Abstract: A fluid-based radial distribution system includes an internal passageway and a plurality of openings radially spaced around the internal passageway. A plurality of gate members are associated with at least some of the plurality of openings, with the gate members are configured to move between an open position that allows product to move through the opening associated with that gate member and a closed position that restricts product from moving through the opening associated with that gate member.

Abstract: Provided are infrared reflective films comprising a substrate and at least one infrared reflective layer comprising an aminium radical cation compound in a crystalline state and an organic polymer, wherein the infrared reflective layer has a reflectance peak in the infrared region from 1250 nm to 1700 nm. Such infrared films are stable in their optical properties against degradation by light and moisture. Also provided are solar control window films, security markings, and other optical articles comprising such infrared reflective films. Further provided are methods for making such infrared reflective films.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light-emitting apparatus and a method by which a crowd-based display is created wherein each light-emitting apparatus represents one of many independently moving pixels in the crowd-based display. This invention also provides methods, both internal and external to the light-emitting apparatus, by which the visual display sequence is controlled to provide various forms of colorful illumination. This invention discloses a shock wave method, a time-synchronized playback method, and a laser-based actuation method for creating the visual displays of illumination.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides a system and associated methods of calibration and use for an interactive imaging environment based on the optimization of parameters used in various segmentation algorithm techniques. These methods address the challenge of automatically calibrating an interactive imaging system, so that it is capable of aligning human body motion, or the like, to a visual display. As such the present invention provides a system and method of automatically and rapidly aligning the motion of an object to a visual display.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides a system and associated methods of calibration and use for an interactive imaging environment based on the optimization of parameters used in various segmentation algorithm techniques. These methods address the challenge of automatically calibrating an interactive imaging system, so that it is capable of aligning human body motion, or the like, to a visual display. As such the present invention provides a system and method of automatically and rapidly aligning the motion of an object to a visual display.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for enabling meaningful body-to-body interaction with virtual video-based characters or objects in an interactive imaging environment including: capturing a corpus of video-based interaction data, processing the captured video using a segmentation process that corresponds to the capture setup in order to generate binary video data, labeling the corpus by assigning a description to clips of silhouette video, processing the labeled corpus of silhouette motion data to extract horizontal and vertical projection histograms for each frame of silhouette data, and estimating the motion state automatically from each frame of segmentation data using the processed model. Virtual characters or objects are represented using video captured from video-based motion, thereby creating the illusion of real characters or objects in an interactive imaging experience.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light-emitting apparatus and a method by which a crowd-based display is created wherein each light-emitting apparatus represents one of many independently moving pixels in the crowd-based display. This invention also provides methods, both internal and external to the light-emitting apparatus, by which the visual display sequence is controlled to provide various forms of colorful illumination. This invention discloses a shock wave method, a time-synchronized playback method, and a laser-based actuation method for creating the visual displays of illumination.

Abstract: Methods and systems of interpretation of a trending term to develop a media content channel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes interpreting a trending term to identify an association parameter when the trending term is received. In addition, the method also includes algorithmically determining a media attribute associated with the trending term using a computer process. The method also includes updating a channel with a related media content comprised of the media attribute. The media attribute may include a metadata, a visual data and/or an audio data. The trending term may be interpreted using an internal capturing and/or an external capturing when the trending term is received. The method may also include displaying the channel to a viewer using a cable transmission, a network, a wireless transmission, and/or a local storage medium.

Abstract: A radial distribution system includes a base member for receiving product for distribution to a plurality of conveyors, a plurality of gate members radially-spaced around the base member and configured to move between an open position and a closed position, and a vibration member configured to vibrate the base member. The vibration causes product received on the base member to move on the base member in a substantially circular manner.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to organic reflective layers comprising an organic radical cation compound, wherein the layer reflects in the infrared region. Preferably, the organic radical cation compound is a salt of an aminium radical cation. Provided are solar window films comprising such infrared reflective layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light-emitting apparatus and a method by which a crowd-based display is created wherein each light-emitting apparatus represents one of many independently moving pixels in the crowd-based display. This invention also provides methods, both internal and external to the light-emitting apparatus, by which the visual display sequence is controlled to provide various forms of colorful illumination. This invention discloses a shock wave method, a time-synchronized playback method, and a laser-based actuation method for creating the visual displays of illumination.

Abstract: A sensory integration therapy system and method in the treatment of developmental, emotional, psychiatric, and physical disabilities is provided. The system includes an image generator for creating or projecting an artistic image, optionally, a display medium for displaying the artistic image, and one or more illumination energy devices for flooding a field of view in front of the artistic image with illumination energy and an image sensor for detecting the illumination energy. The system includes a computer vision engine for detecting the user(s) in front of the artistic image and segmenting the user(s) and a background, thereby providing markerless or markered motion capture, a computer interaction engine for inserting an abstraction related to the user(s) and/or the background, and a computer rendering engine for modifying the artistic image in response to the presence and/or motion of the user(s), providing user interaction with the artistic image in a virtual environment.

Abstract: A method and system for the electronic distribution of product or service promotion information to a mobile user are disclosed. A user may provide profile information to an online promotion service, such as user interests and preferences with respect to products and services as well as other information. The online promotion service may receive location information of point-of-sale facilities associated with particular promotions for products or services. The online promotion service may generate one or more targeted promotions to a mobile user when the user travels within a predetermined distance of an associated point-of-sale facility. A mobile user's location may be identified by a global positioning system and conveyed to the online promotion service. The user location information may be transmitted via a cell phone, a PDA, a pager or other device. This enables the user to take advantage of targeted or requested promotions while the user is within a close proximity to an associated point-of-sale facility.

Abstract: A method and system for generating electronic advertisement, such as banner ads, based on user profile information and other information are disclosed. An online promotion service may receive profile information, location information and other information from a user. The user may also define a proximity preference which may include a range of distance the user is willing to travel to redeem one or more promotions. A service or product provider or other authorized entity may define a proximity preference which may include a target range of advertisement exposure. The online promotion service may present advertisements for incentives and other promotions based on user profile information as well as proximity preference information where the proximity preference is defined by the user, the provider, or both.

Abstract: An improved system and method for improving complex storage locks that manage access to a shared resource. A FIFO queue is maintained for processes waiting to read or write to the shared resource. When the shared resource is available, the first item is read from the queue. If the first item is a write requestor, the requestor is woken up in order to request the lock. If the first item on the queue is a read requestor, then that read requestor is woken up along with any other read requestors read from the queue until a write requestor is encountered or the end of the queue is reached. When the write wanted flag is set, new read requestors are denied access to the read lock, however any read requestors that were woken up in order to use the read lock are granted a read lock.

Abstract: An improved system and method for improving complex storage locks that manage access to a shared resource. A FIFO queue is maintained for processes waiting to read or write to the shared resource. When the shared resource is available, the first item is read from the queue. If the first item is a write requester, the requestor is woken up in order to request the lock. If the first item on the queue is a read requester, then that read requester is woken up along with any other read requesters read from the queue until a write requestor is encountered or the end of the queue is reached. When the write wanted flag is set, new read requesters are denied access to the read lock, however any read requesters that were woken up in order to use the read lock are granted a read lock.

Abstract: A CMOS integrated circuit output terminal driver subcircuit (60) provides quick response at an output terminal (56) of an integrated circuit (50) while preventing reverse current leakage when an external high voltage, which exceeds the positive internal circuit source voltage of the integrated circuit, is imposed on the output terminal (56). The output driver subcircuit (60) additionally provides an output voltage at the output terminal that is only nominally below the internal circuit source voltage. A p-channel MOS pull-up transistor (62) is operably connected to the output terminal (56) to selectively drive it substantially to the internal circuit source voltage. A leakage prevention device (66), comprising a native n-channel transistor (68) with a low turn-on threshold voltage, is connected in series with the pull-up transistor (62) to prevent output terminal reverse current leakage back through the pull-up transistor (62) when the external high voltage is imposed upon the output terminal (56).