Abstract: A data compression method comprises encoding groups of data items by generating, for each group, header data comprising h-bits and a plurality of body portions each comprising b-bits and each body portion corresponding to a data item in the group. The value of h may be fixed for all groups and the value of b is fixed within a group, wherein the header data for a group comprises an indication of b for the body portions of that group. In various examples, b=0 and so there are no body portions. In examples where b is not equal to zero, a body data field is generated for each group by interleaving bits from the body portions corresponding to data items in the group. The resultant encoded data block, comprising the header data and, where present, the body data field can be written to memory.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with instructions executed by a processor maintains different digital identities for different internet browsing personas associated with a real user. Persona selection rules are invoked to automatically designate a selected digital identity for a current internet browsing session. Browser state for the selected digital identity is loaded.

Abstract: A data compression method comprises encoding groups of data items by generating, for each group, header data comprising h-bits and a plurality of body portions each comprising b-bits and each body portion corresponding to a data item in the group. The value of h may be fixed for all groups and the value of b is fixed within a group, wherein the header data for a group comprises an indication of b for the body portions of that group. In various examples, b=0 and so there are no body portions. In examples where b is not equal to zero, a body data field is generated for each group by interleaving bits from the body portions corresponding to data items in the group. The resultant encoded data block, comprising the header data and, where present, the body data field can be written to memory.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods of modulating the length of one or more cotton fibers in a plant by contacting the plant or tissue derived therefrom with at least one of: a nucleotide; a modulator of ectoapyrase gene transcription; or an anti-ectoapyrase antibody or fragments thereof, at a concentration that modulates growth of one or more cotton fibers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device and method of operation thereof relating to a manufacturing test block with a plug that has a contaminant within the plug. The manufacturing test block contains a plurality of apertures and a plug with a contaminant within it that is to be sensed by a detector. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a manufacturing test block that is customizable in shape to a customer's needs that can be placed on a conveyor system in order to test for contaminants within the conveyor line full of packaged products while not interrupting the other packages.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable storage medium has instructions executed by a processor to maintain a digital wallet with digital identities. Each digital identity has identity attributes different than identity attributes associated with a real individual utilizing the digital identity, an associated attribute for compartmentalized network activity, a digital identity key pair, and a designated block chain. Interactions between the digital identities of the digital wallet and a digital identity services platform are supported.

Abstract: An apparatus has a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to store identity attributes including real identity attributes for a real individual and at least two sets of digital identity attributes each operative as a personal privacy proxy with compartmental identity attributes. The at least two sets of digital identity attributes each include a digital identity name, a digital identity mobile device number and a digital identity email address. The at least two sets of digital identity attributes are evaluated to produce a similarity measure. The real individual is provided with a recommendation based upon the similarity measure.

Abstract: An apparatus has a persona services platform in communication with a user device via a network and a selected isolation browser provider via the network. The persona services platform is configured to receive from the user device a request for an isolation browser. The selected isolation browser provider is designated from a pool of isolation browser providers. Isolation browser configuration information is requested from the selected isolation browser provider. The isolation browser configuration information is augmented with persona specific configuration information to form complete isolation browser configuration information. The complete isolation browser configuration information is sent to the user device.

Abstract: A system and method for coherency gathering for rays in a ray tracing system. The ray tracing system uses a hierarchical acceleration structure comprising a plurality of nodes including upper level nodes and lower level nodes. For each instance where one of the lower level nodes is a child of one of the upper level nodes, an instance transform is defined, specifying the relationship between a first coordinate system of the upper level node and the second coordinate system for that instance of the lower level node. The system provides an instance transform cache for storing a plurality of these instance transforms while conducting intersection testing.

Abstract: An apparatus has a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to compute computer network activity reputation attributes for a digital identity. The digital identity has identity attributes different than identity attributes associated with a real individual utilizing the digital identity for computer network activity. The storage of the computer network activity reputation attributes for the digital identity is coordinated within a block chain system distributed across a block chain network of computers. Computer network activity reputation attributes for the digital identity are supplied in response to a request from a machine. The computer network activity reputation attributes are communicated over a network of computers to the machine.

Abstract: A machine has a network interface circuit to provide connectivity to networked machines. A processor is connected to the network interface circuit. A memory is connected to the processor and the network interface circuit. The memory stores cryptographically protected data, an identity management contract and identity stewards specifying individuals to administer the identity management contract. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to receive a request to identify a legal identity for a digital identity, collect from certain networked machines, via the network interface circuit, consent from the identity stewards, where the consent includes cryptographic identity packets. The cryptographic identity packets are combined to render the legal identity for the digital identity. Transaction data specifying the legal identity for the digital identity is supplied. The transaction data is recorded to a distributed ledger associated with at least a subset of the networked machines.

Abstract: A data compression method comprises encoding groups of data items by generating, for each group, header data comprising h-bits and a plurality of body portions each comprising b-bits and each body portion corresponding to a data item in the group. The value of h may be fixed for all groups and the value of b is fixed within a group, wherein the header data for a group comprises an indication of b for the body portions of that group. In various examples, b=0 and so there are no body portions. In examples where b is not equal to zero, a body data field is generated for each group by interleaving bits from the body portions corresponding to data items in the group. The resultant encoded data block, comprising the header data and, where present, the body data field can be written to memory.

Abstract: Provided is a process for lamella thinning and endpointing that substitutes a series of automated small angle tilts for the motions in the conventional endpointing sequence. STEM images or through-surface BSE scans are acquired at each tilt. The results are analyzed automatically to determine feature depths, and an intervention request is made requesting a user decision based on marked-up images and summary information displayed.

Abstract: A data compression method comprises encoding groups of data items by generating, for each group, header data comprising h-bits and a plurality of body portions each comprising b-bits and each body portion corresponding to a data item in the group. The value of h may be fixed for all groups and the value of b is fixed within a group, wherein the header data for a group comprises an indication of b for the body portions of that group. In various examples, b=0 and so there are no body portions. In examples where b is not equal to zero, a body data field is generated for each group by interleaving bits from the body portions corresponding to data items in the group. The resultant encoded data block, comprising the header data and, where present, the body data field can be written to memory.

Abstract: A machine has a network interface circuit to provide connectivity to networked machines. A processor is connected to the network interface circuit. A memory is connected to the processor and the network interface circuit. The memory stores cryptographically protected data, a data access policy and a steward group specifying individuals to administer the data access policy. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to receive a request to access the cryptographically protected data. Authentication tokens from individuals in the steward group are collected. It is determined that the authentication tokens satisfy the data access policy to establish a data access state. A decrypted version of the cryptographically protected data is supplied to one or more of the networked machines to establish a transaction. The transaction is recorded with a distributed ledger associated with at least a subset of the networked machines.

Abstract: An apparatus has a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to store identity attributes including real identity attributes for a real individual and a digital identity with digital identity data attributes operative as a personal privacy proxy for the real individual. Web site input forms are automatically filled alternately using the real identity attributes and the digital identity attributes.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to store identity attributes including real identity attributes for a real individual and a digital identity with digital identity data attributes operative as a personal privacy proxy for the real individual. A digital identity management system is hosted to communicate with digital identity applications that observe a common application program interface. Each digital identity application implements at least one digital network function for the digital identity.

Abstract: A data compression method comprises encoding groups of data items by generating, for each group, header data comprising h-bits and a plurality of body portions each comprising b-bits and each body portion corresponding to a data item in the group. The value of h may be fixed for all groups and the value of b is fixed within a group, wherein the header data for a group comprises an indication of b for the body portions of that group. In various examples, b=0 and so there are no body portions. In examples where b is not equal to zero, a body data field is generated for each group by interleaving bits from the body portions corresponding to data items in the group. The resultant encoded data block, comprising the header data and, where present, the body data field can be written to memory.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods of modulating the length of one or more cotton fibers in a plant by contacting the plant or tissue derived therefrom with at least one of: a nucleotide; a modulator of ectoapyrase gene transcription; or an anti-ectoapyrase antibody or fragments thereof, at a concentration that modulates growth of one or more cotton fibers.