Abstract: A method of enabling an employee to utilize earned and unpaid earnings includes receiving, with a with a central office processor, a record of an employee's accrued and unpaid earnings for a predetermined time period and storing the record in a database. The method further includes receiving, with the central office processor, an electronic request from an employee to access the employee's record of accrued and unpaid earnings for the predetermined time period. Upon receipt of the request, the central office processor accesses the database including the record of the employee's accrued and unpaid earnings for the predetermined time period and determines an amount of the employee's accrued and unpaid earnings for the predetermined time period available to the employee and transmits the amount for display to the employee.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operation of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment so as to achieve a desired range of a sound pressure level and/or a sound power level is described. The system and method can lead to a desired range of a sound pressure level and/or a sound power level for a zone using equipment that is typically included in HVAC systems. Such control of equipment can be important for privacy and comfort requirements.

Abstract: Transducers formed as part of a touchscreen system emulate the motion of a pushbutton or other mechanical elements. A touchscreen system positions a transducer adjacent to an icon displayed on the touchscreen surface. When a user touches the icon, the transducer senses the touch and is then deformed in a pattern that emulates a mechanical motion, giving the user the sensation of touching a mechanical button. An excitation signal applied to the transducer is compared to a target excitation signal that, when applied to the transducer, causes the transducer to emulate the desired motion. When any differences between the two signals are detected, the excitation signal is adjusted so that the motion is corrected. The target excitation signal, or time and voltage segments defining it, are stored in memory and retrieved for comparison. The excitation signal is also selected to reduce any acoustic artifacts that can cause the transducer to generate audible clicks.

Abstract: A method of enabling an employee to utilize earned and unpaid earnings includes receiving, with a with a central office processor, a record of an employee's accrued and unpaid earnings for a predetermined time period and storing the record in a database. The method further includes receiving, with the central office processor, an electronic request from an employee to access the employee's record of accrued and unpaid earnings for the predetermined time period. Upon receipt of the request, the central office processor accesses the database including the record of the employee's accrued and unpaid earnings for the predetermined time period and determines an amount of the employee's accrued and unpaid earnings for the predetermined time period available to the employee and transmits the amount for display to the employee.

Abstract: A secure transaction processing system/method allowing injection and execution of credit card and ACH payment forms in a third party web page via cross domain requests is disclosed. The system/method provides a mechanism to inject and execute payment forms into a third (customer) party's website via Cross Domain Requests by providing a set of client application instructions that retrieves presentation and behavior logic and delivers it in a third party application. A browser based client application detects and manages style and behavior conflicts to render forms within in an existing third party web page. The client application then submits the forms via Cross Domain Requests to the transaction processing web server and directs the client application to a new navigation target within the third party website.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for prioritizing service requests. A load associated with a service is determined. A request destined for processing by the service is received. One or more client-specified parameters are determined from the request. The client-specified parameters include one or more of: a droppability parameter indicating whether the request is droppable, or a deadline parameter indicating a deadline for completion of processing of the request. When the load meets a threshold, a prioritization is assigned to the request based at least in part on the client-specified parameter.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operation of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment so as to achieve a desired range of a sound pressure level and/or a sound power level is described. The system and method can lead to a desired range of a sound pressure level and/or a sound power level for a zone using equipment that is typically included in HVAC systems. Such control of equipment can be important for privacy and comfort requirements.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for prioritizing service requests. A service request destined for processing by a service provider is obtained in at least one computing device. The service provider is configured to provide a service. The service request includes at least one client-specified parameter indicating a priority of the service request. A load associated with the service is determined. The service request is prioritized for an initial processing stage of the service provider when the load meets at least one threshold. The prioritizing for the initial processing stage is based at least in part on the at least one client-specified parameter. The service request is prioritized for an additional processing stage of the service provider when the load meets the at least one threshold. The prioritizing for the additional processing stage is based at least in part on the at least one client-specified parameter and a result of the initial processing stage.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for prioritizing service requests. A service request destined for processing by a service provider is obtained in at least one computing device. The service provider is configured to provide a service. The service request includes at least one client-specified parameter indicating a priority of the service request. A load associated with the service is determined. The service request is prioritized for an initial processing stage of the service provider when the load meets at least one threshold. The prioritizing for the initial processing stage is based at least in part on the at least one client-specified parameter. The service request is prioritized for an additional processing stage of the service provider when the load meets the at least one threshold. The prioritizing for the additional processing stage is based at least in part on the at least one client-specified parameter and a result of the initial processing stage.

Abstract: Transducers formed as part of a touchscreen system emulate the motion of a pushbutton or other mechanical elements. A touchscreen system positions a transducer adjacent to an icon displayed on the touchscreen surface. When a user touches the icon, the transducer senses the touch and is then deformed in a pattern that emulates a mechanical motion, giving the user the sensation of touching a mechanical button. An excitation signal applied to the transducer is compared to a target excitation signal that, when applied to the transducer, causes the transducer to emulate the desired motion. When any differences between the two signals are detected, the excitation signal is adjusted so that the motion is corrected. The target excitation signal, or time and voltage segments defining it, are stored in memory and retrieved for comparison. The excitation signal is also selected to reduce any acoustic artifacts that can cause the transducer to generate audible clicks.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for a pre-processing stage or mechanism for enhancing data compression of an image by splitting or separating the color channels for pixels into planar data sources. Typically, image data is displayed as an interleaved set of channel types for a color space such that each pixel within an image (such as a bitmap) has one component for each color channel. By separating the interleaved bitmap into a planar representation, each plane can be compressed independently and often times achieve higher compression ratios. This is especially true for channels that are expected to stay fairly constant throughout the bitmap most of the time. The utilization of the above embodiment can be further enhanced through manipulation of channel data or through converting the color space from one form to another.

Abstract: A haptic feedback system includes a user interface device, such as a touchscreen that includes a touch panel and one or more haptic drive elements coupled to the touch panel, a touch controller, and an actuator controller. The touch controller receives sensed data from the touch panel, and in response generates and sends a haptic signal to an actuator controller. Generation and transmission of the haptic signal bypasses any system host controller. A dedicated signal path couples the touch controller and the actuator controller, over which the haptic signal is transmitted. Alternatively, the haptic signal is transmitted from the touch controller to the actuator controller over a serial bus interface. In response to the received haptic signal, the actuator controller implements an appropriate drive signal in the form of a haptic waveform to the one or more haptic drive elements of the touchscreen.

Abstract: A secure transaction processing system/method allowing injection and execution of credit card and ACH payment forms in a third party web page via cross domain requests is disclosed. The system/method provides a mechanism to inject and execute payment forms into a third (customer) party's website via Cross Domain Requests by providing a set of client application instructions that retrieves presentation and behavior logic and delivers it in a third party application. A browser based client application detects and manages style and behavior conflicts to render forms within in an existing third party web page. The client application then submits the forms via Cross Domain Requests to the transaction processing web server and directs the client application to a new navigation target within the third party website.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a water filter, a water filter housing, a water filter cap, and a tool for rotating the water filter cap. Engagement of the tool and the water filter cap and subsequent rotation of the tool thereby rotates the water filter cap and water filter. The tool includes a head portion and a body portion and the head portion is an inverse surface of at least a portion of the water filter cap for mating with the water filter cap.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for a pre-processing stage or mechanism for enhancing data compression of an image by splitting or separating the color channels for pixels into planar data sources. Typically, image data is displayed as an interleaved set of channel types for a color space such that each pixel within an image (such as a bitmap) has one component for each color channel. By separating the interleaved bitmap into a planar representation, each plane can be compressed independently and often times achieve higher compression ratios. This is especially true for channels that are expected to stay fairly constant throughout the bitmap most of the time. The utilization of the above embodiment can be further enhanced through manipulation of channel data or through converting the color space from one form to another.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for a pre-processing stage or mechanism for enhancing data compression of an image by splitting or separating the color channels for pixels into planar data sources. Typically, image data is displayed as an interleaved set of channel types for a color space such that each pixel within an image (such as a bitmap) has one component for each color channel. By separating the interleaved bitmap into a planar representation, each plane can be compressed independently and often times achieve higher compression ratios. This is especially true for channels that are expected to stay fairly constant throughout the bitmap most of the time. The utilization of the above embodiment can be further enhanced through manipulation of channel data or through converting the color space from one form to another.

Abstract: A hinge for controlling the movement of a door on a refrigerator is disclosed, the hinge allowing the refrigerator to be installed flush to adjacent cabinets. The door translates and rotates in order to allow access to the refrigerator cabinet interior without contacting the adjacent cabinets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a water filter, a water filter housing, a water filter cap, and a tool for rotating the water filter cap. Engagement of the tool and the water filter cap and subsequent rotation of the tool thereby rotates the water filter cap and water filter. The tool includes a head portion and a body portion and the head portion is an inverse surface of at least a portion of the water filter cap for mating with the water filter cap.

Abstract: A haptic feedback system includes a user interface device, such as a touchscreen that includes a touch panel and one or more haptic drive elements coupled to the touch panel, a touch controller, and an actuator controller. The touch controller receives sensed data from the touch panel, and in response generates and sends a haptic signal to an actuator controller. Generation and transmission of the haptic signal bypasses any system host controller. A dedicated signal path couples the touch controller and the actuator controller, over which the haptic signal is transmitted. Alternatively, the haptic signal is transmitted from the touch controller to the actuator controller over a serial bus interface. In response to the received haptic signal, the actuator controller implements an appropriate drive signal in the form of a haptic waveform to the one or more haptic drive elements of the touchscreen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a water filter, a water filter housing, a water filter cap, and a tool for rotating the water filter cap. Engagement of the tool and the water filter cap and subsequent rotation of the tool thereby rotates the water filter cap and water filter. The tool includes a head portion and a body portion and the head portion is an inverse surface of at least a portion of the water filter cap for mating with the water filter cap.