Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility that stores data associating a phone number of a user and an account identifier of the user. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor uses one of the converters to transmit premium messages to the phone number to collect funds via a telecommunication carrier, receives a payment request having the account identifier, identifies the phone number based on the account identifier, and makes a payment on behalf of the user using the collected funds.

Abstract: A sock and a method of knitting the same. Generally described, the present application relates to a sock. More specifically, the present application relates to a sock having a revolutionary design. In one illustrative embodiment, a stretchable foot sock made of Lycra® is provided. The foot sock can include an open leg end having soft ribbing for receiving a foot, toes, and at least a portion of a leg of a wearer. The foot sock can include a leg section for receiving at least a portion of the leg of the wearer. The foot sock can also include a foot section for receiving a foot of the wearer. Typically, the leg and foot sections include a top and bottom portion wherein the top portion includes a mesh structure and the bottom portion includes extra padding. Each of the sections can be seamlessly integrated.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility that stores purchase receipts in association with phone numbers. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format, to obtain a confirmation of a payment request that identifies a phone number, a merchant and a purchase from the merchant. After a confirmation is received, the interchange is to use funds associated with the phone number to pay the merchant for the purchase and to receive and store a receipt for the purchase from the merchant.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system includes an interchange with a data storage facility to store data associating an offer with a phone number. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The common format processor is configured to use one of the converters to communicate with a mobile phone at the phone number to process a payment to a merchant, to determine, for the payment, whether the offer is applicable based on the data associating the offer with the phone number, and to apply a benefit of the offer towards the payment if the offer is applicable.

Abstract: Systems and methods to propagate and redeem offers via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes an interchange and a data storage facility storing a value in association with a first phone number. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and with the controllers in different formats. The common format processor is to re-associate the value with a second phone number and to use one converter of the converters to communicate a reference of the value to a telephonic apparatus at the second phone number, in response to a request from a telephonic apparatus at the first phone number, when the request includes the second phone number and a reference to the value.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to automate transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store data associating phone numbers with accounts and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. The common format processor has an application programming interface to receive requests, such as a charge request having an identification of a phone number, an identification of a merchant, and an amount, and a status request having an identification of the first request, and is to transmit a message to a telephonic apparatus at the phone number to confirm the charge request, using one of the converters.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility that stores data associating a phone number with an account, such as a balance of the account, identification information of a plurality of funding sources, and security data for authentication. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format, to facilitate authentication of the payment requests received from various payment terminals. The requests are authenticated via both the security data and communications with a mobile phone having the phone number. After the authentication, the payments are effected using the account.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store account information with a phone number of the user and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats; and the converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format to facilitate authentication of the user to sign in the account.

Abstract: Methods, machine-readable media, apparatuses and systems are provided to identify and/or present information based on relationship-based recommendations. The information may be search results; and the relationship-based recommendations may be recommendations or preferences specified by related people in one or more social networks or affinity groups. For example, the search results can be presented in an order based at least in part on the recommendations and the relationship between the people who made the recommendations and the person who requested the search results.

Abstract: A linear phase demodulator/down-converter comprises an optical amplitude modulator for modulating the amplitude of an optical input signal, a photo-detector, a loop filter and an optical phase modulator provided with a light source. The optical phase modulator/down-converter provides optical down conversion, optical up conversion, or a combination thereof. The photo-detector can be a balanced photo-detector. Linear phase demodulation and/or down conversion if performed completely in the optical domain.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a draw key assembly for securing a kingpin. In some embodiments of the invention, the draw key assembly includes a front portion, a rear portion, a rear end nut, and a front end nut. In a first preferred embodiment, the front portion includes a cylindrical body having a front end, a hex head attached to the front end, and a threaded member extending from the cylindrical body. In the first preferred embodiment, the rear portion includes a flared section with a threaded bore formed therein for mating with the threaded member. In the first preferred embodiment, the rear portion also includes a threaded fastener extending from the flared section. The rear end nut mates with the threaded fastener and the front end nut mates with threads formed about the front end of the cylindrical body. Additional embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Photonic Phase Locked Loop (PPLL) detector/discriminator, which makes possible a system for optically transmitting electromagnetic signals through a transmission medium (such as optical fiber, optical waveguide, underwater, in biological tissue, or in free space) with high sensitivity and extremely high dynamic range exceeding what is possible with present optical intensity modulated (AM) systems. Information is encoded on an optical carrier through the use of phase modulation (PM) or frequency modulation (FM). This information is subsequently demodulated into an accessible form through the use of the PPLL.