Abstract: A straw composed of first and second straw body elements that are pivotally coupled at a first longitudinal end of the straw is described. The straw body elements can be pivoted between a stable drinking position in which a longitudinally sealed channel is formed between the straw body elements, and a splayed position suitable for washing internal channel wall portions of the straw body elements.

Abstract: A modular, stackable, interlocking container system including a number of stackable containers having the same diameter. Each container includes a jar and a lid. The jars and lids both have ribs spaced 180 degrees apart on side surfaces to serve as alignment and tightening indicators. The lids and jars also have a detent feature for interlocking containers together with both tactile and feedback to the user. The container system also has a handle that can interlock with a lid of any of the containers in the system.

Abstract: A reusable travel tube that has a flexible tube portion, a collar and a cap that can be threaded onto the cap. The collar is fitted over a neck of the tube portion and forms a gasket-like seal between the neck of the tube portion and the collar. The cap has a rotatable locking bail that can prevent a flip-top cap from accidentally being opened. When the locking bail is not positioned to prevent the cap from being accidentally opened, it can be retracted into a nested position such that the handle of the bail is substantially flush with the outer side surface of the collar.

Abstract: A reusable travel tube that has a flexible tube portion, a collar and a cap that can be threaded onto the cap. The collar is fitted over a neck of the tube portion and forms a gasket-like seal between the neck of the tube portion and the collar. The cap has a rotatable locking bail that can prevent a flip-top cap from accidentally being opened. When the locking bail is not positioned to prevent the cap from being accidentally opened, it can be retracted into a nested position such that the handle of the bail is substantially flush with the outer side surface of the collar.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that processes data. During operation, the system obtains a first electronic document associated with a user. Next, the system obtains one or more locations of data elements in the first electronic document from the user and uses the one or more locations to extract a first set of data from the first electronic document. Finally, the system enables, for the user, use of the first set of data with an application without requiring manual input of the first set of data into the application.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that processes data. During operation, the system obtains a first electronic document associated with a user. Next, the system obtains one or more locations of data elements in the first electronic document from the user and uses the one or more locations to extract a first set of data from the first electronic document. Finally, the system enables, for the user, use of the first set of data with an application without requiring manual input of the first set of data into the application.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that accesses information using multiple hierarchies. During operation, the system receives a specifier for a first location in a first hierarchy and a specifier for a second location in a second hierarchy. Next, the system retrieves information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy. Finally, the system presents the retrieved information to a user.

Abstract: A method for accessing content using a global textsite platform including registering a unique keyword received from a publisher, receiving content from the publisher for creating a textsite associated with the unique keyword, creating the textsite on behalf of the publisher, receiving, from a user, a request to access the textsite, processing the request from the user, and providing access to the textsite by sending the content of the textsite, via a text messaging service (TMS), to a user mobile device.

Abstract: A method for providing access to content using a global textsite platform (GTP), including receiving, from a user device associated with a device identifier, a first user message including a first navigation state identifier of a sequential plurality of navigation state identifiers, identifying a first text page of the textsite associated with the first navigation state identifier, and identifying a second text page associated with a first navigating keyword, where the second text page is navigable from the first text page. The method also includes determining a second navigation state identifier sequentially after the first navigation state identifier, associating the second text page with the second navigation state identifier, and storing the association. The method also includes generating a GTP message of the first text page, including the first navigating keyword modified by the second navigation state identifier, and sending the GTP message for display on the user device.

Abstract: A method to initiate a phone call to a contact. The method includes analyzing a text message to identify a first attribute of the contact, and selecting one or more entries from a contact list stored in the mobile device by matching the first attribute of the contact to a portion of each of the one or more entries. The method also includes identifying a second attribute of the contact from the one or more entries based on a first pre-determined criterion, and modifying the text message to generate a displayed text message comprising a modified attribute that is modified from the first attribute based on the second attribute. The method also includes receiving a user selection as a first input indicating a user selected the modified attribute in response to viewing the displayed text message, and initiating the phone call to the contact based on the phone number.

Abstract: A method for accessing content using a global textsite platform including registering a unique keyword received from a publisher, receiving content from the publisher for creating a textsite associated with the unique keyword, creating the textsite on behalf of the publisher, receiving, from a user, a request to access the textsite, processing the request from the user, and providing access to the textsite by sending the content of the textsite, via a text messaging service (TMS), to a user mobile device.

Abstract: A method to initiate a phone call to a contact. The method includes analyzing a text message to identify a first attribute of the contact, and selecting one or more entries from a contact list stored in the mobile device by matching the first attribute of the contact to a portion of each of the one or more entries. The method also includes identifying a second attribute of the contact from the one or more entries based on a first pre-determined criterion, and modifying the text message to generate a displayed text message comprising a modified attribute that is modified from the first attribute based on the second attribute. The method also includes receiving a user selection as a first input indicating a user selected the modified attribute in response to viewing the displayed text message, and initiating the phone call to the contact based on the phone number.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for managing software agents. This system enables a user to configure agents and to specify wiring relationships between the agents and other system components. This system also includes a hub component, which is configured to route communications to and from the agents in accordance with user-specified wiring relationships.

Abstract: A method to submit transaction data using a mobile device involves obtaining a receipt associated with a financial transaction, transmitting a message, based on the receipt, from the mobile device to a transaction management service, wherein the message comprises a mobile device identifier and transaction data associated with the financial transaction, wherein transaction data associated with financial transaction is stored in a repository based on the mobile device identifier, receiving a form, wherein the form is generated based on transaction data associated with the mobile device identifier, and transmitting and synchronizing transaction data from the repository to a financial management software associated with a user of the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method compares aggregated spending transactions of a target entity with those of a collection of entities. The system and method aggregates spending transactions of the target entity, and compares with the corresponding aggregated spending transactions of the collection of entities.

Abstract: A method for providing access to content using a global textsite platform (GTP), including receiving, from a user device associated with a device identifier, a first user message including a first navigation state identifier of a sequential plurality of navigation state identifiers, identifying a first text page of the textsite associated with the first navigation state identifier, and identifying a second text page associated with a first navigating keyword, where the second text page is navigable from the first text page. The method also includes determining a second navigation state identifier sequentially after the first navigation state identifier, associating the second text page with the second navigation state identifier, and storing the association. The method also includes generating a GTP message of the first text page, including the first navigating keyword modified by the second navigation state identifier, and sending the GTP message for display on the user device.