Abstract: A method may include identifying a content item associated with a contributor. Users may be invited to review the content item. A survey adapted to estimate engagement with the content item by a plurality of the users may be provided to the users. Results of the survey may be received from the plurality of the users. Popularity of the content item with respect to the plurality of the users may be determined from the results of the survey. At least a subset of the plurality of the users may be categorized based on the popularity of the content item with respect to the plurality of the users.

Abstract: Systems and methods for routing debit transactions. In one embodiment, a method for routing debit transactions can be provided. The method can include obtaining, by a routing determination system comprising one or more computers, information associated with a proposed debit transaction. The method can also include identifying, by the routing determination system based at least in part upon the obtained information, one or more merchant parameters associated with a merchant on whose behalf the proposed debit transaction will be submitted to a transaction processor. Further, the method can include determining, by the routing determination system based at least in part upon the one or more merchant parameters, a debit transaction network for routing the proposed debit transaction to the transaction processor, wherein the debit transaction network is included in a plurality of available debit transaction networks.

Abstract: A content management system can have one or more of an aggregation engine, a survey engine, a polling engine, an apparent-interest engine, an explicit-interest engine, and a results processing engine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to identify a type of acoustic event Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs). In one embodiment, received sound is processed using the MFCCs to locate a peak for comparison with a stored event to determine if the peak corresponds to the acoustic event.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for expanding variables within a computational model. The computational model, which can be a Bayesian-network, includes input and output variables that are interrelated via a conditional probability table. Term expansion is accomplished via a lexical database and a logic engine to determine semantic equivalents that are relevant to the computational model. The expanded terms allow the computational model to be related to instance data, which may be in the form of a dynamic ontology. Input variable expansion permits the computational model to be populated with semantically relevant instance data from the ontology, and output variable expansion permits the computational model to be associated with semantically relevant ontology nodes.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a group of interest from travel information based on a suspect traveler and a co-travel count threshold. The system comprises a database comprised of traveler names, each having respective destinations and corresponding travel dates, and a detection module in communication with the database. The detection module is operable to search the database to determine traveler names having a co-travel count based on the suspect traveler, form a co-travel group based on traveler names having respective co-travel counts greater than or equal to the co-travel count threshold, determine co-travel within said co-travel group, identify cliques within said co-travel group based on said co-travel, and determine the maximal clique thereby detecting the group of interest. The method involves providing a co-travel count threshold, selecting a suspect traveler, and, based on such, detecting a group of interest from travel information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for determining the probability of an event occurring. The method involves developing models relating a number of factors and variables. The factors and variables can be unique to a specified field of endeavor, such as military security or epidemiology. The models can be ontological models. A rule set is then utilized to relate certain variables in the models to a specific event. The rule set can be embodied in a computer model, such as a Bayesian-Network. The system permits a user to query a knowledge store or database to acquire referent values for the rule set. Thereafter, the referent values are used to populate the rule set and compute the probability of the event occurring.

Abstract: A content management system can have one or more of an aggregation engine, a survey engine, a polling engine, an apparent-interest engine, an explicit-interest engine, and a results processing engine.

Abstract: An aircraft location and identification system, including a first position determining portion located aboard a transmitting aircraft for determining a first set of present positional and tracking information is described relative to said transmitting aircraft. A transmitting portion is included for transmitting the first set of present positional and tracking information to a receiving aircraft. A second position determining portion, which is located aboard the receiving aircraft, determines a second set of present positional and tracking information relating to the receiving aircraft. A computing portion is located aboard the receiving aircraft and/or a ground based facility. The computing portion utilizes present and past values of the first set of present positional and tracking information to derive a corresponding first probabilistic future tracking configuration of the transmitting aircraft.

Abstract: A coiled shoe connector (14) is provided to connect a first shoe (10) to a second shoe (12). The coiled connector (14) has a relaxed length (L) and an expanded length (L2). The pair of shoes (10 and 12) are interconnected by the coiled connector (14) for display with the connector (14) in its relaxed length (L). To test the pair of shoes (10-12), a customer may walk in the shoes by repeatedly stretching the coiled connector (14) between its relaxed length (L) and its expanded length (L2). In a preferred embodiment, the coiled connector (14) is reusable and is therefore, connected to the shoes (10-12) by a separate fixing element (36). After a customer has tested the shoes (10-12) and decided to purchase them, the shoes (10-12) are deposited with a sales clerk. The sales clerk may then cut the fixing elements (36) in order to retain the coiled connector (14) for reuse.

Abstract: An arrangement for signalling to supervisory equipment in a repeater in a digital transmission system. A digital data test sequence comprising a plurality of multi-bit words each accompanied by a parity check bit is fed to the transmission systems. Digital supervisory signals modulate the test sequence and periodic parity violations are imposed on the test sequence. A first counter counts the periodic violations imposed on the test sequence and a second like counter counts errors in the test signals returned from the system.

Abstract: This invention discloses a new bubble forming and stabilizing device for use in a continuous extrusion process for making a blown film and a process for using same. The apparatus comprises a bowl shaped mandrel mounted subsequent to a die, the mandrel has an undersurface extending substantially parallel to and space from the path of travel of the blown film from the die and the undersurface is contoured to guide a stream of cooling air along its surface between the undersurface and the blown film as the blown film emerges from the die. The apparatus allows for increased production rates and improved physical properties of the forming bubble by creating more efficient heat transfer from the forming bubble to the cooling air stream. The device also provides support for the molten bubble during its most unstable state.

Abstract: A die for the extrusion of a tube of plastic polymer consists of at least two coaxially mounted die parts forming one or more annular die gaps between them from which the tube is extruded. The die parts have two respective axial cylindrical surfaces. There is provided between these surfaces an annular member of material of higher coefficient of expansion than the material from which the die parts are made. As the die becomes heated this annular member also becomes heated and its additional expansion causes its outside diameter to expand and its inside diameter to contract into forcible engagement with the surfaces thereby stabilizing the radial gap between the die lips.

Abstract: The invention provides a new air ring for use with a die in a blown film process line to apply cooling air to the exterior surface of an extruded tube of film-forming material passing through the air ring. Air is discharged from a first downstream gap in the air ring radially outward from the path of movement of a tube in unexpanded state so as to create a vacuum force that urges the tube outward and causes the cooling air to flow along the surface, permitting the use of much higher velocities than hitherto, the increased cooling permitting increased output for a given size of die. A second upstream gap delivers a tubular stream that precools the tube and prevents it from sticking to the structure between the upstream and downstream gaps.

Abstract: In an extrusion die of the spiral mandrel type the cross holes and their respective helical channels or grooves are arranged in sets, each set including at least two cross-holes disposed one above the other in the direction of the mandrel longitudinal axis. Preferably each set includes three or four cross holes disposed one above the other. This structure permits the provision of a large number of cross holes while leaving large spaces between the sets through which other passages, such as for bubble internal cooling system pipes, can be passed. All of the channels or grooves are relieved into the melt flow passage in the die at the same plane perpendicular to the mandrel axis. Unexpectedly the structure permits desired uniformity of annular flow from the die orifice to be obtained.

Abstract: The invention provides a new air ring for use with a die in a blown film process line to apply cooling air to the exterior surface of an extruded tube of film-forming material passing through the air ring. Air is discharged from a first downstream gap in the air ring radially outward from the path of movement of a tube in unexpanded state so as to create a vacuum force that urges the tube outward and causes the cooling air to flow along the surface, permitting the use of much higher velocities than hitherto, the increased cooling permitting increased output for a given size of die. A second upstream gap delivers a tubular stream that precools the tube and prevents it from sticking to the structure between the upstream and downstream gaps.