Abstract: A method and system to digitize printed information on a business card and to link the digitized data to a social networking service, referred to as a Meeting-Spot (or simply an MSP) service, employs quick response codes (QRCs) to uniquely identify business cards printed with a QRC. An online MSP service offers a free MSP app, which is installable on mobile devices. The MSP service will offer a plurality of MSP business cards to its members. A QRC image is printed on at least one side of an MSP business card. Further, the data encoded in the QRC on an MSP business card comprise at least an identifier to uniquely identify a business card. The identifier encoded in the QRC printed on an MSP business card may be a UUID (universal unique identifier), which complies with the identifier standard set by the Open Software Foundation (OSF). Optionally, the identifier is replaced by a proprietary hash code that can uniquely identify a business card.

Abstract: A hybrid modular appliance or electronic device allows a user to plug a number of snap-together component modules of different types into a base device, so that the resulting assembly performs a custom-designed functionality. With no attached component modules, the base device functions as a standalone consumer or office appliance. At least one component module has its functionality not supporting the functionality of the base device, thereby allowing the resulting assembly a hybrid device. Examples of the hybrid modular devices include a TV-Wi-Fi-router, and a TV-storage-DVR-Wi-Fi-router. A hybrid modular device can serve as a videoconference device, a music jukebox, or a home theater unit.

Abstract: A system and method enables secure login at linked sites with a universal ID (UID) and possibly different or same password to linked identities. In such logins, a user stays at the linked login page, and the login name and password are sent to a UID provider for authentication. A UID provider may perform optional multi-factored authentication. A UID user is able to manage all his accounts, which are linked to his UID service, by changing the login names, passwords, security requirements, privacy requirements, and authentication requirements, with group-wise control. Successful or failed logins to linked accounts may be reported to a UID user. A UID user may disable logins at a group of linked accounts.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for non-repudiated evidence that a copied digital item received by a buyer is sent by a specific and authorized distributor, and the copy is uncorrupted and legitimate for sale by the distributor. Non-repudiated evidence is generated based on unique encryption keys and hash codes identifying a specific distributor and a specific digital item. Credential checking is performed by a distribution system operator which is also responsible for collecting funds directly or indirectly. A potential buyer of a digital item is enabled to produce a digital object to send to the system operator to authenticate a received digital item. By checking the distributor's credential, the system operator authenticates the distributor and sends back a transaction ID and an encryption key. Once the buyer has purchased the digital item, the buyer can then be authorized to be a distributor of the digital item.

Abstract: A system and methods expedite and make secure payment data entry, and payment and authorization and authorization, for both in-store and online purchases. A mobile app, or widget or browser extension or installed service, on a mobile communication device, generates a barcode to be scanned at a point-of-sale terminal. Optional confirmation is sent to an app, or browser extension or widget or installed service, on a mobile or fixed communication device, to confirm a purchase. An independent app, or browser extension or widget or installed service, on a mobile or fixed communication device, generates a barcode that is sent directly to an online point-of-sale system. The method allows a purchaser to use the same app, or widget or browser extension or installed service, to purchase from any retailer with installed collaborating software.

Abstract: A hybrid modular appliance or electronic device allows a user to plug a number of snap-together component modules of different types into a base device, so that the resulting assembly performs a custom-designed functionality. With no attached component modules, the base device functions as a standalone consumer or office appliance. At least one component module has its functionality not supporting the functionality of the base device, thereby allowing the resulting assembly a hybrid device. Examples of the hybrid modular devices include a TV-Wi-Fi-router, and a TV-storage-DVR-Wi-Fi-router. A hybrid modular device can serve as a videoconference device, a music jukebox, or a home theater unit.

Abstract: A system and methods expedite and make secure payment data entry, and payment and authorization and authorization, for both in-store and online purchases. A mobile app, or widget or browser extension or installed service, on a mobile communication device, generates a barcode to be scanned at a point-of-sale terminal. Optional confirmation is sent to an app, or browser extension or widget or installed service, on a mobile or fixed communication device, to confirm a purchase. An independent app, or browser extension or widget or installed service, on a mobile or fixed communication device, generates a barcode that is sent directly to an online point-of-sale system. The method allows a purchaser to use the same app, or widget or browser extension or installed service, to purchase from any retailer with installed collaborating software.

Abstract: A system and method optimizes the response speed and/or throughput of TCP sessions for web browsing and large-file applications. TCP sessions may be terminated in a TCP proxy. When a TCP sessions enters a slow-start phase or a fast retransmit phase, the congestion window is creased to above a threshold, or the transmission timer is set above a fixed threshold, or the slow-start threshold is set above a fixed threshold.

Abstract: A method and system, called Hub-TV system, allows a mass of consumers who individually owns a private infrastructure to share the burden of storing, searching, authentication, and delivery of digital media items, for the purpose of selling and distributing digital items over the Internet. The consumer may have previously purchased a media item and is compensated for contributing to redistribute the media item through his private infrastructure, which comprises server resources, storage resources, and bandwidth resources. A platform provider of a Hub-TV system provides the control and management functions to ensure that a plurality of broker agents, a plurality of delivery agents, a plurality of payment agents, and a mass of consumer-distributors, are compensated for their services in the Hub-TV system. A consumer who purchases a media item through a Hub-TV system may have to receive a play token, and optionally a decryption key to consume the purchased item.

Abstract: A method and system to digitize printed information on a business card and to link the digitized data to a social networking service, referred to as a Meeting-Spot (or simply an MSP) service, employs quick response codes (QRCs) to uniquely identify business cards printed with a QRC. An online MSP service offers a free MSP app, which is installable on mobile devices. The MSP service will offer a plurality of MSP business cards to its members. A QRC image is printed on at least one side of an MSP business card. Further, the data encoded in the QRC on an MSP business card comprise at least an identifier to uniquely identify a business card. The identifier encoded in the QRC printed on an MSP business card may be a UUID (universal unique identifier), which complies with the identifier standard set by the Open Software Foundation (OSF). Optionally, the identifier is replaced by a proprietary hash code that can uniquely identify a business card.

Abstract: A system and apparatus to function as a hybrid modular appliance or electronic device, called a hybrid modular device (HMD), allows a user to plug a plurality of snap-together modules of different types into a base platform, so that the resulting assembly performs a custom-designed functionality. In an HMD, the base platform is integrated with open-standard (or proprietary) interfaces. These interfaces allow the modules complying with open standards (or proprietary specifications) to be inserted (or plugged) into the base platform. As a result, the inserted modules function as integrated subsystems of the overall HMD. The base platform of an HMD may, as an option, further comprise a fully functional and standalone consumer appliance.

Abstract: A system and method, called federated cache network (FCN), places and optimizes content caches located in an access or backhaul network of a network service provider or multiple system operator. A FCN comprises a trunk cache and a plurality of branch caches and leaf caches. In a mobile carrier network, the mobility management entity (MME) informs a TCP termination device that a mobile device is moving toward a new base station. The live and terminated TCP sessions associated with a mobile terminal that is moving to a new base station are copied and re-terminated at the new base station, in anticipation of a possible handoff.

Abstract: A method and system, called Hub-TV system, allows a mass of consumers who individually owns a private infrastructure to share the burden of storing, searching, authentication, and delivery of digital media items, for the purpose of selling and distributing digital items over the Internet. The consumer may have previously purchased a media item and is compensated for contributing to redistribute the media item through his private infrastructure, which comprises server resources, storage resources, and bandwidth resources. A platform provider of a Hub-TV system provides the control and management functions to ensure that a plurality of broker agents, a plurality of delivery agents, a plurality of payment agents, and a mass of consumer-distributors, are compensated for their services in the Hub-TV system. A consumer who purchases a media item through a Hub-TV system may have to receive a play token, and optionally a decryption key to consume the purchased item.

Abstract: A system and method, called ADD (adaptive data descriptor) and FP (functional proximity), optimizes data transfer between inbound and outbound streams for TCP or other data transfer mechanisms. ADD minimizes data copying in the steam mode, while allowing simultaneous reading from the inbound stream, and writing into the outbound stream from a stored file. ADD and FP jointly minimize total latency in stream-mode data transfer, with or without caching, over multi-core computing systems. FP assigns processes in a multi-core computing system to minimize cache misses and cache access in shared on-chip caches. FP also assigns threads in a TCP splicing box that provides TCP splicing between a plurality of senders and a plurality of receivers, by assigning one thread or 2 threads per TCP connection. The threads are assigned to thread groups so that each thread group is assigned to a single CPU or core. This assignment maximizes cache hits in shared on-chip caches in a multi-core computing system.

Abstract: A system and method, called federated cache network (FCN), places and optimizes content caches located in an access or backhaul network of a network service provider or multiple system operator. A FCN comprises a trunk cache and a plurality of branch caches and leaf caches. In a mobile carrier network, the mobility management entity (MME) informs a TCP termination device that a mobile device is moving toward a new base station. The live and terminated TCP sessions associated with a mobile terminal that is moving to a new base station are copied and re-terminated at the new base station, in anticipation of a possible handoff.

Abstract: A system and method optimizes the response speed and throughput of TCP sessions for web browsing or large-file applications. TCP sessions are classified into long and short sessions, and steered to designated devices for TCP and application optimization. A TCP session may send packets as fast as possible without regard to the ACK packets. TCP termination is applied at a point where the available bandwidth on one side of a path is significantly larger than the available bandwidth of the path on the other side. TCP sessions are classified according to groups and each group is optimized separately.

Abstract: A system and methods expedite and make secure payment data entry, and payment and authorization and authorization, for both in-store and online purchases. A mobile app, or widget or browser extension or installed service, on a mobile communication device, generates a barcode to be scanned at a point-of-sale terminal. Optional confirmation is sent to an app, or browser extension or widget or installed service, on a mobile or fixed communication device, to confirm a purchase. An independent app, or browser extension or widget or installed service, on a mobile or fixed communication device, generates a barcode that is sent directly to an online point-of-sale system. The method allows a purchaser to use the same app, or widget or browser extension or installed service, to purchase from any retailer with installed collaborating software.

Abstract: A system and method enables secure login at linked sites with a universal ID (UID) and possibly different or same password to linked identities. In such logins, a user stays at the linked login page, and the login name and password are sent to a UID provider for authentication. A UID provider may perform optional multi-factored authentication. A UID user is able to manage all his accounts, which are linked to his UID service, by changing the login names, passwords, security requirements, privacy requirements, and authentication requirements, with group-wise control. Successful or failed logins to linked accounts may be reported to a UID user. A UID user may disable logins at a group of linked accounts.

Abstract: A method and system to architect a private cloud, called a Home-Hub system, so that a user is given sufficient control over data stored in a Home-Hub system over a home or small-business network. A Home-Hub system comprises a home or office network, and 2 types of devices directly attached to the network: Hub devices and Branch devices. A Hub device is a wireless access point and a storage node. A Hub device is a central node for data exchange in a home network. A Branch device is a terminal, relay or peer node. A Hub or Branch device may contain a digital storage device, a wireless AP (access point) or terminal, a positioning device such as a global positioning system receiver, one or more (wireless or fixed-line) modems connecting to the Internet, a network digital video recorder, and software that provides data sync and data backup.

Abstract: An electronic voting system has a voting administrative module connected to a plurality of voting modules connected via a network. A voter initiates the voting process by inserting a voting key into a voting key reader of a voting module. The voter then makes voting selections, which include casting votes, on a touch screen display of the voting module. Alternatively, the voting module may verbally guide the voter through the voting process using an audio headphone. The voter may also make voting selections verbally through a microphone using voice recognition technology, or by using a tactile keypad. After the voter is finished casting votes, a voter verifiable paper ballot is printed and an electronic ballot is saved on the electronic voting system. The voter can review the paper ballot.