Abstract: A method of forming an emergency response and continuity of operations (COOP) area-wide grid of microgrids is provided. The method can include: upon an power outage occurring to an Utility power Distribution grid network, identifying one or more nodes having an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) power; forming a power microgrid comprising the one or more nodes; activating a communication payload on the one or more nodes; and forming an area-wide grid of microgrids based on the communication payload and the power microgrid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is taught wherein a light smartcard may be utilized to make transactions so that a user only has to carry one card and not be encumbered with the multiple cards that now have to deal with. This is accomplished with a third party API service provider. This could also be thought of your own personal cloud that carries only your cards and only your information including virtual currencies as well. Now you only have to carry one and one card only. You can spend from any of your other accounts through this one card.

Abstract: The present invention creates the world's first Digital Lampshade Display utilizing new lighting and display technologies such as Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED), Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (AMOLED), Organic Light Emitting Transistors (OLET), and E-Ink, among others. The invention herein can emit light from both the exterior and interior surface(s) of its lampshade, and will provide the user with a display upon which digital images and non-static motion imagery may be viewed. The invention will further allow the user to download images and motion imagery onto its display lampshade, to change a room's decorative and aesthetic feel. The invention will further enable the user to use the Wireless Remote Control to control the lampshade's functions such as adjusting brightness and/or contrast, selecting images to display, etc. Thus the invention herein will give the user the ability to customize on-command the color, design, pattern, and illumination characteristics of their lampshade(s).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is taught wherein a light smartcard may be utilized to make transactions so that a user only has to carry one card and not be encumbered with the multiple cards that now have to deal with. This is accomplished with a third party API service provider. This could also be thought of your own personal cloud that carries only your cards and only your information including virtual currencies as well. Now you only have to carry one and one card only. You can spend from any of your other accounts through this one card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is taught wherein a light smartcard may be utilized to make transactions so that a user only has to carry one card and not be encumbered with the multiple cards that now have to deal with. This is accomplished with a third party API service provider. This could also be thought of your own personal cloud that carries only your cards and only your information including virtual currencies as well. Now you only have to carry one and one card only. You can spend from any of your other accounts through this one card.

Abstract: A protective case for a smartphone has a planar portion of the length and width of the smartphone, an upper portion shaped to capture a smartphone leaving a touchcreen of unobstructed, the upper portion enabled to fasten to the planar portion, an opening into the planar portion, the opening having an axis at right angles to the plane of the planar portion on a side opposite the upper portion, pairing circuitry enclosed in the protective case for wirelessly pairing with the smartphone, a power source enclosed in the planar portion for powering circuitry and mechanisms in the protective case, a locking mechanism in the planar portion proximate the opening, enabled to engage to an anchor pin inserted into the opening, and circuitry enabled to accept an unlock command via wireless communication from a smartphone executing a security application, the command causing the locking mechanism to release from an anchor pin.

Abstract: A protective case for a smartphone has a planar portion of the length and width of the smartphone, an upper portion shaped to capture a smartphone leaving a touchcreen of unobstructed, the upper portion enabled to fasten to the planar portion, an opening into the planar portion, the opening having an axis at right angles to the plane of the planar portion on a side opposite the upper portion, pairing circuitry enclosed in the protective case for wirelessly pairing with the smartphone, a power source enclosed in the planar portion for powering circuitry and mechanisms in the protective case, a locking mechanism in the planar portion proximate the opening, enabled to engage to an anchor pin inserted into the opening, and circuitry enabled to accept an unlock command via wireless communication from a smartphone executing a security application, the command causing the locking mechanism to release from an anchor pin.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a variable valve placed into the interior of a ball valve for various advantages. In one embodiment a variable valve comprised of rollers is engineered into a standard ball valve thereby providing the advantages of the high sealing pressure of a ball valve and the fine flow control of a variable valve using rollers. In one embodiment a plurality of variable ball valves enhance flow in a system. In another embodiment superior sealing and high pressure operation is achieved. In another embodiment high voltage is added to ionize gasses.

Abstract: A server-side summarization system includes a function for acquiring material to be summarized, along with source information about the material, a converter for converting the acquired material to machine-readable form, if not in that form when acquired, a summarizer for creating a summary from the acquired material, and a storage function for storing a copy of the acquired material and the summary created as separate files, associated and cross-referenced using the source information.

Abstract: A server-side summarization system includes a function for acquiring material to be summarized, along with source information about the material, a converter for converting the acquired material to machine-readable form, if not in that form when acquired, a summarizer for creating a summary from the acquired material, and a storage function for storing a copy of the acquired material and the summary created as separate files, associated and cross-referenced using the source information.

Abstract: A therapeutic system for massage comprises a massage device having an activation cell comprising a hollow pocket at least partially filled with a ferro-magnetic fluid, a permanent magnet suspended in the ferro-magnetic fluid, a coil of electrically-conductive material in proximity to the pocket, and a connection interface to connect the coil to a source of varying voltage and current, and a power source of varying voltage for connecting to the connection interface to drive the activation cell.

Abstract: A portable media player (PMP) has non-volatile memory, at least one communication interface to remote digital devices, a touchscreen, and software stored on and executing from a machine-readable physical medium. The software provides functionality to enable a user, via touchscreen controls, with the PMP coupled to a digital video recorder (DVR), to browse indicators of video files stored on the DVR, to select and download files to the non-volatile memory of the PMP, and to play the video files on the touchscreen of the PMP after the PMP is uncoupled from the DVR.

Abstract: A gaming console facilitating universal game control for mobile devices capable of video gaming includes a housing supporting a video graphics display area, a coupling interface and docking bay strategically located in the housing relative to the display area for docking and coupling to a mobile device, at least one video game controller interface conveniently located on the housing relative to the display area, and at least one mobile device control interface conveniently located on the housing relative to the display area wherein the gaming console with a mobile device coupled thereto serves as a video gaming station for playing video games accessible to the mobile device, and wherein the at least one video game controller interface is used to execute and play a video game instead of controls resident on the mobile device.

Abstract: An Internet-enabled subscription teaching service system has an Internet-connected lecture server executing a software suite, one or more teacher-author stations coupled to the Internet-connected lecture server, having input and display apparatus, and including lecture-authoring software, and one or more Internet-capable lecture client stations having lecture-participation software. Teacher-authors use the teacher-author stations to prepare lectures through the lecture-authoring software, the lecture server stores prepared lectures and provides lectures on a pre-determined schedule to lecture clients at the lecture client stations, and the lecture clients follow the provided lectures at the lecture client stations through the lecture-participation software. Some lectures are fully automatic, and some are directed by the teacher-authors in real time. In the real time case recipients are directed to WEB pages in unison, and annotation and commentary is provided by the teacher-author as pages are visited.

Abstract: A computing system for calculating has a host computing appliance able to communicate with a computer peripheral, a computer peripheral having there on a touch screen user interface and an activation control for activating and deactivating the touch screen interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides for compounds of Formula I, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 have any of the values defined therefor in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that are useful as therapeutic agents in the treatment of TGF?-mediated conditions, including cancer and fibrotic disorders. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more compounds of Formula I.

Abstract: A system for direct donation utilizes an Internet-connected server accessible by potential donors using an Internet browser and a data store accessible to the server and storing information about potential recipients pre-qualified for donations. A software suite executing on the server has at least a first facility enabling a potential donor to view specific information about qualified recipients of donations, and a second facility enabling the same donor to select a recipient and make a direct donation to the selected recipient.

Abstract: A system for commercial promotion has a first computerized appliance enabled for data reception on a close-proximity wireless local area network (LAN) having a limited effective range, and for providing received data in a human-understandable form to a user of the first appliance, and a second computerized appliance enabled for data transmission on the close-proximity wireless LAN and having access to a data repository storing promotional material. The first and the second computerized appliances establish a connection on the wireless LAN by virtue of proximity within the limited effective range, the second appliance transmits promotional material to the first appliance in response to the connection, and the first appliance renders the promotional material in human-understandable form for the user in response to receiving the promotional material.

Abstract: A system for commercial promotion has a first computerized appliance enabled for data reception on a close-proximity wireless local area network (LAN) having a limited effective range, and for providing received data in a human-understandable form to a user of the first appliance, and a second computerized appliance enabled for data transmission on the close-proximity wireless LAN and having access to a data repository storing promotional material. The first and the second computerized appliances establish a connection on the wireless LAN by virtue of proximity within the limited effective range, the second appliance transmits promotional material to the first appliance in response to the connection, and the first appliance renders the promotional material in human-understandable form for the user in response to receiving the promotional material.

Abstract: A therapeutic system for massage comprises a massage device having an activation cell comprising a hollow pocket at least partially filled with a ferro-magnetic fluid, a permanent magnet suspended in the ferro-magnetic fluid, a coil of electrically-conductive material in proximity to the pocket, and a connection interface to connect the coil to a source of varying voltage and current, and a power source of varying voltage for connecting to the connection interface to drive the activation cell.