Abstract: A method includes applying pulsed light to a first end of an optical fiber from an optical fault locator during a first distance test. The method includes determining an estimated distance to a fault based on the pulsed light. The method includes sending information indicative of the estimated distance to a remote device. The method also includes applying first visible light from the optical fault locator to the first end of the optical fiber to facilitate identification of the fault at a first site that is remote from the first end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: The characteristics of two intersecting roadways are compared to determine whether an inference can be made as to whether there are traffic controls (e.g., stop signs) on one of the roadways. If a larger road with characteristically higher speed intersects with a small road with lower speed, the small road is determined to have a stop sign. A map database is updated with the information regarding the inferred traffic control, and that information is then usable for purposes such as trip planning.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture that provide for outputting and utilization of risk zone information are provided. In some embodiments, risk zone information may be utilized to select, price, and/or manage an insurance policy.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to diffusion delivery systems and more particularly to high precision nanoengineered devices for therapeutic applications. The device contains diffusion areas that may be fabricated between bonded substrates, and the device can possess high mechanical strength. The invention further relates to capsules containing a diffusion delivery system. The present invention also relates to methods of fabricating the diffusion delivery systems.

Abstract: Vehicle insurance customers select parameters and/or preferences for monitoring using one or more telematics devices. The parameters and/or preferences may comprise an operating characteristic associated with at least one vehicle associated with a personal insurance product. Selection and measurement of parameters and/or preferences may result in lower insurance premiums. In one embodiment, an apparatus causes, based on a user selection of at least one of a plurality of menu-selectable options, a remotely programmable memory of at least one monitoring device to store an indication of the monitoring parameters and/or preferences represented by the user selection.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method including generating a plurality of identifiable visible light sources having at least one constant visible light source and at least one oscillating visible light source and selectively applying, such as one at a time, at least two identifiable visible light sources among the plurality of identifiable visible light sources to a fiber optic cable strand in order to remotely test a fiber optic cable having a plurality of strands including the fiber optic cable strand. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Business insurance customers select parameters for monitoring in vehicle fleets using one or more telematics devices. The parameters may comprise an operating characteristic associated with fleet vehicles associated with a business insurance product. Selection and measurement of parameters may result in lower insurance premiums. In one embodiment, an apparatus causes, based on a user selection of at least one of a plurality of menu-selectable options, a remotely programmable memory of at least one monitoring device to store an indication of the monitoring parameters represented by the user selection.

Abstract: Vehicle insurance customers select parameters for monitoring using one or more telematics devices. The parameters may comprise an operating characteristic associated with at least one vehicle associated with a personal insurance product. Selection and measurement of parameters may result in lower insurance premiums. In one embodiment, an apparatus causes, based on a user selection of at least one of a plurality of menu-selectable options, a remotely programmable memory of at least one monitoring device to store an indication of the monitoring parameters represented by the user selection.

Abstract: A system for allowing an alternative action in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operable on the processor for allowing an alternative action in a virtual world in response to a request for an original action for an avatar of a user being unavailable in the virtual world. A queue stores the request in response to the original action being unavailable. Another module may determine if an alternative action is available for the avatar in response to the original action being unavailable. A further module may present an interface to permit the user to accept the alternative action. The avatar is permitted to perform the alternative action in response to the user accepting the alternative action while the request for the original action is still in the queue.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a method running on a processor for decoding user response to marketing media, the method comprising: defining calibration stimuli that produce at least one expected response; defining data features for assessing one or more states of a plurality of users using at least one of the calibration stimuli and the at least one expected response; identifying a set of data features based on a first correlation between the set of data features and the at least one expected response; and iteratively reducing the set of data features based upon an amount of variation explained by the reduced set of data features and a second correlation between the reduced set of data features and the at least one expected response.

Abstract: A method for allowing an alternative action in a virtual world may include permitting a user to request an original action for an avatar of the user in the virtual world. The method may also include receiving the request for the original action and storing the request in a queue in response to the original action being unavailable to the user's avatar. The method may additionally include determining if an alternative action is available for the user's avatar in response to the original action being unavailable to the user's avatar and presenting an interface to the user to permit the user to accept the alternative action in response to the alternative action being available. The method may yet further include allowing the user's avatar to perform the alternative action in response to the user accepting the alternative action and permitting the user's avatar to perform the alternative action while the request for the original action is still in the queue.

Abstract: Increased efficiency and lower cost job scheduling is provided by a system and method that optimizes for cost instead of makespan, and minimizes fluctuations in resource utilization. A schedule is constructed using a workflow scheduling system that includes a load leveler, a cost minimizer, and a manpower planner. The load leveler minimizes makespan, subject to resource limits, and then lowers the resource limits, repeating the process in order to create a flatter schedule. The cost minimizer generates an initial solution, and then incrementally improves it, using the manpower planner to evaluate the different possible solutions. The manpower planner calculates, for a given schedule, the optimal hire/fire decisions to minimize total cost.

Abstract: A method for dynamically managing a social network group performed by a group management system having at least one physical processing apparatus includes receiving, with the group management system, data from a number of source providers over a computer network; identifying a basis for creating a new social network group from the data with the group management system; creating the new social network group with the group management system; and automatically inviting a number of members to join the new social network group with the group management system, each of the members being associated with the basis identified in the data for creating the new social network group.

Abstract: A method for mapping transactions between a real world and a virtual world may include receiving information associated with a real world item at a virtual business object (VBO) controller. Information associated with a user is received at the VBO controller. In response to receiving by the VBO controller a decision to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO, which includes the information associated with the real world item. In response to receiving at the VBO controller a decision not to buy the real world item, the VBO controller generates a VBO light, which includes the information associated with the real world item. Either the generated VBO or the VBO light is transmitted to a VBO inventory database associated with the user based on the user's information.

Abstract: A method for managing and operating one or more virtual world viewers in a virtual world may include generating a virtual world viewer feature on a computer system in response to a predetermined action by the user. The method may also include generating an option in the virtual world viewer feature for the user to either enter or select a different virtual world location from a current virtual world location of a user's avatar for locating a virtual world viewer for viewing the different virtual world location. The virtual world viewer may be generated on the computer system for the user to view the different virtual world location without the user's avatar leaving the current virtual world location.

Abstract: Provided are methods comprising at least one metal powder with an extractable material and a composition comprising a polyol, a hydrophilic polymer, or both in order to form a mixture in which the metal powder and the extractable material assume respective positions. The composition functions as a homogenizing agent that allows the mixture to remain well-mixed for extended periods of time under ambient conditions. Also provided are green bodies and porous constructs, including implants, that are made in accordance with the disclosed methods. The green bodies and porous constructs have a substantially uniform porosity that is at least partially attributable to the ability of the composition to maintain the metal powder and the extractable material in their respective positions prior to sintering.

Abstract: A method for managing a transaction in a virtual world may include generating a virtual business object (VBO), where the VBO may include a plurality of subcomponents that are each respectively related to a different aspect of the transaction associated with the virtual world object. Each subcomponent may include at least one attribute and each attribute may include information related to the subcomponent. Further, a set of enablement properties may be associated with each attribute and access to each attribute may be controlled in accordance with the set of enablement properties associated with each attribute.

Abstract: A method for avoiding non-intentional separation of avatars in a virtual world may include detecting a first avatar seeking to enter a first location and determining if a second avatar is related to the first avatar based on a first predetermined rule. The method may also include determining that the first and second avatars are seeking to enter the first location together. The method may further include determining whether to allow the first avatar and the second avatar to enter the first location based on a second predetermined rule.

Abstract: Generation of user and avatar specific content in a virtual world may include generating a local attribute object. The local attribute object may comprise attributes identifying at least one of the user's real world location and the user's avatar's virtual world location. Access to the local attribute object by virtual world operators may be controlled by the user and/or user's avatar. Specific content, based on the local attribute object, is presented to the user's avatar.

Abstract: A specially programmed computer encodes repeating sequences of equidistant-spaced bit series that are identified in an input file. The position of each sequence is encoded relative to one or more instances of the previous sequence, including both the spacing between bits and the bit position of identified portions of each. For a certain class of input files, this encoding of repeating sequences significantly compresses the input file into the output file. A specially programmed computer decodes files that have been encoded in this manner.