Abstract: A system and method for sharing music in a social network are provided. Namely, computer processors are configured to receive audio media files as individual tracks from users, receive selections of a portion of each track to highlight from the users themselves, and play such highlighted portions in a continuous feed of highlighted portions of other user-supplied tracks. Tracks may be automatically associated with online profiles of the uploading user as well as, upon request, other users. The system and method may be configured to algorithmically correlate information that qualifies whether and to what extent users of the system “like” each track—or user-artists more generally—and uses such correlations to both identify trends within the social network and present track suggestions to its users.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for decoupling an element that is bonded to a surface by an adhesive are provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a body, a first spool that is rotationally coupled to the body, and a cable having a first cable end portion that is coupled to the first spool, a second cable end portion that is coupled to the body, and a cable intermediate portion that is disposed between the first cable end portion and the second cable end portion. The apparatus is configured to be positioned adjacent to at least one of the element and the surface with the cable intermediate portion disposed adjacent to the adhesive such that when the first spool is rotated, the cable wraps about the first spool, thereby pulling the cable intermediate portion through the adhesive.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for decoupling an element that is bonded to a surface by an adhesive are provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a body, a first spool that is rotationally coupled to the body, and a cable having a first cable end portion that is coupled to the first spool, a second cable end portion that is coupled to the body, and a cable intermediate portion that is disposed between the first cable end portion and the second cable end portion. The apparatus is configured to be positioned adjacent to at least one of the element and the surface with the cable intermediate portion disposed adjacent to the adhesive such that when the first spool is rotated, the cable wraps about the first spool, thereby pulling the cable intermediate portion through the adhesive.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for avatar-based augmented reality electronic messaging provides for a plurality of avatars and avatar customization options, wherein a user may customize an avatar in an augmented reality environment, add audio file data, and send the customized avatar and the audio to a recipient as a customized avatar message. In some embodiments, the customized avatar message may be sent as a message bubble notification. The user may receive the customized avatar message and play it back in the recipient's augmented reality viewer. In some embodiments, the present invention may provide for bubble notifications and third-party avatars within the present invention's augmented reality field of view that may serve as starting points for geogamification functions, may direct users to an e-commerce platform, or may link to other content, such as an audio file, a video file, or social media content.

Abstract: A switching of direct deposit payment destination account with a single action is initiated by a user of a finance service. A server system receives user information from a client system, assigns a client identifier to the client system, and associates the assigned client identifier with the received user information. The server system sends to the client system the assigned client identifier and information identifying the employer for one or more direct deposit payment and including a switch button. The client system receives and stores the assigned client identifier and receives and displays the information to the user. In response to activation of the switch button, the client system sends to the server system a request to switch the identified payment to the financial services account information on the server system. The server system generates a direct deposit switching request in accordance with the requirements of the employer.

Abstract: A system and method that provides a connection path between a video source such as a personal computer (PC) and a high-definition television (HDTV). A control is provided for varying a quality level of a video signal with respect to latency of activities provided through the video signal channel. Output picture quality versus latency is adjusted on a dynamic basis. Observed mouse activities causes the output picture quality to be decreased rapidly with an attendant decrease in latency. A decrease in output picture quality and latency is maintained until the occurrence of a particular event, such as the expiration of a time interval from a last observed mouse event. If a limited number of mouse events are observed, then the output picture quality is increased to a point at which the limited mouse activity can be accommodated with an acceptable level of latency.

Abstract: A video controller broadcasts input video through a premises media, such as a coaxial cable to one or more premises televisions or television channels. When a PC provides the input video, a mode change may occur to direct the video to the PC monitor or to the broadcast output. The video resolution of the PC is set to provide a desired digital television resolution with broadcast video. An audio driver may be used to provide USB audio output from the PC. When the PC monitor or broadcast output is selected for video output, the non-selected output is disabled or provided with a video indication that another video output is active. An EDID can be captured from the PC or PC monitor to assist with mode changes and setting PC video resolution. The input video may be provided directly from a digital video source and broadcast to selected televisions or channels.

Abstract: A system and method that provides a connection path between a video source such as a personal computer (PC) and a high-definition television (HDTV). A control is provided for varying a quality level of a video signal with respect to latency of activities provided through the video signal channel. Output picture quality versus latency is adjusted on a dynamic basis. Observed mouse activities causes the output picture quality to be decreased rapidly with an attendant decrease in latency. A decrease in output picture quality and latency is maintained until the occurrence of a particular event, such as the expiration of a time interval from a last observed mouse event. If a limited number of mouse events are observed, then the output picture quality is increased to a point at which the limited mouse activity can be accommodated with an acceptable level of latency.

Abstract: A video controller broadcasts input video through a premises media, such as a coaxial cable to one or more premises televisions or television channels. When a PC provides the input video, a mode change may occur to direct the video to the PC monitor or to the broadcast output. The video resolution of the PC is set to provide a desired digital television resolution with broadcast video. An audio driver may be used to provide USB audio output from the PC. When the PC monitor or broadcast output is selected for video output, the non-selected output is disabled or provided with a video indication that another video output is active. An EDID can be captured from the PC or PC monitor to assist with mode changes and setting PC video resolution. The input video may be provided directly from a digital video source and broadcast to selected televisions or channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for enabling a vehicle having adaptive cruise control to reduce its speed in a turn according to the vehicle's position within the turn as well as ignoring objects detected during the turn that are not in the vehicle's path. The method of the present invention includes the steps of operating the vehicle in an adaptive cruise control mode such that the vehicle is traveling at a set speed; determining whether the vehicle is in a turn in the vehicle's path by detecting change in the vehicle's lateral acceleration; and when the vehicle is determined to be in the turn, reducing the vehicle's speed according to the vehicle's position in the turn, monitoring for objects and maintaining the vehicle's speed if an object is positioned out of the path of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for managing usage of a plurality of local area networks by a plurality of subscribers. Each subscriber is associated with one of a plurality of retail service providers. The subscribers each have a terminal for accessing one or more of the local area networks. For each attempt by one of the plurality of subscribers to access one of the plurality of local area networks, the method includes the steps of: (a) receiving at a gateway at a wholesale service provider network a request from the one of the plurality of local area networks for authenticating the one of the plurality of subscribers.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing usage of a plurality of local area networks by a plurality of subscribers associated with a service provider. The subscribers have terminals for accessing the local area networks. The terminals each have a client program for communicating with a service provider network.

Abstract: An internetworking system for exchanging packets of information between networks, the system comprising a network interface module for connecting a network to the system, receiving packets from the network in a native packet format used by the network and converting each received native packet to a packet having a generic format common to all networks connected to the system, and converting each of the generic packets to the native packet format for transmission to the network; a communication channel for carrying the generic packets to and from the network interface module, the channel having bandwidth; a first processing module for controlling dynamic allocation and deallocation of the channel bandwidth to the network connected to the system via the network interface module; and a second processing module for receiving all of the generic packets put on the channel by the network interface module, determining a destination network interface module for each of the generic packets on the channel, determining w