Abstract:
Commonly targeted advertising is used to attract a specific demographic towards a particular product and/or service. An advertisement can be presented over a vehicle radio that relate to a route while a user is driving. Advertisements can be directed to a user, including such information as a user name, a user's destination, contextual information, etc. Advertisements can be masked to appear as thought they are part of a standard program; for instance, a normal radio advertiser's voice can be used.
Abstract:
A direction set can be augmented with up-to-date information such that a route to be taken by a user is changed. A user can request a direction set to take a user along a long route that minimizes cost to a user. A route can be generated using a set of known fuel prices; however, as the user travels, fuel prices can change. New fuel information can be gathered and the route can be modified based upon the gathered information.
Abstract:
The presentation of location information to a user that is distracted by traveling can result in the user quickly forgetting, or never even comprehending, key parts of the location information, such as the street number. Identification can be made of intersections and points of interest near the user's destination, which can then be provided instead of, or in addition to, the address, thereby increasing user comprehension and retention, especially when distracted. Map data can be parsed into addresses, intersections and points of interest databases. These databases can be accessed to identify proximate intersections and points of interest, which can then be filtered and subsequently ranked to identify one intersection, one point of interest, or both, that can be presented to the user to aid the user in comprehending and retaining the location information even when distracted.
Abstract:
According to one embodiment, a method for tracking rapid changes in frequency and phase offset in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) receiver includes correcting a frequency error of a received OFDM symbol. A Fourier transform operation is performed resulting in a number of independently modulated subcarriers. An initial coarse estimate of the phase of the received OFDM symbol is performed based on the phase of pilot subcarriers. An initial correction of a symbol phase is performed. A data-driven phase estimation is performed on the corrected symbol resulting in a refined phase estimate. A second, more precise, correction of the received OFDM symbol phase is performed. Phase and frequency tracking is performed based on the refined phase estimated.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for identifying the relevancy of packets. In one embodiment, source addresses are associated with network topology indications. When a packet is received, its network topology indication is compared with the corresponding one retrieved from a data structure to determine whether to drop the packet. Source addresses may also be associated with authorized interfaces to determine whether a packet was received on an authorized interface. In one embodiment, a maintained network topology indication is associated with a packet. After it is processed, the corresponding latest network topology indication is retrieved and compared with that previously associated with the packet. In one embodiment, upon a change in a network topology indication associated with an interface, control packets are placed in each of the queues corresponding to the destination interface, so it can be readily identified when this update has been propagated through the system.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are described to inhibit automatic installation of software by an installer carried on a recording medium so as to enable copying of content data from the recording medium. When the recording medium is inserted into a reader, an inhibitor inhibits an installer carried upon the recording medium from installing a copy protector by mimicking prior installation of the copy protector.
Abstract:
A method and system for evaluating fraud risk in an electronic commerce transaction between consumer and a merchant over a network is disclosed. The merchant requests service from the system over the network using a secure, open messaging protocol. An e-commerce transaction or electronic purchase order is received from the merchant, the level of risk associated with each order is measured, and a risk score is returned to the merchant. In one embodiment, data validation, highly predictive artificial intelligence pattern matching, network data aggregation and negative file checks are used to examine numerous factors to calculate fraud risk. The fraud screening system performs analysis that utilizes data elements submitted with the order, and includes data integrity checks and correlation analyses based on the characteristics of the transaction. Other analysis includes a comparative comparison of the current transaction against past known fraudulent transactions, and a search of a transaction history database to identify abnormal velocity patterns, name and address changes, and known defrauders. A risk score is generated and compared to the merchant's specified risk threshold. The result is returned to the merchant for order disposition. In one alternative, scoring algorithms are regularly refined through the use of a closed-loop risk modeling process that enables the service provided by the system to be fine-tuned to adapt to new or changing fraud patterns.
Abstract:
Cigarettes are stored in one or more reservoirs (6) at a customer location. A computer receives customer orders and transmits them to a dispenser. Upon receipt of a customer order, a pre-selected number of cigarettes are automatically removed from the reservoir(s) by the dispenser and then automatically packed in a container by a packer comprising a collation mandrel (22) which is moveable relative to the dispenser. A preferred type of substantially air-tight, self-sealing container has a lid portion (68), a body portion (50) and a collar (58), which is mounted within the body portion (50). The body portion (50) is provided with one or more upwardly extending protrusions (56) on the upper surface of the base thereof. An air and moisture impermeable membrane (60) is sealed about the upper periphery of the collar (58).