Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for load balancing specimen containers between a plurality of automated detection apparatuses. The method may include receiving a specimen container at a container pick-up station in a first automated detection apparatus; determining loading ability, transfer status, and cell availability of the first automated detection apparatus and one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses; and transferring the specimen container from the first automated detection apparatus to a downstream automated detection apparatus when a first ratio of effective available cell count to effective capacity in the first automated detection apparatus is less than a second ratio of total effective available cell count to total effective capacity of a sum of the first automated detection apparatus and the one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for load balancing specimen containers between a plurality of automated detection apparatuses. The method may include receiving a specimen container at a container pick-up station in a first automated detection apparatus; determining loading ability, transfer status, and cell availability of the first automated detection apparatus and one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses; and transferring the specimen container from the first automated detection apparatus to a downstream automated detection apparatus when a first ratio of effective available cell count to effective capacity in the first automated detection apparatus is less than a second ratio of total effective available cell count to total effective capacity of a sum of the first automated detection apparatus and the one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses.

Abstract: Automated test instruments electronically determine and/or obtain cell availability of cells of a holding structure in an incubated test chamber and for each of a plurality of open and available cells and electronically identify neighboring cells, electronically determining whether each of the identified neighboring cells are occupied or empty and, if occupied, electronically evaluating at least one of a test status or a time from load of a specimen container held therein. The instruments then electronically rank each of the plurality of open and available cells based at least in part on whether the identified neighboring cells are occupied or empty and the at least one of test status or time from load of the occupied cells of the identified neighboring cells. The loading mechanism is then directed to load an incoming specimen container into a selected one of the open and available cells based on the ranking.

Abstract: Automated test instruments electronically determine and/or obtain cell availability of cells of a holding structure in an incubated test chamber and for each of a plurality of open and available cells and electronically identify neighboring cells, electronically determining whether each of the identified neighboring cells are occupied or empty and, if occupied, electronically evaluating at least one of a test status or a time from load of a specimen container held therein. The instruments then electronically rank each of the plurality of open and available cells based at least in part on whether the identified neighboring cells are occupied or empty and the at least one of test status or time from load of the occupied cells of the identified neighboring cells. The loading mechanism is then directed to load an incoming specimen container into a selected one of the open and available cells based on the ranking.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for load balancing specimen containers between a plurality of automated detection apparatuses. The method may include receiving a specimen container at a container pick-up station in a first automated detection apparatus; determining loading ability, transfer status, and cell availability of the first automated detection apparatus and one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses; and transferring the specimen container from the first automated detection apparatus to a downstream automated detection apparatus when a first ratio of effective available cell count to effective capacity in the first automated detection apparatus is less than a second ratio of total effective available cell count to total effective capacity of a sum of the first automated detection apparatus and the one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for processing queries from a user's computing device initiating a query. In one embodiment, responding to the query involves searching for results based on the user's location and a list of federated enterprises. A clearinghouse server receives the query and determine a location of the user by accessing a location information database. The clearinghouse server then uses the location information in formulating a query to a search engine, by including location information with the user's query. The results are then processed in light of the list of federated enterprises. The processing may include ordering the search results, filtering the search results, or allowing enhanced forms of communications between the user and a selected party associated with the federated enterprise. The results are provided to the user. The enhanced forms of communication include instant messaging and video conferencing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a user-configurable battery-powered LED lamp. The lamp has several embodiments to handle recharging, including hot-swap battery cartridges, a wireless alert system, and redundant battery supplies. The system also has a light-shaping feature to shine light in user-defined areas with shaped light-emitting surfaces.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a user-configurable battery-powered LED lamp. The lamp has several embodiments to handle recharging, including hot-swap battery cartridges, a wireless alert system, and redundant battery supplies. The system also has a light-shaping feature to shine light in user-defined areas with shaped light-emitting surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling a computing device to process VoIP phone calls while conserving the computing device's resources is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a computing device configured to use a minimum resource device and an internally integrated or externally connected minimum resource device. Components of the minimum resource device may or may not be powered by the computing device. A method for processing VoIP phone calls while conserving the computing device's resources uses a minimum resource device.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for processing queries from a user's computing device initiating a query. In one embodiment, responding to the query involves searching for results based on the user's location and a list of federated enterprises. A clearinghouse server receives the query and determine a location of the user by accessing a location information database. The clearinghouse server then uses the location information in formulating a query to a search engine, by including location information with the user's query. The results are then processed in light of the list of federated enterprises. The processing may include ordering the search results, filtering the search results, or allowing enhanced forms of communications between the user and a selected party associated with the federated enterprise. The results are provided to the user. The enhanced forms of communication include instant messaging and video conferencing.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for controlling components associated with a room using a mobile phone. A gateway is configured to receive a command from a mobile phone. Upon receiving the command, the gateway determines whether the command is a room command or a presentation command. If the command is a room command, the gateway causes the room component to respond to the room component. If the command received is a presentation command, the gateway causes the presentation component to respond to the presentation command. A user may input commands to the mobile phone by making gestures with or on a screen of the mobile phone, by utilizing phone keys of the mobile phone, or by interacting with user interface controls displayed on the mobile phone.

Abstract: A multiple screen telepresence style video conferencing experience is provided employing generic hardware and intelligent software, which may be based on existing enhanced communication systems such as unified communication systems. Through a component based approach, the system can be deployed in any conference room, assembled on the spot by an untrained user, flexible to accommodate any number of screens.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for controlling components associated with a room using a mobile phone. A gateway is configured to receive a command from a mobile phone. Upon receiving the command, the gateway determines whether the command is a room command or a presentation command. If the command is a room command, the gateway causes the room component to respond to the room component. If the command received is a presentation command, the gateway causes the presentation component to respond to the presentation command. A user may input commands to the mobile phone by making gestures with or on a screen of the mobile phone, by utilizing phone keys of the mobile phone, or by interacting with user interface controls displayed on the mobile phone.

Abstract: A multiple screen telepresence style video conferencing experience is provided employing generic hardware and intelligent software, which may be based on existing enhanced communication systems such as unified communication systems. Through a component based approach, the system can be deployed in any conference room, assembled on the spot by an untrained user, flexible to accommodate any number of screens.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that improve media communications. In one embodiment, a media server receives a media communication with a first quality from a personal computer with VoIP telephone capabilities. The media server translates the media (e.g., audio, visual, etc.) communication into a second quality, and forwards the media communication to a communication gateway. The translation to improve communications can also be done when receiving the media communication from the communication gateway for forwarding to the personal computer having VoIP telephone capability. In some embodiments, a media server sits in the communication channel between a personal computer with VoIP telephone capabilities and a communication gateway and is able to translate communications into codec protocols they each understand.

Abstract: A method and system for outputting a call announcement based on presence information of a callee as a ringback tone is provided. The announcement system is provided with presence information of users. When the telephone system receives an indication of an incoming call from a caller, the telephone system identifies the callee. After the callee is identified, the announcement system retrieves the presence information for the callee and generates an announcement based on that presence information.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the number of ports allocated by a relay server is provided. A connection system uses a bidirectional technique to establish a connection via the relay server between two endpoints (e.g., client computers) that can be used bidirectionally to send a stream from a first endpoint to a second endpoint and a stream from the second endpoint to the first endpoint. The connection system may also use a stream multiplexing technique to further reduce the number of ports allocated by a relay server by multiplexing multiple streams onto a single connection. The connection system may also use an endpoint multiplexing technique to reduce the number of ports allocated by a relay server by multiplexing streams from different endpoints through a single connection via the relay server.

Abstract: A location service and method provides a location aware computing device that is extensible by allowing different types of location awareness providers operate with the service. The method includes receiving a request for a location context, acquiring data associated with a current location from one or more location detection devices, reconciling the acquired data for any inconsistencies concerning the current location by applying either or both of a hierarchical and a metric process, and generating a location object accessible to applications. The service includes a location management component configured to route location data, a fuser engine configured to receive one or more location reports generated from the location data, reconcile conflicts between the location reports and generate a location object, and one or more location application programming interfaces (APIs) coupled to the location management component to transmit the location object from the fuser engine to an application.

Abstract: A method and system for managing power consumption in a portable computing device having a network interface module is presented. A power management module receives inputs from other modules and determines when the network interface module is to be put in a doze state for a predetermined number of beacon intervals to conserve power consumption in the network interface module. The network interface module in a device that is associated with a network is put in the doze state after an event has occurred including when a scan has been performed, after a delayed sleep timer has expired, and after a beacon transmission has been completed and no traffic is buffered for the device. The delayed sleep time is set based on the estimated round trip time of a packet.

Abstract: A presentation system receives streams of videos of a video conference and presents the videos on the faces of a three-dimensional object. The presentation system selects which video should be presented more prominently than the other videos. The presentation system generates an image of the three-dimensional object that represents a view location from which the selected video is prominently visible and videos of other conference participants are less prominently visible. The presentation system then displays the image to the conference participant.