Abstract: Techniques for establishing and enforcing row level database security are presented. Qualifiers are used to uniquely identify particular rows of a database table. The qualifiers are selectively combined to generate a hash value. The hash value is associated with a user. The user is permitted to accesses selective rows of the database table in response to the rows represented in the hash value, which is associated with the user.

Abstract: A method implemented in an electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant. The communication system receives through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer and a transaction amount from the merchant, contacts the customer through a second electronic communication path to allow the customer to select a payment method, and sends through a third electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the customer to a financial services provider associated with the payment method.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides systems and methods, which allow a more efficient shopping experience. A cascading commerce menu provides access to a plurality of product, service, and/or content categories. In one embodiment, the cascading commerce menu is stored on a client computer, thereby providing quick access to the menu.

Abstract: An electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant. The communication system is configured to receive through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer and a transaction amount from the merchant, contact the customer through a second electronic communication path to allow the customer to select a payment method, and send through a third electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the customer to a financial services provider associated with the payment method.

Abstract: A method for electronic transaction settlement includes a customer providing an account identifier and contact information to a merchant, the merchant contacting a settlement house and transmitting the account identifier and a transaction amount, the settlement house contacting the customer, preferably via a mobile communication device. The customer then chooses a payment method such as a credit card and the settlement house contacts a credit provider for authorization. If the settlement house receives an authorization, the settlement house transmits it to the client, who approves the amount. The settlement house then completes the transaction with the credit provider and the merchant's bank.

Abstract: An electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant. The communication system is configured to receive through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer and a transaction amount from the merchant, contact the customer through a second electronic communication path to allow the customer to select a payment method, and send through a third electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the customer to a financial services provider associated with the payment method.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides systems and methods, which allow a more efficient shopping experience. A cascading commerce menu provides access to a plurality of product, service, and/or content categories. In one embodiment, the cascading commerce menu is stored on a client computer, thereby providing quick access to the menu.

Abstract: There is provided processes for the preparation of various compounds, including compounds of formulae I, IV and VII, or salts and/or solvates thereof, which compounds are useful intermediates in the synthesis of certain oxabispidines having antiarrhythmic activity, such as compounds of formula XI wherein R1?, R15?, R16?, R18? and D have meanings given in the description.

Abstract: A system for controlling water flow through a shower head includes a shower mat made of resilient material having a transmitter, an electrical power supply, and a switch embedded and hermetically sealed therein. The switch, when activated by a bather, sends a power pulse provided by the power supply to the transmitter, which transmits a control signal in response to each received power pulse. Separate from the shower mat, the system also includes a low-voltage DC power source, a receiver powered by the power source, and control logic which alternately activates and deactivates a driver transistor of a solenoid control circuit in response to the receipt of control signals received by the receiver from the transmitter. A solenoid-controlled valve in line with water flow to the shower head has a control solenoid with an input that is coupled to the low-voltage power source through the driver transistor.

Abstract: Apparatus for permanent placement across an ostium of a left atrial appendage in a patient, which includes a filtering membrane configured to extend across the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane has a permeable structure which allows blood to flow through but substantially inhibits thrombus from passing therethrough. The apparatus also includes a support structure comprising a plurality of fingers which are radially outwardly expandable with respect to a longitudinal axis to permanently engage the interior wall of the left atrial appendage, wherein the filtering membrane is attached to the support structure extending across the ostium of the left atrial appendage.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for registering a wireless network's identity using a central server. The central server receives a request for registration of an identifier of a wireless network. If the identifier has not been previously registered, the central server creates an association between the identifier and the wireless network, which is stored in a database maintained by the central server. The present invention also discloses a method for verifying a wireless network's identity by a wireless device. A central server comprising a database is provided, which registers an identifier of the wireless network. The central server receives from a wireless device an authentication request of the identifier. The authentication request arrives through a gateway of the wireless network. The central server then authenticates the identifier.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods to communicatively couple field devices to controllers in a process control system are disclosed. An example method of changing a communication protocol of a first field device in a process control system includes decoupling from the first field device a first removable communication module configured to communicate using a first communication protocol. The example method also includes coupling to the first field device a second removable communication module configured to communicate using a second communication protocol. After coupling the second removable communication module, the first field device is configured to communicate using the second communication protocol.

Abstract: A system received an analogue electrical signal having content between 20 Hz and 20 kHz representing an analogue audio signal; amplitude modulates the analogue electrical signal onto an optical signal; transmits the modulated optical signal over an optical waveguide; receives. The modulated optical signal; and demodulates the modulated optical signal to reproduce the analogue electrical signal. The system may be incorporated within a cable arrangement.

Abstract: A method for monotonically counting and a device having monotonically counting capabilities. The device includes: a monotonic counter, an input interface adapted to receive requests to update a value of the monotonic counter and an average request rate limiter circuit adapted to selectively reject a request if an amount of monotonic counter value updates within a predefined time window exceeded a threshold; wherein the threshold and the predefined time window are defined in response to at least one legitimate request pattern.

Abstract: A method for image recognition of a material object that utilizes graphical modeling of the corner points of a vertex which includes projecting a point on a digital display to an inward depth, a one half pixel distance in the plane of the display, with a conic to a digital display, and a square block containing one half size child blocks that are scaled to depth, projecting the corner points of a vertex and replacing the bisecting points of edge features detected in a digital display scaled at an increasing rate of congruency to the dimensions of an object. The method may further include producing a digital image of the material object, providing a central processing unit, providing memory associated with a central processing unit; providing a display associated with a central processing unit; loading the digital image into the memory; defining the edges of features within the digital image; and a finding fight crucial points from registrations projected on to an edge feature display.

Abstract: A method for generating and adjusting an image obtained based on computed tomography data using a non-linear blending function is provided. In one embodiment of the method, first image data is obtained using a first X-ray energy, and second image data is obtained using a second X-ray image energy. An image is generated by blending the first and second image data using the non-linear function. The first X-ray energy and the second X-ray energy are different.

Abstract: A pad assembly includes a carrier plate, a backing plate to one side of which is secured at least one friction pad and which is mounted on its alternate side on the carrier plate, a spring acting between the carrier plate and the backing plate and allowing for limited rocking and/or linear movement of the backing plate relative to the carrier plate against the action of the spring. A plurality of transmitting members are secured to one or the other of the carrier plate or the backing plate and project to engage the other so as to enable the transmission of force between the two plates. The arrangement of the force transmitting members is such that at least two of the force transmitting members are generally equiangularly arranged about the geometric center of the carrier plate.

Abstract: Techniques for establishing and enforcing row level database security are presented. Qualifiers are used to uniquely identify particular rows of a database table. The qualifiers are selectively combined to generate a hash value. The hash value is associated with a user. The user is permitted to accesses selective rows of the database table in response to the rows represented in the hash value, which is associated with the user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for displaying high resolution content generated by a securely hosted application program for the exploration and production of geologic resources on a thin client system in a client/server computer network. A user interface is presented for accessing the application program which is hosted on a server. After the application program is selected, a least utilized node in the client/server computer network is determined for executing the selected application program via the thin client system. Images generated by the executed application program are packaged into a remote access application server display protocol and displayed as high resolution images on the thin client system. The high resolution images may be displayed on multiple displays associated with the thin client system.

Abstract: A method for designing a time-sliced and multi-threaded architecture comprises the steps of conducting a thorough analysis of a range of applications and building a specific processor to accommodate the range of applications. In one embodiment, the thorough analysis includes extracting real time aspects from each application, determining optimal granularity in the architecture based on the real time aspects of each application, and adjusting the optimal granularity based on acceptable context switching overhead.