Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for generating a publication is provided. The method includes determining a template for one or more pages of the publication. A structured document for the publication is generated where the structured document includes entry fields corresponding to the one or more addressable blocks. The structured document is then sent to one or more entities to allow users to input information for different versions of the publication. After the entities enter in information, a structured document is received from each of the plurality of entities. Information in the structured document refers to version information. A design application version of the structured document is then generated from the different structured documents received from the plurality of entities. The plurality of versions of the publication is then automatically generated.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a universal television receiver that is capable of processing television channel signals broadcast according to a variety of analog and digital broadcast standards. An overmodulation handling mode is used that modifies operation when locking onto a picture carrier signal frequency in the presence of overmodulation.

Abstract: An optical media disk is treated with a light-sensitive material that impedes the ability of an optical media player from reading data stored on the disk. This light-sensitive material is a material that changes phase upon exposure to one or more wavelengths of light. During the initial phase, the light-sensitive material will render the disk unreadable. After activation, however, the disk becomes permanently readable by conventional optical media players. In this fashion, theft of yet-to-be-activated optical media is deterred.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a description of a product design is received. The description is analyzed to determine terms describing the product design. The determined terms are compared to a plurality of stored records. A subset of the stored records is determined based on the comparison. The stored records are considered relevant to the description of the product design. A set of recommended contacts associated with the subset of stored records is then determined. The recommended contacts are considered to have knowledge relevant to the description of the product design. At least one of the subset of stored records and the set of recommended contacts is output. For example, at least one of the subset of stored records and the list of recommended contacts may be displayed on an interface that is being used to input the description of the product design.

Abstract: Particular embodiments generally relate to randomly displaying images on a display device. In one embodiment, a list of images for display on a display device, such as a digital picture frame or television, is determined. The display device is configured to display different images in a sequential order (such as one after another). A random display method may be determined. An image in the list of images is then randomly selected based on the random display method. For example, images are randomly selected such that all images in a list of images are displayed once without duplicative display of an image.

Abstract: Particular embodiments provide for a user configurable purchase order template. A list of attributes for a purchase order template may be created and output to a user. The user may then select which attributes in the list are internal attributes or external attributes. After the purchase order document has been approved by the supplier and the purchaser, changes may be necessary. When a change is desired, the system determines if the changed attribute is an external attribute or an internal attribute. If the changed attribute is an external attribute, the external entity may be contacted for approving the change. After the external entity has approved the change, the purchase order may be amended. If the changed attribute is an internal attribute, the attribute may be changed without contacting the external entity. If the change is an internal change, then the purchase order may not be amended, but an internal change relating to the purchase order may be made.

Abstract: A method includes storing a first value for one or more measures in a block of data for the cube of data. The first value is a value where the state of the cube is that no changes are applicable to the block of data. A second value is stored for the one or more measures in the block of data. The second value is a delta value representing changes made to the block of data based on the first value. A change is received to the block. A computer processor then calculates a new second value based on the change to the block. The new second value is stored in place of the second value previously stored while the first value remains the same. The second value represents the cumulative changes to the measure since the frozen value was determined.

Abstract: A system for selectively enabling or disabling an optical device. In an illustrative embodiment, the system implements an optical-device theft-prevention system. The theft-prevention system includes a material that is selectively positioned on, in, or relative to the optical device so that the transparency of the material affects a desired operation of the optical device. An energy beam is selectively employed to enable or disable the optical device by affecting the transparency of the material. In a specific embodiment, the fist material includes a dye, such as an energy-sensitive dye. The optical device includes an optical disc, such as Compact Disc (CD) or Digital Video Disc (DVD). The energy-sensitive dye is disposed over an entire readable surface of the optical device.

Abstract: A resource management cache of a computing device receives a request for an item. The item may include any type of content, such as an image or a video. A rendition for the item is determined. The item may be stored in a plurality of renditions for retrieval. The resource management cache can send one or more requests to one or more sources for the rendition. The sources may include remote sources and also a local source. If a source responds with an indication the rendition is available, the rendition is sent to and received at the computing device. If no sources respond with an indication the rendition is available, the resource management cache may send a message asking if a source can generate the rendition from another rendition of the item. The rendition may be generated and it is sent to and received at the resource management cache.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of controlling a virtual shopping center can include: receiving a user input at a query input engine; aggregating an output from the query input engine with a user preference, such as a purchase history or other expressed interest, to form a search criteria; searching a database using the search criteria; and displaying an image associated with a matching product or service resulting from the search of the database.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for three-dimensional (3-D) image acquisition can include: (i) first and second lenses configured to receive light from a scene; (ii) first, second, third, and fourth sensors; (iii) a first beam splitter arranged proximate to the first lens, where the first beam splitter can provide a first split beam to the first sensor, and a second split beam to the second sensor; and (iv) a second beam splitter arranged proximate to the second lens, where the second beam splitter can provide a third split beam to the third sensor, and a fourth and split beam to the fourth sensor. For example, the sensors can include charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or CMOS sensors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of tagging content can include: accessing a frame of a digital media production; identifying an object for tagging within the frame; defining a metadata tag for the object; and storing the metadata tag in association with the identified object and the frame in the digital media production. In one embodiment, a method of substituting content can include: receiving tagged digital media in a controller; identifying an object for substitution by searching through objects and metadata tags in the tagged digital media; retrieving a substitute object using the controller; and re-rendering the tagged digital media to produce a customized digital media using the substitute object in place of the identified object.

Abstract: A system providing a user interface to annotate different items in a media production system such as in a digital non-linear post production system. Parts of the production, such as clips, frames and layers, that have an associated annotation are provided with a visual annotation marker. The annotation marker can use shape, color or animation to convey source, urgency, status or other information. Annotations can be text, freehand drawing, audio, or other. Annotations can be automatically generated. Annotations can be compiled into records, searched and transferred. A state of an application program can be stored and transferred to a remote system. The remote system attempts to recreate the original state of the application program. If the remote system is unable to do so, an image of the state of the application program is obtained, instead. Assignment of control to various functions of an application program is achieved by associating a function (i.e.

Abstract: Particular embodiments generally relate to allowing access of non-secure elements through a non-secure channel when a top-level page was accessed through a secure connection. In one embodiment, a webpage is accessed over a secure channel. The webpage includes secure and non-secure elements. When a non-secure element for the webpage is determined, a client may message with the server to open a non-secure channel for accessing the non-secure element. For example, the client may request port information in the request. The server then can respond with port information for a non-secure channel. The client then accesses data for the non-secure element through the non-secure channel using the port information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first DCT block of coefficients is received from a transcoding process. The DCT block is of a first size, such as an 8×8 size, and in a first coding standard, such as MPEG-2. A distribution of zero and non-zero coefficients is then determined from the first DCT block. For example, areas where non-zero coefficients are found may be determined. This may simplify a corresponding sum of absolute difference (SAD) calculation. The SAD is then calculated for a second DCT block of a second size, such as a 4×4 size block, in a second coding standard, such as AVC. The SAD is determined from the coefficients in the first DCT block. Accordingly, the SAD is determined without performing an inverse DCT on the 8×8 block and then computing the SAD for a 4×4 block. It is then determined if a bypass of a DCT operation for the 4×4 block can be performed based on the SAD computed. For example, the SAD is compared to a threshold to determine if a bypass can be performed.

Abstract: Particular embodiments generally relate to displaying database time using a treemap. A set of database time values is determined for a set of dimensions. The database time values measure performance of one or more databases by the time the database takes to respond to a request. The set of database time values is correlated to a set of cells in the treemap. A size of the cell is determined based on the database time value associated with it. For example, the database time value is correlated to an area of the cell. A layout of the set of cells is determined and the treemap is displayed using the layout. For example, the largest values of database time may be shown with the largest sized cells. This makes it easier for an administrator to review and analyze the database performance across multiple dimensions and determine problem areas affecting the performance of the one or more databases.

Abstract: A region rating table includes a number of rating dimensions and a number of rating levels. The rating dimensions may be identified by an index. Also, one or more rating level tags are added to the rating levels. The rating level tags identify each rating level within a rating dimension uniquely. The rating region table may be downloaded to the receiver for the user to set blocking preferences. A content advisory description may be specified. When content is received, it is analyzed to determine if it should be blocked based on the dimension index and the rating level tag. If the content is acceptable, it is not blocked, and if it is not acceptable, then it is blocked. Using the rating level tag to identify a rating level within a dimension allows changes to be made to the region rating table without creating unwanted blocking behavior and viewer confusion.

Abstract: Particular embodiments generally relate to providing media for display to a user. In one embodiment, the media may be stored on a remote computing device. An intermediary device may be used to display the media on an output device. Even though the media may be stored on the remote computing device, the user may believe that the media is stored on the intermediary device when displaying content using the intermediary device. Representations of the media units may be received at the intermediary device. The intermediary device automatically predicts which representations of the media may be most likely to be accessed by the user. When a request to access the media units is received, if the requested media unit is stored on the intermediary device, then it can be automatically displayed using the corresponding representation of the media unit.