Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for character-based and image-based media content search and discovery. Character images or entity images are mapped to corresponding media content. Selection of an image or a portion of an image may trigger or search for corresponding media content or begin playback of relevant media content. Character images or entity images need not correspond to a primary program character or object but may correspond to minor characters or tangential entities depicted periodically on particular programs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remediating hull wastewater are described herein. The systems include: a separation unit for separating a hull wastewater feed stream into a separated feed stream and a first solid waste stream, a filtration unit coupled to the separation unit for filtering the separated feed stream into a filtered stream and a second solids waste stream; a membrane filtration unit coupled to the filtration unit for membrane filtering the filtered stream into a membrane filtered stream and a third solids waste stream; an inactivation unit coupled to the membrane filtration unit for inactivating the membrane filtered stream into a final product stream; and a waste removal unit coupled to the separation unit and the filtration unit for receiving and dewatering the first solids waste stream and the second solids waste stream into a recycle stream and a waste product stream.

Abstract: A system for authenticating a user and his local device to a secured remote service with symmetrical keys, which utilizes a PIN from the user and a unique random value from the local device in such a way that prevents the remote service from ever learning the user's PIN, or a hash of that PIN. The system also provides mutual authentication, verifying to the user and local device that the correct remote service is being used. At the same time, the system protects against PIN guessing attacks by requiring communication with the said remote service in order to verify if the correct PIN is known. Also, the system works in such a way as to change the random value stored on the user's local device after each authentication session.

Abstract: A system for using an encrypted version of a password or access code which is stored in the open on a computer or other device, which utilizes a hardware token to decrypt the password or access code utilizing a secure secret which is stored inside the device, and which never leaves the device, to allow the owner of the device to have access to the Secure System. The system also provides means whereby the holder of a Master token and the holder of a Grand Master token may also have access to the Secure System as long as the user token was previously registered to the Master token and the Master Token was previously registered to the Grand master token before the secured resource was locked by the user token.

Abstract: A system for authenticating a user and his local device to a secured remote service with symmetrical keys, which utilizes a PIN from the user and a unique random value from the local device in such a way that prevents the remote service from ever learning the user's PIN, or a hash of that PIN. The system also provides mutual authentication, verifying to the user and local device that the correct remote service is being used. At the same time, the system protects against PIN guessing attacks by requiring communication with the said remote service in order to verify if the correct PIN is known. Also, the system works in such a way as to change the random value stored on the user's local device after each authentication session.

Abstract: A system for encrypting Secure Volumes using an encryption key which is saved in the open after being encoded inside a hardware token device utilizing a secure secret which is stored inside the device, and which never leaves the device. The encrypted volume can be accessed again only after a hardware token has decoded this encryption key. The system also provides means whereby the holder of a Master token and the holder of a Grand Master token may also have access to the volume as long as the user token was previously registered to the Master token, and the Master Token was previously registered to the Grand master token before the secured volume was encrypted. Also, the system allows members of user groups so designated at the time the volume is encrypted, to be able to have access to the volume as long as their token was previously registered with the same Master Token as the user that encrypted the volume and as long as the token encrypting the volume was also a member of the authorized user group.

Abstract: A system for authenticating a user and his local device to a secured remote service with symmetrical keys, which utilizes a PIN from the user and a unique random value from the local device in such a way that prevents the remote service from ever learning the user's PIN, or a hash of that PIN. The system also provides mutual authentication, verifying to the user and local device that the correct remote service is being used. At the same time, the system protects against PIN guessing attacks by requiring communication with the said remote service in order to verify if the correct PIN is known. Also, the system works in such a way as to change the random value stored on the user's local device after each authentication session.

Abstract: A system for using an encrypted version of a password or access code which is stored in the open on a computer or other device, which utilizes a hardware token to decrypt the password or access code utilizing a secure secret which is stored inside the device, and which never leaves the device, to allow the owner of the device to have access to the Secure System. The system also provides means whereby the holder of a Master token and the holder of a Grand Master token may also have access to the Secure System as long as the user token was previously registered to the Master token and the Master Token was previously registered to the Grand master token before the secured resource was locked by the user token.

Abstract: A system for encrypting Secure Volumes using an encryption key which is saved in the open after being encoded inside a hardware token device utilizing a secure secret which is stored inside the device, and which never leaves the device. The encrypted volume can be accessed again only after a hardware token has decoded this encryption key. The system also provides means whereby the holder of a Master token and the holder of a Grand Master token may also have access to the volume as long as the user token was previously registered to the Master token, and the Master Token was previously registered to the Grand master token before the secured volume was encrypted. Also, the system allows members of user groups so designated at the time the volume is encrypted, to be able to have access to the volume as long as their token was previously registered with the same Master Token as the user that encrypted the volume and as long as the token encrypting the volume was also a member of the authorized user group.

Abstract: Short messages are formatted as control messages in a communication network but do not control the communication network. Techniques for dynamically distributing short messages include remotely reprogramming a control node that processes control messages for the communications network to change processing of short messages without further involvement by a vendor of the control node. In some embodiments, this involves sending provider data that includes a special parameter set, a special value set, and a special action set. The special parameter set includes at least one parameter among multiple parameters in multiple network protocol headers for a data packet that includes a short message. The special value set includes at least one value for each parameter in the special parameter set. The special action set includes at least one action of multiple actions for forwarding a short message.

Abstract: A process control method for producing acceptable product within a range of acceptable specifications and unacceptable product that are not within the range of acceptable specifications to optimize profit and utilization of resources, the process having at least one input and at least one output that is affected by variation in at least one input, the method including varying the input about a mean of at least one acceptable specification so that the output is optimized to where the revenue from producing one more acceptable unit of product is substantially equal to the cost of producing one more unacceptable unit of product. In another embodiment, a method is provided that includes optimizing a process having inputs and outputs by measuring the inputs and outputs; determining variation of the mean (uof) and variation about the mean (uabt); determining causes of uof; and controlling uof to match uabt data values.

Abstract: Disclosed are disposable cleansing articles (1) which comprise a multi-phase, multi-component emulsion (5) and an activation web (2) that facilitates activation of the emulsion during use. In a preferred embodiment, the multi-phase emulsion is a high internal phase inverse emulsion having a continuous external lipid phase and a discontinuous internal polar phase. During use, the activation web facilitates breakage of the emulsion's external phase, thereby releasing the internal phase for its desired use. Because the internal liquid phase may account for up to about 97% of the emulsion, significant levels of fluid (e.g., water or a polar liquid) may be delivered from a “dry” wipe.

Abstract: A process control method for producing acceptable product within a range of acceptable specifications and unacceptable product that are not within the range of acceptable specifications to optimize profit and utilization of resources, the process having at least one input and at least one output that is affected by variation in at least one input, the method including varying the input about a mean of at least one acceptable specification so that the output is optimized to where the revenue from producing one more acceptable unit of product is substantially equal to the cost of producing one more unacceptable unit of product. In another embodiment, a method is provided that includes optimizing a process having inputs and outputs by measuring the inputs and outputs; determining variation of the mean (uof) and variation about the mean (uabt); determining causes of uof; and controlling uof to match uabt data values.

Abstract: An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article for absorbing discharged bodily fluid comprises a first absorbent material dispersed throughout the core, and a second absorbent material provided in a discrete strip, and substantially surrounded by the first absorbent material. An apparatus and method for producing such cores comprises a mold support advanceable in a predetermined direction and having at least one mold therein, and a tubular conduit for the second material alignably positioned such that a portion of the conduit will pass through at least a portion of the mold as the mold support is advanced. The mold support may comprise a forming drum or a forming belt. The tubular conduit has a distal end through which the second absorbent material may be expelled.

Abstract: An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article for absorbing discharged bodily fluid includes a first absorbent material dispersed throughout the core, and a second absorbent material provided in a discrete strip, and substantially surrounded by the first absorbent material. An apparatus and method for producing such cores includes a mold support advanceable in a predetermined direction and having at least one mold therein, and a tubular conduit for the second material alignably positioned such that a portion of the conduit will pass through at least a portion of the mold as the mold support is advanced. The mold support may include a forming drum or a forming belt. The tubular conduit has a distal end through which the second absorbent material may be expelled.

Abstract: An absorbent article useful for absorbing bodily fluids discharged by the wearer of the article is provided. The absorbent article comprises a fluid pervious topsheet, a fluid impervious backsheet affixed to the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a resilient tubular member disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet for transporting the fluids to a predetermined region of the core. The tubular member has a plurality of fluid inlets and a plurality of fluid outlets, the inlets and outlets providing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the tubular member. Discharged fluids may be transported from regions adjacent the inlets into the interior of the tubular member, and thereafter through the outlets to the predetermined regions of the core adjacent the outlets, thereby rapidly transporting the fluids to the predetermined region of the core.