Abstract: An active call between two parties can be established as a call having priority over other users in a tiered priority system. Changes to the level of priority are permitted if made by an authorized user in attendance on the active call. The change of call priority can be to either raise or lower the priority based on call circumstances. If approved, the new active call priority level is propagated to other nodes and switches so that system knowledge of the new priority level is consistent. The new priority level is reset to the pre-established call priority level after the active call is completed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for routing DNP (or other) protocol messages over a network of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system that employs a different communications protocol.

Abstract: Methods and system for performing annotation of digital information are provided. One method includes searching for items of interest using a search engine. Once the URIs associated with the item of interest are identified, a plurality of attributes are provided that may be associated with each URI. A user may provide the values for the attributes or the system may suggest values for the attributes based on information associated with each URI. Once the attributes and values are assigned, the annotated URI along with the attributes and values is stored. Another method provides for sharing of the annotated information. A user may communicate annotated information to an external storage system for sharing with other users having access to the external storage system. Another method provides for automatic updates of the annotation entries by periodically fetching the digital information associated with each URI and updating the values associated with each attribute.

Abstract: Systems and methods for financial data analysis are provided. A system is provided wherein financial data associated with stocks and stock options is collected from multiple sources and calculations performed thereon to derive values for a set of searchable screening parameters related to searching stock option spreads. Users may access the system and provide values and ranges of values for searching the set of searchable screening parameters. In response, users are presented with the set of option spreads, in sorted order, that satisfy the user-supplied search values. Users may select to execute an option spread in which case the system automatically executes the plurality of option trades that underly the spread.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rebootless updating of a IHV display driver are disclosed. According to such a method, first, the operating system stops the driver from running Second, the system switches over to an interim or temporary display driver, which be a default driver provided with the operating system. Third, the new hardware-specific driver is started. Thus, a hardware-specific display driver may be updated without rebooting.

Abstract: A method for retransmission of data in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system, the method comprising space-time block code (STBC) encoding multiple data streams including one or more retransmission data streams using a STBC matrix, the STBC matrix multiplying at least one of the retransmission data streams with respective variable weighting factors.

Abstract: A distributed, object-oriented database engine utilizing independent, intelligent processing nodes as a cooperative, massively parallel system with redundancy and fault tolerance. Instead of using traditional methods of parallelism as found in most distributed databases, the invention utilizes a messaging system and a series of message processing nodes to determine where objects and data associated with objects are stored. The architecture is loosely coupled, each node independently determining if it manages or routes storage and retrieval requests.

Abstract: A mechanism, and refrigeration appliance containing a mechanism, for providing displacement of a shelf of a refrigeration appliance, which has at least one refrigeratable cabinet with a base and two side walls substantially perpendicular to the base. The mechanism has at least one supporting device associated to the side wall of the refrigeratable cabinet by a side bar having a longitudinal portion that is substantially parallel to the base. The association between the supporting device and the side bar is able to provide mechanical support to the shelf. The mechanism also comprises a pivoting arm provided with at least one first end which is connected articulatedly to the shelf and a second end connected articulatedly to the supporting device, which associates the shelf to the supporting device. The pivoting arm is able to move angularly so as to allow the displacement of the shelf in relation to the supporting device.

Abstract: Various operations are disclosed for improving the operational efficiency of register handling in a virtualized environment. Some infrequently accessed software managed registers are managed lazily when switching contexts between virtual processors. The states of those registers are not saved on exit from a guest or restored on entry to the guest. Rather, guest accesses to those registers are intercepted. For some frequently accessed registers, register states are saved or restored only upon exit from a hypervisor to a different guest that that from which the hypervisor was entered. For enable-flag-gated registers, updates to a physical register value are not made unless the register is enabled. A shadow register cache may be used to speed accesses to some registers. When a shadowed register is modified, the new value is cached as a shadow copy in RAM and subsequent reads of the register are taken from the shadow copy.

Abstract: A wheelchair includes a frame, a chair, a pair of drive wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a pair of front wheels. Each front wheel is part of a front arm assembly that is rigidly coupled to a drive via a mounting plate. The mounting plate is connected to the wheelchair frame by a pivot. The drives are transversely mounted. The batteries are disposed rearward of the drives. The wheelchair seat can be moved forward to provide access to the batteries without fully removing the wheelchair from the frame.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for formatting information within a directory tree structure into an encyclopedia-like entry. The method includes performing a search by utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, dichotomous key search, and parametric search to correlate a search criteria to a searchable database for generating one or more matching items, wherein the searchable database is formatted in the directory tree structure. The directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. Each matching item represents a node from within the directory tree structure. The method further includes selecting one of the matching items, formatting the collection of related data corresponding to the node of the selected matching item into an encyclopedia-like entry, and displaying the encyclopedia-like entry corresponding to the node of the selected matching item.

Abstract: Incremental optimizations and modifications to a disk image can be made after the initial generation of the disk image. In the case of video games, publishers who have access only to a final game image can use the invention to make small improvements to the game disc image without the original game assets and without incurring the cost of generating an entirely new disc image. A mapping data structure represents physical locations of data on disk. The mapping data structure is modified with an editor, and the resulting modified layout is tested using an emulator that emulates interaction between a computer readable medium with the modified layout and computer hardware.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of dielectrophoretic forces for the arbitrary manipulation of micrometer- and nanometer-sized particles and to devices capable of arbitrarily manipulating micrometer- and nanometer-sized particles by means of dielectrophoretic forces within a two- or three-dimensional region. The devices and methods of the invention are capable of arbitrarily controlling the velocities, locations, and forces applied to a particle, arbitrarily specifying a force or set of forces at a location in space, and determining friction and/or drag coefficients of a particle, and are thus well-suited for a range of applications including cell sorting, drug delivery, as a diagnostic tool for determining membrane stiffness, and in the heterogeneous integration of micro- and nano-components through directed assembly.

Abstract: A cellular-based live traffic service that does not require pre-deployment of infrastructure or GPS-enabled devices uses signals provided by cellular devices to determine course resolution localization and tracking information of the cellular devices. Specialized statistical analysis is performed on the course resolution data to infer the fine resolution positions of the cellular devices. In an example embodiment, the localization and tracking information is provided on a map, or the like, to show relative position and/or trajectory of cellular devices.

Abstract: A depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. The depth image may then be analyzed to determine whether the depth image includes a human target. For example, the depth image may include one or more targets including a human target and non-human targets. Each of the targets may be flood filled and compared to a pattern to determine whether the target may be a human target. If one or more of the targets in the depth image includes a human target, the human target may be scanned. A skeletal model of the human target may then be generated based on the scan.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymer composite comprising a thermoplastic host polymer having solid particulate material dispersed therethrough, the host polymer having at least one phase nanodomain, wherein the solid particulate material comprises particles having height, length and width dimensions of which at least one is substantially less than one or both of the other dimensions, and wherein the composite exhibits an increase in modulus of no more than 15% and a higher tensile strength, relative to said host polymer.

Abstract: An attack-resistant window assembly that can be easily maintained without requiring the use of tools. The attack-resistant window assembly includes a slidable plate for securing the attack-resistant pane into the window assembly. The window assembly also has ballistic-resistant armor around the peripheral sides of the ballistic-resistant pane to prevent bullets from exiting the peripheral sides of the ballistic-resistant pane and coming into the space on the protected side of the window assembly.

Abstract: A depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. A human target in the depth image may then be scanned for one or more body parts such as shoulders, hips, knees, or the like. A tilt angle may then be calculated based on the body parts. For example, a first portion of pixels associated with an upper body part such as the shoulders and a second portion of pixels associated with a lower body part such as a midpoint between the hips and knees may be selected. The tilt angle may then be calculated using the first and second portions of pixels.