Abstract: Device functionality is provided externally on a hand-held, portable electronic device. In one illustrative embodiment, the hand-held, portable electronic device comprises a transceiver for sending and receiving user communications; one or more processors; a memory; a user interface; a display; and a device body including a device housing. The device housing includes a side circumferential surface on at least two device edges and front, back surfaces. The device housing has a first groove being substantially disposed from the front surface to the back surface across the side circumferential surface of a first device edge of the at least two device edges.

Abstract: A pet travel safety device is provided for use with a vehicle seatbelt system to controllably restrain movement of a pet in a vehicle during a collision or sudden deceleration of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a safety restrainer may secure a pet in a vehicle having a seat belt with a first prong configured to latch into a first buckle of a shoulder/lap belt combination system. The safety restrainer may comprise a restraint assembly including a restraint strap having a first strap end and a second strap end which are configured to releasably couple to each other. The safety restrainer may further comprise a harness configured to couple to the restraint assembly. The harness may include a first harness end and a second harness end. The first harness end comprises a first connector to releasably couple to the first prong and the second harness end comprises a second connector to releasably couple to the first buckle. The harness may include first and second harness portions.

Abstract: A flow controlling assembly configured to permit air flow between a first chamber and a second chamber. A frame member includes a damper contacting surface at least partially surrounding a frame opening configured to permit the air flow therethrough. A damper plate includes a frame contacting surface configured to contact the damper contacting surface when the damper plate is in a closed position. A hinge assembly is disposed between the frame member and the damper plate. The hinge assembly is configured to permit the damper plate to rotate on a rotational axis relative to the frame member and to permit the rotational axis to translate relative to the frame member.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for controllably illuminating automotive brake lights. In one embodiment, an automotive brake lighting system comprises a brake light including first and second light sources, a sensor to sense a level of an operating condition associated with at least one of a brake assembly or a brake pedal of a motor vehicle for illuminating the brake light, and a controller configured to monitor information provided by the sensor. The controller, in response to the level of the operating condition, selectively powers the at least one of the first or second light sources of the brake light based at least in part on the monitored information to generate a variable visual indication relating to braking of the motor vehicle from the brake light over a range of at least two different visual indications that indicate a variable braking rate of the motor vehicle over a corresponding range of at least two different braking rates.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus has an alignment system including a radiation source configured to convert narrow-band radiation into continuous, flat and broad-band radiation. An acoustically tunable narrow pass-band filter filters the broad-band radiation into narrow-band linearly polarized radiation. The narrow-band radiation may be focused on alignment targets of a wafer so as to enable alignment of the wafer. In an embodiment, the filter is configured to modulate an intensity and wavelength of radiation produced by the radiation source and to have multiple simultaneous pass-bands. The radiation source generates radiation that has high spatial coherence and low temporal coherence.

Abstract: A pet travel safety device is provided for use with a vehicle seatbelt system to controllably restrain movement of a pet in a vehicle during a collision or sudden deceleration of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a safety restrainer may secure a pet in a vehicle having a seat belt with a first prong configured to latch into a first buckle of a shoulder/lap belt combination system. The safety restrainer may comprise a restraint assembly including a restraint strap having a first strap end and a second strap end which are configured to releasably couple to each other. The safety restrainer may further comprise a harness configured to couple to the restraint assembly. The harness may include a first harness end and a second harness end. The first harness end comprises a first connector to releasably couple to the first prong and the second harness end comprises a second connector to releasably couple to the first buckle. The harness may include first and second harness portions.

Abstract: A customizable audio earpiece includes an ear bud body with an ear bud size of which is adjustable along with some control over its orientation. The ear bud body comprises a ball point with teeth that couples to a mating cavity with teethed groves to movably lock or snap with each other on an ear bud stick. The flexibility of one or more petal shaped fingers provides an adequate level of stiffness for the ear bud when resting therein. The teeth on the ends of these petal shaped fingers releasably couple to teeth on a speaker body. In this way, users have varying size of ears with different size of ear canal cavities and conchal bowls can comfortably use the customizable audio earpiece.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for controllably illuminating automotive brake lights. In one embodiment, an automotive brake lighting system comprises a brake light including first and second light sources, a sensor to sense a level of an operating condition associated with at least one of a brake assembly or a brake pedal of a motor vehicle for illuminating the brake light, and a controller configured to monitor information provided by the sensor. The controller, in response to the level of the operating condition, selectively powers the at least one of the first or second light sources of the brake light based at least in part on the monitored information to generate a variable visual indication relating to braking of the motor vehicle from the brake light over a range of at least two different visual indications that indicate a variable braking rate of the motor vehicle over a corresponding range of at least two different braking rates.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for enabling a safe and secure environment for a pet traveling in a vehicle during a collision or sudden breaking of the vehicle by using a seat belt system to flexibly restrain the pet with a safety restrainer or a detachable safety belt. In one embodiment, a safety restrainer may secure a pet in a vehicle having a seat belt with a first seat belt prong that latches into a first seat belt buckle. The safety restrainer may comprise a restraint assembly including a restraint strap removably couplable to a body portion of the pet. The restraint assembly may be positionable about the body of the pet and the restrain strap positionable between a pair of fore legs and a pair of hind legs of the pet. The restraint strap may include a first strap end and a second strap end being releasably couplable to each other such that the restraint strap forms a loop having a hole when the first and second strap ends are releasably coupled together.

Abstract: A vehicle attachable child booster type car seat is provided with a lap belt for in situ restraining the car seat at a vehicle seat by using a vehicle safety seat belt having a first vehicle seat belt buckle and a first vehicle seat belt prong. In one embodiment of the present invention, a booster seat is configured to have a second vehicle seat belt buckle and a second vehicle seat belt prong to mate with the first vehicle seat belt prong and the first vehicle seat belt buckle, respectively, when positioned on the vehicle seat of a motor vehicle. Therefore, instead of the booster seat being merely an unattached cushion boosting a child occupant's position, may rather be anchored at the vehicle seat while the vehicle safety seat belt's functionality still retained along with an additional restraining capability of the lap belt that can secure a torso portion of the child occupant seated in the booster seat.

Abstract: Spam filtering methods and systems are provided for filtering spam SMS SMPP messages from an ESME to an SMSC associated with a wireless network, in which an anti-spam application receives SMPP SMS messages from the ESME and performs spam filtering prior to providing SMPP messages to the wireless network, with good messages being forwarded to the SMSC of the network and spam messages being discarded or persisted.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for filtering spam MAP SMS messages in an SS7 network, including mobile originated and mobile terminated MAP SMS messaging to mitigate spam-related traffic in the SS7 network. The system includes an anti-spam application (42) running on one or more network servers (40) that receives the MAP messages before routing to any SMSC or MSC, and classify these as spam or good. The good MAP SMS messages are then provided to the corresponding destinations by appropriate SMSC or MSC in the SS7 network, while the spam MAP SMS messages are not delivered to the SMSC.

Abstract: A detachable seat belt is provided for use with a vehicle seat belt to controllably restrain movement of a pet in a vehicle. By anchoring the detachable pet seat belt to a prong and a buckle of a vehicle seat belt system safety may be provided to a pet traveling in a vehicle during a collision or sudden deceleration of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a detachable seat belt is provided for use with a pet in a vehicle having a passenger seat belt system including a vehicle seat belt prong and a vehicle seat belt buckle. The detachable seat belt may comprise a harness configured to releasably couple to the vehicle seat belt prong and the vehicle seat belt buckle of the passenger seat belt system. The detachable seat belt may further comprise a seat belt webbing coupled to the harness, the seat belt webbing including a first side length having a first prong attached thereto and a second side length having a first buckle combined with a webbing adjuster for adjusting and locking the seat belt webbing.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for enabling a safe and secure environment for a pet traveling in a vehicle during a collision or sudden breaking of the vehicle by using a seat belt system to flexibly restrain the pet with a safety restrainer or a detachable safety belt. In one embodiment, a safety restrainer may secure a pet in a vehicle having a seat belt with a first seat belt prong that latches into a first seat belt buckle. The safety restrainer may comprise a restraint assembly including a restraint strap removably couplable to a body portion of the pet. The restraint assembly may be positionable about the body of the pet and the restrain strap positionable between a pair of fore legs and a pair of hind legs of the pet. The restraint strap may include a first strap end and a second strap end being releasably couplable to each other such that the restraint strap forms a loop having a hole when the first and second strap ends are releasably coupled together.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for controllably illuminating automotive brake lights. In one embodiment, an automotive brake lighting system comprises a brake light including first and second light sources, a sensor to sense a level of an operating condition associated with at least one of a brake assembly or a brake pedal of a motor vehicle for illuminating the brake light, and a controller configured to monitor information provided by the sensor. The controller, in response to the level of the operating condition, selectively powers the at least one of the first or second light sources of the brake light based at least in part on the monitored information to generate a variable visual indication relating to braking of the motor vehicle from the brake light over a range of at least two different visual indications that indicate a variable braking rate of the motor vehicle over a corresponding range of at least two different braking rates.

Abstract: A flow controlling assembly configured to permit air flow between a first chamber and a second chamber. A frame member includes a damper contacting surface at least partially surrounding a frame opening configured to permit the air flow therethrough. A damper plate includes a frame contacting surface configured to contact the damper contacting surface when the damper plate is in a closed position. A hinge assembly is disposed between the frame member and the damper plate. The hinge assembly is configured to permit the damper plate to rotate on a rotational axis relative to the frame member and to permit the rotational axis to translate relative to the frame member.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for providing message content to a user at a hand-held, portable electronic device for composing an electronic message. The user may use at least a portion of the message content for composing the electronic message for mailing over a network to a recipient. For example, templates with precomposed content may be provided at a cell phone to compose a message body and/or a subject filed of electronic messages for mailing including electronic mail (e-mail) messages. A template with precomposed content may comprise previously created content for use in a message body including a subject filed of the message. The precomposed content may be selectively editable by a user. By using a messaging application that may be capable of communicating with a server in a network, a user may compose the message, such as a reply to an e-mail with desired message content from one or more of the templates.

Abstract: A hand-held, portable electronic device is provided with a retainer port for removably receiving one or more attachable wireless audiophones for in situ charging of at least one of a first or second attachable wireless audiophone on the hand-held, portable electronic device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a retainer port configured to mate with a first connector of a first attachable wireless audiophone including at least one of a speaker or a microphone at a hand-held, portable electronic device having a device housing with a surface is provided. The retainer port may comprise at least one of a first or a second port socket configured for removably retaining the first attachable wireless audiophone on the hand-held, portable electronic device. The first port socket to communicatively receive the first connector of the first attachable wireless audiophone for in situ charging thereof when the hand-held, portable electronic device is connected to an electrical power source for recharging.

Abstract: A hand-held, portable electronic device is provided with a retainer port for removably coupling an attachable wireless audiophone thereto. By removably coupling the attachable wireless audiophone, the retainer port may detachably retain the attachable wireless audiophone on the hand-held, portable electronic device. For securely holding the attachable wireless audiophone on the hand-held, portable electronic device, the retainer port may use a device housing having a surface. For example, the retainer port may include a retainer assembly may for removably coupling an attachable wireless audiophone including at least one speaker and a microphone to the hand-held, portable electronic device, such as a cell phone.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for filtering spam MAP SMS messages in an SS7 network, including mobile originated and mobile terminated MAP SMS messaging to mitigate spam-related traffic in the SS7 network. The system includes an anti-spam application (42) running on one or more network servers (40) that receives the MAP messages before routing to any SMSC or MSC, and classify these as spam or good. The good MAP SMS messages are then provided to the corresponding destinations by appropriate SMSC or MSC in the SS7 network, while the spam MAP SMS messages are not delivered to the SMSC.