Abstract: Systems and techniques are directed to a Swappable Retractable Tool Tip (SRTT), which is designed as a next generation of friction stir welding tools and retractable tool tips. The disclosed SRTT may be “swappable,” having different types of retractable tool tips that can be assembled and employed as a part of the SRTT. A SRTT system can include at least: a blank tool holder, a piston, and a retractable tool tip. In operation, the blank tool holder allows air to flow to cause movement of the piston and the retractable tool tip. For example, compressed air can push up on the piston and the retractable tool tip, retracting it into a “home” position inside of the blank tool holder. Also, the SRTT can include springs that push down on the piston and the retractable tool tip, extending the tip into an “extended” position outside of the blank tool holder.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are directed to a Swappable Retractable Tool Tip (SRTT), which is designed as a next generation of friction stir welding tools and retractable tool tips. The disclosed SRTT may be “swappable,” having different types of retractable tool tips that can be assembled and employed as a part of the SRTT. A SRTT system can include at least: a blank tool holder, a piston, and a retractable tool tip. In operation, the blank tool holder allows air to flow to cause movement of the piston and the retractable tool tip. For example, compressed air can push up on the piston and the retractable tool tip, retracting it into a “home” position inside of the blank tool holder. Also, the SRTT can include springs that push down on the piston and the retractable tool tip, extending the tip into an “extended” position outside of the blank tool holder.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing advertising services in a predictive manner to a device with an advertising exchange. In one embodiment, a system receives a configuration call from a device upon initiation of a software application and associated advertising services software on the device. The system generates, prior to a predicted ad play event on the device, a predictive ad request for obtaining at least one advertisement (ad) from at least one of an ad store and an advertising exchange prior to the predicted ad play event. The at least one ad is stored on the device prior to an actual ad play event. The system determines, just prior to the actual ad play event, a bandwidth for a connection between the device and the system. The system determines if any ad source includes at least one ad that is more likely to convert or cause user interaction than the ads stored on the device based on the bandwidth for the connection between the device and the system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing advertising services in a predictive manner to a device with an advertising exchange. In one embodiment, a system receives a configuration call from a device upon initiation of a software application and associated advertising services software on the device. The system generates, prior to a predicted ad play event on the device, a predictive ad request for obtaining at least one advertisement (ad) from at least one of an ad store and an advertising exchange prior to the predicted ad play event.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing advertising services to a device with an advertising exchange. In one embodiment, a system receives a configuration call from a device upon initiation of a software application and associated advertising services software on the device. The system sends a configuration file to the device in response to the configuration call. The configuration file includes different options for obtaining an advertisement (ad) to play on the device during an ad play event. The options include playing an ad cached on the device, obtaining at least one ad from an ad store of the system, and obtaining at least one ad from an advertising exchange that includes third party participants.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing advertising services for devices by accessing one or more ad databases including third party ad databases using ad serving tags. In one embodiment, a system includes a storage medium to store one or more software programs and processing logic that is configured to execute instructions of at least one software program to receive an advertising request from a device upon the device having an ad play event for an initiated software application, send an ad call or request to an ad store having ad campaigns and ads, and receive an ad response from the ad store in response to the ad call or request. The ad response includes a payload with one or more ads or potential ad campaigns for being streamed to the device or an ad serving tag for accessing one or more third party ad databases.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing advertising services to devices. In one embodiment, a system receives an advertising request from a device upon the device having an ad play event for an initiated software application. The system determines a bandwidth for a connection between the system and the device and determines whether at least one ad located on the device or at least one streamed ad will be displayed on the device for the ad play event based on at least one configurable parameter including at least one of the bandwidth for the connection between the device and the ad server, device characteristics, user characteristics, and a service level agreement.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing advertising services for devices based on at least one configurable. In one embodiment, a system sends an ad call or request to an ad store having ad campaigns and ads and receives an ad response from the ad store in response to the ad call or request. The ad response includes a payload with at least one ad for being streamed to the device or an ad serving tag for accessing one or more third party ad databases. The system determines, based on at least one configurable parameter including at least partially based on a cache window, whether to use at least one ad located on a device, at least one ad streamed from the ad store to the device, or at least one ad streamed from the one or more third party databases using the ad serving tag.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing advertising services in a predictive manner to a device with an advertising exchange. In one embodiment, a system receives a configuration call from a device upon initiation of a software application and associated advertising services software on the device. The system generates, prior to a predicted ad play event on the device, a predictive ad request for obtaining at least one advertisement (ad) from at least one of an ad store and an advertising exchange prior to the predicted ad play event.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing advertising services in a predictive manner to a device with an advertising exchange. In one embodiment, a system receives a configuration call from a device upon initiation of a software application and associated advertising services software on the device. The system generates, prior to a predicted ad play event on the device, a predictive ad request for obtaining at least one advertisement (ad) from at least one of an ad store and an advertising exchange prior to the predicted ad play event. The at least one ad is stored on the device prior to an actual ad play event. The system determines, just prior to the actual ad play event, a bandwidth for a connection between the device and the system. The system determines if any ad source includes at least one ad that is more likely to convert or cause user interaction than the ads stored on the device based on the bandwidth for the connection between the device and the system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing advertising services to a device with an advertising exchange. In one embodiment, a system receives a configuration call from a device upon initiation of a software application and associated advertising services software on the device. The system sends a configuration file to the device in response to the configuration call. The configuration file includes different options for obtaining an advertisement (ad) to play on the device during an ad play event. The options include playing an ad cached on the device, obtaining at least one ad from an ad store of the system, and obtaining at least one ad from an advertising exchange that includes third party participants.

Abstract: A computer system for hosting electronic group chat is provided. The computer system includes a memory device for storing data and a processor coupled in communication with the memory device. The processor is programmed to electronically host a plurality of chat rooms, associate a first chat room of the plurality of chat rooms with a first element inputted into the computer system, and transmit chat communications between a plurality of users of the chat rooms.

Abstract: A computer system for hosting electronic group chat is provided. The computer system includes a memory device for storing data and a processor coupled in communication with the memory device. The processor is programmed to electronically host a plurality of chat rooms, associate a first chat room of the plurality of chat rooms with a first element inputted into the computer system, and transmit chat communications between a plurality of users of the chat rooms.

Abstract: Improved approaches to accessing information are disclosed. The improved approaches permit access to information through user interaction with a series of menus. The menus within the series of menus are interrelated and contain words or phrases. A phrase, sentence or question is constructed from the user interaction with the series of menus. The resulting phrase, sentence or question can be processed to access and retrieve appropriate information. The improved approaches avoid the need for users to enter words or text characters through tedious and frustrating use of a keypad (particularly when reduced in size).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to process online interactions from numerous sources, coming from different time frames and systems. One embodiment includes a facilitator, an interaction processor, and an action generator. The facilitator facilitates interactions in one or more devices, where interactions typically occur. The processor can consolidate and analyze interactions from multiple sources, in different formats, and collected at different time frames, to extract intelligence from them. The processor processes such interactions, and generates an interaction descriptor for each interaction. A descriptor can include a generalization of the corresponding interaction, and at least a part of the interaction. Descriptors for different types of interactions can be represented by the same format to allow the processor to analyze them together.

Abstract: A computer-aided method and apparatus to access information is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a selector, a mapper and a generator. Through the selector, a person can select concepts and/or elements in the concepts. The mapper maps the selected concepts and elements to an inquiry. Then, the generator generates a response to the inquiry. The response can remain the same, independent of the order of the concepts selected by the person.

Abstract: A computer-aided method and apparatus to access information is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a selector, a mapper and a generator. Through the selector, a person can select concepts and/or elements in the concepts. The mapper maps the selected concepts and elements to an inquiry. Then, the generator generates a response to the inquiry. The response can remain the same, independent of the order of the concepts selected by the person.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to process online interactions from numerous sources, coming from different time frames and systems. One embodiment includes a facilitator, an interaction processor, and an action generator. The facilitator facilitates interactions in one or more devices, where interactions typically occur. The processor can consolidate and analyze interactions from multiple sources, in different formats, and collected at different time frames, to extract intelligence from them. The processor processes such interactions, and generates an interaction descriptor for each interaction. A descriptor can include a generalization of the corresponding interaction, and at least a part of the interaction. Descriptors for different types of interactions can be represented by the same format to allow the processor to analyze them together.