Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in which a communications device is operable to obtain an attribute associated with an enriched user profile including three or more informational elements. In one aspect, at least one of the three or more informational elements may include a contextual sub-element. The communications device may be operable to populate an organizational matrix using the three or more informational elements, and determine a repetitious structure based at least in part on analysis of the populated organizational matrix. In one aspect, the device may determine a relevance value associated with the attribute based at least in part on the determined repetitious structure and predict a second attribute based at least in part on the determined relevance and the repetitious structure. In one aspect, the device may query the organizational matrix using a querying criterion.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in which a communications device is operable to provide an improved user experience or to improve the performance and/or operation of the communications device through use of an enriched user profile. In one aspect, the communications device may predict an event occurrence by interpreting an enriched user profile including an attribute and an enhanced informational element. The communications device may modify a functionality of a component of the device based on the predicted event occurrence. In one aspect, component modification may include presenting the contextually relevant informational element on a user interface.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in which a communications device is operable to provide an improved user experience or to improve the performance and/or operation of the device through use of an enriched user profile. In one aspect, the communications device may obtain an attribute including a user specific informational element from a component operable on the communications device. The communications device may generate a profile synopsis from the attribute by abstracting at least a portion of the user specific informational element from the attribute, and transmit the profile synopsis. The communications device may receive an enhanced informational element derived from an aggregation of profile synopses from a plurality of devices and may generate an enriched user profile by augmenting the attribute with at least a portion of the received enhanced informational element.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a main unit and a suction conduit. The main unit includes at least one tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end, and an inlet disposed near the distal end. The suction conduit is slidably disposed over the main unit, and is slidably movable along the main unit between a retracted position, at which the suction conduit does not cover the inlet of the main unit, and an extended position at which the suction conduit covers the inlet of the main unit and a suction inlet of the suction conduit is placed in fluid-communication with the main unit inlet. The surgical instrument can be used as a suction tool by placing the suction conduit in the extended position and applying a vacuum through the inlet of the main unit and the suction inlet.

Abstract: A rotation sensor system is included with a surgical instrument having an outer tube, an inner rotating member rotatably disposed within the outer tube and a handpiece coupled to proximal ends of the outer tube and the inner rotating member. The rotation sensor system includes a magnetic member provided on the inner rotating member near the proximal end of the inner rotating member, a magnetically permeable member provided on the outer tube near the proximal end of the outer tube, and a sensor provided on the handpiece to sense magnetic flux of the magnetically permeable member adjacent to the sensor. This sensed magnetic flux can be used to determine the rotational position of the inner rotating member relative to the outer. tube. Such information can be used to control the position of the cutting member relative to the cutting window when a surgeon stops rotating the inner rotating member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a main unit and a suction conduit. The main unit includes at least one tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end, and an inlet disposed near the distal end. The suction conduit is slidably disposed over the main unit, and is slidably movable along the main unit between a retracted position, at which the suction conduit does not cover the inlet of the main unit, and an extended position at which the suction conduit covers the inlet of the main unit and a suction inlet of the suction conduit is placed in fluid-communication with the main unit inlet. The surgical instrument can be used as a suction tool by placing the suction conduit in the extended position and applying a vacuum through the inlet of the main unit and the suction inlet.

Abstract: A dispensing system and method for delivering material to a washing device using a capacitance sensor configuration is disclosed. The capacitance sensor configuration allows a controller to monitor and determine a flow rate of fluid exiting a reservoir. The dispensing system uses the flow rate information, along with downstream conductivity information, to control the dispensing of material. Additionally, one or more error conditions are identified during the material delivery cycle based at least partially on the monitored conductivity and capacitance.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide wearable automatic injection devices for subcutaneously injecting a therapeutic agent into a patient's body at controlled rates, for example, in a single bolus. Exemplary embodiments provide methods for assembling wearable automatic injection devices for subcutaneously injecting a therapeutic agent into a patient's body at controlled rates. Exemplary embodiments provide methods for using wearable automatic injection devices for subcutaneously injecting a therapeutic agent into a patient's body at controlled rates.

Abstract: By adaptive questioning in a way that is entertaining, recommendations can be presented to a subscriber even with a limited amount of user profile information. Moreover, the questioning can allow a subscriber to learn something about himself. Each interaction can be short as well as light hearted and fun in order to accommodate intermittent usage with frequent interruptions. Intermixing questions/recommendation selections that are focused on gaining profile information as well as being somewhat random can unexpectedly learn something about the subscriber while keeping the user experience entertaining. Personal details can be avoided and tools for editing stored personal information can enhance a sense of privacy in order to induce trust. Questions and other responses can lead to other questions in a manner that allows characterizing a subscriber so that recommended offerings can be selected that are appropriate.

Abstract: A method for generating recommendations for a user of a mobile device is provided. The user is associated with a service provider. A request for a recommendation is obtained. Data associated with the user and data on the content available to the user is retrieved from the service provider. A list of recommendations is generated based on an analysis of the retrieved user data. The recommendations are generated by a plurality of different recommendation techniques.

Abstract: A system is presented for recognizing and identifying postal indicia on an envelope. The system includes an image acquisition element that acquires a first image, representing a first side of the envelope, and a second image, representing a second side of the envelope, and generates first and second candidate images from respective opposing corners of the first image and third and fourth candidate images from respective opposing corners of the second image. A feature extractor that, for each candidate image, divides the candidate image into a plurality of regions, extracts a plurality of numerical feature values from each of the plurality of regions, and recombines the plurality of feature values into a feature vector that represents the image. A classification element classifies the image into one of a plurality of output classes representing various types of postal indicia according to the numerical feature vector.

Abstract: A system is presented for recognizing and identifying postal indicia on an envelope. The system includes an image acquisition element that acquires at least one binarized image of an envelope and isolates at least one region of interest from the at least one image. A candidate locator attempts to locate at least one candidate object within the at least one region of interest according to the distribution of dark pixels within the at least one region of interest. A feature extractor extracts an associated set of numerical feature values from each of the at least one candidate object. A classification element classifies each candidate object according to its associated set of numerical feature values.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining the orientation of an envelope. A plurality of classification elements are each operative to analyze at least one image of the envelope and produce at least one output value indicative of the orientation of the envelope. An arbitrator determines an associated orientation for the envelope according to the plurality of output values provided by the plurality of classification elements.