Abstract: A data transaction processing system includes a quarantine system that delays messages configured to accept a delay before being processed by the data transaction processing system. During periods of heavy network traffic, the imposed delay reduces network congestion by distributing/load leveling messages according to available computing resources. Separating messages over time also reduces the processing latency of the data transaction processing system. Messages that are routed and delayed through the quarantine system may be executed at a better transactional value than other non-delayed messages.

Abstract: A data transaction processing system includes a quarantine system that delays messages configured to accept a delay before being processed by the data transaction processing system. During periods of heavy network traffic, the imposed delay reduces network congestion by distributing/load leveling messages according to available computing resources. Separating messages over time also reduces the processing latency of the data transaction processing system. Messages that are routed and delayed through the quarantine system may be executed at a better transactional value than other non-delayed messages.

Abstract: An apparatus and a computer implemented method for managing data streams to a terminal device according to peak levels is disclosed. A streaming device (e.g., exchange device) may provide the data streams in response to requests received from the terminal devices. A network device in the communication path between the streaming device and the terminal device may route the data streams.

Abstract: An apparatus and a computer implemented method for managing data streams to a terminal device according to peak levels is disclosed. A streaming device (e.g., exchange device) may provide the data streams in response to requests received from the terminal devices. A network device in the communication path between the streaming device and the terminal device may route the data streams.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a processor reads a force from a touch control. Hysteretic behavior is provided through at least three different actuation states and at least four different force threshold values, allowing user-friendly control of disparate actions through one touch interface with applications in volume control, photography, and user authentication. Other possibilities are shown and discussed.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a camera captures a plurality of images of substantially the same scene at different exposure levels for each video frame to be captured. These images are then deghosted, merged or fused, and processed using a spatially, and optionally also temporally, varying tonemapping operator, and the resulting image after some further finishing is written into a video stream. In some embodiments, this processing is performed in real time on a graphics processing unit present in the device containing the camera. Other applications are shown and discussed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image-taking apparatus wherein a first actuation of a control element locks image-taking parameters and a subsequent actuation of this control element causes a picture to be taken. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a cellular telephone equipped with a camera wherein a first press on the volume up button locks focus and exposure. The photographer can then recompose the picture according to the ‘half-press’ technique and take a picture with a subsequent press on the volume up button. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a camera captures a sequence of input images. These input images are then merged by a massively parallel processor into a merged intermediate image, which is represented in memory as floating point numbers of a greater bit depth than the bit depth of the input images, thus creating a cumulative image representing a long exposure. After finishing exposure with a desired number of input images, the merged image is tonemapped with an HDR tonemapping operator. Other embodiments are shown and discussed.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a portable camera equipped with an autofocus system is also equipped with a microelectromechanical rotation sensor. The camera's processor uses rotation data provided by this sensor to correct focus as the camera is a rotated and displays the new orientation of the area of interest for autofocus to the user on a display. Focus may be adjusted on user command only or continuously, and one or more areas of interest may be chosen. Additional applications are shown.

Abstract: An apparatus and a computer implemented method for managing data streams to a terminal device according to peak levels is disclosed. A streaming device (e.g., exchange device) may provide the data streams in response to requests received from the terminal devices. A network device in the communication path between the streaming device and the terminal device may route the data streams.

Abstract: A data transaction processing system includes a quarantine system that delays messages configured to accept a delay before being processed by the data transaction processing system. During periods of heavy network traffic, the imposed delay reduces network congestion by distributing/load leveling messages according to available computing resources. Separating messages over time also reduces the processing latency of the data transaction processing system. Messages that are routed and delayed through the quarantine system may be executed at a better transactional value than other non-delayed messages.

Abstract: An apparatus and a computer implemented method for managing data streams to a terminal device according to peak levels is disclosed. A streaming device (e.g., exchange device) may provide the data streams in response to requests received from the terminal devices. A network device in the communication path between the streaming device and the terminal device may route the data streams.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a portable apparatus is equipped with at least one user control element, at least one sensor, and at least one tactile feedback actuator, such as a camera with a shutter button, an image sensor, and a tactile feedback actuator. Upon the user's actuation of the button, a sensor reading is taken, which may take some amount of time. Successful completion is indicated by the tactile feedback unit. According to some embodiments, the button is a force sensor capable of distinguishing more than two different levels of force with which it is being actuated, and tactile feedback is provided to distinguish between different levels of actuation. Other possibilities are shown and discussed.

Abstract: A data transaction processing system includes a quarantine system that delays messages configured to accept a delay before being processed by the data transaction processing system. During periods of heavy network traffic, the imposed delay reduces network congestion by distributing/load leveling messages according to available computing resources. Separating messages over time also reduces the processing latency of the data transaction processing system. Messages that are routed and delayed through the quarantine system may be executed at a better transactional value than other non-delayed messages.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a camera captures a plurality of images of substantially the same scene at different exposure levels for each video frame to be captured. These images are then deghosted, merged or fused, and processed using a spatially, and optionally also temporally, varying tonemapping operator, and the resulting image after some further finishing is written into a video stream. In some embodiments, this processing is performed in real time on a graphics processing unit present in the device containing the camera. Other applications are shown and discussed.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a thermostat obtains real-time energy prices from a electricity grid. It may also obtain additional data from external data sources, such as predicted energy prices or weather predictions. The thermostat attempts to find a control strategy for when to switch available aggregates that may include furnaces and air conditioners on and off. In order to solve this integer programming problem, the thermostat uses a random search algorithm. According to some embodiments, various data sources, such as day-ahead prices and real-time prices, are combined into forecasts of electricity prices for the present and future time periods. In some embodiments, a thermostat selects predictively between heating or cooling by letting outside air in or by using heating and cooling aggregates. Additional embodiments are discussed and shown.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a camera captures video images at a high dynamic range. These images are then tonemapped into images of a lower dynamic range with enhanced contrast. The contrast enhancement for a given pixel depends on the image's local contrast at a variety of different scales. The tonemapped images are then shown on a display. Calculation of this contrast is accelerated by the camera creating a plurality of low-pass filtered versions of the original image at progressively stronger low-pass filtering; these images may be stored at increasingly lower resolutions in a mipmap. Calculations are enhanced by use of a massively parallel processor and a texture mapping unit for hardware-accelerated sampling of blended averages of several pixels. Other embodiments are shown and discussed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a computer implemented method for managing data streams to a terminal device according to peak levels is disclosed. A streaming device (e.g., exchange device) may provide the data streams in response to requests received from the terminal devices. A network device in the communication path between the streaming device and the terminal device may route the data streams.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an adapter to connect an industry-standard low-voltage thermostat to a central HVAC system that may be a two-pipe system with a mains-voltage fan-coil unit that is equipped with a usage counter which may be read out wirelessly. Through the same wireless connection, the adapter may respond to changes in the price of electricity. Additional embodiments add features to the usage counter and communication capability.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image-taking apparatus wherein a first actuation of a control element locks image-taking parameters and a subsequent actuation of this control element causes a picture to be taken. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a cellular telephone equipped with a camera wherein a first press on the volume up button locks focus and exposure. The photographer can then recompose the picture according to the ‘half-press’ technique and take a picture with a subsequent press on the volume up button. Other embodiments are described.