Abstract: The present invention provides a method of improving the ductility of a structural member, such as a reinforced concrete beam or column, by providing a region of increased compression yielding in the compression zone of the plastic hinge region or nearby. This can be achieved by using ductile compressive material in the compression zone, or by forming a mechanism provided in the compression zone to provide the ductile compression zone.

Abstract: Systems and methods to generate a motion attention model of a video data sequence are described. In one aspect, a motion saliency map B is generated to precisely indicate motion attention areas for each frame in the video data sequence. The motion saliency maps are each based on intensity I, spatial coherence Cs, and temporal coherence Ct values. These values are extracted from each block or pixel in motion fields that are extracted from the video data sequence. Brightness values of detected motion attention areas in each frame are accumulated to generate, with respect to time, the motion attention model.

Abstract: Systems and methods for smart media content thumbnail extraction are described. In one aspect program metadata is generated from recorded video content. The program metadata includes one or more key-frames from one or more corresponding shots. An objectively representative key-frame is identified from among the key-frames as a function of shot duration and frequency of appearance of key-frame content across multiple shots. The objectively representative key-frame is an image frame representative of the recorded video content. A thumbnail is created from the objectively representative key-frame.

Abstract: A robust camera motion analysis method is described. In an implementation, a method includes analyzing video having sequential frames to determine one or more camera motions that occurred when sequential frames of the video were captured. The one or more camera motions for each frame are described by a set of displacement curves, a mean absolute difference (MAD) curve, and a major motion (MAJ) curve. The set of displacement curves describe the one or more camera motions in respective horizontal (H), vertical (V), and radial (R) directions. The MAD curve relates a minimum MAD value from the set of displacement curves. The MAJ curve is generated from the minimum MAD value and provides one or more qualitative descriptions that describe the one or more camera motions as at least one of still, vertical, horizontal and radial.

Abstract: Systems and methods for image attention analysis are described. In one aspect, image attention is modeled by preprocessing an image to generate a quantized set of image blocks. A contrast-based saliency map for modeling one-to-three levels of image attention is then generated from the quantized image blocks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for representing sequential motion patterns are described. In one aspect, video frames are converted into a sequence of energy redistribution measurements. One or more motion filters are then applied to the ER measurements to generate one or more temporal sequences of motion patterns, the number of temporal sequences being a function of the number of motion filters.

Abstract: Systems and methods to generate a motion attention model of a video data sequence are described. In one aspect, a motion saliency map B is generated to precisely indicate motion attention areas for each frame in the video data sequence. The motion saliency maps are each based on intensity I, spatial coherence Cs, and temporal coherence Ct values. These values are extracted from each block or pixel in motion fields that are extracted from the video data sequence. Brightness values of detected motion attention areas in each frame are accumulated to generate, with respect to time, the motion attention model.

Abstract: Systems and methods to generate a video summary of a video data sequence are described. In one aspect, key-frames of the video data sequence are identified independent of shot boundary detection. A static summary of shots in the video data sequence is then generated based on key-frame importance. For each shot in the static summary of shots, dynamic video skims are calculated. The video summary consists of the calculated dynamic video skims.

Abstract: Systems and methods to automatically edit a video to generate a video summary are described. In one aspect, sub-shots are extracted from the video. Importance measures are calculated for at least a portion of the extracted sub-shots. Respective relative distributions for sub-shots having relatively higher importance measures as compared to importance measures of other sub-shots are determined. Based on the determined relative distributions, sub-shots that do not exhibit a uniform distribution with respect to other sub-shots in the particular ones are dropped. The remaining sub-shots are connected with respective transitions to generate the video summary.

Abstract: Systems and methods to generate an attention model for computational analysis of video data are described. In one aspect, feature components from a video data sequence are extracted. Attention data is generated by applying multiple attention models to the extracted feature components. The generated attention data is integrated into a comprehensive user attention model for the computational analysis of the video data sequence.

Abstract: A skate comprises a sole plate including an elongate groove through either downward extended wall, and a boot assembly including a heel portion and a toe portion including a rear elongate slot on either side, two fasteners inserted through heel portion and slots for coupling toe and heel portions together and for permitting slots to slide about fasteners within a distance defined by a length of slot, two opposite elongate projections on a bottom each having a length equal to that of slot, a fastening member for securing toe portion and sole plate, and a lever hinged to fastening device. Lever is outwardly pivoted to unfasten fastening member prior to pulling toe portion, and in response slots slide the same about fasteners, thereby moving toe portion relative to sole plate for adjusting the skate length.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus and method for the azimuthal recording of data to and from data storage tracks contained on digital linear tape. The magnetic recording apparatus includes a magnetic data recording head assembly. A magnetic recording head is centrally located within the magnetic data recording head assembly. The magnetic data recording head assembly includes a control device coupled to a left servo sensor, wherein the left sensor is located to the left of and external to the magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording apparatus additionally includes a control device coupled to a right servo sensor, wherein the right servo sensor is located to the right of and external to the magnetic recording head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mounting structure for mounting a horizontal insertion loading data storage drive in a data storage library having downwardly inclined shelves. A bracket mounts the data storage drive, and support bars are mounted in parallel in the data storage library and support the bracket on each side at a downwardly inclined angle. Thus, the horizontal insertion loading data storage drive is mounted at the downwardly inclined angle to receive data storage media from a robot accessor at the angle of the downwardly inclined shelves. The mounting structure support bars are parallel slides which slidably support the bracket at the downwardly inclined angle. A ratchet bar is mounted in the library at the downwardly inclined angle, and has a plurality of ratchet holes in the downwardly inclined direction. A latch is mounted on the bracket for engaging the ratchet holes of the ratchet bar to support the bracket and data storage drive against sliding on the support bar slides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a strain relief clamp for supporting one or more flexible ribbon cables. A first stiff member has an indentation wider than a flexible ribbon cable, and a height less than the thickness of a flexible ribbon cable. Stacked pliant members are stacked on the first stiff member. Each pliant member has an indentation on the side facing away from the first stiff member. The indentations are substantially equal in width and height to the indentation of the first stiff member. A second stiff member is located on the end of the stack opposite the first stiff member and has a protrusion at least as wide as a flexible ribbon cable facing the indentation of the adjacent pliant member. The protrusion height is such that the sum of its height and the thicknesses of the flexible ribbon cables is greater than the sum of the heights of the indentations of the first stiff member and of the stacked pliant members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printed circuit board having chips attached to the PCB. One or more of the chips has a planar collar mounted around the chip. The collar has a top and bottom planar surface without any projections. The collar extends laterally away from the edge of the chip to protect the leads electrically connecting the chip to the circuit board.

Abstract: A cartridge magazine with interfaces to automatic cartridge feeder devices. On one side, the magazine has an open interface that provides unencumbered access by a robotic picker that accesses cartridges for a library. The magazine is accessible on another side by a transport mechanism of an automatic cartridge feeder (ACF). The transport carries a cartridge from the magazine to a drive unit where the data stored on the cartridge is read or new data is written. The interface to the ACF includes a handle member for placing the magazine into the feeder. The magazine is mounted by loading it into the feeder and pushing the handle inward allowing a plunger on the ACF to engage a groove on the handle member that locks the magazine into place. Locking the magazine in place activates a sensor, thereby enabling the operation of the feeder. The interface securely engages the ACF so that the magazine cannot be accidentally dislodged from it.