Abstract: A system that can be dynamically configured to achieve an optimal routing path for an end-to-end data link connection is disclosed. An optimal data path can be determined by a digital subscriber loop (DSL) user based on particular bandwidth requirements, data rate cost constraints, and/or data delay requirements. The data path can be set up to include one or more data routes, including the regular digital public switching telephone network (PSTN), a wide area networks (WAN), or virtual permanent circuit links via digital cross-connects (DCS).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, to facilitate processing a payment for an online transaction, includes, responsive to receiving secure transaction data from a merchant server, using a payment processor to generate a transaction data identifier to identify the transaction data. The payment processor communicates the transaction data identifier to the merchant server. In response to receiving a request to process a payment, including the transaction data identifier, the payment processor requests user credentials from a user. Upon receiving user credentials from the user, the payment processor verifies the user credentials. The payment processor processes the payment and generates a payment identifier to identify payment data associated with the payment. The payment processor communicates the payment identifier to the merchant server.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating merchant-initiated online payments are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a payment service provider's server receives a user's request, via a merchant's server, to establish a merchant-initiated payment relationship or agreement. Accordingly, the payment service provider presents the user with options to customize the terms of the merchant-initiated payment agreement. After the agreement has been established and the terms customized, the merchant server communicates a merchant-initiated payment request to the pavement service provider for a transaction entered into with the user. The payment service provider's server processes the payment request after verifying that processing the payment does not exceed the user-customized terms of the agreement.

Abstract: An automated system to facilitate redemption of value against a single purchase price includes a first module to allocate a first value, of a first value type, to a user within a transaction system. The first module is further to allocate a second value, of a second value type different from the first value type, to the user within the transaction system. A second module is to enable a user to redeem both the first value and the second value against a single purchase price.

Abstract: An integrated shipping scheme enables users of a third-party payment service to facilitate shipment of packages via a shipping vendor. Web pages corresponding to a web site hosted by the third-party payment service enable a sender to enter ship to: information, while ship from: information may be automatically gathered or manually entered by the sender. The sender is also enabled to enter shipment options, such as package size and weight. Corresponding shipping information is generated and sent “behind the scenes” to a selected shipping vendor. The shipping vendor processes the shipping information, and returns shipment data, including data to generate a shipping label. A web page containing the shipping label is then generated and served to a client operated by the sender, enabling the shipping label to be printed out.

Abstract: Uncaging devices that can be used to uncage photoactivatable caged components are provided. Consistent, uniform and/or high throughput processing of reactions and assays that include caged components is provided. Masked multiwell plates that can be used for uncaging photoactivatable caged components are provided. Methods and apparatus for initiating assays involving caged components are provided.

Abstract: An integrated shipping scheme enables seller users of a third-party payment service to facilitate shipping transactions in connection with payment transactions for items sold by the sellers. Shipping information is automatically gathered and/or entered by the seller via a computer interface hosted by the third-party payment service and sent “behind the scenes” to a selected shipping vendor. The shipping vendor processes the shipping information, and returns shipment data, including data to generate a shipping label. A web page containing the shipping label is then generated and served to a client operated by the seller and displayed on a browser screen, enabling the shipping label to be printed out by the seller. At the same time, electronic payment transfer operations are performed to effectively transfer payment from the seller directly to the shipping vendor via the third-party payment service in a manner that is transparent to both the seller and the shipping vendor.

Abstract: An encoder encodes the captured real-time data into a program stream. A disk authoring transforms the program stream into a disk file format. A disk writer records the disk file format on an optical disk, wherein the disk writer further includes at least two recording speeds. A buffer temporarily stores the program stream or the disk file format during the disk writer stopping the recording action. A sending-path controller notified by the disk writer to switch the data flow between the disk authoring or the disk writer and the buffer, wherein the sending-path controller also can notify the disk writer to switch the recording speeds.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for publishing transcoded media content in response to publishing service requests from end users. A user request for media content, is processed intelligently, either by directing the processing of the request to one of a set of transcoding servers so as to effectively balance the load among the servers, or by directing the processing of the request to an appropriate alternative means for satisfying the request. Transcoding tasks can be prioritized. Moreover, the current load on any particular transcoding server can be monitored in conjunction with determination of the load to be created by a transcoding task, in order to facilitate server selection. Transcoding can be performed on-demand or in a batch mode. Alternatively, a request can be satisfied by distributing media content that has already been transcoded and is resident in cache memory in anticipation of such requests.

Abstract: A safe electrical heat energy generator which comprises a heater unit equipped with a set of systematically organized heat radiating metal fins. A feature of the invention is its reenforced compact structure in which a heating element arrangement and the heat radiating metal fin arrangement are manufactured as a single heater unit structure. In such a structure, a heating element is surrounded with an insulating layer and enclosed inside a central heat conductive tubing of the framework for the metal fin arrangement, thereby defining the major components of the heater unit. In this manner, the entire heater unit structure is the source of radiant heat energy, not simply the heating element itself.

Abstract: A system that can be dynamically configured to achieve an optimal routing path for an end-to-end data link connection is disclosed. An optimal data path can be determined by a digital subscriber loop (DSL) user based on particular bandwidth requirements, data rate cost constraints, and/or data delay requirements. The data path can be set up to include one or more data routes, including the regular digital public switching telephone network (PSN), a wide area networks (WAN), or virtual permanent circuit links via digital cross-connects (DCS).

Abstract: A safe electrical heat energy generator which comprises a heater unit equipped with a set of systematically organized heat radiating metal fins. A feature of the invention is its reenforced compact structure in which a heating element arrangement and the heat radiating metal fin arrangement are manufactured as a single heater unit structure. In such a structure, a heating element is surrounded with an insulating layer and enclosed inside a central heat conductive tubing of the framework for the metal fin arrangement, thereby defining the major components of the heater unit. In this manner, the entire heater unit structure is the source of radiant heat energy, not simply the heating element itself.

Abstract: A device or interface driver is provided for permitting an operating system to utilize, configure and control a software modem having forward compatible and expandable functionality. In a preferred embodiment, the operating system is a Windows based system running on a host processing system such as a personal computer, and the modem is compatible with standards promulgated for ADSL. Conventional voice band modem control commands are also supported, so that the present invention for ADSL based modems is nevertheless compatible with existing modem applications programs. The new driver manages control information for configuring the bandwidth to be used in a data link established through a channel with an upstream transciever during an initialization process, and serves as a data pump for the software modem. The control information may be self-determined by a user of the host processing system 398, or alternatively, automatically sensed, configured and monitored by such processing system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a miniature liquid transfer pump. The pump has a housing that includes first and second blocks joinable to form a leak-resistant impeller chamber with a drive shaft aperture, an inlet and an outlet. An impeller is located in the impeller chamber and a micro-motor with a drive shaft extending therefrom is mounted to the housing. The drive shaft on the micro-motor passes through the drive shaft aperture and engages the impeller. The micro-motor drives the impeller to draw liquid through the inlet and eject the liquid through the outlet.

Abstract: A header containing a semiconductor die, method of manufacture thereof and electronic device employing the same. In one embodiment, the header includes first and second contacts, and an intermediate body. The intermediate body includes an insulated section interposed between the first and second contacts and has a cavity therein. The intermediate body also includes a semiconductor die, located within the cavity, adapted to condition a signal passing through at least a portion of the header.

Abstract: A system that can be dynamically configured to achieve an optimal routing path for an end-to-end data link connection is disclosed. An optimal data path can be determined by a digital subscriber loop (DSL) user based on particular bandwidth requirements, data rate cost constraints, and/or data delay requirements. The data path can be set up to include one or more data routes, including the regular digital public switching telephone network (PSTN), a wide area networks (WAN), or virtual permanent circuit links via digital cross-connects (DCS).

Abstract: The present invention provides an encapsulant structure for retaining an electronic circuit having heat-generating components within a case that at least partially surrounds the electronic circuit. In one advantageous embodiment, the encapsulant structure provides for a thermally conductive insert to be located within the case proximate the heat-generating components. The insert increases the heat transfer efficiency from the electronic circuit to the case.

Abstract: An improved circuit board apparatus configured for mounting electronic components in a circuit arrangement. The apparatus comprises a metal substrate having a first side and a second side, a first-side laminar structure and a second-side laminar structure. The first-side laminar structure includes at least one first-side conductive stratum alternated with at least one first-side dielectric stratum affixed at the first side The second-side laminar structure includes at least one second-side conductive stratum alternated with at least one second-side dielectric stratum affixed at the second side of the metal substrate. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive interside courses intermediate selected first-side strata of the at least one first-side conductive stratum and selected second-side strata of the at least one second-side conductive stratum.

Abstract: Frame synchronization between Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) transceivers operating using Discrete Multi-tone (DMT) line code is effectuated by boundary detection logic executing a rapid, computationally simple correlation process. The invention is particularly suited for ADSL software modem implementations, where conservation of computing resources is especially critical, and loss of synchronization can lead to significant unrecoverable data errors.

Abstract: A high speed communications system is provided which uses a selectable, desirable portion of the total available bandwidth of a transmission channel. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is an ADSL compatible modem which selects a sub-set of the available downstream DMT sub-channels based on an evaluation of such sub-channels by appropriate signal processing circuitry. An analog front end (AFE) contains sub-band filtering causes an upstream transceiver to use only this selected number of available sub-channels for downstream data transmission. This reduces hardware costs and complexity while still preserving compatibility with applicable ADSL standards and providing a high speed data link. The target data rate of the modem can be further enhanced to the point of achieving fill protocol capability by increasing or upgrading the AFEs, and/or the signal processing circuitry in order to increase the number of processable transmitted downstream sub-channels.