1888results about How to "Save effort" patented technology

A methodology and system allows a plurality of reward scheme owners to give differential rewards, through a plurality of reward distribution agents, to various users based on the user profile. The reward scheme owner may be a seller, a manufacturer, a sales promotion agent or even an intermediary. Similarly, the reward distribution agent may be an on-line or a physical retailer, a broker, a seller or an intermediary. Also the users may be consumers, businesses, brokers or other intermediaries. In one specific case, a reward scheme owner defines a plurality of reward schemes, including at least one differential reward scheme giving different rewards to different users. The reward scheme owner communicates these to a central reward scheme database server. The reward scheme owners may or may not advertise these schemes. The user visits an online or a physical store. The store acting as a reward distribution agent dynamically profiles the user, queries the central reward scheme database server if the user profile meets the criterion for one or more rewards and offers the applicable rewards to the user. The store later receives reimbursement for the rewards offered to various users, from the reward scheme owners. This methodology and system may be used for offering targeted or differential discounts on different products and services, offering different promotional schemes on different combination of products, giving loyalty points, electronically distributing prizes, free samples, product warranties, tie-in promotions, cross selling, up selling, premiums, memberships, card discounts, organizing contests, sweepstakes, games and offering other similar rewards.

Enables multiple devices of a same user to logon automatically. An example of a method includes: registering the user and the user's multiple user devices with a Multiple Device Authentication (MDA) apparatus; authenticating at least one of the user's registered devices by the MDA apparatus and selecting the authenticated device as a master device; selecting one or more slave devices from the registered user devices; adding the selected master device and one or more selected slave devices to an active device table; if a user device accessing the MDA apparatus is in the active device table, causing the user device logon directly and automatically without first authenticating the user device. Operation of authentication is needed only once to enable user's multiple devices to logon the server automatically and conveniently. Seamless switch between different devices can be implemented, resulting in improved single-sign-on solution over the prior art.

Both ends of the lead arrangement project outward from side surfaces of a package to form outer lead regions. Each of the outer lead regions includes a pair of outer lead projections and lead terminal smaller projections that are located between the outer lead projections. The outer lead projections and lead terminal smaller projections project outward. Adjustment is made to the projection amount of end surfaces of the lead smaller projections lying in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the lead arrangement, whereby the end surfaces projecting less than end surfaces of the outer lead projections. Thus, cut surfaces of lead connection portions with edged corners are not exposed. This arrangement prevents that the cut surfaces damage other devices.

Systems and methods for providing visual information to a telephone user regarding multiple voicemail services associated with the telephone user. The method includes providing a telephone comprising a display and organizing information relating to messages in the voicemail, wherein the information comprises an identifier indicating with which voicemail service each message is associated. Finally, the information is displayed on the display. Additional information may include the number of messages, a primary phone number from which each message was received, a name associated with each primary phone number, at least one alternative phone number associated with each primary phone number and a length of time for each message.

A method and apparatus for performing autonomous data transfer are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, a mail server notifies a mobile computing device that the server has received new email. Acting in accordance with instructions or an instruction contained within the notification, the mobile computing device connects to the server and downloads the email. The data connection is preferably a wireless connection and the notification is preferably in the form of a SMS message send in accordance with the GSM short messaging service. In an alternative embodiment, the data to be transfer corresponds to a software update or database update. In this embodiment, the mobile computing device downloads the software update and can autonomously execute an install script or the data in the form of a self-extracting archive. In a similar fashion, a remote database can be updated. The remote computing device may be mobile and in the form of a laptop computer incorporating a specially adapted GSM cellular communications module. The invention provides for complete automation of the data transfer process as the specially adapted GSM module can be kept in a passive mode and, on receipt of a notification of pending new email, power up the laptop computer in which it is resident. The invention may find application in the field of mobile computing and remote network administration.

A catheter introducer for antegrade and retrograde medical procedures includes a generally tubular introducer member having proximal and distal ends. The introducer member includes a lumen for receiving a guidewire during a medical procedure, which guidewire includes a distal end traveling in a first direction. The catheter introducer further includes an occlusion member adjacent the distal end thereof for altering the traveling direction of the distal end of the guidewire to a second direction. The catheter introducer of the invention can be easily used for performing angioplasty on tandem or segmental lesions in one procedure using antegrade and retrograde approaches. The novel technique of the present invention involves performing angioplasty on one lesion using one of the antegrade and retrograde approaches, and then using the other of the antegrade and retrograde approaches to perform angioplasty on the second lesion. Both lesions are attended to during one medical procedure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable optical sensor and a production process of the same, the optical sensor being excellent in the characteristic of blocking infrared radiation and capable of being manufactured at a low cost without an increase in the number of steps carried out in the assembly of electronic apparatus. The present invention includes: a substrate 1 having an electrode 3; a photodetector 2 electrically connected to the electrode 3; and a light-transmissive resin encapsulating portion 11 for encapsulating the photodetector 2 on the substrate 1, the optical sensor further including an infrared-blocking layer either inside the light-transmissive resin encapsulating portion 11 or on an outer surface of the light-transmissive resin encapsulating portion 11 for blocking infrared radiation from the outside from reaching the photodetector.

A method and system for establishing a location based social networking is provided. A client application is provided on a communications device of a user seeking to establish the location based social network. The user creates a personal profile and a preference profile using the client application. The preference profile refers to characteristics the user seeks in potential members of the location based social network. The user transfers the personal and preference profiles to the social networking server which registers a location and range selected by the user. The social networking server identifies potential members within the registered location and range by matching the personal profile of each of the potential members with the preference and personal profiles of the user. The social networking server provides communications link between the user and the identified potential members upon mutual confirmation between the user and the identified potential members.

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing layer-like structures in which a material layer having hollow cavities, preferably a porous material layer, is produced on or out of a substrate consisting, for example, of monocrystalline p-type or n-type Si and in which the layer-like structure, or a part of it, is subsequently provided on the cavity exhibiting or porous material layer. The layer-like structure, or a part of it, is subsequently separated from the substrate using the layer having the hollow cavities, or porous layer, as a point of desired separation, for example through the production of a mechanical strain within or at a boundary surface of the cavity exhibiting or porous layer. The method is characterized in that the surface of the substrate is structured prior to the production of the porous layer, or in that the surface of the porous layer is structured.

A method of simulating a bio-transport system comprising: (a) characterizing one or more elements to represent a bio-transport system of an organism or a portion thereof; (b) constructing one or more mathematical representations that model one or more bio-transport dynamics for each element based on the characterization of the elements to form a configured simulation model; (c) initializing the configured simulation model; (d) executing the configured simulation model to obtain bio-transport dynamics data for one or more elements; and (e) outputting information to a user based on at least a portion of the bio-transport dynamics data.

Optimization constraints are used to select an appropriate content item from an available group of content items which are ordered in a specific manner to facilitate the proper selection of the content item, even if the exact item desired is not present. The server is then able to insert the selected content item into the outgoing content page requested by the client. The optimization constraints can be, but are not limited to, any one of the following: communication channel performance (bandwidth), client operating system, client processor, client display capabilities, client installed software (video or audio codecs for example), and / or user preferences. A software product and method enable selective delivery of content to client devices of varying performance characteristics, including varying bandwidth, by selective filtering and inclusion of markup language content using tags demarcating optional content. The optional content may include a number of alternate items of content. An optimization constraint is used to select one of the items. The server includes the selected item in an item of content requested by a client device. The optimization constraints are associated with varying levels of client / communication channel performance.

A framework may include an object model and services. The framework may gather information at run-time from metadata within the object model before the framework operates on the classes. For a class within the object model, a subclass may be generated for containing pertinent metadata about the class. Through annotations of class members, the framework may determine the various types of data within the framework. This hierarchy information may specify how objects within the object model relate to one another. An annotation set within the subclass may contain information specifying how members of the class should behave, including, which services of the framework the class member should participate in and how the class member should participate. The annotations may be used for indicating how services of the framework should persist data to various storage units, such as an XML file and / or a database table.

A method for delivery of a good for a first entity (C100) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of transporting the good by a second entity (D100) to a storage (S120) which is locked by a lock system (S110), communicating a notification to the first entity (C100) for requesting an unlocking of the lock system (S110) for the second entity (D100), sending a message via a mobile telecommunication system from the first entity (C100) to the lock system (S110) for unlocking the lock system (S110), unlocking the lock system (S110) based on the received message, opening the storage (S120), and transferring the good from the second entity (D100) to the opened storage (S120). Furthermore, a method for obtaining a good from a storage (S120) of a first entity (C100) is disclosed and devices that allow the implementation of the methods.

A method of simulating a bio-transport system comprising: (a) characterizing one or more elements to represent a bio-transport system of an organism or a portion thereof; (b) constructing one or more mathematical representations that model one or more bio-transport dynamics for each element based on the characterization of the elements to form a configured simulation model; (c) initializing the configured simulation model; (d) executing the configured simulation model to obtain bio-transport dynamics data for one or more elements; and (e) outputting information to a user based on at least a portion of the bio-transport dynamics data.

A method of generating a product recipe for execution by a batch process in an automated manufacturing environment, such the product recipe is associated with a plurality of actions, a set of transitions, and a set of parameters, and such that the plurality of actions define a plurality of logical levels including a phase level at which the batch process interacts with equipment, includes receiving a procedure definition specifying the plurality of actions, receiving a transaction definition specifying the set of transitions so that each one in the set of transitions is associated with two or more of the plurality of actions, and receiving the set of parameters. Receiving the set of parameters includes receiving at least one dynamic input parameter that resolves to a value without obtaining the value from the recipe or an operator prompt associated at the phase level of the recipe.

The invention features a photopolymerizable composition that comprises a cationically polymerizable resin, and a photoinitiator system comprising an iodonium salt, a visible light sensitizer, and one or more anthracene-based compounds as electron donors. Electron donor combinations used in the invention include multiple substituted anthracene compounds or a combination of at least one substituted anthracene compound with unsubstituted anthracene.

A system and method which may directly resolve a URL into the IP address of a web server running a regional website of a web service provider based on a user's geographic location. A user may type a URL of a website in his browser. A user location analyzer may decide the user's geographic location according to his IP address. With the user's geographic location, a DNS server may resolve the URL to a regional website of a web service provider which provides services specific to the user's geographic location. Consequently, the user may be presented a regional website of a web service provider without delays caused by re-directing, and save the user's time and effort to look for a regional website himself.

A method, a system, and an apparatus for permitting a user to remain in contact with at least one other person. The present invention provides a method, a system, and an apparatus that is capable of enabling a user to remain in contact with others through a service that checks contacts set up in a predetermined contact list. The contact list is then contacted and the user is contacted with the results. As such, the present invention permits the user to remain in contact with a significant number of entities while saving time and effort by ensuring the user is only contacted with certain information. The system and method also permits the user to remain in contact even when the user is unavailable.

An encoded clip generator comprises an input interface (402) for receiving source raw audio / video data from a media source (30). The source data comprises a series of complete video frames and a corresponding series of audio frames. The generator also includes an editor interface for receiving a clip start position and a clip end position. The generator includes a processor (410) and a memory (420) containing instructions for controlling the operation of the processor (410). Included in the memory (420) is a selection module (422) for generating a raw audio / video clip comprising video frames and audio frames selected from the source data according to the received clip start and end positions to provide an unextended raw audio / video clip; an extension module (424) for extending the unextended raw video clip by adding additional video frames and additional audio frames; an encoding module (426) for encoding the extended raw video clip to form an encoded extended video clip; and a trimming module (428) for removing excess video and audio frames from the encoded extended video clip such that all of the desired video frames are included and such that the duration of the encoded audio stream is at least as long as the duration of the encoded video stream remaining.

By exploiting an early release facility that may be provided by certain transactional memory designs, we allow for transaction software constructs that wait on removal (or satisfaction) of a condition that would otherwise result in transaction abort. Absent exploitation of such a such a facility, the act of checking the condition would typically introduce a corresponding location into the read set of the transaction, and a subsequent modification of that location that removed (or satisfied) the condition, would result in abortion of the blocked transaction. By exploiting an early release facility such as described herein, a transaction may release the location (or locations) corresponding the condition, retry, and once the transient condition is removed (or satisfied), complete and commit. In this way, computation effort may be conserved while still employing a conceptually simple and convenient coordination facility.

The invention relates to a soil improvement technology and an environment protection technology and particularly discloses a biochar mixing type protected horticultural vegetable field soil heavy metal passivant and a preparation method thereof. The soil heavy metal passivant comprises the following components in percentage by weight: 50 to 60 percent of biochar, 5 to 10 percent of medical stone powder, 5 to 10 percent of diatomite powder, 10 to 20 percent of lignite and 10 to 20 percent of coal ash. The preparation method for the soil heavy metal passivant comprises the following steps of: mixing the medical stone powder which is screened by an 80-mesh sieve, the diatomite powder which is screened by an 80-mesh sieve, the lignite, and the coal ash which is screened by an 80-mesh sieve, uniformly stirring, mixing with biochar which is screened by a 20-mesh sieve, fully stirring, and mixing uniformly to prepare the soil heavy metal passivant. The soil heavy metal passivant is easy to prepare; and the effects of passivating the protected horticultural vegetable field soil heavy metal, and reducing the content of recyclable heavy metal of plant in soil can be achieved under the synergistic effects of all components.

An ATM has a display section of a touch panel and a security camera that takes an image of at least an area from which display information on the display section is viewable. After a predetermined waiting time, the security camera takes an image. From the taken image, human faces are detected, and how many human faces are detected is counted. If the number of human faces is one, the display is carried out as peeping is not underway according to the judgment. Meanwhile, if a plurality of human faces are detected, the display is stopped as peeping is underway according to the judgment.

Systems and methods for monitoring uterus contraction activity and progress of labor. The system of the subject invention can comprises (1) a plurality of sensors; (2) an amplifying / filtering means; (3) a computing means; and (4) a graphical user interface. Accurate clinical data, which can be extracted and provided to the user in real-time using the system of the invention, include without limitation, progress of labor, prediction and monitoring of preterm labor, and intrauterine pressure prediction. In a preferred embodiment, the system of the invention includes an intelligence means, such as a neural network system, to analyze and interpret clinical data for use in clinical diagnosis as well as delivery strategy.

An improved stent design and stent delivery catheter assembly for repairing a main vessel and a side branch vessel forming a bifurcation. The stent includes rings aligned along a common longitudinal axis and connected by links, where the stent has one or more portals for aligning with and partially expanding into the opening to the side branch vessel. The stent is implanted at a bifurcation so that the main stent section is in the main vessel, and the portal section covers at least a portion of the opening to the side branch vessel. A second stent can be implanted in the side branch vessel and abut the expanded central section to provide full coverage of the bifurcated area in the main vessel and the side branch vessel. Radiopaque markers on the stent and on the tip of the delivery catheter assist in aligning the portal section with the opening to the side branch vessel.

Both ends of the lead arrangement project outward from side surfaces of a package to form outer lead regions. Each of the outer lead regions includes a pair of outer lead projections and lead terminal smaller projections that are located between the outer lead projections. The outer lead projections and lead terminal smaller projections project outward. Adjustment is made to the projection amount of end surfaces of the lead smaller projections lying in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the lead arrangement, whereby the end surfaces projecting less than end surfaces of the outer lead projections. Thus, cut surfaces of lead connection portions with edged corners are not exposed. This arrangement prevents that the cut surfaces damage other devices.

The present invention discloses a fastening structure having a fastening flange extended outward from the periphery of a cover, and the fastening flange has a latch portion under the fastening flange for latching and fixing the cover; and a hinge portion for connecting the fastening flange at the periphery of the cover, and the hinge portion has a plurality of sections of crevices for reducing a hinge area that connects the fastening flange to the cover. The invention also discloses a sealed box that includes the fastening structure, and a container having a latch structure disposed at a top edge of the container and used together with the latch portion for latching and fixing the cover. Without changing the thickness of the hinge portion, the invention can save efforts for the operation of the sealed box while maintaining the stress of the hinge portion.

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved software development tool which allows a developer to visually depict an existing data definition file containing data elements and relationships between the data elements by generating an XML structure diagram from the existing data definition file. Using methods and systems consistent with the present invention, the improved software development tool also allows the developer to generate a data definition file from an existing XML structure diagram.