Abstract: Financial data associated with one or more “contributing consumers” is obtained. The financial data is then aggregated, analyzed, and/or categorized, according to one or more events and one or more criteria/parameters associated with the financial transaction data and/or the contributing consumer. The aggregated and/or categorized data is then stored. A “user consumer” then initiates a request for predictive event cost data associated with one or more specified events and the aggregated and/or categorized data representing the event related changes in the financial data is searched based. Results data representing the changes in the financial data for one or more similarly situated contributing consumers associated the specified event is then obtained and presented to the user consumer.

Abstract: A system and method for predictive bill estimation includes a process for predictive bill estimation whereby financial data associated with one or more “contributing consumers” is obtained from one or more sources. The financial data obtained from the one or more contributing consumers is then aggregated, analyzed, and/or categorized, according to one or more criteria/parameters associated with the financial transaction data and/or the contributing consumer. The aggregated and/or categorized financial data is then stored. A user consumer then initiates a request for cost/bill data associated with a given area and/or event. The aggregated and/or categorized financial data obtained from one or more contributing consumers is then searched based on one or more search parameters and results data representing multiple financial transactions and/or purchases associated the specified area and/or event is obtained.

Abstract: A method for image/video segmentation, capable of segmenting an image signal for obtaining plural texture color feature regions, by utilizing both of the advantages carried by the texture feature and the color feature is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: (A) receiving an image signal including plural image pixels; (B) executing a Gabor filtering process and a value operation process on each of the plural image pixels; (C) designating each of the plural image pixels a corresponding texture feature vector basing on the result of the value operation process; (D) executing a segmentation process on the image signal basing on the texture feature vector of each of the plural image pixels, for obtaining plural texture feature regions; and (E) executing a re-segmentation process on plural color feature regions basing on the distribution of the plural texture feature regions, for obtaining plural texture color feature regions.

Abstract: A method for color feature extraction extracts a color feature vector representative of the color of each image pixel contained in an image signal. The method comprises: receiving the image signal; mapping the image signal to a color space model, where the color of each of the plural image pixels is represented by a first parameter, a second parameter, and a third parameter; obtaining an adjusted second parameter; clustering the plural image pixels into plural color regions or plural fuzzy regions of a color plane of the color space model; and designating the color feature vector to each of the plural image pixels based on the clustering result.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for merging regions in the image/video, capable of merging plural of image regions into an image merging region. In the disclosed method, these image regions are first sequenced basing on their compactness value. Then, one of these image regions is designated as a reference image region, and a merging test process is executed by merging the reference image region with one of the nearby image regions thereof in sequence, for forming a temporal image merging region. Later, the compactness value of the temporal image merging region is compared with the compactness value of the two consisting image regions thereof, respectively. When the compactness value of the temporal image merging region is larger than either one of the compactness value of the two consisting image regions thereof, the temporal image merging region is designated as an image merging region.

Abstract: A method for 3D video content generation is disclosed, capable of transforming a 2D image into a 3D video through proper operation process. The method comprises the following steps of: (A) receiving a 2D image and generating a ROI distribution map from the 2D image; (B) executing a color feature capture process, for forming a plural of color feature regions; (C) executing an image segmentation process basing on the texture feature of the plural of color feature regions, for forming an image region distribution map; (D) executing a depth map generation process, for generating a depth map basing on the ROI distribution map and the image region distribution map; (E) executing a 3D image generation process, for forming the 3D image basing on the image region distribution map and the depth map; and (F) chaining a plurality of the 3D images to form the 3D video basing on a frame rate.

Abstract: A method for depth map generation is disclosed, capable of generating a depth map corresponding an image signal, for the application of a 2D to 3D image transformation system. In the depth map generated by the disclosed method, each of the plural image regions of the image signal is assigned with a depth value. Besides, by means of comparing the depth map with another depth map of the earlier time point, the disclosed method can generate a modulated depth map, for assigning a depth value to each of the plural image regions of the image signal more precisely. Thus, the transformation performance and efficiency of the 2D to 3D image transformation system are hereby improved.

Abstract: An exemplary welding nozzle has a smooth, highly polished bore of circular cross-section. The bore has a forward portion of generally flared, gradually curving shape, joined with a narrowing inner portion along a gradual curve. Hence a concentrated surface flow of shielding gas may be directed out the nozzle's mouth to reliably provide a flared shielding envelope having reinforced boundaries. The inner portion tapers inwardly at a constant angle for a length sufficient to dampen flow disturbances. Hence an inner core of shielding gas of high ionization potential may be directed in laminar flow out the nozzle's mouth for concentration immediately about the exposed electrode to stabilize the electric arc at the electrode tip. The diverging gas flows enable significantly reduced gas consumption while reliably maintaining weld quality, a reduced rate of spatter buildup within the nozzle, and increased versatility of welding tip operation in both automated and manual environments.

Abstract: A gypsum slurry is described that includes water, a hydraulic component comprising at least 50% calcined gypsum by weight based on the dry weight of the hydraulic component, foam, a defoamer and a polycarboxylate dispersant. In some embodiments of the invention, the defoamer is combined with the dispersant prior to being added to the gypsum slurry. The defoamer and dispersant can be added as a physical mixture, wherein the defoamer is attached onto the dispersant polymer, or a combination thereof. A gypsum building panel is made from the gypsum slurry.

Abstract: A firmware bundle is download to a non-operational storage area without changing a live copy of firmware in a device. The firmware bundle is downloaded in order to reboot the device to deploy one or more downloaded firmware packages from the non-operational storage area to the device, launch an Early Boot Installer manager to spawn and monitor the status of one or more Early Boot Installer processes contained in the firmware bundle download, determine in parallel whether a firmware install to one or more subsystems of the device is desire, and install the downloaded firmware package in parallel to one or more subsystems of the device.

Abstract: A method for quantifying and analyzing intrinsic parallelism of an algorithm is adapted to be implemented by a computer, and includes the steps of: configuring the computer to represent the algorithm by means of a plurality of operation sets; configuring the computer to obtain a Laplacian matrix according to the operation sets; configuring the computer to compute eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Laplacian matrix; and configuring the computer to obtain a set of information related to intrinsic parallelism of the algorithm according to the eigenvalues and the eigenvectors of the Laplacian matrix.

Abstract: A gypsum slurry is described that includes water, a hydraulic component comprising at least 50% calcined gypsum by weight based on the dry weight of the hydraulic component, foam, a defoamer and a polycarboxylate dispersant. In some embodiments of the invention, the defoamer is combined with the dispersant prior to being added to the gypsum slurry. The defoamer and dispersant can be added as a physical mixture, wherein the defoamer is attached onto the dispersant polymer, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a gypsum building panel is made from the gypsum slurry.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and systems for selecting one or more parameters for inspection of a wafer are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for updating a filtering system which controls access to a website/page between a local area network (LAN) and an Internet. The LAN includes an Internet gateway system coupled to a workstation and configured to receive a URL request. The system controls access to the website/page associated with the URL based on one or more categories that are associated with the URL. The Internet gateway system can determine the category that is associated with the URL by referencing a master database or requesting the category from a database factory. The database factory can receive URLs from multiple Internet gateway systems. The database factory determines whether the identifier was previously categorized by the database factory and provides the category to the Internet gateway system. Once the Internet gateway system has the category, it applies rules associated with the category and user to filter access to the requested website/page.

Abstract: Financial data associated with one or more “contributing consumers” is obtained from one or more sources. The financial data obtained from the one or more contributing consumers is then aggregated, analyzed, and/or categorized, according to one or more events causing the changes and one or more criteria/parameters associated with the financial transaction data and/or the contributing consumer. The aggregated and/or categorized data representing the event related changes in the financial data is then stored. A “user consumer” then initiates a request for predictive event cost data associated with one or more specified events and the aggregated and/or categorized data representing the event related changes in the financial data is searched based. Results data representing the changes in the financial data for one or more similarly situated contributing consumers associated the specified event is then obtained and presented to the user consumer.

Abstract: Financial data associated with one or more “contributing consumers” is obtained from one or more sources and categorized and associated with a specific expense/income category. One or more attributes associated with the contributing consumers are then identified and used to analyze, aggregate, and categorize the financial data according to the attributes. Data representing a user financial transaction is then obtained for categorization and one or more specific user attributes associated with the user are identified. The user financial transaction is then categorized based, at least in part, on the categorization of similar contributing consumer financial transactions by contributing consumers having at least one of the specific user attributes.

Abstract: A heat sink has a fin set and at least one heat pipe. The fin set has multiple stacked fins and at least one tapered tube. Each fin has at least one protrusion. The at least one protrusion protrudes from each fin and each protrusion has an internal surface. The at least one tapered tube is defined through corresponding protrusions of the fins. The at least one heat pipe has at least one tapered arm and a pipe wall. The tapered arm corresponds to and is mounted through a corresponding tapered tube of the fin set. The pipe wall of the heat pipe abuts the internal surfaces of corresponding protrusions of the fins tightly so heat can be dissipated efficiently during use.

Abstract: A gypsum slurry is described that includes water, a hydraulic component comprising at least 50% calcined gypsum by weight based on the dry weight of the hydraulic component, foam, a defoamer and a polycarboxylate dispersant. In some embodiments of the invention, the defoamer is combined with the dispersant prior to being added to the gypsum slurry. The defoamer and dispersant can be added as a physical mixture, wherein the defoamer is attached onto the dispersant polymer, or a combination thereof. A gypsum building panel is made from the gypsum slurry.

Abstract: A system and method for updating a filtering system which controls access to a website/page between a local area network (LAN) and an Internet. The LAN includes an Internet gateway system coupled to a workstation and configured to receive a URL request. The system controls access to the website/page associated with the URL based on one or more categories that are associated with the URL. The Internet gateway system can determine the category that is associated with the URL by referencing a master database or requesting the category from a database factory. The database factory can receive URLs from multiple Internet gateway systems. The database factory determines whether the identifier was previously categorized by the database factory and provides the category to the Internet gateway system. Once the Internet gateway system has the category, it applies rules associated with the category and user to filter access to the requested website/page.