352results about How to "Facilitate the process" patented technology

This invention relates to methods and a system for developing software applications using software components. In one embodiment, a method for developing an application includes facilitating online software programming contests, some of which result in the development of software components. A specification describing the software components to be used in the development of the application and the design of the software application is provided to developers and, in response to the communicated specification, assembled applications comprised of one or more of the software components are received. A review process for scoring each of the received applications is facilitated, and based on the review process, one of the received applications application is selected.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for facilitating loyalty and reward functionality in mobile commerce. In one embodiment, a method for providing a loyalty/reward program can include receiving an indication that a consumer has entered a predefined merchant location; transmitting a notification to a mobile device associated with the consumer; providing one or more payment tools on a mobile device for the consumer to facilitate a purchase from a merchant associated with the predefined merchant location; generating a loyalty/reward credit for an account associated with the consumer; and receiving an instruction from the consumer to redeem loyalty/reward credit for goods and/or service from the merchant.

A comprehensive, web-enabled computer system and method is provided for facilitating and managing all aspects of project work, while synchronizing communications, data and transaction processing across multiple user platforms. To implement the computer system and method, a bid item list is utilized to create configurable and scalable customized bid templates premised on the specific type of project work required. Bid requests are generated from the customized bid templates for solicitation of vendor bid responses to the selected bid items provided by the bid template. One or more bid items within the vendor bid responses can be selected for vendor grading purposes, and comparison of the vendor bid responses can be conducted using the graded bid item responses. In addition, project tracking parameters can be entered into the computer system for tracking the performance of the project.

The invention is a system and method, with implementing computer program code, that automatically and dynamically formats an electronic mail (e-mail) message by extracting selected text and graphical components of a web page and “wrapping” the extracted computer data about the e-mail message. Thus the extracted data forms a border about the e-mail message. The invention provides for the use of company designs and trademarks in e-mail messages without the addition of local software components resident on the user's computer, and without compromising the functionality of standard e-mail software programs. The invention wraps the e-mail received through a gateway server and sends out the wrapped e-mail to the destination (recipient) designated by the sender in the original, unwrapped message.

The design, internal data representation and query model of the invention, a hierarchical distributed caching system for semi-structured documents based on LDAP technology is presented that brings both, the semi-structured data model and the LDAP data model together into a system that provides the ideal characteristics for the efficient processing of XPath queries over XML documents. Transformation algorithms and experimental results have also been shown that prove the feasibility of the invention as a distributed caching system especially tailored for semi-structured data.

A port independent data transaction interface for multi-port devices is provided. The port independent data transaction interface includes a command channel that receives command data and a source id. The source id indicates a source device that transmitted the command data. In addition, a data-in channel is included that receives write data and a write source id. Similar to the source id, the write source id indicates a source device that transmitted the write data. The port independent data transaction interface further includes a data-out channel that provides read data and a read id. The read id indicates a source device that transmitted a read command corresponding to the read data. The port independent data transaction interface utilizes the source id to associate command data with corresponding write data and read data.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method of radio transmission of real-time IP packets using header compression technique. In the present invention, the size of a compressed header of an RTP packet can be adapted to length types required by the system by adding a radio link adaptation unit to the existing PDCP entity. The method comprises header-compressing the RTP packets, to obtain header-compressed RTP packets having a plurality of different header compression lengths; pre-configuring header compression lengths and length types required by the system; and PDU-size adapting the plurality of different header compression lengths of the header-compressed RTP packets, so as to comply with said lengths and length types required by the system.

A method according to embodiments of the present invention comprises providing a magnetic stack comprising a magnetic layer sub-stack comprising magnetic layers and a bottom conductive electrode and a top conductive electrode electrically connecting the magnetic layer sub-stack at opposite sides thereof; providing a sacrificial pillar on top of the magnetic stack, the sacrificial pillar having an undercut with respect to an overlying second sacrificial material and a sloped foot with increasing cross-sectional dimension towards the magnetic stack, using the sacrificial pillar for patterning the magnetic stack, depositing an insulating layer around the sacrificial pillar, selectively removing the sacrificial pillar, thus creating a contact hole towards the patterned magnetic stack, and filling the contact hole with electrically conductive material.

A system and method for providing controlled broadband access bandwidth allocation adjustment service are disclosed. A broadband bandwidth allocation service manager is established which is accessible via the broadband network. When a broadband bandwidth allocation adjustment request is received from a requestor, a broadband bandwidth allocation adjustment will be made if the requested bandwidth is available and the requester is willing to accept the pricing associated with the adjustment.

Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.

Two (or more), -component, body-implantable, absorbable, biocompatible, putty, and non-putty hemostatic tamponades for use in surgery. Component 1 is a finely powdered bulking material, preferably less than 50 microns, e.g. the calcium, magnesium, aluminum, or barium salts of saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acids containing about 6 to 22 carbon atoms, hydroxyapatite, DBM, polyglycolide, polylactide, poldioxinones, polycaprolactones, absorbable glasses, gelatin, collagens, mono, and polysaccharides starches.

Component 2, a dispersing vehicle, may be esters of C₈-C₁₈ monohydric alcohols with C₂-C₆ aliphatic monocarboxylic acids; C₂-C₁₈ monohydric alcohols with polycarboxylic acids; C₈-C₃₀ monohydric alcohols; tocopherol and esters thereof with C₂-C₁₀ aliphatic monocarboxylic acids or polycarboxylic acids; absorbable 10-14C hydrocarbons; free carboxylic acids such as oleic, capric, and lauric; dialkyl ethers and ketones; alkyl aryl ethers and ketones, polyhydroxy compounds and esters and ethers thereof; (ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers), oils e.g. olive oil, castor oil and triglycerides.

The present invention provides systems, methods, and computer program products for performing validation and clearance at a transaction item level for transaction received in a batch format. Each transaction of the batch is stored separately in a storage system, such as a logical database. Typically, image data and electronic data for a transaction are stored separately in the storage system and may be linked to each other. Each transaction is separately accessible and/or updateable. Each transaction stored in the storage system is separately analyzed to validate that the transaction is at least balanced. Transactions that determined to be balanced are cleared irrespective of a balance status associated with other transactions associated with the batch of transactions, such that transactions are individually cleared as opposed to being cleared in a batch format.

A method and system are provided which enables automotive dealers to use a standard PC and Internet-type browser software package to enter credit/loan application data over the Internet. Such data can then be automatically distributed via the Internet to designated financial institutes or loan service providers for processing. The system also receives responses back from the service providers and displays these responses to the requesting dealer. To accommodate financial institutions which have not been provided with prearranged access, the system provides automatic enablement of facsimile transmission to dealer-chosen banks and credit unions. In addition, other information which facilitates the automotive credit process, such as completion of standard department of motor vehicles forms, insurance forms, etc., may also may be collected and transmitted electronically to the institution/company either directly or through a credit application service provider, with electronic responses provided back to the requesting dealer.

A vertical electrode structure of GaN-based light emitting diode discloses an oxide window layer constructing the GaN-based light emitting diode of vertical electrode structure, which effectively decreases the Fresnel reflection loss and total reflection, and further advances the luminous efficiency. Moreover, the further included metal reflecting layer causes the reflection without the selective angle of incidence, thus increasing the coverage of the reflecting angles and further reflecting the light emitted from a light emitting layer effectively. In addition, the invented structure can also advance the function of heat elimination and the electrostatic discharge (ESD) so as to the increase the operating life of the component and to be applicable to the using under the high current driving. Moreover, the vertical electrode structure of the present invention is able to lower down the manufacturing square of the chip and facilitate the post stage of the conventional wire bonding process.

An implant for performing interbody fusion within a human spine, inserters for such an implant, and associated methodology. The implant is preferably formed in situ from at least two separate but lockable members (a base member and a closure member). The base member may be implanted into an interbody space first, after which the end plates may be finally prepared and the base member packed with fusion promoting substances before engaging and locking the closure member. The closure member provides structural support for the adjacent vertebral bodies (along with the base member) and may be selected after implantation of the base member having a specific length, width, height, taper, etc. . . . to ensure an optimal sizing of the implant for desired restoration of disc height, coronal taper, sagittal taper, etc. . . . .

A system and method for forming a novel C4 solder bump for BLM (Ball Limiting Metallurgy) includes a novel damascene technique is implemented to eliminate the Cu undercut problem and improve the C4 pitch. In the process, a barrier layer metal stack is deposited above a metal pad layer. A top layer of the barrier layer metals (e.g., Cu) is patterned by CMP. Only bottom layers of the barrier metal stack are patterned by a wet etching. The wet etch time for the Cu-based metals is greatly reduced resulting in a reduced undercut. This allows the pitch of the C4 solder bumps to be reduced. An alternate method includes use of multiple vias at the solder bump terminal.

This invention provides a novel switch for use in a telecommunications network that is capable of interacting with a voice assisted services server, such as a voice activated dialing (VAD) server. The switch is configured to set-up a calling session between an originating terminal and the VAD server that creates a voice connection between the user at the originating terminal and the VAD server, the voice connection passing through the switch. The VAD server can then in response to a spoken utterance indicative of the party the user wishes to call, generate a transcription of the utterance and extract from a database the telephone number associated with this transcription. The VAD server then formulates a call session redirect message in which is embedded the telephone number of the party the user wishes to call. This call session redirect message is received by the switch and the command implemented such that the call session is redirected toward the desired location. After this procedure is completed, the connection between the switch and the VAD is released. The invention also extends to a novel voice assisted services server capable of remotely effecting call management at a switch based on a spoken utterance conveyed to the voice assisted services server over a voice connection. Further, the invention also extends to methods for operating a switch and a voice assisted services server to implement the above described functionalities. Yet, the invention also extends to a novel method and apparatus to effect billing operations allowing to differentiate for a single call session the part of the call session involving the voice assisted services server and the part following the call session redirect event.