Abstract: A system is provided for processing documents. In particular, the system is incorporates a feeder for feeding documents to a device for further processing of the documents. For instance, the system finds particular application in the field of document imaging in which a variety of documents of varying sizes and orientation are to be fed to an imaging system, such as a document scanner. The system may provide an input mechanism for easily identifying a characteristic of one of the documents and the system may include features for handling packets of documents.

Abstract: The ability to upconvert two low energy photons into one high energy photon has potential applications in solar cells, photodetectors and data storage. In this disclosure, CdSe and PbSe semiconductor nanocrystals are combined with molecular emitters (diphenylanthracene and rubrene) to upconvert photons in both the visible and near infrared spectral regions. Absorption of low energy photons by the nanocrystals is followed by energy transfer to the molecular triplet states, which then undergo triplet-triplet annihilation to create high energy singlet states that emit upconverted light. By using conjugated organic ligands on the nanocrystals to form an energy cascade, the upconversion process can be enhanced by up to three orders of magnitude. The use of different combinations of nanocrystals and emitters shows that this platform has great flexibility in the choice of both excitation and emission wavelengths.

Abstract: A loading apparatus and system is adapted to load unprocessed sample containers in a centrifuge and provide improved balance thereof. The apparatus has a staging platform containing at least two bucket inserts, a weight scale operable to determine a combined weight of each of the bucket inserts, a centrifuge configured to receive the bucket inserts as pairs, a robot operable to insert an unprocessed sample container into the bucket inserts, and a controller operable to command the robot to carry out placement of the unprocessed sample container into a highest priority empty receptacle of a lowest combined weight bucket insert. Methods of operating the system are provided.

Abstract: A loading and unloading system loads/unloads a sample processor (e.g., a centrifuge). The system includes a staging area containing inserts, at least one being a common insert, the sample processor having locations receiving inserts containing unprocessed sample containers, one or more robots operable to move unprocessed and processed sample containers to and from the common insert as well as move the inserts between the staging area and the sample processor, and a controller commanding the one or more robots to carry out a sample container movement sequence to load and unload unprocessed and processed sample containers to and from the common insert at the staging area, wherein the common bucket insert contains both processed and unprocessed sample containers at a same time. Methods of operating the system are provided.

Abstract: A distance between a user and a user interface is detected to permit modification of the user interface to accommodate the user being located some distance from the user interface. A sensor detects a distance of the user from the user interface. The detected distance can be used to modify a display or presentation provided by the user interface so that the user can more easily interact with the user interface at a distance. The scope of user interaction with the user interface can also be made contingent upon the distance between a user and the user interface. Further, context modulation with user distance can result in an automatic change in the class of information displayed. The changes to the user interface output can be configured in accordance with a profile that may include priority for user interface items as well as customization for an environment or particular user.

Abstract: A distance between a user and a user interface is detected to permit modification of the user interface to accommodate the user being located some distance from the user interface. A sensor detects a distance of the user from the user interface. The detected distance can be used to modify a display or presentation provided by the user interface so that the user can more easily interact with the user interface at a distance. The scope of user interaction with the user interface can also be made contingent upon the distance between a user and the user interface. Further, context modulation with user distance can result in an automatic change in the class of information displayed. The changes to the user interface output can be configured in accordance with a profile that may include priority for user interface items as well as customization for an environment or particular user.

Abstract: A secure software update provides an update utility with an update definition, a private encryption key and a public signature key to a target device. A software update package is prepared on portable media that includes an executable update program, a checksum for the program that is encrypted with a symmetrical key, an encrypted symmetrical key that is encrypted with a public encryption key and a digital signature prepared with a private signature key. The update process authenticates the digital signature, decrypts the symmetrical key using the private encryption key, and decrypts the checksum using the symmetrical key. A new checksum is generated for the executable update program and compared to the decrypted checksum. If inconsistencies are detected during the update process, the process is terminated. Otherwise, the software update can be installed with a relatively high degree of assurance against corruption, viruses and third party interference.

Abstract: Disclosed is a loading and unloading system to load/unload a sample processor (e.g., a centrifuge). The system includes a staging area containing inserts, at least one being a common insert, the sample processor having locations receiving inserts containing unprocessed sample containers, one or more robots operable to move unprocessed and processed sample containers to and from the common insert as well as move the inserts between the staging area and the sample processor, and a controller commanding the one or more robots to carry out a sample container movement sequence to load and unload unprocessed and processed sample containers to and from the common insert at the staging area, wherein the common bucket insert contains both processed and unprocessed sample containers at a same time. Methods of operating the system are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Disclosed is a loading apparatus and system adapted to load unprocessed sample containers in a centrifuge and provide improved balance thereof. The apparatus has a staging platform containing at least two bucket inserts, a weight scale operable to determine a combined weight of each of the bucket inserts, a centrifuge configured to receive the bucket inserts as pairs, a robot operable to insert an unprocessed sample container into the bucket inserts, and a controller operable to command the robot to carry out placement of the unprocessed sample container into a highest priority empty receptacle of a lowest combined weight bucket insert. Methods of operating the system are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A secure software update provides an update utility with an update definition, a private encryption key and a public signature key to a target device. A software update package is prepared on portable media that includes an executable update program, a checksum for the program that is encrypted with a symmetrical key, an encrypted symmetrical key that is encrypted with a public encryption key and a digital signature prepared with a private signature key. The update process authenticates the digital signature, decrypts the symmetrical key using the private encryption key, and decrypts the checksum using the symmetrical key. A new checksum is generated for the executable update program and compared to the decrypted checksum. If inconsistencies are detected during the update process, the process is terminated. Otherwise, the software update can be installed with a relatively high degree of assurance against corruption, viruses and third party interference.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for a digital content player having a DRM agent to perform rights management operations on a digital content package, including loading rights management instructions to be executed by the digital content player, the rights management instructions being associated with the digital content package, executing the rights management instructions on the digital content player, and loading supporting licenses associated with the digital content package for processing by the DRM agent. The DRM agent deciding whether to permit the rights management operations requested by the rights management instructions. Further exemplary embodiments include systems, methods and computer program products for associating usage rights with digital content packages, managing of digital rights tokens, managing of digital content packages having predetermined broadcast dates, preserving of usage rights when content is transferred between DRM environments, and distributing content packages.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed transmit a composite channel to a receiver. The composite channel may be a static channel that contains different original channels of content in different locations on a displayed page, or may be a dynamic channel that is processed by the receiver to display a multiple different video streams on a single display device.

Abstract: A method for automatically providing for classification of samples at the input station of a clinical laboratory workcell and allowing only those samples that have centrifuging requirements which are satisfied by currently established centrifuge operating protocols to be processed by a centrifuge and by an analyzer associated with said workcell.

Abstract: A method for automatically operating a sample handling system and associated analyzers to conduct assays on a number of patient samples by comparing the assays to be conducted with a set of assay defined rules, subdividing the analyzers into analyzers which are in compliance with the assay defined rules and analyzers not in compliance with the set of assay defined rules; thereafter, operating the system to supply patient samples to analyzers in compliance or operating the system so as to bring at least one analyzer into compliance with the assay defined rules and supplying patient samples to such an analyzer.

Abstract: A watercraft hull protector for preventing damage to the lower bow surface of a waterborne craft such as a boat or jet ski, comprising a thin, elongated, flexible, but waterproof sheet-like member having a length substantially greater than the width thereof, and capable of being wound into a roll along the elongated length thereof for storage purposes. An elongated cord element coupled through a grommet located adjacent the center of a reinforced portion extending transversely across the front end portion of the sheet-like member facilitates deploying the mat on the shoreline with a substantial portion of the sheet-like member extending out of the water, traversing the muddy, rocky portion of the bank adjacent the water line, and with the rear end portion of the mat submerged below the water line.