Abstract: A vacuum cleaner head with a suction component consisting of laterally-opposed wing-like members positioned transversely to the front end of the head used to access and suction dirt, debris and fluids within confined or low-clearance areas under furniture and appliances and includes a generally thin flat elongated hollow member designed to reach maximum extension and floor surface coverage within the confined or low-clearance areas. Included is a flexible hollow hose fitting set back and disposed at an acute angle from the back end of the vacuum cleaner head for slidably mounting the vacuum cleaner head to a hollow hose wand. The hollow hose wand with a bottom end releasably attached to the flexible hollow hose fitting is adapted to be bent downward toward the floor surface when a sufficient downward pressure is exerted by the user upon the hollow hose wand used for maneuvering (approximately eleven inches in width) the vacuum cleaner head.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes techniques for improving efficiency of heat transfer devices, specifically condensers. An exemplary embodiment provides a device for condensing vapor bubbles comprising a quantity of liquid, a vapor source, and an acoustic transducer. The vapor source can be configured to introduce a plurality of vapor bubbles in the quantity of liquid. The acoustic transducer can be configured to provide acoustic energy to the quantity of liquid such that at least a portion of the acoustic energy is transferred to the plurality of vapor bubbles causing at least a portion of the plurality of vapor bubbles to condense in the quantity of liquid.

Abstract: A method for providing authentication of a user of a recipient unit when the recipient unit is off-line includes storing one or a plurality of one-time challenge-reply sets based on an on-line communication with a sender unit. In one example, each of the one-time challenge-reply sets includes at least a one-time challenge-reply pair for use in off-line authentication of the user for a particular resource available through the recipient unit. When the user is offline, the method includes selecting at least one of the plurality of stored one-time challenge-reply sets for off-line authentication of the user for the particular resource available through the recipient unit. The one-time challenge-reply sets may be associated with an article.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes techniques for improving efficiency of heat transfer devices, specifically condensers. An exemplary embodiment provides a device for condensing vapor bubbles comprising a quantity of liquid, a vapor source, and an acoustic transducer. The vapor source can be configured to introduce a plurality of vapor bubbles in the quantity of liquid. The acoustic transducer can be configured to provide acoustic energy to the quantity of liquid such that at least a portion of the acoustic energy is transferred to the plurality of vapor bubbles causing at least a portion of the plurality of vapor bubbles to condense in the quantity of liquid.

Abstract: A method for providing authentication of a user of a recipient unit when the recipient unit is off-line includes storing one or a plurality of one-time challenge-reply sets based on an on-line communication with a sender unit. In one example, each of the one-time challenge-reply sets includes at least a one-time challenge-reply pair for use in off-line authentication of the user for a particular resource available through the recipient unit. When the user is offline, the method includes selecting at least one of the plurality of stored one-time challenge-reply sets for off-line authentication of the user for the particular resource available through the recipient unit. The one-time challenge-reply sets may be associated with an article.

Abstract: A method for providing authentication of a user of a recipient unit when the recipient unit is off-line includes storing one or a plurality of challenge-reply sets associated with an article based on an on-line communication with a sender unit. Each of the challenge-reply sets includes at least a challenge-reply pair for use in off-line authentication of the user for a particular resource available through the recipient unit. When the user is offline, the method includes selecting at least one of the plurality of stored challenge-reply sets for off-line authentication of the user for the particular resource available through the recipient unit.

Abstract: A unique system, method, and user interface that facilitate ordering personal items based on past personal interaction between a user and the user's correspondents are provided. In particular, the system provides alternative views of information, such as messages, that is organized around people using an ordering based on the history of communication between the recipient and sender. Social metrics can be calculated based on social metadata associated with the messages, for example. Metrics can be used to configure how or which messages are viewed and their order in one or more pane views. Each pane view can present different orderings of messages—which are displayed by the recipient or sender of the message. So for instance, instead of viewing messages in chronological receipt date, they can be viewed by the message's sender and ordered by the number of messages previously sent to the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using a foot-based interface to interact with a computer are described. An application program from a plurality of application programs is executed on an operating system of a personal computer. The application program is configured to receive user input via a foot-based interface. Further, user input is received from the foot-based interface and mapped into a command. Moreover, the command controls an application program function. Also, the command is executed and an output corresponding to the execution of the command is generated. Additionally, the output is displayed to the user.

Abstract: A corridor search process is used to identify locations of interest along a travel route. The corridor search process identifies locations of interest along a travel route by using a grid search process that first identifies shape points that correspond to the travel route. Each shape point is associated with a portion of a grid system used to delineate a region of geography through which the route traverses. The portions of the grid system correspond to a corridor along the travel route. References to redundant portions of the grid system are removed, and locations of interest are identified based on an association between a location of interest with a particular portion of the grid system.

Abstract: High-density computer display visualization formats provide improved visualization of large amounts of threaded information. These visualization formats are suitable for a wide variety of threaded information environments including newsgroups, threaded Web discussions, chats, e-mail inboxes, etc. In one implementation, the threaded message visualization represents each post with a generally one-dimensional or narrow entry line. The entry lines are horizontal and arranged vertically in substantially the same indented threading arrangement as the text of a conventional prior art visualization. In other implementations, the appearance (e.g., color), length, and position of entry lines can represent additional selected information while maintaining the generally one-dimensional character of the entry lines.

Abstract: One embodiment of the system is implemented as a device for two-phase heat transfer. This device comprises a chamber containing a fluid, where a heated wall makes up a portion of the chamber. The device also comprises an actuator that emits pressure vibrations. The pressure vibrations dislodge vapor bubbles that form at the heated wall due to the heat in the wall.

Abstract: A method for providing authentication of a user of a recipient unit when the recipient unit is off-line includes storing one or a plurality of challenge-reply sets associated with an article based on an on-line communication with a sender unit. Each of the challenge-reply sets includes at least a challenge-reply pair for use in off-line authentication of the user for a particular resource available through the recipient unit. When the user is offline, the method includes selecting at least one of the plurality of stored challenge-reply sets for off-line authentication of the user for the particular resource available through the recipient unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods that rank search results. Such ranking typically includes determining a relevance of individual search results via one or more feature-based relevance functions. These functions can be tailored to users and/or applications, and typically are based on scoped information (e.g., lexical), digital artifact author related attributes, digital artifact source repository attributes, and/or relationships between features, for example. In addition, relevance functions can be generated via training sets (e.g., machine learning) or initial guesses that are iteratively refined over time. Upon determining relevance, search results can be ordered with respect to one another, based on respective relevances. Additionally, thresholding can be utilized to mitigate returning results likely to be non-relevant to the query, user and/or application.

Abstract: A device for use with a skateboard and a skateboard truck assembly to facilitate the removal and replacement of various component parts of a skateboard truck assembly including the bushings and the tension bolt, which is used to join the base plate and the axle assembly. The bolt, which is inserted through the aligned apertures in the axle assembly and the base plate, penetrates into the area beneath the base plate where it emerges and mates with the threaded nut. The device is supported by the bottom surface of the board and held stationary inside a pocket formed within the underside of the base plate and consists of integrally formed components including a generally flat base, a sloped guide platform situated upon the base, and an upstanding heel section formed at the base of the sloped guide platform. The guide platform is constructed according to a specific angle of inclination to fix the nut's orientation and to enable the nut and the threaded end of the bolt to properly align and engage.

Abstract: A skateboard truck assembly that includes a skateboard, a mounting plate, which is used to mount the truck assembly to the underside of the board, a mounting bracket to bridge the truck assembly to the mounting plate and an axle assembly, which includes axle rods, axle hubs and two wheels. The axle assembly is generally arcuate in shape and includes a lower surface with a more pronounced arcuate design and a central arched section. Each axle rod extends outwardly from the central arched section and slopes down to a terminus point adjacent to the inside portion of the wheel where the axle rod flares relative to the size of the axle hub to conform to the interior sidewall of the wheel and the underside of the flared axle rod coincides in substantial aligned relation with the corresponding wheel tread.

Abstract: A flexible tarpaulin is rolled about a drum mounted on an axle that is secured to a rigid deck by mounting brackets. A spring acting between the axle and the drum serves to retract the tarpaulin onto the drum. A releasable retraction lock may be used to prevent retraction. The tarpaulin has apertures spaced along its edges and a plurality of fasteners are employed having latching pins that extend through the apertures into anchors embedded in the deck to secure the tarpaulin over the pool.