Abstract: A method for implementing an offer/counteroffer negotiation. Characteristics of an offer for an item are received, wherein the characteristics comprise at least one term defining the offer. The offer is published to a plurality of bidders. Among the potential responses to the offer, at least one counteroffer is received from a bidder. The counteroffer comprises at least one alternative term. Provided the counteroffer is acceptable, the counteroffer is accepted. Provided the counteroffer is not acceptable, a second counteroffer is transmitted to the bidder, wherein the second counteroffer comprising at least one alternative term with respect to the counteroffer. The present invention allows a negotiator to negotiate terms with one or more bidders individually, outside the constraints of a traditional auction.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a pluggable channel that can be employed to customize data communications associated with a remote method call is provided. The system includes a pluggable channel that can interact with sinks (e.g., message sinks, security sinks, transports sinks) that implement object-oriented interfaces that can be employed by a distributed object system. The system also includes a selector that can select and associate sinks with the pluggable channel, which facilitates providing a customized, pluggable channel on a per proxy basis.

Abstract: A light modulator is arranged as an array of rows and columns of interferometric display elements. Each element is divided into sub-rows of sub-elements. Array connection lines transmit operating signals to the display elements, with one connection line corresponding to one row of display elements in the array. Sub-array connection lines electrically connect to each array connection line. Switches transmit the operating signals from each array connection line to the sub-rows to effect gray scale modulation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dispensing liquid are disclosed. The method includes the steps of storing one or more liquids in a thermal inkjet print head and providing a well plate having at least one well. At least one of the liquids is dispensed from the thermal inkjet print head into at least one well. The volume of the dispensed liquid is a fraction of the total required volume of the liquid in the at least one well, and the dispensing step is performed multiple times to dispense the required volume of the at least one liquid in at least one well.

Abstract: Methods of allocating a plurality of periodically distributed frames of communication between a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless transceiver are disclosed. One method includes detecting periodic data for transmission between the wireless base station and the wireless mobile unit. A transmission map that maps frequency and time slots is generated for transmission of the data packets. Allocation information is included within less than all of a plurality of transmission maps of the plurality of periodically distributed frames. The allocation information designates frequency and time slots in which data packets identified as a periodic data type are transmitted to the second wireless transceiver for the plurality of periodically distributed frames.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements of assigning tasks to processors are discussed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to detect an attempt to execute an instruction of a task on a processor not supporting the instruction (non-supporting processor). The method may involve selecting a processor supporting the instruction (supporting physical processor). In many embodiments, the method may include storing data about the attempt to execute the instruction and, based upon the data, making another assignment of the task to a physical processor supporting the instruction. In some embodiments, the method may include representing the instruction set of a virtual processor as the union of the instruction sets of the physical processors comprising the virtual processor and assigning a task to the virtual processor based upon the representing.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to select a communication version. An embodiment of the method includes obtaining destination host address associated with a destination host attribute, such a domain name. Thereafter, an address version for each destination host address is identified. Upon identifying address versions for each destination host address, it is determined if the destination host address is associated with a preferred address version. In such an instance where the destination host address is associated with a preferred address version, such as Internet Protocol version 6, a corresponding communication version is selected.

Abstract: The present invention provides sodium 6-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-benzo(h)chromene-6-sulfonate, and its synthesis and uses in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the maintenance of call signaling information in connection with realtime communications established using a packet data network. According to the present invention, call state information related to a realtime communication is provided by a call controller to an interconnected client. The client stores the call state information. In the event of a failure of a call signaling channel between the call controller and the client or in the event of a failure of the call controller, the client may establish contact with an alternate call controller, and may provide the call state information that has been stored on the client to the alternate call controller. The alternate call controller may then restore call features associated with the realtime communication.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a description of medical devices with polymeric cobwebbing disposed near the surfaces of the medical device. This cobwebbing can contain drug(s) and can enhance the mechanical and chemical function of intraluminal stents. Methods of using these devices and methods of preparing the devices are disclosed, as well.

Abstract: When a source node (SN) seeks to transmit a first communication stream (FCS) to a destination node (DN), a method is provided for allowing the SN to preempt a lower priority communication stream (LPCS). User priorities are supported during slot scheduling based on stream-identifiers (IDs) and stream priority values exchanged by each of the nodes. A scout request message (SRM), which includes a stream ID and a user priority value of the SN, is transmitted to a next-hop node along a route towards the DN. A node along the route determines if free time slots are available along the route to meet QoS requirements of the FCS, and if not, the node determines whether there is a LPCS in the neighborhood, and if so, the node frees the particular time slots currently being used by the LPCS, and allocates the particular time slots for the FCS.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a user interface that allows a user to specify one or more attributes that should be included in a master reference data set, and identify which of these attributes should serve as enterprise specified identifiers that can be used to identify the particular master reference data set in an enterprise data storage. Some embodiments of the invention provide a method that allows the master reference data set to be accessed and updated in the data storage through the use of the enterprise specified identifiers.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for adjusting a driving voltage based on relaxation information of a movable reflective layer of an interferometric modulator. In one example, a device for driving a MEMS device having a movable reflective layer comprises a sensing unit configured to generate information related to one or more of time, environmental exposure, and frame rate of a movable reflective layer of at least one MEMS device, and a driver circuit configured to apply voltages to drive said at least one MEMS device, said voltages being based at least in part on said information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stable form of azithromycin derivatives that act as antibiotics. These compounds are in anhydrous form and have increased stability over the hydrated forms.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microelectromechanical device includes forming at least two conductive layers on a substrate. An isolation layer is formed between the two conductive layers. The conductive layers are electrically coupled together and then the isolation layer is removed to form a gap between the conductive layers. The electrical coupling of the layers mitigates or eliminates the effects of electrostatic charge build up on the device during the removal process.

Abstract: The adaptation precedence of an application (or order of adaptation of various components) is given as a directed acyclic graph (DAG), with each vertex being an atomic unit of adaptation, or a component which comprises of atomic units of adaptation. Each such component has an associated DAG specifying the order of adaptation with vertices as sub-components. Relations among sub-components and associated actions are stored as a table. The relations between sub-components of different components follow a set of constraints in order to be compatible relations. A linear order from the partial order is created as represented by the DAG and follows that order for adaptation of each component. Each component x is adapted atomically and then the table of relations is updated appropriately. As and when a component y is to be adapted, the table is looked-up and it is determined which relations and actions are to be enforced upon y while its adaptation is being executed.

Abstract: A system and process that are a hybrid of distillation and membrane separations offers a highly efficient means of separating a fluid feed mixture into organic, solid, and aqueous components. The distillation section is followed by two membrane separation sections operated in parallel, with the distillation section separating the feed mixture into an organics-rich fraction and an organics-depleted and solids-rich fraction. One membrane section operates on the organics-rich fraction and separates it into a more organics-rich sub-fraction and a water-rich, organics-depleted sub-fraction, while the other membrane section operates on the organics-depleted, solids-rich fraction from the distillation section and separates it into a solids-rich sub-fraction and a solids-depleted, water-rich sub-fraction.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to embodiments of dies having polymer ribs.

Abstract: A computer system for performing error monitoring of partitions. A partition status buffer (PSB) denotes a status (GOOD, BAD, NOCARE) of each partition of at least two partitions. The BAD status denotes that the partition has encountered at least one error that is currently unrepaired. A global supervisor mapping (GSM) associates each partition (designated as a supervised partition) with a supervisor partition in a one-to-one mapping. The supervisor partition determines its supervised partition from the GSM and ascertains the status of its supervised partition from the PSB. If the status of the supervised partition is BAD then the supervisor partition performs a recovery procedure. The recovery procedure: obtains a grant of access to physical and logical resources of the supervised partition which contains error data of the supervised partition; gathers the error data; sets the status of the supervised partition to the NOCARE status.

Abstract: A user interface system for use with an internet ordering system includes a user-navigable bookshelf environment providing a plurality of columns and rows for displaying items for purchase within item windows aligned along visual representations of shelves bordering the rows. A datastore of item artwork provides visual renderings of items for purchase. An Internet storefront provides a view of a portion of the virtual bookshelf environment to a user. The user interface populates the item windows with item artwork according to predefined criteria, and responds to user interaction with a control of said storefront to change the view of the virtual bookshelf environment presented to the user.