Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for identifying anomalies. During operation, the system obtains work practice data associated with a plurality of users. The work practice data includes a plurality of user events. The system further categorizes the work practice data into a plurality of domains based on types of the user events, models user behaviors within a respective domain based on work practice data associated with the respective domain, and identifies at least one anomalous user based on modeled user behaviors from the multiple domains.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for provisioning physical resources shared by a plurality of jobs. During operation, the system establishes resource-usage models for the jobs, ranks the jobs based on quality of service (QoS) requirements associated with the jobs, and provisions the jobs for a predetermined time interval in such a way that any unused reservations associated with a first subset of jobs having higher QoS rankings are distributed to other remaining jobs with preference given to a second subset of jobs having a highest QoS ranking among the other remaining jobs. Provisioning the jobs involves making reservations for the jobs based on the resource-usage model and corresponding QoS requirements associated with the jobs.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides managing component driver for an energy-management system that manages energy within a predominantly closed power system. The component driver includes a receiving mechanism configured to receive current status information for a component associated with the component driver, a model-construction mechanism configured to construct a performance model for the component, and a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit the performance model to an optimization and control module.

Abstract: A method and system collects diagnostic data for use in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to a printer. Document cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets are routinely collected, even when there has been no reported image quality issue, to preserve a historical record of the output of the printer over an extended time period. The historical record of the images on the routinely collected cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets include data useful in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to substantive pages of the documents processed by the printer.

Abstract: A digital playback device and a method and apparatus for modifying a digital audio signal. The method includes allowing a user to select a digital audio track and modifying the digital audio track with a predetermined spectral modification signal to create a spectrally modified digital audio track. The spectrally modified digital audio track can then be retrieved by a user to a digital playback device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy-management system for managing energy within a predominantly closed power system. The system includes an identifying mechanism configured to identify a number of components coupled to the energy-management system, a receiving mechanism configured to receive current status information of the components, an evaluating mechanism configured to evaluate future energy need, a planning mechanism configured to plan future energy activities based on the energy need and the current status information, and a controlling mechanism configured to control operations of the components based on the planned energy activities.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy-management system for managing energy within a predominantly closed power system. During operation, the system obtains one or more control actions that control energy transitions of a plurality of components, receives transitional characteristics associated with the components, and schedules the energy transitions by generating a set of offsets. A respective offset results in a delay of at least one energy transition.

Abstract: A tinnitus method and device for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus is described. The method can be implemented entirely in software to spectrally modify an audio signal in accordance with a predetermined masking algorithm which modifies the intensity of the audio signal at selected frequencies. A predetermined masking algorithm is described which provides intermittent masking of the tinnitus wherein, at a comfortable listening level, during peaks of the audio signal the tinnitus is completely obscured, whereas during troughs the perception of the tinnitus occasionally emerges. In practice it has been found that such intermittent masking provides an immediate sense of relief, control and relaxation for the person, whilst enabling sufficient perception of the tinnitus for habituation and long term treatment to occur. Advantageously the predetermined masking algorithm is specifically tailored to the audiometric configuration of the person.

Abstract: A tinnitus method and device for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus is described. The method can be implemented entirely in software to spectrally modify an audio signal in accordance with a predetermined masking algorithm which modifies the intensity of the audio signal at selected frequencies. A predetermined masking algorithm is described which provides intermittent masking of the tinnitus wherein, at a comfortable listening level, during peaks of the audio signal the tinnitus is completely obscured, whereas during troughs the perception of the tinnitus occasionally emerges. In practice it has been found that such intermittent masking provides an immediate sense of relief, control and relaxation for the person, while enabling sufficient perception of the tinnitus for habituation and long term treatment to occur. Advantageously the predetermined masking algorithm is specifically tailored to the audiometric configuration of the person.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy-management system for managing energy within a predominantly closed power system. The system includes an identifying mechanism configured to identify a number of components coupled to the energy-management system, a receiving mechanism configured to receive current status information of the components, an evaluating mechanism configured to evaluate future energy need, a planning mechanism configured to plan future energy activities based on the energy need and the current status information, and a controlling mechanism configured to control operations of the components based on the planned energy activities.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy-management system for managing energy within a predominantly closed power system. During operation, the system obtains one or more control actions that control energy transitions of a plurality of components, receives transitional characteristics associated with the components, and schedules the energy transitions by generating a set of offsets. A respective offset results in a delay of at least one energy transition.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides managing component driver for an energy-management system that manages energy within a predominantly closed power system. The component driver includes a receiving mechanism configured to receive current status information for a component associated with the component driver, a model-construction mechanism configured to construct a performance model for the component, and a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit the performance model to an optimization and control module.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy-management system for managing energy within a predominantly closed power system. The system includes an upper-level energy-management module, at least one lower-level energy-management module coupled to the upper-level energy-management module, and at least one component coupled to the lower-level energy-management module. The component is configured to provide a performance model associated with the component to the lower-level energy-management module. The lower-level energy-management module is configured to provide an aggregated model to the upper-level energy-management module.

Abstract: A method and system collects diagnostic data for use in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to a printer. Document cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets are routinely collected, even when there has been no reported image quality issue, to preserve a historical record of the output of the printer over an extended time period. The historical record of the images on the routinely collected cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets include data useful in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to substantive pages of the documents processed by the printer.

Abstract: A method for predicting harvestable biomass yield in a crop comprising: genotyping a sample obtained from a crop plant for one or more markers genetically linked to a polynucleotide sequence having at least 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 97, 98, 99 or 100% identity to SEQ BD NO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25, whereby the markers individually or collectively identify a haplotype associated with yield in a plurality of crop plants and correlating the haplotype with the harvested biomass yield.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for auditory system disorder rehabilitation by providing a stimulus to the auditory system of an individual experiencing an auditory disorder, tinnitus, conditions of reduced tolerance of loud sounds, or combinations thereof comprising, for example, a playback device and a method and apparatus for modifying an audio signal. The methods may include allowing a user to select an audio source (for example, a music track or the audio output of a television program) and modifying the audio with a spectral modified signal to create a spectrally modified audio. The spectrally modified audio can then be output by the playback device or other means for listening by the user.

Abstract: A tinnitus method and device for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus is described. The method can be implemented entirely in software to spectrally modify an audio signal in accordance with a predetermined masking algorithm which modifies the intensity of the audio signal at selected frequencies. A predetermined masking algorithm is described which provides intermittent masking of the tinnitus wherein, at a comfortable listening level, during peaks of the audio signal the tinnitus is completely obscured, whereas during troughs the perception of the tinnitus occasionally emerges. In practice it has been found that such intermittent masking provides an immediate sense of relief, control and relaxation for the person, whilst enabling sufficient perception of the tinnitus for habituation and long term treatment to occur. Advantageously the predetermined masking algorithm is specifically tailored to the audiometric configuration of the person.

Abstract: A digital playback device and a method and apparatus for modifying a digital audio signal. The method includes allowing a user to select a digital audio track and modifying the digital audio track with a predetermined spectral modification signal to create a spectrally modified digital audio track. The spectrally modified digital audio track can then be retrieved by a user to a digital playback device.

Abstract: A sales system is described that enables fast, efficient shopping by customers, and thereby increases sales and encourages customer loyalty, while simultaneously improving store management. An electronic device, which may be mobile or stationary, and which may belong or be assigned to (or accessed by) each customer, is used to access shopping information that might not otherwise be available to the customer during shopping. For example, a personal digital assistant or information kiosk may be used to provide specific product information and complete a sale thereof, or to provide suggested purchase lists and best routes through the store during shopping. The sales system is multi-modal, so that a plurality of input modalities (such as voice or auto-id techniques) are simultaneously available to the customer.

Abstract: A thermally expansible material includes an epoxy resin; a plurality of thermoplastic polymers, wherein at least one thermoplastic polymer includes at least one chemical moiety capable of reacting with said epoxy resin; and a heat-activated blowing agent. The thermally expansible material is substantially free of a tackifier, and the material is adhereable to a substrate during expansion. A baffling material following expansion is also provided.