Abstract: Examples of the disclosure enable a docking station to provide various capabilities. In some examples, the docking station includes a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity, a charge module configured to charge a digital pen positioned within the cavity, and an authentication module configured to associate a digital pen with one or more user settings such that the digital pen is configured to operate in accordance with the user settings. Examples of the disclosure enable one or more digital pens to be placed in or retrieved from the docking station in a user-friendly manner.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) system may include a body having a right side and a left side, a display device coupled to the body and positioned to display content to a user when the HMD system is donned by the user, a right side arm coupled to the right side of the body and dimensioned such that, when coupled to a first portion of a swappable strap, the right side arm and the first portion of the strap form a first fastener, and a left side arm coupled to the left side of the body and dimensioned such that, when coupled to a second portion of the strap, the left side arm and the second portion of the strap form a second fastener. The first fastener and the second fastener may detachably secure the strap to the body of the HMD system. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure enable a docking station to provide various capabilities. In some examples, the docking station includes a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity, a charge module configured to charge a digital pen positioned within the cavity, and an authentication module configured to associate a digital pen with one or more user settings such that the digital pen is configured to operate in accordance with the user settings. Examples of the disclosure enable one or more digital pens to be placed in or retrieved from the docking station in a user-friendly manner.

Abstract: An audio assembly provides audio content to a user. The audio assembly comprises an elongated body, a negative vent assembly, and a positive vent assembly. The elongated body includes an audio waveguide. The negative vent assembly is coupled to the elongated body and includes at least one negative vent that vents negative acoustic pressure waves generated by a back surface of a transducer coupled to a first end of the audio waveguide. The positive vent assembly is part of the elongated body and is coupled to a second end of the audio waveguide. The positive vent assembly includes at least one positive vent that vents positive acoustic pressure waves generated by a front surface of the transducer.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods to customize massively-multiplayer-online-game (MMOG) Avatars beyond what can be displayed during general game-play. General game play refers to when a user is in a game with control of their Avatar. One knowledgeable in the art would understand that MMOGs are limited by their game engines to the complexity of Avatars that may be displayed to a user during general game-play, while maintaining acceptable frame rates. Furthermore one knowledgeable in the art would understand that Avatar complexity may further be limited due to the target machine the MMOG is designed to run on. The current invention describes methods to produce a custom Avatar image for non-game use, wherein the custom Avatar has higher resolution and greater choices than are available in-game.

Abstract: Enhancing the experience of a user reading a book or e-book by playing content, including, but not limited to; audio, lighting, smell, temperature, air currents, motion, and haptic effects, alone or in any combination, thus creating an environmental immersive experience for the user. Predetermined content is played on one or more playback devices when a user is reading a predetermined area of the printed book, or e-book. The user may select a subset of available playback devices to utilize for a reading session.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at enhancing pinball gameplay through non-synchronous multiplayer competitive and cooperative play. In the primary embodiment this is achieved by treating the logic and circuitry of an individual pinball machine as a “Client,” that is connected to a server or “Host”. The Host is in bidirectional communication with the individual pinball machines or Clients. The status of the Client, such as score, progress on completing features and other game metrics may be communicated to the Host at predetermined intervals. These game metrics may be communicated by the Host to all Clients. When a gameplay objective is completed on a client, the player is presented with a gameplay choice. This choice may be to change the status of his Client or change the status of another player's Client.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at enhancing pinball gameplay through non-synchronous multiplayer competitive and cooperative play. In the primary embodiment this is achieved by treating the logic and circuitry of an individual pinball machine as a “Client,” that is connected to a server or “Host”. The Host is in bidirectional communication with the individual pinball machines or Clients. The status of the Client, such as score, progress on completing features and other game metrics may be communicated to the Host at predetermined intervals. These game metrics may be communicated by the Host to all Clients. When a gameplay objective is completed on a client, the player is presented with a gameplay choice. This choice may be to change the status of his Client or change the status of another player's Client.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure enable a docking station to provide various capabilities. In some examples, the docking station includes a sidewall at least partially defining a cavity, a charge module configured to charge a digital pen positioned within the cavity, and an authentication module configured to associate a digital pen with one or more user settings such that the digital pen is configured to operate in accordance with the user settings. Examples of the disclosure enable one or more digital pens to be placed in or retrieved from the docking station in a user-friendly manner.

Abstract: Multiple application server instances can be arranged in a cluster that implements a distributed EJB timer system. A high availability database can store EJB timer info. The EJB timer jobs can be distributed among the application server instances of the cluster that implement the distributed EJB timer system. In case of a failure of an application server instance, the EJB timer info can be used to reassign the EJB timer jobs associated with the failed application server instance.

Abstract: A new computer wearable input device, referred to as Imagine, may be used to control electronic devices in a natural, intuitive, convenient and comfortable manner, having a form factor which does not impede normal daily or business activities. For example, an Imagine may serve as an alternative to input devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or game controller. An Imagine device is able to recognize complex gestures, such as a person signing American Sign Language. An Imagine device may include a plurality of motion sensors affixed to a user's fingers and a plurality of motion sensors affixed to a user's wrists, a processing component and a communication component designed to communicate with a second electronic device.

Abstract: A radiation source includes a fuel supply configured to deliver fuel to a plasma emission location for vaporization by a laser beam to form a plasma, and a collector configured to collect EUV radiation emitted by the plasma and direct the EUV radiation towards an intermediate focus. The collector includes a diffraction grating configured to diffract infrared radiation emitted by the plasma. The radiation source includes a radiation conduit located in between the collector and the intermediate focus. The radiation conduit includes an entrance aperture connected by an inwardly tapering body to an exit aperture. The radiation conduit includes an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being closer to the intermediate focus than the outer portion. The inner portion is configured to reflect incident diffracted infrared radiation towards the outer portion.

Abstract: A radiation source includes a fuel supply configured to deliver fuel to a plasma emission location for vaporization by a laser beam to form a plasma, and a collector configured to collect EUV radiation emitted by the plasma and direct the EUV radiation towards an intermediate focus. The collector includes a diffraction grating configured to diffract infrared radiation emitted by the plasma. The radiation source includes a radiation conduit located in between the collector and the intermediate focus. The radiation conduit includes an entrance aperture connected by an inwardly tapering body to an exit aperture. The radiation conduit includes an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being closer to the intermediate focus than the outer portion. The inner portion is configured to reflect incident diffracted infrared radiation towards the outer portion.

Abstract: A new computer wearable input device, referred to as Imagine, may be used to control electronic devices in a natural, intuitive, convenient and comfortable manner, having a form factor which does not impede normal daily or business activities. For example, an Imagine may serve as an alternative to input devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or game controller. An Imagine device is able to recognize complex gestures, such as a person signing American Sign Language. An Imagine device may include a plurality of motion sensors affixed to a user's fingers and a plurality of motion sensors affixed to a user's wrists, a processing component and a communication component designed to communicate with a second electronic device.

Abstract: Servers in a network cluster can each store a copy of a data item in local cache, providing read access to these copies through read-only entity beans. The original data item in the database can be updated through a read/write entity bean one of the cluster servers. That cluster server has access to an invalidation target, which contains identification information relating to copies of the data item stored on servers in the cluster. Once the read/write bean updates the data item in the database, an invalidate request can be sent or multicast to all cluster members, or to any read-only bean or server contained in the invalidation target. Each server or read-only bean receiving the request knows to drop any copy of the data item in local cache, and can request a current copy of the data item from the database.

Abstract: A clustered enterprise distributed processing system. The distributed processing system includes a first and a second computer coupled to a communication medium. The first computer includes a virtual machine (JVM) and kernel software layer for transferring messages, including a remote virtual machine (RJVM). The second computer includes a JVM and a kernel software layer having a RJVM. Messages are passed from a RJVM to the JVM in one computer to the JVM and RJVM in the second computer. Messages may be forwarded through an intermediate server or rerouted after a network reconfiguration. Each computer includes a Smart stub having a replica handler, including a load balancing software component and a failover software component. Each computer includes a duplicated service naming tree for storing a pool of Smart stubs at a node.

Abstract: A system for managing a message store in a network includes an object acting as a message store. In one embodiment, the message store is for Java Message Service. A lead server is selected from several servers. The lead server uses a distributed consensus algorithm to select a host server. The selected host server hosts the message store, providing sole access to the message store. The other servers are notified of the new host by messaging. In one embodiment, servers can send messages to the message store on the host and pick up any messages from the message store.

Abstract: A session replication system provides real-time data replication without unnecessarily slowing down the user experience. A system in accordance with the present invention may utilize a primary server to serve requests from a network client, as well as a secondary server to replicate the session information. When a request is received on the session, an attempt may be made to serve the request on the primary server. If the primary is unable to receive or respond to the request, the request may be served on the secondary server or on a new primary server. If the secondary server receives the request, the secondary server may become the new primary server. If a new primary server is selected, the new primary may request the session information from the secondary server.