Abstract: Financial advisory methods and systems for creating a steady lifetime income stream within an investment plan is provided. According to one embodiment, based on an investor's current holdings in the investment plan, a pattern of periodic cash payouts is identified that can be made to the investor from an in-plan payout program implemented with the limited universe of financial products available within the investment plan. The assets of the investment plan are rebalanced to form a payout portfolio and an equity exposure portfolio. The payout portfolio is constructed to create an annuity-like stream of income to support the pattern of periodic cash payouts and includes multiple bond funds. The equity exposure portfolio is constructed to address inflation risk by providing an ability to rise with equities markets. Finally, a periodic cash payout of the pattern of periodic cash payouts is caused to be paid to the investor from the investment plan.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to hold a patterning device configured to impart a beam of radiation with a pattern in its cross-section. The apparatus includes a base configured to support the patterning device and an inner cover couplable to the base. The inner cover includes a restraining mechanism that, upon an application of a force external to the inner cover, is configured to provide an in-plane force to the patterning device to restrain movement of the patterning device, the in-plane force being substantially parallel to a patterning surface of the patterning device.

Abstract: Financial advisory methods and systems for creating a steady lifetime income stream within an investment plan is provided. According to one embodiment, based on an investor's current holdings in the investment plan, a pattern of periodic cash payouts is identified that can be made to the investor from an in-plan payout program implemented with the limited universe of financial products available within the investment plan. The assets of the investment plan are rebalanced to form a payout portfolio and an equity exposure portfolio. The payout portfolio is constructed to create an annuity-like stream of income to support the pattern of periodic cash payouts and includes multiple bond funds. The equity exposure portfolio is constructed to address inflation risk by providing an ability to rise with equities markets. Finally, a periodic cash payout of the pattern of periodic cash payouts is caused to be paid to the investor from the investment plan.

Abstract: Financial advisory methods and systems for creating a steady lifetime income stream within an investment plan is provided. According to one embodiment, based on an investor's current holdings in the investment plan, a pattern of periodic cash payouts is identified that can be made to the investor from an in-plan payout program implemented with the limited universe of financial products available within the investment plan. The assets of the investment plan are rebalanced to form a payout portfolio and an equity exposure portfolio. The payout portfolio is constructed to create an annuity-like stream of income to support the pattern of periodic cash payouts and includes multiple bond funds. The equity exposure portfolio is constructed to address inflation risk by providing an ability to rise with equities markets. Finally, a periodic cash payout of the pattern of periodic cash payouts is caused to be paid to the investor from the investment plan.

Abstract: A system for monitoring ink flow is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a printhead configured to perform a priming event, a heating element, a sensor configured to measure the temperature of a printhead die at a plurality of times, and a processor configured to determine the success of a priming event by comparing an actual cooling rate to a threshold cooling rate.

Abstract: A system for monitoring ink flow is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a printhead configured to perform a priming event, a heating element, a sensor configured to measure the temperature of a printhead die at a plurality of times, and a processor configured to determine the success of a priming event by comparing an actual cooling rate to a threshold cooling rate.

Abstract: A neuro-fuzzy controller is provided. The neuro-fuzzy controller includes a predictor that receives inputs and makes prediction inputs. The prediction inputs are passed to a fuzzy cluster module that includes a neural network fuzzifing said prediction inputs and passing the result to an inference engine. The output of the inference engine is defuzzified and provided as an output of the controller. The fuzzifier and defuzzifier preferably represent a neural network employing a trigonometrical series. The inference engine preferably employs rules that are determined using genetic programming.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes an actuator, moveable to actuate a fluid pump, an optical sensor, a flag, affixed to the actuator and positioned to block the optical sensor with motion of the actuator, and a controller, coupled to the actuator and the optical sensor. The controller is configured to determine a volume of fluid pumped by the pump by detecting a change in a degree of blockage of the sensor by the flag.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for protecting a user device from web attacks using a proxy server. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a web page comprising web page content and code, generating an image-based representation of the web page that includes the web page content and excludes the code, and propagating the image-based representation of the web page toward the user device. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an interaction with an image-based representation of a web page, generating a web page interaction from the interaction with the image-based representation of the web page, implementing the web page interaction, generating an instruction using the implemented web page interaction, and propagating the instruction toward a web server.

Abstract: My invention is to prevent pants from dragging due to excessive length and prevents a person from stepping or tripping over pants. It also prevents the pants from shredding. A pants guard, for attachment to a shoe, having a head with an insertion shaft inner portion and a T outer portion. The nail is attached to the back portion of a shoe, with the head remaining on the outside of the shoe just above the shoe heel. A pants hem is held behind the nail head and keeps the hem above the shoe heel.

Abstract: A method of paying for a franking service in a self-service mail-handling machine, in which method a user sends a franking service payment request to a server system from a handheld communications device; after said request has been received by the server system, and after the user's access entitlements have been verified, and if said entitlements are valid, an authorization code is generated in the server system in response to the franking service payment request, and said authorization code is sent to the handheld communications device from the server system; by means of the received encrypted authorization code being read by the user on the handheld communications device, and by means of the encrypted authorization code being input into the mail-handling machine, and if said code is valid, it is possible to activate the mail-handling machine so as to enable the user to proceed with the operations necessary for implementing the requested franking service.