Abstract: Networked product containers such as vending machines identify the presence of a potential customer via sensors, and present customized interactive marketing content to consumers. Consumers interact with a touch screen to win prizes, make purchases, or have a fun and interactive experience. The prizes and purchases offered by the product container may be determined by the product container or by one or more content servers in communication with the container. The content server may also provide digital content for display on the product container and remotely update the product container's content. The networked product container also includes a wireless access point to provide nearby wireless-enabled devices network connectivity via the product container.

Abstract: Networked product containers such as vending machines identify the presence of a potential customer via sensors, and present customized interactive marketing content to consumers. Consumers interact with a touch screen to win prizes, make purchases, or have a fun and interactive experience. The prizes and purchases offered by the product container may be determined by the product container or by one or more content servers in communication with the container. The content server may also provide digital content for display on the product container and remotely update the product container's content. The networked product container also includes a wireless access point to provide nearby wireless-enabled devices network connectivity via the product container.

Abstract: Networked product containers such as vending machines identify the presence of a potential customer via sensors, and present customized interactive marketing content to consumers. Consumers interact with a touch screen to win prizes, make purchases, or have a fun and interactive experience. The prizes and purchases offered by the product container may be determined by the product container or by one or more content servers in communication with the container. The content server may also provide digital content for display on the product container and remotely update the product container's content. The networked product container also includes a wireless access point to provide nearby wireless-enabled devices network connectivity via the product container.

Abstract: Networked product containers such as vending machines identify the presence of a potential customer via sensors, and present customized interactive marketing content to consumers. Consumers interact with a touch screen to win prizes, make purchases, or have a fun and interactive experience. The prizes and purchases offered by the product container may be determined by the product container or by one or more content servers in communication with the container. The content server may also provide digital content for display on the product container and remotely update the product container's content. The networked product container also includes a wireless access point to provide nearby wireless-enabled devices network connectivity via the product container.

Abstract: The invention concerns sound spatialization with multichannel encoding for binaural reproduction on two loudspeakers, the spatial encoding being defined by encoding functions associated with multiple encoding channels and the decoding by applying filters for binaural reproduction.

Abstract: In a middleware implementing an enterprise service bus (ESB) for interconnecting disparate software applications a method and a system of extending services provided by the ESB are disclosed. All incoming service requests reaching ESB from end-clients are not only forwarded to a primary server but are all, or an adjustable fraction of all of them, replicated to one or more secondary shadow servers. All replies received by ESB from the primary server and from the secondary shadow servers are validated. Validation includes the forwarding to the end-clients of a single validated reply for each incoming service request while all redundant replies are discarded. Replication of incoming service requests and validation of all replies extend the services provided by an ESB allowing e.g., to warm up a newly installed server, to bring up new software applications, to guarantee the integrity of operation of a cluster of servers and to optimize the response times.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for routing data in a system. The method includes determining an initial fixed distribution pattern, determining a queue parameter based on at least a current amount of system use and a maximum potential system use, determining a time parameter based on the time that a message in the application has been waiting for its processing, determining a load parameter based on at least the time parameter and the queue parameter, and modifying the distribution pattern based on at least the load parameter.

Abstract: An interface module between a communication module and a number of instances of business logic modules of a software engine comprises first and second functional elements. The first functional element receives incoming data from the communications module and selects which of the instances of business logic modules to forward the incoming data based upon a rule set held within a data structure at the first functional element. The incoming data passes to the selected logic module instance via the second functional element. The second functional element determines either a single shot or a multiple shot mode of operation. If a multiple shot mode of operation is selected incoming data passes to the selected logic module instance sequentially. Alternatively, if a single shot mode of operation is selected a summary data record corresponding summary of incoming data received at the first function element passes to the selected logic module instance.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention determines equivalence between a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit represented by a first circuit function is decomposed into first and second decomposition circuits represented by first and second decomposition functions, respectively. The first circuit has a plurality of first primary inputs and first primary outputs. The plurality of the first primary inputs includes first and second primary input subsets. A reducing function of a reducing circuit is selected for the first decomposition function to reduce complexity of a first composition of the first circuit function and the reducing function. Equivalence is determined between the first composition with a second composition of the reducing function and a second circuit function of a second circuit. The second circuit has a plurality of second primary inputs and second primary outputs matching to the plurality of the first primary inputs and the first primary outputs, respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle liquid dispensing system having a dispenser which may be retracted or concealed within the dashboard, a thermoelectric liquid heat exchanger for heating or cooling the liquids, an esthetically pleasing liquid reservoir and a pump: all components are disposed within the structure of the vehicle and do not take up passenger compartment space. In embodiments, an on/off switch may be provided to prevent dispensing, a switch may be provided at the dispenser to activate the pump, the pump may be electrical, and the fluid connections between the components of the system may be provided with connectors allowing easy cleaning.

Abstract: The invention concerns the processing of audio data. The invention is characterized in that it consists in: (a) encoding signals representing a sound propagated in three-dimensional space and derived from a source located at a first distance (P) from a reference point, to obtain a representation of the sound through components expressed in a spherical harmonic base, of origin corresponding to said reference point, (b) and applying to said components compensation of a near-field effect through filtering based on a second distance (R) defining, for sound reproduction, a distance between a reproduction point (HPi), and a point (P) of auditory perception where a listener is usually located.

Abstract: A vehicle liquid dispensing system having a dispenser which may be retracted or concealed within the dashboard, a thermoelectric liquid heat exchanger for heating or cooling the liquids, an esthetically pleasing liquid reservoir and a pump: all components are disposed within the structure of the vehicle and do not take up passenger compartment space. In embodiments, an on/off switch may be provided to prevent dispensing, a switch may be provided at the dispenser to activate the pump, the pump may be electrical, and the fluid connections between the components of the system may be provided with connectors allowing easy cleaning.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of 4-hydroxy-3-(5-methyl-3-isoxazolylcarbamoyl)-2-methyl-2H-1,2-benzothiazine 1,1-dioxide (I), a known anti-inflammatory agent, is described. The process involves the reaction of a solution of alkyl 2,3-dihydro-3-oxo-1,2-benzisothiazole-2-acetate 1,1-dioxide (II) in dimethylformamide, with an alkali metal alkoxide using the specific portions of reactants and carefully controlled reaction conditions. Acidification of the reaction mixture precipitates out alkyl 4-hydroxy-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxylate 1,1-dioxide (III) in substantially pure form in high yields, without recrystallization. Product III is methylated on the sulfonamide nitrogen and reacted with 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole to obtain crude I. A further improvement in the process of the invention involves a more efficient method for purifying crude product I by solubilizing in dimethylformamide with heating to 125.degree. C. to 148.degree. C.