Abstract: A liquid lens can include a first substrate with an interior recess. A second substrate with a bore can be bonded to the first substrate, whereby the interior recess of the first substrate and the bore of the second substrate cooperatively define at least a portion of a cavity of the liquid lens. A first liquid and a second liquid can be disposed in the cavity. A variable interface can be disposed between the first liquid and the second liquid, thereby forming a variable lens. The interior recess of the first substrate can be positioned outside of a sidewall projection of a sidewall surface of the cavity through the first substrate.

Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus comprises a container comprising a reservoir and a roller rotatably mounted relative to the container. A portion of an outer periphery of the roller is positioned in the reservoir. The outer periphery comprises a first groove comprising a width greater than at least twice a depth of the first groove. Additionally, methods of treating a substrate with the substrate treating apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for secure, peer-based validation, distribution and installation of software includes two or more networked multifunction peripheral devices, each of which stores a common blockchain ledger. A blockchain transaction block is created and distributed among the devices. The block includes software comprising a single package that includes software for device installation or configuration, along with a smart contract. When the devices validate the block by consensus, it is added to the blockchain and each device executes the smart contract and installs or configures itself in accordance with the software when the smart contract determines that the software is appropriate for the device.

Abstract: Vacuum systems for epoxy mounting of material samples are disclosed. In some examples, a vacuum system may be a castable and/or cold mounting vacuum system that facilitates mounting and/or encapsulation of material samples in epoxy resin under low, vacuum, and/or near vacuum pressure. In some examples, the vacuum system may comprise a flow control device configured to control epoxy flow through a dispensing tube that connects to a hollow vacuum chamber. In some examples, the vacuum chamber may have an opening encircled by a rim sandwiched between upper and lower portions of a sealing ring. A movable lid may be configured to press down on the upper portion of the sealing ring when in a closed position, so as to seal the opening.

Abstract: A system and method for selective group printing at discounted pricing facilitates a user to select one or more public electronic documents for printing. The user creates a print group for their job and publishes an electronic list of print group jobs, including job properties, print timing and print location. Users who wish to have the same documents printed can elect to join the group to allow for discounted pricing. When it is time to print jobs associated with the group, group members are notified and can proceed to the designated printer to release their jobs.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for acquiring an electronic file. The method for acquiring an electronic file includes: generating a first encryption key according to login information of a user of a terminal device at the time of logging in to a platform server and a first identifier corresponding to an information providing server that provides the electronic file; sending a first request message for acquiring the electronic file to the platform server; receiving the electronic file encrypted using a second encryption key and returned by the platform server according to the login information and the first request message; and generating a first decryption key according to the first encryption key, and decrypting, using the first decryption key, the electronic file encrypted using the second encryption key, so as to obtain the decrypted electronic file. By means of the disclosed embodiments, private information concerning a user in an electronic file is not leaked by a platform server.

Abstract: Health concerns of the vector-borne diseases, such as, yellow fever, malaria, dengue fever and general discomfort due to insect bites, has encouraged the development of insecticides to kill insects and insect repellents to keep insects away from treated human skin. Annatto extracts as a natural insect repellent and insecticide have many advantages over synthetic such as lower harmful side effects, low resistance, and more environmentally friendly. Annatto extracts containing ishwarane (C15) and geranyl-?-terpinene (C20) have strong mosquito repellency. Annatto extracts containing geranyl-?-terpinene (C20) and geranylgeraniol (C20) have strong larvicidal activity. Annatto extracts with approximately equal C15 and C20 composition have insect repellency, and annatto extracts with mainly C20 composition have larvicidal activity. Annatto extracts have synergistic effects with other natural extracts.

Abstract: A system and method for consumer food management commences with a consumer identifying themselves to a point-of-sale terminal during checkout for a food purchase. Product information is captured by the point-of-sale terminal by a scanner, digital camera or digital scale. Product life information, when present on a product, is read via optical character recognition. Additional product information is used from barcodes, product lookup codes, product appearance and product packaging. Product information is used, along with current date information, to determine product life dates. These dates are sent to consumer's smartphones or computers as reminders or calendar events which are triggered based on determined product life dates. External links provide suggestions for recipes using food that is at or approaching a determined product life date.

Abstract: A system and method for multiple account document processing cost accounting includes a multifunction peripheral including an intelligent controller having a processor and memory. A document processing engine operates in conjunction with instructions issued from the intelligent controller. The intelligent controller receives into memory document processing job data associated with a user. A user interface receives user input identifying the user. The user selects one or more charge based document processing operations to be performed. An account balance associated with the user is checked against one or more requested operations. User device operation permissions are assigned for each operation for which the user has sufficient credit in their account. Each document processing operation for which a permission has been given is completed, and the information is used to recalculate the user's account balance.

Abstract: The application discloses a method for managing food in a refrigerator, including the steps of recognizing the type and quantity of the food placed in the refrigerator according to an image shot by an external camera of the refrigerator; determining a position of the food placed in the refrigerator according to images shot by internal cameras of the refrigerator; generating an AR label for recording information of the food with regard to the food placed in the refrigerator; displaying the AR label of the inquired food after receiving a food query request from a user; wherein the information of the food at least includes the type, quantity and position of the food; and displaying the images shot by the internal cameras in real time after receiving an image viewing request from the user. With the adoption of the application, the food in the refrigerator can be managed more efficiently.

Abstract: A system and method for deploying software such as a distributed customized user interface package creates a single package for deploying the interface to multifunction peripherals having different characteristics. A customized user interface is associated with each of a plurality of base binary files which correspond to different multifunction peripheral characteristics, such as firmware version or touchscreen size. A user interface configuration module is created for each binary file. The user interface configuration modules are described with associated metadata. All user interface configuration modules are packaged and deployed to an application deployment tool. The application deployment tool identifies networked multifunction peripherals and their individual characteristics to deploy a compatible user interface configuration module for installation.

Abstract: A system and method of managing assets for customizing user interfaces of multifunction peripherals includes an asset management system that includes a memory for storing assets such as background images, logos, taglines, applications, and configuration templates. An associated processor determines the permission level of the user or administrator and provides access to assets based on the permission level of the respective user or administrator. The permission level of the user or administrator is based on the associated level within the tiered permission topology of asset management system. Users can use assets of administrators and other users to generate customized user interfaces for multifunction peripherals using assets of anyone in a child, peer, or parent relationship, but are restricted from performing administrative operations, such as editing and deleting of assets, on assets of other users and administrators.

Abstract: A system and method for blockchain-based document processing includes a processor, network interface, print engine, scan engine, and a memory storing a blockchain ledger. The blockchain ledger includes time stamped blocks, each block including currency data associated with a digital currency value. The processor generates a block corresponding to a received instruction, a preexisting currency value associated with the received instruction and contract data corresponding to a smart contract associated with the received instruction. The processor updates the blockchain ledger with a generated block and shares an updated blockchain ledger with other networked data devices via the network interface. The processor also receives verification of the updated blockchain ledger from the other networked data devices. The processor executes the smart contract upon receipt of verification.

Abstract: A High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) system that advantageously controls coding complexity at the coding tree unit (CTU) level. Complexity control is performed by adjusting a depth (or depth range) for CTUs in one or more video sequences in a video stream. To adjust CTU depth, complexity estimation and mapping is first performed to determine complexity requirements for one or more CTUs in a video frame or across frames. In doing so, a statistical complexity estimation model is utilized to yield significantly higher accuracy than other HEVC systems that operate under an assumption that each CTU consumes the same amount of encoding complexity. Complexity allocation is then utilized to ensure that each CTU is provided an optimum complexity. A probability-based CTU depth range adjustment process is utilized to select an appropriate depth range for each CTU.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for acquiring an electronic file. The method for acquiring an electronic file includes: generating a first encryption key according to login information of a user of a terminal device at the time of logging in to a platform server and a first identifier corresponding to an information providing server that provides the electronic file; sending a first request message for acquiring the electronic file to the platform server; receiving the electronic file encrypted using a second encryption key and returned by the platform server according to the login information and the first request message; and generating a first decryption key according to the first encryption key, and decrypting, using the first decryption key, the electronic file encrypted using the second encryption key, so as to obtain the decrypted electronic file. By means of the disclosed embodiments, private information concerning a user in an electronic file is not leaked by a platform server.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for acquiring an electronic file. The method for acquiring an electronic file includes: generating a first encryption key according to login information of a user of a terminal device at the time of logging in to a platform server and a first identifier corresponding to an information providing server that provides the electronic file; sending a first request message for acquiring the electronic file to the platform server; receiving the electronic file encrypted using a second encryption key and returned by the platform server according to the login information and the first request message; and generating a first decryption key according to the first encryption key, and decrypting, using the first decryption key, the electronic file encrypted using the second encryption key, so as to obtain the decrypted electronic file. By means of the disclosed embodiments, private information concerning a user in an electronic file is not leaked by a platform server.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an instant messaging window display method, including the following steps: running an instant messaging window on a user terminal; receiving a small window instruction; extracting, in response to the small window instruction, the instant messaging window run on the user terminal as a to-be-converted window; converting the to-be-converted window into a floating small window; and displaying the floating small window on the top of a current page of a browser. Therefore, the terminal converts the instant messaging window into the floating small window, and always keeps displaying the floating small window on the top of the current page of the browser. When the user browses and operates another webpage on the browser, the display of the floating small window is not affected. This is convenient for the user to check an instant messaging interaction message in time, thereby improving convenience of instant messaging interaction.

Abstract: A system and method for blockchain document access and distribution control includes a processor, associated memory and a network interface for data communication with a server system. An interface receives a query for access to an electronic document associated with a blockchain ledger, which query is routed to the server system via the network interface. The processor receives the identified electronic document from a storage location when access permission is granted and a corresponding update of the blockchain ledger is made.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing a usage status of an electrical device and its associated method are disclosed. The sensor is disposed at a near-end of a power line of the electrical device. The sensor provided with a magnetic detector, an analog-to-digital converter and a controller. The magnetic detector is close to the power line to detect a magnetic field change around the power line to correspondingly generate an analog signal. The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is used to receive the analog signal and convert the analog signal to a digital signal. The controller is used to receive the digital signal and generate an indication signal to accordingly learn at least one of statuses of being turned on and turned off the electrical device.