Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method may be provided for authoritative validation of mobile service permissions. The system and method may include receiving a preemption request from a first responder to preempt non-emergency communications. Determining whether the first responder is authorized to preempt communications. Prioritizing communications from the first responder, if the first responder is authorized to preempt communications. Alternatively the first responder may be notified if the first responder is not authorized to preempt communications.

Abstract: A sulfur-based cathode for use in an electrochemical cell is disclosed. An exemplary sulfur-based cathode is coupled with a solid polymer electrolyte instead of a conventional liquid electrolyte. The dry, solid polymer electrolyte acts as a diffusion barrier for the sulfur, thus preventing the sulfur capacity fade that occurs in conventional liquid electrolyte based cell systems. The solid polymer electrolyte further binds the sulfur-containing active particles, preventing sulfur agglomerates from forming, while still allowing lithium ions to be transported between the anode and cathode.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method may be provided for validating communication for a wireless communications device. The system and method may include receiving a geographic location of a wireless communications device. A database comprising records correlating the geographic location with permissions may be accessed in order to determine, based upon the received geographic location information and the accessed database record, if there are restriction on communication associated with the wireless communications device. An indicator may be communicated in response to the determined restriction, effectively providing the information needed to inform the wireless communications device of any current restrictions.

Abstract: A dynamic stabilization device is disclosed. The device includes a dual spring member comprising an outer spring and an inner spring that have approximately equal working lengths. The dynamic stabilization device is also configured so that the dual spring member does not undergo stresses greater than an effective fatigue limit that is related to a fatigue limit of the spring. Methods for treating a deformity of a spine using a dynamic stabilization device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a user of communications services with free market based pricing may include providing for communications over one of multiple network paths serviced by multiple respective communications service providers via at least one communications network. One of the network paths over which to communicate based on current pricing from the multiple communications service providers may be selected and communications may be performed over the selected network path.

Abstract: Coordinating delivery of a gift from a gift giver to a recipient when sufficient information to deliver the gift is not provided in the gift order is disclosed. The gift order is placed by a purchaser at a client system and received by a server system. The server system receives purchaser information including identification of the purchaser, payment information, as well as recipient information. In response to the recipient information not including sufficient information so that the gift can be delivered to the recipient, the server system obtains delivery information for the gift order from one or more sources other than the gift giver and recipient. The server system directs the gift to be delivered to the recipient as indicated by the delivery information in response to sufficient delivery information being obtained.

Abstract: A digital geographic map affords a user the ability to selectively and simultaneously zoom in on multiple areas of the map. These zoomed areas are displayed as zoom windows, which are overlaid over the initial map.

Abstract: A method for link layer address proxying includes receiving a first data packet from a first client device. The first data packet has a first source data link layer address field and a first source network layer address field. The method further includes determining a first data link layer address value associated with the first client device from the first source data link layer address field. The method further includes determining a first network layer address value associated with the first client device from the first source network layer address field, and translating the first data link layer address value into a proxy data link layer address value assigned to the first client device. The method still further includes replacing the first data link layer address value within the first source data link layer address field with the proxy data link layer address value to produce a first proxied data packet, and forwarding the first proxied data packet to a destination device.

Abstract: A method for expanding a data connection. A first user selection of a first profile is received from a plurality of profiles. The first profile selected by the user is implemented. A determination of a current time is made. Bandwidth available to the user is increased through a data connection in response to determining that the first profile allows for the bandwidth increase at the current time. A second user selection of a second profile is selected from the plurality of profiles. The second profile being implemented to adjust the bandwidth available to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for processing weather alerts through a cell phone. One or more channels of a radio network of a weather service are received through the cell phone. One or more weather alerts are received through the one or more channels. A determination is made whether the one or more weather alerts are applicable to a user of the cell phone. The one or more weather alerts are communicated to a user through the cell phone in response to determining the one or more weather alerts are applicable to the user.

Abstract: A generated document is colored by replacing the original colors of a paragraph of a source document with colors used to identify the paragraph and with colors to mark original color boundaries. The colors used to identify the paragraph and the colors used to mark color boundaries include a pair of colors including a first replacement color and a second replacement color. Values identifying the original colors of the paragraph are stored, including by storing a list of colors corresponding to the original colors of the paragraph. A first character of the paragraph is colored with the first replacement color. A second character of the paragraph is colored with the second replacement color if the original color of the second character is the same as the original color of the first character. The second character of the paragraph is colored with the first replacement color if the original color of the second character is different from the original color of the first character.

Abstract: Gap values for a collection of images are obtained; each gap value is a temporal difference between temporally adjacent images. A first grouping of the collection of images into one or more groups is determined based at least in part on the gap values. The first grouping is performed such that each group is temporally contiguous. The first grouping is presented and input from a user is received in response to the presented first grouping. A second grouping of the collection of images into two or more groups is determined based at least in part on the user input. The second grouping is presented.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optimizing compressed mode duration comprising collecting a first set of receive signal strength indication (RSSI) measurements from at least one 2G cell; determining a best 2G cell from the at least one 2G cell using the first set of RSSI measurements; identifying at least one second best 2G cells with at least one of the first set of RSSI measurements within a range threshold TR of the best 2G cell; collecting a second set of RSSI measurements from the second best 2G cells; identifying at least one third best 2G cells with at least one of the second set of RSSI measurements within the range threshold TR of the best 2G cell; and collecting a third set of RSSI measurements from the third best 2G cells.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing a legitimacy rating of a content source are provided. A request for a document is received. An electronic document associated with a content source is passed by a document provider in response to the request. A legitimacy rating of the content source is passed. Examples of legitimacy rating information include, for example, a history rating of the content source based on the length of time the document provider has published documents associated with the content source and a transaction volume rating of the content source based on the number of electronic documents associated with the content source that are passed by the document provider.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a price for communicating over a communications network may include initiating a bandwidth occupancy query message to at least one network node along a traffic path to which a user is communicating. A highest bandwidth occupancy of the network nodes along the traffic path may be determined. A current price may be computed for a user communicating over the traffic path based on the highest bandwidth occupancy. The user may be notified of the current price for communicating over the traffic path, thereby enabling the user to adjust network usage.

Abstract: A customer service issue prediction engine uses one or more models of issue probability. A method of multi-phase customer issue prediction includes a modeling phase, an application phase, and a learning phase. A telephonic interactive voice response (IVR) system predicts customer issues.

Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing clients behind a network address translation device to communicate when those clients are assigned Teredo Ipv6 addresses.

Abstract: A debugger alters the execution flow of a child computer program of the debugger at runtime by inserting jump statements determined by the insertion of breakpoint instructions. Breakpoints are used to force the child computer program to throw exceptions at specified locations. One or more instructions of the computer program are replaced by jump instructions. The jump destination addresses associated with the break instructions can be specified by input from a user. The debugger changes the instruction pointer of the child program to achieve the desired change in execution flow. No instructions are lost in the child program.

Abstract: Self-synchronizing techniques for checking the accuracy of a pseudorandom bit sequence (PRBS) are provided. The PRBS being checked may be generated by a device (e.g., a device under test) in response to a PRBS received by the device (e.g., from a PRBS generator). In an aspect of the invention, a PRBS checking technique includes the following steps/operations. For a given clock cycle, the presence of an error bit in the PRBS generated by the device is detected. The error bit represents a mismatch between the PRBS input to the device and the PRBS output from the device. Then, propagation of the error bit is prohibited for subsequent clock cycles. The prohibition step/operation may serve to avoid multiple errors being counted for a single error occurrence and/or masking errors in the PRBS output by the device.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for generating a search result list in response to a search request from a searcher using a computer network. A first database is maintained that includes a first plurality of search listings. A second database is maintained that includes documents having general web content. A search request is received from the searcher. A first set of search listings is identified from the first database having documents generating a match with the search request and a second set of search listings is identified from the second database having documents generating a match with the search request. A confidence score is determined for each listing from the first set of search listings wherein the confidence score is determined in accordance with a relevance of each listing when compared to the listings of the second set of search listings. The identified search listings from the first set of search listing are ordered in accordance, at least in part, with the confidence score for each search listing.