Abstract: A method for crowd sourcing tasks may include identifying a group of potential candidates for crowd sourcing. Each candidate of the group of potential candidates may be identified based on the candidate being expected to accept a certain type of task. The certain type of task may be at least a task that is performable within a predetermined range of time. The method may also include receiving a request to perform a particular task from a requester. The method may additionally include determining if the particular task is the certain type of task. The method may further include transmitting an offer for performance of the particular task to at least a subgroup of the group of potential candidates in response to the particular task being the certain type of task.

Abstract: An electrical circuit, in some embodiments, comprises a control circuit having a plurality of switches and an electrical load having a plurality of load components. A first of the plurality of switches is configured to control a first of the plurality of load components. A second of the plurality of switches is configured to control a second of the plurality of load components synchronously with the first of the plurality of switches.

Abstract: A femoral extension prosthetic component for use in a unicondylar meniscal bearing unicompartmental knee replacement is described. The femoral component comprises a securing element and a bearing surface, the securing element adapted to abut and be connected to a distal end of a femur bone, and the bearing surface adapted to abut a meniscal bearing. The femoral component includes an entrapment portion adapted to extend beyond the meniscal bearing. Tibial components and meniscal bearings are also described, as well as methods of using such components.

Abstract: A system, in some embodiments, comprises: multiple light emitting diode (LED) strings configurable in series or in parallel depending on a supply voltage provided in the system; and multiple current regulators, a different one of the multiple current regulators coupled to each of the multiple LED strings and configured to regulate current passing through a respective LED string, wherein at least one of the multiple current regulators is bypassed when the multiple LED strings are configured in series.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for enabling and supporting a presence server cache are described herein. A presence server cache may receive a plurality of requests to poll a status of a contact from a plurality of clients. The presence server cache may determine the status of the contact. If the status of the contact is unavailable at the presence server cache, the presence server cache may transmit a request for the status of the contact to a presence server. The presence server cache may transmit the status of the contact of the user to the plurality of clients.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for enabling and supporting a presence server cache are described herein. A presence server cache may receive a plurality of requests to poll a status of a contact from a plurality of clients. The presence server cache may determine the status of the contact. If the status of the contact is unavailable at the presence server cache, the presence server cache may transmit a request for the status of the contact to a presence server. The presence server cache may transmit the status of the contact of the user to the plurality of clients.

Abstract: A system and method for generating user-centric directories including analyzing a plurality of relationships of a user. A contact directory for the user is defined based upon the plurality of relationships of the user.

Abstract: A system and method for determination and display of personalized distance. A request is received for the determination of a personalized distance over a network, wherein the request comprises an identification of a requesting user, and a plurality of real world entities comprising at least a starting location and an ending location. At least one route is determined between the first location and the second location. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network. A personalized distance is calculated via the network between the first location and the second location using spatial, temporal, topical, and social data relating to the requesting user and each real world entity and the route. A representation of the personalized distance calculated for the route is displayed on a display medium.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for context-informed summarization is described. A method may comprise determining, via a computing device, a context of a communication. The method may further comprise determining, via the computing device, a summarization attribute for the communication based upon, at least in part, the context of the communication. The method may also comprise creating a summary of the communication based upon, at least in part, the summarization attribute.

Abstract: Functionality can be implemented in email applications to allow sent messages to be updated, even if the sent messages have been read. When a request to update a sent message is received, a message update unit can update information in the message according to the notification. The message update unit can notify a recipient that the message was updated, and can indicate changed information in the sent message. The message update unit can also determine if the sent message has been forwarded, and forward the update notification to other recipients.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for providing a single-use payment credential usable in a financial transaction are disclosed. In a method conducted at a remotely accessible server, a request for a single-use payment credential is received from an issuing financial entity. The request includes a consumer identifier of a consumer. The server associates the consumer identifier with a single-use payment credential in a database and transmits the single-use payment credential to a communication device of the consumer for presentation to a merchant. The server receives a transaction request including the single-use payment credential from an acquiring financial entity and transmits an indication of the transaction request in respect of the consumer identifier to the issuing financial entity such that the financial transaction may be completed.

Abstract: A method of forming a wire loop in connection with a semiconductor package is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing package data related to the semiconductor package to a wire bonding machine; (2) providing at least one looping control value related to a desired wire loop to the wire bonding machine, the at least one looping control value including at least a loop height value related to the desired wire loop; (3) deriving looping parameters, using an algorithm, for forming the desired wire loop; (4) forming a first wire loop on the wire bonding machine using the looping parameters derived in step (3); (5) measuring actual looping control values of the first wire loop formed in step (4) corresponding to the at least one looping control value; and (6) comparing the actual looping control values measured in step (5) to the at least one looping control value provided in step (2).

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for tracking physical play objects by virtual or non-player characters in an electronic game environment. More specifically, techniques are disclosed for enabling a game system to track a physical toy object, using tracking information to update the game state, and transmitting updated game state to the toy object and update the toy state. Additionally, a player is able to control the physical toy object, and use the physical toy object to play a game. The game system may track a remote-controlled toy, a handheld toy, or the player himself or herself. The virtual feedback to changes in the physical environment results in a more immersive game experience for the player.

Abstract: A method for making apertures in a precursor web using a forming apparatus is provided where the web comprises a film having molecular orientation and the forming apparatus comprises an arrangement of teeth. The orientation of the arrangement of teeth and the molecular orientation of the film are predetermined and modified to provide a relative angle between the orientation of the teeth and the molecular orientation of the film. Apertures formed in the precursor web material have a length and width exhibiting a minimal aspect ratio.

Abstract: A mobile device comprises one or more sensors; a plurality of additional sensors; and logic configured to: obtain one or more first data outputs from the one or more sensors in a first state; obtain one or more second data outputs from the one or more sensors; determine whether there has been a transition from the first state to a second state, based on a difference between the one or more first data outputs and the one or more second data outputs; obtain one or more third data outputs from the plurality of additional sensors if there has been a transition from the first state to the second state; and compare the one or more third data outputs with stored data outputs obtained using the plurality of additional sensors in a third state, thereby determining whether the mobile device is in the third state.

Abstract: A method is provided for tracking hygiene compliance. The method includes receiving a health condition of a patient and assigning, by a processor, a hygiene compliance protocol for the patient based upon the health condition of the patient. The hygiene compliance protocol defines suggested hygiene-related activities for the patient. The method further includes monitoring the hygiene-related activities performed by the patient and comparing the hygiene-related activities performed by the patient to the suggested hygiene-related activities of the hygiene compliance protocol.

Abstract: An indication of a meeting being scheduled between a plurality of attendees is received. A first one of the attendees is designated an owner of the meeting. Ownership privileges for the meeting are associated with at least a second one of the meeting attendees. The ownership privileges associated with at least a second one of the meeting attendees are associated based upon, at least in part, a social network defined for the owner of the meeting.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing fluids to a well. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a well stimulation fluid delivery system having an intake connection for receiving well stimulation fluid and a first conduit configured to route the well stimulation fluid from the intake connection to multiple outlet connections configured to be coupled to pumps for increasing the pressure of the well stimulation fluid. A second conduit of the apparatus is configured to receive the well stimulation fluid from the pumps, via multiple inlet connections configured to be coupled to the pumps, and to route the well stimulation fluid to a discharge connection. The apparatus also includes individual skids including platforms on which fluid conduit segments are mounted. The individual skids are coupled to one another via their mounted fluid conduit segments to form the first conduit and the second conduit. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide absorbent composition is described, including (i) a liquid, nonaqueous silicon-based material, functionalized with one or more groups that either reversibly react with CO2 or have a high-affinity for CO2, and (ii) a hydroxy-containing solvent that is capable of dissolving both the silicon-based material and a reaction product of the silicon-based material and CO2. The absorbent may be utilized in methods to reduce carbon dioxide in an exhaust gas, and finds particular utility in power plants.

Abstract: Methods and a system for the recharging of battery-operated devices, whereby the recharging process is made less burdensome and inconvenient to the users of the devices. Embodiments provide for incorporating recharging into the normal usage patterns for the devices using activities consistent with predetermined intended usage of the devices, thereby causing the user to perceive less inconvenience. Other embodiments provide for systematically detecting and wirelessly recharging devices, whereby the burden to the users may be reduced or entirely eliminated.