Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing usage metrics of digital content. The system includes one or more clients, such as a computer and an audio player device, a usage metrics server and an optional recommendation system, which are connected together by a network, such as the Internet. A consumer or user at a client system, such as the computer, downloads digital content from a content provider. As the client consumes the digital content, a tracking system operating on the client uploads usage data to the usage metrics system. The usage metrics system processes the usage data and stores the processed data in a storage for subsequent retrieval to provide the data to a content provider, the optional recommendation system and/or third party systems.

Abstract: A drop emitting device including a first linear array of columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and a second linear array of columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs wherein the first linear array and the second linear array extend along an X-axis, and wherein the second linear array is adjacent the first linear array such that each first nozzle pair has an associated second nozzle pair displaced therefrom along a Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis. The columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and the columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs extend obliquely to the X-axis.

Abstract: To enable fine droplets of a diameter smaller than a nozzle diameter to be stably ejected at a high driving frequency. The present invention relates to a method for driving an ink jet recording head which method applies a driving voltage to a piezoelectric actuator 4 to change a pressure in a pressure generating chamber 2, thus ejecting ink droplets 1 through a nozzle 7 in communication with the pressure generating chamber 2.

Abstract: A high shear ball check valve device is provided and is suitable for use in a liquid ink image producing machine to quickly and precisely control flow of liquid ink. The high shear ball check valve device includes a valve housing defining a valve chamber. The valve chamber has a desired cross-dimension, an inlet end, and an outlet end. The high shear ball check valve device also includes an inlet member that is connected to the inlet end of the valve housing and has an inlet opening and a ball seat and seal portion surrounding the inlet opening. The ball seat and seal portion has a desired first durometer hardness value. The high shear ball check valve device next includes a valve ball having a desired diameter and being located movably within the valve chamber, and an outlet opening located at the outlet end of the valve chamber.

Abstract: An improved method for the sequencing of DNA fragments is provided. The method includes using a known process for DNA fragment separation, such as capillary electrophoresis, and imaging the resultant gel plate with a full-width array scanner or a two-dimensional amorphous silicon image sensor array. The DNA sample is placed within a well of the separation apparatus, such as a capillary tube or plurality thereof. The separation apparatus is then placed in a buffer. An electric field is then applied, forming a bias between the ends along which the sample is separated. Once separated, the large area detector scans the entire gel plate and resultant image data is provided. By way of the improved method, the entire gel plate can be scanned at the same time and repeatedly, resulting in greater accuracy and a shorter time to sequence.

Abstract: A photoconductive imaging member comprised of a substrate, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer containing a binder and a compound containing at least two (methyl)acrylates.

Abstract: An image display medium is provided that does not easily cause image unevenness and maintains high contrast even after repeated use for a long period of time. The image display medium contains a first substrate transmitting light, a second substrate provided to face the first substrate, first and second particles having different colors filled between the first substrate and the second substrate, the first and second particles each contain mother particles and fine particles attached on a surface of the mother particles, the first particles are charged positively, and the second particles are charged negatively.

Abstract: A printing technique wherein pixel locations that are requested to be marked with only black are identified, black is applied to the identified pixel locations, and non-black color is applied to those identified pixel locations that (A) have an associated black half-tone threshold level that is darker than a predetermined non-white threshold level, and (B) correspond to on-pixels of a reference pattern of non-black color pixels having an on-pixel population of at least 20 percent and a toner transfer efficiency of less than about 20 percent.

Abstract: In a booklet maker, as would be found in conjunction with a copier or printer, sheets to be folded and stapled into a booklet are accumulated in a slot. At the bottom of the slot, a selectably extendable contact member presses an accumulating set of sheets against a sidewall of the slot following the entry of each new sheet into the slot. The contact member decreases curling and fluffing of sheets within the slot, which can cause imprecisions in registering, stapling, or creasing of the sheets as they are formed into a booklet.

Abstract: A system for controlling access to online content referenced in a hardcopy document. A user requesting access to online content available on a server responds to an authentication challenge from the server using a password mechanism printed in the hardcopy document. The password mechanism allows the user to identify a password for responding to an authentication request by the server. After authenticating the user, the server initiates a state change to enable subsequent access to the online content by the user with a different password that is also identified with the password mechanism.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing apparatus having excellent resistance against vibration and noise is provided. In recording, coherent light is polarization-modulated with a spatial light modulator to generate signal light and reference light whose polarization directions are crossed at right angles with each other. The signal light permeates a polarizing beam splitter, and is incident to a quarter wavelength plate. The reference light passes through a passing hole, is diffused by a light diffuser and is incident to the quarter wavelength plate. The reference and signal light are converted into circularly polarized light which revolve in directions opposite to each other and condensed by a condenser lens, and then a predetermined area of an optical recording medium is irradiated with the reference and signal light. Thus, the reference and signal light are generated by modulating the incident light from the same light source and are coaxially incident to the polarizing beam splitter.

Abstract: A medium writing apparatus obtains information to be written onto a recording medium, converts the information into a suitable writable format, and then writes the converted information onto the recording medium. An ID obtaining section obtains a medium ID from the recording medium, or through an input by the user. The medium ID and information indicating the place of the written information are sent to a server, and then stored as index information correlating them with each other. When the information written onto the recording medium is to be used at a later timing, the medium ID is identified, and the index information is obtained from the server. Therefore, the original information can be obtained so as to be easily reprocessed-or reused.

Abstract: A system which allows each server in a network to verify the signature of a party issuing a service instruction in a system for providing a cooperative service by allowing servers to send and receive instruction data indicating instructions to each server and to execute the instruction written in the instruction data. An instruction input device receiving an instruction from a service requestor attaches an electronic signature (initiator signature (74)) of the requestor or the instruction input device to an instruction which indicates process content of each server, to create a signed individual instruction (72). The instruction input device further attaches an initiator signature (76) to data in which the signed individual instructions (72) for all servers involved in the service are merged, to create a collective instruction (70). The collective instruction (70) is transmitted to a flow controller controlling the servers.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a toner for developing electrostatic images including as a main component thereof a binder resin having a copolymer comprised of a combination of a high Tg monomer having a structure represented by the following structural formula (1) and a glass transition temperature of 50° C. or higher, a low Tg monomer having a structure represented by the following structural formula (2) and a glass transition temperature of lower than 50° C., and a hydrophilic monomer having a structure represented by the following structural formula (3); a process for preparing the toner for developing electrostatic images; a developer for developing electrostatic images containing the toner; and an image forming method using the toner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tandem-type image forming method using a trickle developing system, wherein the average circularity of a toner contained in at least a supplementary developer used for appropriately supplying a developer to a developing device is in the range of 0.940 to 0.980. In the toner, the ratio of the number of particles having an average circularity of 0.970 or greater, in a particle diameter range of a toner circle-equivalent diameter×⅗ or less, is 5% or less, and the ratio of the number of particles having an average circularity of 0.950 or less, in a particle diameter range of a toner circle-equivalent diameter×{fraction (7/5)} or greater, is 10% or less.

Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus, includes: a sheet transportation path; a predetermined number of transport members disposed in a sheet transportation path; a side position regulating mechanism which regulates a position of a side edge of a sheet in the sheet transportation path, the side position regulating mechanism having a reference member configured to change a sheet regulation position; a base member on which at least the reference member is mounted; a first adjusting mechanism which adjusts a position of the reference member; and a second adjusting mechanism which adjusts a position of a base member.

Abstract: A meta-document includes an object conveying document information, processing information pertaining to processing of the meta-document and metadata for indexing and retrieving the processing information. The processing information is recorded on the meta-document each time the meta-document is processed in some manner. Each time processing information is recorded on the document, appropriate metadata for indexing and retrieving the processing information is also stored on the meta-document. Creation and recording of the processing information and associated metadata on the meta-document may be accomplished externally by the particular source or environment to which the meta-document may be residing. Alternatively, each meta-document may include a tool (e.g., a software program or macro) embedded on the object. Whenever the meta-document is accessed or processed, the embedded tool creates the appropriate processing information and associated metadata.

Abstract: In a recording layer, a recording track is provided in the form of concentric circles or a spiral along a moving direction of a recording spot. When only specific Fourier transform components in a Fourier transform image of signal light are recorded, a width of the recording track provided in the recording layer is set corresponding to a diffraction order of the Fourier transform component to be recorded. That is to say, according to the diffraction order of the Fourier transform component to be recorded, the width of the recording track is determined within the range satisfying the following relationship. Here w is the width of the recording track, d is a length of one side of one-bit data of the signal light, &lgr; is a wavelength of the signal light, F is a focal distance of a lens system, and n is an integer of 2, 3, or 4.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an electromagnetophoretic ink material for use as electronic and magnetic display elements. In particular, the present invention relates to the preparation and use of microencapsulated aspect elements having both an electrostatic layer and a magnetic layer, and that can be addressed to produce a display aspect by the application of external electric fields and external magnetic fields.

Abstract: A service search device includes a receiver that receives a search condition for searching a service which executes a process on document data, a searching controller that searches a service processor for providing the service corresponding to the search condition received by the receiver through a network where plural service processors are connected to execute the process on the document data, and a transmitter that transmits a search result of the searching controller.