Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data embedded into the surface of a 3D printed object is described. The method and apparatus develops an electronic file used for printing a 3D object which embeds as structure into the 3D object, a 3D symbol matrix representative of data to be printed concurrently with the 3D object, such as a 3D barcode. A selected symbology is used for making the symbol matrix in accordance with the type of printing process to be used to print the 3D object.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve providing media item preferences according to a user account of a user providing the preference, rather than a user account providing the media item. When a user indicates a preference for a media item, the preference are associated with that particular user, rather than with another user whose account the media item may have been accessed and played through when the particular user indicated the preference. As a result, a media preference history associated with the account providing the media item will not be disrupted by other users indicating preferences for the media item. Further, users may build on their respective media preference histories even when listening to music provided by someone else.

Abstract: Embodiments of a computer-implemented method for monitoring a physical activity of a user are disclosed. The method includes receiving position or orientation data of a portable computing device; receiving an indication of an input device being operated by the user and a video captured by an imaging unit, the input device, and the imaging unit being operationally coupled to a stationary computing device. The portable computing device, the input device and the imaging unit are triggered by a data aggregator module based on a predefined sequence. The method also includes determining an activity pattern data of the user over a predefined time interval based on the position or orientation data, the received indication, and the video including an image of the user; and correlating the determined activity pattern data with health data of the user to monitor the physical activity of the user.

Abstract: An example implementation may include causing a group of one or more playback devices to render first audio content. The example implementation may also include displaying an indication of second audio content, the second audio content comprising two or more songs. The example implementation may further include receiving first input data indicating a request to audition the second audio content; and in response to the request to audition the second audio content, rendering at least one of the two or more songs while the group of one or more playback devices is rendering the first audio content.

Abstract: An example method may include displaying, by a network device, an indication of a first audio content and an indication of a second audio content; receiving, by the network device, first input data indicating a request for the first audio content to be played by a group of one or more playback devices; causing, by the network device, the group of one or more playback devices to render the first audio content; receiving, by the network device, second input data indicating a request to audition the second audio content using the network device; and in response to the request to audition the second audio content, rendering, by the network device, the second audio content while the group of one or more playback devices is playing the first audio content. An example network device and an example non-transitory computer-readable medium related to the example method may also be disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ulmoside A as a novel small molecule adiponectin receptor agonist useful for prevention or cure of metabolic diseases. The present invention further relates to the use of ulmoside-A (ULMA) ((2S,3S)-(+)-3?,4?,5,7-tetrahydroxydihydroflavonol-6-C-?-D-glucopyranoside) for alleviation, management or prevention or treatment of steroid-induced metabolic disorder. The present invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition useful for prevention and/or treatment of various medical indications associated with metabolic diseases caused in humans and animals.

Abstract: A polymer film with aligned geometrically anisotropic nanostructures includes: an alignment layer; and a mixture of liquid crystal polymer and geometrically anisotropic nanostructures. Methods for aligning geometrically anisotropic nanostructures and for optically manipulating geometrically anisotropic nanostructures are also provided.

Abstract: An electrically suppressed helix (ESH) ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display cell with fast response includes: a liquid crystal layer, disposed between two transparent substrates, wherein helix pitch of chiral smectic liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer is less than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer; at least one polarizer; and a voltage source, configured to apply electrical driving voltage pulses to electrodes of the display cell with amplitude greater than a critical voltage for helix unwinding of the chiral smectic liquid crystals.

Abstract: A field sequential color (FSC) ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display cell, part of an FSC display, is provided. The FSC FLC display cell includes: two polarizers; an FLC layer, positioned between the two polarizers, the FLC layer comprising FLCs with helix pitch less than the thickness of the FLC layer; and a voltage source, configured to apply an electrical driving voltage to the FLC layer, the electrical driving voltage applied to the FLC layer having an amplitude greater than a threshold voltage for helix unwinding, and wherein the voltage source is further configured to apply electrical driving voltages to light emitting diodes (LEDs) of the FSC display to illuminate pixels of the FSC display. The pixels are illuminated in an FSC manner. The FLC layer is configured to provide a defect-free layer of FLC under the electrical driving voltage applied to the FLC layer.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for updating a playlist that has been added to a playback queue in response to changes to the playback queue. The playback queue may be associated with a zone of a network media system such that items in the playback queue are to be rendered by the zone. The playlist may include one or more items playable by the zone, and may be stored separately from where the playback queue is maintained. Embodiments are also provided for updating a playback queue in response to modifications to a playlist included in the playback queue. In some cases, a user modifying the playlist or playback queue may be prompted upon making the modifications whether to also apply the modification to the playback queue or playlist, respectively.

Abstract: A processor and memory comprising instructions stored therein executable by the processor to display a first media item available for playback, wherein the first media item is associated at least with a preview option, a playback option, and a queue option. A first input associated with the first media item is received. The first input is determined to correspond only to the preview option. Responsive to determining that the first input corresponds only to the preview option, causing at least a portion of the first media item to be played.

Abstract: A first playback device plays first audio content in synchrony with at least one second playback device. One or more commands is received that define a duration of time. The first playback device stops playback of the first audio content based on the received one or more commands. After stopping playback of the first audio content, second audio content is played for the duration of time defined by the one or more commands. After playing the second audio content for the duration of time, the first playback device resumes playback of the first audio content in synchrony with the at least one second playback device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve providing media item preferences according to a user account of a user providing the preference, rather than a user account providing the media item. When a user indicates a preference for a media item, the preference are associated with that particular user, rather than with another user whose account the media item may have been accessed and played through when the particular user indicated the preference. As a result, a media preference history associated with the account providing the media item will not be disrupted by other users indicating preferences for the media item. Further, users may build on their respective media preference histories even when listening to music provided by someone else.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining cellular signal strength information. The method includes receiving a location of interest, for which said cellular signal strength information is to be determined, from a customer-computing device. Thereafter, a crowdsourcing task corresponding to said location of interest is generated, wherein said crowdsourcing task comprises at least an instruction for a movement of a mobile device in said location of interest. The method further includes receiving at least one or more received signal strength indication (RSSI) values for said location of interest during said movement, wherein said received one or more RSSI values are utilizable to alert a user of a mobile device for a low RSSI value in said location of interest.

Abstract: A first playback device may include a processor and data storage including program code that, when executed by the processor, causes the first playback device to: playback a first audio content in synchrony with at least one second playback device; receive a command to play back a second audio content; stop playback of the first audio content based on the received command; and after stopping playback of the first audio content, play back the second audio content for a predefined duration of time. The program code may then cause the first playback device to: (i) after playing back the second audio content, resume playback of the first audio content in synchrony with the at least one second playback device, or (ii) play back the second audio content in synchrony with the at least one second playback device.

Abstract: Examples described herein involve managing two or more user accounts via which a media playback system can access a service provider, and displaying on a graphical display, graphical representations of at least one of the two or more user accounts via which a media playback system can access a service provider.

Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that involve receiving, by a social-media computing system from a media playback system, playback data indicating media that is being played back by the media playback system, where the playback data comprises an indication of at least one zone of the media playback system in which the media is being played back; and based on the received playback data, updating social-media data in a social-media account, where the updated social-media data comprises an indication of the at least one zone in which the media is currently being played back.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein include a computing system receiving a first data set representing (i) an image and (ii) an event associated with the image; receiving a second data set representing (i) a media item and (ii) the event; associating the media item with the image; and storing data indicating the association. The examples may also include a computing device capturing an image while the computing device is at an event location; sending, to a computing system, a first data set representing (i) the image and (ii) an event associated with the image and the event location; receiving, from the computing system, a second data set representing a media item that is played back by a media playback system at the event location; causing display, by the display, of the image; and providing an indication of the media item.

Abstract: Examples provided herein are directed to social-media playback queues. In one example, a computing system may be configured to (i) receive an identifier of a media playback system, (ii) link the identifier with a social-media account, (iii) based at least on linking the identifier with the social-media account, generate a social-media playback queue that is fillable with one or more media items playable by the media playback system, (iv) establish access permissions to the social-media playback queue, where the access permissions indicate at least one additional social media account that (a) is within a social-media network of the social-media account, and (b) has access to the social-media playback queue, (v) receive, from a computing device affiliated with the at least one additional social-media account, an indication of a media item to be added to the social-media playback queue, and (vi) add the media item to the social-media playback queue.

Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that involve a computing device initiating playback of a particular media item on a media playback system that is registered to a particular account of a social media service. The computing device may query the social media service for one or more accounts of the social media service that are registered to respective media playback systems that have played the particular media item on at least a threshold number of occasions and have not yet been connected to the particular account of the social media service within the social network. The computing device may receive the queried one or more accounts of the social media service and cause a graphical interface to display one or more respective selectable indications of the received one or more accounts of the social media service.