Abstract: A system and method of delivering video content over a network in communication with a subscriber having an associated electronic device is disclosed. A plurality of staggered streams of video content is delivered over a network. A segment of the video content is pushed onto the electronic device. A request for the video content is received at the electronic device, the pushed segment of video content is retrieved from the electronic device and the pushed segment of video content is displayed to the subscriber. A staggered stream of video content delivered over network is located and recorded on the electronic device.

Abstract: Light enhancement devices, applications for the light enhancement devices, and methods for making the light enhancement devices are provided. The light enhancement devices include a substrate and a film of metal disposed over the substrate, the film of metal including at least one cavity. The cavity may be of various shapes depending on the desired application.

Abstract: A system and method for testing in a database system. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an indication of one or more changes to a software application, wherein each change corresponds to a different version of the software application. The method further includes generating one or more virtual machines for a version of the software application in response to the indication, wherein the one or more virtual machines test the version of the software application.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to compute a route through a network having both digital nodes and optical express-thru nodes. According to various embodiments of the invention, a network topology is generated in which both digital nodes, optical express-thru nodes, and optical nodes are identified, and both physical and virtual links between these nodes are mapped. The network connectivity is identified, at least in part, by broadcasting a local link state advertisement and optical carrier group binding information to neighboring nodes, which enables both physical and virtual neighboring nodes to be identified. Once a topology is generated, both physical and virtual link characteristics are analyzed to ensure link diversity for traffic through the network and load balancing functionality across the network.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes following components. A blank-area identifying unit identifies a blank area having a size exceeding a predetermined size, from a non-specifying-mark image portion of a recording area image of a recording area that includes individual images and a specifying mark specifying an area containing images among the individual images. A concealing unit conceals a divided area specified by the specifying-mark image, among divided areas obtained by dividing a non-blank area by a gap having a width equal to or larger than a threshold in a specific direction, among gaps between the individual images arranged in the specific direction in the non-blank area. The non-blank area is an area of the non-specifying-mark image portion of the recording area image other than the blank area identified by the blank-area identifying unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an estimating unit and a hiding unit. The estimating unit extracts a subject specifying mark image corresponding to a specifying mark from a recording area image corresponding to a recording area in which an image is recorded, plural predetermined types of specifying marks having predetermined attributes different from an attribute of the image of the recording area and being used for specifying a region within the recording area by using different specifying methods, at least one of the plural predetermined types of specifying marks being recorded in the recording area. The estimating unit estimates the type of specifying mark corresponding to the extracted subject specifying mark image. The hiding unit hides the region specified by the type of specifying mark estimated by the estimating unit by using a hiding method which is uniquely determined for the estimated type of specifying mark.

Abstract: Photonic link information collection and advertisement systems and methods enable photonic nodes (e.g., optical amplifiers) to operate within a control plane system in a distributed and real-time manner. For example, the photonic nodes may not require full control plane protocol stacks at each photonic node. In particular, the systems and methods provide a distributed discovery method for photonic links without requiring full participation in the control plane at the photonic nodes. Additionally, the systems and methods include network databases with amplifier configuration information in a control plane enabled network.

Abstract: A method and system of determining a new path through an optical network from a source node to a destination node when a link in an original path fails are disclosed. When a fault on a link is detected, adjoint weights are assigned to each operational link for each node on the original path. A connection cost is determined for each node based on the adjoint weights of the links connected to the node. A new path through the optical network is determined based at least in part on the adjoint weights and the connection costs.

Abstract: Surface functionalized sorbent particles for vapor-phase mercury removal, especially in the presence of SO3 in, for example, flue gas. The sorbent surface is modified to increase the SO3 resistance of vapor-phase mercury sorbents. The mercury removal efficiency is immune to the presence of SO3, which is not the case with conventional activated carbon as well as brominated activated carbons. The sorbent is based on carbon particles with a metal oxide coating on the surface. The thin metal oxide layer acts as an amenable surface to introduce functional groups. The metal oxide coated carbon was further modified with amine molecules, to increase its resistance towards SO3 poisoning.

Abstract: First and second field programmable gate arrays are provided which implement first and second blocks of a circuit design to be simulated. The field programmable gate arrays are operated at a first clock frequency and a wire like link is provided to send a plurality of signals between them. The wire like link includes a serializer, on the first field programmable gate array, to serialize the plurality of signals; a deserializer on the second field programmable gate array, to deserialize the plurality of signals; and a connection between the serializer and the deserializer. The serializer and the deserializer are operated at a second clock frequency, greater than the first clock frequency, and the second clock frequency is selected such that latency of transmission and reception of the plurality of signals is less than the period corresponding to the first clock frequency.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of performing a successive approximation analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion includes determining a voltage range of an analog input voltage in a single cycle using a multi-bit flash A/D converter, determining an initial D/A value for a successive approximation based on determining the voltage range, and successively approximating the analog input voltage. Successively approximating includes providing the initial D/A value to a D/A converter, comparing an output of the D/A converter with the analog input voltage, and determining a further D/A value based on the comparing.

Abstract: An image estimation apparatus includes: a forming unit that forms a reference frame with a size determined uniquely in accordance with a size of a recording region where an image is recorded; and an estimating unit that estimates a type of a single image based on a size of a bounding frame around the single image and the size of the reference frame formed by the forming unit, the single image being a target of type inference in an image contained in a designation region in a recording region image which is an image indicating the recording region where an image is recorded.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments relating to generating an item feed. A feed is generated in a computing device of a subset of a plurality of items offered for sale through an electronic commerce network site to send to a referral network site. Data representing a commercial performance of one of the items through each one of a plurality of channels associated with the electronic commerce network site is obtained in the computing device. The data representing the commercial performance of the one of the items through each one of the plurality of channels is aggregated in the computing device. A determination is made in the computing device as to whether the one of the items is to be included in the subset based at least in part upon the aggregation of the data.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an improved compliance clock service are described. An example method comprises establishing a system compliance clock (SCC) for a storage system that provides a compliant storage service, and establishing, for a volume in the storage system, a volume compliance clock (VCC). A current value of the SCC may be periodically updated based on hardware ticks monitored at the associated storage node. The volume compliance clock is to update its value based on a current value of the SCC.

Abstract: Methods and systems directed to assigning individual messages and call log data into an aggregated conversation thread on both client and server devices for a user interface having a conversations view including all the communications a given users has with his or her contacts across multiple communication means and protocols. Messages between a user and a particular contact are threaded together, regardless of their format or protocol in order to provide the user with a quick history of all communications with his or her contacts.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a mobile device connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot first performs a connectivity check to determine whether the wireless connection is trapped in the walled garden of a captive portal by transmitting a connectivity check message to one or more external endpoints in the public IP network. If no response is received, the mobile device determines that it is in the captive portal state, and generates a browser window bound to the Wi-Fi state tracker of the mobile device displaying the portal page for the captive portal. In such a manner, the mobile device does not offload any traffic from its wireless cellular interface to its Wi-Fi interface until it is certain the Wi-Fi interface may access the public IP network, thereby preventing data interruption for mobile applications.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a messaging device or server may be operable to receive a message including a thread identifier or a list of conversation participants; if the message includes a thread identifier, then append the message to a locally-stored conversation thread possessing the same thread identifier; if the message includes a list of participants, then: search a plurality of locally-stored conversation threads for a conversation threads having participants matching the list of participants; and in response to a match, append the message to the matching thread; in response to failing to find a match, generate an offline identifier for the message and storing the message locally.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a communication sent from a first user to one or more second users; searching multiple communication threads for a specific thread associated with both the first and second users; and if the specific communication thread is located, then adding the communication to the thread; and for each second user, sending the communication to the second user using a communication protocol selected determined to be appropriate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for adjusting a scheduled load for one or more user equipment (UE) in a wireless network. A comparison of each of one or more control parameters related to signals received from one or more UEs to a corresponding threshold can be determined. The control parameters can correspond to an in-cell load, rise-over-thermal, etc. The scheduled load of a base station can be adjusted based in part on the comparison. This adjustment can include adjusting the scheduled load by a step-size increase value or step-size decrease value, which can be computed based in part on a target tail probability for the one or more control parameters.

Abstract: Methods and systems directed to retrieving voicemails from a voice mailbox server. In particular embodiments, a mailbox server may receive a notification from the voice mailbox server and connect to the voice mailbox server providing the credentials of a client device, and pull new voicemails for storage at the mailbox server. In particular embodiments, mailbox server periodically polls voice mailbox server for new voicemail messages. In particular embodiments, a client device polls or receives notification of new voicemails, and transmits a downloaded message to the mailbox server.