Abstract: An access port comprises a housing with a first opening and a self sealing septum sealing the first opening, the septum including an attachment portion for securing the septum to the housing, the attachment portion including a chamfer which, when the septum is mounted within the housing is subject to a force oriented substantially perpendicularly with respect to a plane of the outer surface, the chamfered portion redirecting a portion of the force to compress the outer surface. A septum for an access port comprises an attachment portion for abutting a septum seat of the access port and an operative surface permitting penetration by a needle and resealing itself after removal of the needle in combination with a chamfered portion providing a transition between the attachment portion and the operative surface, the chamfered portion re-directing a component of a force applied to the chamfered portion to compress the operative surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing media to a media consumer are disclosed herein. A media rating for at least one media item can be received from a consumer and stored on a consumer profile. Using a consumer interaction, the media consumer can request to import all available media having a consumer rating higher than a predetermined threshold to an online media library of the consumer. In another embodiment, using a consumer interaction, the media consumer can request to add to an online music library all media items associated with an artist, a genre, or other media item attribute.

Abstract: A set of item-item affinities for a plurality of items is determined based on collaborative-filtering techniques. A set of an item's nearest neighbor items based on the set of item-item affinities is determined. A set of user feature-item affinities for the plurality of items and a set of user features is determined based on least squared regression. A set of a user feature's nearest neighbor items is determined based in part on the set of user feature-item affinities. Compatible affinity weights for nearest neighbor items of each item and each user feature are determined and stored. Based on user features of a particular user and items a particular user has consumed, a set of nearest neighbor items comprising nearest neighbor items for user features of the user and items the user has consumed are identified as a set of candidate items, and affinity scores of candidate items are determined.

Abstract: A port for subcutaneous implantation, comprising a housing including first and second wells formed therein and a substantially F-shaped flow element including first and second lumens extending therethrough wherein, when in an operative configuration the F-shaped flow element is coupled to the housing with a proximal end of each of the lumens in fluid communication with a respective one of the first and second wells for receiving fluid therefrom, and wherein distal ends of each of the lumens form outlets, each outlet being coupleable to a lumen of a medical catheter, the F-shaped flow element including first and second arms extending from a trunk with the first lumen extending through the first arm to the trunk and the second lumen extending through the second arm to the trunk, the first and second lumens being separated from one another within the trunk.

Abstract: Methods and systems for presenting content such as articles based on utility are provided. In one embodiment, a plurality of articles are determined, each article in the plurality of articles including article content and a corresponding preview icon, the preview icon defining a link to the corresponding article content when presented. For each article in the plurality of articles, a user experience utility value is determined. And for each article in the plurality of articles, an economic utility value is also determined. A ranked order of the articles is determined based upon each article's user experience utility value and economic utility value. And a portion of the preview icons of the articles are presented on a graphical display page in a priority orientation based on the ranked order of the articles.

Abstract: A method and system for leveraging user media file rating data. In one aspect, the system includes a component in communication with a plurality of media file related services, a rating storage, and a component for making the user rating data available to be used by plural services so that each respective service can use the rating data to tailor a user experience during interaction by the particular user with the respective service. In one aspect, the user preference rating is received from any of the media file related services. In one aspect the user preference rating information and the associated media file information are associated with a particular user regardless of the respective media file related service the preference rating was received from.

Abstract: A set of item-item affinities for a plurality of items is determined based on collaborative-filtering techniques. A set of an item's nearest neighbor items based on the set of item-item affinities is determined. A set of user feature-item affinities for the plurality of items and a set of user features is determined based on least squared regression. A set of a user feature's nearest neighbor items is determined based in part on the set of user feature-item affinities. Compatible affinity weights for nearest neighbor items of each item and each user feature are determined and stored. Based on user features of a particular user and items a particular user has consumed, a set of nearest neighbor items comprising nearest neighbor items for user features of the user and items the user has consumed are identified as a set of candidate items, and affinity scores of candidate items are determined.

Abstract: A system and method of generating a playlist of affinity related media files using affinity relationship data. In one aspect the relationship affinity data is based upon a user rating score obtained from a population of user's ratings associated with media file attributes. In one aspect, a media file attribute which can include an artist, album, title, and genre information associated with a media file is received from a user, indicating the user's desire to create an affinity playlist of media files having an affinity relationship based upon the selected media file attribute.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the experience of a user using a communication program over the Internet or other network. The system and method according to one embodiment utilizes a user's status indicator in a communication program to share content such as music or videos among users, and provides access to an electronic commerce application through which content may be obtained. One system and method according to the present invention allows a user to display an indicator and to set an actionable status message which indicates to other users the media content that the first user is experiencing. In another embodiment, a user is given the ability to access content that other users are listening to or viewing at that time. The system and method in an alternate embodiment broadcast metadata about the user's content to other users and the other users are able to utilize that metadata to receive and experience the same or similar content that the first user is experiencing.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the experience of a user using a communication program over the Internet or other network. The system and method according to one embodiment utilizes a user's status indicator in a communication program to share content such as music or videos among users. One system and method according to the present invention allows a user to display an indicator and to set an actionable status message which indicates to other users the media content that the first user is experiencing. In another embodiment, a user is given the ability to access content that other users are listening to or viewing at that time. The system and method in an alternate embodiment broadcast metadata about the user's content to other users and the other users are able to utilize that metadata to receive and experience the same or similar content that the first user is experiencing.

Abstract: Information with respect to users, items, and interactions between the users and items is collected. Each user is associated with a set of user features. Each item is associated with a set of item features. An expected score function is defined for each user-item pair, which represents an expected score a user assigns an item. An objective represents the difference between the expected score and the actual score a user assigns an item. The expected score function and the objective function share at least one common variable. The objective function is minimized to find best fit for some of the at least one common variable. Subsequently, the expected score function is used to calculate expected scores for individual users or clusters of users with respect to a set of items that have not received actual scores from the users. The set of items are ranked based on their expected scores.

Abstract: A method and system for leveraging user media file rating data. In one aspect, the system comprises a component in communication with a plurality of media file related services, a rating storage, and a component for making the user rating data available to be used by plural services so that each respective service can use the rating data to tailor a user experience during interaction by the particular user with the respective service. In one aspect, the user preference rating is received from any of the media file related services. In one aspect the user preference rating information and the associated media file information are associated with a particular user regardless of the respective media file related service the preference rating was received from.

Abstract: A method, system and user interface are provided for building and programming an online media (radio or TV) station based on collaboration by the station's users. The method includes creating an initial playlist for an online media station; creating a set of recommended media content items distinct from the initial playlist; aggregating user input regarding the recommended media content items; and generating a new playlist in accordance with the aggregated input. The user input regarding a given item of media content may include a positive vote or a negative vote. Each item added to the playlist after the initial playlist is voted on by the users, so that each item of the new playlist has an aggregated positive vote greater than a predetermined vote threshold.

Abstract: A method for entertaining individuals according to a community having similar tastes. Information derived from user accounts form the basis of a community and collateral preferences allow other subscribing individuals to enjoy the benefit of wider-ranging tastes according to the preferences expressed by the other members of the community. Additionally, assuming that individuals sharing one preference in common may be likely to share others, the present method allows those who choose to listen to the “fan station” the ability to enjoy similar music or other data streams according to preferences expressed by the fan community as a whole.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the experience of a user using a communication program over the Internet or other network. The system and method according to one embodiment utilizes a user's status indicator in a communication program to share content such as music or videos among users, and provides access to an electronic commerce application through which content may be obtained. One system and method according to the present invention allows a user to display an indicator and to set an actionable status message which indicates to other users the media content that the first user is experiencing. In another embodiment, a user is given the ability to access content that other users are listening to or viewing at that time. The system and method in an alternate embodiment broadcast metadata about the user's content to other users and the other users are able to utilize that metadata to receive and experience the same or similar content that the first user is experiencing.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the experience of a user using a communication program over the Internet or other network. The system and method according to one embodiment utilizes a user's status indicator in a communication program to share content such as music or videos among users. One system and method according to the present invention allows a user to display an indicator and to set an actionable status message which indicates to other users the media content that the first user is experiencing. In another embodiment, a user is given the ability to access content that other users are listening to or viewing at that time. The system and method in an alternate embodiment broadcast metadata about the user's content to other users and the other users are able to utilize that metadata to receive and experience the same or similar content that the first user is experiencing.

Abstract: Medical devices with radiopaque markers, and related systems and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for entertaining individuals according to a community having similar tastes. Information derived from user accounts form the basis of a community and collateral preferences allow other subscribing individuals to enjoy the benefit of wider-ranging tastes according to the preferences expressed by the other members of the community. Additionally, assuming that individuals sharing one preference in common may be likely to share others, the present method allows those who choose to listen to the “fan station” the ability to enjoy similar music or other data streams according to preferences expressed by the fan community as a whole.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing media to a media consumer are disclosed herein. A media rating for at least one media item can be received from a consumer and stored on a consumer profile. Using a consumer interaction, the media consumer can request to import all available media having a consumer rating higher than a predetermined threshold to an online media library of the consumer. In another embodiment, using a consumer interaction, the media consumer can request to add to an online music library all media items associated with an artist, a genre, or other media item attribute.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recommending playlists to a user are disclosed herein. A set of artist names corresponding to artists that the user has indicated a preference for is identified. A playlist repository that stores media playlists is accessed. The media playlists can include artist information. The playlist repository is searched to identify a playlist having playlist artist information that is relevant to the user-identified set of artist names. The identity of the identified playlist is communicated to the user.