Abstract: A method for client side caching includes, with a client system, running a proxy caching application designed for execution on a proxy server, with a content presentation application running on the client system, accessing content from a server communicatively coupled to the client system, and with the proxy caching application, transparently caching the content into a cache system of the client system.

Abstract: A set of local noise variation values characterizing local noise levels in the input image is calculated. Local contrast enhancement is performed on image forming element values derived from the input image to produce a contrast enhanced image. Values of local noise amplification caused by the local contrast enhancement are ascertained. Noise in the contrast enhanced image is reduced based on the set of local noise variation values and the local noise amplification values.

Abstract: A serial interface apparatus comprises a driver for generating a differential communication signal and a pre-driver for driving the driver circuit. The pre-driver receives an input signal that alternates between VDD and ground and produces an output signal that alternates between a lower limit that is greater than ground and an upper limit that is less than VDD. The pre-driver comprises input circuitry and actuation circuitry, and the actuation circuitry comprises transistors of a single channel type.

Abstract: A modular computer system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a computer server having a first printed circuit assembly disposed within a first housing and an expansion connector. The computer server is configured to be coupled to a modular expansion unit via the expansion connector to convert the computer server from a base configuration to an expanded configuration. In various embodiments, the expanded configuration may provide additional processing power, additional memory, or the like. A method of assembling a modular computer system is also provided.

Abstract: A battery pack comprises an event monitoring system at least partially disposed in an event-proof enclosure of the battery pack. The event-proof enclosure is adapted to enable the event monitoring system to retain data acquired by the event monitoring system for analysis after occurrence of a service event of the battery pack.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a first cell wall and a second cell wall enclosing a layer of liquid crystal material. The device has electrodes for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material, and a surface alignment structure on a region of a substantially planar inner surface of at least the first cell wall. The alignment structure induces the liquid crystal material to adopt a desired alignment in an azimuthal plane. The surface alignment structure comprises a two dimensional array of microstructures which are shaped and oriented to produce the desired alignment. Each microstructure has no plane of symmetry orthogonal to the azimuthal plane and to said planar inner surface.

Abstract: A method for preparing a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device for subsequent processing is disclosed. The method includes establishing an anti-stiction material on exposed surfaces of the MEMS device. The exposed surfaces include at least an interior surface of a chamber and an external surface of the MEMS device. The anti-stiction material is selectively removed from at least a portion of the external surface via a plasma sputtering process under controlled conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for denoising for a finite input, general output channel. In one aspect, a system is provided for processing a noisy signal formed by a noise-introducing channel in response to an error correction coded input signal, the noisy signal having symbols of a general alphabet. The system comprises a denoiser and an error correction decoder. The denoiser generates reliability information corresponding to metasymbols in the noisy signal based on an estimate of the distribution of metasymbols in the input signal and upon symbol transition probabilities of symbols in the input signal being altered in a quantized signal. A portion of each metasymbol provides a context for a symbol of the metasymbol. The quantized signal includes symbols of a finite alphabet and is formed by quantizing the noisy signal. The error correction decoder performs error correction decoding on noisy signal using the reliability information generated by the denoiser.

Abstract: Songs are defined by a song template comprising at least one track comprising a sequence of measures and a plurality of audio samples allocated to the or each track. At least two songs are played to an audience, which responds indicating the popularity of each song. A less popular song is selected and a new song composed by automatically applying one or more rules to the template of the selected song.