Abstract: Relating higher-level descriptive musical metadata to lower-level musical elements to enable creation of a song map, song model, backing track, or the like. The musical elements are queried based on input metadata to create a set of musical elements of varying types such as notes, chords, song structures, and the like. The set of musical elements is provided to a user for selection of particular musical elements The selected musical elements represent the song model.

Abstract: Persistent media playback techniques are described. In an implementation, a media player is served via a network for display by a browser of a device. Web pages are served via the network for display by the browser of the device. Each of the web pages is configured for integration with the media player so that the media player is persistently displayed by the browser during navigation among the web pages. The media player may be configured to play media files providing a variety of different media types. The media player may also provide contextual suggestions of media.

Abstract: A social graph playlist service is described. In embodiments, a social graph that associates a user and friends of the user is maintained. The social graph is based on parameters that define a social relationship between the user and the friends of the user. Interaction data that identifies recently played media assets at user devices that are utilized by the friends of the user can be received. A social graph playlist that is associated with the user can be generated by determining a next media asset for the playlist from the recently played media assets. The next media asset for the playlist can then be communicated to be played at a user device that is associated with the user.

Abstract: An event recommendation service is described. In embodiments, selection data that correlates to media content selected by a user, location data that corresponds to a location of the user, and event data is received. A recommendation for an event that the user is likely to attend and that is proximate the location of the user can be generated by aggregating the selection data, the location data, and the event data. The recommendation can then be communicated to a user device as a calendar entry, an email message, a text message, and/or an html page for display to inform the user of the event.

Abstract: A media asset recommendation service is described. In embodiments, friends of a user are identified in a social graph that is associated with the user, and interactions with media assets by the friends of the user are compiled. Friend interaction data for each of the media assets can be determined from the media assets, the social graph, and the interactions with the media assets by the friends of the user. When a selection of one of the media assets is received from the user via a user device, the friend interaction data that is associated with the media asset selected by the user is communicated to the user device.

Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a combustion control module and an engine startup module. The combustion control module selectively controls a spark timing and airflow into an engine based on a counter value. The engine startup module, when the counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value, controls an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture provided to the engine during an engine cranking period based on a fuel rail pressure and controls the EQR during an engine running period based on the fuel rail pressure and an engine runtime period. The counter value is set to the predetermined final value after the engine is started for a first time after the engine is assembled.

Abstract: A fuel pressure control system for a vehicle comprises a pressure regulator module and a pressure increasing module. The pressure regulator module regulates a fuel pressure supplied to an engine to a first predetermined pressure during an engine running period. The pressure increasing module selectively increases the fuel pressure to a second predetermined pressure during the engine running period when a counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value. The second predetermined pressure is greater than the first predetermined pressure, and the counter value is set to the predetermined final value after the engine is started for a first time after being assembled.

Abstract: A system and method whereby on-line cleaning of black oil heater tubes and delayed coker heater tubes may be effectuated by injecting a high pressure water charge through the tubes during normal process operations so as to prevent tube fouling and heater downtime. The high pressure water charge begins the on-line cleaning process once it enters the heater tube by undergoing intense boiling and evaporation. The cleaning occurs by two methods—a scrubbing action and a shocking action. The scrubbing action occurs because of the complete turbulence caused by the water charge's intense boiling within the heater tubes. The shocking action is caused by the expansion and contraction of the heater tubes resulting from the colder water charge flowing through the heater tubes which is then followed by the hotter process fluid flowing through the heater tubes.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program for enabling transactions on a remote basis is provided.

Abstract: A disposable neck pillow/pad for a shampoo basin is formed from one or more bladders joined or otherwise positioned side-by-side to form a single cushioning pillow. Preferably, the bladders are filled with air. In a first embodiment, the neck pillow/pad has a top cover and a bottom cover. The top cover is fabricated from a suitable, soft, cloth-like fabric or material. The bottom cover is fabricated from a liquid impermeable or resistant material. The bottom and top covers are arranged to encapsulate the bladders. A layer of adhesive material may be disposed on the outer surface of the bottom cover to secure the pillow to the shampoo basin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a media device capabilities determination mechanism in a networked computing environment are provided. Some of today's operating systems and applications deliver a set of remoting features to enable a networked ecosystem of remote media consumption devices. These devices connect to the host and display a remoted media experience via remoting protocols and technologies. In this regard, the device capabilities determination mechanism of the invention enables a remote device to specify a custom set of media capabilities that should be remoted from the host to the remote device.

Abstract: A system and method for simulating a plurality of networked program logic controllers includes, in one aspect of the invention, determining if a configuration of networked program logic controllers exists; populating a configuration by creating a plurality of program logic controllers in a network if the configuration does not exist, the populating of the program logic controllers provided by use of a network view for collecting network information; and interacting with at least one of the program logic controllers to simulate a networked program logic controller.

Abstract: A system and method for simulating a stress or failure in a network of a plurality of simulated networked program logic controllers includes simulating a plurality of networked program logic controllers in a network, the networked program logic controllers each having network information defining a node, the network information being selected from a type of program logic controller, an I/O connected to the program logic controller and a type of connection for the program logic controller; providing an interface in communication with each of the networked program logic controllers for simulating a network error; and activating the interface for inducing one of a stress or failure in the network.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting automotive tires is provided having a hanger pin adapted to fit through the mount hole of a vehicle wheel. The apparatus is intended to be installed on an automotive hoist at a height approximately the same as that of a tire of a vehicle disposed on the hoist. A worker removing a wheel from the vehicle disposed on the hoist can thus hang the wheel on the apparatus without significantly bending at the waist.

Abstract: A belt damper for a gear train is provided. An endless belt is wrapped around pulleys mounted to an idler gear and an output gear. The pulleys are mounted to splined shafts which are axially aligned with and connected to splined gear shafts on which the idler and output gears are mounted. Pressurized lubricant is supplied to both splined connections. The combination of the lubricant in the spline connections and the damping effect of the belt provides for an effective damping system. A tension device may also be applied to vary tension imposed on the belt.

Abstract: A system for providing an application with a plurality of methods for accessing memory of a programmable logic controller includes an application, an interface for establishing communication between the application and a programmable logic controller, and a shared memory area initiated by the application or the programmable logic controller. The shared memory area includes an input memory and an output memory. The application is enabled by the interface to write to the input memory and to read from the output memory.