Abstract: A fair scheduling system with methodology for fairly scheduling queries for execution by a database management system is disclosed. The techniques involve obtaining computer-executable query jobs and cost estimates to execute the query jobs. For example, the cost estimate can be a number of results the query is expected to return. Based on the cost estimates, the fair scheduling system causes the database management system to execute the query jobs as separately executable sub-query tasks in a round-robin fashion which can decrease latency of low cost queries concurrently executing with high cost queries.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a search query is received from a computing device, the search query including one or more search terms. Based on the one or more search terms, one or more entities are identified from a set of multiple entities. Each of the one or more identified entities is associated with one or more application functionalities. In addition, a set of applications are identified based on the one or more search terms. Based at least on a type of at least one of the identified one or more entities, a determination is made that a particular application from the set of applications supports the at least one of the identified one or more entities. Thereafter, the applications in the set are ranked based in part on the determination that the particular application supports the at least one of the identified one or more entities.

Abstract: A flush toilet includes a base and a bowl assembly defining a bowl. The bowl assembly is mounted to the base and defines a discharge opening at a lower end of the bowl. A waste ball valve assembly is mounted to the flush toilet for selectively opening and closing the discharge opening of the bowl assembly. A common sealing member operates to seal the bowl to the base and to wipe a ball of the waste ball valve assembly as the waste ball valve assembly is selectively opened and closed. The common sealing member has a generally horizontal portion for wiping the ball of the ball valve assembly and a compressible cylindrical portion upwardly extending from the generally horizontal portion. The cylindrical portion is compressed between the base and the bowl to define a seal therebetween.

Abstract: A method for interpolating an image field with image processing circuitry includes identifying, from a first row in the image field, a pixel to be interpolated. Edge direction vectors from the identified pixel and a plurality of neighboring pixels in a second row of the image field are determined. The edge direction vectors may then be combined to produce an interpolated pixel. The edge direction vectors may be combined such that the pixel is interpolated along each edge direction vector to obtain multiple interpolated pixel values. The pixel may be interpolated based on a weighted average of the interpolated pixel values.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a search query from a computing device, performing a search for software applications using the search query, and generating a list of N software applications identified during the search. The method further includes identifying an advertisement record in an advertisement data store. The advertisement data store includes one or more advertisement records. Each advertisement record lists a sponsored application associated with the advertisement record and includes advertisement content for the sponsored application. Identifying the advertisement record includes determining that the sponsored application of the identified advertisement record is similar to at least one of the N software applications identified during the search.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a search query and identifying an entity record in an entity data store using the search query. The entity data store includes a plurality of entity records. Each of the entity records includes an entity name, an entity type, and entity information. The entity type indicates a category in which the entity name and the entity information belongs. The method further includes generating a reformulated query by inserting one or more terms from the identified entity record into the search query. Additionally, the method includes performing a search for software applications using the reformulated query and generating a list of software applications identified during the search.

Abstract: A method of deinterlacing an interlaced video having a plurality of fields is described. The method includes detecting cadence of each pixel of each of the fields of the interlaced video. The interlaced video is then deinterlaced in accordance with the cadence, if any, of each of the pixels of each of the fields of the interlaced video. A pixel-based multi-cadence detection method is also described. Moreover, a pixel-based multi-cadence detection apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A method for buying and selling vehicles includes receiving information identifying a vehicle, retrieving condition data corresponding to the vehicle from a condition database, wherein a device inside the vehicle generates at least some of the condition data while the vehicle is being operated, and analyzing the condition data to determine a condition of the vehicle, wherein the condition of the vehicle relates to at least one of a quality or a value of the vehicle. Further, the method includes communicating an indication of the vehicle condition to an end user device, and, in response to the indication of the vehicle condition, receiving an offer to purchase the vehicle. A notification is generated based on the offer to purchase the vehicle, wherein the notification indicates a status of a purchase of the vehicle according to the offer to purchase the vehicle, and the notification is communicated to the end user device.

Abstract: A method for reporting vehicle ownership information includes receiving an enrollment from a customer, wherein the enrollment includes information identifying a vehicle and retrieving a plurality of condition data corresponding to the vehicle from one or more databases. The method further includes analyzing the existing condition data and the additional condition data to establish a vehicle condition trend. The vehicle condition trend reflects changes in a condition of the vehicle, wherein the condition of the vehicle relates to at least one of a quality or a value of the vehicle. Still further, the method includes generating a vehicle ownership report, wherein the vehicle ownership report includes indications of the vehicle condition trend, and communicating the vehicle ownership report to a remote computing device for presentation to the customer.

Abstract: A method for assessing an operator of a shared vehicle includes receiving a vehicle operator enrollment from a user, wherein the vehicle operator enrollment includes: (i) information identifying a vehicle operated by the user, and (ii) information identifying a shared vehicle. Further, the method includes retrieving condition data corresponding to the vehicle from a condition database, wherein a device inside the vehicle generates at least some of the condition data while the vehicle is being operated by the user, analyzing the condition data to determine a correlation between the user operating the vehicle and a change in a condition of the vehicle, wherein the condition of the vehicle relates to at least one of a quality or a value of the vehicle, and generating a report, wherein the report includes indications of the correlation between the user operating the vehicle and the change in the condition of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for reporting property ownership information includes receiving an enrollment from a customer and retrieving existing condition data corresponding to the property from a condition database. Further, the method includes gathering additional condition data corresponding to the property and analyzing the existing condition data and the additional condition data to establish a property condition trend. Subsequently, a property ownership report is generated and communicated to a remote computing device for presentation to a customer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a vehicle condition query via a computer network and retrieving condition data corresponding to a vehicle from a vehicle condition database. Further, the method includes determining a condition of the vehicle based on a collective analysis of the condition data, wherein the condition of the vehicle relates to at least one of a quality or a value of the vehicle, and developing one or more condition descriptors reflecting the condition of the vehicle. Still further, the method includes generating a vehicle condition report including an indication of the one or more condition descriptors and communicating, via the computer network, the vehicle condition report to a remote computing device for presentation to a user of the remote computing device.

Abstract: A lighting device comprises groups of solid state light emitters, a sensor and circuitry. If the emitters are illuminated, the sensor is exposed to combined light from the groups, and senses only a portion of the combined light. The circuitry adjusts current applied to at least one of the emitters based on an intensity of the light sensed. Also, a device comprising emitters, a circuit board and a sensor, at least one of the emitters being positioned on the first circuit board and the sensor being spaced from the circuit board. Also, a lighting device comprising emitters, a sensor, and circuitry which adjusts current applied an emitters based on detection by the first sensor, the circuitry comprising a differential amplifier circuit. Also, a lighting device, comprising light emitters and circuitry which adjusts current applied to only some of the emitters based on ambient temperature. Also, methods of lighting.

Abstract: A sheet feeder comprises a feed deck for supporting a stack of sheets (65) to be fed. The feed deck may be formed by a bed of freely spinning rollers. A feed block (62) comprises a friction pad (66) that projects from the bottom of the feed block (62) towards a drive belt (42) to define a gate therebetween. The drive belt (42) frictionally engages the underside of a bottom sheet of the stack (65) and urges the sheet towards the gate. The feed block (62) comprises a front face (72) immediately upstream from the gate, which is inclined at a sharp angle to the feed direction. The friction pad (66) comprises a lower face that is substantially parallel to the feed direction and does not intersect the plane of the feed block front face (72).

Abstract: Lighting devices comprising first, second and third strings of solid state lighting devices. One aspect further comprises means for supplying first fixed current through the first string, means for supplying second fixed current through the second string, and means for supplying current through the third string. In a second aspect, the first and second strings emit light within a specific area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, and the third string emits light of dominant wavelength 600-640 nm. A third aspect further comprises a power line and a power supply configured to supply a first and second fixed currents through the first and second strings, respectively, and supply a current to the third string. A method of making a lighting device, comprising measuring color output, adjusting current to first, second and/or third strings, and permanently setting currents to the first and second strings.

Abstract: A deinterlacing apparatus includes a buffer to receive a plurality of consecutive fields of an interlaced video and a field combination module coupled to the buffer to deinterlace the interlaced video in accordance with cadence of the interlaced video. The deinterlacing apparatus also includes a cadence detection module to detect the cadence by (1) causing each of the fields to be combined with its preceding field into a frame and with its subsequent field into another frame to obtain a plurality of combined frames, (2) determining a comb factor of each of the combined frames to obtain a sequence of comb factors of the combined frames, and (3) determining if the sequence of comb factors of the combined frames follows a pre-determined repeating pattern. A cadence detection method is also described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a platform (e.g., Web-based) that enables basic and clinical research activities by integrating patient characteristics and clinical outcome data with a variety of high-throughput research data in a unified environment. While several rich data repositories for high dimensional research data exist in the public domain, most focus on a single data type and do not support integration across multiple technologies. The present invention in at least one embodiment includes a broad collection of bioinformatics and systems biology tools for analysis and visualization of four major “omics” types: DNA, mRNA, microRNA, and metabolites, as well as next-generation sequencing. The present invention helps facilitate systems medicine by providing easy identification of trends and patterns in integrated datasets and hence facilitate the use of better targeted therapies for cancer.

Abstract: Lighting devices comprising first, second and third strings of solid state lighting devices. One aspect further comprises means for supplying first fixed current through the first string, means for supplying second fixed current through the second string, and means for supplying current through the third string. In a second aspect, the first and second strings emit light within a specific area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, and the third string emits light of dominant wavelength 600-640 nm. A third aspect further comprises a power line and a power supply configured to supply a first and second fixed currents through the first and second strings, respectively, and supply a current to the third string. A method of making a lighting device, comprising measuring color output, adjusting current to first, second and/or third strings, and permanently setting currents to the first and second strings.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for prioritizing a plurality of clusters. Prioritizing clusters may generally include identifying a scoring strategy for prioritizing the plurality of clusters. Each cluster is generated from a seed and stores a collection of data retrieved using the seed. For each cluster, elements of the collection of data stored by the cluster are evaluated according to the scoring strategy and a score is assigned to the cluster based on the evaluation. The clusters may be ranked according to the respective scores assigned to the plurality of clusters. The collection of data stored by each cluster may include financial data evaluated by the scoring strategy for a risk of fraud. The score assigned to each cluster may correspond to an amount at risk.

Abstract: A method of deinterlacing an interlaced video having a plurality of fields is described. The method includes detecting cadence of each pixel of each of the fields of the interlaced video. The interlaced video is then deinterlaced in accordance with the cadence, if any, of each of the pixels of each of the fields of the interlaced video. A pixel-based multi-cadence detection method is also described. Moreover, a pixel-based multi-cadence detection apparatus is also described.