are SPAM messages.

Abstract: An atoric surface is formed such that the surface coordinate lines are parallels with the shape of off-set curves of the trajectory curve of a swept surface, and meridians with the shape of the section curve of such swept surface. The lines of curvature of the surface coincide with the coordinate lines, so that the surface cylinder axis at any point P of the atoric surface is tangent to one of the two coordinate lines that passes through P. Atoric surfaces with lines of curvature in the form of meridian and parallel curves are highly suitable for astigmatic surfaces in spectacle lens design. The atoric surface design methodology provided herein is used to generate a broad range of surfaces from this class, thereby providing substantial flexibility over prior methods.

Abstract: A method for tracking credit limits between a first financial institution and a second financial institution is disclosed. Each financial instrument may have one or more tenors. An initial credit limit is assigned to a credited financial institution for each tenor of each financial instrument to be traded. A relationship is assigned to each credit limits on a first plurality of tenors wherein credit extended on one of said tenors reduces the available credit on said other tenors, said credit being reduced in proportion to said preassigned proportions. When the system receives a signal associated with trades between counterparties, the system updates the credit limits between the counterparties in accordance with preassigned proportions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing cryptographic assurance based on ranges as to whether a particular data item is on a list.

Abstract: A vibrational analysis system diagnosis the health of a mechanical system by reference to vibration signature data from multiple domains. Features are extracted from signature data by reference to pointer locations. The features provide an indication of signature deviation from a baseline signature in the observed domain. Several features applicable to a desired fault are aggregated to provide an indication of the likelihood that the fault has manifested in the observed mechanical system. The system may also be used for trend analysis of the health of the mechanical system.

Abstract: Lighting apparatus includes an effect wheel which is mounted on a rotation mechanism. The rotation mechanism is mounted on a mechanism which moves the effect wheel from a position outside of the light path to a position in which the effect wheel intersects the light path to provide a continuous wheel effect. The translation mechanism can move the effect wheel between positions in which the effect wheel crosses the light path in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction, respectively. The apparatus allows a continuous wheel effect to be added to a multi-purpose luminaire and also allows the direction of travel of the continuous wheel effect across the illuminated field to be continuously varied.

Abstract: Secure bulk messaging mechanism in which, roughly described, a sender first encrypts a message once. The message can be decrypted with a message decryption key. These can be symmetric or asymmetric keys. For each recipient, the sender then encrypts the message decryption key with the recipient's public key. The sender then sends the encrypted message and the encrypted message decryption keys to a store-and-forward server. Subsequently, one or more recipients connect to the server and retrieve the encrypted message and the message encryption key that has been encrypted with the recipient's public key. Alternatively, the server can forward these items to each individual recipient. The recipient then decrypts the encrypted message decryption key with the recipient's private key, resulting in an un-encrypted message decryption key. The recipient then decrypts the message using the un-encrypted message decryption key.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing cryptographic assurance based on ranges as to whether a particular data item is on a list. According to one computer-implemented method, the items on the list are sorted and ranges are derived from adjacent pairs of data items on the list. Next, cryptographically manipulated data is generated from the plurality of ranges. At least parts of the cryptographically manipulated data is transmitted onto a network for use in cryptographically demonstrating whether any given data item is on the list. According to another computer-implemented method, a request message is received requesting whether a given data item is on a list of data items. In response, a range is selected that is derived from the pair of data items on the list that define the smallest range that includes the given data item. A response message is transmitted that cryptographically demonstrates whether the first data item is on the list using cryptographically manipulated data derived from the range.

Abstract: A security cover is used in conjunction with a visually pleasing picket fence barrier. The security cover, having a C-shaped cross section, restricts access to bolts used to couple each picket to top and bottom support beams and thereby prevents tampering with the fence.