Abstract: A method of transmitting from a first node to a second node, said method comprising the steps of transmitting in a first mode at least one data frame from said first node to said second node; and determining if there is no data to be transmitted and if there is no data to be transmitted transmitting at least one empty frame in the first mode; and switching to a second mode in which no transmission is made in the absence of data to be transmitted at least some of the time.

Abstract: A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller.

Abstract: A novel multiple induction electric motor and vehicle that stores electrical power; provides a first and second direct current power input from the stored electrical power; separately produces first and second synchronized variable frequency alternating current control signal from the first and second direct current power inputs, respectively; produces first and second synchronized rotating magnetic fields responsive to the first and second variable frequency alternating current control signals, respectively; induces a first induced magnetic field around a conductor in a first inductive rotor responsive to the first rotating magnetic field; induces a second induced magnetic field around a conductor in a second inductive rotor responsive to the second rotating magnetic field; applies first and second rotational forces between the first and second rotating magnetic fields and the first and second induced magnetic fields to the shaft; and transmits the first and second rotational forces to a drive wheel.

Abstract: A surgical knife handle comprising a handle body (102) and a blade receiving portion (104) defined at a first end of the handle body, which blade receiving portion comprises a blade receiving bore and a blade support (118) extending to a first side of the blade receiving bore. A surgical knife comprising a handle, a blade defined at a first end of the handle and a blade support extending to a first side of the blade.

Abstract: An extendable/retractable ladder assembly includes a first stile and a second stile and a plurality of rungs extending therebetween. Each stile may comprise a plurality of columns disposed in a nested arrangement for relative axial movement in a telescopic fashion. A connector assembly connects the rungs to respective columns in the first and second stiles. The ladder has improved manufacturability since connector assemblies may be assembled before connecting the rungs to respective columns. The standing surface of the rungs may be angled such that it is rotated towards horizontal when the ladder assembly is leaned against a wall. A latch assembly may be used to selectively lock relative axial movement between adjacent columns. The latch assembly includes a locking pin assembly comprised of a central post and an outer metal sleeve. An air damper may also be used to control airflow through the columns.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising: a display; a housing enclosing the display and defining an exterior surface region adjacent to the display, the exterior surface region having a plurality of surface zones indicated thereon, the surface zones being capable of being written on by a user to save a written marking thereon; a memory; and user input apparatus; the device having: a first mode in which the device performs a function in respect of a subject entity and in which in response to operation of the user input apparatus to indicate one of the zones the device stores the entity in the memory in association with that zone; and a second mode in which in response to selection of a zone by means of the user input apparatus the device performs a function in respect of an entity stored in association with the selected zone.

Abstract: An environment variable for use cases such as UPnP AV use cases. The environment variable of the present invention is used to store the physical location of the user. For example, the environment variable can be used to identify a particular location as being a user's living room, kitchen, etc. The information stored in the environment variable can be used to enhance the user experience of the digital home or other environment by minimizing the number of manual selections that the user has to make in order to initiate a use case such as playing music in a bedroom or watching movies in a living room. The environment variable is used to trigger a change of a profile and select the devices needed to implement different use scenarios.

Abstract: A light module with a distinguishable characteristic and a detachable feature is adapted to an LED lamp. The light module includes an installing seat disposed on a seat body of the LED lamp, and an embedding seat designed in accordance with the installing seat. At least one mark area with a plurality of slots defined on the installing seat is able to combine with at least one buckling area with protrudent members on the embedding seat. By means of the cooperation of the mark area and the buckling area, users are able to judge the wattage of the light module, thereby preventing incompatibility between the LED member and light module due to different powers. Accordingly, a quick check on the polarity of the LED member before installation is brought about for increasing the using convenience.

Abstract: Systems and methods for routing audio for audio-video recordings allow a user to record desired audio with captured video at the time the video is being captured. Audio from one or more sources may be routed to the video capture application and recorded with the video. In one or more examples, audio may be routed from another application, e.g., an audio playback application, running on the same device as the video capture application. In another example, audio may be received from a remote device through a wireless connection. Multiple streams of audio content may be mixed together prior to storing with video. The audio, upon reception, may then be routed to the video capture application for recordation. An audio progression bar may also be provided to indicate duration and elapsed time information associated with the audio being recorded.

Abstract: The invention relates to low density parity check decoding. A method for decoding an encoded data block is described. Encoded data block comprising data sub-blocks are stored. Decoding is performed in a pipelined manner using an irregular, block-structured parity check matrix, where at least two data sub-block matrices of the parity check matrix are read from and written in each of a plurality of clock cycles. The reading and writing of the data sub-blocks is evenly distributed between at least two area of a memory. The decoding is performed with shift values which eliminate cycles at or below a predetermined threshold length. An apparatus, computer program product and device are also described.

Abstract: A multimedia messaging method and system, wherein the same multimedia message can be used to encapsulate both non-streamable media components and descriptors relating to streamable media components. A recipient extracts the descriptors from the multimedia message and initiates streaming sessions accordingly. The notification process by which a recipient user agent is informed of the availability of a multimedia message is the same regardless the type of the components within the message.

Abstract: A method of enterprise risk management includes defining a hierarchical organizational model to represent an enterprise. The model has a master level and one or more levels subordinate to the master level. The master level has plural materiality grades and plural probability grades, each subordinate level including one or more entities have a reporting relationship to one of the entities in the preceding level, each entity having plural materiality grades. Risk information is collected which includes risk items, each associated with a particular entity in the hierarchical organizational model and having a materiality measure and a probability measure. Selected portions of the collected risk information is output in an output view that for each selected risk item relates the probability measure to the plural probability grades and the materiality measure to either the plural master level materiality grades or the plural entity level materiality grades depending on a selected level.

Abstract: In order to provide non-confusing information on supported media types in a group to group members, information on messages indicating supported media types are cross-checked with usable media types in the group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for controlling the pressure of a gas in a circuit by means of the generation of bubbles through a liquid, this effect being is used to produce a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The invention comprises a container containing a liquid; a bubble tube with one end located outside the liquid connected to a device connected to a patient's respiratory tract and the other end located within the liquid; and means for adjusting the level of liquid in the container. The device may also comprise, in addition to the aforesaid, means to stabilize the liquid level inside the container, humidifying and heating means located inside the container, and a gas-recycling system that conveys all or a portion of the gases generated in the container towards the humidifying and heating device.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing image noise with filter matrix comprises a first input unit for receiving input of an object image data for conversion; a second input unit for receiving input of a size data of a convention area; a first output unit for setting conversion unit matrixes movable in the conversion area in a predetermined direction relative to a standard matrix; a second output unit for outputting average values of image information of pixels corresponding to the conversion unit matrixes set by first output unit and outputting an average value of image information of pixels corresponding to the standard matrix; an arrangement unit for calculating difference values between the average value of the standard matrix and the average values of the conversion unit matrixes and arranging calculation (difference) values according to size; and a conversion unit for low-pass filtering the conversion unit matrixes having calculation values smaller than a predetermined ordinal number among the arranged calculation v

Abstract: Among others, techniques, systems and apparatus are described for estimating a channel in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system. A method of estimating a channel in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system includes sequentially receiving symbols. Each symbol includes pilots and data. The pilots included in each of first n symbols of the sequentially received symbols are placed in first areas of a memory component used for channel estimation. Data in second areas disposed between the first areas of the memory component are estimated. The pilots of at least one symbol after the nth symbol of the sequentially received symbols are placed in the first areas and the estimated data is updated in the second areas.

Abstract: An approach is provided for enabling access to content in a network service. Location information is received, at a server, relating to a first remote apparatus and another remote apparatus. The received location information is utilized to determine that the first remote apparatus and the another remote apparatus are proximal to each other. Access rights are updated within a network service to enable the user of the another remote apparatus to access content associated with the user of the first remote apparatus.

Abstract: Content recommendation apparatus and methods using a tag cloud provide a content recommendation service via a network. The apparatus includes a content tag cloud generating module configured to generate a content tag cloud by analyzing a tag assigned to each content and accumulating frequencies per tag of each content. The apparatus also includes a user tag cloud generating module configured to generate a user tag cloud by accumulating frequencies per tag of contents used by a user. The apparatus further includes a similarity computing module and a recommending module. The similarity computing module is configured to compute a similarity between users using the user tag cloud, and the recommending module is configured to recommend content by computing a probability that a target user will use a specific content based on the computed similarity between users.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing instructions to a destination that is revealed upon arrival may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive indications of context associated with a user, determine a destination for the user based on the context and user information, provide for a presentation of guidance instructions to guide the user to the destination, and reveal the destination to the user only when the user is proximate to the destination.

Abstract: A correctional facility communication system for sending an external message to an offender of a correctional facility is disclosed. The correctional facility communication system includes a messaging system and a correctional facility system coupled together with a wide area network. The messaging system is at a first location and the correctional facility system is at a second location, different from the first location. The messaging system authenticates a sender of the external message, receives the external message in electronic form at the first location, checks the external message against criteria specified by the correctional facility, determine a second location of the offender and a corresponding printer, and sends the external message to the second location for automatic printing with the corresponding printer.