Abstract: A method of discouraging healthcare fraud in conjunction with providing a health care service to a patient in which the patient provides a biometric signature. An event record is created where the event record creates an association between the biometric signature, a patient identifier, and location information indicating a location at which the biometric signature is obtained. The event record is stored in a central data store and can be later retrieved to verify the patient was present at the location.

Abstract: A pigment with modified properties because of the powder size being below 100 nanometers. Blue, yellow and brown pigments are illustrated. Nanoscale coated, un-coated, whisker inorganic fillers are included. Stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric composition are disclosed. The pigment nanopowders taught comprise one or more elements from the group actinium, aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, calcium, cerium, cesium, cobalt, copper, chalcogenide, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, gallium, gold, hafnium, hydrogen, indium, iridium, iron, lanthanum, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mendelevium, mercury, molybdenum, neodymium, neptunium, nickel, niobium, nitrogen, oxygen, osmium, palladium, platinum, potassium, praseodymium, promethium, protactinium, rhenium, rubidium, scandium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, terbium, thallium, thorium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium.

Abstract: A high availability, high reliability storage system that leverages rapid advances in commodity computing devices and the robust nature of internetwork technology such as the Internet. A system of parity distribution in accordance with the present invention allows for greater fault tolerance and levels of storage efficiency than possible with conventional RAID (levels 0-5) paradigms. Data can be recovered or made available even in the case of loss of N, N+1, or more devices or storage elements over which stripes of the data set have been distributed or partitioned. The present invention provides a parity distribution that can be used to distribute data stored in a single storage device or across multiple connected or otherwise networked devices.

Abstract: Nano-engineered devices exhibiting quantum effect and methods for forming such devices from nanomaterials are disclosed. Multilaminated sensing, piezoelectric, photonic, biomedical and thermal devices are taught. The composition included are chalcogenides, oxides, nitrides, borides, carbides, phosphides, halides, silicate, hydrides, oxynitrides, oxycarbides and other complex nanomaterial composition.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for accessing server resources by a client communicating control data to a server. A context object is associated to the control data. The context object includes methods for recording within the context object a set of properties identifying the client. A request packet is created from the control data and the context object. The request packet is transmitted to the server. The context object is passed to at least one method on the server. The method uses the context object to access the server resources.

Abstract: Methods of producing metal and alloy fine powders having purity in excess of 99.9%, preferably 99.999%, more preferably 99.99999% are discussed. Fine submicron and nanoscale powders discussed include various shapes and forms including spheres, rods, whiskers, platelets and fibers. The use of surfactant, emulsifying agents and capping dispersants in powder synthesis are presented. Compositions taught include nickel, copper, iron, cobalt, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, tin, zirconium, aluminum, silicon, antimony, indium, titanium, tantalum, niobium, zinc and others from the periodic table. The fine powders are useful in various applications such as biomedical, sensor, electronic, electrical, photonic, thermal, piezo, magnetic, catalytic and electrochemical products.

Abstract: A method of speech recognition including receiving speech signals into a front-end processor and storing at least some resources used for speech recognition in a network-attached server. The front-end processor is coupled to the network-attached server to perform the speech recognition.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for generating and optimizing native code in a runtime compiler from a group of bytecodes presented to the compiler. The compiler accesses information that indicates a likelihood that a class will be a particular type when accessed by the running program. Using the accessed information, the compiler selects a code generation method from a plurality of code generation methods. A code generator generates optimized native code according to the selected code generation method and stores the optimized native code in a code cache for reuse.

Abstract: An ionic conducting device comprising a nanostructured material layer. The nanostructured layer has a microstructure confined to a size less than 100 nm. The ion conductivity of the nanostructured layer is higher than the ion conductivity of a layer of equivalent composition and size having a micron-sized microstructure. Nano-ionic compositions taught include ceramics, polymers, lithium containing compounds, sodium containing compounds, ion defect structures, silver containing compounds, Applications of nano-ionics to fuel cells, sensors, batteries, electrochemical devices, electrocatalysts are taught.

Abstract: Coated nanoparticles are used for composites and media. Exemplary applications include magnetic applications involving a solid matrix material and a nanostructured magnetic material.

Abstract: Dispersed phosphor powders are disclosed that comprise nanoscale powders dispersed on coarser carrier powders. The composition of the dispersed fine powders may be oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, chalcogenides, metals, and alloys. Such powders are useful in various applications such as lamps, cathode ray tubes, field emission displays, plasma display panels, scintillators, X-ray detectors, IR detectors, UV detectors and laser detectors. Nano-dispersed phosphor powders can also be used in printing inks, or dispersed in plastics to prevent forgery and counterfeiting of currency, original works of art, passports, credit cards, bank checks, and other documents or products.

Abstract: The production and selection of precursor mixtures used to produce fine powders and methods for making fine powders using the selected precursor. The precursor mixture comprises at least one metal containing precursor, the metal containing precursor has an average molecular weight of less than 2000 grams per unit mol of the metal, the metal containing precursor has a normal boiling point greater than 350K, and the viscosity of the precursor mixture is between 0.1 to 250 cP. The precursor mixture is processed under conditions that produce a fine powder from the precursor mixture. Fine powders produced are of size less than 100 microns, preferably less than 10 micron, more preferably less than 1 micron, and most preferably less than 100 nanometers.

Abstract: Catalyst powders from nanoscale powders dispersed on coarser carrier powders. The composition of the dispersed fine powders may be oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, chalcogenides, metals, and alloys. Nano-dispersed submicron powders and nano-dispersed nanopowders are discussed.

Abstract: Nanostructured non-stoichiometric materials and methods of reducing manufacturing and raw material costs through the use of nanostructured materials are provided. Specifically, use of non-stoichiometric materials of oxide, nitride, carbide, chalcogenides, borides, alloys and other compositions are taught.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a type of nanostructured ceramic platform for gas sensors and sensor arrays. These sensors comprise micromachined anodic aluminum oxide films, which contains extremely high density (e.g., 1011 cm−2) nanoscale pores. Sensing materials deposited inside this self-organized network of nanopores have ultra-high surface area and nanometer grain structure, therefore enabling high sensitivity. Refractory nature of alumina ceramic enables the desired robustness, long lifetime and stability in harsh environment. This sensor platform can been used for both chemical gas and physical (humidity, temperature) sensors and sensor arrays.

Abstract: Dispersed powders are disclosed that comprise fine nanoscale powders dispersed on coarser carrier powders. The composition of the dispersed fine powders may be oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, chalcogenides, metals, and alloys. Fine powders discussed are of sizes less than 100 microns, preferably less than 10 micron, more preferably less than 1 micron, and most preferably less than 100 nanometers. Methods for producing such powders in high volume, low-cost, and reproducible quality are also outlined. Such powders are useful in various applications such as catalysts, sensor, electronic, electrical, photonic, thermal, biomedical, piezo, magnetic, catalytic and electrochemical products.

Abstract: A caching pattern and associated method for caching in a programming environment are disclosed. The caching pattern includes an extensible cache entry component that includes methods for retrieving, updating, and setting expiration parameters for a cache entry. A cache store component includes methods for reading and writing objects to cache entries. A cache manager component includes methods implementing a first interface to the cache store component to cause the cache store component to read and write objects to the data store and includes methods implementing a second interface to the cache entry component for adding, removing, getting and committing data to the cache entry. The cache store component may also include instantiating a virtual machine and the caching pattern may be used, in one embodiment, in a JAVA programming environment.

Abstract: Methods for lowering processing and raw material costs are disclosed. Specifically, the use of nanostructured powders is disclosed for faster and lower sintering temperatures whereby electrodes currently employing platinum can be substituted with lower melting point metals and alloys.

Abstract: A method and system that manage upgrades in a high-availability computer system by viewing the upgrade process as driving the system between a succession of stable configurations. The mechanism used by a described embodiment is an availability manager that is capable of ascertaining the state of each component and driving it toward a goal state by driving toward a succession of desired stable configurations. A high-level orchestration agent instructs the availability manager when a stable configuration has been reached and it is time to drive toward a next stable configuration.

Abstract: Ion conducting solid electrolytes are constructed from nanoscale precursor material. Nanocrystalline powders are pressed into disc structures and sintered to the appropriate degree of densification. Metallic material is mixed with 0 to 65 vol % nanostructured electrolyte powders to form a cermet mix and then coated on each side of the disc and fitted with electrical leads. The electrical conductivity of a Ag/YSZ/Ag cell so assembled exhibited about an order of magnitude enhancement in oxygen ion conductivity. As an oxygen-sensing element in a standard O2/Ag/YSZ/Ag/N2 set up, the nanocrystalline YSZ element exhibited commercially significant oxygen ion conductivity at low temperatures. The invention can be utilized to prepare nanostructured ion conducting solid electrolytes for a wide range of applications, including sensors, oxygen pumps, fuel cells, batteries, electrosynthesis reactors and catalytic membranes.