Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device presents media items from different media applications in a unified media browsing application. In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates browsing of media from different media applications based on category of media (e.g., movies, television shows, etc.). In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates setup of a unified media browsing application that presents media items from different media applications in a unified media browsing user interface. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays multiple episodes of a collection of episodic content (e.g., a television series) in a user interface for the collection of episodic content. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays representations of, and provides access to, live-event media items accessible on the electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device provides, to a display, data to present a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface objects, and a current focus on a first user interface object. While the display is presenting the user interface, the electronic device receives an input that corresponds to a movement of a contact across on a touch-sensitive surface. The electronic device, in response to receiving the input and in accordance with a determination that a first axis is a dominant axis, moves the current focus along the first axis by a first amount and along the second axis by a second amount. The amount of movement of the current focus along the second axis is reduced to a first non-zero amount by a scaling factor that is based on one or more inputs received prior to receiving the input.

Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository. The business data includes different data source formats. A business logic module generates business data requests for processing. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in a data layer descriptor repository. The data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository. The data layer descriptor repository preferably includes top-level listings of data sources in the system and customized data source specifications for the each of the data sources listed in the customized set of data sources.

Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository for processing billing information. The business data repositories use one or more data source formats. A business logic module generating business data requests for data from the business data repository in order to carry out processing of billing information. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer descriptor repository stores customizable data source descriptions for generating the data layer. The data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in the data layer descriptor repository. The data layer module receives the data source independent business data requests and based on the request, the data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository.

Abstract: Systems and methods for loading XML documents on demand are described. The system provides a Wrapper class for the XML Document class and the Element class. A user application then utilizes the Wrapper class in the same way that the Element class and Document class would be used to access any element in the XML Document. The Wrapper class loads external components as required. The external component retrieval is completely transparent to the user application and the user application is able to access the entire XML document as if it were completely loaded into a DOM object in memory. Accordingly, each element is accessible in a random manner. In one configuration, the XML document components or external components are stored in a database in a BLOB field as a Digital Document. The system uses external components to efficiently use resources as compared to systems using Xlink and external entities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for loading XML documents on demand are described. The system provides a Wrapper class for the XML Document class and the Element class. A user application then utilizes the Wrapper class in the same way that the Element class and Document class would be used to access any element in the XML Document. The Wrapper class loads external components as required. The external component retrieval is completely transparent to the user application and the user application is able to access the entire XML document as if it were completely loaded into a DOM object in memory. Accordingly, each element is accessible in a random manner. In one configuration, the XML document components or external components are stored in a database in a BLOB field as a Digital Document. The system uses external components to efficiently use resources as compared to systems using Xlink and external entities.

Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository for processing billing information. The business data repositories use one or more data source formats. A business logic module generating business data requests for data from the business data repository in order to carry out processing of billing information. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer descriptor repository stores customizable data source descriptions for generating the data layer. The data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in the data layer descriptor repository. The data layer module receives the data source independent business data requests and based on the request, the data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository.

Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository for processing billing information. The business data repositories use one or more data source formats. A business logic module generating business data requests for data from the business data repository in order to carry out processing of billing information. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer descriptor repository stores customizable data source descriptions for generating the data layer. The data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in the data layer descriptor repository. The data layer module receives the data source independent business data requests and based on the request, the data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository.

Abstract: Systems and methods for loading XML documents on demand are described. The system provides a Wrapper class for the XML Document class and the Element class. A user application then utilizes the Wrapper class in the same way that the Element class and Document class would be used to access any element in the XML Document. The Wrapper class loads external components as required. The external component retrieval is completely transparent to the user application and the user application is able to access the entire XML document as if it were completely loaded into a DOM object in memory. Accordingly, each element is accessible in a random manner. In one configuration, the XML document components or external components are stored in a database in a BLOB field as a Digital Document. The system uses external components to efficiently use resources as compared to systems using Xlink and external entities.

Abstract: A process for producing vinyl chloride monomer from ethylene and ethane having input of significant quantities of both ethane and ethylene in input streams to the affiliated reactor where hydrogen chloride in the reactor effluent is only partially recovered from the reactor effluent in the first unit operation after the ethane/ethylene-to-vinyl reaction step or stage. Steps are presented of oxydehydro-chlorination catalytic reaction of ethane, ethylene, hydrogen chloride, oxygen, and chlorine; cooling and condensing the reactor effluent stream; and separating the condensed raw product stream into vinyl chloride monomer and a reactor recycle stream.

Abstract: A parsing technique suitable for use in electronic commerce that avoids the disadvantages of known monolithic parsers. The parsing system generates code specific to each input document and data stream type, which may then be updated as needed to handle document-specific idiosyncrasies without requiring modifications to the core parser code. As a user (10) defines parsing rules for extracting data from a representative sample document (15), a visual trainer (16) automatically generates code in the background, referred to as a filer (17), that is specific to that document and that embodies the rules for extracting data from that particular document. The generated code may be modified manually (18) as needed to account for any idiosyncratic conditions associated with the document. Each representative document has associated with it its own filer. A parsing engine (20, 21) comprises a collection of such individual filers appropriate for the types of documents that arise in any given organization.

Abstract: A process for producing vinyl chloride monomer where significant quantities of both ethane and ethylene in input streams to the affiliated reactor where hydrogen chloride in the reactor effluent is essentially fully recovered from the reactor effluent in the first unit operation after the ethane/ethylene-to-vinyl reaction step or stage. Steps are presented of oxydehydro-chlorination catalytic reaction of ethane, ethylene, hydrogen chloride, oxygen, and chlorine; quenching the reactor effluent stream to provide a raw product stream having essentially no hydrogen chloride; and separation of the raw product stream into a vinyl chloride monomer product stream and into a lights stream; and recycling the lights steam to the reactor.

Abstract: In one aspect, a process for producing vinyl chloride from ethane/ethylene involving: (a) combining ethane, ethylene, or mixtures thereof with an oxygen source and a chlorine source in a reactor containing a suitable catalyst under conditions sufficient to convert substantially all of the C2 hydrocarbon fed and to produce a product stream comprising vinyl chloride and hydrogen chloride; and (b) recycling unreacted hydrogen chloride back for use in Step (a). No C2 hydrocarbon recycle is required in this process. In another aspect, a process for producing vinyl chloride involving: (a) combining ethane, optionally ethylene, an oxygen source, and a chlorine source in a reactor containing a suitable catalyst under conditions sufficient to produce vinyl chloride and hydrogen chloride; (b) catalytically reacting said hydrogen chloride in a second reactor to provide a second reactor effluent essentially devoid of hydrogen chloride; and (c) recycling said second reactor effluent to step (a).

Abstract: A customizable electronic bill payment and presentment system whereby the base logic for event notification messaging need not be changed in order to provide customization to different billers. Rather, customization features are stored in data repositories, preferably in XML format. An administrator can select which events will trigger event notification messages, control parameters for processing the event messages, and who will receive messages. Also, customizable message templates are provided in the data repositories. These templates can provide messages in different languages based the recipient. Also, the templates may provide different customizable messages to different recipients depending on the role of the recipient. Accordingly, customization for a particular biller is achieved by changing data stored in a repository, rather than reprogramming core logic.

Abstract: An customizable electronic bill presentment computer system for providing bill information from a biller to a remote customer over a network. The system processes a requested transaction from a customer through an interaction controller that utilizes stored scripts of instructions in an action descriptor repository. The action descriptor repository includes customized instructions for controlling business objects and presentation objects. The action descriptor repository and a presentation descriptor repository are maintained discrete from the business logic, presentation logic, and interaction controller, thereby providing that the repositories are the only part of the system directly reflecting the biller's particular electronic billing needs, the information in the repositories being customizable for the biller.

Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository for processing billing information. The business data repositories use one or more data source formats. A business logic module generating business data requests for data from the business data repository in order to carry out processing of billing information. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer descriptor repository stores customizable data source descriptions for generating the data layer. The data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in the data layer descriptor repository. The data layer module receives the data source independent business data requests and based on the request, the data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement in a process for preparing a molded rigid polyurethane or polyurethane-polyurea foam wherein a polyol having an average of at least 3 hydroxyl groups per molecule is reacted with a polyisocyanate in a mold in the presence of a blowing agent under conditions such that a rigid polyurethane or polyurethane-polyurea foam is formed. The improvement comprises employing as all or a portion of said polyol an aminoalkylpiperazine-initiated polyol having an equivalent weight from about 87 to about 500, said aminoalkylpiperazine-initiated polyol being employed in an amount sufficient to increase the cure rate of the foam relative to a similar foam prepared in the absence of the aminoalkylpiperazine-initiated polyol. Excellent flowability k-factors and rapid cures are obtained according to the invention.