Abstract: Color and exposure matching for systems, such as a videoconferencing endpoint, that have overlapping camera fields of view. The geometric relationships between the overlapping cameras are used to determine correction processing. For each camera, histograms are developed for the overlapping cameras. A dynamic threshold is determined for each histogram. Using the dynamic threshold, peak detection is performed on each histogram. Using the geometric relationships, expected histogram relationships are determined. The actual histogram relationships are compared to the expected relationships, with further processing based on the correctness of the comparison. In some of the cases of further processing, peaks of the histograms are compared to find matching and non-matching peaks. Various ratios of pixels in the various peaks are used to determine needed changes to respective cameras.

Abstract: Color and exposure matching for systems, such as a videoconferencing endpoint, that have overlapping camera fields of view. The geometric relationships between the overlapping cameras are used to determine correction processing. For each camera, histograms are developed for the overlapping cameras. A dynamic threshold is determined for each histogram. Using the dynamic threshold, peak detection is performed on each histogram. Using the geometric relationships, expected histogram relationships are determined. The actual histogram relationships are compared to the expected relationships, with further processing based on the correctness of the comparison. In some of the cases of further processing, peaks of the histograms are compared to find matching and non-matching peaks. Various ratios of pixels in the various peaks are used to determine needed changes to respective cameras.

Abstract: One goal of the disclosed embodiments is to improve user engagement, e.g. increasing the number of documents from a group of documents that are read, reviewed, and/or modified. Patterns of inaction are identified based on user inactivity, both in comparison to a group that has received the same group of documents, and as an individual who has received a request regarding a document from another user. When a user crosses a threshold of inactivity, attempts to engage with specific documents are initiated. In one embodiment, promoting content includes displaying links to content in novel ways, including adding links to promoted content to existing content lists located in existing application software, such as a recently opened file list, or adding promoted content in places where a user is likely to see the recommendation while completing a previous task, such as at the bottom of a word processing document.

Abstract: A waffle maker has upper and lower baking plates each of which is powered with at least one heating element for baking waffle. A power control unit responds to a temperature sensing unit to control power applied to the heaters and to maintain the heating plates both before and after each baking cycle at a manually pre-selected temperature. A manually adjustable timer controls the duration of the baking cycle.

Abstract: Products or services demand analytics systems are provided. The systems may include a processor configured to determine whether to make an offer from a buyer to purchase a product or service at a buyer-determined price available to a seller of the product or service, based on a demand analytics preference of the seller for the product or service. Moreover, the processor may be configured to adjust whether the offer is made available to the seller and/or how the offer is communicated to the seller in response to an adjustment by the seller of the demand analytics preference for the product or service. Related methods and electronic exchanges are also described.

Abstract: Methods and electronic exchanges that facilitate buyer-driven transactions are provided. The methods may include receiving at an electronic exchange an offer from a buyer to purchase a product or service at a buyer-determined price. The methods may also include searching seller inventory data or seller capacity data from at least one database to match the offer with at least one seller inventory or seller schedule that includes the product or service. The methods may further include receiving at the electronic exchange an acceptance of the offer from an individual seller whose inventory or schedule is included among the at least one seller inventory or seller schedule. Related electronic exchanges are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention a method to allow a consumer to direct payments to be made via one or more payment vehicles of choice is provided. In another embodiment of the present invention a system to allow a consumer to direct payments to be made via one or more payment vehicles of choice is provided.

Abstract: A multi-stage sharpener includes at least one motor driven abrasive sharpening stage and one non-motor driven conditioning stage. The conditioning stage has a non-abrasive hardened surface and at least one precision knife guide which has a planar guide surface for creating a microscopic serration along the edge of a blade which had been sharpened in the first stage sharpening station. The sharpener may also include a third stage motor driven finishing stage. Alternatively, the conditioning stage can be incorporated as the knife edge modifying stage of a manual sharpener.

Abstract: An electrically heated water kettle comprises a vessel for holding a liquid for extraction of tea, coffee or other food material. The vessel includes a partially open immersible container sized to allow the passage of water between the walls of the vessel. The container is capable of holding the material while an opening in the container allows the entrance of water into the container upon immersion of the container in the water. The heated kettle incorporates structure to hold the container out of the water until the water reaches an appropriate extraction temperature and to immerse or withdraw the container into or from the water as is necessary to accomplish the extraction.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention a method to allow a consumer to direct payments to be made via one or more payment vehicles of choice is provided. In another embodiment of the present invention a system to allow a consumer to direct payments to be made via one or more payment vehicles of choice is provided.

Abstract: A food slicer comprises a fan-cooled electrically powered motor driving a slicer blade. The motor is mounted within an enclosure which comprises at least one air intake port and at least one exhaust port on opposite sides of one nominally air-tight first partitioning wall within the enclosure to confine the flow of cooling air from the air intake port through the enclosure, then into intimate contact with the electrical windings and components within the frame of the motor. The motor frame is sealed into a closely conforming contacting aperture in the first partitioning wall. The fan is mounted immediately adjacent to a non-contacting aperture in a second partitioning wall within the enclosure juxtaposed the exhaust port.

Abstract: A modified truncated cone-shaped disk is molded onto a plastic hub which is mounted on a motor driven shaft. The hub has an axial bore of a size to fit with very close clearance on the shaft while still permitting the disk to freely slide against a low spring force.

Abstract: A knife-edge conditioning apparatus comprises at least one precision angled knife guide with one face of the knife blade maintained in sustained sliding or rolling contact and which guides the elongated edge of the blade into sustained contact with the hardened surface of an object and positions the plane of the adjacent edge facet at a precise predetermined angle relative to the contact plane of the hardened surface made of a material of equal or greater hardness than the metal of the knife blade without any tendency to abrade as the blade face is moved along the guide with its elongated edge in sustained contact with the hardened surface.

Abstract: A waffle maker has upper and lower baking plates each of which is powered with at lease one heating element for baking waffle. A power control unit responds to a temperature sensing unit to control power applied to the heaters and to maintain the heating plates both before and after each baking cycle at a manually pre-selected temperature. A manually adjustable timer controls the duration of the baking cycle.

Abstract: An electric baking oven includes an open mesh vertically oriented baking basket to hold food while the food is baked in air by a programmed combination of radiant and convective and conductive energy transfer. An electrical programming control controls the energy from vertically oriented toaster heating elements located juxtaposed to the large vertical faces of the basket and from at least one elongated heating member located below the vertical baking basket with the axis of the elongated heating member oriented nominally horizontal and parallel to the longer horizontal axis of the vertically oriented baking basket.

Abstract: An electric baking oven includes an open mesh vertically oriented baking basket to hold food while the food is baked in air by a programmed combination of radiant and convective and conductive energy transfer. An electrical programming control controls the energy from vertically oriented toaster heating elements located juxtaposed to the large vertical faces of the basket and from at least one elongated heating member located below the vertical baking basket with the axis of the elongated heating member oriented nominally horizontal and parallel to the longer horizontal axis of the vertically oriented baking basket.

Abstract: An electrically heated water kettle comprises a vessel for holding a liquid for extraction of tea, coffee or other food material. The vessel includes a partially open immersible container sized to allow the passage of water between the walls of the vessel. The container is capable of holding the material while an opening in the container allows the entrance of water into the container upon immersion of the container in the water. The heated kettle incorporates structure to hold the container out of the water until the water reaches an appropriate extraction temperature and to immerse or withdraw the container into or from the water as is necessary to accomplish the extraction.

Abstract: An apparatus for manually steeling or conditioning the edge of a knife blade comprises a precision angle guide attached to a manual sharpening steel. The angle guide establishes a guiding surface that provides for sustained sliding or rolling contact with the face of the knife blade such that the plane of at least one edge facet adjacent to the edge of the blade is maintained at a precisely established angle relative to the plane of the sharpening steel surface at the contact point of the facet with the surface of the sharpening steel.

Abstract: A food slicer comprises a fan-cooled electrically powered motor driving a slicer blade. The motor is mounted within an enclosure which comprises at least one air intake port and at least one exhaust port on opposite sides of one nominally air-tight first partitioning wall within the enclosure to confine the flow of cooling air from the air intake port through the enclosure, then into intimate contact with the electrical windings and components within the frame of the motor. The motor frame is sealed into a closely conforming contacting aperture in the first partitioning wall. The fan is mounted immediately adjacent to a non-contacting aperture in a second partitioning wall within the enclosure juxtaposed the exhaust port.

Abstract: A manual sharpener for sharpening either right or left-handed blades of scissors or shears comprises a support structure with an attached hand holding arrangement. A magnetic device holds at least one adhesive pad on the supporting structure. One or more precision angle blade guides are mountable on the structure.