Abstract: A cake slicer adapted to cut a cake with a knife comprises a control platform, and a main housing unit formed with a wall extending perpendicular from the centering platform, defining a pair of cutting slots adapted to receive the knife. A centering platform is adapted to receive the cake. Either the control platform or the main housing unit is provided with alignment tabs, and the other defines a series of alignment slots each adapted to receive a corresponding alignment tab so as to hold the main housing unit in a cutting position with respect to the control platform.

Abstract: An exemplary method for displaying geographic data in a three-dimensional environment includes identifying a node in a node tree including an instance set. The method also includes identifying a first level-of-detail and a second level-of-detail of a model referenced by the instance set in the node, the level-of-detail having a higher resolution than the first level-of-detail. The method further includes identifying a maximum number of instances at the second level-of-detail to render in a frame period. The method also includes determining an estimated density of the instance set in the node and an estimated density for a scene as a whole. The method further includes determining an LOD distance from a location of the virtual camera to a boundary that separates an instance at the first level-of-detail from an instance at the second level-of-detail.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums are provided for animating a static structure rendered in a three-dimensional environment. A method includes accessing mesh data associated with the static structure. The mesh data describes primitives used to render the static structure in the three-dimensional environment. Once the mesh data is accessed, the static structure is rendered in the three-dimensional environment such that the mesh data associated with the static structure is used to represent the static structure. Animation data associated with the static structure is also accessed. The animation data includes a transform that includes a motion type and a description of the group of primitives from the mesh data that the motion type is applied to. Once the animation data is accessed, the group of primitives is animated such that the motion type is applied to the group of primitives.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aggregation of textures at multiple resolution levels are described herein. An embodiment includes a preprocessing system that aggregates textures associated with objects of interest at multiple resolution levels. Individual textures may have a “pyramid” of resolution levels, and aggregated textures may be combined into a “tree” or a “forest”. Additionally, a texture forest may also be organized spatially and in resolution using the nodes of a quadtree, based on the 3D coordinates of the geometric primitives using each texture. A client identifies a resolution level for each object of interest in an image frame, groups objects based on resolution levels. The client may then test one texture coordinate per object at the beginning of a texture tree, recursively towards each child node of the tree, accumulating texture replacement transforms as a texture matrix. The client may then draw all the textures with the appropriate transform.

Abstract: An exemplary method for publishing replicated geographic data in a node tree for display in a three-dimensional environment includes ingesting instances, each instance including an instance location and a reference to a geographic model to be displayed at the instance location. The exemplary method also includes determining levels of detail in the node tree for instances based at least on a size of a model referenced by the instances. The exemplary method further includes distributing the instances to a set of nodes in the node tree at the corresponding levels of detail. The exemplary method also includes determining an ancestor node in the node tree for one or more nodes in the set of nodes. The exemplary method further includes generating a collection to be referenced by the ancestor node in the node tree. The exemplary method also includes publishing the node tree with the collection and the instances.

Abstract: An exemplary method for displaying replicated geographic data in a three-dimensional environment includes identifying a first node in a node tree including an instance set. The exemplary method also includes identifying a collection referenced by the instance set. The exemplary method further includes identifying a second node in the node tree including the collection referenced by the instance set, a depth of the first node in the node tree being greater than a depth of the second node in the node tree. The exemplary method also includes identifying a model in the collection, the model being referenced by the instance set and the instance set including location data for replicated instances in the instance set. The exemplary method further includes displaying the first node, where displaying the first node includes displaying model data in the collection at the locations specified by the instance set.

Abstract: An electronic exhibit management system configured to assign exhibit numbers in real time during a multi-track deposition. The system comprises a main server, one or more client systems networked to the server, and computer code for the functioning of the invention. The system ensures that a each document marked as an exhibit is assigned a unique exhibit number, and prevents a document from being assigned multiple exhibit numbers during multiple depositions. The system finds particular use during multi-track depositions, that is, multiple depositions occurring at the same time in different venues across the country.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aggregation of textures at multiple resolution levels are described herein. An embodiment includes a preprocessing system that aggregates textures associated with objects of interest at multiple resolution levels. Individual textures may have a “pyramid” of resolution levels, and aggregated textures may be combined into a “tree” or a “forest”. Additionally, a texture forest may also be organized spatially and in resolution using the nodes of a quadtree, based on the 3D coordinates of the geometric primitives using each texture. A client identifies a resolution level for each object of interest in an image frame, groups objects based on resolution levels. The client may then test one texture coordinate per object at the beginning of a texture tree, recursively towards each child node of the tree, accumulating texture replacement transforms as a texture matrix. The client may then draw all the textures with the appropriate transform.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aggregation of textures at multiple resolution levels are described herein. An embodiment includes a preprocessing system that aggregates textures associated with objects of interest at multiple resolution levels. Individual textures may have a “pyramid” of resolution levels, and aggregated textures may be combined into a “tree” or a “forest”. Additionally, a texture forest may also be organized spatially and in resolution using the nodes of a quadtree, based on the 3D coordinates of the geometric primitives using each texture. A client identifies a resolution level for each object of interest in an image frame, groups objects based on resolution levels. The client may then test one texture coordinate per object at the beginning of a texture tree, recursively towards each child node of the tree, accumulating texture replacement transforms as a texture matrix. The client may then draw all the textures with the appropriate transform.

Abstract: An electronic exhibit management system configured to assign exhibit numbers in real time during a multi-track deposition. The system comprises a main server, one or more client systems networked to the server, and computer code for the functioning of the invention. The system ensures that a each document marked as an exhibit is assigned a unique exhibit number, and prevents a document from being assigned multiple exhibit numbers during multiple depositions. The system finds particular use during multi-track depositions, that is, multiple depositions occurring at the same time in different venues across the country.

Abstract: Introduced is a device to reduce disk drive power consumption during start-up. In one embodiment the device provides for (1) a speed control module associated with a disk drive motor; and (2) a controller coupled to the speed control module that incrementally increases the spindle rotational speed of the disk drive motor during start-up.

Abstract: Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms and facilities are introduced into USB-based wireless Local Area Networking (LAN) communication systems. Techniques are provided for managing multiple priority queues in USB-based wireless communications systems, and for ensuring that lower priority traffic is not precluded from accessing the medium during sustained periods of use by high(er) priority traffic. A method is provided to resolve Quality of Service issues in emerging high-speed USB-based communications systems by offering support for multiple queue management within the system. A further embodiment provides an escalation mechanism for the purposes of mitigating low priority class data starvation in these communications systems, when it becomes an issue.

Abstract: A device for removing lice and nits from affected hair and scalp of an individual, has first and second movable blades, the first blade including a plurality of first saw teeth, the second blade including a plurality of second saw teeth, and means for movably retaining the first and second blades parallel and adjacent to one another with their respective first and second teeth in opposition and parallel planes along their respective longitudinal axes, whereby the blades can be selectively moved toward one another to cause their teeth to mesh together with hairs captively held therebetween, the first and second teeth being configured to thereafter provide via combing a scraping action against the entrapped hairs for removing lice and nits therefrom.

Abstract: Several system diagnostic and network management tools are disclosed that, as a primary goal, support the consumer's ability to self diagnose and solve an existing problem. A non-intrusive diagnostic tool is provided that exposes system parameters of a consumer system for remote analysis by qualified personnel. Important data parameters of a given radio receiver are preferably predetermined and gathered directly at the receiver. Then, they are uploaded via the Internet from a removable memory placed into an Internet terminal (e.g., PC), or through a temporary docking station connected to an Internet terminal. This leads toward quick and efficient problem resolution with a properly informed customer service representative that is crucial to enriching the consumer's experience. The data collected relating to relevant system parameters may be used by service providers to enhance or even in some cases enable services.

Abstract: A system and method, associated with a receiver, for increasing the range or bandwidth of a wireless digital communication network and a receiver incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a service class detector configured to determine a service class of a PDU received by the receiver from the wireless digital communication network and (2) a frame check sequence checker coupled to the service class detector and configured to disregard error-checking information in the PDU when the service class indicates that the PDU is a streaming media PDU.

Abstract: The effects of power supply resistance and internal resistance drop are measured at any time in the interior or other strategic areas of an IC device during steady-state operation, and the results of managed internal voltage regulation are fed back from at least one point, but preferably from several or more points throughout the power grid of the IC. Thus, stability of voltage regulation on an IC including at least one integrated voltage regulator is dynamically controlled with voltage regulation that is managed to effectively provide a ‘secondary’ voltage regulation of the output of one or more voltage regulators to provide a desired voltage output result on one or more portions of a power grid. The management may be implemented in an IC having a singular power grid with respect to a particular supply voltage, or in an IC having multiple power grid structures (e.g., one in each quadrant, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides solid ion-extractant and a method for using the same in extracting and recovering ions in a solution. In particular, the present invention provides a method for extracting and recovering ions which are relatively insoluble in a solvent at a particular solvent temperature range. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for extracting and recovering perfluoroalkylsulfonates from an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A device for removing lice and nits from affected hair and scalp of an individual, has first and second movable blades, the first blade including a plurality of first saw teeth, the second blade including a plurality of second saw teeth, and means for movably retaining the first and second blades parallel and adjacent to one another with their respective first and second teeth in opposition and parallel planes along their respective longitudinal axes, whereby the blades can be selectively moved toward one another to cause their teeth to mesh together with hairs captively held therebetween, the first and second teeth being configured to thereafter provide via combing a scraping action against the entrapped hairs for removing lice and nits therefrom.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is adapted for implementing flip-chip technology with solder bumps, while providing for improved testability. The integrated circuit comprises two sets of pads formed in the same metal layer, with a first set being used for wafer probing, and a second set for solder bumps. The wafer probe pads are placed in one row along each chip edge. A second set of pads, the solder bump pads, are arranged in rows towards the center of the chip with respect to the wafer probe pads. Metal interconnects formed in the same metal layer as the pads connects each solder bump pad to a corresponding wafer probe pad. Testing of the integrated circuit may be accomplished using the wafer probe pads according to conventional techniques, while mounting of the chip may be accomplished with the solder bump pads using the flip-chip technology.