Abstract: The usefulness, and consequently the performance, of advertisements are improved by allowing businesses to better target their ads to a responsive audience. Location information is determined (or simply accepted) and used. For example, location information may be used in a relevancy determination of an ad. As another example, location information may be used in an attribute (e.g., position) arbitration. Such location information may be associated with price information, such as a maximum price bid. Such location information may be associated with ad performance information. Ad performance information may be tracked on the basis of location information. The content of an ad creative, and/or of a landing page may be selected and/or modified using location information. Finally, tools, such as user interfaces, may be provided to allow a business to enter and/or modify location information, such as location information used for targeting and location-dependent price information.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying, from a set of geographical areas, a set of target areas that overlap a map view or view port of a map. Target areas are defined as circles having centers and radii, as sets of geographic cells overlaying the areas, or as other polygons of geographic data. Within a view port served or to be served to a user, multiple points are defined and substantially equally spaced within the view port, such that any target area that may significantly overlap the view port (e.g., at least a threshold percentage of the view port) is likely to overlap a minimum number of the points (e.g., one). Some or all target areas are then tested for intersection with some or all of the points, and calculations may be made to determine how much the intersecting areas actually overlap the view port.

Abstract: A system and method for determining bounds of a geographical area, such as a city, metropolis, region (e.g., state) or country. From a set of coordinates within the area (e.g., latitude/longitude coordinates), a grid of relatively small cells of geographic data is overlaid upon those coordinates and associated with the area. Each initial cell is iteratively replaced with a larger cell that encompasses the initial cell until the replacement cell intersects a cell associated with some other geographical area or some other boundary condition is met (e.g., a threshold number of replacements).

Abstract: A gas spring assembly is used to control movement of a vehicle body panel relative to a vehicle body member. The gas spring assembly includes a rod and piston that are received within a tube or cylinder. A first rod end is coupled to the piston to move the piston back and forth within the cylinder. A second rod end is mounted to one of the vehicle body panel or the vehicle body member. The cylinder is mounted to the other of the vehicle body panel or the vehicle body member. The gas spring assembly includes a resilient cover that covers the rod and cylinder and extends from the second rod end to a distal cylinder end. The resilient cover extends and retracts with rod movement and is sealed at each end of the resilient cover to provide a completely sealed gas spring assembly.

Abstract: A piston assembly for a gas spring or damper includes first and second orifice plates that are axially spaced apart from each other. First and second low-friction rings are positioned between the first and second orifice plates. The first and second low-friction rings are separated from each other by a resilient member, which reacts between the first and second low-friction rings to eliminate dead-band operation as the piston assembly moves between extension and compression positions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for control of a heating appliance blower that provide improved the transfer of heat generated in the heating appliance. By automatically timing when the heating appliance blower turns ON and OFF, the heat generated by the heating appliance can be more effectively transferred away from the heating appliance as desired by a user, for example, to improve heating efficiency of the heating appliance.

Abstract: Offers, such as bids in an advertising network, may be determined and/or managed by accepting an ad budget and at least one ad serving constraint, and then generating offer information using the ad budget and the serving constraint(s). The offer may be generated by obtaining, for each of the ad serving constraint(s), a plurality of points, wherein each point includes a cost per event value and an event quantity value. These points collectively define a landscape. A convex landscape for each of the ad serving constraint(s) is then determined from the landscape(s). One or more points from at least one of the convex landscapes is then used to generate the offer information.

Abstract: A gas spring assembly is used to control movement of a vehicle body panel. The gas spring assembly includes a magnetic collar that allows an end user to position an intermediate stop position at a desired location. The magnetic collar is externally supported on a tube of the gas spring assembly. The end user selectively adjusts the intermediate stop position by moving the magnetic collar relative to the tube. The gas spring assembly includes a piston that is received within the tube and connected to a rod. The rod moves relative to the tube between a fully extended position and a fully compressed position. The magnetic collar includes a magnet that cooperates with the piston assembly to stop and hold the vehicle body panel at the intermediate stop position as the rod moves from the fully compressed position toward the fully extended position.

Abstract: An online system for trading securities is disclosed. The system may include an investor computer, a brokerage computer, and a third party computer, all coupled together by a network. The third party computer responds to investment information requests from the investor computer by providing HTML documents having the desired investment information and a link. The link is a URL address of order software on the brokerage computer, and it includes an indicator of a specific security associated with the investment information. Examples of such securities include stocks, a mutual funds, and options. The link is preferably implemented as a button icon labeled “Trade Now”. When the third party computer is an investment research service, the existence of the Trade Now icon greatly expedites the investor's ordering process by directly retrieving an order form with appropriate fields pre-populated. The investor may be required to enter a password.

Abstract: A gas mixing valve includes a conduit, a shutter, and an elongated flexible adjustment member. The conduit is coupled between a gas supply and a gas burner and includes an opening. The shutter is positioned adjacent to the conduit and is movable between a plurality of positions relative to the conduit opening to adjust a flow of air into the conduit. The elongated flexible adjustment member is coupled to the shutter and configured to move the shutter between the plurality of positions.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a method of synthesis of a bicyclic or polycyclic compound of formula I or formula II: in which E, G, Y, n, m, R, R1, R2, R3, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are as defined.

Abstract: A machine that quickly lays a cover over a freshly seeded area and at the same time anchors the cover to the ground. The cover helps prevent moisture from escaping from the ground and holds the seeds in place during watering the area, during heavy rains and/or during wind storms. The ground cover is a blanket in the form of a ribbon of considerable length that is rolled onto a spindle and may consist of straw or the like or the equivalent thereof retained between a pair of porous sheet, mesh or netting members or suitably attached or adhering to single sheet of the same and which preferably is biodegradable. The ribbon is payed out from the spindle as the machine traverses the area to be covered. Apparatus on the machine anchors the laid in place ribbon to the ground as it is placed on the ground by driving pins through the ribbon into the ground and/or by forming and pressing a “V shape formation in the ribbon an adjustably variable selected depth into the ground.

Abstract: A gas spring assembly includes a gas spring and a linear electric motor which assists in operation of the gas spring. A coil assembly for a linear electric motor is mounted to a body of the gas spring. The coil assembly generates a magnetic field which interacts with a magnet mounted to a piston. Driving the magnet within an electric field assists in driving the piston of the gas spring. To assist in operation of the gas spring while reducing the packaging space of the gas spring.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for capturing live insects that includes an upper section having side walls, a top cover, and plural openings in the side walls that are large enough to permit insects to enter. This upper portion houses a light source and is well-suited to attracting and trapping insects in the first instance. An enclosed lower section is well-suited to trapping the insects on a more permanent basis. Between the upper section and the enclosed lower section is a funnel, having a wide opening adjacent to the upper section and tapering to a narrow opening within the lower section.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for positioning a bed skirt adjacent a bed includes a support member adapted to be inserted between the top of a box spring and the bottom of a mattress. A frame is attached to the support member for mounting a fastener member. The fastener member is moveable to positions between the top of the mattress and the bottom of the box spring and mates with a fastener on the bed skirt.

Abstract: The usefulness, and consequently the performance, of advertisements are improved by allowing businesses to better target their ads to a responsive audience. Location information is determined (or simply accepted) and used. For example, location information may be used in a relevancy determination of an ad. As another example, location information may be used in an attribute (e.g., position) arbitration. Such location information may be associated with price information, such as a maximum price bid. Such location information may be associated with ad performance information. Ad performance information may be tracked on the basis of location information. The content of an ad creative, and/or of a landing page may be selected and/or modified using location information. Finally, tools, such as user interfaces, may be provided to allow a business to enter and/or modify location information, such as location information used for targeting and location-dependent price information.

Abstract: A video access management system includes a video access manager having a video input and a video output. A video source providing a video signal is connected to said video input of the video access manager. A television is connected to said video output of the video access manager. The video access manager is programmed to define user viewing limits such that when a user viewing limit has been reached, the video access manager blocks the video signal from the television.

Abstract: A method of synthesis of a bicyclic or polycyclic compound of formula (I) or formula (II) in which: E represents an electrophile; each of R, R1, R2, R3, R6, R7, R8, R9 and X independently represents the common organic substituent groups defined in claim 1; Y represents C(r12)R13, O, NR14, or S; Z represents O, NR15, S or CR16W; G represents W or X; W represents an electron withdrawing group; X has the same definition as R, and W═W; and each of n and m represents an integer from 0 to 100. The method comprises the steps of (a) activating a compound of formula (III); 8b) subjecting a compound of formula (IV) to nucleophilic addition with the activated form of compound III; (c) subjecting the product of step (b) to ring closing metathesis; and (d) subjecting the product of step (c) to stereoselective ring closure. The methods of invention are useful in the synthesis of candidate pharmaceutical agents or intermediates in drugs synthesis.

Abstract: An online system for trading securities is disclosed. The system may include an investor computer, a brokerage computer, and a third party computer, all coupled together by a network. The third party computer responds to investment information requests from the investor computer by providing HTML documents having the desired investment information and a link. The link is a URL address of order software on the brokerage computer, and it includes an indicator of a specific security associated with the investment information. Examples of such securities include stocks, a mutual funds, and options. The link is preferably implemented as a button icon labeled “Trade Now”. When the third party computer is an investment research service, the existence of the Trade Now icon greatly expedites the investor's ordering process by directly retrieving an order form with appropriate fields pre-populated. The investor may be required to enter a password.