Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a support and a non-contact charge depositing unit to selectively emit airborne charges of a selectable polarity. The support is to releasably support a consumable microfluidic receptacle in spaced relation to the charge depositing unit to receive the airborne charges on a portion of the consumable microfluidic receptacle to cause an electric field within the consumable microfluidic receptacle to control electrowetting movement of a liquid droplet within the consumable microfluidic receptacle.

Abstract: Communications methods and appliances are described. According to one embodiment, a communications method includes prior to deployment of an appliance, establishing a trusted association between the appliance and a certificate authority, during deployment of the appliance, associating the appliance with a communications address of a communications medium, using the certificate authority, creating a signed certificate including the communications address of the appliance, announcing the signed certificate using the appliance, after the announcing, extracting the communications address of the appliance from the signed certificate, and after the extracting, verifying the communications address of the appliance.

Abstract: An exemplary method for configuring a device to enable it to become a member of an established network comprises reading, using a portable device, a first token of a networked device, obtaining configuration data based on the first token, reading a second token of a non-networked device, establishing a communication session with the non-networked device based on the second token, and providing the configuration data to the non-networked device to enable it to become a member of the same network as the networked device.

Abstract: A presentation output system includes a digital computer network, one or more job submission clients, and a job store. The job store accepts and holds output jobs from the plurality of job submission clients. The presentation output system further includes one or more presentation output devices that pull the output jobs from the job store for outputting.

Abstract: An accessory device is directly connected in a non-networked manner to an electronic device. The accessory device is to be used by a web application running on a computing device connected to the electronic device over a network. The accessory device has a shared context or an owned context. The shared context specifies that usage of the accessory device is shared among the web application and one or more other web applications. The owned context specifies that the usage of the accessory device is exclusive to the web application and not to any other web application.

Abstract: Communications methods and appliances are described. According to one embodiment, a communications method includes prior to deployment of an appliance, establishing a trusted association between the appliance and a certificate authority, during deployment of the appliance, associating the appliance with a communications address of a communications medium, using the certificate authority, creating a signed certificate including the communications address of the appliance, announcing the signed certificate using the appliance, after the announcing, extracting the communications address of the appliance from the signed certificate, and after the extracting, verifying the communications address of the appliance.

Abstract: An accessory device is directly connected in a non-networked manner to an electronic device. The accessory device is to be used by a web application running on a computing device connected to the electronic device over a network. The accessory device has a shared context or an owned context. The shared context specifies that usage of the accessory device is shared among the web application and one or more other web applications. The owned context specifies that the usage of the accessory device is exclusive to the web application and not to any other web application.

Abstract: A job store for a pull-based presentation output system includes a job storage storing one or more jobs from a plurality of job submission clients; and a driver storage storing one or more drivers for converting a job into a format used by a corresponding presentation output device. The job store receives a job from a job submission client, stores the job in the job storage, receives a pull command from a presentation output device when the presentation output device is one of idle and nearly finished with a current job and without receiving further input from a user of the job submission client, retrieves the job from the job storage, applies a driver for converting that job into a format used by the presentation output device sending the pull command and outputs the job to the presentation output device sending the pull command.

Abstract: A method of converting data for printing using a computer is disclosed herein. The computer comprises a first processor having first memory associated therewith and second processor having second memory associated therewith. The method includes converting at least a portion of a page in a printer defined language to a display list using the first processor; transferring the display list to the second memory; converting the display list to at least one bit map using the second processor; and transferring the bit map to the first memory.

Abstract: An exemplary method for providing secure access to resources at shared appliances comprises obtaining an instruction from a first user to send a resource to a secure repository, the resource being associated with a first identifier, receiving a second identifier from a shared appliance, determining a pseudo identity associated with the shared appliance based on the second identifier, granting to the shared appliance permissions associated with the pseudo identity, including a permission to retrieve the resource from the secure repository, receiving the first identifier from a second user at the shared appliance, and enabling the shared appliance to provide the resource to the second user at the shared appliance.

Abstract: In a method for testing a component of a distributed system, a first invocation request is sent to the component, where the first invocation request includes an identifier. A second invocation request is sent to a second component, where the second invocation request carries the identifier from the first invocation request. In addition, the second component switches behavior based upon the identifier, where the switching of behavior of the second component is employed to test the component.

Abstract: A system for object discovery in heterogeneous object systems includes a fixed object system having a registry. A callee object having a rendezvous name is registered in the registry of the fixed object system under the rendezvous name. The system also includes an adaptive object system having a remote procedure call protocol abstraction layer. The remote procedure call protocol abstraction layer is configured to access the registry of the fixed object system.

Abstract: An exemplary method for repurposing user identity tokens comprises receiving identification information from a user, the user having an existing user identity token and seeking to repurpose the token, obtaining a repurpose identifier associated with the user, enabling a configuration of an identification tag based on the repurpose identifier, and associating the identification tag with the identity token.

Abstract: An exemplary method for configuring a device to enable it to become a member of an established network comprises reading, using a portable device, a first token of a networked device, obtaining configuration data based on the first token, reading a second token of a non-networked device, establishing a communication session with the non-networked device based on the second token, and providing the configuration data to the non-networked device to enable it to become a member of the same network as the networked device.

Abstract: An exemplary method for providing secure access to resources at shared appliances comprises obtaining an instruction from a first user to send a resource to a secure repository, the resource being associated with a first identifier, receiving a second identifier from a shared appliance, determining a pseudo identity associated with the shared appliance based on the second identifier, granting to the shared appliance permissions associated with the pseudo identity, including a permission to retrieve the resource from the secure repository, receiving the first identifier from a second user at the shared appliance, and enabling the shared appliance to provide the resource to the second user at the shared appliance.

Abstract: A Very Local Area Network (VLAN) comprises a power strip device having an electrical connector for connection to an AC power supply line and one or more surge protectors and line filters. Multiple electrical power outlet sockets receive plugs from electrical appliances. A communications pathway interconnects the multiple electrical power outlet sockets to enable communication between appliances connected to the sockets. Electronics configure appliances as they are connected to the sockets to enable them to communicate over the communications pathway.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for a sender to send a message on a tangible medium and ensure that it is privacy protected until verification that the medium has been received by the authorized recipient. The invention provides a method in which a sender creates an encrypted content message that may be decrypted using a content decryption key that is unknown to the authorized recipient. The sender creates an encrypted authentication message that may be decrypted using a recipient's key that is known to the authorized recipient but is unknown to others, except perhaps to the sender. The sender fixes the encrypted content message and the encrypted authentication message onto a tangible medium and then permits the authorized recipient to obtain the tangible medium. The authorized recipient uses the recipient's key to decrypt the encrypted authentication message and then creates a valid reply that is based upon or which uses the decrypted authentication message.

Abstract: A method for displaying a computer system runtime information includes the steps of displaying a plurality of runtime information items in different hyperbolic trees. The method further comprises the steps of navigating and inspecting runtime information within each individual hyperbolic tree, and navigating between semantically linked hyperbolic trees.

Abstract: A messaging system that reduces communications bandwidth is disclosed. Difference messages are constructed at a sender from a message and prior state information. The difference messages include information describing the difference between the content of the message and a portion of prior state information, such as a prior message. The difference messages, including a prior message identifier, are sent to the receiver in place of the message. The message is reconstructed at the receiver using the corresponding difference message and the prior state information stored at the receiver. If the message reconstruction is unsuccessful, the sender is notified, and further required information is sent to the receiver.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a document in which a document key for the document is generated by examining one or more attributes of a physical media that underlies the document. An original image is then imparted onto the physical media so that the original image is associated with the document key in a way that enables a subsequent recovery of the document key from the original image. This tying together of the underlying physical media, through the document key, with an original image enables detection of a forgery which was performed either through an alteration of the original image, or ink stripping and re-printing, or a printing of the original image on another physical media.