Abstract: A system for processing credit card payments is provided. According to one aspect of the system, a client is able to submit payment transactions in different formats for processing. Depending on the submission format, the payment transaction can be processed by either a batch process or a right-time process. The right-time process processes the payment transaction in real-time upon submission thereby allowing the corresponding credit account to be updated in a more timely manner. In particular, the right-time process adjusts the available credit relative to the corresponding credit account in a real-time manner so that the available credit closely tracks or reflects payments made to the credit account.

Abstract: A system and method for document recommendation combines linguistic and term frequency approaches in order to improve overall performance and recommendation. Hypernyms are added to the source document set so that related documents can be recommended from the source document set. There are a variety of different parameters to configure that change operation of the document recommendation system.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a pressure, temperature, and/or vibration of a hostile environment without requiring the use of active electronics or an oscillator circuit in that environment. The system and method interrogate a resonant pressure sensor and a resonant or passive temperature sensor connected to a transmission line and located at least 100 feet (30.48 m) away from a network analyzer. The system and method use the reflected frequencies from the sensors to determine the pressure, temperature, and/or vibration. If the sensors are networked by the transmission line or a network filter, the reflected portion can include the reflected transmission energy. The applied signal and reflected portion travel along the transmission line, which is preferably impedance matched to that of the system. If a multi-conductor cable is used, the effects of the cable's length and temperature are compensated for via a system calibration when in field use.

Abstract: A cutter hub position control device for consistent blade adjustment in an underfluid pelletizer is provided in connection with a motion rod attached to the pelletizer cutter hub and extending through a hollow shaft of the pelletizer motor. The cutter hub position control device can be collinear, transaxial or in a plane parallel to the axis of the motion rod to which it is attached. Adjustment of the cutter hub position control device is automated through use of feedback control mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention is an enclosure for a laser, the enclosure having positive pressure in the line to generate a positive gas flow within the enclosure so as to keep welding fumes, welding spatter and other contaminants off a laser beam lens.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for providing collaborative learning. In one embodiment, a method includes presenting a visual representation of a task in a first modality to a plurality of users in a group on a shared display and receiving a plurality of inputs from input devices associated with the respective users for solving the task. At least one of the inputs comprises a visual representation of the at least one input in a second modality that is different from the first modality and a successful completion of the task by the group requires a correct solution that is collectively dependent upon all of the inputs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterile labeling of medications and medical solutions including those in a first container having a sterile interior and a non-sterile exterior, the first container being received in a second container or membrane, at least one sterile printed label containing information specific to the medication or solution, provided in a third container having a sterile interior and a non-sterile exterior, the third container being removably affixed to the second container while maintaining association of the printed label to the contents of the first container. The medication or solution in the first container may be dispensed into a sterile container in the sterile field and one of the at least one sterile printed labels from the third container may be applied to the corresponding sterile container or medical accessory in the sterile field. The apparatus can further include packaging in which the first container is packaged.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for discovering documents using a computer and providing a small set of the most relevant documents to the attention of a human observer. Using the method, the computer obtains a seed document from the user and generates a seed document vector using term frequency-inverse corpus frequency weighting. A keyword index for a plurality of source documents can be compared with the weighted terms of the seed document vector. The comparison is then filtered to reduce the number of documents, which define an initial subset of the source documents. Initial subset vectors are generated and compared to the seed document vector to obtain a similarity value for each comparison. Based on the similarity value, the method then recommends one or more of the source documents.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing online advertising data secure sharing. One method includes receiving, at a server, a request for proprietary data from a data consumer, the request including a data consumer identifier; retrieving, from a database of proprietary data, proprietary data based on the request; determining, by the server, whether the retrieved proprietary data is at least one of: designated to be processed and designated to have privileges set; processing, by the server, the proprietary data when the server determines the proprietary data is designated to be processed; setting one or more privileges to the proprietary data using the certificate associated with the data consumer identifier when the server determines the proprietary data is designated to have privileges set; encrypting the proprietary data using the certificate associated with the data consumer identifier; and transmitting the encrypted proprietary data to the data consumer.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to valve devices, systems, and methods for controlling the distribution of materials to multiple locations. The improved valve devices, materials distribution systems, and materials distribution methods disclosed herein are particularly suitable for use in applications where the materials being distributed are, for example but not limited to, non-gaseous fluid materials (e.g., raw liquids, solutions, slurries, colloids, suspensions, and the like) and solid materials having some level of tackiness, moisture content, or like property. The valves, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be operated without having to stop the flow of materials therethrough in order to change the position of the valve from one outlet to another. Further, the valves and systems disclosed herein have few directional changes, therefore there are few, if any, points within the system where the material can get stuck and/or lodged.

Abstract: A server includes a memory that stores a plurality of availability schedules, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is operable to access an automated clearing house (ACH) debit transaction received at an originating depository financial institution (ODFI) from an originator, determine an availability schedule associated with the originator from the plurality of availability schedules, credit a percentage of the amount of funds of the ACH debit transaction to a delayed settlement account associated with the originator, and transfer a portion of the amount of funds credited to the delayed settlement account to a general operating account of the originator on a particular day determined from the availability schedule. The delayed settlement account has one or more associated rules that prevent the originator from withdrawing funds from the delayed settlement account.

Abstract: An apparatus creating a flickering flame effect. The apparatus includes a housing with an interior space with first and second stages. A drive mechanism generates a time varying electromagnetic field extending into the first stage. A first pendulum member is pivotally mounted in the interior space of the first stage and includes first and second magnets on first and second ends, with the first end proximate to the drive mechanism such that the first magnet interacts with the varying electromagnetic field to cause movement of the pendulum member. The apparatus includes a second pendulum member pivotally mounted in the second stage with a magnet on a first end proximate to the second end of the first pendulum member. A flame silhouette element extends from the second pendulum member, and a light source transmits light onto the flame silhouette, which is moving due to the magnetic coupling of the pendulum members.

Abstract: An apparatus creating a flickering flame effect. The apparatus includes a housing with an interior space with first and second stages. A drive mechanism generates a time varying electromagnetic field extending into the first stage. A first pendulum member is pivotally mounted in the interior space of the first stage and includes first and second magnets on first and second ends, with the first end proximate to the drive mechanism such that the first magnet interacts with the varying electromagnetic field to cause movement of the pendulum member. The apparatus includes a second pendulum member pivotally mounted in the second stage with a magnet on a first end proximate to the second end of the first pendulum member. A flame silhouette element extends from the second pendulum member, and a light source transmits light onto the flame silhouette, which is moving due to the magnetic coupling of the pendulum members.

Abstract: An ink includes a binder and a plurality of particulate oscillators suspended in the binder, wherein a visible phase of each of the plurality of particulate oscillators varies in a cyclic manner. In another embodiment, a printing implement includes an ink containing a plurality of particulate oscillators, wherein a visible phase of each of the plurality of particulate oscillators varies in a cyclic manner, and an outlet for dispensing the ink from the printing implement. In a further embodiment, a writing set includes an ink containing a plurality of particulate oscillators, wherein a visible phase of each of the plurality of particulate oscillators varies in a cyclic manner, and a writing surface containing a stimulus that resets the visible phase when the ink is applied to the writing surface.

Abstract: The present invention is an enclosure for a laser, the enclosure having positive pressure in the line to generate a positive gas flow within the enclosure so as to keep welding fumes, welding spatter and other contaminants off a laser beam lens.

Abstract: An adaptive system processes social media streams in real time. The adaptive system included a data management engine that generates combined data sets by detecting and mining a plurality of text-based messages from a social networking service on the Internet. An analytics engine in communication with the data management engine monitors topics in the text-based messages and tracks topic evolution contained in the text-based messages. A visualization engine in communication with the analytics engine renders historical and current activity associated with the plurality of text-based messages.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to valve devices, systems, and methods for controlling the distribution of materials to multiple locations. The improved valve devices, materials distribution systems, and materials distribution methods disclosed herein are particularly suitable for use in applications where the materials being distributed are, for example but not limited to, non-gaseous fluid materials (e.g., raw liquids, solutions, slurries, colloids, suspensions, and the like) and solid materials having some level of tackiness, moisture content, or like property. The valves, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be operated without having to stop the flow of materials therethrough in order to change the position of the valve from one outlet to another. Further, the valves and systems disclosed herein have few directional changes, therefore there are few, if any, points within the system where the material can get stuck and/or lodged.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor includes a stator which encircles a portion of a cylindrical diaphragm. This encircling forms a circumferential gap between the sidewalls of the stator and the diaphragm. Therefore, a greater area “A” can be achieved in smaller diameter sensor footprint than prior art designs and yet still detect relatively small changes in capacitance. Additionally, the width “g1” of the gap can be wider than prior art designs without negatively affecting capacitance detection. A bonding agent which has a melting temperature of about half that of bonding agents used in prior art designs, secures the stator to the diaphragm and reduces oxidation issues during assembly, thereby decreasing manufacturing time and cost. To ensure proper side-to-side alignment of the stator relative to the diaphragm, a centering sleeve, which is removed after bonding, is placed over as stub at the upper end of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a pressure, temperature, and/or vibration of a hostile environment without requiring the use of active electronics or an oscillator circuit in that environment. The system and method interrogate a resonant pressure sensor and a resonant or passive temperature sensor connected to a transmission line and located at least 100 feet (30.48 m) away from a network analyzer. The system and method use the reflected frequencies from the sensors to determine the pressure, temperature, and/or vibration. If the sensors are networked by the transmission line or a network filter, the reflected portion can include the reflected transmission energy. The applied signal and reflected portion travel along the transmission line, which is preferably impedance matched to that of the system. If a multi-conductor cable is used, the effects of the cable's length and temperature are compensated for via a system calibration when in field use.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to valve devices, systems, and methods for controlling the distribution of materials to multiple locations. The improved valve devices, materials distribution systems, and materials distribution methods disclosed herein are particularly suitable for use in applications where the materials being distributed are, for example but not limited to, non-gaseous fluid materials (e.g., raw liquids, solutions, slurries, colloids, suspensions, and the like) and solid materials having some level of tackiness, moisture content, or like property. The valves, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be operated without having to stop the flow of materials therethrough in order to change the position of the valve from one outlet to another. Further, the valves and systems disclosed herein have few directional changes, therefore there are few, if any, points within the system where the material can get stuck and/or lodged.