Abstract: An approach to improving system availability. Availability data for individual resources may be obtained from configuration templates and stored in an Availability Graph. The graph is traversed to calculate availability statistics at a grouped component and at an overall architecture level and grouping components level. Revisions may be made to enhance overall availability levels, and the revised Availability Graph can also be exported as an implementable configuration file. As a result, this solution provides a structured way to detect and resolve availability bottlenecks.

Abstract: An approach to improving system availability. Availability data for individual resources may be obtained from configuration templates and stored in an Availability Graph. The graph is traversed to calculate availability statistics at a grouped component and at an overall architecture level and grouping components level. Revisions may be made to enhance overall availability levels, and the revised Availability Graph can also be exported as an implementable configuration file. As a result, this solution provides a structured way to detect and resolve availability bottlenecks.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining the presence of immobilized nucleic acid employing unsymmetrical cyanine dyes that are derivatives of thiazole orange, a staining solution and select fluorogenic compounds that are characterized as being essentially non-genotoxic. The methods comprise immobilizing nucleic acid, single or double stranded DNA, RNA or a combination thereof, on a solid or semi solid support, contacting the immobilized nucleic acid with an unsymmetrical cyanine dye compound and then illuminating the immobilized nucleic acid with an appropriate wavelength whereby the presence of the nucleic acid is determined. The cyanine dye compounds are typically present in an aqueous staining solution comprising the dye compound and a tris acetate or tris borate buffer wherein the solution facilitates the contact of the dye compound and the immobilized nucleic acid.

Abstract: A thermal mass flow measuring apparatus comprises a sheath having an interior surface and a protective exterior surface. A liquid material having a thermal conductivity greater than about 12 w/(m·° C.) is disposed within the sheath in contact with the interior surface of the sheath. A sensor element, such as a thin-film thermoresistive element or a wire-wound thermoresistive element is at least partially submerged in the liquid material. The liquid material, which is preferably liquid metal, decreases the overall thermal resistance between the outer surface of the sheath and the sensor element.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying and reporting project completion information of a large-scale project having a number of individual subprojects. A rollup agent is employed for acquiring project completion information from a number of subproject databases to provide overall project-wide display and reporting capabilities. The rollup agent collects and organizes the information, and stores it on a rollup database. The rollup agent also interacts with a user to select aspects of any subprojects to report or display. The rollup agent then creates and stores reports of the selected information, or displays the report interactively as a pop-up summary report or a spreadsheet format report to a user. A number of scheduled agents provide scheduled reporting at the subproject level. A number of on demand agents provides the interactive database view, pop-up reporting and spreadsheet reporting for each of the individual subprojects.

Abstract: A flexible, scalable hardware input device for interacting with a variety of devices ranging from a phone, to a media playback device to a steering wheel or a tablet PC is provided. The input device includes a set of mechanical input controls, each mapping to one or more independent functions and a set of touch sensitive input control areas (e.g., capacitive), where each touch sensitive input control area receives touch input independently. In addition, one or more of the touch sensitive input control areas interchangeably overlay one or more of the mechanical input controls, whereby interaction with the touch sensitive input control areas is processed together to determine a corresponding function for controlling the application, service or computing device.

Abstract: A cable user interface, such as a cable for audio headphones, enables control of one or more aspects of operation of a device to which such cable is connected. A user touches/applies pressure to the cable user interface, either along the full length of the cable, or to a localized part of the cable, in order to control the device. A mechanism is included for interfacing the pressure sensitive controller(s) to the device so that pressure/touch applied by a user can be translated to control of the device. In one embodiment, a headphone cable itself is an input device for volume and playback control of a portable media player.

Abstract: The invention provides an enhanced video based surveillance system for use in the surveillance of a zone. The system firstly comprises the step of generating and storing an initial background image (14) of the zone wherein such image is composed of constant background features. Secondly the stored background image is used to partition incoming video images of the zone into segments visually representative of foreground features (16) and background features respectively. Finally foreground features are digitally enhanced (18) relative to the background features in the images, thereby to attract visual attention to such foreground features. The invention further extends to a video motion detection system incorporating the use of stereo calibrated digital cameras.

Abstract: An active preview is played while navigating media items. The active preview automatically provides a user with more information about the media item such that they may more easily determine its content before having to commit to playing it back fully or navigating deeper into the media item. The active preview may be a selected segment of the media item, a random selection from the media item, or some other media content that is associated with the media item, such as a commercial or a trailer. The active preview may be for a single media item or may be for a collection of media items. The active preview may be shown automatically or may be shown based on an event, such as an event relating to the navigation through the media items.

Abstract: A method and system for supporting an emergency call is disclosed. The method includes initiating (302) an emergency call through an Internet Protocol (IP) based system (108). The method further includes receiving (304) authorization for restricted access to the resources of the IP based system, only for the purpose of making the emergency call.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying and reporting project completion information of a large-scale project having a number of individual subprojects. A rollup agent is employed for acquiring project completion information from a number of subproject databases to provide overall project-wide display and reporting capabilities. The rollup agent collects and organizes the information, and stores it on a rollup database. The rollup agent also interacts with a user to select aspects of any subprojects to report or display. The rollup agent then creates and stores reports of the selected information, or displays the report interactively as a pop-up summary report or a spreadsheet format report to a user. A number of scheduled agents provide scheduled reporting at the subproject level. A number of on demand agents provides the interactive database view, pop-up reporting and spreadsheet reporting for each of the individual subprojects.

Abstract: A method for mutual authentication in a mobile wireless communication network (100) that includes the steps of: verifying a second authenticating device (20) by a mobile node (30) based on a first authentication between the mobile node and a first authenticating device (10); and verifying the mobile node by the second authenticating device based on the first authentication, whereby the mobile node and the second authenticating device perform a second authentication.