Abstract: Techniques for a smart battery are described. In at least some implementations, a smart battery includes internal components that enable the smart battery to perform various actions, such as communicating with a remote device, tracking power usage, controlling power output, and so forth. In at least some implementations, a smart battery includes in internal charge circuit that enables the smart battery to be recharged via an externally-supplied charging current without damaging internal components of the smart battery. In at least some implementations, a battery application enables operational parameters of a smart battery to be configured by a remote device.

Abstract: Identifying products in a physical store shopping environment. The method includes, using a first detection method, identifying that a given product likely belongs to a given set of products. The method further includes, using one or more other detection methods, determining that the product is likely a specific product from the given set of products.

Abstract: Techniques for a smart battery are described. In at least some implementations, a smart battery includes internal components that enable the smart battery to perform various actions, such as communicating with a remote device, tracking power usage, controlling power output, and so forth. In at least some implementations, a smart battery includes in internal charge circuit that enables the smart battery to be recharged via an externally-supplied charging current without damaging internal components of the smart battery. In at least some implementations, a battery application enables operational parameters of a smart battery to be configured by a remote device.

Abstract: Identifying products in a physical store shopping environment. The method includes, using a first detection method, identifying that a given product likely belongs to a given set of products. The method further includes, using one or more other detection methods, determining that the product is likely a specific product from the given set of products.

Abstract: Providing discounts to users in a physical store location. The method includes detecting that a user has stopped at a given location in the physical store. The method further includes, based on the location, identifying a set of products. The method further includes, providing an identification of the set of products to an ad server. At the ad server an auction is initiated between different product promoters to identify ads to be provided to the user. The method further includes, receiving from the ad server one or more ads to be provided to the user based on the results of the ad auction. The method further includes, providing the one or more ads to the user.

Abstract: Providing product recommendations in a physical retail store. A method includes detecting that the user arrives at the physical retail store. The method further includes, in response, receiving information from a recommendation server for a particular user. The method further includes storing locally, the information from the recommendation server. The method further includes, detecting a plurality of user interactions for the user with products in the retail store as part of the shopping experience and prior to a check-out phase of the shopping experience. The method further includes based on the locally stored information and the user interaction, providing product recommendations.

Abstract: A complex procedural surface can be expressed based on some constructive solid geometry operations performed on primitive procedural surfaces. The domain based representation of the complex procedural surface includes implicit curves of intersection. During pre-processing, the parts of the domain based representation to be triangulated are first sub-divided into simple triangles not bound on any side by an edge related to the parameterized regions of the implicit curve and curve visibility triangles. The coarse pre-processed triangulated mesh is later refined during runtime by further sub-dividing the coarse mesh to add triangles with curve based edges and non-curve based edges to generate a mesh of sampling triangles. The more refined sampling triangle mesh is further refined by applying geometry instancing to map appropriate instance meshes into the appropriate sampling triangles to create an even more refined triangulated mesh at runtime for rendering.

Abstract: The claimed subject invention presents systems and methods to compensate directly a user of a service platform through advertising spending in exchange for knowledge of the user intent. Advertising spending contributions are allocated to a compensation account that can be accessed by an advertising platform, affiliated with the service platform or not, to compensate users and to update compensation records and transactions with the advertiser. Compensation fraud is actively and reactively mitigated. Compensation of the user is conducted securely and includes compensation points, direct payments and instant rebates, which can be used in transactions with online and offline service platforms. The intent-compensation proposition funded through advertising spending creates a price incentive that differentiates both service platform and advertiser from their competitors, and creates value for user and advertiser.

Abstract: The claimed subject invention presents a system and method to compensate a user of a service platform in return for information regarding the user's intent. The compensation comprises rewards points and direct payments, which can be used to claim rewards online and offline. The compensation is securely maintained in compensation accounts. The user can benefit from third-party content and services through partnerships with the service platform. The intent-compensation proposition of the service platform creates a price incentive to use the service platform over its competitors.

Abstract: A mechanical device is tuned using a tunable damping rod. The tunable damping rod can have its tension increased between its respective engines, to in order to increase the resonant frequency of the mechanical device. Different aspects may also be included; the mechanical device may include a constrained layer damping material, which constraints certain mechanical vibrations. The tuning may tuned the mechanical device to reach that vibration.

Abstract: A complex procedural surface can be expressed based on some constructive solid geometry operations performed on primitive procedural surfaces. The domain based representation of the complex procedural surface includes implicit curves of intersection. During pre-processing, the parts of the domain based representation to be triangulated are first sub-divided into simple triangles not bound on any side by an edge related to the parameterized regions of the implicit curve and curve visibility triangles. The coarse pre-processed triangulated mesh is later refined during runtime by further sub-dividing the coarse mesh to add triangles with curve based edges and non-curve based edges to generate a mesh of sampling triangles. The more refined sampling triangle mesh is further refined by applying geometry instancing to map appropriate instance meshes into the appropriate sampling triangles to create an even more refined triangulated mesh at runtime for rendering.

Abstract: A method of identifying one or more regions of the domain of a function that do not contain solutions is described along with a related subdivision method. These methods may be employed in the context of branch and bound methods that use interval analysis to search for solutions of functions. The one or more regions of the function domain that do not contain solutions are identified using a cropping formula derived from one or more components (low order and high order) of a Taylor Form inclusion function. A Corner Taylor Form inclusion function is also described which might be used to identify the output range of a function.

Abstract: A method of extracting a mesh representation of a surface from a volumetric representation of at least a portion of an object is provided. A surface is derived from the volumetric representation. A seed point on the surface is then selected, and a neighborhood of the seed point is grown over at least a portion of the surface. These selection and growing steps are iteratively repeated until the entire surface is substantially completely covered. Seed points are then selectively connected to form polygons which comprise the mesh representation.

Abstract: A nonlinearly tapering transmission line loudspeaker enclosure comprised of a waveguide whose cross sectional area is largest near the loudspeaker driver, and smallest at the terminal end. The transmission line nonlinearly tapers between the one end and the other end. The taper can be exponential or any other type of nonlinear taper.

Abstract: A method of identifying one or more regions of the domain of a function that do not contain solutions is described along with a related subdivision method. These methods may be employed in the context of branch and bound methods that use interval analysis to search for solutions of functions. The one or more regions of the function domain that do not contain solutions are identified using a cropping formula derived from one or more components (low order and high order) of a Taylor Form inclusion function. A Corner Taylor Form inclusion function is also described which might be used to identify the output range of a function.

Abstract: A mechanical device is tuned using a tunable damping rod. The tunable damping rod can have its tension increased between its respective engines, to in order to increase the resonant frequency of the mechanical device. Different aspects may also be included; the mechanical device may include a constrained layer damping material, which constraints certain mechanical vibrations. The tuning may tuned the mechanical device to reach that vibration.