Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tag that may include an encapsulant and a plurality of three-dimensional objects randomly oriented within the encapsulant. Each three-dimensional object may include a plurality of characteristics defining at least one statistically unique signature. At least one of the characteristics may be dependent on the orientation of the object. In some instances, the plurality of three-dimensional objects may also be randomly distributed within the encapsulant, and at least one of the characteristics defining at least one statistically unique signature may be dependent on the distribution of the objects.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tag that may include an encapsulant and a plurality of three-dimensional objects randomly oriented within the encapsulant. Each three-dimensional object may include a plurality of characteristics defining at least one statistically unique signature. At least one of the characteristics may be dependent on the orientation of the object. In some instances, the plurality of three-dimensional objects may also be randomly distributed within the encapsulant, and at least one of the characteristics defining at least one statistically unique signature may be dependent on the distribution of the objects.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tag that may include an encapsulant and a plurality of three-dimensional objects randomly oriented within the encapsulant. Each three-dimensional object may include a plurality of characteristics defining at least one statistically unique signature. At least one of the characteristics may be dependent on the orientation of the object. In some instances, the plurality of three-dimensional objects may also be randomly distributed within the encapsulant, and at least one of the characteristics defining at least one statistically unique signature may be dependent on the distribution of the objects.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tag that may include an encapsulant and a plurality of three-dimensional objects randomly oriented within the encapsulant. Each three-dimensional object may include a plurality of characteristics defining at least one statistically unique signature. At least one of the characteristics may be dependent on the orientation of the object. In some instances, the plurality of three-dimensional objects may also be randomly distributed within the encapsulant, and at least one of the characteristics defining at least one statistically unique signature may be dependent on the distribution of the objects.

Abstract: A helical torsion return spring and a throttle body assembly for urging a throttle plate of a throttle body assembly to a default position when a throttle motor of the throttle body assembly is disabled. The return spring includes a middle portion, a first end portion, a second end portion, a first spring leg, and a second spring leg. The throttle body assembly includes a throttle shaft, a first bushing, a second bushing, and the spring defined above. A first end portion center axis defined by the first end portion and a second end portion center axis defined by the second end portion are offset from a middle portion center axis defined by the middle portion.

Abstract: A helical torsion return spring and a throttle body assembly for urging a throttle plate of a throttle body assembly to a default position when a throttle motor of the throttle body assembly is disabled. The return spring includes a middle portion, a first end portion, a second end portion, a first spring leg, and a second spring leg. The throttle body assembly includes a throttle shaft, a first bushing, a second bushing, and the spring defined above. A first end portion center axis defined by the first end portion and a second end portion center axis defined by the second end portion are offset from a middle portion center axis defined by the middle portion.

Abstract: In a method for forming an injection molded manifold, the portion of the mold that forms a septum is modified to provide a substantially thicker septum, preferably about 8.5 mm or greater. In the molding operation, one or more removable slides are inserted through this region of the mold, each slide being preferably about 2.5 mm thick and about 30 mm wide. The septum is cast around the slides which are then withdrawn from the septum after the polymer composite is set, resulting in a septum that is substantially thicker than a prior art septum, comprising first and second plates, each about 3 mm thick, and a plurality of open core voids about 2.5 mm high and about 30 mm wide between the plates. The improved septum is stiffer than a single 4 mm thick prior art septum, has a higher natural frequency, and improves suppression of engine noise.

Abstract: A valve to shaft assembly includes a butterfly-type valve, a pair of bushings receiving the valve and holding the valve in axial position within a housing, and a shaft engaging the valve and the bushings and rotating the bushings in the housing. The bushings include features to hold the valve in position in the bore prior to assembly of the valve and, furthermore, act as rotating bearing surfaces for the valve. The valve to shaft assembly process may be simplified, especially where multiple valves are assembled to a single common drive shaft, such as in a port face charge motion control valve. Furthermore, the valve to shaft assembly provides an axial degree of freedom between valve, drive shaft, and bore, which allows the valve to float on the axis of the drive shaft, to facilitate self centering of the valve in the valve housing.

Abstract: In a method for forming an injection molded manifold, the portion of the mold that forms a septum is modified to provide a substantially thicker septum, preferably about 8.5 mm or greater. In the molding operation, one or more removable slides are inserted through this region of the mold, each slide being preferably about 2.5 mm thick and about 30 mm wide. The septum is cast around the slides which are then withdrawn from the septum after the polymer composite is set, resulting in a septum that is substantially thicker than a prior art septum, comprising first and second plates, each about 3 mm thick, and a plurality of open core voids about 2.5 mm high and about 30 mm wide between the plates. The improved septum is stiffer than a single 4 mm thick prior art septum, has a higher natural frequency, and improves suppression of engine noise.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of operating a channel recommendation system, including, providing a channel recommendation bid interface, receiving a bid request on the interface, and displaying a recommendation link to the channel on at least one user recommendation display device based on the bid request. Real time viewership information may also be used in the operation of the channel recommendation system. The invention further provides a method of operating a shared information system, including, receiving a recorded clip recommendation request, determining a recipient based on the recommendation request, wherein the recipient is a user different from the recommendation source, determining a recorded video clip based on the recommendation request, determining an ad based on a profile associated with the recipient, and associating the determined clip and the determined ad with the recipient. Real time viewership information may also be used in the operation of the shared information system.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for creating, managing, and delivery of feed formatted content. One method includes: receiving a multimedia playlist request including at least one multimedia location indicator, determining at least one multimedia file location based on the at least one multimedia location indicator, and providing a multimedia playlist including at least one of the determined multimedia file locations. A further method includes: sending an authentication request to an authentication node including a first set of user identification information, receiving an authentication reply from the authentication node, providing multimedia location information, receiving a multimedia content request from a user node including a second set of user identification information, determining content ownership based on the first and second sets of user identification information, and providing the multimedia content based on the content request and the determination.

Abstract: A fantasy server system operates a fantasy league including at least one fantasy player whereby one or more fantasy client devices participate in the fantasy league. In operation, the fantasy server system manages fantasy player information of a fantasy player and sponsorship information of the fantasy player on at least one of an individual basis and a team basis. The fantasy server system additionally associates a portion or an entirety of the sponsorship information of the fantasy player to a portion or an entirety of fantasy player information of the fantasy player when presenting both types of information to fantasy client device(s). The association can be feed formatted content and/or a subfeed formatted content.

Abstract: A vane-type throttle valve assembly including a body having a passage therethrough and a pivotable shaft transverse of the passage and supporting a vane for variably restricting the flow of material through the passage. The shaft is disposed in opposing bores in the valve body. Each bore includes an access slot. The valve is assembled by inserting an integrated shaft and vane into the passage, engaging the ends of the shaft into the access slots, and translating the shaft ends in the access slots until the ends of the shaft are positioned in the bores. The shaft is retained in the bores by bushings inserted from outside the valve body. In a currently preferred embodiment, the access slots are formed over an angle from an axis of the bores, and the shaft ends are entered into the bores by rotating the shaft and vane about the passage axis.

Abstract: A vane-type throttle valve assembly including a body having a passage therethrough and a pivotable shaft transverse of the passage and supporting a vane for variably restricting the flow of material through the passage. The shaft is disposed in opposing bores in the valve body. Each bore includes an access slot. The valve is assembled by inserting an integrated shaft and vane into the passage, engaging the ends of the shaft into the access slots, and translating the shaft ends in the access slots until the ends of the shaft are positioned in the bores. The shaft is retained in the bores by bushings inserted from outside the valve body. In a currently preferred embodiment, the access slots are formed over an angle from an axis of the bores, and the shaft ends are entered into the bores by rotating the shaft and vane about the passage axis.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of providing user interest to a potential feed publisher. The method includes providing at least one feed, providing at least one information request feed item in the feed, receiving request information associated with the feed; and providing the request information to a potential feed publisher. The invention further provides a method of providing time sensitive information on a multimedia device. The method includes receiving a multimedia file associated with feed formatted content at a multimedia device, receiving a time activator associated with the multimedia file and the feed formatted content at the multimedia device, storing the multimedia file in association with the time activator at the multimedia device, receiving an information request, determining a time factor, and selectively providing the multimedia file on the multimedia device based on the information request, the time factor, and the time activator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating an on-line market system by receiving a photograph of a plurality of sides of a product, constructing a three dimensional product image from the photographs, and displaying the three dimensional product image in a three dimensional mall representation. Additionally, by receiving at least one product image at a seller's node, storing the product information in a seller's database, constructing a three dimensional store, positioning the product image in the store, constructing a three dimensional mall, positioning the store in the mall, and providing buyer access to the mall from a buyer's node. Also, by opening a plurality of socket connections between a mall network and a buyer, opening a plurality of socket connections between a mall network and a second buyer, and providing a database means to route a network connection between the buyer and second buyer wherein the connection provides bisynchronous.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for facilitating a cooperative purchasing service. One method includes: providing a conditional purchase opportunity including a purchase threshold, providing information associated with the a conditional purchase opportunity to at least one display node, receiving a contingent purchase input from a user having a social network user profile, and associating the conditional purchase opportunity with the user profile. A further method includes: requesting cooperative purchase feed formatted content associated with a social network user account, receiving cooperative purchase feed formatted content including a cooperative purchase offer in response to the request, and providing the a cooperative purchase offer including a social network identifier, at a social network user interface.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including an air intake manifold having a rotary valve for regulating air flow within the manifold. The valve comprises a cylindrical shaft formed of stainless steel and butterfly vanes formed of plastic overmolded onto the shaft. The composite valve has a natural frequency of about 300 Hz and can resonate with engine noise. In accordance with the invention, the valve shaft is additionally provided with one or more sound-absorbing elastomeric dampers, formed preferably of a silicone rubber, that make contact with saddles in the intake manifold for extinguishing harmonic frequency response of the valve below 660 Hz. Preferably, the plastic butterfly vanes also are overcoated with the elastomer to further damp harmonic flexure and wave propagation in the valve.

Abstract: A method of online advertising includes receiving an ad request, determining at least one proxy ad in response to the ad request, and providing the at least one proxy ad, wherein the at least one proxy ad links to a listing page. A method of online advertising includes providing a template ad including a static portion, receiving a request for structured information format data, determining structured information format data based on selection criteria associated with the request, and providing the structured information format data to the template ad based on the determination. A method for advertising with structured information format data feeds including receiving a first request at a structured information format data server, sending structured information format data including an ad from the structured information format data server, the ad including a content aggregator identifier, and determining whether the content aggregator identifier is included in an ad request.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including an air intake manifold having a rotary valve for regulating air flow within the manifold. The valve comprises a cylindrical shaft formed of stainless steel and butterfly vanes formed of plastic overmolded onto the shaft. The composite valve has a natural frequency of about 300 Hz and can resonate with engine noise. In accordance with the invention, the valve shaft is additionally provided with one or more sound-absorbing elastomeric dampers, formed preferably of a silicone rubber, that make contact with saddles in the intake manifold for extinguishing harmonic frequency response of the valve below 660 Hz. Preferably, the plastic butterfly vanes also are overcoated with the elastomer to further damp harmonic flexure and wave propagation in the valve.