Abstract: System, method, and device for maximizing brightness of solid-state illuminators while minimizing power usage based on individual scene contents. An embodiment varies power to each of the solid-state illuminators (red, green, & blue) based on the scene content that is being displayed optimizing the non-linear brightness response of solid-state illuminators.

Abstract: Techniques for improved management of charity calling programs are described. According to various embodiments, a request from a caller to participate in a charity call program associated with a particular charitable organization is received. A recipient that is currently not assigned to a caller associated with the charity call program is identified, based on an electronic recipient call list. Contact information associated with the recipient is then provided to the caller. Thereafter, it is determined that the caller has successfully communicated with the specific recipient. The electronic recipient call list is then updated to indicate that the caller has successfully communicated with the specific recipient.

Abstract: A computer receives a request to search one or more secondary documents. At least one of the secondary documents is associated with a primary document. The computer searches at least a subset of the secondary documents for documents that satisfy the search request and identifies at least one secondary document that satisfies the search request.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reduced bandwidth pulse width modulation are disclosed. A system includes a digital controller circuit coupled to a data interface, the digital controller circuit configured to receive image data for display and further configured to encode line data for transmission to a spatial light modulator using a data compression scheme; and the spatial light modulator coupled to the data interface and configured to receive encoded data and to decode the encoded data to produce unencoded data corresponding to pixel data for display on an array of pixel elements in the spatial light modulator; wherein data transmitted from the digital controller circuit to the spatial light modulator further comprises encoded data that is formed from bit planes using a data compression scheme to form partial lines of data. Additional methods and apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling air flow in an engine system. In one embodiment, the system includes an engine, a turbocharger coupled to the engine, and a compressor bypass valve coupled to the turbocharger and to the engine. The compressor bypass valve includes a mechanism that allows the compressor bypass valve to be closed by default and allows the compressor bypass valve to be actuated passively when acted upon by a boost pressure when the boost pressure increases above a predefined pressure threshold. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the compressor bypass valve is passive, and thus controls air flow to the engine without requiring active control circuitry or logic.

Abstract: Data representing animated hair in a computer generated imagery (CGI) scene may be compressed by treating hair data as arrays of parameters. Hair data parameters may include control vertices, hair color, hair radius, and the like. A principal component analysis (PCA) may be performed on the arrays of hair data. PCA may yield new basis vectors, varying in length, with the largest basis vector corresponding to a new dimension with the largest variance in hair data. The hair data may be quantized based on the varying lengths of new basis vectors. The number of bits allocated for quantizing each new dimension corresponding to each new basis vector may be determined based on the relative lengths of new basis vectors, with more bits allocated to dimensions corresponding to longer basis vectors. The quantized hair data may be bit-packed and then compressed using lossless entropy encoding.

Abstract: A computer retrieves a document from a data source, wherein the document has a structure type. The computer generates a customized data model for the document in accordance with its structure type. The computer identifies one or more candidate chunks within the customized data model in accordance with a set of heuristic rules associated with the structure type.

Abstract: After receiving a first user request including a first set of search keywords, a computer identifies a first set of chunks within multiple documents, wherein each chunk includes terms matching the first set of search keywords, and displays at least a portion of the first set of chunks, including highlighting the terms matching the first set of search keywords in the displayed portion in a first manner. After receiving a second user request to search among the documents for documents that satisfy a second set of search keywords, the computer identifies a second set of chunks within the documents, wherein each chunk includes terms matching the second set of search keywords, and displays at least a portion of the second set of chunks, including highlighting the terms matching the second set of search keywords in the displayed portion in a second manner that is different from the first manner.

Abstract: Data representing animated hair in a computer generated imagery (CGI) scene may be compressed by treating hair data as arrays of parameters. Hair data parameters may include control vertices, hair color, hair radius, and the like. A principal component analysis (PCA) may be performed on the arrays of hair data. PCA may yield new basis vectors, varying in length, with the largest basis vector corresponding to a new dimension with the largest variance in hair data. The hair data may be quantized based on the varying lengths of new basis vectors. The number of bits allocated for quantizing each new dimension corresponding to each new basis vector may be determined based on the relative lengths of new basis vectors, with more bits allocated to dimensions corresponding to longer basis vectors. The quantized hair data may be bit-packed and then compressed using lossless entropy encoding.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for determining the originality of data content. In one embodiment, the determined originality of a particular item (e.g., a book) as compared to one or more other items can be used as a factor in recommending the item to a user. For example, in one embodiment, upon a user's selection of an item (e.g., a book), one or more items that have content most diverse from the selected item are determined and provided to the user. In another embodiment, various versions of an item are compared to each other to determine how content in each version differs from that in another version. In another embodiment, content in a collection of items are compared against content from publicly (freely) available sources (e.g., web pages) to determine the originality of the content in the collection of items.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed of removing heat generated by lighting, e.g., in an indoor grow environment. An example method includes providing a first manifold with an inlet to receive cool air, and a plurality of outlets. The example method also includes providing a second manifold with a plurality of inlets to receive air, and an outlet. The example method also includes providing ducts connecting the outlets of the first manifold to the inlets of the second manifold. The example method also includes connecting the ducts to lighting fixtures of the indoor grow environment, for air to move through the ducts. The example method also includes providing an air mover to pull air through the manifolds and ducts and remove heated air from an area of the lighting fixtures.

Abstract: A computer identifies multiple resource identifiers in accordance with a first set of predefined criteria for selecting a respective document that satisfies user-specified search keywords from a user. Each resource identifier corresponds to a document at a respective data source. For at least one of the resource identifiers, the computer retrieves the corresponding document from the respective document source; identifies within the retrieved document a chunk by applying a second set of predefined criteria to the retrieved document; and provides the identified chunk and a link to the identified chunk within the document for display to the user. The first set of predefined criteria requires that at least a first subset of the search keywords be found within an identified respective document, and the second set of predefined criteria requires that at least a second subset of the search keywords be found within an identified chunk.

Abstract: A computerized system and method are presented for exchanging information between a buyer, a seller, a lender, and a strategic business source. The system permits sellers, lenders and strategic business sources to input buyers that are then submitted for activation. The buyers use the system to obtain information about items, while the sellers, lenders, and strategic business sources make consistent contact with the buyer in order to work with the buyer. Information about the buyers is shared with the sellers, lenders, and strategic business sources. A business plan is input into the system for the financial institution employing the lender while another business plan is input for the seller institution employing the seller. Activity on the computerized system is calculated for compliance with the business plan. Feedback is provided to management relating to whether the business plan is being met.

Abstract: A computerized system and method are presented for exchanging information between a buyer, a seller, a lender, and a strategic business source. The system permits sellers, lenders and strategic business sources to input buyers that are then submitted for activation. The buyers use the system to obtain information about items, while the sellers, lenders, and strategic business sources make consistent contact with the buyer in order to work with the buyer. Information about the buyers is shared with the sellers, lenders, and strategic business sources. A business plan is input into the system for the financial institution employing the lender while another business plan is input for the seller institution employing the seller. Activity on the computerized system is calculated for compliance with the business plan. Feedback is provided to management relating to whether the business plan is being met.

Abstract: A computer receives a first set of information items from a first content provider and a second set of information items from a second content provider. For each of the first and second sets of information items, the computer retrieves the document identified by the corresponding document link from a respective remote location. The computer applies a first (or second) set of search criteria to each of the first and second sets of information items and its associated documents to generate a first (or second) set of search result wherein the first and second sets of search criteria are different. The computer associates a first channel with the first set of search results and a second channel with the second set of search results.

Abstract: A wraparound sleeve having a stand-up feature or tab is disclosed. The sleeve can be wrapped around a container and can cooperate with a front flange portion of the container to provide the container in an upright display position. The tab of the sleeve extends from an exposed edge of the sleeve transverse to a wrapping direction of the sleeve when assembled to support the package in a vertical or inclined viewing position.

Abstract: A wraparound sleeve having a stand-up feature or tab is disclosed. The sleeve can be wrapped around a container and can cooperate with a front flange portion of the container to provide the container in an upright display position. The tab of the sleeve extends from an exposed edge of the sleeve transverse to a wrapping direction of the sleeve when assembled to support the package in a vertical or inclined viewing position.

Abstract: A computerized system and method is presented that allows selling agents to market a listing agent's distressed property listings even though the selling agents work for a different broker than the listing agent. The owner of the property may restrict the selling agents that may market their property. In one embodiment, the owner selects a qualified lender, and the pool of selling agents who may market that property is limited to selling agents who are associated in the computerized system with the qualified lender. The system allows selling agents to schedule open houses for distressed properties listed by the listing agent, with the system preventing two selling agents from scheduling open houses that conflict with one another. The system tracks the marketing activity of agents, which can be used to suggest listing agents to owners, or to restrict the ability of selling agents to market properties.