Abstract: An interactive television program guide is provided in which advertisements may be displayed on program guide screens. Banner advertisements may be displayed above and below program listings. Panel advertisements may be provided adjacent to program listings. The advertisements may contain video. The advertisements may be used to promote television programs and conventional goods and services. When a user selects an advertisement, the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to order products or services, request information, set reminders for upcoming programs, view program descriptions, record programs, or take other such actions. Embedded advertisements may be provided within the program listings region and may be automatically displayed immediately adjacent to related program listings.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide systems and methods to receive a transmission that is associated with an identification number and includes a number associated with a land line, determine a physical address based on the number associated with the land line, confirm the physical address that was determined, and associate the physical address with a user account, the user account being identified by the identification number.

Abstract: A fluid sensor comprises a formed plastic body and a reagent. The body has a top face with an integral first surface. The body also has a bottom face opposed to the first surface and a sidewall that extends from the periphery of the top face. The first surface is adapted to accept a fluid sample. The reagent is disposed on the integral first surface and causes a color change detectable on the bottom face when the reagent reacts with an analyte in the fluid sample.

Abstract: A hybrid media storage architecture has a log-structured file system configured to control a plurality of different storage media organized as hybrid storage media that cooperate to provide a total storage space of a storage system. The log-structured file system is configured to perform initial placement and migration of data, as well as fine-grain write allocation of the data, among storage space locations of the hybrid storage media to thereby improve the performance characteristics of the media. By defining and implementing heuristics and policies directed to, e.g., types of data, the file system may initially place data on any of the different media and thereafter migrate data between the media at fine granularity and without the need for manual enforcement.

Abstract: A turbine blade is provided having a double helix shape with solid cross section. The turbine blades described herein may be adapted to be deployed in water or air such that usable energy may be extracted therefrom. The turbine blades may include a first and second endpoint located a distance apart on a central axis, with a helical edge spiraling in a directional rotation about the central axis from the first endpoint to the second endpoint. The turbine blade may also include a second helical edge spiraling in the same directional rotation about the central axis from the first endpoint to the second endpoint, such that the second helical edge is approximately congruent to the first helical edge and is located a distance from the first helical edge which defines a diameter.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide is provided. The interactive television program guide provides a user with the opportunity to select a language for playing television programming and displaying program guide text. Television program audio in the desired language may be obtained from a SAP or digital audio track and played in the selected language. Television related information in the desired language may be obtained from a digital track. If television program audio or related information is not provided in the selected language, the program guide may use a default language. The program guide may coordinate program guide display screen text with languages available for television programs when the programs are broadcast to users.

Abstract: A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.

Abstract: An atrial appendage closure device is provided that includes an insertion rod having a first end and a second end. An occluding member having an outer surface and an inner surface is connected to the first end of the insertion rod. The occluding member is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position such that, in the deployed position, the occluding member is configured to provide a seal between a left atrial appendage and a left atrium of a heart. An anchoring member is further connected to the insertion rod and is configured to slide along the insertion rod to secure the device to a wall of a left atrial appendage. Methods for occluding a left atrial appendage that make use of the closure devices are also provided.

Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule includes a body extending from a first end to a second opposite end, with the body including an axial passage extending between the first and the second ends. The axial passage includes a first diameter portion having a diameter of at least 125 microns, a second diameter portion having a diameter of at least 250 microns and less than a diameter of a buffer, and a smooth and continuous transition between the first and the second diameter portions. The second diameter portion is positioned between the first diameter portion and the second end. The axial passage further defines a tapered shape at the second end extending inward from the second end toward the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, another smooth and continuous transition can be provided between the taper shape and the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, the axial passage is smooth and continuous between the first and the second ends of the body. A hub holds the ferrule.

Abstract: A radio frequency package on package (PoP) circuit is described. The radio frequency package on package (PoP) circuit includes a first radio frequency package. The first radio frequency package includes radio frequency components. The radio frequency package on package (PoP) circuit also includes a second radio frequency package. The second radio frequency package includes radio frequency components. The first radio frequency package and the second radio frequency package are in a vertical configuration. The radio frequency components on the first radio frequency package are designed to reduce the effects of ground inductance.

Abstract: A method of providing a gift registry service over a distributed network of computers. The method includes the steps of running a gift registrar application on at least one gift registry site, running a gift registration agent application on at least one goods or services provider (SP) site, a gift registrant accessing the at least one SP site and making a gift selection from the site, the gift registration agent application sending the gift selection to the gift registrar application, gift registrar application storing the gift selection as an update to a wish list in a wish list data memory structure accessible to the at least one gift registry site, and a gift purchaser accessing the stored wish list from a site on the distributed network remote from any gift registry site.

Abstract: A connector member includes a coupler portion having a wall including a first end that extends to a second end that defines a connection zone. The wall includes an outer surface. A mounting portion is provided at the first end. The mounting portion includes one or more cantilevered beam elements that extend along the wall spaced from the outer surface. A locking member extends about the coupler portion between the one or more cantilevered beam elements and the outer surface of the wall. The locking member is configured and disposed to limit deflection of the one or more cantilevered beam elements to prevent removal of the connector member from a substrate.

Abstract: A circuit provides parallel computation of error codes for simultaneously received words. The words received simultaneously may be portions of a common data message, or may be portions of distinct data messages. Accordingly, the circuit selectively accumulates the error codes based on their association with successive data words, outputting an accumulated error code when the last word of a data message has been received and the respective error code is calculated. Based on such information, the error codes calculated in parallel can be output independently, accumulated with one another, or accumulated with the error codes of a previous or subsequent calculation cycle. Thus, the circuit dynamically provides a single parallel error code generation of a given width or multiple parallel error code generations, each of a width divisible by the given width.

Abstract: A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.

Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment of a cover to a pickup truck. The tonneau cover apparatus includes two opposing side rails that can be secured to respective side walls of the pickup truck and a securing apparatus that can be attached to the cover and is engageable with respective side rails to secure the cover to the pickup truck. The securing apparatus includes a channel, a locking member and a draw cord secured to the locking member. The locking member is biased toward a first position in which the securing apparatus can be prevented from disengaging from the respective side rail; wherein the draw cord can draw the locking member from the first position to a second position, in which the securing apparatus can be disengaged from the respective side rail. A tonneau cover apparatus including a cover, a support frame and a securing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A network processing system provides coherent communications between multiple system-on-chips (SOCs). Data messages between SOCs are assigned to virtual channels. An interconnect linking the SOCs divides the communications into discrete data blocks, each of which contains data segments from several virtual channels. The virtual channels can be implemented to control congestion and interference among classes of communications. During transmission, the interconnect distributes the data blocks across several physical ports linking the SOCs. As a result, communications between SOCs is optimized with minimal latency.

Abstract: An ultrasonic liquid-height detector employs conductive rods extending from a housing, and corresponding transducers, into a liquid, where elastic seals surround the rods at their exit point from the housing. Acoustic crosstalk between the rods through the seals and the housing (rather than through the liquid) is minimized by displacing the seals from each other as measured through the housing to increase a path length through the housing so that the crosstalk energy is delayed with respect to the direct energy indicating liquid height. A sampling window is positioned to sample transmitted sound across the rods at a time before the arrival of the crosstalk energy.

Abstract: A buckle having linear engagement and disengagement activation. The buckle includes a body having a hollow sleeve portion defining a through passage extending between a proximal opening and a distal opening. Lateral openings are disposed along opposing sides of the sleeve portion. A depressible button is held in reciprocating relation within the distal opening. A male latch member having a pair of legs is adapted to be inserted into the proximal opening for locking engagement of the legs behind tabs within the sleeve portion. The latch member is releasable upon depression of the button.

Abstract: A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.