Abstract: An Ethernet Physical layer (PHY) device includes a PHY interface and PHY circuitry. The PHY interface is configured to connect to a physical link. The PHY circuitry is configured to generate layer-1 frames that carry data for transmission to a peer Ethernet PHY device, to insert among the layer-1 frames one or more management frames that are separate from the layer-1 frames and that are configured to control a General-Purpose Input-Output (GPIO) port associated with the peer Ethernet PHY device, to transmit the layer-1 frames and the inserted management frames, via the PHY interface, to the peer Ethernet PHY device over the physical link, for controlling one or more operations of the GPIO port associated with the peer Ethernet PHY device, and to receive, via the PHY interface, one or more verifications acknowledging that the one or more management frames were received successfully at the peer Ethernet PHY device.

Abstract: A portable steam generator includes a power source in a housing, a water tank in the housing, a heating element in the housing and configured to heat water in the water tank to produce steam using power from the power source, and a track on the housing configured to support the portable steam generator in an installation position and allow manual removal from the installation position. A pre-plumbed integrated bathroom panel includes a plumbing inlet configured to provide water to the panel, a water outlet connected to the plumbing inlet, a steam outlet connected to the plumbing inlet and a heating element, a sanitizing outlet connected to the plumbing inlet and an additive generator, valves for directing water from the plumbing inlet to the at least one water outlet, the at least one steam outlet, and the at least one sanitizing outlet, and a controller configured to operate at least the plurality of valves.

Abstract: A balance board coupled to a two-wheeled vehicle to provide a moving platform that an operator of the vehicle can use to stabilize the vehicle. The balance board includes a coupling mechanism, a frame, one or more moving elements, and one or more foot support pedals. In one example, the balance board is mechanically passive such that the balance board maintains contact with the ground surface without an externally applied force (e.g., by the operator/user of the vehicle). In one aspect, the balance board may be rotatable about multiple rotational degrees of freedom to allow the balance board to steer as the vehicle turns.

Abstract: A balance board coupled to a two-wheeled vehicle to provide a moving platform that an operator of the vehicle can use to stabilize the vehicle. The balance board includes a coupling mechanism, a frame, one or more moving elements, and one or more foot support pedals. In one example, the balance board is mechanically passive such that the balance board maintains contact with the ground surface without an externally applied force (e.g., by the operator/user of the vehicle). In one aspect, the balance board may be rotatable about multiple rotational degrees of freedom to allow the balance board to steer as the vehicle turns.

Abstract: Two way communication is provided in a one to many pub/sub environment. A community of users admitted to the community by subscription authorization receive messages (preferably Instant Messages) published from a requesting user. The request message is sent to a robot user (program application) that represents the community of users but appears to the community as simply another user. The robot user publishes the request message (using a pub/sub service) to the community of users. A user in the community of users receives messages to the community according to his personal message filter. The user responds to the requesting user with a response message. The response message includes information identifying the request message.

Abstract: A first Instant Message is published to a group of subscribing clients. The message is received by an application at a first client. A response message is created at the first client, the response message comprising information provided by the first client, the first message and information about the first client. The response message is returned to the originator of the published first message.

Abstract: A message received from a user causes a query of a dynamic database such as a FAQ or Relational Database, the results of the query are returned to the user. Furthermore the received message is published to a community of anonymous users. Optionally the user can edit the returned results and store the edited version in the dynamic database or edit the dynamic database via a GUI interface.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing community messaging services is provided. The method includes calculating a receiver pool for receiving a broadcast message, the receiver pool being a subset of a messaging community. The method also includes transmitting the broadcast message to the receiver pool and tracking any feedback from the receiver pool to determine if a satisfactory response has been received. A satisfactory response results when a response is received that addresses or resolves an issue or question presented in the broadcast message. The method further includes re-calculating the receiver pool to receive the broadcast message if the satisfactory response has not been reached after a specified period of time, the re-calculated receiver pool being a subset of the messaging community that has not yet received the message.

Abstract: Electronic message response reception at a client computer in a conversation are throttled according to a predetermined critera in order to reduce the volume of messages the client is presented. Critera for throttling messages comprises only presenting messages in a predetermined time window, presenting only a predetermined number of response messages, presenting messages based on previous responder activity and presenting only messages from predefined senders.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing community messaging services is provided. The method includes calculating a receiver pool for receiving a broadcast message, the receiver pool being a subset of a messaging community. The method also includes transmitting the broadcast message to the receiver pool and tracking any feedback from the receiver pool to determine if a satisfactory response has been received. A satisfactory response results when a response is received that addresses or resolves an issue or question presented in the broadcast message. The method further includes re-calculating the receiver pool to receive the broadcast message if the satisfactory response has not been reached after a specified period of time, the re-calculated receiver pool being a subset of the messaging community that has not yet received the message.

Abstract: Electronic message response reception at a client computer in a conversation are throttled according to a predetermined critera in order to reduce the volume of messages the client is presented. Critera for throttling messages comprises only presenting messages in a predetermined time window, presenting only a predetermined number of response messages, presenting messages based on previous responder activity and presenting only messages from predefined senders.

Abstract: A message received from a user causes a query of a dynamic database such as a FAQ or Relational Database, the results of the query are returned to the user. Furthermore the received message is published to a community of anonymous users. Optionally the user can edit the returned results and store the edited version in the dynamic database or edit the dynamic database via a GUI interface.

Abstract: An electronic conversation is initiated between a first user and a second user preferably by broadcasting a message via a pub/sub service to a plurality of users subscribing to the service wherein said second user responds to the broadcasted message wherein said electronic conversation session is uniquely identified. One or more electronic conversation messages are exchanged between the first user and the second user during said uniquely identified electronic conversation session. Information about said uniquely identified electronic conversation session is recorded at the conclusion of the session to be used in subsequent sessions.

Abstract: A method and system to provide a user additional positional context for the information they are browsing and allows for rapid browsing through large data sets thereby providing a more usable interface. Two embodiments are described in the following sections. In the first, the 2-D scroll area is a continuous area. In this continuous embodiment the user can change the scroll resolution on a continuous scale. The second embodiment uses a set of discrete vertical scrolling bars. These scrolling bars work in concert to fine tune the scrolling access to the data.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium for translating data in a hierarchical data structure to a relational data structure is disclosed. The method on an information processing system includes reading a hierarchical data abiding to a hierarchical data structure for holding data and traversing the hierarchical data structure using a tree traversal algorithm. The method further includes generating, in accordance with an external mapping script, a mapping for translating data from the hierarchical data structure to a relational data structure. The method further includes reading a hierarchical data structure including data and translating the data of the hierarchical data structure to the relational data structure using the mapping and using a depth-first traversal algorithm.

Abstract: A first Instant Message is published to a group of subscribing clients. The message is received by an application at a first client. A response message is created at the first client, the response message comprising information provided by the first client, the first message and information about the first client. The response message is returned to the originator of the published first message.

Abstract: Two way communication is provided in a one to many pub/sub environment. A community of users admitted to the community by subscription authorization receive messages (preferably Instant Messages) published from a requesting user. The request message is sent to a robot user (program application) that represents the community of users but appears to the community as simply another user. The robot user publishes the request message (using a pub/sub service) to the community of users. A user in the community of users receives messages to the community according to his personal message filter. The user responds to the requesting user with a response message. The response message includes information identifying the request message.

Abstract: In an information network, an interactive display allows a user to choose products or elements on one screen axis (Y) and compare their characteristics or attributes on a second screen axis (X), thereby aiding a user to select a product from all available information according to the user's individual requirements. The information network includes at least one knowledge site containing product information for access by a user through a terminal. The terminal includes a processor coupled to an interactive display and a storage disk. The processor includes a Java operating system; an application program for processing product information by categories in terms of elements and attributes, and a browser enabling a user to access and interact with the knowledge site through Java applets. The disk contains product information by category received from the knowledge site and transformed into the form of HTML parameters within HTML files.

Abstract: A method and system to provide a user additional positional context for the information they are browsing and allows for rapid browsing through large data sets thereby providing a more usable interface. Two embodiments are described in the following sections. In the first, the 2-D scroll area is a continuous area. In this continuous embodiment the user can change the scroll resolution on a continuous scale. The second embodiment uses a set of discrete vertical scrolling bars. These scrolling bars work in concert to fine tune the scrolling access to the data.