Abstract: A method for determining driving characteristics of a vehicle. To provide an enhanced method to determine from a driving characteristics of the vehicle a long term mechanical stress of a vehicle, it is proposed that during operation of the vehicle an acceleration of the vehicle is detected by an acceleration sensor in the vehicle and evaluated by a vehicle analyzing system in the vehicle, wherein a driving parameter occurring during an acceleration event in which the vehicle acceleration is above a predetermined threshold is used to determine a driving characteristics value of the vehicle.

Abstract: A communication device has a first data interface and a second data interface. A safe protection of the communication device against malicious code even under an easily breakable communication line between the communication device and a remote server is achieved by an intermediate protection unit located in a data communication line between the two data interfaces, wherein the intermediate protection unit blocks data in the direction from the second to the first data interface.

Abstract: A method analyzes characteristics of a vehicle driver, especially for insurance purposes. The method is performed by a cooperation of an analyzing vehicle system in a vehicle and a stationary processing unit remote from the vehicle. The analyzing vehicle system determines a driver operation characteristics parameter from the driving vehicle and sends the parameter to the stationary processing unit. The stationary processing unit derives a metric from that parameter as driver operation characteristics.

Abstract: A system and a method perform information recognition. The method arranges data base information in a data base information structure. The method matches input information to the data base information using at least one matching algorithm and using a matching information structure. In accordance with the system and the method, the matching information structure differs from the data base information structure.

Abstract: A system and a method perform information recognition. The method arranges data base information in a data base information structure. The method matches input information to the data base information using at least one matching algorithm and using a matching information structure. In accordance with the system and the method, the matching information structure differs from the data base information structure.

Abstract: A disclosed method analyzes characteristics of a vehicle driver, especially for insurance purposes. The method is performed by a cooperation of an analyzing vehicle system in a vehicle and a stationary processing unit remote from the vehicle. The analyzing vehicle system determines a driver operation characteristics parameter from the driving vehicle and sends the parameter to the stationary processing unit. The stationary processing unit derives a metric from that parameter as driver operation characteristics.

Abstract: In a method of obtaining merchandise information from a store system using speech processing technology to determine a spoken query entry, an information inquiry from a customer regarding a particular product is received via a communication network. The location of the customer is determined, which is then used to determine a store closest to the customer. A merchandise database is searched for the inquired information regarding the particular product, wherein searching the merchandise database is limited to products available at the store closest to the customer location. The inquired information is retrieved from the merchandise database, and transmitted to the customer.

Abstract: A system permanently removes pollutants, especially CO2, from pollutant enriched air, such as power plant or other industrial exhaust fumes, but also from the general atmosphere or other polluted environments, in a way that the pollutants are permanently prevented from re-entering the atmosphere. The system processes bio mass and includes a pressing unit configured to press bio mass into predetermined shapes, a sterilizing unit configured to sterilize the bio mass, and a unit to combine the bio mass with an encapsulating material.

Abstract: A system for removing gaseous pollutants from air enriched with the pollutants includes a cultivation environment configured to cultivate vegetation under exposure to pollutant enriched air, and a transformation unit configured to transform an encapsulation material to a transitory viscous or liquid state. Further, the system includes a mixing unit configured to combine the vegetation with the viscous or liquid encapsulation material, and a receptacle configured to receive a mixture of vegetation and viscous or liquid encapsulation material, wherein the mixture hardens within the receptacle.

Abstract: A system for removing gaseous pollutants from air enriched with the pollutants includes a cultivation environment configured to cultivate vegetation under exposure to pollutant enriched air, and a transformation unit configured to transform an encapsulation material to a transitory viscous or liquid state. Further, the system includes a mixing unit configured to combine the vegetation with the viscous or liquid encapsulation material, and a receptacle configured to receive a mixture of vegetation and viscous or liquid encapsulation material, wherein the mixture hardens within the receptacle.

Abstract: A system for determining a distance a vehicle transits within a road system has a mobile device and a main processing unit. The mobile device has a device identification signature and a processing unit to process wireless communication signals received from a network of base stations having positional coordinates, each base station having a base stations identity signature. The processing unit creates data sets containing the base stations identity signatures, and a base station transmits the sequence of data sets. The main processing unit is configured to receive the sequence of data sets and to associate the base stations identification signatures to the positional coordinates of the base stations, to perform trend analysis upon the positional coordinates, to determine a change in trend, to set route positional coordinates at a change in trend, and to determine the distance taking the set route positional coordinates and the road system into account.

Abstract: In a method of obtaining merchandise information from a store system using speech processing technology to determine a spoken query entry, an information inquiry from a customer regarding a particular product is received via a communication network. The location of the customer is determined, which is then used to determine a store closest to the customer. A merchandise database is searched for the inquired information regarding the particular product, wherein searching the merchandise database is limited to products available at the store closest to the customer location. The inquired information is retrieved from the merchandise database, and transmitted to the customer.

Abstract: A method of detecting a fraudulent transaction of an item having an item-identifying indicium processes the indicium to obtain item-identifying information, and captures a digital representation of a surface area of the item. The item-identifying information is used to retrieve a stored digital representation of the surface area of the item. Further, the method compares the captured digital representation with the stored digital representation to determine if the captured digital representation corresponds to the stored digital representation.

Abstract: A method of detecting a fraudulent transaction of an item having an item-identifying indicium processes the indicium to obtain item-identifying information, and captures a digital representation of a surface area of the item. The item-identifying information is used to retrieve a stored digital representation of the surface area of the item. Further, the method compares the captured digital representation with the stored digital representation to determine if the captured digital representation corresponds to the stored digital representation.

Abstract: A hosted system provides any Internet user with the ability to quickly set up and customize a video channel, preferably as a web page or site that can be reached from any Internet-accessible device having a web browser. The solution includes tools for use by channel site creators to customize the look, feel, and page design. A particular web page or site may be associated with a given subject. As used herein, a page or site that has such an association is sometimes referred to as “subject-specific.” Once a subject-specific channel is created, a site administrator or individual visitors can search across the web and choose to bring those search results into the channel architecture. The system also enables a multiplatform search as an integrated part of a library build; if desired, search results are automatically populated into the channel content. The system also enables the characterization of the material returned, preferably according to a user-generated taxonomy.

Abstract: Logging on a project which contains a footage includes providing a web interface, placing the project on the web interface with a proposal to log on the project, submitting proposals by multiple operators to the interface expressing their willingness to log on the project or parts of it, obtaining by the operators a password, logging by the multiple operator on the project or parts of it, and downloading the logged information onto the web interface for the project or parts of it.

Abstract: Accepting a user-created content on a computer network site includes submitting a content by a submitter, receiving the submitted content from the submitter; reviewing the submitted content by jurors to accept or to reject the content; and if the concept is accepted, making it accessible for users.

Abstract: Editing a video project via a computer network, includes submitting a video project by a submitter, receiving the proposed video product, reviewing the submitted video product by potential editors and bidding for the submitted video product, and choosing by the submitter of the video product an editor who won the bidding.

Abstract: A work piece 13 is implanted with N.sup.+ ions from a source 1 to improve its surface hardness. The dosage of implanted ions is monitored by a member 14 which changes its color in dependence upon the dose. The member 14 may comprise a tantalum plate 15 with an anodic oxide layer 16 of a thickness to produce interference colors. In accordance with the invention this layer 16 changes colors as a function of the ion dosage.

Abstract: Improved hyphenation apparatus is combined with word verification apparatus to automatically provide hyphenation points for input words from a keyboard or other input device. The spelling of each word input to the system is verified by the digital reference matrix section of the apparatus by calculating a vector magnitude and angle for the word which is compared to the contents of a storage dictionary of words. Each cell of storage in the storage dictionary, in addition to containing a unique angle representation of the input word, contains a byte of data representing the valid hyphenation points for the input word. When an input word is verified to be correctly spelled, the hyphenation byte is read out of dictionary and used by the hyphenation section to reassemble the word in hyphenated form. The hyphenated word is then displayed to the operator for appropriate action.