Abstract: Methods and systems for social functionality via a mobile communication device are presented. An example system may include an access device and a communication node. The access device may be located at a commercial venue and communicatively coupled via a local area network with a mobile communication device located at the venue. The communication node may be communicatively coupled to the access device via a wide area network to provide a social networking service related to the venue to a user of the mobile communication device. The access device may exchange information relating to the social networking service between the communication node and the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A computer-based method and a system for adding and printing variable security data. The system includes a memory, a processor, and a printer. The memory stores received print data. The processor modifies the print data for adding variable security print data and sends the modified print data for printing. The printer receives and prints the modified print data. The variable security data may vary between different printing operations. The processor captures a portion of the stored print data based on data-capturing criteria and modifies the stored print data based on the captured portion of the stored print data. The data-capturing criteria may be user-defined and may include leading tag data, trailing tag data, matching tag data, or combinations thereof for indicating a relative position of the captured data.

Abstract: An ear tip is disclosed that comprises an annular flange having a first end tapering downwardly to a second end and having a non-circular lateral cross-section generally in the shape of an oval. The annular flange has a varying wall thickness from a first set of opposite sides of the annular flange to a second set of opposite sides of the annular flange. An inner body extends internally from the first end within a hollow interior defined by the annular flange toward the second end. An acoustic channel extends through the inner body, where the annular flange at least partially occludes an ear canal from ambient noise and creates at least a partial air seal in the ear canal and the acoustic channel is configured to allow the passage of sound into the ear canal when the inner body is connected with a sound source.

Abstract: Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta. The grafts are composed of at least one layer of amnion tissue where the epithelium layer has been substantially removed in order to expose the basement layer to host cells. By removing the epithelium layer, cells from the host can more readily interact with the cell-adhesion bio-active factors located onto top and within of the basement membrane. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts. The laminin structure of amnion tissue is nearly identical to that of native human tissue such as, for example, oral mucosa tissue. This includes high level of laminin-5, a cell adhesion bio-active factor show to bind gingival epithelia-cells, found throughout upper portions of the basement membrane.

Abstract: A portable apparatus that provides electrical power receptacles and device charging ports. The portable apparatus has a base member and a plurality of post members connected to the base member. Each post member has an electrical power receptacle that provides electrical power and an electrical power device having a device charging port that provides a voltage suitable for charging and powering devices such as cell phones, cameras, iPads, Ipods and similar devices. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical power device includes an additional electrical power receptacle. Each post member has an interior region and electrical wiring located with the interior region which provides electrical power to the electrical power receptacles and the electrical power device. The portable apparatus also has a top member connected to the post members and an intermediate support member that is attached to the post members and located between the top member and the base member.

Abstract: A method of generating a large number of different void pantographs quickly and easily enables selecting a void pantograph that works best with a particular copy machine make and model. The background patterns are generated by varying the size of the dots and placement of the dots on an X-Y grid. The foreground pattern is generated by varying the size of the dots and placement of the dots on an X-Y grid. The foreground and background patterns may be generated by combining two separate patterns. A foreground pattern is combined with multiple background patterns to produce the different void pantographs. A full page of void pantographs having a similar density is tested on a copy machine to determine which one works the best.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for simultaneously viewing a playing multimedia and shopping for a product currently appearing in it comprising: providing, by a computer, an interface for playing the multimedia; providing, by the computer, an interface for selecting the product appearing in the playing multimedia to place the product into a shopping cart without stopping or pausing the playing multimedia, provided that the product is not visually distinguished as selectable, the shopping cart appearing temporarily when the product is added without disturbing the playing multimedia, the selection of the product visually indicated by a graphic icon moving into the shopping cart; providing, by the computer, an interface for accessing the shopping cart at the end of the viewing period; and providing, by the computer, an interface for purchasing, renting, or saving the product or accessing information of the product in the shopping cart at the end of the viewing period.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for the synthesis of speech from provided text. Particularly, the generation of parameters within the system is performed as a continuous approximation in order to mimic the natural flow of speech as opposed to a step-wise approximation of the feature stream. Provided text may be partitioned and parameters generated using a speech model. The generated parameters from the speech model may then be used in a post-processing step to obtain a new set of parameters for application in speech synthesis.

Abstract: A controller for a bathing unit system comprising a memory unit for storing program instructions, an interface for establishing a communication link with an external memory medium and a processing unit. The controller is operative for controlling a set of bathing unit components at least in part on the basis of the program instructions stored in the memory unit. The external memory medium stores update information associated with the program instructions and relevancy information indicative of a characteristic of the update information. The processing unit is operative for detecting the presence of an external memory medium at the interface, accessing the relevancy information stored in the memory medium, processing the relevancy information and causing the program instructions to be updated on the basis of the update information.

Abstract: A toner composition including at least one phosphorescent pigment that absorbs energy released by natural or artificial light, and is able to be seen in a dark environment through luminescence of a certain color created by the energy released as light, and a method of forming and using the toner are described. The phosphorescent toner has a particle size in the range of about 15-40 microns, which allows the toner to have the ability to absorb and then release the needed amount of light energy to be noticeable in a dark environment.

Abstract: A caller seeks customer service related to the provision of information assistance service whose call is transferred from an information assistance service center to a customer service center. After the customer service center assists the caller with the customer service question, if the caller needs information assistance, the customer service center provides the necessary assistance, without transferring the call back to the information assistance service center. The customer service center may also be able to help connect the caller to the desired destination number. The connection to the destination number, however, is routed through the information assistance service center, not the customer service center, based on data transmitted from the customer service center to the information assistance service center.

Abstract: A system for tracking an authenticated item is provided. The system includes an authentication device affixed to the item. An item registration system receives authentication device data from the authentication device and associated item data and stores the authentication device data and the associated item data. An owner registration system receives owner registration data after a buyer has acquired the item. A buyer verification system receives the authentication device data, the associated item data and the owner registration data and stores buyer verified data if the associated item data correlates to the owner registration data, such as if the external tag number or event data entered by the owner matches external tag number or event data for the item.

Abstract: The disclosure describes methods of winding collagen fiber to make medical constructs and related collagen fiber tube and patch devices.

Abstract: A portable lightning protection system is described for placement adjacent structures requiring lightning protection. The system includes a base mast section with an upper end and a plurality of radially extending, axially aligned ribs; a top mast section; preferably at least one intermediate mast section attachable to the upper end of the base mast section and to the lower end of the top mast section, the mast sections being axially aligned when attached; an air terminal having a conductive rod insertable into the bore of the top mast section; a base including a plurality of radially extending horizontal beams having inner ends attachable to the base mast section ribs and a plurality of inclined beams having inner ends attachable to the base mast section ribs and outer ends attachable to the horizontal beams; and grounding cables connecting the mast to the ground.

Abstract: A tool is provided that includes a plurality of links including at least three links movably interconnected to one another to form at least a portion of a wearable accessory, such as a bracelet. The plurality of links are articulatable so as to alternately assume a first configuration in which the plurality of links extend linearly, a second configuration in which the plurality of links are curved about an axis in a first direction and a third configuration in which the plurality of links are curved about the axis in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The plurality of links are configured to permit limited motion in a direction parallel to the axis prior to becoming structurally rigid. At least one link includes at least one tool function. A clasp and a receiver are also provided to facilitate the functionality and versatility of the resulting wearable accessory.

Abstract: A system facilitates the visualization of a network having multiple nodes. The system collects information from at least one of the nodes. The information describes network operation over a period of time. The system then reconstructs the network operation for the time period from the collected information and presents the reconstructed network operation to an operator.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable storage medium provide multi-platform accessibility of media content in a global computer network. Media content is selected in a client computer. Based on a format of the content, a media content player is loaded. If the content is not digital rights managements (DRM) protected, it is loaded and played in the player. If the content is DRM protected, a license to play the content is requested via an API and obtained via a server process. A web server computer creates/updates an authorized client user by communicating with a DRM server. The web server then creates a session with the DRM server and enables authorization to play by communicating with the DRM server that transmits the license to the client computer. Based on the license, the client loads and plays the content in the player.

Abstract: A communication system 100 includes a content repository 274 storing a plurality of content files associated with the content distribution system. A transport processing system 250 communicating with the content distribution system, a terrestrial communication network 132, and a content delivery network 280 communicating with the content distribution system 260 and the terrestrial network. The content management system assigns a satellite category or a broadband category to each of the plurality of content files in response to a popularity rating. The content distribution system 274 communicates the content to the transport processing system. The transport processing system 250 communicates the content through a satellite from the transport processing system to a user device. The content distribution system 260, in response to the broadband category, communicates the content to the content delivery network 280.

Abstract: Implementations of key blank carriers or key blanks with a standard reference features may include alignment features on a key blank head, key blank tip, a key blank carrier coupled to a key blank sleeve and/or a key blank sleeve, and any feature directly attached to any portion of the key that may be used for referencing in the key duplication system, or any combination of these. The standard reference features may allow any key blank brand model to interface with the machine so as to consistently align each key, regardless of its make and model, for cutting in a universally configured key blank clamp that is clamped to reduce the movement of the key blank during duplication cutting.