Abstract: A universal interaction platform that communicates with service providers and smart devices by receiving a message object that includes information indicative of a user intent for one of the service providers or smart devices to perform a function, determines the service provider or smart device that the user intends to perform the function, determines a protocol and format for communicating with the service provider or smart device, formats an instruction for the service provider or smart device, and outputs the instruction to the service provider or smart device.

Abstract: Users desire a communications system that allows the users to apply customized privacy settings (and, optionally, encryption keys) differently to particular portions of a document—even if the document is of a ‘lossy’ file type, e.g., a JPEG image. The custom access permission settings may be implemented by obfuscating portions of the original file and then embedding “secret,” e.g., hidden and/or encrypted, versions of the obfuscated portions in parts of the data structure of the original lossy file in the form of “layers” (e.g., the bit-equivalent of PNG layers). The individual encrypted layers may then be decrypted according to each recipient's permissions and layered on top of the original lossy file ‘in memory’ before being displayed to the recipient. The use of multiple encrypted layers allows for the visual revelation of the content of the original lossy file without modifying the actual underlying image content of the original lossy file.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for composing communications for computing devices across multiple formats and multiple protocols. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media to permit computing devices, e.g., smartphones, tablets, laptops, and the like, to send encrypted or unencrypted group communications in a number of pre-determined and/or ‘determined-on-the-fly’ communications formats and/or protocols. Correlation of messages comprising secure group communications across multi-format multi-protocol may be determined by tracking message groups and mapping aliases across protocols. The techniques disclosed herein allow communications systems to become ‘message-centric’ or ‘people-centric’ as opposed to ‘protocol-centric,’ eventually allowing consideration of message protocol and security mechanisms to fall away entirely for the sender of the communication.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to personalized and dynamic server-side searching techniques for encrypted data. Current so-called ‘zero-knowledge’ privacy systems (i.e., systems where the server has ‘zero-knowledge’ about the client data that it is storing) utilize servers that hold encrypted data without the decryption keys necessary to decrypt, index, and/or re-encrypt the data. As such, the servers are not able to perform any kind of meaningful server-side search process, as it would require access to the underlying decrypted data. Therefore, such prior art ‘zero-knowledge’ privacy systems provide a limited ability for a user to search through a large dataset of encrypted documents to find critical information.

Abstract: A universal interaction platform that communicates with service providers and smart devices by receiving a message object that includes information indicative of a user intent for one of the service providers or smart devices to perform a function, determines the service provider or smart device that the user intends to perform the function, determines a protocol and format for communicating with the service provider or smart device, formats an instruction for the service provider or smart device, and outputs the instruction to the service provider or smart device.

Abstract: An application program interface (API) analyzer that determines protocols and formats to interact with a service provider or smart device. The API analyzer identifies an API endpoint or web sites for the service provider or smart device, determines a service category or device category, selects a category-specific corpus, forms a service-specific or device-specific corpus by appending information regarding the service provider or smart device to the category-specific corpus, and parses API documentation or the websites.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to personalized and dynamic server-side searching techniques for encrypted data. Current so-called ‘zero-knowledge’ privacy systems (i.e., systems where the server has ‘zero-knowledge’ about the client data that it is storing) utilize servers that hold encrypted data without the decryption keys necessary to decrypt, index, and/or re-encrypt the data. As such, the servers are not able to perform any kind of meaningful server-side search process, as it would require access to the underlying decrypted data. Therefore, such prior art ‘zero-knowledge’ privacy systems provide a limited ability for a user to search through a large dataset of encrypted documents to find critical information.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method and apparatus for detecting subject matter of interest in view data obtained by scanning an object including generating a filter adapted to respond to the subject matter of interest, splatting the filter onto a portion of the view data to provide a filter splat, and performing at least one operation on the portion of the view data using the filter splat to facilitate determining whether the subject matter of interest is present in the portion of the view data.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to personalized and dynamic server-side searching techniques for encrypted data. Current so-called ‘zero-knowledge’ privacy systems (i.e., systems where the server has ‘zero-knowledge’ about the client data that it is storing) utilize servers that hold encrypted data without the decryption keys necessary to decrypt, index, and/or re-encrypt the data. As such, the servers are not able to perform any kind of meaningful server-side search process, as it would require access to the underlying decrypted data. Therefore, such prior art ‘zero-knowledge’ privacy systems provide a limited ability for a user to search through a large dataset of encrypted documents to find critical information.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for composing communications for computing devices across multiple formats and multiple protocols. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media to permit computing devices, e.g., smartphones, tablets, laptops, and the like, to send encrypted or unencrypted group communications in a number of pre-determined and/or ‘determined-on-the-fly’ communications formats and/or protocols. Correlation of messages comprising secure group communications across multi-format multi-protocol may be determined by tracking message groups and mapping aliases across protocols. The techniques disclosed herein allow communications systems to become ‘message-centric’ or ‘people-centric’ as opposed to ‘protocol-centric,’ eventually allowing consideration of message protocol and security mechanisms to fall away entirely for the sender of the communication.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method and apparatus for detecting subject matter of interest in view data obtained by scanning an object including generating a filter adapted to respond to the subject matter of interest, splatting the filter onto a portion of the view data to provide a filter splat, and performing at least one operation on the portion of the view data using the filter splat to facilitate determining whether the subject matter of interest is present in the portion of the view data.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer readable media for allowing users or systems to change the gateway for particular channels of communication in an on-demand fashion, i.e., with the “flick of a switch.” More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer readable media which, by default, directly interact with each channel of communication and then funnel messages to the appropriate connected clients. Moreover, according to the techniques disclosed herein, each user may choose which device becomes the entry and/or exit point (i.e., gateway) for each communication channel, and that device may instantly become the “master” for those messages arriving via that communication channel. The improved centralized server then knows where to automatically route such messages for each communication channel. Also disclosed herein is a novel “common message object” format for storing and searching through messages in an improved fashion.

Abstract: An image-processing method comprising convolving a selected feature of interest (FOI) within the image with a mask of a first size, repeating the convolution with a mask of a second size, and calculating the ratio of the convolution responses, as an indication of the size of the FOI. Preferably the convolution masks are Laplacian of Gaussian. The method can be useful for prioritizing potential targets in a field of view for presentation to an operator.

Abstract: A tamper-evident package for pharmaceuticals is described. The package includes a case. A tray holding pharmaceuticals slides in and out of the case. The package includes an alarm that can be set to armed and triggered mode. When the alarm is armed, the system of the package changes the alarm to triggered in response to the tray being opened. The package may engage an access indicator in response to the alarm being triggered. The package may also flash an indicator light upon request, prior to opening the tray, to indicate whether the alarm was triggered since being previously armed. The alarm can be armed again if it is triggered, by entering a security code while the tray is closed.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method and apparatus for detecting subject matter of interest in view data obtained by scanning an object including generating a filter adapted to respond to the subject matter of interest, splatting the filter onto a portion of the view data to provide a filter splat, and performing at least one operation on the portion of the view data using the filter splat to facilitate determining whether the subject matter of interest is present in the portion of the view data.

Abstract: System for providing alert-based communication services for which corresponding alert conditions to be met by mobile stations are defined. The system includes an alert engine capable of firing alerts associated with the alert-based communication services if location data regarding the mobile stations is indicative of the mobile stations meeting the alert conditions corresponding to the alert-based communication services. A requirements engine determines an expected earliest future time at which at least one alert condition is capable of being met by a particular mobile station and outputs a data element indicative of a requirement to obtain updated location data about the particular mobile station in advance of the expected earliest future time. A scheduler receives expiry times data and processes the expiry times data for determining an order for servicing the location requests.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method and apparatus for detecting subject matter of interest in view data obtained by scanning an object including generating a filter adapted to respond to the subject matter of interest, splatting the filter onto a portion of the view data to provide a filter splat, and performing at least one operation on the portion of the view data using the filter splat to facilitate determining whether the subject matter of interest is present in the portion of the view data.

Abstract: A trap with a housing having a first wall, an entrance, and a base; a latch mechanism coupled with the base; a pivoting platform pivotally coupled with the housing adjacent a juncture of the base and first wall and adapted to releasably engage with the latch mechanism; and a trigger plate assembly including a first trigger plate and a second trigger plate that are pivotally coupled with the pivoting platform. The first trigger plate is operably coupled with the latch mechanism and the second trigger plate is operably coupled with the first trigger plate. When the trap is triggered by an animal, the pivoting platform disengages from the latch mechanism and the pivoting platform and trigger plate assembly pivot toward the first wall of the housing, moving the rodent toward the first wall of the housing and trapping the rodent between the trigger plate assembly and the first wall of the housing.

Abstract: A tamper-evident package for pharmaceuticals is described. The package includes a case. A tray holding pharmaceuticals slides in and out of the case. The package includes an alarm that can be set to armed and triggered mode. When the alarm is armed, the system of the package changes the alarm to triggered in response to the tray being opened. The package may engage an access indicator in response to the alarm being triggered. The package may also flash an indicator light upon request, prior to opening the tray, to indicate whether the alarm was triggered since being previously armed. The alarm can be armed again if it is triggered, by entering a security code while the tray is closed.

Abstract: System for providing alert-based communication services for which corresponding alert conditions to be met by mobile stations are defined. The system includes an alert engine capable of firing alerts associated with the alert-based communication services if location data regarding the mobile stations is indicative of the mobile stations meeting the alert conditions corresponding to the alert-based communication services. A requirements engine determines an expected earliest future time at which at least one alert condition is capable of being met by a particular mobile station and outputs a data element indicative of a requirement to obtain updated location data about the particular mobile station in advance of the expected earliest future time. A scheduler receives expiry times data and processes the expiry times data for determining an order for servicing the location requests.