Abstract: A method of producing a hydrophobic porous alumina by: i) providing a slurry comprising an alumina compound, the slurry having a pH equal to or greater than 7; ii) adding an organic composition comprising carboxylic acids with alkyl hydrocarbon chains having a carbon length less than 14 to the slurry to form an acidic modified slurry; the acidic modified slurry having a pH of between 3 and less than 7; iii) hydrothermally aging the acidic modified slurry to form a hydrothermally aged slurry; and iv) drying the hydrothermally aged slurry.

Abstract: A swinging bob toy having a first outer bob attached to a first outer looped tethering means, a second outer bob attached to a second outer looped tethering means, and a central bob attached to a central looped tethering means, the first outer looped tethering means being attached at an outer end of a first segment of the central looped tethering means, and the second outer looped tethering means being attached at an outer end of a second segment of the central looped tethering means. The outer looped tethering means are attached to the central looped tethering means by means of half hitches, the outer looped tethering means are attached via apertures in the bobs by means of half hitches, thereby allowing the toy to be rapidly disassembled and reassembled, possibly with the incorporation of components from additional toys, in other configurations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for fast error detection and correction of computer data for resilient communication and storage; for encoding and recovery of data with some communicated or stored data parts lost; and for controlling access to data in a decentralized data storage system.

Abstract: A method of producing a hydrophobic porous alumina by: i) providing a slurry comprising an alumina compound, the slurry having a pH equal to or greater than 7; ii) adding an organic composition comprising carboxylic acids with alkyl hydrocarbon chains having a carbon length less than 14 to the slurry to form an acidic modified slurry; the acidic modified slurry having a pH of between 3 and less than 7; iii) hydrothermally aging the acidic modified slurry to form a hydrothermally aged slurry; and iv) drying the hydrothermally aged slurry.

Abstract: A content system identifies shots in a first video and shots in a second video. Shot durations are determined for the identified shots of each video. A histogram is generated for each video, each histogram dividing the identified shots of the corresponding video into a set of buckets divided according to a range of shot durations. The system determines confidence weights for the buckets of each histogram, with the confidence weight for a bucket based on a likelihood of a particular number of identified shots occurring within the range of shot duration for that bucket. A correlation value is computed for the two videos based on a number of identified shots in each bucket of each respective histogram and based on the confidence weights. The content system determines whether the two videos are similar based on the correlation value and a self-correlation value of each video.

Abstract: A content system identifies shots in a first video and shots in a second video. Shot durations are determined for the identified shots of each video. A histogram is generated for each video, each histogram dividing the identified shots of the corresponding video into a set of buckets divided according to a range of shot durations. The system determines confidence weights for the buckets of each histogram, with the confidence weight for a bucket based on a likelihood of a particular number of identified shots occurring within the range of shot duration for that bucket. A correlation value is computed for the two videos based on a number of identified shots in each bucket of each respective histogram and based on the confidence weights. The content system determines whether the two videos are similar based on the correlation value and a self-correlation value of each video.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting known message codes embedded in message data that is subsequently distorted, by recognizing fragments of the message code contained in said message data, and determine statistically the likelihood that the said message codes are present. This current invention helps to recover embedded information that may otherwise be lost due to distortion. One particularly useful application is in enhanced watermark detection in audio, video and other multimedia contents.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for efficient generation and processing of high quality digital sounds that appear to be natural and realistic to human listener. By reviewing the shortcomings of prior arts and considering the physics involved in how sounds are generated in the physical world, current invention provides algorithmic structures and procedures to generate and process digital sounds that are realistic and rich in harmonies and entropy, and provides a feeling of warmth to human listeners. The current invention has broad application in music, movies, games and other multimedia content creation and processing; in voice communication applications and products; and in developing better human computer interaction technologies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for interactively creating programs for digital computers or devices are provided. A programmer interacts with a computer to direct it to create and modify fragments of programs directly in a standardized Arithmetic or Logical Code (ALC) format recognized by the computer. Such ALC can be directly tested for errors, be presented in familiar source code form for review, and can be translated into executable programs of targeted platforms. The ALC parts can be shared and collected and archived over time, providing efficient code reuse. The methods and apparatuses provided by current invention can be used in all fields requiring programming of computers or devices to speed up product development and to reduce defects.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for energy efficient removal of one liquid substance from a mixture of substances, resulting in less of the said substance in the said mixture, and providing that liquid substance for purification and usage. Among other possible embodiments, the present invention provides methods and apparatuses for extracting water from mixed matters like humid air; condensing and purifying such water for usage; and providing the end mixture with less water content; at minimal cost of energy, material and environment impact. The mixture is first extracted, purified and conditioned for more efficient next steps, then the gas mixture is compressed to allow heat to dissipate at above ambient temperature, and finally the mixture is returned to ambient pressure, allowing the liquid to condense out without cooling. When water vapor condenses into liquid, a lot of latent heat is released.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for embedding watermark information into multimedia contents like audio, imagery or video, and for detection of such watermarks from embedded multimedia content. A two step embedding approach is proposed wherein the watermark bits are first used to construct a modulation signal. Said modulation signal is used to modify certain selected characteristics of the media content. A detector is then used to first extract the modulation signal from embedded media content, and then to extract watermark information from the modulation signal extracted. This current invention enhances watermark robustness against classes of attacks that prior arts are vulnerable to resist. Current invention is novel and useful in any multimedia application fields, including but not limited to the identification, distribution tracking and copyright protection of audio, imagery and video contents.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to remove watermarks and other steganography messages embedded in media contents, and render the said hidden information un-detectable by its intended receivers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing peer-to-peer relay. In one implementation, a peer-to-peer relay network includes: a plurality of N peer systems; wherein each peer system is connected to a number of other peer systems that is less than or equal to a connection limit, said connection limit is greater than or equal to 2, said connection limit is less than or equal to N-2, and each peer system is configured to relay data to peer systems connected to that peer system according to a set of one or more relay rules.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing peer-to-peer relay.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a peer-to-peer relay network includes sending a maintenance message from a peer computer system to each of one or more connected peer computer systems connected to the peer computer system and evaluating any responses received from the one or more connected peer computer systems. The connection between the peer computer system and a connected peer computer system is closed when the response from that connected peer computer system is not acceptable. Each peer computer system is connected to a number of other peer computer systems that is less than or equal to a connection limit and each peer computer system is configured to relay data to peer computer systems connected to that peer computer system according to a set of one or more relay rules.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing peer-to-peer relay. In one implementation, a method of building a redundancy list in a peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network includes: receiving a first message including first identification information at a first peer system from a second peer system connected to said first peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network; storing said first identification information; receiving a second message including second identification information at said first peer system from a third peer system connected to said first peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network; comparing said second identification information with said first identification information; building a redundancy update message; and sending said redundancy update message to said third peer system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing peer-to-peer relay. In one implementation, a peer-to-peer relay network includes: a plurality of N peer systems; wherein each peer system is connected to a number of other peer systems that is less than or equal to a connection limit, said connection limit is greater than or equal to 2, said connection limit is less than or equal to N?2, and each peer system is configured to relay data to peer systems connected to that peer system according to a set of one or more relay rules.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing peer-to-peer relay. In one implementation, a method of detecting and recovering from violations in a peer-to-peer relay network includes: receiving a message at a peer system from a sending peer system connected to said peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network detecting a violation in said received message; and sending an alert message to each peer system connected to said peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network; wherein each peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network stores a connection limit defining a number of other peer systems up to which that peer system is permitted to connect, and each peer system stores a set of one or more relay rules for relaying data to other peer systems connected to that peer system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing peer-to-peer relay. In one implementation, a method of island recovery in a peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network includes: detecting the presence of two or more islands in a peer-to-peer relay network, wherein each island includes at least one peer system; joining two detected islands by connecting a peer system in a first island to a peer system in a second island; wherein peer systems in different islands are not connected.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing peer-to-peer relay. In one implementation, a method of detecting and recovering from violations in a peer-to-peer relay network includes: receiving a message at a peer system from a sending peer system connected to said peer system in a peer-to-peer relay network detecting a violation in said received message; and sending an alert message to each peer system connected to said peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network; wherein each peer system in said peer-to-peer relay network stores a connection limit defining a number of other peer systems up to which that peer system is permitted to connect, and each peer system stores a set of one or more relay rules for relaying data to other peer systems connected to that peer system.