Abstract: In an aspect, a toy assembly is provided, and includes a housing, an inner object, at least one sensor and a controller. The inner object is positioned inside the housing and includes a breakout mechanism that is operable to break the housing to expose the inner object. The at least one sensor detects interaction with a user. The controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and to operate the breakout mechanism to break the housing to expose the inner object if the condition is met. Optionally, the condition is met based upon having a selected number of interactions with the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems described in this disclosure allow customers to personalize their phone experience when calling into an organization. In some embodiments, customers who may benefit from this service are identified based on the content of the customer's previous or current phone calls to the organization. The identified customers may be invited to enroll and to provide preferences for a customized Interactive Voice Response experience. In some embodiments, the customer can elect to hear the balances of one or more of his accounts without going through a phone menu or asking a representative to look up the relevant amounts. Once enrolled, when the customer dials into the organization and upon successful authentication, the organization proactively states the customer's account balances with no further customer request.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for identifying documents for review is provided. A set of documents is sorted by topic. A status of near duplicate is assigned to two or more documents in the set. Threads of the documents are identified. Each thread includes at least one near duplicate document that is recursively included within another near duplicate document in that thread. In each thread, the near duplicate documents are ordered based on a length of the thread included in each near duplicate document. The near duplicate document that has the longest length is selected for each thread and provided for review.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy assembly is provided. The toy assembly includes a housing, an inner object inside the housing, a sensor, a motor and a controller. A portion of the inner object is drivable into engagement with the housing to break the housing and expose the inner object. The sensor detects interaction with a user. The motor is operatively connected to the inner object such that operation of the motor drives rotation of the inner object in the housing. The controller determines whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and operates the motor to rotate the inner object and drive the portion of the inner object into engagement with the housing to break the housing and expose the inner object if the condition is met.

Abstract: Methods and systems described in this disclosure allow customers to personalize their phone experience when calling into an organization. In some embodiments, customers who may benefit from this service are identified based on the content of the customer's previous or current phone calls to the organization. The identified customers may be invited to enroll and to provide preferences for a customized Interactive Voice Response experience. In some embodiments, the customer can elect to hear the balances of one or more of his accounts without going through a phone menu or asking a representative to look up the relevant amounts. Once enrolled, when the customer dials into the organization and upon successful authentication, the organization proactively states the customer's account balances with no further customer request.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy assembly is provided. The toy assembly includes a housing, an inner object inside the housing, a sensor, a motor and a controller. A portion of the inner object is drivable into engagement with the housing to break the housing and expose the inner object. The sensor detects interaction with a user. The motor is operatively connected to the inner object such that operation of the motor drives rotation of the inner object in the housing. The controller determines whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and operates the motor to rotate the inner object and drive the portion of the inner object into engagement with the housing to break the housing and expose the inner object if the condition is met.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy assembly is provided, and includes a housing, an inner object, at least one sensor and a controller. The inner object is positioned inside the housing and includes a breakout mechanism that is operable to break the housing to expose the inner object. The at least one sensor detects interaction with a user. The controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and to operate the breakout mechanism to break the housing to expose the inner object if the condition is met. Optionally, the condition is met based upon having a selected number of interactions with the user.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy assembly is provided, and includes a housing, an inner object, at least one sensor and a controller. The inner object is positioned inside the housing and includes a breakout mechanism that is operable to break the housing to expose the inner object. The at least one sensor detects interaction with a user. The controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and to operate the breakout mechanism to break the housing to expose the inner object if the condition is met. Optionally, the condition is met based upon having a selected number of interactions with the user.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy assembly is provided, and includes a housing, an inner object, at least one sensor and a controller. The inner object is positioned inside the housing and includes a breakout mechanism that is operable to break the housing to expose the inner object. The at least one sensor detects interaction with a user. The controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and to operate the breakout mechanism to break the housing to expose the inner object if the condition is met. Optionally, the condition is met based upon having a selected number of interactions with the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems described in this disclosure allow customers to personalize their phone experience when calling into an organization. In some embodiments, customers who may benefit from this service are identified based on the content of the customer's previous or current phone calls to the organization. The identified customers may be invited to enroll and to provide preferences for a customized Interactive Voice Response experience. In some embodiments, the customer can elect to hear the balances of one or more of his accounts without going through a phone menu or asking a representative to look up the relevant amounts. Once enrolled, when the customer dials into the organization and upon successful authentication, the organization proactively states the customer's account balances with no further customer request.

Abstract: A network element operating in an Optical Transport Network (OTN) network and configured to adaptively preconfigure OTN connections includes one or more ports, each port including hardware supporting an Optical channel Transport Unit level k (OTUk) configured to transport an Optical channel Data Unit level k (ODUk) or one or more Optical channel Data Unit level j's (ODUj's), j<k; wherein, when a port of the one or more ports is installed with an idle connection, the port is automatically preconfigured in either a connection mode for the ODUk or a trail termination mode for the one or more ODUj's based on existing OTN connections in the OTN network.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy character assembly is provided, and includes a housing, a toy character, at least one sensor and a controller. The toy character is positioned inside the housing and includes a breakout mechanism that is operable to break the housing to expose the toy character. The at least one sensor detects interaction with a user. The controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and to operate the breakout mechanism to break the housing to expose the toy character if the condition is met. Optionally, the condition is met based upon having a selected number of interactions with the user.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus for repetitive iris recognition include an apparatus for repetitively imaging an iris. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a substantially planar outer surface, a first axis normal to the substantially planar outer surface, and a curved outer surface, opposite the substantially planar outer surface, defined by a curve rotated about the first axis. The apparatus further comprises an infrared sensor array, disposed within the housing, to acquire an infrared image of an iris via at least one first aperture in the substantially planar outer surface. The apparatus further comprises at least one infrared illuminator, disposed within the housing, to illuminate the iris during acquisition of the infrared image of the iris via at least one second aperture in the substantially planar outer surface.

Abstract: A network element operating in an Optical Transport Network (OTN) network and configured to adaptively preconfigure OTN connections includes one or more ports, each port including hardware supporting an Optical channel Transport Unit level k (OTUk) configured to transport an Optical channel Data Unit level k (ODUk) or one or more Optical channel Data Unit level j's (ODUj's), j<k; wherein, when a port of the one or more ports is installed with an idle connection, the port is automatically preconfigured in either a connection mode for the ODUk or a trail termination mode for the one or more ODUj's based on existing OTN connections in the OTN network.

Abstract: A deposition system for depositing a chemical vapor onto a workpiece is disclosed, including a deposition chamber having a plurality of components for performing chemical vapor deposition on the workpiece. The workpiece is held by a lathe that rotates the workpiece relative to chemical burners that deposit silica soot on the workpiece. The deposition system has a gas panel for regulating the flow of gases and vapors into the deposition chamber, and a computer for controlling operation of the gas panel and the components in the deposition chamber. Multiple sets of chemical burners are disposed longitudinally along the length of the workpiece. Each set of burners is separated from other sets, such that each set of burners deposit silica particles onto generally different portions of a workpiece. The respective portions include an overlap segment in which one or more burners from one burner set will deposit silica particles on the same portion of the workpiece as one or more burners from another set.

Abstract: An electrically conductive element, including an insulator and a first conductor, is provided, which can be affixed to a second conductor consisting of conductive structural element, wherein the insulator is positioned between the first and second conductors to electrically isolate them. A power supply may be connected between the first and second conductors to provide power thereto, and an electrical device may be connected across the first and second conductors.

Abstract: An electrically conductive element, including an insulator and a first conductor, is provided, which can be affixed to a second conductor consisting of conductive structural element, wherein the insulator is positioned between the first and second conductors to electrically isolate them. A power supply may be connected between the first and second conductors to provide power thereto, and an electrical device may be connected across the first and second conductors.

Abstract: A physiological monitoring system includes a sensor subsystem worn by a person including at least a one sensor. A dock is associated with the sensor subsystem and includes a first connector component electrically connected to the sensor. A portable transmitting unit is received in the dock and includes a transmitter and a connector component removeably mateable with the dock connector component to route sensor data to the transmitter.