Abstract: A computer-implemented method for facilitating electronic funds transactions is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method may comprise the steps of: issuing a transaction card to a cardholder by associating the transaction card with a demand deposit account from which the cardholder is authorized to electronically disburse funds; receiving an authorization request for an attempted transaction between a merchant and the cardholder, the authorization request containing information associated with the transaction card and the attempted transaction; processing the authorization request based on one or more predetermined business rules; authorizing the transaction without immediately settling the transaction against the demand deposit account of the cardholder; and settling the transaction, at a time subsequent to the execution of the transaction, through automated clearing house (ACH) from funds retained within the demand deposit account of the cardholder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrogel-containing temperature indicating element for use in ultrasound therapy. The temperature indicating element of the present invention and the therapeutic device and method making use of the same enable in some embodiments an automated adaptation of the power output as a function of the tissue temperature, avoiding therefore overheating or burning of the skin.

Abstract: A fiber scanning system is provided comprising a housing (102) with a fiber (13), the fiber (13) comprising a fixed part and a free end, the fixed part being attached to a bottom of the housing (102) and the fiber (13) extending parallel to the wall of the housing (102). At least one electrical coil (12) is attached to the wall at a position in between the fixed part and the free end of the fiber (13), a winding of the electrical coil (12) being in a plane parallel to the fiber (13). A magnet (11) is attached to the fiber (13), such that the electrical coil (12) may induce a force on the magnet (11). The magnet (11) is attached to the fiber (13) at a position just before or after the electrical coil (12), a width of the magnet (11) being such that the magnet (11) extends over the electrical coil (12).

Abstract: The innovation relates to a system and/or methodology for the convenient and consistent determination of rate exceptions for banking products. The system provides for a rate exception component that determines one or more proposed exception rates based on a customer's score, and information regarding the competitive banking environment for similar banking products. The customer scores and competitive banking environment data are determined by a data analytics component, which can update the data at regular intervals or when modifications to the data occur.

Abstract: A device for recording data and data structures on a write-once storage medium. The device has writing means for recording the data and the data structures and controlling means for generating the data structures and controlling the writing means. The data structures comprise space bit map and defect management structures. The controlling means are adapted to record the data structures at a predefined temporary location on the write-once storage medium and to finalize the write-once storage medium by recording the data structures at a predefined fixed location as defined for a rewritable storage medium.

Abstract: Image registration very often used to be a tedious task which had to be performed manually. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a non-rigid image registration by an iterative refinement process based on a combination of landmarks with similarity values is proposed. Advantageously, a very fast and robust method maybe provided.

Abstract: Method for transmitting information in a multi-band OFDM system, comprising delivering according to a given communication standard an initial data stream (IDS), splitting (11) said initial data stream into a chosen number of elementary data streams and simultaneously transmitting (12) said elementary data streams according to said communication standard on said communication medium (MD) within different respective sub-bands (SBi). These sub-bands all blong to the same band group. Proposal based on the MBOA standard.

Abstract: An optical disc playing system, comprises a selecting apparatus for receiving a command from a user, which requires to play a part of content of a program in the optical disc; a sending apparatus for sending a request which requires to provide the related information of said part of content; a receiving apparatus for receiving the related information; and a reading-out apparatus for reading out the received related information and said part of content. An optical disc playing method using said system comprises the steps of: receiving a command from a user, which requires to play a part of content of a program in the optical disc; sending a request which requires to provide the related information of said part of content; receiving the related information; and playing the disc in coordination with said part of content using the received related information.

Abstract: The invention relates to different designs of a microelectronic sensor device comprising an array of heating elements (HE) and an array of sensor elements (SE) that are aligned with respect to each other adjacent to a sample chamber (SC). By applying appropriate currents to the heating elements (HE), the sample chamber can be heated according to a desired temperature profile.

Abstract: A system that enables secure data storage into a third party managed electronic storage vault is disclosed. This electronic storage vault provides customers with a secure location to store important data such as insurance policies, automobile titles, deeds, wills, birth certificates, tax documents or the like. An interface can be provided which secures (e.g., encrypts, digitally signs) data related to transmission, storage and retrieval. A management component can be employed to regulate (e.g., authenticate) deposit or access of documents to/from the storage vault.

Abstract: The agricultural system includes a baling device having a bale forming mechanism to form a bale including a pivotable rear flap to open a baling chamber in which the bale can be formed, and a wrapping device to wrap the bale in wrapping material, the wrapping device including a wrapping table to support the bale during wrapping and wrapping mechanism. The wrapping mechanism has one or more movable parts that can be rotated during wrapping along a trajectory around the bale supported on the wrapping table. The wrapping device is partially located below the baling device, wherein the trajectory of the one or more moving parts of the wrapping device and a trajectory of the pivotable rear flap of the baling device are non-overlapping.

Abstract: An antenna (740) listens in each of a plurality of steerable sectors to determine if a primary beacon is present; transmits a primary device beacon in each of the plurality of steerable sectors if the primary beacon is not present; and transmits a secondary device beacon in a first one of the plurality of steerable sectors if a primary beacon is discovered. The antenna (740) may transmit the primary and secondary beacons on a different communication channel than a data communication channel or may transmit the primary and secondary beacons on a same communication channel as a data communication channel. The antenna (740) may divide the same communication channel into time slices wherein different time slices of a super-frame are utilized for the primary beacon, the secondary beacon, and the data communication. The secondary device (C, D) sends additional beacons in additional sectors if it receives non-primary beacon from the additional sectors.

Abstract: An optical disc (2) contains at least one title comprising a collection of mosaic video data (22) which, on reading and suitable processing by a disc drive (3), result in a mosaic of multiple scenes (41, 42, 43, 44) in different sections (31, 32, 33, 34) of a display screen (4). The title further contains data (21) representing a machine-executable application for the disc drive (3) causing the disc drive (3) to generate a graphics layer overlying said mosaic of multiple scenes. Said graphics layer comprises a first portion which is at least partly transparent and which is aligned with one of said sections (31, 32, 33, 34) of the display screen (4); and said graphics layer comprises a second portion which is fully opaque and which is aligned with all other sections of the display screen (4).

Abstract: A system for personalizing interaction between a user communicating over at least one communication channel and a provider of information/products/services, the user having a communication device for communication over the channel with the provider, the system comprising a channel interface for interfacing with the channel, an information/product/service interface for interfacing with an information/product/service provider; and a knowledge management system coupled to the channel and information/product/service interface, the knowledge management system comprising a knowledge management repository storing information concerning the user, the information obtained from interaction with the user over the channel including current interactions between the user and the knowledge management system, and further storing information concerning a plurality of information/products/services to offer to the user, and a personalization engine for making a decision as to which of the plurality of information/product/servic

Abstract: A projection system incorporating a prism with dual total internal reflection function, to increase the performance of DLP™ projection, by offering a solution to combine 2 light paths to contribute to the brightness on the screen and at the same time rejecting flat-state and off-state light from entering the projection lens thereby enhancing contrast. In one implementation those two light paths can be collecting light from 2 different light sources which are driven in a pulsed manner with a duty cycle of approximately 50% for each of the two light sources at increased power. In a second implementation with a color sequential single DMD™ projector, while one light path passes a primary color the second light path passes the complementary secondary color. A special color transformation algorithm is proposed to transform the image input signals to make optimal use of the capabilities offered by the second implementation, and create maximum brightness and color saturation of the image.

Abstract: A combination optical disc (1) is disclosed, which contains at least two information layers (10, 11) of at least two different storage formats selected from for example CD, DVD, BD. Information is stored on the disc (1) concerning the storage format of the layers (10, 11). According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the formats contains information indicating that a second, or even third, format is present on the same disc. Now a device may select a Format different from the one detected during start up. Alternatively, all formats present on a single disc are identified by an identifier on the disc. Such art identifier may be located in the BCA area, a chip (4) on disc or in a bar code on the disc itself.

Abstract: A system for providing expert care to a basic care medical facility (OPCL) from a remote location. The system facilitates real-time, continuous assessment of patients receiving care in an OPCL that is not generally equipped to provide expert medical care on a twenty-four basis. Patient monitoring equipment acquires monitored data elements from a patient monitoring station and transmits the monitoring data over a network to a remote command center. The remote command center also receives other patient data to the extent available from the OPCL. Alternatively, the patient monitored data is sent to a remote command center along with patient data at a pre-established time or when requested by remote command center. The delivery of stored monitoring data and patient data may be expedited if an urgent consultation is warranted.

Abstract: 2D image data are converted into 3D image data. The image is divided, on the basis of focusing characteristics, into two or more regions, it is determined to which region an edge separating two regions belongs. The regions are depth ordered in accordance with the rule that the rule that a region comprising an edge is closer to the viewer than an adjacent region and to the regions 3-D depth information is assigned in accordance with the established depth order of the regions. Preferably to each of the regions a depth is assigned in dependence on an average or median focusing characteristic of the region.