Abstract: The system and methods described herein allow users to apply for a purchase of a good from multiple providers using provider specific methodologies for generating offers for the product. For example, the system described herein may include a multi-layer architecture that includes interactive micro-services that communicate together in a bi-directional manner to create a normalized process for the purchase of a good, such as commercial goods/products (e.g. a vehicle) or real property. The micro-services may assess prequalification for a loan or financing for a good, followed by determining eligibility of the good for financing, and further followed by calculating pricing details for loans (e.g. for financing purchase of the good) that would be offered for a consumer's particular financial credentials, for each of a plurality of lenders. Prequalification and pricing may be performed on a good by good basis, or for a plurality of goods near or substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback is provided outside of the clinic to benefit athletes and individuals suffering from an array illnesses, including stress, anxiety, depression, COPD, asthma, and hypertension. This therapy is provided to the user by analyzing biometrics, calculating and guiding breathing to a Resonance Frequency, analyzing and providing feedback on stress level, tracking time in Resonance and benefits received, and recommending a therapy regimen.

Abstract: Peer-group based business information can include: generating a set of curated market information for each of a set of business entities such that each set of curated market information enables a determination of one or more markets in which the corresponding business entity currently operates; selecting a subset of the business entities for inclusion in a peer-group cluster in response to the curated market information such that the business entities specified in the peer-group cluster share at least one competitive overlap in one or more of the markets; and providing a user with a relative comparison of the business entities specified in the peer-group cluster.

Abstract: Systems and methods measure impedance across a user's chest during respiration to determine a rate of respiration. With AC-modulation contacts separated from impedance-measuring contacts, analog filtering to remove EMI, a bridging capacitor to remove DC noise, and digital filtering to further remove EMI, a user's respiration may be measured with the AC-modulation contacts and the impedance-measuring contacts placed at user extremities.

Abstract: Systems and methods measure impedance across a user's chest during respiration to determine a rate of respiration. With AC-modulation contacts separated from impedance-measuring contacts, analog filtering to remove EMI, a bridging capacitor to remove DC noise, and digital filtering to further remove EMI, a user's respiration may be measured with the AC-modulation contacts and the impedance-measuring contacts placed at user extremities.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and methods enabling a user to receive feedback regarding a computer-implemented design of an architectural structure as the user is designing or otherwise modifying the computer-implemented design using a computer-aided design (CAD) software tool. The feedback (hereafter also referred to as “design feedback”) may provide the user with useful analysis information regarding the architectural structure's predicted characteristics (e.g., operational performance, resource consumption, cost, etc.) based on the current state of the computer-implemented design. In particular, heating and cooling loads associated with the computer-implemented design of the architectural structure can be visually displayed to the user in real or near-real-time along with the relationships to contributing factors that impact the heating and cooling loads.

Abstract: A target respiration rate is determined for a user where, when the user breathes at the target rate, the user's vagal tone is improved, which provides a physiological benefit to the user, e.g., stress reduction without drug intervention. The user is directed to breathe at different rates while heart rate and breathing rate are measured. A value representative of vagal tone is generated from the measured heart and breathing rates for each directed breathing rate. The breathing rate that produced the lowest generated vagal tone value is determined to be the user's target respiration rate.

Abstract: Peer-group based business information can include: generating a set of curated market information for each of a set of business entities such that each set of curated market information enables a determination of one or more markets in which the corresponding business entity currently operates; selecting a subset of the business entities for inclusion in a peer-group cluster in response to the curated market information such that the business entities specified in the peer-group cluster share at least one competitive overlap in one or more of the markets; and providing a user with a relative comparison of the business entities specified in the peer-group cluster.

Abstract: A target respiration rate is determined for a user where, when the user breathes at the target rate, the user's vagal tone is improved, which provides a physiological benefit to the user, e.g., stress reduction without drug intervention. The user is directed to breathe at different rates while heart rate and breathing rate are measured. A value representative of vagal tone is generated from the measured heart and breathing rates for each directed breathing rate. The breathing rate that produced the lowest generated vagal tone value is determined to be the user's target respiration rate.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and methods enabling a user to receive feedback regarding a computer-implemented design of an architectural structure as the user is designing or otherwise modifying the computer-implemented design using a computer-aided design (CAD) software tool. The feedback (hereafter also referred to as “design feedback”) may provide the user with useful analysis information regarding the architectural structure's predicted characteristics (e.g., operational performance, resource consumption, cost, etc.) based on the current state of the computer-implemented design. In particular, heating and cooling loads associated with the computer-implemented design of the architectural structure can be visually displayed to the user in real or near-real-time along with the relationships to contributing factors that impact the heating and cooling loads.

Abstract: A skateboard and method of forming such a skateboard is provided which yields a skateboard deck, formed in a unitary structure, of polymeric material. The deck may formed of molten, pliable, planar sheet material, which is heated past a glass transition temperature and thereafter formed for curves and shape through imparting of force on the polymeric material by molding. The resulting skateboard deck is formed as a unitary structure which can be further enhanced using flexible compressible mounts engaged in deck apertures to engage the wheels and trucks thereon. The unitary structure of polymeric material is also well suited for light transmission therethrough from light emitters which may be operatively engaged to the mounts.

Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit for use in an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, wherein each of the primitives has a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, generating a template relating to the response corresponding to each of the primitives, receiving information specifying a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives based on the template, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the information.

Abstract: A power management method for a transponder having a plurality of circuits including at least a first circuit having a first active state requiring at least a first power level, and a second circuit having a second active state requiring at least a second power level greater than the first power level includes receiving a reader device signal in the first circuit, determining in the first circuit, based on information included in the reader signal, whether the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate, and causing the first circuit to provide a wake-up signal and the reader signal to the second circuit if it is determined that the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate. The wake-up signal causes the second circuit to move from an inactive state to the second active state.

Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit for use in an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, wherein each of the primitives has a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, generating a template relating to the response corresponding to each of the primitives, receiving information specifying a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives based on the template, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the information.

Abstract: A method of generating software code for a processor of an IC based on a simple input description of the IC's standards. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives from the standards and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for each response. The method further includes generating a blank version of a template that includes each of the second fields and receiving a completed version of the template, wherein the completed template specifies a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives. Finally, the method includes compiling the software code based on the macros description and the completed version of the template. Also, a software tool implementing the method is provided.

Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit for an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, each of the primitives having a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for the response corresponding to each of the primitives. The method further includes receiving a specification of the behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives that has one or more values specified for each of the second fields, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the specification. Also, a software tool which implements the method.

Abstract: A method of generating software code for a processor of an IC based on a simple input description of the IC's standards. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives from the standards and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for each response. The method further includes generating a blank version of a template that includes each of the second fields and receiving a completed version of the template, wherein the completed template specifies a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives. Finally, the method includes compiling the software code based on the macros description and the completed version of the template. Also, a software tool implementing the method is provided.

Abstract: A transponder apparatus having an identifier associated therewith includes a receiver for receiving an RF signal transmitted by an interrogator, a power source and a processing unit that is operatively coupled to the power source and is capable of being in an inactive, sleep state (low current draw) and an active state. The transponder apparatus also includes a buffer device that is structured to: (i) receive an information signal based on the RF signal from the receiver, (ii) determine whether the information signal includes the identifier, and (iii) cause the processing unit to move from the inactive state to the active state and transmit at least a portion of the information signal to the processing unit only if it is determined that the information signal includes the identifier. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of designing an integrated circuit for an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, each of the primitives having a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for the response corresponding to each of the primitives. The method further includes receiving a specification of the behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives that has one or more values specified for each of the second fields, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the specification. Also, a software tool which implements the method.