Abstract: A portlet communication arrangement includes a first portlet associated with a first application, and a second portlet associated with a second application which is different than the first application. The portlet communication arrangement also includes a mapping system for allowing the first portlet to communicate with the second portlet and for allowing the second portlet to communicate with the first portlet. For example, the first portlet may include a first parameter associated with a particular type of data, the second portlet may include a second parameter associated with the particular type of data, and the mapping system may include a database that includes the first parameter, the second parameter, and a shared parameter namespace associated with the particular type of data.

Abstract: A method and a device for the identification of at least two substances of content of a body fluid, wherein adjacent to a body tissue containing the body fluid, are arranged at least one radiation source and a photo receiver. The radiation source generates radiation of two different wavelengths. The radiation is directed onto the body tissue and the photo receiver receives radiation reflected by the body tissue and/or reduced through the body tissue. At least at times the radiation of a third wavelength is directed onto the body tissue for the identification of a hemoglobin derivate.

Abstract: A user interface and scheme is provided for facilitating shutting down an operating system. A shut down command is initiated in an operating system, and applications running on the system are issued a shut down request. Aspects allow running applications to delay the system shut down and to register information to explain the delay, for example, a non-interruptible task (e.g., a CD burn) is being performed by the application. A user interface displays applications running on the system and delay information registered by the applications, providing the user an opportunity to terminate the applications or cancel the system shut down based on the applications and any delay information provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the force applied by a first member coupled to a second member by a connecting body, by: transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the connecting body from a first location thereon to a second location thereon; measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from the first location to the second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of the force. In the preferred described embodiment, the connecting body is a fastening plate which fastens a drive shaft to a driven shaft and measures the torque output of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A system is provided for placing debt with a debt collector from a plurality of debt portfolios. Each of the debt portfolios includes a plurality of individual debt accounts. The system includes a collections module for maintaining collector data for a plurality of debt collectors. The system includes a placement module for matching individual debt accounts from the plurality of debt portfolios with selected debt collectors from the plurality of debt collectors. The match is made to assign debt accounts with the collector best suited to collect on the debt. The match can be determined based on historical performance of the collectors and based on the characteristics of the debt account.

Abstract: A system is provided for comprehensive debt management. Debt is typically acquired in the form of portfolios from the issuers of debit (e.g., creditors, such as credit card banks), which are referenced herein as “primary issuers” of debt. The custodian of the present invention is the acquiring party and is referenced as the “secondary issuer” of debt. Such portfolios are normally expansive and may cover a very large geographically region, such as the state of Texas. The system can parse the debt and assign any portion thereof to collection agencies or even directly to individual collectors.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring credit accounts over a network include steps and means for receiving search criteria from a user, searching a credit account database for available credit accounts based on the search criteria, providing results of the searching to the user, the results including a summary of available credit accounts and a purchase price for each available credit account, receiving a selection of at least one of the available credit accounts from the user, calculating a total purchase price for the selected at least one of the available credit accounts, receiving a purchase request from the user corresponding to the selected at least one of the available credit accounts, providing an invoice to the user for the total purchase price, receiving a payment from the user in response to the invoice; and in response to the received payment, removing the selected credit accounts from the credit account database.

Abstract: An electronic mail system and method enables the originator of a message sent by electronic mail to select a date, time, or event at which the message and all incarnations of the message to self-destruct, regardless of the number and types of computers or software systems that may have interacted with the message. The system and message also permits the originator to include processing and handling limitations. The necessary control over the message is achieved by encrypting the message and enabling viewing only through a viewer applet arranged to facilitate destruction of the message upon the occurrence of the selected expiration time, date, or event, and to implemented the handling and processing limitations. A central server can be used to exercise additional control over the message by serving as a proxy destination, and by streaming the encrypted message to the viewer applet.

Abstract: A system and method for creating an ad-hoc network is described. A user may navigate a number of options to create an ad-hoc network and/or join an ad-hoc network using the described system.

Abstract: Described is a system and method that use the concept of channels by which computer users select an appropriate set of network settings maintained in the computer system for a particular network. Upon selection, the corresponding settings are automatically applied by the system. A channel manager manages sets of network settings for various networks, including ad hoc networks, wherein each set contains the information that is necessary to connect to a network. A user interface allows selection of a channel, e.g., via a friendly name. The network settings may be stored in files to allow users to easily copy settings. Complex channels are capable of connecting to different networks at different times in a priority ordering, depending on network availability. The channel manager is able to determine the current channel from current network settings. Metadata may be received and displayed in conjunction with the channel-related user interface.

Abstract: Described is a mechanism that preserves the state of computer system shared resources and/or settings, and ensures that changes thereto are reverted when an application exits. A shared resource change bubble logically surrounds application code that causes system resource and/or setting data to change. The bubble preserves existing data before it gets changed, and restores the data when the application program code exits. In one implementation, the bubble is implemented as a library loaded by the application. In an alternative implementation, the bubble is run in a separate process, whereby the bubble can restore changed data even if the application program crashes. In another implementation, a bubble is automatically run for any application that the user has specified needs a bubble. Multiple settings and states may be preserved in a bubble for multiple applications, allowing changes to be undone and reapplied per application, e.g., whenever focus changes.

Abstract: Described is a system and method including an auxiliary display platform having an interface (API) set that provides a way for client applications running on a main computer system to interact with various types of auxiliary displays, irrespective of differences between various device implementations. Interaction includes displaying content and notifications provided by the application, and returning events to the application. In one implementation the API set comprises a set of COM objects that register and perform configuration checks of a client application, send content and notifications to attached devices, and return events from the attached devices. The application may send data to an endpoint corresponding to a communication destination (e.g., a particular auxiliary device application) and a contract (e.g., a format) for the data. The platform and API set thus provide an abstraction layer for applications to provide information independent of any particular auxiliary device implementation.

Abstract: Described is a system and method by which application programs running on a main computer system communicate with an auxiliary display device (such as a cell phone, pocket-sized computer, alarm clock, television, digital picture frame and so forth) to provide viewable information on the device, remote control capabilities, and notifications. Via API calls, programs provide information in the same format regardless of the device capabilities and/or the connection type. An auxiliary display platform converts a notification into a format understood by a device driver, which then filters the notification as desired for its particular hardware device before the notification is communicated. Return communications return data such as status and user interaction with the displayed information. Software vendors may thus write code once to output notifications on auxiliary displays, while hardware manufacturers can have their devices work as auxiliary displays, with little or no modification to existing hardware.

Abstract: An auxiliary computing device wakes an associated main computer system to obtain data as needed, on-demand and/or in anticipation of demand. The wakeup operation is ordinarily temporary to fetch data, whereby only a small amount of power is consumed by the main computer system. In one implementation, a control channel between the auxiliary device and the main computer system is used to signal a wakeup. A main data channel is used to obtain the data, whereby the auxiliary device has access to a larger amount of data than it can cache. Moreover, the components of the main computer system may be leveraged, such as to use the main computer system's digital rights management mechanisms. Additional data may be intelligently requested by the auxiliary device while the main computer system is powered up, e.g., to buffer media, and/or request a synchronization of calendar data, email data, and so forth.

Abstract: Described is a system and method by which application programs running on a main computer system communicate with an auxiliary display device (such as a cell phone, pocket-sized computer, alarm clock, television, digital picture frame and so forth) to provide viewable information on the device, remote control capabilities, and notifications. Via API calls, programs provide information in the same format regardless of the device capabilities and/or the connection type. An auxiliary display platform converts the information into a format understood by a device driver, which then filters the information as desired for its particular hardware device before the information is communicated. Return communications return data such as status and user interaction with the displayed information. Software vendors may thus write code once to output information on auxiliary displays, while hardware manufacturers can have their devices work as auxiliary displays, with little or no modification to existing hardware.

Abstract: Described is a system and method by which an auxiliary computing device having an auxiliary display platform that displays information corresponding to data that originated on the main computer system may be extended by a device manufacturer. Extended hardware is added to the device, such as a radio receiver and/or an audio decoder. The auxiliary display platform is layered and extensible at each layer, and includes an extensible hardware abstraction layer that is extensible to support extended hardware if needed, and a driver layer that is extensible by adding driver code for the extended hardware. A runtime layer is also extensible to support the extended hardware as needed, as are libraries, the auxiliary shell program and other managed code. The client API is also extensible to allow applications on the main computer system to communicate with extended hardware via the device runtime layer.

Abstract: A toy comprises a housing connected with a launcher to rotate and launch an object. The housing includes an arm attachment mechanism for attaching with a user's arm. The launcher comprises a driving element to form a drive connection with a receiving element on the object. The launcher is connected with a launcher rotating system, which imparts a rotary movement to the launcher. When the launcher ceases to accelerate the object, the receiving element disengages from the drive connection and launches the object.

Abstract: A system for reducing signal interference in modulated signal communication includes a measurement processor. The measurement processor measures amplitudes of noise components of a received amplitude modulated signal prior to demodulation. The measurement processor also identifies a frequency of a noise component having an amplitude larger than the amplitude of another noise component. A carrier frequency generator generates a carrier frequency substantially at a harmonic of the identified noise component. The carrier frequency is used to generate and demodulate the amplitude modulated signal.

Abstract: Sensors and monitors for a physiological monitoring system having capability to indicate an accuracy of an estimated physiological condition. The sensor senses at least one physiological characteristic of a patient and is connectable to a monitor that estimates the physiological condition from signals detected by the sensor. The sensor includes a detector for detecting the signals from the patient which are indicative of the physiological characteristic. The sensor is associated with a memory configured to store data that defines at least one sensor signal specification boundary for the detected signals. The boundary is indicative of a quality of the signals and an accuracy of the physiological characteristic estimated from the signals by the monitor. The sensor further includes means for providing access to the memory to allow transmission of the data that defines the at least one sensor boundary to the monitor.

Abstract: An emergency-use-only cellular phone provides for contacting and establishing full-duplex voice communication with emergency personnel at either a public emergency response service or a private roadside assistance service. The phone automatically places a cellular call to the public emergency response service with a single press of a first activation button, and to the private roadside assistance service with a single press of a second activation button. When either activation button is pressed, the following functions are initiated: (1) electrical power from a power supply is provided to a cellular transmitter and receiver, (2) the cellular receiver is activated to search for an available channel from among A or B cellular system channels, (3) an emergency telephone number corresponding to the selected service is accessed from memory, and (4) the cellular transmitter is activated to establish communication with the selected emergency response service.