Abstract: A method is provided that uses a server to dynamically configure software applications on an electronic device. Information is received from the device about the device (e.g. device OS, firmware version, make and/or model, etc.). The server determines based on the device information a set of capabilities of the device. The server then sends code for installation on the device to configure at least one of the software applications based on the determined capabilities of the device. A programmed server is also provided.

Abstract: A stent system is provided for stenting a bifurcated vessel structure having a parent vessel and a daughter vessel. The stent system has a parent vessel stent and a daughter vessel stent. The parent vessel stent has a substantially tubular body that is configured to be deployed into the parent vessel. This body has an angular flap that is openable to extend into the daughter vessel. The daughter vessel stent has a substantially tubular body that is configured to be deployed through the flap in the parent vessel stent into the daughter vessel. The daughter vessel stent has an angled tail portion that is configured to overlap with the flap of the parent vessel stent when both stents are deployed in the vessel structure. A method of stenting using this system is also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for providing customer care to a user of an electronic device. After a device profile of the electronic device is received, together with any text added by the user in a query, a customer care case is created with the received parameters from the device profile and the added text from the user. This customer care case is then automatically routed to an appropriate resource or customer care agent channel based on analysis of the parameters and the added text. A separate but related method also relates to the database of expertise and availability parameters that is maintained for a plurality of customer care agents. The database is used for the aforementioned analysis and routing.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling gameplay with a character in a game environment on a mobile device. In the game environment, a player can play a game via a character. When there is an expectation of action from the character in the game, a touch gesture input is received on the mobile device. The fidelity of the touch gesture input is calculated with reference to an optimal gesture in a reference gesture table. If the fidelity is within a predefined range associated with the optimal gesture, the touch gesture input is matched to the optimal gesture and an associated game script is called wherein the character would be shown as having successfully completed the expectation.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a body part in a video stream from a mobile device. A video stream of a human subject is received from a camera connected to the mobile device. The video stream has frames. A first frame of the video stream is identified for processing. This first frame is then partitioned into observation windows, each observation window having pixels. In each observation window, non-skin-toned pixels are eliminated; and the remaining pixels are compared to determine a degree of entropy of the pixels in the observation window. In any observation window having a degree of entropy above a predetermined threshold, a bounded area is made around the region of high entropy pixels. The consistency of the entropy is analyzed in the bounded area. If the bounded area has inconsistently high entropy, a body part is determined to be detected at that bounded area.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of virtual gameplay is provided. In a video game in which a player can create a player character for interaction in the video game, the player is allowed to play in the video game using the player character via at least one player character script. When the player exits the video game, the player character is allowed to at least temporarily become a non-player character in the game by selectively causing the player character to assume at least one non-player character script, such that the player character has automatic, non-player directed interactions in the video game wherein the player character takes on the behaviour of a non-player character. When the player returns to the video game, the player character is allowed to resume play in the video game according to the player character script.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay. A game environment is provided in which a player can play a game via a character. When the player scans a barcode from a real world object, a virtual object is retrieved based on the barcode input. The player's character can then own or interact with the virtual object in the game environment.

Abstract: A method is provided for self-care based customer care for users of devices. A device agent is provided for the device. The device agent is executable on the device and is programmed for gathering information from the device in the form of a device profile and running a diagnosis of the device. The diagnosis process refers to a set of rules stored locally on the device, and aspects of the device profile are reviewed against conditions in these rules. The profile gathering and diagnosis steps are programmed to be triggered and occur on the device.

Abstract: An operator network is capable of routing incoming customer care calls to specific customer care representatives based on a subscriber profile and customer service representative (CSR) skill set. The device profile is retrieved from the mobile handset while the incoming customer care call is in a queue waiting to be connected to a CSR. The retrieved device profile is also used to determine an appropriate CSR to handle an incoming customer care call.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling gameplay with a character in a game environment on a mobile device. In the game environment, a player can play a game via a character. When there is an expectation of action from the character in the game, a touch gesture input is received on the mobile device. The fidelity of the touch gesture input is calculated with reference to an optimal gesture in a reference gesture table. If the fidelity is within a predefined range associated with the optimal gesture, the touch gesture input is matched to the optimal gesture and an associated game script is called wherein the character would be shown as having successfully completed the expectation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay. Access is provided to at least one video game in which a player is able to interact with the video game according to a storyline. A player location is detected and stored. A local element is retrieved from a database based on the player location and the local element is correlated to a local element script actuatable in the video game. This local element script is retrieved and actuated in the video game to supplement or replace the video game's storyline.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay with a character in a game environment. A game environment is provided in which a player can play a game via a character. The player's geographic location is detected and stored. In response to the detected geographic location, a storyline is retrieved for the character to interact with. The retrieved storyline is related to the geographic location of the player.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay with a virtual character on a computing device. The player can access at least one video game and interact with the video game via a virtual character. The computing device detects or receives and stores at least one vital sign of the player. This vital sign is used to retrieve a storyline for the virtual character to interact with, which is related to the at least one vital sign.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided that enables virtual gameplay with a character on a computing device. Access is provided to at least one video game in which a player is able to interact via a character. The player's emotive state is detected and stored. In response to the detected emotive state, the computing device retrieves a storyline for the character that is related to the emotive state of the player.

Abstract: A method is provided for trading virtual goods. A game environment is provided in which a first player can acquire or develop a virtual good. This virtual good has a starting value. At least one rating of the virtual good is received from a second player via the game environment. The starting value is automatically increased or decreased as a function of the at least one rating of the virtual good. The virtual good is then made available for purchase at the new value. A system for trading virtual goods is also provided.

Abstract: A telecommunications network includes a plurality of operators, each performing customer service activities. Each operator uses an analytics engine to apply troubleshooting rules to help diagnose customer problems. In addition to a local rules repository at each of the different operators, a centralized rules repository is used to collect domain knowledge of the different operators. Additionally, rules generated by software vendors and device manufacturers are also included in the centralized rules repository. By accessing this centralized rules repository, the local rules repositories can be updated with rules from these other sources, thereby increasing the rules available for each individual operator.

Abstract: Automatically backing up one or more computers across a network to a backup device coupled to the network through one of the computers connected to the network. In one embodiment, a user connects the backup device to a first network connected computer which triggers the launch, installation, setup and configuration of the associated software on the first computer thereby performing a backup operation of data from the first computer to the backup device. The user then connects the backup device to a second network connected computer which triggers the launch, installation, setup and configuration of the associated software on the second computer thereby performing a backup operation of data from the second computer to the backup device. Furthermore, the associated software installed on the second computer triggers communication with and a backup of data from the first computer across the network through the second computer to the backup device.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling gameplay with a character in a game environment on a mobile device. In the game environment, a player can play a game via a character. When there is an expectation of action from the character in the game, a touch gesture input is received on the mobile device. The fidelity of the touch gesture input is calculated with reference to an optimal gesture in a reference gesture table. If the fidelity is within a predefined range associated with the optimal gesture, the touch gesture input is matched to the optimal gesture and an associated game script is called wherein the character would be shown as having successfully completed the expectation.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a body part in a video stream from a mobile device. A video stream of a human subject is received from a camera connected to the mobile device. The video stream has frames. A first frame of the video stream is identified for processing. This first frame is then partitioned into observation windows, each observation window having pixels. In each observation window, non-skin-toned pixels are eliminated; and the remaining pixels are compared to determine a degree of entropy of the pixels in the observation window. In any observation window having a degree of entropy above a predetermined threshold, a bounded area is made around the region of high entropy pixels. The consistency of the entropy is analyzed in the bounded area. If the bounded area has inconsistently high entropy, a body part is determined to be detected at that bounded area.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling virtual gameplay. A game environment is provided in which a player can play a game via a character. When the player scans a barcode from a real world object, a virtual object is retrieved based on the barcode input. The player's character can then own or interact with the virtual object in the game environment.