Abstract: The embodiments provide for legally transferring multimedia content stored on a medium to a personal content archive device. The device is configured to consolidate a user's content into a single device or secured storage that allows easy access to the content while preserving the digital rights of the content. When a content medium has been provided, the device queries a registration service over a network, such as the Internet, to register the content and indicate that it was legitimately obtained. The device may then be authorized to download and store an authorized version of the content into its secured storage. The authorized version may be the same or a variation of the registered content. The content may then be downloaded from one or more content sources. The registration process may be based on several criteria, such as an authenticity check of the medium, a fee payment, and the like.

Abstract: A portable content container is disclosed comprising a decoder for decoding an A/V file into an A/V stream. File directory information identifying one or more A/V files is transmitted to a consumer device. A display command is received from the consumer device to display a selected one of the A/V files on a display device. The selected A/V file is decoded into an A/V stream transmitted to the display device in response to the display command. In an embodiment, the portable content container further comprises local memory for storing A/V files.

Abstract: Applications, systems and methods for securely and remotely operating a remote computer from a local computer over a network while providing seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity. Secure and remote operation includes authenticating at least one remote computer for connection to at least one computer over the network and/or at least one local computer for connection to at least one remote computer over the network; establishing a secure connection between the at least one local computer and the at least one remote computer over the network; and integrating a desktop of at least one remote computer on a display of at least one local computer. The connections may be made over a public network, as well as through multiple firewalls without loss of functionality.

Abstract: Applications, systems and methods for efficiently accessing and controlling data of devices among multiple computers over a network. Peer-to-peer exchanges of data between private computers is made possible while providing seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity. Such functionality is available even among private users over a public network, and even when multiple firewalls must be passed through. A firewall compliant connection may be established between a local computer and at least one remote computer; at least one file on a storage device associated with one of the computers is selected, and securely sent to at least one other computer over the secure connections. Computers may be connected over a wide area network with or without a connection server, with or without a VPN.

Abstract: Transmission efficiency and/or spatial resolution provided by resonant apertures can be enhanced by disposing a tip on part of the screen that extends laterally into the aperture. For example, a tip disposed on the ridge of a C-shaped aperture can dramatically improve performance. A spatial resolution of ?/50 has been experimentally demonstrated with this approach. The combination of high spatial resolution and high transmission efficiency provided by this approach enables many applications, such as near field optical probes for near field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). Another application is high resolution electron sources, where an photoelectron emitter can be disposed at or near a tip+aperture structure such that the high resolution optical near-field provides a correspondingly high resolution electron source.

Abstract: A publicly addressable control infrastructure includes a plurality of connection servers and a load balancing server. The load balancing server assigns connection servers to particular communication sessions based on a number of variables. A computer at a private address exchanges secure communications with another computer at a private address via a connection server. A sending buffer at the computer is adaptively polled for data for communication to the other computer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remote access of network-enabled devices that provide seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity between multiple users and multiple devices, that allow collaborative operations by multiple users of remote devices, that allow point to multipoint control of multiple devices and which allow rapid, secure transmission of data between remote users and devices. In general terms, the system includes at least one connection server, and at least two computers operatively coupled to the connection server via a public or global network. In an example where at least one client computer is operatively connected to at least one network-enabled device through a connection sever via the public or global network, the connection server is configured to route control instructions from the client to the network-enabled device, and route data from the network-enabled device to the client.

Abstract: A low cost and lightweight interchangeable lens system is provided. The lens system includes two aspheric elements that is usable both for page-based and bit-based data storage systems. The lens system has a large field of view up to ±50 degrees and a high numerical aperture up to 0.8. The invention reduces cost and weight of the objective lenses and is usable with the servoing technology. The invention provides a long working distance of 20% of the focal length and provides sufficient physical space to accommodate media and aberration corrections, which enable a media interchangeable and compatible system among the both optical recording formats.

Abstract: Applications, systems and methods for efficiently accessing and controlling data of devices among multiple computers over a network. Strategic cache management processes are provided to manage the data in cache memory of the storage devices involved. Communication of data over the network may be managed by means of one or more connection servers which may also manage any or all of authentication, authorization, security, encryption and point-to-multipoint communications functionalities. Alternatively, computers may be connected over a wide area network without a connection server, and with or without a VPN. Data transmissions may be managed to minimize bandwidth and may be temporally and/or spatially compressed.

Abstract: Applications, systems and methods for efficiently accessing data and controlling storage devices among multiple computers connected by a network. Upon receiving a request for access to data originally stored in a remote storage device, determining whether the data is already available and valid in a local storage device. Accessing the data from the local storage device if the data is available and valid. Authenticating a request for a secure connection between a local computer associated with the local storage device and a remote computer associated with the remote storage device. Securely connecting the local computer with the remote computer. Requesting the data from the remote storage device, over the network, if the data is not locally available and valid. Receiving data over the network from the remote storage device, and storing the data in the local storage device for direct local access thereto.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling multiple users from different physical locations to access, observe, control and manipulate physical processes and devices over a computer network such as the Internet is disclosed. A user may visually monitor the physical set up and state of an experiment or environment by receiving live video and data, as well as directly control instrumentation while receiving live feedback regarding the input commands. Measurement data may be collected into a database and computational analysis can be generated and displayed as a physical process is being performed. An online interactive laboratory notebook is also provided that manages items such as collected data, laboratory parameters, “to do” lists, personal notes, etc.

Abstract: Near-field electromagnetic devices having an opaque metallic screen with a fractal iterate aperture are provided. More specifically, the aperture is obtained by application of a self-similar replacement rule to an initial shape two or more times. Alternatively, the aperture can be obtained by application of a self-similar replacement rule one or more times to an initial C-shape. Such apertures tend to have multiple transmission resonances due to their multiple length scales. Fractal iterate apertures can provide enhanced transmission and improved spatial resolution simultaneously. Enormous improvement in transmission efficiency is possible. In one example, a checkerboard fractal iterate aperture provides 1011 more intensity gain than a square aperture having the same spatial resolution. Efficient transmission for fractal iterate apertures having spatial resolution of ?/20 is also shown.

Abstract: Near-field electromagnetic devices having an opaque metallic screen with a fractal iterate aperture are provided. More specifically, the aperture is obtained by application of a self-similar replacement rule to an initial shape two or more times. Alternatively, the aperture can be obtained by application of a self-similar replacement rule one or more times to an initial C-shape. Such apertures tend to have multiple transmission resonances due to their multiple length scales. Fractal iterate apertures can provide enhanced transmission and improved spatial resolution simultaneously. Enormous improvement in transmission efficiency is possible. In one example, a checkerboard fractal iterate aperture provides 1011 more intensity gain than a square aperture having the same spatial resolution. Efficient transmission for fractal iterate apertures having spatial resolution of ?/20 is also shown.

Abstract: An improved surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is provided based on direct measurement of the Goos-Hänchen effect. Sensor sensitivity is enhanced by selecting the thickness of the metallic layer of the SPR sensor to be close to a critical thickness dcr where the effect of the surface plasmon resonance on the Goos-Hänchen shift is most pronounced. Overall sensor sensitivity is surprisingly found to improve with this approach, even though the measurement is based on a second order effect (i.e., the Goos-Hänchen shift) instead of the first order reflectance change measured in conventional SPR sensor approaches. The invention is also applicable to sensors based on measurements of other non-specular reflection parameters, such as temporal shifts, frequency shifts, and/or angular shifts.

Abstract: An improved surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is provided based on direct measurement of the Goos-Hänchen effect. Sensor sensitivity is enhanced by selecting the thickness of the metallic layer of the SPR sensor to be close to a critical thickness dcr where the effect of the surface plasmon resonance on the Goos-Hänchen shift is most pronounced. Overall sensor sensitivity is surprisingly found to improve with this approach, even though the measurement is based on a second order effect (i.e., the Goos-Hänchen shift) instead of the first order reflectance change measured in conventional SPR sensor approaches. The invention is also applicable to sensors based on measurements of other non-specular reflection parameters, such as temporal shifts, frequency shifts, and/or angular shifts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remote access of network-enabled devices that provide seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity between multiple users and multiple devices, that allow collaborative operations by multiple users of remote devices, that allow point to multipoint control of multiple devices and which allow rapid, secure transmission of data between remote users and devices. In general terms, the system includes at least one connection server, and at least two computers operatively coupled to the connection server via a public or global network. In an example where at least one client computer is operatively connected to at least one network-enabled device through a connection server via the public or global network, the connection server is configured to route control instructions from the client to the network-enabled device, and route data from the network-enabled device to the client.

Abstract: An optical storage system and method having separate, independent format hologram writing and data writing mechanisms to allow optimization of data writing separately from format hologram recording. In its most general terms, the invention comprises an optical medium having a first, photoactive material responsive to a first, format hologram recording condition and a second photo-active material, responsive to a second, data writing condition, which is dispersed or dissolved in the first photoactive material. The second photoactive material may additionally be “erasable” under a third, erasing condition. The second photoactive material is preferably in the form of microparticles, microdroplets or microcapsules which are dispersed throughout the first photoactive material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remote access of network-enabled devices that provide seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity between multiple users and multiple devices, that allow collaborative operations by multiple users of remote devices, that allow point to multipoint control of multiple devices and which allow rapid, secure transmission of data between remote users and devices. In general terms, the system includes at least one connection server, and at least two computers operatively coupled to the connection server via a public or global network. In an example where at least one client computer is operatively connected to at least one network-enabled device through a connection server via the public or global network, the connection server is configured to route control instructions from the client to the network-enabled device, and route data from the network-enabled device to the client.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remote access of network-enabled devices that provide seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity between multiple users and multiple devices, that allow collaborative operations by multiple users of remote devices, that allow point to multipoint control of multiple devices and which allow rapid, secure transmission of data between remote users and devices. In general terms, the system includes at least one connection server, and at least two computers operatively coupled to the connection server via a public or global network. In an example where at least one client computer is operatively connected to at least one network-enabled device through a connection sever via the public or global network, the connection server is configured to route control instructions from the client to the network-enabled device, and route data from the network-enabled device to the client.

Abstract: A mask layer for a high-density near-field optical storage system includes nonlinear optical material and nanoparticles embedded in the nonlinear optical material. The mask layer in combination with a data layer is useful for forming an optical disk. One technique for storing data in the optical disk includes using a gate beam to modify an index of refraction in a modified portion of the nonlinear optical material using a signal beam to provide nanoparticle resonance excitation of selected nanoparticles within the modified portion of the nonlinear optical material.