Abstract: Device-assisted social networking for health management, in one aspect, collects health related information associated with one or more users, performs analysis and publishes data resulting from the analyzing to a social networking website associated with one or more users, wherein the data may be shared among the users in a group for peer encouragement in habits that would improve the users' health conditions.

Abstract: A structural health monitoring arrangement includes a component formed of fibre reinforced composite material with a plurality of electrical conducting fibres intrinsic to the composite defining electrical paths that run through the composite. The paths act as sensing paths running through the material and a detector watches for changes in electrical property indicative of a structural event. The paths may be configured as an open or a closed node grid whose electrical continuity is monitored directly or indirectly. Alternatively they may be fibres having a piezoresistive property and the changes in resistance may be monitored.

Abstract: An electrical power source including at least one hollow fibre incorporated in a material structure, wherein the at least one hollow fibre forms part of an electric circuit capable of storing or generating electrical power. In this way power sources may be provided as an integral part of a fibre composite structure or fabric.

Abstract: Provided is a valve device into which a cone type venturi for a flow measurement and valves are integrated. According to the present invention, the venturi cone is formed in venturi path in the lower portion of the main body, and then valve path is formed thereafter. According to the present invention, efforts for adjusting heights between both of pressure taps during connecting of valves and flow measurement parts are not required and installation time and costs of installation could be decreased drastically. Also, the possibilities of leakage as well as manufacturing costs also could be reduced by integrating valves and flow measurement parts into a one-body valve device.

Abstract: A method and system of file aggregation is provided herein. Input is received in the form of a user specific temporal range, and is compared to a value within a temporal metadata field of a data file to determine an appropriate data set within which to compile the data file for presentation. In this way, data files within a particular data set may be selectively presented to a user. For example, if a user begins taking photos at 11 p.m. and continues until 2 a.m. the next day, the user may specify the photos taken between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. are to be compiled into a single data set for presentation, as opposed to presenting the photos in data sets corresponding to different days.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the number of page views of a web site or other digitally distributed interactive medium. A custom content hosting service allows a publisher to augment the contents of its own site with additional pages. The custom content hosting service provides content based on a topic supplied by the publisher, extracting data from a database of generic content. Generic content may include, for example, news feeds and news archives; news and archive photographs; links to blogs and other sites; etc. The publisher may customize the look and feel of the hosted pages to allow seamless integration into its own site.

Abstract: A scroll compressor having a scroll wall arrangement with a fixed scroll having fixed scroll walls and an orbiting scroll having orbiting scroll wall, an inlet at a radially outer portion and an outlet at a radially central portion, a first flow path defined by the orbiting and fixed scroll walls and extending from the inlet to the outlet, gas entering through inlet at a pressure and exhausting through outlet at a second pressure higher than the first pressure. Scroll wall arrangement having a second inlet through which gas enters at a third pressure and follows a second fluid path where it is exhausted through the outlet at the second pressure to form two flow paths having respective inlets. The third pressure at which gas enters through inlet is different from the first pressure, and lower than the second pressure.

Abstract: A detector for detecting ionising radiation comprises a scintillator 10 selected to emit light in response to incidence thereon of radiation to be detected, at least one detector 16 for detecting said emitted light, and at least one optical waveguide 12 for transmitting said emitted light to said detector 16. The optical waveguide typically comprises a flexible solid or hollow fibre that can be incorporated into a flexible mat or into a fibre-reinforced structure, so that the detector is integrated therewith.

Abstract: Quality settings established by an encoder are adjusted based on information associated with regions of interest (“ROIs”). For example, quantization step sizes can be reduced (to improve quality) or increased (to reduce bit rate). ROIs can be identified and quality settings can be adjusted based on input received from a user interface. An overlap setting can be determined for a portion of a picture that corresponds to an ROI overlap area. For example, an overlap setting is chosen from step sizes corresponding to a first overlapping ROI and a second overlapping ROI, or from relative reductions in step size corresponding to the first ROI and the second ROI. ROIs can be parameterized by information (e.g., using data structures) that indicates spatial dimensions of the ROIs and quality adjustment information (e.g., dead zone information, step size information, and quantization mode information).

Abstract: A table soccer game includes quick-change handles attached to one end of each of the player-figure rods. Each rod is drilled near one end to retain a roll-pin that secures a handle core or adaptor. A variety of standardized, interchangeable handle shells can be quickly docked onto any of the handle cores. The outside diameters, materials, firmness, and profiles of the handle shells vary and are chosen to suit individual players preferences. The shells are secured to the adaptors with a fastener or quick-release locking device.

Abstract: A modular system for packaging of sensors and related electronics for an MWD system. A drill collar housing is provided with one or more cavities for receiving sensor modules that are adapted to sense one or more wellbore conditions. The sensor modules are removable and replaceable so that a desired sensor package may be installed within the drill collar housing. The drill collar housing is installed within the drill string, and a desired sensor module or modules are secured within the cavity(ies) of the drill collar housing. Replacement or repair of the sensor portions requires only that the module or modules be removed from the cavity(ies). The drill collar housing need not be removed from the drill string. The replaceable sensor modules may be interchangeably used in drill collar housings of different sizes without resulting in a degradation of sensed information.

Abstract: A modular system for packaging of sensors and related electronics for an MWD system. A drill collar housing is provided with one or more cavities for receiving sensor modules that are adapted to sense one or more wellbore conditions. The sensor modules are removable and replaceable so that a desired sensor package may be installed within the drill collar housing. The drill collar housing is installed within the drill string, and a desired sensor module or modules are secured within the cavity(ies) of the drill collar housing. Replacement or repair of the sensor portions requires only that the module or modules be removed from the cavity(ies). The drill collar housing need not be removed from the drill string. The replaceable sensor modules may be interchangeably used in drill collar housings of different sizes without resulting in a degradation of sensed information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes processing for restricting at least one video output of a computing system based on copy protection information. Such processing begins by receiving a video signal and associated copy protection information (e.g., Macrovision). The processing continues by interpreting the copy protection information. When the copy protection information indicates copy restriction, the processing continues by altering at least one video output. The video output may be altered by disabling a monitor output, adjusting a refresh rate to be incompatible with a television refresh rate, altering an image of the video signal, and/or inserting a message in a non-current interlaced field of the video signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing very small changes in the output oscillation of a controlled oscillation circuit, which may be used in a phase locked loop circuit, is accomplished by a phase-shifting controlled oscillator that includes an oscillation circuit and a selection circuit. The oscillation circuit generates a plurality of oscillations that are of approximately the same frequency and are approximately equally phase shifted from one another. The selection circuit is operably coupled to receive the plurality of oscillations and selects one of them to be the output oscillation based on a control signal. The very small change in the output oscillation occurs when the selection circuit, based on the control signal, selects another one of the oscillations to be the output oscillation. When the change happens, a single pulse is stretched by the phase difference between the “old” output oscillation and the “new” output oscillation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting differences between an image update rate and a display update rate and to provide a viable solution that produces minimal adverse visual effects is achieved by first detecting an image delineation from a stream of images. The image delineation is then used to determine the image update rate which is compared to the display update rate to produce a relationship between the two update rates. The relationship is then compared to a plurality of desired relationships to determine if it is sufficiently similar to one or more of the desired relationships. If it is, an image display pattern associated with the desired relationship is used. For example, if the relationship is sufficiently similar to the desired relationship of 1:1, then the image display pattern will be 1111 . . . In other words, the image display pattern would display each received image once.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an output frequency of a phase locked loop is accomplished by determining a plurality of divider ratios which are based on an input frequency, parameters, and a desired output frequency. Each of the divider ratios is representative of a ratio between the output frequency and input frequency of the phase locked loop. Having determined the plurality of divider ratios, another determination is subsequently made to determine whether the plurality of divider ratios enable the phase locked loop to produce the output frequency within a given frequency tolerance, i.e., within an allowable error. The determination is based on whether changing the divider ratio from the one of the plurality of ratios to an adjacent ratio causes the output frequency to change more than the allowable error. If so, the plurality of ratios needs to be recalculated based on a change in the input frequency and/or one of the parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing interlaced video data on a progressive display is accomplished upon receiving interlaced image data that is temporally and spatially accurate and calculating, based on a first predetermined function, calculated image data. Next, the calculated image data is compared to a threshold. When the calculated image data exceeds the threshold, the received interlaced image data is adjusted to approximate the threshold. When the calculated image data does not exceed the threshold, the received interlaced image data is adjusted to equal the calculated interlaced data. Having done this, additional information is created and subsequently combined with the adjusted interlaced image data to produce a complete field for display on the progressive display. The additional image information is of a first value when the calculated image data does not exceed the threshold and is as functional value when the calculated image data exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a finely adjustable clock is accomplished by a ring oscillator, a plurality of counting circuits, and a controller. The ring oscillator generates a plurality of oscillations, wherein each of the oscillations have an approximately equal period and are phase shifted by an approximately equal phase shift. Each of the plurality of oscillations is provided to one of the counting circuits which divides the frequency of the respective oscillation by a given count value to produce corresponding periodic representation. The controller selects one of the corresponding periodic representations based on control signal to be the output oscillation, or clock signal. When the clock signal needs to be finely adjusted, the controller, based on the control signal, selects another one of the corresponding periodic representations.

Abstract: A golf club head cover includes a pocket for storing tees, markers, scorecards, pencils, balls, or other small, useful items, and a sleeve for protecting the head of the golf club.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to assist in the identification of a living body which comprises selecting a carrier, transcribing information as to the identity of the body on the carrier, and fixing the carrier to a hard mineralized portion of the body. The structure includes a miniaturized carrier of relatively inert material and having identifying intelligence thereon, wherein the carrier is adapted to be fixed or otherwise embedded on hard mineralized tissue of the body.