Abstract: Essentially coincident with the capture of an image by the imaging device, biometric information indicating the identity of the operator of the device is obtained from at least one biometric sensor. The biometric information and captured image are then stored in a manner reliably associating each with the other. At a later time, biometric information is obtained from a supposed operator of the imaging device. By comparing this candidate biometric information with the stored biometric information, the supposed operator may be authenticated as the operator of the imaging device at the time of capture of the stored image.

Abstract: A method of operating a security token to authenticate a user in a multi-factor authentication system is disclosed. The method includes: monitoring user custody of the token, the token having an identifying characteristic representing a possession factor for use through possession factor authentication; during a period of continuous user custody of the token based on the monitoring, obtaining a knowledge factor from a user having the continuous user custody; caching the knowledge factor in a memory of the token; and in response to a second authentication request, retrieving the knowledge factor from the memory to demonstrate to an authentication system knowledge of the knowledge factor, during the period of the continuous user custody.

Abstract: A security scanner includes a scanner configured to transmit a scanning beam toward a target and detect a returned beam. The security scanner also includes a processing circuit configured to receive a characteristic of the target to be scanned, determine an allowable dosage based on the characteristic, adjust a parameter of the scanning beam based on the allowable dosage, and cause the parameter to be used in the scanning of the target.

Abstract: A graphical user interface transforms objects into nodes and relationships that are shared between the objects into edges. The edges are labeled with the relationship types. Multiple edges are ordered automatically or manually. Multiple edges are collapsed onto a single line and labels applied to the single line for each collapsed edge. The labels applied to the single line are ordered along the line according to relationship type. When there are multiple types of relationships within the same class, each class is collapsed onto a single line and ordered accordingly. A user selects the objects that are displayed by the GUI. The user can add additional objects or relationships and filter the results.

Abstract: An electrochemical device (such as a battery) includes at least one electrode having a fluid surface and one or more sensors configured to detect an operating condition of the device. Fluid-directing structures may modulate flow or retain fluid in response to the sensors. An electrolyte within the device may also include an ion-transport fluid, for example infiltrated into a porous solid support.

Abstract: A system for selectively enabling a microprocessor-based system is disclosed. State information that describes the operating conditions or circumstances under which a user intends to operate the system is obtained. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a valid hash value is determined, preferably based on the state information and preferably by locating the valid hash value within a table of valid hash values indexed by the state information. Candidate authorization information is obtained from the user, and a candidate hash value is generated by applying a hashing algorithm to the candidate authorization information, the state information, or a combination of the candidate authorization information and state information. The candidate hash value and the valid hash value are then compared, and the microprocessor-based system is enabled if the candidate hash value matches the valid hash value.

Abstract: Data in a portable electronic device is protected by using external and internal status detection means to determine if the device is misplaced, lost, or stolen. The device then takes, singly or in combination, one of several actions to protect the data on the device, including declaring its location to an owner or service provider, locking the device or specific functions of the device to disable all data retrieval functionality, erasing or overwriting all the stored data in the device or, where the data has been stored in the device in an encrypted format, destroying an internally-stored encryption key, thereby preventing unauthorized access to the encrypted data in the device.

Abstract: An electrochemical device (such as a battery) includes at least one electrode having a fluid surface and one or more sensors configured to detect an operating condition of the device. Fluid-directing structures may modulate flow or retain fluid in response to the sensors. An electrolyte within the device may also include an ion-transport fluid, for example infiltrated into a porous solid support.

Abstract: A drill for excavating a bore in the earth includes a steerable boring tool configured to excavate a bore and sensors coupled to the boring tool. The sensors are spaced apart from one another at multiple azimuthal locations around the steerable boring tool and the sensors are configured to detect a mineral property in the earth adjacent the steerable boring tool.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for designing and constructing displays from multiple light-modulating elements are disclosed. Display elements having different light-modulating and self-assembling characteristics may be used during display assembly and operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a number of passive and active defense designs and methods that enable a wind turbine to escape high wind events. The disclosure includes descriptions of multiple designs and methods for lowering the elevated portion of a wind turbine. Other embodiments of the invention concern ways to connect the elevated portion of a wind turbine to the tower. Numerous counterweight systems are also disclosed which enable the lowering of the elevated portion of the wind turbine.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems for rewarding influencers in a Web 2.0 environment. More specifically, in some implementations, a system is configured to assess an influence of an electronically-accessed content on an involvement between an accessor and a third party, and may also be configured to facilitate a reward to one or more influencers based on one or more assessed influences.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. A method of reporting influence on a person includes collecting data indicative of the person accessing electronic content over a computer network using the user computing device. The method also includes generating a user influence report by transforming the collected data into information indicative of events associatable with the person accessing the electronic content over a computer network using the user computing device. The method further includes transmitting data indicative of the user influence report via a network, the user influence report being receivable by a site operable to facilitate delivery of a benefit to an owner of the electronic content.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for identifying gestures performed by a user to control an interactive display. The gestures are identified based on a bounding box enclosing the points at which a user contacts a touch sensor corresponding with the display surface. The invention thus permits the use of inexpensive and highly reliable grid-based touch sensors that provide a bounding box to describe contact information. In identifying the gestures, the position, motion, shape, and deformation of the bounding box may all be considered. In particular, the center, width, height, aspect ratio, length of the diagonal, and orientation of the diagonal of the bounding box may be determined. A stretch factor, defined as the maximum of the ratio of the height of the bounding box to the width of the bounding box and the ratio of the width of the bounding box to the height of the bounding box, may also be computed.

Abstract: Methods and articles are provided for reducing the amount of water consumed by a plant over a period of time, sequestering CO2, and producing electricity, where each method includes providing the plant with a composition including at least about 0.1 (wt./wt. or vol./vol.) % CO2 and/or at least about 0.1 wt./wt. % of a composition that generates CO2. An apparatus is also disclosed for providing the plant with a composition including CO2 and/or a composition that generates CO2.

Abstract: A system for slicing material includes a structural support and a nanotube blade. The nanotube blade is coupled to the structural support and includes a nanotube filament having atoms arranged in a lattice structure. A first end and a second end of the nanotube blade are coupled such that the nanotube blade forms a nanotube loop.

Abstract: Methods and articles are provided for reducing the amount of water consumed by a plant over a period of time, sequestering CO2, and producing electricity, where each method includes providing the plant with a composition including at least about 0.1 (wt./wt. or vol./vol.) % CO2 and/or at least about 0.1 wt./wt. % of a composition that generates CO2. An apparatus is also disclosed for providing the plant with a composition including CO2 and/or a composition that generates CO2.

Abstract: Methods and articles are provided for reducing the amount of water consumed by a plant over a period of time, sequestering CO2, and producing electricity, where each method includes providing the plant with a composition including at least about 0.1 (wt./wt. or vol./vol.) % CO2 and/or at least about 0.1 wt./wt. % of a composition that generates CO2. An apparatus is also disclosed for providing the plant with a composition including CO2 and/or a composition that generates CO2.

Abstract: A device for slicing material includes a structural support and a nanotube blade. The nanotube blade includes a nanotube filament having atoms arranged in a lattice structure and has a first end and a second end. Both the first end and the second end are coupled to the structural support and separated by a length of the nanotube blade.

Abstract: An enhanced escapement mechanism provides improved isolation of energy and torque for an oscillation system, e.g. a pendulum. In an exemplary embodiment, during a first phase, a pendulum releases an impulse arm that is decoupled from a main wheel, which falls and impulses the pendulum, such as at or near the middle of the pendulum swing. In a second phase, the impulse arm continues to fall, becoming totally detached from the pendulum, wherein the falling impulse arm releases the main wheel, which restores the impulse arm to its initial position. The main wheel continues to rotate until it is no longer in contact with the impulse arm, and is captured, such that the process may be repeated. While the enhanced escapement mechanism typically provides an impulse to an oscillation system during each period, alternate embodiments provide an impulse for each of a plurality of periods, e.g. once every ten periods.