Abstract: Provided are a system and method for combining USB data streams. In one example, the method may include receiving, via an input port, a first universal serial bus (USB) input signal from a first device that is connected to the input port, receiving, via an interface, a second USB input signal from a second device, combining data from the first USB input signal and data from the second USB input signal to generate a combined USB data signal, and outputting, via an output port, the combined USB data signal to a third device that is connected to the output port. The system and method described herein can improve USB data transfer by combining USB data from multiple USB streams into a single USB output stream.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for combining USB data streams. In one example, the method may include receiving, via an input port, a first universal serial bus (USB) input signal from a first device that is connected to the input port, receiving, via an interface, a second USB input signal from a second device, combining data from the first USB input signal and data from the second USB input signal to generate a combined USB data signal, and outputting, via an output port, the combined USB data signal to a third device that is connected to the output port. The system and method described herein can improve USB data transfer by combining USB data from multiple USB streams into a single USB output stream.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for combining USB data streams. In one example, the method may include receiving a user identification of a user associated with a transaction, receiving product information associated with the transaction which is transmitted from a reading device to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, intercepting the received product information, and automatically retrieving a benefit to be included in the transaction from a remote server based on the product information and the received user identification, and outputting the product information and information about the automatically retrieved benefit to the POS terminal. The system and method described herein can automatically detect a reward to be applied to a purchase at a POS terminal by intercepting scanned data and searching a remote platform.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for combining USB data streams. In one example, the method may include receiving, via an input port, a first universal serial bus (USB) input signal from a first device that is connected to the input port, receiving, via an interface, a second USB input signal from a second device, combining data from the first USB input signal and data from the second USB input signal to generate a combined USB data signal, and outputting, via an output port, the combined USB data signal to a third device that is connected to the output port. The system and method described herein can improve USB data transfer by combining USB data from multiple USB streams into a single USB output stream.

Abstract: A method for distributing digital media content, including the use of a digital performance right key that is unique for a media content and a subscriber of the digital media content distribution service, and apparatuses configured to practice the method or portions thereof, are described herein.

Abstract: An online service provider is equipped to receive a request from a client to access a subscribed online service of a subscriber at the online service provider. Comprising the request is a globally unique identifier (GUID) of the subscriber. Once the request is received, the online service provider, determines if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, and if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, the online service provider facilitates access to the subscribed online service of the subscriber. As a result, a user is able to access online services without having to manage several a logon Id and password pair. In one embodiment, the GUID is also caused to be stored in an email with an email service provider. The novel storage enables the subscriber to access his/her subscribed services from another location, or even after the subscriber has reconfigured the original location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shielding a user's private billing data, such as credit card information, or other billing arrangements, but distributing different billing data to businesses during commerce therewith. Also disclosed is assigning the different billing data through real-time and advance distribution of the different billing data to a user, as well. Also disclosed is validating the correctness of a charge through confirmation of the charge with a financial institution, such as a bank, and by comparing itemized charges against expected charges identified by the user.

Abstract: A system and method for providing ontology objects for use in a metamodeling environment is disclosed herein. The method comprises (a) providing a framework for creating a metamodel, wherein the metamodel comprises one or more entities, relationships, and semantics and the framework accepts input from a user to create the entities, relationships, and semantics, (b) generating ontology objects, wherein the ontology objects comprise source code for one or more classes, and wherein each class corresponds to one of the entities; and (c) compiling the source code. Further, the method may comprise detecting that a change has been made to the metamodel, updating the ontology objects to reflect the change to the metamodel, wherein updating the ontology objects comprises generating new source code for one or more classes; and compiling the new source code.

Abstract: A non-blocking always visible display application is provided to copy and save first pixel values corresponding to a first display screen area, blend the copied first pixel values with second pixel values corresponding to a non-blocking always visible display to generate third pixel values, and replace the original first pixel values with the third pixel values to effectuate display of the non-blocking always visible display. In one embodiment, the application further monitors for display operations that impact the first display screen area, and re-blend accordingly. In one embodiment, the re-blending and replacement are advantageously delayed. In another embodiment, the application further intercepts and causes cursor events to be handled properly, based at least in part on a current blending bias between the non-blocking always visible display, and the underlying display windows.

Abstract: A framework is provided for generating code for the model-based development of a system. According to the framework, the model-based system is modeled using graphical modeling entities. A modular code generator routine is attached directly to at least one of the graphical modeling entities or to a meta-entity or to a collection of entities. The graphical modeling entities are traversed in order to access specified code generator routines. Each of the accessed code generator routines is executed so as to build up code portion by portion for the system.

Abstract: A computing device is provided with a number of programming instructions to cause display of first execution results of a first set of applications in a first plane of a metaphoric desktop, and display of second execution results of a second set of applications in a second plane of the metaphoric desktop. In one embodiment, the programming instructions are further designed to morph the metaphoric desktop from one plane to another. In one embodiment, the second set of applications are on-line applications, and the programming instructions are designed to cause the metaphoric desktop to morph from the first plane to the second plane when the computing device is being connected on line; and cause the metaphoric desktop to morph back to the first plane in response to a user request to return to the first plane.

Abstract: A mobile client device, on behalf of a user, is equipped to submit an identity of the user to a messaging service, including the user's current location. Once the messaging service receives the identity of the user, and the user's current location, the messaging service, in response, selects one or more recipients remotely disposed by the mobile client device and the messaging service to receive the user's current location, based at least in part on the identity of the user. The recipient receives the the user's current location for information purposes. In one embodiment, the identity of the user, in addition the user's current location, is also transmitted to the selected one or more recipients. As a result, users, in particular, youths, are able to notify to recipients, such as their parents/guardians, and each other of their whereabouts simply, efficiently and effectively. In other embodiments, the submission is triggered based on bio-metric data of the user, and includes the triggering bio-metric data.

Abstract: An online service provider is equipped to receive a request from a client to access a subscribed online service of a subscriber at the online service provider. Comprising the request is a globally unique identifier (GUID) of the subscriber. Once the request is received, the online service provider, determines if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, and if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, the online service provider facilitates access to the subscribed online service of the subscriber. As a result, a user is able to access online services without having to manage several a logon Id and password pair. In one embodiment, the GUID is also caused to be stored in an email with an email service provider. The novel storage enables the subscriber to access his/her subscribed services from another location, or even after the subscriber has reconfigured the original location.

Abstract: An online service provider is equipped to receive a request from a client to access a subscribed online service of a subscriber at the online service provider. Comprising the request is a globally unique identifier (GUID) of the subscriber. Once the request is received, the online service provider, determines if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, and if the GUID is associated with the subscriber, the online service provider facilitates access to the subscribed online service of the subscriber. As a result, a user is able to access online services without having to manage several a logon Id and password pair. In one embodiment, the GUID is also caused to be stored in an email with an email service provider. The novel storage enables the subscriber to access his/her subscribed services from another location, or even after the subscriber has reconfigured the original location.

Abstract: The invention sends a hot link to a device. The device may be on a wireless network, a wired network, or directly coupled to the device sending the hot link. The hot link contains an associated action that is performed by the device receiving the hot link. The associated action may be performed when a user interface is activated or automatically when the hot link is received by the device. The action (1105) can be a broadcast action (1110), Internet action (1120), call action (1150), download action (1130), or upload action (1140). The broadcast action instructs the device to tune to a particular broadcast in response to the selection of the user interface. The Internet action instructs the device to access an Internet site in response to the selection of the user interface. The call action instructs the device to call a telephone number in response to the selection of user interface.

Abstract: A framework is provided for generating code for the model-based development of a system. According to the framework, the model-based system is modeled using graphical modeling entities. A modular code generator routine is attached directly to at least one of the graphical modeling entities or to a meta-entity or to a collection of entities. The graphical modeling entities are traversed in order to access specified code generator routines. Each of the accessed code generator routines is executed so as to build up code portion by portion for the system.

Abstract: A palm-sized handheld device includes a body casing having a top end and a bottom end. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the device also includes a display screen proximately disposed near the bottom end of the device, and a plurality of input keys proximately disposed near said top end of the device above the input display screen. As a result of such a configuration, accessibility to the input keys by users+ thumbs is improved while glare from a bright light source on the display screen may be decreased.

Abstract: A framework provides for the creation, use, and management of archetypes as a basic building block for graphical model-based development environments. Archetypes are user-definable, domain-independent modeling entities that can contain one or more domain-specific models as well as archetype-specific operations, such as code generation. Archetypes may contain portals that are the explicit application programming interfaces of archetypes. Users define archetype definitions (including visual representations, portals, implementations, and operations) and they or others can then instantiate instances of defined archetypes into different modeling notations. The semantic interpretation of the archetype instances via archetype- and implementation-specific operations provide support for high-level operations such as code generation, model transformations, and model analyses.

Abstract: A mobile client device, such as a wireless mobile or a palm sized personal digital assistant, is provided with a number of sensors and companion programming instructions/circuitry to generate a heart rate reading for a user holding the device. The sensors are used to sense blood flow rate of the user. The sensors are advantageously disposed in a distributed manner, in a number of locations of the mobile client device. The programming instructions/circuitry are used to infer a holding pattern of the device, and generate the heart rate reading, using a subset of the sensed data, based at least in part on the inferred holding pattern.

Abstract: A palm-sized handheld device includes a body casing having a top end and a bottom end. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the device also includes a display screen proximately disposed near the bottom end of the device, and a plurality of input keys proximately disposed near said top end of the device above the input display screen.