Abstract: A system for facilitating image management for portable devices, which includes a host configured to maintain information relating to a first portable device and a second portable device and an interface device configured to communicate with the host and the portable devices. The interface device includes control logic configured to: determine whether the first portable device is valid for image synchronization using information provided by the host in order to record an image of the first portable device, determine whether the second portable device is valid for image synchronization in order to download an image of the first portable device to the second portable device. The interface device further includes control logic configured to: determine whether the second portable device is valid for image replacement using information provided by the host so as to retrieve an image of the first portable device and download the retrieved image to the second portable device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for automatically migrating a consumer from one prepaid financial account to another prepaid financial account based on preset trigger criteria. A prepaid payment device, such as a payroll card, may be issued to the consumer and associated with a prepaid financial account. The prepaid financial account may include a profile for the consumer. The issuer of the prepaid payment device may monitor the account activity and set trigger criteria that control when the consumer is automatically migrated from the current prepaid financial account and which type of new account the consumer is migrated into.

Abstract: An image search and retrieval system and method of operation within such a system are disclosed. The image search and retrieval system includes a search engine coupled to an image analyzer, an input system, an output system and an image database. The image search and retrieval system includes one or more feature modules which define particular regions of an image and particular measurements to make on pixels within the define image region as well as the measurements to make on neighboring pixels in neighboring image regions for a given application and communicate this application specific information to the image analyzer thereby allowing rapid comparisons of images.

Abstract: A system and method for providing identity protection services. According to an embodiment, a validation server receives over a network a response from a credential associated with a user, the credential response provided by the user in order to authenticate the user to one of a plurality of sites on the network that accepts the credential as a factor for authentication, the validation server verifies the credential response on behalf of the one network site, a fraud detection server receives over the network information in connection with a transaction associated with the user at the one network site, and the fraud detection server evaluates the transaction information for suspicious activity based at least in part on information provided to the fraud detection server in connection with one or more transactions at one or more sites on the network other than the one network site.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a capillary tube for electrophoresis that has a positively charged coating on the capillary inner surface that prevents positively charged analytes from adsorbing to the inner capillary surface. The capillary tube has an inner surface that is coated with a first polymer layer having a plurality of polymer groups comprising polyethylene imine, designated herein as (CH2CH2NH)x. The inner surface of the capillary typically has a second polymer layer covalently bonded to the first polymer layer. The invention includes a capillary tube where two or more than two polymer groups are covalently bonded to each other by a cross-linker. Also provided are an electrophoresis system the uses the coated capillary tubes, a method of performing electrophoresis that utilizes the coated capillary tubes, and a process for preparing the coated capillary tubes.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) includes a plurality of trenches extending into a semiconductor region. Each trench includes a gate electrode and a shield electrode with an inter-electrode dielectric therebetween. A body region extends between each pair of adjacent trenches, and source regions extend in each body region adjacent to the trenches. A first interconnect layer contacts the source and body regions. The plurality of trenches extend in an active region of the FET, and the shield electrode and gate electrode extend out of each trench and into a non-active region of the FET where the shield electrodes and gate electrodes are electrically connected together by a second interconnect layer. The electrical connection between the shield and gate electrodes is made through periodic contact openings formed in a gate runner region of the non-active region.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for exposing access network capabilities using an enabler proxy. In one embodiment, a device for providing access to one or more capabilities of a wireless network comprises a first interface to communicate with an application, a second interface to communicate on a wireless network as a subscriber device, and logic to process requests from the network-based application to access one or more capabilities of the wireless network. The logic may be configured to process the requests by at least using one or more services subscribed to by the device.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying compounds that can enhance plant resistance to stress.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) is formed as follows. A trench is formed in a silicon region. An oxidation barrier layer is formed over a surface of the silicon region adjacent the trench and along the trench sidewalls and bottom. A protective layer is formed over the oxidation barrier layer inside and outside the trench. The protective layer is partially removed such that a portion of the oxidation barrier layer extending at least along the trench bottom becomes exposed and portions of the oxidation barrier layer extending over the surface of the silicon region adjacent the trench remain covered by remaining portions of the protective layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of application specific solar cells includes providing and processing custom design information to determine at least a cell size and a cell shape. The method includes providing a transparent substrate having a back surface region, a front surface region, and one or more grid-line regions overlying the front side surface region. The one or more grid regions provide one or more unit cells having the cell size and the cell shape. The method further includes forming a layered structure including photovoltaic materials overlying the front surface region.

Abstract: An optical disk as disclosed herein includes, among other things, a summing module that sums a compensation signal to a predetermined signal in a servo loop. The compensation signal compensates for a periodical disturbance input into a servo system of the optical disk device in units of a rotation angle of the disk rotating module. A phase lead imparting module imparts a predetermined amount of phase lead to an output signal from an optical detector module and outputs the predetermined amount of phase lead as the compensation signal. The predetermined amount of phase lead is determined in accordance with the rotation period information. The optical disk device performs an accurate iterative learning control to provide stable servo performance. The iterative learning control is performed such that the signal having imparted an optimal amount of phase lead in accordance with the rotation period information is added to the servo loop.

Abstract: Disclosed are molded ultra-thin semiconductor die packages, systems that incorporate such packages, and methods of making such packages. An exemplary package comprises a leadframe having an aperture formed between the leadframe's first and second surfaces, and a plurality of leads disposed adjacent to the aperture. The package further comprises a semiconductor disposed in the aperture of the leadframe with its top surface substantially flush with the leadframe's first surface, and at least one gap between at least one side surface of the semiconductor die and at least one lead of the leadframe. A body of electrically insulating material is disposed in the at least one gap. A plurality of conductive members interconnect leads of the leadframe with conductive regions on the die's top surface, with at least one conductive member having a portion disposed over at least a portion of the body of insulating material.

Abstract: Reliable storage for database management systems (DBMS) running on memory devices such as NAND type flash memory utilizes minimum I/O overhead and provides maximum data durability. A virtual page map is utilized between the flash memory and a page access component to record changes to the DBMS pages and prevent overwriting or data loss. There is no need for journaling and logging, and performance is increased by reducing the write and erase counts on the flash memory. The logical page numbers of the DBMS are mapped to physical page numbers in the page map, such that the virtual page map allocates an available page from the physical pages when changes to a page occur, and the updated information is stored in the allocated page. The allocated page number is mapped to the logical page number of the original page, thus maintaining a modified page representation while preventing physical in-place updates.

Abstract: A parking meter assembly (10) including a base (11) that is to be fixed to or embedded in a ground surface, typically adjacent the curb that which a car is to be parked. The assembly (10) also includes a parking meter (13) having a front face (17) that includes a coin slot (25) a card slot (20) and a control panel (21). The parking meter (13) further includes a rear face (27) having a window aperture (28) that provides for the transmission of light to a solar panel (29) behind the aperture (28).

Abstract: A recovery chunk is generated based on information found in each chunk in a group of chunks. For example, the group of chunks includes three chunks of which information in the three chunks is used to generate a recovery chunk. The recovery chunk is then used to recover a single lost chunk in the group of chunks. The three chunks and the recovery chunk are sent to a receiver over a network. If one of the three chunks is lost, the recovery chunk is used to generate the lost chunk. The recovery chunk is used to recover a single lost chunk, however, the recovery chunk is not used to recover more than one lost chunk in the group. The number of chunks is also dynamically adjusted based on chunk loss at a receiver. This adjustment is based on the bandwidth used and reliability desired.

Abstract: A low profile receptacle plug receptacle is disclosed. The low profile plug receptacle which may have a housing with a partially circular opening that is configured in one embodiment to receive a cylindrical plug. The low profile receptacle plug receptacle may have a second opening which has a width smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical plug. A portion of the cylindrical plug may extend past the second opening when inserted into the housing. The low profile receptacle plug receptacle may part of an electronic device.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods for detecting the presence of expanded CGG repeats in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene and for quantifying the amount of protein produced by the gene.