Abstract: A processing system receives a user-generated media recording, and metadata associated with the user-generated feedback, from a first device. The user-generated media recording is a recording of the public end-user captured during a live media broadcast using a public-user interface on the first device. The metadata includes information linking the user-generated media recording to the live media broadcast. The system stores the user-generated media recording and the first metadata in one or more storage devices, and transmits a version of the user-generated media recording and at least a portion of the first metadata to a private-user interface on a second device. The private-user interface is configured to receive input from a private end-user selecting the version of the user-generated media recording for broadcast during the same live media broadcast during which the user-generated media recording was created.

Abstract: A fishing weight attachment device is formed by a wire frame and includes a mounting coil and a locking element. The mounting coil is formed of a plurality of spaced loops. The locking element is formed by a pair of loops in the wire frame, wherein the fishing line may be frictionally engaged between the pair of loops so that the wire frame does not slide along the fishing line. A pliable sleeve is positioned around the wire frame extending over the pair of loops of the wire frame, such that the fishing line may be frictionally engaged between the pair of loops so that the wire frame does not slide along the fishing line, and such that the pliable sleeve protects the fishing line from being damaged by being pinched by the pair of loops.

Abstract: A wind resistant cap has a cap body having a brim extending outwardly from the cap body. The cap body has an inner circumference that includes a front portion adjacent the brim, a rear portion, and opposing sides. A securing strap has a strap body that extends to ends, each end being attached to one of the opposing sides of the inner circumference of the cap body, such that the strap body extends across the front portion of the inner circumference of the cap body.

Abstract: A sole for footwear, which includes a plurality of separate closed fluid filled sacs, flexibly secured together and arranged with said sacs extending across the full extent of convexities of the primary weight bearing surfaces of the wearer's foot said sacs include: at least one sac under the wearer's heel; at least five sacs lie under the rest of the wearer's foot; said sacs being arranged such that no part of any of the sacs lies under the medial longitudinal arch of the wearer's foot; wherein said at least five sacs include: one sac which lies under the medial forefoot of the wearer's foot; one sac which lies under the lateral forefoot of the wearer's foot; one sac which lies under the lateral midfoot of the wearer's foot; one sac lies under the big toe of the wearer's foot; one sac lies under the smaller toes of the wearer's foot.

Abstract: A fishing weight attachment device is formed by a wire frame and includes a mounting coil and a locking element. The mounting coil is formed of a plurality of spaced loops. The locking element is formed by a pair of loops in the wire frame, wherein the fishing line may be frictionally engaged between the pair of loops so that the wire frame does not slide along the fishing line. An elongate portion is adapted to receive the at least one fishing weights.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to system, method and computer readable storage medium that includes matching media content with inventory, the media content for display within a point of purchase apparatus. The apparatus is identified by a remote system using a computer remote at the apparatus. The physical inventory within the identified apparatus remotely identifiable and matchable to remotely available media content stored at the remote system for subsequent display at the point of purchase apparatus.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to system, method and computer readable storage medium that includes matching media content with inventory, the media content for display within a point of purchase apparatus. The apparatus is identified by a remote system using a computer remote at the apparatus. The physical inventory within the identified apparatus remotely identifiable and matchable to remotely available media content stored at the remote system for subsequent display at the point of purchase apparatus.

Abstract: Authentication apparatus (1, 100) and methods which authenticate an item (4, 110) responsive to the detection that a portion of the item has one or more predetermined characteristics, the said predetermined characteristics comprising either or both the thickness of the said portion of the item, and the thickness of one or more layers within the said portion of the item, determined by optically-based thickness measuring apparatus (6, 102-108). The item may be a product and the portion of the item may be a sheet of packaging material. The item may be a security document and the portion of the item may be a sheet of security document substrate.

Abstract: Authentication apparatus (1, 100) and methods which authenticate an item (4, 110) responsive to the detection that a portion of the item has one or more predetermined characteristics, the said predetermined characteristics comprising either or both the thickness of the said portion of the item, and the thickness of one or more layers within the said portion of the item, determined by optically-based thickness measuring apparatus (6, 102-108). The item may be a product and the portion of the item may be a sheet of packaging material. The item may be a security document and the portion of the item may be a sheet of security document substrate.

Abstract: Authentication apparatus (1, 100) and methods which authenticate an item (4, 110) responsive to the detection that a portion of the item has one or more predetermined characteristics, the said predetermined characteristics comprising either or both the thickness of the said portion of the item, and the thickness of one or more layers within the said portion of the item, determined by optically-based thickness measuring apparatus (6, 102-108). The item may be a product and the portion of the item may be a sheet of packaging material. The item may be a security document and the portion of the item may be a sheet of security document substrate.

Abstract: An installation support system includes a smart phone which executes a downloaded installation application. An installer can create a visual map of a virtual region, corresponding to a portion of a monitored space. One or more units being installed can be associated with locations in the virtual region. Identification tags for the units can be located throughout the virtual region. A representation of the virtual region can be stored for later retrieval and use.

Abstract: Authentication apparatus (1, 100) and methods which authenticate an item (4, 110) responsive to the detection that a portion of the item has one or more predetermined characteristics, the said predetermined characteristics comprising either or both the thickness of the said portion of the item, and the thickness of one or more layers within the said portion of the item, determined by optically-based thickness measuring apparatus (6, 102-108). The item may be a product and the portion of the item may be a sheet of packaging material. The item may be a security document and the portion of the item may be a sheet of security document substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the type of power source supplying electrical power to a power adapter for a portable computer. In an embodiment of the invention, a power adapter for a portable computer is provided with a first power identification circuit for generating system information relating to operation on an AC power source and a second power identification circuit for generating system information relating to operation on a DC power source. A power source detector is operable to detect whether the electrical power supplied to the power adapter is AC or DC power and to enable the first or second power identification circuit, respectively, thereby generating a data signal indicating the respective type of power source. The data signal is provided to a subsystem manager in the computer to allow identification of the type of external power source.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a power rail to distribute power to at least a portion of the information handling system. A power adapter is or can be coupled to the power rail, the power adapter operable as a voltage source in a first power supply voltage/current region and operable as a current source in a second power supply voltage/current region. A battery control circuit couples a battery to the power rail, the battery control circuit capable of supplying current from the battery to the power rail when the power adapter is operating in at least a portion of the second power supply voltage/current region.

Abstract: A cable connecting apparatus includes a base. A plug member extends in a first direction from the base. A cable extends from the base in the first direction. The plug member may be connected to a socket, whereby the cable connecting apparatus provides the cable with a strain relieved 180 degree bend.

Abstract: The invention comprises a software-based communications architecture and associated software methods for establishing and maintaining a common membership among a cluster of multiple, cooperating computers (called hosts). The invention incorporates the use of nearest neighbor and overlapping heartbeat connections between clustered computers that are logically organized in a linear or multi-dimensional array. This arrangement of heartbeat connections has two principal advantages. First it keeps the cluster membership highly available after host failures because hosts can quickly detect and recover from another host's failure without partitioning the membership. Second, it enables the cluster membership to scale to large numbers (e.g., hundreds) of computers because the computational and message passing overhead per host to maintain the specified heartbeat connections is fixed and the underlying physical network is allowed to scale.

Abstract: In a method and system for an improved power adapter providing power to a load, the power adapter is electrically coupled to the load via a multi-conductor connector. A change in a current flowing through a conductor of the connector is sensed in response to the coupling. The power output of the adapter is enabled after establishing initial contact, as sensed by the change in the current. Power supply identifier (PSID) information is enabled for communication through the conductor after enabling the power.

Abstract: A cluster of computers typically establishes a quorum, i.e., a software method for establishing agreement, to coordinate access to shared resources, such as a shared data store, in applications that must recover from the failure of one or more computers or their associated components. Prior art which associates a single quorum with an entire cluster, has inherent overheads that limit the size of the cluster to a small number of computers. The present invention comprises a scalable, software-based architecture for implementing a quorum mechanism to coordinate the actions of a cluster of computers. In contrast to prior art, the present invention advantageously encapsulates the quorum in a software construct, called a quorum object, which is disassociated from the cluster as a whole and spans a designated subset of the cluster's membership.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the type of power source supplying electrical power to a power adapter for a portable computer. In an embodiment of the invention, a power adapter for a portable computer is provided with a first power identification circuit for generating system information relating to operation on an AC power source and a second power identification circuit for generating system information relating to operation on a DC power source. A power source detector is operable to detect whether the electrical power supplied to the power adapter is AC or DC power and to enable the first or second power identification circuit, respectively, thereby generating a data signal indicating the respective type of power source. The data signal is provided to a subsystem manager in the computer to allow identification of the type of external power source.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) is provided which includes a power supply with a self diagnostics feature. The power supply supplies power to a test load resistor for a predetermined brief test period. The test period selected is sufficiently short so that a relatively small power rating load resistor is not overheated during the load test. A first indicator is activated if power good is indicated after the load test. This provides a notification that the power supply is operating properly. If power good is not indicated after the load test then a test is conducted to see if the supply is connected to the system board. If the supply is not connected to the system board and power good is not indicated, then a second indicator is activated to conclusively notify of power supply failure However, if the supply is found to be connected to the system board and power good is not indicated, then a third indicator is activated to notify the user that the source of failure is undetermined.