Abstract: A cable management system including a plurality of separably interconnectable clips. Each clip has a plurality of longitudinally extending cells, the cells forming cable channels having open longitudinal ends and an open bottom side, the cable channels arranged side-by-side in a one-dimensional array. Each cell is adapted and configured to receive and retain a corresponding cable of a slightly smaller diameter than that of its cable channel. The clips interconnect in a vertically stacked series to form a clip stack, the one-dimensional cable channel arrays of the clips in the clip stack thus being arrayed vertically to form a two-dimensional cable channel array. Cells without a clip connected below retain corresponding cables with a clearance to permit longitudinal sliding. Cables retained in a clip with a clip connected below are clamped between the cells that retain them and impinging contact regions of a top side of the below clip.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for determining whether a process on a computer system that is sending or receiving data, or is attempting to send or receive data, with another computer system is executing in kernel mode or user mode and providing an indicator of this determination to a security engine. In some embodiments, such an indication is provided to a security engine (e.g., a firewall) that implements a security policy based at least in part on whether the sending or receiving process is in kernel mode or user mode, and filter communications based on a process' operating mode. This enables a security engine to maintain security policies of greater specificity and thus improve security of a computer system.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for determining whether a process on a computer system that is sending or receiving data, or is attempting to send or receive data, with another computer system is executing in kernel mode or user mode and providing an indicator of this determination to a security engine. In some embodiments, such an indication is provided to a security engine (e.g., a firewall) that implements a security policy based at least in part on whether the sending or receiving process is in kernel mode or user mode, and filter communications based on a process' operating mode. This enables a security engine to maintain security policies of greater specificity and thus improve security of a computer system.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for determining whether a process on a computer system that is sending or receiving data, or is attempting to send or receive data, with another computer system is executing in kernel mode or user mode and providing an indicator of this determination to a security engine. In some embodiments, such an indication is provided to a security engine (e.g., a firewall) that implements a security policy based at least in part on whether the sending or receiving process is in kernel mode or user mode, and filter communications based on a process' operating mode. This enables a security engine to maintain security policies of greater specificity and thus improve security of a computer system.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for determining whether a process on a computer system that is sending or receiving data, or is attempting to send or receive data, with another computer system is executing in kernel mode or user mode and providing an indicator of this determination to a security engine. In some embodiments, such an indication is provided to a security engine (e.g., a firewall) that implements a security policy based at least in part on whether the sending or receiving process is in kernel mode or user mode, and filter communications based on a process' operating mode. This enables a security engine to maintain security policies of greater specificity and thus improve security of a computer system.

Abstract: A photograph repository system includes data storage for storing photographs in the form of digital data files and a search feature that provides for searching for photographs by location and optionally by other search criteria. In one embodiment, a photograph repository service is accessible to users over a common data network, such as the Internet. In the photograph repository service, each stored photograph is associated with a location, i.e., where the photograph was taken and/or the location of an object in the photograph. Users can search for and obtain copies of their own photographs that they had stored previously with the photograph repository service. In addition, users can search for and obtain copies of photographs that had been taken by other users and stored with the photograph repository service. The photograph repository system can also be implemented as a standalone system, a hybrid system, or a peer-to-peer system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing guidance to a destination with a computing system that uses geographic data indexed by affinity relationships. A user specifies a municipality of relatively greater importance that is located nearby the desired actual destination. The computing system provides guidance to the user to follow a route to the specified municipality. While the user is following the route to the specified municipality, additional routes are calculated to each of a plurality of roads that cross into an affinity domain associated with the specified municipality. Before the user reaches the point at which any of the additional routes diverge from the route to the specified municipality, input is obtained from the user, one or more times as needed, specifying either another municipality progressively closer to the desired actual destination or the actual desired destination. Guidance is provided to the user to follow the routes to the closer municipalities or the desired actual destination.

Abstract: A real estate investing method is disclosed in which aggregated investment capital is used to purchase a plurality of properties from a single lending institution at short-sale prices calculated using a pre-negotiated formula. The lending institution agrees to identify and qualify properties, and accept the short-sale prices, in return for selling a plurality of distressed properties under a single agreement. Owners avoid foreclosure and consequent damage to their credit. Investors aren't burdened by property selection and/or maintenance. In preferred embodiments, owner-occupied homes are purchased, leased back to their occupants, and eventually resold to the occupants if their finances recover. Repurchase credit incentives can be offered to occupants, providing limited participation in property appreciation and motivating occupants to maintain the properties and strive to repurchase them.

Abstract: A real estate investing method is disclosed in which aggregated investment capital is used to purchase a plurality of properties from a single lending institution at short-sale prices calculated using a pre-negotiated formula. The lending institution agrees to identify and qualify properties, and accept the short-sale prices, in return for selling a plurality of distressed properties under a single agreement. Owners avoid foreclosure and consequent damage to their credit. Investors aren't burdened by property selection and/or maintenance. In preferred embodiments, owner-occupied homes are purchased, leased back to their occupants, and eventually resold to the occupants if their finances recover. Repurchase credit incentives can be offered to occupants, providing limited participation in property appreciation and motivating occupants to maintain the properties and strive to repurchase them.

Abstract: An affinity relationship index and a method for using it are disclosed. The affinity relationship index captures, for any given place name, an affinity to one or more potentially more important place names. Each such more important place subtends an affinity domain within which other places are deemed to lie. The index carries this on hierarchically and has the effect of creating a relatively meaningful and minimized structure that can be rapidly searched for a user's intended destination. An application uses these affinity domains to determine the instructions necessary to embark upon a guided journey rather than determining all instructions needed to complete the journey.

Abstract: A photograph repository system includes data storage for storing photographs in the form of digital data files and a search feature that provides for searching for photographs by location and optionally by other search criteria. In one embodiment, a photograph repository service is accessible to users over a common data network, such as the Internet. In the photograph repository service, each stored photograph is associated with a location, i.e., where the photograph was taken and/or the location of an object in the photograph. Users can search for and obtain copies of their own photographs that they had stored previously with the photograph repository service. In addition, users can search for and obtain copies of photographs that had been taken by other users and stored with the photograph repository service. The photograph repository system can also be implemented as a standalone system, a hybrid system, or a peer-to-peer system.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for determining whether a process on a computer system that is sending or receiving data, or is attempting to send or receive data, with another computer system is executing in kernel mode or user mode and providing an indicator of this determination to a security engine. In some embodiments, such an indication is provided to a security engine (e.g., a firewall) that implements a security policy based at least in part on whether the sending or receiving process is in kernel mode or user mode, and filter communications based on a process' operating mode. This enables a security engine to maintain security policies of greater specificity and thus improve security of a computer system.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention randomly mixes and palletizes various containers received from a conveyor. A control system received an order in advance to cooperate with an automatic storage and retrieval system to pick the containers, ordered by various customers, and to place them on a second conveyor. A robotic device, such as a robotic arm or a gantry system, selectively picks the containers from the second conveyor and places the containers on a pallet in a mixed fashion. The pallets are delivered to the respective customers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a multi-modal package handling tool. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the inventive tool includes a tool platform mounted to the end of a robotic arm. The tool further includes a plurality of package attachment systems mounted to the tool platform wherein each of the plurality of package attachment systems is configured to attach a package to the end of the robotic arm. The inventive tool is responsive to a controller that is operative to select at least one of the package attachment systems to be presented to the package for attaching the package to the end of the robotic arm.

Abstract: A multi-modal package handling tool and system uses a robot carrying an end of arm tool incorporating several package handling devices such as vacuum carrying units, extensible package grippers, and a slideably deployable package platform. Each these package handling devices may be used singly, or in combination with each other.

Abstract: An air-powered vacuum tool for handling multiple workpieces includes vacuum ports formed in a vacuum manifold body and associated air-powered vacuum generators operatively connected with the vacuum manifold body such that each of the vacuum ports is provided with vacuum. Groups of pickup orifices associated with the vacuum ports engage multiple workpieces. Each of the pickup orifices is operatively connected with at least one of the vacuum ports.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for collecting data that relate addresses to map-referenced locations. A fleet of delivery trucks delivers items to locations throughout a geographic region. Each item to be delivered includes a tracking code. An electronic code reader device is used to record the tracking code of an item when the item is being delivered. A position determining device, such as a GPS unit, is used to determine a geographic position associated with the delivery of each item. Data indicating the tracking code of an item and the corresponding geographic position associated with the delivery are stored. Then, using data that indicate an address associated with each tracking code, each address is associated with a geographic position. This information is used to revise a geographic database, e.g., to relate addresses to map-referenced locations.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for collecting data that relate addresses to map-referenced locations. A fleet of delivery trucks delivers items to locations throughout a geographic region. Each item to be delivered includes a tracking code. An electronic code reader device is used to record the tracking code of an item when the item is being delivered. A position determining device, such as a GPS unit, is used to determine a geographic position associated with the delivery of each item. Data indicating the tracking code of an item and the corresponding geographic position associated with the delivery are stored. Then, using data that indicate an address associated with each tracking code, each address is associated with a geographic position. This information is used to revise a geographic database, e.g., to relate addresses to map-referenced locations.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for collecting traffic information. One or more aircraft, such as helicopters, fly predetermined flight paths above a geographic area. The flight paths are determined so that portions of roads for which traffic information are to be collected are within the ranges of remote velocity sensors located on board the aircraft during the flights of these aircraft along their respective flight paths. Each aircraft includes positioning equipment that allows the precise position (i.e., altitude, latitude, and longitude) and attitude (i.e., roll, pitch, and yaw) of the aircraft during its flight to be determined. During a flight along the predetermined flight path, the remote velocity sensor in each aircraft is operated to perform scans of locations on roadways in the geographic area.

Abstract: A navigation system includes an automatic speech recognition program that matches spoken words that describe geographic features, such as places, street names and points of interest, to entries in a word list. The word list contains a limited number of entries. In order to increase the likelihood that a word spoken by a user of the navigation system is included among the limited number of entries contained in the word list, the word list is built to include entries that correspond to the named geographic features closest to a current position of a vehicle in which the navigation system is installed. As the vehicle travels through a geographic area, the word list is rebuilt to include entries that correspond to the named geographic features closest to the new current vehicle position.