Abstract: A method of ranking items includes displaying a set of categories. Each category has a set of weights for a user to choose. Each item is associated with the set of categories. The method also includes displaying a search result based on the weights chosen by the user. The search result includes a ranking of the items.

Abstract: A method of ranking items includes displaying a set of categories. Each category has a set of weights for a user to choose. Each item is associated with the set of categories. The method also includes displaying a search result based on the weights chosen by the user. The search result includes a ranking of the items.

Abstract: A de-packaging system for removing film and bands from packages includes a first conveyor configured to move packages. The de-packaging system also includes a loading station for loading packages onto the conveyor, and a film cutting station associated with the first conveyor. The film cutting station includes a cutter having an elongated cutting element that can be heated to cut film on packages. A band cutting station includes a cutter for cutting bands wrapped around packages. A clamp device includes a clamp configured to clamp bands on packages for removal of the bands. The de-packaging system further includes a second conveyor having an upstream end adjacent a downstream end of the first conveyor. A device applies force to packages to move packages from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and at least one friction member strips film from packages as they are moved from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing advertising content over the Internet through a hierarchical content-specific node structure and pricing advertising delivery over each node independently. Independent delivery and pricing allows an advertiser to pay more for advertisements delivered to a narrowly targeted audience likely to be interested in the goods or services offered by the advertising entity and to pay less for advertisements directed at a more general audience who may or may not have an interest in the goods or services offered. The less content specific the node is, the less targeted the advertisement will be, and therefore, the less valuable the advertisement will be to the advertising entity. Targeted advertising to multiple levels of content specific nodes is enabled.

Abstract: A dental crown includes a formed crown body simulating the contours of a natural tooth, composed of anodized titanium and permanently secured onto an abutment that is fixed into the patient's mouth. The crown body can include a ceramic layer, such as porcelain, adhered to, and overlaid on, the body. The body is preferably anodized to the extent that it displays a gold color, although other colors and varying shades are possible and effectively selectable by controlled use of the anodizing process.

Abstract: A method of ranking items includes displaying a set of categories. Each category has a set of weights for a user to choose. Each item is associated with the set of categories. The method also includes displaying a search result based on the weights chosen by the user. The search result includes a ranking of the items.

Abstract: A method of ranking items includes displaying a set of categories. Each category has a set of weights for a user to choose. Each item is associated with the set of categories. The method also includes displaying a search result based on the weights chosen by the user. The search result includes a ranking of the items.

Abstract: A method of rating an item includes receiving an item selected by a user, receiving a first profile associated with a first criteria, receiving a second profile associated with a second criteria, and rating the item based on the first profile and the second profile. Rating the item may include retrieving values associated with the item. The values include values associated with the first criteria and values associated with the second criteria. Rating the item may also include applying the first profile to the values associated with the first profile and applying the second profile to the values associated with the second profile. The method may also include receiving from a user an indication of how to interpret a value and evaluating the value positively or negatively based on the indication.

Abstract: A method of ranking items includes displaying a set of categories. Each category has a set of weights for a user to choose. Each item is associated with the set of categories. The method also includes displaying a search result based on the weights chosen by the user. The search result includes a ranking of the items.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for linking public and private pages in a conferencing system is disclosed. In a computer conferencing system having a plurality of participants coupled by a communication medium, a process for linking public and private pages comprises the steps of: 1) collecting public meeting information generated by any of the plurality of participants, the public meeting information including at least one public page of annotations; 2) collecting private meeting information from a local participant in which the meeting manager is resident, the private meeting information being different from the public meeting information, the private meeting information not accessible to the plurality of conference participants other than the local participant, the private meeting information including at least one private page of annotations; and 3) selectively linking the private page with the public page, the private page being implicitly accessed when the linked public page is explicitly accessed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for lining public and private pages in a conferencing system is disclosed. In a computer conferencing system having a plurality of participants coupled by a communication medium, a process for linking public and private pages comprises the steps of: 1) collecting public meeting information generated by any of the plurality of participants, the public meeting information including at least one public page of annotations; 2) collecting private meeting information from a local participant in which the meeting manager is resident, the private meeting information being different from the public meeting information, the private meeting information not accessible to the plurality of conference participants other than the local participant, the private meeting information including at least one private page of annotations; and 3) selectively linking the private page with the public page, the private page being implicitly accessed when the linked public page is explicitly accessed.