Abstract: Television tuner emulation techniques are described. In an implementation, a television tuner is emulated through execution of software on a processing system by a computing device, the emulated television tuner includes functionality to obtain television content over an Internet Protocol (IP) based network. The functionality of the emulated television tuner is exposed to one or more applications that are executed by the computing device such that the application is not aware that the television tuner is emulated through execution of the software.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising: a mobile device including an application to obtain purchase information from a physical receipt, wherein the purchase information includes a product identification and a purchase price; a monitoring server designed to receive the purchase information from the application on the mobile device, correlate the purchase information with a retailer, retrieve a retailer purchase protection policy associated with the retailer, wherein the retailer purchase protection policy contains limitations under which a credit can be authorized, monitor a current price for a product identified by the product information, and, when the current price for the product drops below the purchase price and the limitations of the retailer purchase protection policy have not been violated, send the purchase information to the retailer with as request for a credit.

Abstract: A system for enabling a retail transaction between a brick-and-mortar retailer and a customer, comprising: a mobile device including an application operated by the customer while physically present in the brick-and-mortar retailer, wherein the application is designed to obtain product information about a product and offer information from the customer including a proposed price for the product; a user information aggregation server designed to receive the product information and the offer information from the application on the mobile device and augment the product information and offer information with information about the customer, and to forward the product information, offer information, and customer information to a decision server; and further designed to receive a decision as to whether the offer has been accepted by the decision server, wherein the decision is at least partially based on the customer information, and to notify the customer.

Abstract: Coaxial valves usually contain only one moving part. It has not been easy, then, to provide for electric motor actuation. Many actuators being proposed involve designs which lead to bulky packages. The key facing those improving coaxial valves is the provision of suitable linear actuation. The valve herein includes a valve housing with a flow channel therethrough. Arranged in the flow channel is a closing body. In alignment with the closing body is a ball screw actuator which includes a ball nut and a cylindrical screw. The ball nut surrounds a threaded portion of the cylindrical screw. The cylindrical screw is provided with a passageway therethrough through which fluid flows. The cylindrical screw is disposed in the flow channel to become a control tube adapted to move toward and away from the valve seat. To rotate the ball nut an actuating drive is employed driven by a stepper motor.