Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for protecting message sender identity in an instant messaging system. Upon receiving an instant message via the instant messaging system, the system may withhold the identity of the sender while pushing the message to the other users in the communication channel. Identity withholding is controlled by the sender on his or her device. The disassociated message is displayed in a style that is common to users, for example, displaying in the middle, displaying in a common location, or even displaying in random locations on a screen of the message thread. Although someone can take a screenshot of a message, the screenshot does not contain any information that can be used to identify the actual sender of the message. In this case, users may generally rely on the context to appreciate the dynamics and/or flow of the conversation. The invention thus enables information sharing in an instant messaging system without the concern of screenshot.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for protecting message sender identity in an instant messaging system. Upon receiving an instant message via the instant messaging system, the system may withhold the identity of the sender while pushing the message to the other users in the communication channel. Identity withholding is controlled by the sender on his or her device. The disassociated message is displayed in a style that is common to users, for example, displaying in the middle, displaying in a common location, or even displaying in random locations on a screen of the message thread. Although someone can take a screenshot of a message, the screenshot does not contain any information that can be used to identify the actual sender of the message. In this case, users may generally rely on the context to appreciate the dynamics and/or flow of the conversation. The invention thus enables information sharing in an instant messaging system without the concern of screenshot.

Abstract: An efficient system for diagnosing arrhythmias and directing catheter therapies may allow for measuring, classifying, analyzing, and mapping spatial electrophysiological (EP) patterns within a body. The efficient system may further guide arrhythmia therapy and update maps as treatment is delivered. The efficient system may use a medical device having a high density of sensors with a known spatial configuration for collecting EP data and positioning data. Further, the efficient system may also use an electronic control system (ECU) for computing and providing the user with a variety of metrics, derivative metrics, high definition (HD) maps, HD composite maps, and general visual aids for association with a geometrical anatomical model shown on a display device.

Abstract: An electronic communication system for sending, receiving, storing, organizing, displaying, and sharing electronic messages and content (e.g., text, image, audio, and video) is described. The electronic communication system provides a platform where users can communicate and share information with each other. For example, a user can create a conversation thread and invite other users to join the thread. They can send messages and other content via the thread and protect them by assigning different confidentiality levels and expiration restrictions. Furthermore, the electronic communication system provides a “two-dimensional” messaging mechanism, through which a user can select a particular message communicated with another user in a first Thread to follow up on that particular message with the same other user in a new Thread.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a user to use a mobile device such as a smart phone to scan a QR (Quick Response) code displayed on a login webpage of a website. The QR code may encode a server URL of the website. The mobile device decodes the QR code and transmits a device ID and other decoded information to a service provider. The service provider locates login credentials of the user linked to the device ID and communicates the login credentials to a website server for user authentication. Alternatively, the mobile device may transmit its device ID to the website server for the website server to locate a user account linked to the device ID for user login. Alternatively, the mobile device may transmit stored login credentials to the website server. Advantageously, a user may access a website without the need to provide any login credentials.

Abstract: An efficient system for diagnosing arrhythmias and directing catheter therapies may allow for measuring, classifying, analyzing, and mapping spatial electrophysiological (EP) patterns within a body. The efficient system may further guide arrhythmia therapy and update maps as treatment is delivered. The efficient system may use a medical device having a high density of sensors with a known spatial configuration for collecting EP data and positioning data. Further, the efficient system may also use an electronic control system (ECU) for computing and providing the user with a variety of metrics, derivative metrics, high definition (HD) maps, HD composite maps, and general visual aids for association with a geometrical anatomical model shown on a display device.

Abstract: An efficient system for diagnosing arrhythmias and directing catheter therapies may allow for measuring, classifying, analyzing, and mapping spatial electrophysiological (EP) patterns within a body. The efficient system may further guide arrhythmia therapy and update maps as treatment is delivered. The efficient system may use a medical device having a high density of sensors with a known spatial configuration for collecting EP data and positioning data. Further, the efficient system may also use an electronic control system (ECU) for computing and providing the user with a variety of metrics, derivative metrics, high definition (HD) maps, HD composite maps, and general visual aids for association with a geometrical anatomical model shown on a display device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a user to use a mobile device such as a smart phone to scan a QR (Quick Response) code displayed on a login webpage of a website. The QR code may encode a server URL of the website. The mobile device decodes the QR code and transmits a device ID and other decoded information to a service provider. The service provider locates login credentials of the user linked to the device ID and communicates the login credentials to a website server for user authentication. Alternatively, the mobile device may transmit its device ID to the website server for the website server to locate a user account linked to the device ID for user login. Alternatively, the mobile device may transmit stored login credentials to the website server. Advantageously, a user may access a website without the need to provide any login credentials.

Abstract: This invention discloses an instant messaging system that allows users to selectively engage in ephemeral messaging among each other. The system allows a user to switch between ephemeral-messaging mode and normal-messaging mode during a conversation with others. A message sent under the ephemeral-messaging mode is treated as an ephemeral message and a message sent under the normal-messaging mode is treated as a normal message. When a user sends an ephemeral message to another user, the system dynamically determines an ephemeral period for the message based on the message's length if the message is a text message or based on the message's size if the message is an image or video message. The ephemeral message is then sent to the other user's device for display. But the message is only displayed for a time period not exceeding the ephemeral period. Furthermore, a smart URI mechanism is implemented to provide easy-to-access entry points to the system.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for providing reliable read receipts for messages communicated in an instant messaging system. Upon receiving an instant message via the instant messaging system, an embodiment of the invention displays a notification message or redacted version of the instant message (instead of the instant message) on a user device, such as a personal computer or a smartphone. The notification message or redacted message contains visual cues that invite a user to click, tap, or swipe on it to view the full content of the instant message. Upon receiving the responsive user action, the invention replaces the notification message or redacted message with the full instant message. And immediately after that, the invention sends a confirmation signal to the instant messaging system to indicate that a user has read the message. Meanwhile, the invention determines whether the instant message is an ephemeral message or not.

Abstract: This invention discloses an instant messaging system that allows users to selectively engage in ephemeral messaging among each other. The system allows a user to switch between ephemeral-messaging mode and normal-messaging mode during a conversation with others. A message sent under the ephemeral-messaging mode is treated as an ephemeral message and a message sent under the normal-messaging mode is treated as a normal message. When a user sends an ephemeral message to another user, the system dynamically determines an ephemeral period for the message based on the message's length if the message is a text message or based on the message's size if the message is an image or video message. The ephemeral message is then sent to the other user's device for display. But the message is only displayed for a time period not exceeding the ephemeral period. Furthermore, a smart URI mechanism is implemented to provide easy-to-access entry points to the system.

Abstract: An electronic communication system for sending, receiving, storing, organizing, displaying, and sharing electronic messages and content (e.g., text, image, audio, and video) is described. The electronic communication system provides a platform where users can communicate and share information with each other. For example, a user can create a conversation thread and invite other users to join the thread. They can send messages and other content via the thread and protect them by assigning different confidentiality levels and expiration restrictions. Furthermore, the electronic communication system provides a “two-dimensional” messaging mechanism, through which a user can select a particular message communicated with another user in a first Thread to follow up on that particular message with the same other user in a new Thread.

Abstract: An electronic communication system for sending, receiving, storing, organizing, displaying, and sharing electronic messages and content (e.g., text, image, audio, and video) is described. The electronic communication system provides a platform where users can communicate and share information with each other. For example, a user can create a conversation thread and invite other users to join the thread. They can send messages and other content via the thread and protect them by assigning different confidentiality levels and expiration restrictions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a user to use a mobile device such as a smart phone to scan a QR (Quick Response) code displayed on a login webpage of a website. The QR code may encode a server URL of the website. The mobile device decodes the QR code and transmits a device ID and other decoded information to a service provider. The service provider locates login credentials of the user linked to the device ID and communicates the login credentials to a website server for user authentication. Alternatively, the mobile device may transmit its device ID to the website server for the website server to locate a user account linked to the device ID for user login. Alternatively, the mobile device may transmit stored login credentials to the website server. Advantageously, a user may access a website without the need to provide any login credentials.

Abstract: A multimedia-based online customer feedback system is described. The system provides the tools for a business to initiate invitations for multimedia-based feedbacks (e.g., video, photo, audio, text) from its existing or prospective customers. The business can also specify rewards for such feedbacks. A targeted customer can create his/her feedback regarding the business in video, photo, audio, and/or text (by using his/her smart phone, for example) and submit his/her feedback to the system. The system then prescreens the feedback to make sure it is relevant to the business and notifies the business of the feedback. If there is a reward specified by the business, the system imposes digital protection on the feedback and removes the protection only after the business has fulfilled the reward.

Abstract: An efficient system for diagnosing arrhythmias and directing catheter therapies may allow for measuring, classifying, analyzing, and mapping spatial electrophysiological (EP) patterns within a body. The efficient system may further guide arrhythmia therapy and update maps as treatment is delivered. The efficient system may use a medical device having a high density of sensors with a known spatial configuration for collecting EP data and positioning data. Further, the efficient system may also use an electronic control system (ECU) for computing and providing the user with a variety of metrics, derivative metrics, high definition (HD) maps, HD composite maps, and general visual aids for association with a geometrical anatomical model shown on a display device.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to monetize content by redacting the content with machine learning algorithms. This invention increases the conversion rate of website surfers to paid customers. Extracted texts of the content are tokenized and then scored with normalized value [0, 1] to measure their significance. Intra-token, inter-token, extra-token, and tagged token features are used to characterize each individual token. Scores of sentences, paragraphs, sections, and even chapters can be calculated with various methods based on the scores of tokens. Then, the content is redacted according to the calculated scores. Customers can view the redacted content for free. If interested, they can purchase the content and view the full, non-redacted version of the content. The present invention is useful in publication and monetization of digital contents such as e-books.

Abstract: A method for resizing an image is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the method projects the image onto a lateral surface of a three-dimensional cylinder to transform the image into a three-dimensional image. Then, the method applies perspective projection (with a chosen viewpoint) to transform the three-dimensional image back to a two-dimensional image, based on which a final resized image is generated. By carefully choosing the diameter of the three-dimensional cylinder and the coordinate of the viewpoint, a rectangular shaped image may be resized into a square-shaped image.

Abstract: An efficient system for diagnosing arrhythmias and directing catheter therapies may allow for measuring, classifying, analyzing, and mapping spatial electrophysiological (EP) patterns within a body. The efficient system may further guide arrhythmia therapy and update maps as treatment is delivered. The efficient system may use a medical device having a high density of sensors with a known spatial configuration for collecting EP data and positioning data. Further, the efficient system may also use an electronic control system (ECU) for computing and providing the user with a variety of metrics, derivative metrics, high definition (HD) maps, HD composite maps, and general visual aids for association with a geometrical anatomical model shown on a display device.

Abstract: A method for resizing an image is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the method projects the image onto a lateral surface of a three-dimensional cylinder to transform the image into a three-dimensional image. Then, the method applies perspective projection (with a chosen viewpoint) to transform the three-dimensional image back to a two-dimensional image, based on which a final resized image is generated. By carefully choosing the diameter of the three-dimensional cylinder and the coordinate of the viewpoint, a rectangular shaped image may be resized into a square-shaped image.