Abstract: A facial hair trimmings catcher useful during personal grooming that is collapsible or otherwise adapted for storing as a smaller unit. The catcher includes a bag comprising a closed bottom, closed side walls and a top and further includes a support member that is attached to the side walls to form a support configuration. The support configuration supports the bag under the face of the user. The support member may include a support strap adapted for passing behind the neck of the user. The catcher may further include one or more hinges attached to a top periphery of the bag so that in the open position the hinge holds the top of the bag open for receiving facial hair trimmings. The bag may be held open by a flexible tension member extending around a top periphery as a frame or disposed as a frame for the side walls.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device (1) for detecting energy generated by non-radiative decay generated in a substance (2) on irradiation with electromagnetic radiation. The device (1) comprises a radiation source (6) adapted to generate a series of pulses of electromagnetic radiation, a transducer (3) having a pyroelectric or piezoelectric element and electrodes (4, 5) which is capable of transducing the energy generated by the substance (2) into an electrical signal, and a detector (7) which is capable of detecting the electrical signal generated by the transducer (3). The detector (7) is adapted to determine the time delay between each pulse of electromagnetic radiation from the radiation source (6) and the generation of the electric signal. The device (1) has a wide applicability in the fields of assays and monitoring.

Abstract: A method of customizing vehicle services includes receiving at least one telecommunication profile parameter at a telematics unit and indexing the received telecommunication profile parameters to a user identification. A user identification signal is received, and at least one vehicle service is customized based on the telecommunication profile parameters corresponding to the user identification signal.

Abstract: A three-component system is used for total ankle arthroplasty in which a tibial prosthesis component is fixed to a distal tibia end, a talar prosthesis component is fixed to a talus, and a bearing component is positioned between and in contact with the tibial prosthesis component and the talar prosthesis component. In one embodiment, the natural curvature of the distal tibia end is maintained rather than creating a flat surface to which to adhere a prosthetic component. In still another embodiment, a lateral or medial incision is used to insert the prosthetic components of the total ankle arthroplasty.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for managing computer-based interruptions. The method comprises receiving an interruption directed at a user, and selectively suppressing delivery to the user of an interruption notification corresponding to the interruption, based on a current state of the user, a classification of the interruption, and a set of interruption management policies.

Abstract: A method for remotely locking or unlocking vehicle functions including receiving a lock request at a vehicle telematics unit, modifying a vehicle identification number based on the request and locking or unlocking at least one vehicle function based on the modified vehicle identification number and the lock request.

Abstract: A method of testing vehicle functions in a vehicle. The method includes receiving data from at least one sensor at a telematics unit of the vehicle via a short-range wireless connection and sending the received data from the telematics unit to an engineering monitoring station via a wireless connection.

Abstract: A method and system for providing personalized services to a mobile vehicle includes receiving broadcast data at a telematics unit of the vehicle, sending the received broadcast data from the telematics unit to a portable processing device via short range wireless connection, and providing at least one personalized service at the portable processing device based on the received broadcast data. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed for providing personalized services to a mobile vehicle.

Abstract: A method of performing vehicle diagnostics including receiving diagnostic information from at least one electronic module of a vehicle at a portable communication device from a telematics unit via a short-range wireless connection, storing the received diagnostic information in a memory in the portable communication device to form a recent-history vehicle database, performing a diagnostic analysis based on the recent-history vehicle database and sending the received diagnostic information from the portable communication device to an external memory to form an historic vehicle database.

Abstract: A method for managing user nametags for a vehicle communications system includes receiving a nametag transfer request at a call center from a source, determining a target vehicle based on the request, generating a nametag data file including a text data file, a phoneme set, and an audio data file for each nametag, and transmitting the nametag data file to the target vehicle.

Abstract: A method for reducing the consequences and risks of failure in a hydrocarbon pipeline system includes identifying specific segments of pipelines the leakage of which could have an adverse impact on environment or safety, particularly in areas of high consequence, developing a baseline assessment plan for such segments by analyzing information including age, corrosion, and types of seams and joints and then establishing preventive and migitative measures including, where necessary, positioning emergency flow restricting devices in one or more pipeline segments.

Abstract: A method and system for providing mobile vehicle sales recommendations. Vehicle usage data for at least one mobile vehicle is received at a call center, at least one vehicle usage profile is created based on the received vehicle usage data, a vehicle profile request is received at the call center from a sales center, and the vehicle usage profile is sent from the call center to the sales center based on the received vehicle profile request. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed for providing mobile vehicle sales recommendations.

Abstract: A method of managing digital satellite content for delivery to a target fleet is provided. At least one member of the target fleet is identified. Digital satellite content to be transmitted is determined and addressed to the identified member of the target fleet. The digital satellite content is then transmitted. A system and computer program for managing digital satellite content are also provided.

Abstract: A chat user interface for threaded text chat systems. The user interface can include a canvas view in which multiple portions of a threaded text tree for a chat session can be rendered separately and concurrently. The user interface further can include a chat participant view, a chat input view and an outline view of an ongoing chat session. Notably, selections of a threaded text tree rendered in the canvas view can be configured for zooming so that certain parts of the threaded text tree can be viewed more readily than other parts of the threaded text tree. Moreover, as new text entries are provided to any branch of the threaded text tree, visual indicators can be activated in the canvas view to alert an end user to the location of the new text entries. Finally, the canvas view can accommodate both imported external objects, such as graphics or links to Web pages, and also a white board region into which notations can be applied by an end user during the course of a chat session.

Abstract: Methods and systems for image overlap correction are provided. The method includes acquiring the emission projection data from a plurality of scan frames that extend across at least a portion of a length of an object being imaged wherein elements of the object lie between a region of overlap between two successive frames. The method further includes iteratively reconstructing a 3D image volume from multi-frame emission projection data by updating an estimate of 3D image volume using emission projection data from the plurality of frames within an iterative reconstruction loop.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a collimator mandrel having variable attenuation characteristics is presented. The manufacturing process includes the placement of a layer of attenuating material on a core of base material. The layer of attenuating material is relatively thin and varies in thickness circumferentially around the core. The collimator mandrel may be manufactured by placing a cast about a core of non-attenuating material, filling a void between the cast and the core with an attenuating material, allowing the material to cure, and removing the cast from the assembly.

Abstract: Under the present invention, an executable object such as binary or JAVA byte code corresponding to the software application is obtained. Based on an analysis of the software application, points for introducing the collaborative components are identified. A set of executable code (e.g., an Aspect) to introduce the collaborative components at the identified points is then defined and built. Thereafter, the set of executable code and the collaborative components are linked to the executable object.

Abstract: An improved solution for managing a project comprising one or more shared artifacts is described. In particular, an interactive event can be detected on a user system, and a notice of the interactive event can be generated. The notice can be provided to one or more other user systems that are currently accessing the project. A user interface at the other user system(s) can automatically surface information on the interactive event to a user.

Abstract: An improved solution for managing a project. In particular, one or more development artifacts for the project can be annotated based on a collaborative session regarding the development artifact(s). The collaborative session can be stored as a collaborative artifact, which also can be stored in the project. As a result, the collaborative session can be readily recalled and/or subsequently resumed by one or more users.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle leasing program. The method includes receiving a mileage value from a vehicle at a call center determining whether the mileage value corresponds to a leasing event trigger and notifying a user of the vehicle of a leasing event responsive to the determination.