Abstract: A cloud-based broker service may be provided for computing devices in a distributed computing environment. The broker service may aggregate user accounts and user account credentials utilized for accessing online services by the computing devices. The broker service may monitor a context of the computing devices associated with the user accounts. The broker service may then utilize the context, data associated with the user accounts and data associated with the user account credentials to automate tasks and/or provide alerts associated with the data.

Abstract: A system that is capable of controlling multiple entertainment systems and/or speakers using voice commands. The system receives voice commands and may determine speakers playing output audio in proximity to the voice commands. The system may generate voice output and send the voice output to the speakers, along with a command to reduce a volume of output audio while playing the voice output. For example, the system may receive a voice command from an input device associated with an output zone, may reduce output audio generated by speakers in the output zone and may play the voice output via the speakers. In addition, the system may send the command to the speakers while sending the voice output to another device for playback. For example, the system may reduce output audio generated by the speakers and play the voice output via the input device.

Abstract: A system that is capable of controlling multiple entertainment systems and/or speakers using voice commands. The system receives voice commands and may determine audio sources and speakers indicated by the voice commands. The system may generate audio data from the audio sources and may send the audio data to the speakers using multiple interfaces. For example, the system may send the audio data directly to the speakers using a network address, may send the audio data to the speakers via a voice-enabled device or may send the audio data to the speakers via a speaker controller. The system may generate output zones including multiple speakers and may associate input devices with speakers within the output zones. For example, the system may receive a voice command from an input device in an output zone and may reduce output audio generated by speakers in the output zone.

Abstract: A beverage system includes a housing and a brew basket associated with the housing. The brew basket includes a brew chamber. A pressurization system is associated with the brew chamber. The pressurization system is selectively operable to increase a pressure within the brew chamber to control a rate at which a fluid passes through the brew chamber to an outlet formed in said brew basket.

Abstract: A cloud-based broker service may be provided for computing devices in a distributed computing environment. The broker service may aggregate user accounts and user account credentials utilized for accessing online services by the computing devices. The broker service may monitor a context of the computing devices associated with the user accounts. The broker service may then utilize the context, data associated with the user accounts and data associated with the user account credentials to automate tasks and/or provide alerts associated with the data.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for providing location information of a called mobile communication device to a calling party are implemented through a mobile device locator platform disposed in the communication network. A mobile device subscriber to the location service initiates a process where the location of his mobile device is updated on a regular basis and the location information stored in a database on the platform. When a call is placed to his subscribed device, the location information is transmitted to the calling party prior to setting up the call to the called device, allowing the calling party to determine whether or not to proceed with the call, as well as eliminating the need to ask the common question “where are you?” when placing a call to a mobile device.

Abstract: A method of creating a panoramic peripheral image may include identifying a virtual observer at a position in a modeled scene. Peripheral images of the modeled scene may be obtained, including views at multiple angles from the virtual observer. The peripheral images may be arranged to depict a panoramic peripheral view of the modeled scene.

Abstract: A system that is capable of controlling multiple entertainment systems and/or speakers using voice commands. The system receives voice commands and may determine audio sources and speakers indicated by the voice commands. The system may generate audio data from the audio sources and may send the audio data to the speakers using multiple interfaces. For example, the system may send the audio data directly to the speakers using a network address, may send the audio data to the speakers via a voice-enabled device or may send the audio data to the speakers via a speaker controller. The system may generate output zones including multiple speakers and may associate input devices with speakers within the output zones. For example, the system may receive a voice command from an input device in an output zone and may reduce output audio generated by speakers in the output zone.

Abstract: An animal holder for use with an imaging device includes a body tube for receiving a first body portion of the animal. The animal holder also includes a head immobilization mechanism disposed adjacent one end of the body tube for receiving a head of the animal. The head immobilization mechanism includes opposing first and second flexible fingers that have free ends configured to contact and immobilize the head of the animal when the fingers are moved to a compressed position.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for exchanging a history of user activity information are provided. A history of user activity of a target user conducted through a device is collected and stored at a server over a network. A key corresponding to the history of user activity is generated and transmitted to the device. The key is received from a different device. The first history of user activity is retrieved based on the received key and transmitted to the different device.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for providing location information of a called mobile communication device to a calling party are implemented through a mobile device locator platform disposed in the communication network. A mobile device subscriber to the location service initiates a process where the location of his mobile device is updated on a regular basis and the location information stored in a database on the platform. When a call is placed to his subscribed device, the location information is transmitted to the calling party prior to setting up the call to the called device, allowing the calling party to determine whether or not to proceed with the call, as well as eliminating the need to ask the common question “where are you?” when placing a call to a mobile device.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for providing location information of a called mobile communication device to a calling party are implemented through a mobile device locator platform disposed in the communication network. A mobile device subscriber to the location service initiates a process where the location of his mobile device is updated on a regular basis and the location information stored in a database on the platform. When a call is placed to his subscribed device, the location information is transmitted to the calling party prior to setting up the call to the called device, allowing the calling party to determine whether or not to proceed with the call, as well as eliminating the need to ask the common question “where are you?” when placing a call to a mobile device.

Abstract: A line for use in angling sports, such as fly fishing, comprises a braid formed of polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) strands and polyethylene (PE) strands. The PTFE strands and the PE strands are arranged such that in a rest position, an outer surface of the braid is defined by both the PTFE strands and the PE strands and when the braid is placed under tension, the outer surface of the braid is defined at least substantially by the PTFE strands due to bulging of the PTFE strands relative to the PE strands.

Abstract: A method for authenticating communications may include registering the first device by receiving a device public key and a repository public key that are specific to the second device. The method may also include authenticating a communication from the first device by receiving the communication, a first digital signature generated by the first device using a device private key, and a second digital signature generated by the secure repository using a repository private key. The second digital signature may be generated by the secure repository only after the first device is authenticated by the secure repository. The method may further include authenticating the first digital signature using the device public key, authenticating the second digital signature using the repository public key, and authenticating the communication based on authenticating the first digital signature and authenticating the second digital signature.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for calculating a fee linked to an online financial transaction, with improved flexibility and availability through caching and refreshing of fee calculation data. In one embodiment, a method includes extracting fee calculation data into a data cache associated with control data that is updated in response to refreshing of the data cache; receiving a fee calculation request linked to an online transaction associated with a fee type, a country code, and a client identifier; and then selecting, by looking up the data cache, a base fee from either a default fee determined by the fee type and the country code or from an overriding fee associated with the client identifier. The method further includes calculating a transaction fee for the online transaction based at least in part on the base fee; and verifying the control data to transmit the calculated transaction fee.

Abstract: A method for disabling a device associated with a virtual identity may include receiving, from the device, a request to use the virtual identity, where the request that may include a passcode guess and a device identifier. The method may also include determining that the passcode guess does not authorize use of the virtual identity and incrementing a number of incorrect passcode guesses received within a time interval. The method may additionally include determining that the number of incorrect passcode guesses received within the time interval is greater than or equal to a threshold. The method may further include storing an indication that subsequent requests associated with the device identifier should not authorize use of the virtual identity.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system to deliver at least one of content and services to a first device based on the first device's context, the system comprising a cloud service coupled to the first device by a network, wherein the cloud service obtains information from the first device over the network; determines context of the first device based on information obtained from the device; assembles a package based on the determined context, said package comprising at least one of content and services; and sends the package to the first device over the network.

Abstract: A cloud-based broker service may be provided for computing devices in a distributed computing environment. The broker service may aggregate user accounts and user account credentials utilized for accessing online services by the computing devices. The broker service may monitor a context of the computing devices associated with the user accounts. The broker service may then utilize the context, data associated with the user accounts and data associated with the user account credentials to automate tasks and/or provide alerts associated with the data.

Abstract: A method for authorizing a virtual identity using an access device may include sending, from an access device, a request to a resource through a network. The method may also include accessing a resource challenge that is acceptable to the resource and sending the resource challenge to an identity repository. The method may additionally include receiving, from the identity repository, a first signed resource challenge and signing the resource challenge to generate a second signed resource challenge. The method may further include sending an authorization for the virtual identity to the resource through the network. The authorization may include the first signed resource challenge and the second signed resource challenge.

Abstract: A method of pairing an unregistered device with a virtual identity may include, at a first repository: receiving a request from the unregistered device, sending a pairing code and an identifier to the unregistered device, receiving the pairing code from a registered device, and sending the identifier to the registered device. The method may also include, at a second repository, receiving the pairing code and secret information from the registered device, receiving the pairing code in a transmission associated with the unregistered device, associating the unregistered device with the virtual identity using the pairing code, and sending the secret information to the unregistered device.