Abstract: Strategies for effectively discovering, selecting, configuring, and controlling components used in media processing applications are described. According to one exemplary implementation, the strategies described configure the components based on profile information, configuration information, and a hierarchical ordering of configuration parameters. The hierarchical ordering may combine different coding paradigms, where one or more high level nodes in the ordering may define configuration parameters which are common to multiple coding paradigms. In this ordering, selection of a configuration parameter may cascade down to affect lower-ranking dependent parameters in the hierarchical ordering. According to one advantage, the hierarchical ordering provides a more uniform, extensible, and problem-free approach to configuring components than unstructured approaches to configuration. Moreover, applications can utilize the hierarchical ordering at different levels of granularity.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods of playing back multimedia content relative to a portable storage medium to detect, at a playback device, an initial access to a portable storage medium; request pre-roll content corresponding to content recorded on the portable storage medium; and disguise the requesting of the pre-roll content and receiving of the pre-roll content such that a user of the playback device does not experience a delay in playback of content while the pre-roll content is being received, wherein the disguising comprises: playing back disguise content, locally accessible by the playback device, while requesting and receiving the pre-roll content at the playback device; and halting playback of the disguise content and initiating playback of the pre-roll content received from the remote source such that the user of the playback device does not perceive a delay associated with obtaining the pre-roll content from the remote source.

Abstract: A method for managing the application of penalties to employees of a company. The method comprises executing software encoded on a machine readable storage medium by a CPU to implement a job assignment monitoring function, the job assignment monitoring function monitoring events occurring in the course of a job assignment procedure during which a server arrangement communicates with a remote client over a data network to present an employee at the remote client with a job proposal, detecting among the monitored events a penalty triggering event and in response to the detecting, determining a penalty to be applied to the employee on the basis of the penalty triggering event. The method further comprises recording in an employee record stored in a database, data derived from the determining to register the penalty applied to the employee.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods of playing back multimedia content relative to a portable storage medium to detect, at a playback device, an initial access to a portable storage medium; request pre-roll content corresponding to content recorded on the portable storage medium; and disguise the requesting of the pre-roll content and receiving of the pre-roll content such that a user of the playback device does not experience a delay in playback of content while the pre-roll content is being received, wherein the disguising comprises: playing back disguise content, locally accessible by the playback device, while requesting and receiving the pre-roll content at the playback device; and halting playback of the disguise content and initiating playback of the pre-roll content received from the remote source such that the user of the playback device does not perceive a delay associated with obtaining the pre-roll content from the remote source.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manipulating data sets. In accordance with one implementation, a computerized system is provided for storing, managing, indexing, interrelating, and/or retrieving data sets in a manner independent of the data model. The system includes an element module configured to store and uniquely identify elements and an element relation module configured to store relationships between the elements in the element module. The computerized system may also comprise a class module configured to store attributes of elements in a class and a type definition module configured to define the class and the attributes related to the class. The computerized system may further comprise a state machine module, the state machine module including a state machine transition module and a status module.

Abstract: A method of testing a packaged semiconductor device under test (DUT) including a leadframe having a plurality of pins and at least one thermal pad with a semiconductor die having topside bond pads wire-bonded by bond wires to the plurality of pins and secured to the thermal pad. A leadframe sheet is provided including a plurality of packaged DUTs including support members that connect to the packaged DUTs. The thermal pads are shorted to one another, and the leadframe sheet is trimmed for electrically isolating the pins from one another. A first electrical contact is provided to the thermal pad. Active pins of the plurality of pins are electrically contacted with a contactor. Automatic testing identifies shorts between the active pins and the thermal pad.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manipulating data sets. In accordance with one implementation, a computerized system is provided for storing, managing, indexing, interrelating, and/or retrieving data sets in a manner independent of the data model. The system includes an element module configured to store and uniquely identify elements and an element relation module configured to store relationships between the elements in the element module. The computerized system may also comprise a class module configured to store attributes of elements in a class and a type definition module configured to define the class and the attributes related to the class. The computerized system may further comprise a state machine module, the state machine module including a state machine transition module and a status module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manipulating data sets. In accordance with one implementation, a computerized system is provided for storing, managing, indexing, interrelating, and/or retrieving data sets in a manner independent of the data model. The system includes an element module configured to store and uniquely identify elements and an element relation module configured to store relationships between the elements in the element module. The computerized system may also comprise a class module configured to store attributes of elements in a class and a type definition module configured to define the class and the attributes related to the class. The computerized system may further comprise a state machine module, the state machine module including a state machine transition module and a status module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manipulating data sets. In accordance with one implementation, a computerized system is provided for storing, managing, indexing, interrelating, and/or retrieving data sets in a manner independent of the data model. The system includes an element module configured to store and uniquely identify elements and an element relation module configured to store relationships between the elements in the element module. The computerized system may also comprise a class module configured to store attributes of elements in a class and a type definition module configured to define the class and the attributes related to the class. The computerized system may further comprise a state machine module, the state machine module including a state machine transition module and a status module.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods of playing back multimedia content relative to a portable storage medium to detect, at a playback device, an initial access to a portable storage medium; request pre-roll content corresponding to content recorded on the portable storage medium; and disguise the requesting of the pre-roll content and receiving of the pre-roll content such that a user of the playback device does not experience a delay in playback of content while the pre-roll content is being received, wherein the disguising comprises: playing back disguise content, locally accessible by the playback device, while requesting and receiving the pre-roll content at the playback device; and halting playback of the disguise content and initiating playback of the pre-roll content received from the remote source such that the user of the playback device does not perceive a delay associated with obtaining the pre-roll content from the remote source.

Abstract: A method for managing the application of penalties to employees of a company. The method comprises executing software encoded on a machine readable storage medium by a CPU to implement a job assignment monitoring function, the job assignment monitoring function monitoring events occurring in the course of a job assignment procedure during which a server arrangement communicates with a remote client over a data network to present an employee at the remote client with a job proposal, detecting among the monitored events a penalty triggering event and in response to the detecting, determining a penalty to be applied to the employee on the basis of the penalty triggering event. The method further comprises recording in an employee record stored in a database, data derived from the determining to register the penalty applied to the employee.

Abstract: A method for pre-populating an end of shift submission by an employee of a transportation company. The method comprises executing software encoded on a machine readable storage medium by a CPU at a client associated with the employee to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to supply particulars relating to a work shift for a member of a crew during a particular transportation trip. The GUI including a plurality of information capture fields for displaying particulars of the shift. The method comprises identifying among a plurality of data records, a data record associated with the particular trip, receiving data elements at the client derived from the record associated with the particular trip and pre-populating the information display fields with the respective data elements. Allowing the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields.

Abstract: A method for a business organization to assign a job to an employee comprising providing a job assignment database stored on a computer readable medium. The job assignment database storing job data conveying an identification of a job assignment yet to be performed and an identification of an employee that has been assigned the job assignment. The method further comprising executing software encoded on a machine readable storage medium by a CPU in communication with the job assignment database to implement a notification vehicle selection logic for selecting a notification vehicle among a set of notification vehicles to notify the employee of the job assignment and send an electronic notification to the employee of the job assignment over the selected notification vehicle.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing apparatus comprising identifying a job to be assigned to an employee, the job requiring a given job qualification, wherein the given job qualification is associated with at least one requirement for maintaining the job qualification and a time-frame during which the at least one requirement should be satisfied. Completion of the job by an employee at least partially completes the at least one requirement for maintaining the job qualification. The method further comprises assigning the job to a selected employee from a set of employees, wherein each employee in the set of employees has the given job qualification. The selected employee is selected at least in part on a basis of a probability of the selected employee losing the job qualification relative to other employees in the set of employees.

Abstract: A graphical user interface implemented on a computer for enabling a user to bid on a job assignment. The graphical user interface comprises an information display area for displaying a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries being indicative of a respective job grouping, each job grouping being associated with at least one job on which the user can bid. The graphical user interface further comprising a control component operable by the user at the computer to cause the graphical user interface to display additional information associated with a selected one of the job groupings.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) implemented on a computer for displaying job assignment information associated with a given user. The GUI comprises an information display area for displaying a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries being associated with a respective job assignment for the given user, each entry further displaying a data element identifying the respective job assignment, wherein at least one entry of the plurality of entries is indicative of a past job assignment. The GUI further comprises a control component operable by the user at the computer to cause the graphical user interface to display additional information regarding a selected job assignment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manipulating data sets. In accordance with one implementation, a computerized system is provided for storing, managing, indexing, interrelating, and/or retrieving data sets in a manner independent of the data model. The system includes an element module configured to store and uniquely identify elements and an element relation module configured to store relationships between the elements in the element module. The computerized system may also comprise a class module configured to store attributes of elements in a class and a type definition module configured to define the class and the attributes related to the class. The computerized system may further comprise a state machine module, the state machine module including a state machine transition module and a status module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manipulating data sets. In accordance with one implementation, a computerized system is provided for storing, managing, indexing, interrelating, and/or retrieving data sets in a manner independent of the data model. The system includes an element module configured to store and uniquely identify elements and an element relation module configured to store relationships between the elements in the element module. The computerized system may also comprise a class module configured to store attributes of elements in a class and a type definition module configured to define the class and the attributes related to the class. The computerized system may further comprise a state machine module, the state machine module including a state machine transition module and a status module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manipulating data sets. In accordance with one implementation, a computerized system is provided for storing, managing, indexing, interrelating, and/or retrieving data sets in a manner independent of the data model. The system includes an element module configured to store and uniquely identify elements and an element relation module configured to store relationships between the elements in the element module. The computerized system may also comprise a class module configured to store attributes of elements in a class and a type definition module configured to define the class and the attributes related to the class. The computerized system may further comprise a state machine module, the state machine module including a state machine transition module and a status module.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a bird feeder having an adjustable sealing feeding port. The feeding port may be moved from a first position to a second position with respect to the rest of the feeder. More specifically, the bird food may be secured within the bird feeder when the adjustable sealing feeding port is in the second position and the bird food may be accessible to birds while the adjustable sealing feeding port is the first position. The adjustable sealing feeding port may have a stopper made from, for example, plastic or rubber which may create a liquid tight seal with the body of the bird feeder.