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A method and apparatus are described to perform cascading search methodologies records in a database. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a free-form search string, comprising one or more search terms, from a user, searching a database to identify records in the database containing the search string, if no data records are identified, searching the database by applying an ordered sequence of search algorithms to identify data records containing strings similar to the search string, and to display the identified records.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a free-form search string, comprising one or more search terms, from a user;
searching a database to identify records in the database containing the search string; and
if no data records are identified, searching the database by applying an ordered sequence of search algorithms to identify data records containing strings similar to the search string.
2. The method of
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10. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
receiving a free-form search string, comprising one or more search terms, from a user;
searching a database to identify records in the database containing the search string; and
if no data records are identified, searching the database by applying an ordered sequence of search algorithms to identify data records containing strings similar to the search string.
11. The medium of
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19. A apparatus comprising:
means for receiving a free-form search string, comprising one or more search terms, from a user;
means for searching a database to identify records in the database containing the search string; and
if no data records are identified, means for searching the database by applying an ordered sequence of search algorithms to identify data records containing strings similar to the search string.
20. The apparatus of
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28. An apparatus comprising:
a network interface operable to receive a free-form search string, comprising one or more search terms, from a user;
a database; and
a server connected to the network interface and to the database, to search the database to identify records in the database containing the search string, if no data records are identified, the server to search the database by applying an ordered sequence of search algorithms to identify data records containing strings similar to the search string.
29. The apparatus of
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37. The apparatus of
This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 09/920,874, filed on Aug. 2, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,165, which is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 09/514,524 filed on Feb. 28, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,224, which is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 09/058,553 filed on Apr. 10, 1998 and issued Feb. 29, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,145.
The present invention relates to software for database interrogation and manipulation and, more particularly, to a method and system for retrieving database records using predefined classifications, and further coupled with search refinement options based on parametrics and classification.
Searchable electronic catalogs are commonly used in support of various electronic commerce and purchasing functions. These catalogs must have a user interface for selectively retrieving data records. Software engineers desire to make the user interfaces as simple as possible to operate, because complexity of the user interface can be a detriment to sales from the catalog. Simplicity becomes particularly important when the catalog is intended to be accessed by users with varying levels of skill or training.
User interfaces that are simple to operate should have the capability to handle almost any type of user input. In the case of an electronic catalog, if the user knows the exact part number of the desired product and enters the part number correctly into the user interface, then the database search engine will quickly identify the desired record from the database based on an exact match with the search string. In a more general case, the user may have only partial information about the desired product, or may incorrectly type the search string.
Danish et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,444 disclose a process for identifying a single item from a family of items in a database. A feature screen and search process present the user with a guided nonhierarchical parametric search to identify matching items based upon user specified criteria and priorities. Also disclosed are a method and system appropriate in an Internet environment.
Cochran et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,879,648 and 5,206,949 disclose a method of variably displaying search terms in which two control inputs are used to select a plurality of terms for a plurality of categories. A term in a visible position on the screen becomes a search term or a qualifier for other records in the database. The search results are dynamically formed on the basis of selected search terms. The search results can also be grouped in fixed or static lists.
Blutinger et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,566 disclose a method and apparatus for producing a catalog. The catalog has the characteristic that all like items in the database have the same catalog item number, whereas different items have different catalog item numbers.
Geier et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,155 disclose a system for enabling a customer to operate a data terminal for placing an order for goods or services. The customer is permitted to enter an invalid catalog number that is used as a key to display a series of products having catalog numbers similar to the catalog number entered by the customer.
Prior catalog search algorithms typically employ one of two search strategies. The first strategy is a keyword search for selecting database records based on matching text strings. The second strategy is a hierarchical search for selecting database records based on lists of classifications from which to narrow and select the database records. Each of the two search strategies has disadvantages that can make it difficult for users to find their desired database records.
The keyword search strategy has the disadvantage that users must be familiar with the appropriate key word terms that are likely to yield the desired data records. In addition, it is not always possible to quickly collect groups of logically related data records. If a close match is found, but it is not the desired exact match, it is not always possible to utilize the information in the close match to quickly identify all similar data records. A keyword search engine does not typically have a "more-like-this" function that operates on close matches to identify similar items within the database.
The hierarchical search strategy can take advantage of a logical grouping of data records. This search strategy is best suited for finding data that break down logically into successively greater levels of detail. This search strategy is most effective when the data have been carefully edited and structured within a database. Finding a single relevant record can quickly lead to all other relevant records, as long as the grouping logic relates to the way in which the data are used.
Thus, a "more-like-this" function can quickly identify all similarly classified records in the database.
The disadvantage of the hierarchical search strategy is that users may not always anticipate the proper classification of certain records, and may search the wrong categories for their desired database record. The user is tied to the logical structure of the data, and must learn to navigate the predefined structure of the database in order to locate particular data records.
It would be desirable to allow free-form text searching, with no prerequisites for format or content. Thus, it would be desirable to have a system capable of identifying the database records most likely to be the desired choice of the user, even when the user inputs a search string having misspelled terms, word fragments, or other characteristics of the item being sought. It would further be desirable to take advantage of natural relationships and logical groupings within the data records to compile lists of similarly classified data records. The prior art has not disclosed a system that provides a simple and convenient user interface coupled with a search engine that has the architecture and advantages of the present invention.
The present invention provides a simple user interface that combines the ease of keyword searching with the advantages of search refinement through classification or parametric selections. The text searching is improved through the use of sequential search algorithms that are designed to maximize the chances of identifying the desired data records. The search refinement is presented as a simple selection from a list of classifications that is dynamically compiled based on the results of the keyword search. The output to the user reports on both generic and category-specific product characteristics.
According to the present invention, a method of selecting data records in a catalog database comprises the following steps: inputting search terms to a user interface; testing the search terms against the catalog using a sequence of search algorithms, wherein each search algorithm is applied against the database to identify matching catalog records comprising a set; terminating the sequence of search algorithms when at least one record becomes a member of the set; compiling a unique list of classifications from each member of the set, said list comprising at least a first classification; displaying at least a portion of the set along with the list of classifications; creating a subset of the set by selecting members having the first classification; and displaying the subset.
The invention comprises a database along with a search engine. The database typically consists of category descriptions, manufacturer's name, manufacturer part number, short text description, and parametrically composed descriptions. Product categories and characteristics are represented directly by tables and columns respectively.
The search engine executes a series of text string matching algorithms, in sequence, until at least one match is identified from the catalog. The sequence comprises proximity searching, string matching, stemming, fuzz logic, and soundex matching. For example, if an exact match is found, the search halts when all exact matches have been identified, and there is no further recourse to other search algorithms. If no exact match is found, then the search terms are manipulated to identify strings with similar roots. If, again, no match is found, the search terms are tested further according to other algorithms, such as fuzzy logic and soundex, until a match is found or the search engine reaches its logical termination.
One of the important aspects of the search strategy is that the searchable terms include the predefined classification terms as well other attributes and parameters of each catalog entry. This means that the freeform text input will show text string matches against any classification name or parametric name. This feature enhances the possibility of finding the desired data record based on the keyword search engine.
Each catalog entry has an associated classification according to type, and a list of unified classifications is compiled dynamically from the identified matches. Dynamic compilation refers to the process of continuously updating the list of classifications whenever new matches are identified. This insures that the list continuously and accurately reflects the range of classifications of the identified matches. The list is unified in the sense that each classification is listed only once, even when the identified matches have multiple records with the same classification. The classification list is presented to the user along with the list of matches as an aid to the user for further refining the search methodology.
Those skilled in the art will recognize the benefits and objects of this invention, which include but are not limited to the following: providing a database search engine that can quickly and easily lead users to a desired database record; combining the benefits of key word searching with the benefits of hierarchical searching; providing an interface that will process any type of user entry, including misspelled words and word fragments; displaying a list of product categories that can be used to narrow the database search criteria; providing a search engine and database structure that maximizes the likelihood of finding the desired database records based on a simple user interface.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the description herein, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of an electronic catalog requisition system employing the present invention.
FIG. 2a is a logic diagram of a search engine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2b is a display and refinement of search query results.
FIG. 3 is a representative display of the results of a search at the user interface.
FIG. 4 is a representative display of the results shown in FIG. 3, and further narrowed by, selection of a single classification from the user interface.
FIG. 5 is another block diagram representation of an electronic catalog requisition system employing the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram representation of an electronic catalog and automated purchase requisition system. An application server 12 is connected to interact with a database 14 which resides in a computer memory storage device 16. Users of the system have workstations 18 that are connected to the application server 12 through a wide area network such as the Internet. Commands entered into web browser software cause information to be extracted from the database 14 and displayed at the workstation 18.
The database 14 is an electronic catalog of products. The database 14 is preferably constructed in a manner known as a "universal" catalog, in which like products from different suppliers have a single database record. Constructing a universal catalog typically requires an editor to ensure that each unique product has a unique database record. This database architecture has the advantage that users will be able to recognize identical products from different suppliers. In contrast to a universal catalog, an aggregated catalog is merely an aggregate of product information from multiple suppliers. The same item may be listed several times in an aggregated catalog, though not usually in a consistent manner, with the undesirable result that users may not recognize that different database records actually refer to the same product.
In one embodiment of the invention, the software 10 is configured to access one of several electronic catalogs. The selection of a catalog is based on the likelihood that the catalog will have the desired item. As such, there must be a standard query format for each of the catalogs so that the same search string can be used to determine possible matches against each catalog. The match results can then be used by the software 10 to select among the catalogs. The type or format of the catalog is irrelevant as long as the catalog will respond appropriately to a text query from the software 10. For example, the catalog may reside within a relational database or may reside within an object-oriented database.
Referring back to FIG. 1, the storage device 16 may be a disk drive, a tape drive RAM, or any of the known computer data storage devices. The application server 12 may reside in a computer attached directly to the storage device 16, or alternatively may be connected to the storage device 16 through a network. In each case, the application server 12 queries the database 14 and directs the results to the workstation 18.
Software 10 is executed within the application server 12. The software 10 follows an algorithm as shown in the logic block diagram of FIG. 2. The user inputs a search string, as shown in block 100. The search string is free form, meaning that the string may be any combination of alphanumeric characters or search terms. No particular syntax is required for the search string. The search string may comprise search terms in any order. For example, the search string could include the name of an item, a part number for an item, or any descriptive attribute of the item.
The software 10 is designed to handle misspellings, word fragments, or any other string that may lead a user to find the desired product within the database 14.
The software 10 preferably has a single text box for search strings, shown as box 300 of FIG. 3. The example search string in box 300 is "bic pen red" which represents a combination of manufacturer name, classification, and attribute. It has been found that users desire the simplicity of typing strings at a single location, without differentiating whether the string represents a product name, a product manufacturer, or a product attribute. Alternatively, there may be separate text boxes for different types of search strings.
The software 10 performs a proximity query which will try to find an exact match of the search string within the database 14. Each record within the database is tested against the search string to find records that contain all of the search terms in proximity to each other. The highest quality match will be a record in which all terms appear in the same order as the search string. A lower quality match will have the terms in a different order, or may have the terms separated by other strings. The proximity query is a well-known procedure in the art of computer science, and certain commercial databases offer a proximity query function. An example of a database software package having the aforementioned function is Oracle 8 and the associated context cartridge, supplied by Oracle Corporation of El Segundo, Calif.
At the conclusion of the proximity query, the software 10 checks to see if any matches were found, as shown in block 102. An exact match will lead the software to test whether price and vendor information need to be provided to the user, as shown in block 112. If no exact. match is found, the software 10 sequences to the next type of search strategy.
Block 104 in FIG. 2a shows the preferred second sequential search algorithm. Since no exact match has been found, the software performs a word count query in which individual words or search terms within the search string are checked against the products in the database 14. The strategy at this point to find products within the database 14 that may match some of the descriptive terms in the search string. The word count query may also apply a stemming function to search terms to identify similar root words.
Block 106 test the results of the word count query to determine if any matches have been identified. If at least one item from the database 14 has been returned by the search algorithm, the software 10 proceeds to block 112. Otherwise, the software 10 executes the next algorithm in the sequence of search algorithms.
As shown in block 108, the next search algorithm in the sequence is preferably a fuzzy logic query. In this context, a fuzz logic algorithm may also be known in the art as a "word wheel" or other name associated with an algorithm for testing combinations and permutations of the alphanumeric characters in the search string. The intent in block 108 is to identify products in the database 14 having any descriptive similarity to the search string. For example, a user who enters a search string having a typographical error will not generally find an exact match within the database 14, but a fuzzy logic algorithm may select the desired product on the basis of similarity with the search string.
The software 10 may also rank the degree of similarity between each matched database record with the search string. For example, records with a larger number of alphanumeric character matches against the search term will be ranked higher than records with only a few matching characters. Ranking algorithms are found in several commercially available software packages including Oracle 8.
There are other possible sequences of search algorithms, but in general it is desirable to execute the narrowest, or most specific, search first. The sequence should proceed with search algorithms according to the scope of each algorithm. For example, a search for the specific search string is the narrowest in scope, whereas a search for related search strings will be broader in scope because it will likely return a wider range of matches.
An additional type of search algorithm not specifically shown in FIG. 2a is a "soundex" or "sounds-like" search, in which the search string is tested against database records for similarity in sound.
If any match is found as a result of a search algorithm, the successive search algorithms will be skipped and the software 10 will proceed to display the results. If the software 10 has been configured to add price and vendor information, that will also be added to the display as shown in block 116. In the unlikely event that no matches were found after completion of the entire sequence of search algorithms, the software 10 will proceed to the display block 114 with a message indicating that no products were found.
The display will have several areas of information, as shown in FIG. 3. The search string is shown in a text box 300, preferably located in the upper-left corner of the display. The list of matching items is shown in a display list 302. The display list 3702 includes the category, the manufacturer name, the manufacturer part number, and descriptive attributes.
A compilation of each unique category of product, compiled from the list of the matching items, is shown in a category display area 304. If several different categories of products were found during the search, then each category will be displayed along with a corresponding radio button 306.
Returning to the logic of the software 10, FIG. 3 is representative of the logic contained in block 118 of FIG. 2b. If the desired item from the catalog is not immediately visible in the display, the user has the option of paging through the remaining items in the list by clicking on button 308 in FIG. 3, which is shown as logic block 120 in FIG. 2b. If the desired item is found, no further searching is required, and the logic of the algorithm drops to block 134.
As an alternative to paging though a lengthy list of products, the user can narrow the list by selecting one of the categories. For example, FIG. 3 shows that two different categories of items were found: pens and pea refills. Since there are 29 matching items (only the first 10 are shown), the selection of radio button 306 will narrow the list to include only pens and not pen refills. A new display will be generated, shown in FIG. 4, wherein the updated display list 402 has 27 items which do not include pen refills. In this embodiment, selecting a category will be restrictive in terms of the items in the display list 302. This procedure is shown as logic block 124 in FIG. 2b.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, selecting a category will generate a new display list 302 containing every item in the catalog associated with the selected category. In this alternative embodiment, selecting a display list may be expansive in terms of the number of items shown on the display list 302.
A further alternative is to select only items having a particular manufacturer. For example, FIG. 3 has a button 310 which invokes a screen containing a list of all manufacturers of the products shown in the display list 302. Selecting one of the manufacturers will cause the software 10 to narrow. the display list 302 to include only items from the selected manufacturer.
In general, items within the catalog will have parameters that can be selected to restrict the display list 302. For example, a parameter for pens may be "ink color" and has values of blue, black, or red. In the event that pens are selected as a category, the display list 302 may be further restricted to pens of a single color. This process is referred to herein as parametric refinement.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the algorithm will have a list of synonyms for each attribute. The search algorithms can replace individual search terms with appropriate synonyms for purposes of matching data records. The attributes are normally used as part of an algorithm for finding matches, and the use of synonyms for the attributes gives additional flexibility to the range of search strings that will produce meaningful matches.
Another way to increase the flexibility of the search algorithms is to allow natural adjectives in the search string to help select certain attributes. For example, if there is a category for computers, and the category has an attribute for processor speed, then the adjective "fastest" in the search string could be used to select the fastest computer. Slower computers would be eliminated from the display list 302.
Yet another way to increase the flexibility of the search algorithms is to assign categories alternative roles such as, but not limited to, problem spaces and applications. In this embodiment, the items found by the query are actually predefined queries that generate lists of actual data records from the database. Thus, selecting a category becomes equivalent to submitting a predefined query to the database.
If the search did not reveal the desired products from the database 14 within the list, the user is prompted to try a new search string, as shown in block 128 of FIG. 2b. Alternatively, the user may select an item, and a predefined query within the database record for that item will be input to the software 10 as a new search string, resulting in a new and updated list of categories being displayed to the user.
FIG. 5 is an alternative simplified diagram that explains the logic of the software 10. Block 501 is representative of web-browser software that executes on a user's local computer. The text box, such as shown as 300 in FIG. 3, is presented to the user. The user enters the text description, as shown logically by block 502. The sequence of search algorithms is performed on the text description, as shown logically by block 503. The user picks an item for a display list, such as the list shown as 302 in FIG. 3. The user further refines the search with one of several options as shown in logical block 504 in FIG. 5. The user may enter more text, less text, or better (more descriptive) text and thereby generate a new display list 302. Alternatively, the user may select a category, and further may select a parametric value (also called an attribute). Once a desired item is identified, the user is presented with supplier and pricing information, as shown in logical block 505.
The electronic requisition system can provide links to further information about items within the database. The further information can be stored within the database 14, or alternatively may be stored at a remote computer accessible through the Internet. For example, buttons on the display screen can invoke links to web sites that contain relevant information.
Items within the catalog are preferably cross-referenced so that related items can be quickly located. For example, if the user selects a printer from the catalog, the appropriate toner cartridge can be immediately located by pressing a button on the display list.
Once a user identifies the desired product from the database 14, the software 10 can generate a purchase requisition having preformatted price, vendor, and user information. Individual contract terms and pricing information can be accessed by the software 10 to be reflected in the requisition. The requisition can be sent electronically to the vendor for processing.
It will be apparent to those of skill in the appertaining arts that various modifications can be made within the scope of the above invention. Accordingly, this invention is not to be considered limited to the specific examples chosen for purposes of disclosure, but rather to cover all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the permissible scope of the present invention. Having thus described our invention, what is desired to be secured and covered by Letters Patent is presented in the appended claims.
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HAZARD — Area pastors with the Perry County Ministerial Alliance are coming together with the power of prayer in hopes of turning around some of the problems in the local community.
Emily Hudson, pastor at Common Bond Christian Fellowship Ministries, addressed the city commission in Hazard last month, requesting that city leaders, whom she called the city's governmental gatekeepers, join with the city's spiritual gatekeepers and "invite God to come into this city."
Hudson received an ovation from the city's commissioners, as well as from the members of the audience, and noted in an interview with the Herald that she believes by asking for God's help, the city will begin to see a breakthrough on issues like unemployment, homelessness, and what has become an ongoing fight against prescription drug abuse.
Perhaps beginning as early as the next meeting of the city commission, Hudson said she hopes that she and other pastors in the ministerial alliance will meet before the meetings at City Hall with whomever else may want to attend and hold prayer for the city and its leaders.
"Hopefully, we'll start to see, maybe starting at the next city meeting, to have pastors there to pray be-fore the meeting," Hudson said. "Hopefully city officials would be there, too."
The effort is essentially a call for unity, Hudson explained, to ask for divine intervention, and it was an idea that came to her some time ago. She noted that there is already a group of people who meet weekly to pray for the city and hopes through the power of prayer to turn around some of the issues the city's residents are facing. And this is one effort that she sees the area's churches working on more as time passes.
"One of the things I'm seeing is churches working together," Hudson said. "And I'm seeing that happen more and more, that the churches are coming together, working on solutions to some of the problems that we're seeing."
Though many of these problems may have physical manifestations, Hudson said she believes there is a spiritual component as well, and both fronts need to be addressed.
"It was something that the lord had put in my spirit over a year ago, and I was just waiting for the time, because everything has to be in the timing of the Lord," she said. "I've learned that lesson."

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A removable cassette for a photoprinter includes a reservoir containing a consumable source of ink adapted to be used by the photoprinter for printing, and a consumable supply of printable media sheets adapted to be printed upon by the photoprinter using the source of ink. The consumable source of ink for use with the photoprinter, and the printable media sheets for use with the photoprinter in conjunction with the consumable source of ink, wherein the consumable source of ink and the printable media sheets are integrated into the cassette removable from the photoprinter.
1. A photoprinter, comprising:
a) a computer readable medium upon which is encoded data readable by the photoprinter,
b) a drive capable of interfacing with the computer readable medium,
c) a reservoir containing a source of ink for use with the photoprinter; and
d) a supply of printable media sheets for use with the photoprinter in conjunction with the reservoir containing the source of ink, wherein the computer readable medium, the reservoir containing the source of ink and the printable media sheets are integrated into a cassette which is removable from the photoprinter.
2. The photoprinter of
3. The photoprinter of
4. The photoprinter of
5. The photoprinter of
6. A removable cassette comprising:
a computer readable medium upon which is encoded data readable by a printer comprising a drive capable of interfacing with the computer readable medium,
a reservoir containing a consumable source of ink; and
a consumable supply of printable media sheets, wherein the cassette is adapted to supply the printable media sheets and the source of ink to the printer.
7. The cassette of
8. The cassette of
9. The cassette of
10. The cassette of
11. A removable cassette comprising:
a) a computer readable medium upon which is encoded data readable by a photoprinter comprising a drive capable of interfacing with the computer readable medium,
b) a consumable supply of printable media sheets; and
c) a reservoir containing a consumable source of ink, wherein the cassette is adapted to supply the printable media sheets and the source of ink to the photoprinter to print digital photographs onto the printable media sheets.
12. The cassette of
13. The cassette of
The present invention relates to removable cassettes having an integrated supply of consumables, for example ink and paper, for printer apparatus, and to printers including such cassettes.
The advent of computers has fundamentally changed the way images can be stored, manipulated and printed. Images can now be captured by digital devices, such as digital cameras and scanners, and stored digitally. A digitally stored image can be transmitted, enhanced, and/or otherwise manipulated through computer programs. Moreover, as digital technology has improved and associated costs have fallen, the resolution of the images captured by these devices continues to improve, and in many cases approaches or exceeds the quality of traditional film photography.
Traditionally, to use a digital image one needed a computer. The computer would be loaded with a variety of different programs to transmit, enhance and manipulate the digital images. To obtain a hard copy of the digital image, the user would direct the computer with an appropriate series of commands to send a "print job" from the computer to a traditional printer. While the traditional model works, it does have attendant shortcomings, such as being expensive, complicated, non-portable, and the like. To combat such shortcomings, various manufacturers began offering stand-alone printers designed to print digital images. One example of a stand-alone printer is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/164,500, filed on Oct. 1, 1998. While stand-alone printers have provided remarkable benefits over the traditional model, the present invention offers even more benefits and improvements for stand-alone printers.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to facilitate use of a printer. It is another object to provide a removable cassette for use with a printer, wherein the cassette includes an integrated supply of consumables such as ink and paper for printers.
In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a printer comprising a) a source of ink for use with the printer, and b) printable media for use with the printer in conjunction with the source of ink, wherein the source of ink and printable media are integrated into a cassette which is removable from the printer. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a removable cassette for a printer wherein the cassette comprises a) a reservoir containing a consumable source of ink adapted to be used by a printer for printing, and b) a consumable supply of printable media adapted to be printed upon by a printer using the source of ink. In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to a removable cassette for a photoprinter, wherein the cassette comprises a) a supply of printable media, and b) a reservoir of ink usable by a photoprinter to print digital images onto the printable media.
Still other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which is by way of illustration only. As will be appreciated, the invention is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
The following detailed description will be more fully understood in view of the accompanying drawings which illustrate several aspects of the present invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 depicts a photoprinter communicating with a variety of external components;
FIG. 2 depicts an operational block diagram for the photoprinter of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 depicts a removable cassette having an integrated supply of consumables for a printer.
Reference will now be made to various embodiments of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate the same element throughout the views. FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a printer according to the present invention, for example a photoprinter 10. As used herein, a "photoprinter" refers to a stand-alone appliance for printing digital photographs onto a printable medium. A "digital photograph" is a photographic image captured by a light sensing electronic device (e.g., CCD, CMOS, CID, or the like) and converted into a digital file capable of being stored on a computer readable medium. The term "stand-alone" means that the printer is capable of processing and printing digital files independent of an external host device, such as a computer, wherein "processing" means calculating a pixel pattern to be printed on the printable medium that represents the corresponding digital file (sometimes referred to as "ripping" or generating printing code). For instance, a printer is considered stand-alone if an external device merely passes a digital photograph to the printer and the printer contains the logic for processing and printing the digital photograph. The foregoing definitions are inclusive and open-ended. For example, a stand-alone printer may additionally be capable of receiving printing code from an external device. As a further example, a photoprinter may additionally be capable of processing and printing digital files other than digital photographs, such as text files, word processing files, HTML files, and the like.
The photoprinter 10 is operative to print digital photographs on printable media (e.g., paper, glossy film or photo paper, index cards, labels, envelopes, transparencies, coated paper, cloth, etc.). In one embodiment, the photoprinter 10 works by transferring an ink (e.g., toner, dye, pigment, wax, carbon, etc.) onto a printable medium. For instance, the photoprinter 10 can employ conventional thermal ink jet technology, although the present invention can employ other types of ink jet technologies, such as piezo ink jet. In addition, the present invention can be adapted for use with other printer technologies, such as electrophotography, dye diffusion, thermal transfer, and the like.
While the photoprinter 10 operates as a stand-alone printer, it can nevertheless communicate with a variety of external components, only a portion of which are illustrated in FIG. 1. In the present example, the photoprinter 10 can communicate to a computer 12 using any one of a variety of different communication links, such as parallel cables, serial cables, telephone lines, universal serial bus port "USB", firewire, bluetooth, fiber optics, infrared "IR", radio frequency "RF", network interface cards (e.g., Ethernet, token ring, etc.), and the like. The computer 12 can be any conventional or special purpose computer, such as a desktop computer, a tower computer, a micro-computer, a minicomputer, server, workstation, palmtop computer, notebook computer, or the like. Through the communication link, the photoprinter 10 can receive digital photographs from the computer 12 for processing and printing. In one embodiment, the computer 12 is programmed to generate printing code (e.g., via locally loaded print drivers) and the photoprinter 10 is capable of receiving the externally processed printing code for direct printing. As such, the photoprinter 10 would have dual functionality: a stand-alone printer as well as a more conventional printer for receiving commands from an external device.
In the present example, the photoprinter 10 can also communicate with an external display 14 (e.g., a television, monitor, LCD, or the like) using an appropriate communication link. In such a configuration, the photoprinter 10 can generate and send appropriate signals to present a user interface to operate the photoprinter 10 or preview digital photographs on the display 14. The photoprinter 10 also can communicate with a digital camera 16 using an appropriate communication link. Typically, a digital camera 16 includes one or more lenses that focus light into an image on a light sensing electronic device, and stores the image as a digital photographic image. In one embodiment, the photoprinter 10 can retrieve, process and print digital photographic images stored in the camera 16.
The photoprinter 10 can also communicate with a computer readable medium 18, shown here as a floppy diskette. A computer readable medium stores information readable by a computer, such as programs, data files, etc. As one with ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, a computer readable medium can take a variety of forms, including magnetic storage (such as hard drives, floppy diskettes, tape, etc.), optical storage (such as laser disks, compact disks, digital video disks ("DVD"), etc.), electronic storage (such as random access memory ("RAM"), read only memory ("ROM"), programmable read only memory ("PROM"), flash memory, memory sticks, etc.), and the like. Some types of computer readable media, which are sometimes described as being non-volatile, can retain data in the absence of power so that the information is available when power is restored.
The photoprinter 10 preferably interfaces with the computer readable medium 18 using an internal drive (not shown) or an external drive 17. As used herein, the term "drive" is intended to mean a structure which is capable of interfacing with (e.g., reading from and/or writing to) a computer readable medium. Naturally, suitable drives will vary depending upon the specific computer readable medium 18 being employed. In a preferred embodiment, the photoprinter includes first and second drives each adapted to receive a solid state flash memory card. The first and second drives are preferably both internal drives. Flash memory cards, due to their very small size and lightweight, are a highly portable computer readable medium which are electronically re-writable and are non-volatile More preferably, the first and second drives are adapted to receive different types of flash memory cards, such as NAND type of flash memory card (e.g., a SMART MEDIA card developed by Toshiba, Inc.) or a PCMCIA type of flash memory card (e.g., the COMPACTFLASH developed by SanDisk, Inc.)
FIG. 2 depicts a preferred operational block diagram 20 for the photoprinter 10. One or more digital photographs 21 are input to the image processing block 22, located internal to the photoprinter 10. The digital photographs 21 can be received from a variety of different sources, whether internal to the photoprinter 10 or from an external source via a drive, communications link, or the like. Furthermore, the digital photographs 21 can take any one of a variety of different file formats, whether raster, vector, or other format (e.g., GIF, TIFF, PCX, JPEG, EXIF, CIFF, JFIF, etc.).
The image processing block 22 is responsible for calculating a pixel pattern to be printed on the printable medium 26 that represents the corresponding digital photographs 21, sometimes referred to in the art as generating printing code. The image processing block 22 may optionally enhance the digital photographs 21. For instance, photo enhancement software, such as the PICTURE IQ software by Digital Intelligence, may be incorporated into the image processing 22. Further, image processing 22 may optionally include a variety of different resources to modify the printed rendition of the digital photographs 21, such as the addition of text, frames, templates, scaling, etc. Enhancements or resources may be implemented before and/or after the digital photographs 21 are converted to printing code. A user interface 23 is provided to allow a user to interact with and/or direct the image processing block 22 (e.g., controlling the enhancements and/or resources). The user interface 23 may be integral with the photoprinter 10 or located on an external component. Preferably, however, the photoprinter 10 includes an LCD display with one or more buttons or other input devices. Optionally, the user interface 23 may take the form of a series of instructions accompanying the digital photographs 21, such as a digital print order format.
The print code generated during image processing 22 is passed to the print control 24. When printing code is generated from an external source (e.g., the computer 12), the printing code can be provided as input 25 directly to the print control 24, thus bypassing the image processing block 22. The print control 24 is responsible for directing the physical transference of the pixel pattern represented by the printing code to the printable medium 26. The photoprinter 10 is preferably in the form of a thermal ink jet printer having one or more conventional thermal ink jet print heads. During printing, the print control 24 directs one or more motors to move the printable medium 26 relative to the photoprinter 10 so that it is properly positioned for deposition of an ink pattern or swath. Once the printable medium 26 is in position, the print control 24 directs the print head to move along a conventional print head carriage in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction while firing droplets of ink onto the surface of the printable medium 26. The print head may make one or more of these transverse passes to complete printing for the swath. After the swath is complete, the position of the printable medium 26 is adjusted longitudinally for the printing of the next swath.
FIG. 3 depicts one example of a removable cassette having an integrated supply for a printer. "Integrated" means that a plurality of items are brought together and united into a single component. In the present example, various supplies are integrated in a removable cassette 30 for a photoprinter. When an item is qualified with "removable," that term is intended to invoke that the item is intended to be removed and/or replaced in the ordinary course of usage. The cassette 30 is a modular unit designed to be inserted into a printer. In one embodiment, the various components in the cassette 30 are enclosed within a housing. For instance, the housing can be formed from a plastic material and contain appropriate geometry to physically couple to a printer, such as by being inserted in an external port of the printer, fitting internal to the printer, or the like.
Traditionally, supplies for printers designed to print photos are not optimized for customer convenience and reliability. Printers are generally designed to accept a range of paper types, weights, and sizes. Printing on plain copy paper is the primary requirement, and the paper supply is typically a loose stack in a tray. The ink, toner, or thermal transfer sheet may be typically packaged for convenience of replacement but often there is no indication when replacement is required. Replacement may be messy. Further, papers have been developed specifically for printing of photos on ink jet printers. These "photo papers" have the weight, stiffness, and gloss expected by customers for photographs. Some of these papers have surface coatings that are optimized for quick drying by absorption of the water in ink jet inks, while some have additives in the coating that fix the dyes onto the paper to improve print quality and/or color fade resistance. Most print technologies require an unprinted margin around the printed area, but some photo papers are perforated so that after an image is printed the selvage can be removed leaving a borderless print.
In the present invention, at least one of the components integrated in the cassette 30 is "consumable," which is intended to invoke that the component has a limited supply. For instance, the cassette 30 contains a consumable supply 31 of printable media (e.g. photo paper) and a consumable reservoir 32 of ink. Preferably, the ink reservoir 32 in the cassette 30 provides sufficient ink to print photos on all of the printable media supply 31 in the cassette 30, so there is no concern about running out of ink in the middle of a page or during a long print job. In a further preferred embodiment, the amount of ink in reservoir 32 is not in substantial excess of that required to print photos on all of the printable media supply 31, so that the cassette 30 can be removed from the printer and, if desired, discarded once the printable media supply 31 is exhausted, without waste of excess ink.
The removable cassette can be provided with a selected amount of printable media, and preferably contains an appropriate amount of ink for that number of sheets. In one implementation, the cassette 30 also contains a sump 33 for waste ink generated during priming when the cassette 30 is installed or during printhead maintenance. The ink in the reservoir 32 is preferably matched to the printable media 31. In this way, improvements in print quality and performance can be introduced with appropriate combinations of ink and media within the same cassette. In the same manner, multiple supply items with different combination sets of ink and media may be offered, thereby providing a choice of results, such as differences in paper weight or surface finish, variation in water or fade resistance, choices of color sets, and the like.
Optionally, the cassette 30 contains at least one feed mechanism 35 that engages with one or more corresponding parts 40 in the printer to effect, assist or initiate feeding of the printable media from the cassette. For example, a motor in the printer might engage with gears and drive wheels in the cassette 30. Further, the feed mechanism 35 may be configured to match or identify a particular printable media supply 31 to the printer. In one preferred implementation, the printable media supply 31 is perforated photo paper having a selvage around the printed area. The selvage includes one or more register elements (for example, notches, holes, or printed marks) which are used by the feed mechanism 35 to drive the paper or to accurately locate the position of the paper, for example under an ink jet printhead. Accurate control of paper placement can improve print quality. For example, register elements on the photo paper selvage may be sensed to enable a closed loop of feedback to a motion controller for the paper and/or a printhead. General-purpose ink jet printers must have larger print gaps to accommodate envelopes and plain papers that buckle with moisture from jet printer inks. A smaller print gap improves print quality because it reduces deviation from the intended position for ink drops from misdirected jets. Additionally, improved print quality can be achieved in a photoprinter by taking advantage of the typically heavy weight and high beam strength of photograde paper. In a photoprinter designed to print exclusively on rigid papers, the gap between the paper and printhead can be reduced to a minimum so that print quality is improved.
In one embodiment, the cassette 30 may include a consumable power source 34, such as a fresh battery, to power the printer. Accordingly, the cassette 30 permits the printer to be more compact, portable, and dependable. The power source 34 preferably contains sufficient power to feed and print all printable media 31 in the cassette 30, thus reducing concern about running low on power in the middle of a print job.
Optionally, the cassette 30 includes a computer readable medium 36 containing data to be read by the printer, which can take a variety of different forms. For instance, the computer readable medium 36 can be a magnetic strip, smart chip, or other non-volatile storage that can be read by the photoprinter when the cassette 30 is inserted into the photoprinter. By incorporating data storage into the integrated supply, improved printing and products may be obtained. One example of the type of data which can be stored on the medium 36 is data defining a unique paper and ink combination in the integrated supply to optimize printing results. The data could adapt color tables and other printing parameters within the photoprinter to suit a particular paper/ink combination supplied in the cassette and identified by the data on medium 35. A further example of the type of data includes additional frames, fonts, or background art to be used in printing. For instance, frames with seasonal themes (representing holidays or special events, for example, graduation, birthday, etc.) might be provided. By combining such data with the integrated supply, their use could be limited to the life of the supply. Still another example of the type of data stored on the medium 35 includes new or special formats added to the operator panel menu (assuming this function is implemented in the printer). For instance, the paper in the supply might be preprinted with text or image, and the data in the integrated supply defines a unique page template designed to fit the preprinted paper.
The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description and are not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many additional alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teaching. For instance, any combination of the various items discussed above can be integrated in a removable cassette for a printer or a photoprinter. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the amended claims.
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Maximize the expressive capabilities of your digital painting toolset. Learn to integrate a Wacom tablet and stylus with Corel Painter for maximum pressure sensitivity and range of motion.
Transform a portrait or family photo into a piece of art worthy of framing, in this digital painting tutorial.
Unlocks the expressive power of the application by showing users how to modify brushes to create the perfect stroke or create custom brush variants.
"What I'm learning will save me a lot of time and frustration on current and future projects." —Linda J.
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David Filner on Classical Music
David Filner assumed the administrative leadership of the San Antonio Symphony in November, 2012. Led by Music Director Sebastian Lang-Lessing, the San Antonio Symphony is celebrating its 73rd year this season.
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3 wishes granted
I found an old dusty bottle in my parking space this morning and I wiped it off to read the label. As I wiped, smoke billowed out and a magic genie appeared! He said, "I'll grant you answers to your 3 most pressing musical questions." So, I asked: Who are the 3 greatest instrumental soloists […] [Read More]


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Recent Social Media Tools and Resources
Tools and resources from Laura's Social Media feed on Delicious.
This LibGuide is a way for the regional centers in the Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange to share their social media best practices and resources.
For tips and resources about making a case for social media and developing a plan for which tools to use, see Getting Started With Social Media: A Guide for Nonprofit Organizations and Government Agencies.
If you have a resource or practice to suggest, please let us know.
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Subject Guide
Contact Info
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
One Hazelwood Dr.
Champaign, IL 61821
Campus MC-676
(217) 333-8957
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New 2014 Volkswagen Sedan Prices
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Volkswagen Prices and Values: Based in Germany, Volkswagen first arrived in the US in 1949 and has since become one of the most recognized brands on the road. The iconic Beetle is the best-selling single vehicle model in history, and remains one of the most identifiable vehicles in production. Volkswagen has a long history of incorporating diesel technology into its lineup and is leading the charge to bring modern clean diesel into the mainstream.
Select from all the latest 2014 Volkswagen Sedan models
(2015 - 1942 including exotics and classic cars)
2014 Volkswagen CC
A standout vehicle, the 2014 Volkswagen CC is refined well beyond its price tag, seamlessly blending luxury, performance, safety, and efficiency.
2014 Volkswagen Golf
A practical, versatile and affordable vehicle, the 2014 Volkswagen Golf is a compact hatchback available with standard and diesel engines.
2014 Volkswagen GTI
A performance compact, the 2014 Volkswagen GTI hatchback, available in three-door and five-door body styles, is known to handle lightly and grips corners.
2014 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan
Updated for 2014, the Volkswagen Jetta Sedan is compact car available in standard, diesel, and performance-oriented trims.
2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Available in a TDI diesel trim level, the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen is a station wagon that blends VW quality with the utility of wagon.
2014 Volkswagen Passat
A large family sedan with seating for five, the 2014 Volkswagen Passat is a well refined vehicle loaded with technology.


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Posted at: 03/02/2013 11:56 AM
By: Cadence Acquaviva
Vermont State Police are searching for a man they say robbed a Cumberland Farms on Main St. in Wallingford Friday afternoon.
Police say there were several patrons inside the store when a man waiting in line approached the clerk, told her he was robbing the store, and demanded she give him the money in the drawer.
The suspect did not show a weapon, but police say he did threaten to harm the clerk and another employee who tried to follow him outside. He fled the store when one of the employees told him to leave.
The suspect was last seen headed north on Creek Road towards Clarendon in a white four door Chrysler Lebaron with Vermont tags. The first three letters of the plate are believed to be "FLM".
Police describe the suspect as 5'5", very heavy set with buzz cut dirty blond hair. He was wearing a light brown jacket with a grey hooded sweatshirt, white t-shirt and blue jeans. He may also have several gaps in his front teeth.
Anyone with information, or who may have witnessed the suspect or vehicle is asked to call the Vt. State Police in Rutland at (802) 773-9101.


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T-Mobile Sidekick 4G launching on April 20th for $100
T-Mobile USA announced today that the Sidekick 4G will launch on April 20th for $100. The Sidekick 4G ditches Danger's original Sidekick interface for Android 2.2, and Samsung, not Sharp, will manufacture the tween-targeted phone.
Given its price, the Sidekick actually offers a pretty solid feature set. The device will rock a 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, HSPA+ data, 3.5 inch display with a 480 x 800 resolution, up to 32GB of storage via microSD, front (0.3 MP) and rear (3 MP) cameras, and the trademark slide-out screen that Sidekick fans have grown to love.
The Sidekick 4G will be available at T-Mobile retail stores, as well as RadioShack.
Source: BGR


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|Holiday Inn Union City hotels are provided below. Search for cheap and discount Holiday Inn hotel rates in Union City, NJ for your upcoming meeting or individual travels. We list the best Holiday Inn Union City hotels/properties so you can review the Union City Holiday Inn hotel list below to find the perfect place.
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My wife has recently decided that she wants to start hiking for exercise. I've always hiked and run on the numerous trails located in East TN, but never took the time to take pictures and relax. Normally I would throw on a pack and get to my destination as soon as I could. When there, I was like Clark Griswald at the Grand Canyon then I was back to the trailhead as soon as I could get there. Well, my wife has slowed me down enough to take some pictures so I can share the experience with others. I will admit that my wife is a trouper. She was afraid of the first 5 miler we did and now we normally do two 10 mile hikes a week.
Silers Bald was a really cool hike. Our hike began with a quick assent to Clingmans Dome (Highest point in the Smoky Mountains). Then it was an out and back of 9.3 miles. The trail (Appalachian Trail) followed a ridge with awesome views the entire way. The actual bald is no longer a bald. Since the origination of the park, animals are no longer allowed to graze on the bald, so it has been over taken with trees and shrubs and is now just a rock along the trail.
Clingmans Dome
Smoky Mountains
Mount LeConte


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|Glamour Night
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Rank: 4 About 58
The Valley of the Sun offers the crème de la crème when it comes to pubs, piano bars, and the best nightclubs once the sun goes down. For anyone looking for great after-dark entertainment...
|Budget Night
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If you've spent all of your money on extreme Grand Canyon and nearby desert tours but are still looking for a good night out on the town, fear not as Phoenix has great budget-friendly nightlife options for those...
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Legendary place founded by legendary rock singer Alice Cooper!!
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Located in downtown this club is the heart of local nightlife.
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A legendary Restaurant located in the heart of Phoenix.
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Rank: 50 About 58
Arizona's largest Gothic/Industrial club, a simply Bar, After midnight becomes a meeting of Vampires!
Reviewed by: Editorial Staff


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Play the latest continuation of Super Mario 3: Mario Forever.
The failure of the Fire Phone, which hit the market a year ago on Saturday, offers some lessons on what companies need to do -- and avoid -- when trying to create a successful smartphone.
The San Francisco conference may well be the world's largest gathering of game developers, the place to keep an ear to the ground and to get business done.
Road Trip 2015: The second half of a two-part series about Vietnam's startup scene takes a deeper look at some rare success stories and how the country is fostering -- and hindering -- its homegrown tech community.
From President Snow to ordinary citizens of the various districts, the residents of Panem look extra intense in this series by fine-art photographer Tim Palen.
CNET's Marguerite Reardon helps a busy working mother figure out how not to break the bank when a work-issued iPad has to go back.
Shortly after winning FCC approval, AT&T closes its deal to buy the satellite TV provider. DirecTV's video relationships could become key as more content is delivered on mobile devices.
Life gets a lot more glamorous for the women of Westeros in this new series of pinup-style art from Russian Artist Andrew Tarusov.
We've laid out every Marvel movie and tv show in chronological order for you to watch -- or just to impress people.
Gaming hardware maker Razer will integrate Ouya's app store and publishing business into its operations as it seeks to expand into content. The future of Ouya's hardware is unclear but looks shaky.
Real Racing 3 is now two years old, but continues to be the best racing sim on mobile.
Musician Chris Lohr used footage of random sounds and dialogue from the first two seasons of HBO's "Game of Thrones" to create a pretty catchy song that you just can't help but tap along with.


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Were you stoked for yesterday's episode of The Shot? In the last installment, the contestants were asked to capture sensuality in texture, which meant drenching each other in food, and photographing models who, for the most part, were only wearing makeup. All over their bodies. Challenging. And therein lies the core of the show, which pits 10 up-and-coming fashion photographers against each other for the chance to win $100,000, a spread in Marie Claire, and a Victoria's Secret campaign — all the while being judged by a he-Tyra with an Australian accent, Russell James. Catch up on what you missed. Check the recap below.
"Four down five to go," Dean chanted in that chanty Bosnian way that he chants, as this, the fifth episode The Shot began. After the contestants Piper-bashed for a bit (Piper, the "psycho one," was sent home at the end of last week's episode), they were met with a "childish smirk" from Russell, which could only mean one thing . . .
The goal of this week's first challenge, according to Russell, was to capture sensuality in texture. In practical terms, that meant rolling around in globs of food and photographing each other drenched in various sauces, meats and creams.
Now, we understand when people have strong aversions to certain foods — we would be very, very upset if we were forced to be near lots of marzipan for any substantial amount of time. Ew, we hate marzipan! But Robin's mustardphobia seemed a bit much. "The smell of mustard absolutely makes me vomit," she made clear at the outset — and for the duration of the shoot. "Sorry, but I'm going to throw whatever I want," John said. Save for a minor scare when a pie hit John in the face and cut his forehead a bit, the food fight and subsequent photo shoots went pretty smoothly. A highlight of the challenge was when Jason shot Maria's hips up against the wall "giving birth to a piece of meat," as Robin silently dry-heaved in the sidelines. It was all very Damien Hirst.
"What's the word for the opposite of 'turned on'?" is how John put it when Maria wanted Robin to pose sexily on top of John after Robin said she was about to throw up. Maria quickly changed direction and went on to photograph a jeans-campaign-esque shot with Jason.
Post-shoot, back at the house, Robin kept whining about the earlier, foul-smelling conditions, describing them as "hellacious" and saying, while kind of crying a little, "That was the worst thing I've done here yet . . . . Last night I would have been happy to go home if I knew what we were doing today." It's just mustard, sweetie!
It was cute when John helped Maria get the mustard out of her hair and they were frolicking in the bathroom.
At the judging, Russell thought everyone "truly delivered" and said positive things about all the photos. Dean and John were chosen as the winners and team leaders for the main challenge.
John picked Jason and Airic to be on his team, and Dean chose Robin and Maria, who for the second time around, was Miss Rationalize McRationalizer on why John, her "best friend in the house," didn't choose her. Reasoning: If their team lost, they didn't want to have to stand next to each other as the final two.
After teams were in order, Russell explained the challenge: To create a conceptual ad campaign for makeup line Vincent Longo. After running through the parameters — each photographer was to shoot a close-up and full-body shot of their model — Russell sent everyone home to prepare for the next day's shoot. At the house, the girls played with their makeup samples. "It is moistery," Robin said while applying some red lipstick. We have to say, her use of the word "moistery" kind of made up for her earlier acting out.
Dean, on the other hand, admitted to being makeup-ignorant. "In Bosnia, we use fist to give cheek stain." Thanks, Dean.
Meanwhile, John and Airic, Beavis and Butthead-edly, were only able to talk about how they were going to be shooting the models nude, which very much frustrated Jason, who found it all very immature and unprofessional.
First thing at the shoot the next day, the photographers learned that Vincent Longo himself would be on set to help the photogs out, which was kind of exciting. Dean's team, up first, chose the concept of "earth, wind and fire." Maria, who was photographing "Earth" told her model "You're like a budding plant and a wise old tree at the same time." This made us smile. Dean, who is known for being the controlling army sergeant of the group, relaxed a little this time around, and let his more makeup-savvy teammates guide him a bit. Robin was not so happy with her shoot, as Vincent futzed with the model's hair and makeup for seven out of her fifteen minutes.
Team John's concept was "sun, moon and stars." "All they see is naked girls with paint on them," Jason said. Indeed, Airic had the case of the stutters when it came time to shoot is star-adorned, but otherwise nude model. "I want your body to be the . . . the . . . the . . . the . . . the . . . starry sky." Throughout the shoot, Jason was extremely frustrated with his teammates — both upset that he was the only one able to direct the lighting ("Airic has no idea how to use a reflector") and that none of the guys supported him during his shoots. "I have two lead weights around my feet right now," he said, adding, "I give 99 million percent."
In the judging chamber, Dean's team was named the challenge winners, even though Robin's photos, on their own, were the worst out of everyone's. The judges were not impressed with her lighting and didn't think the photos weren't conceptual enough. John's team, first and foremost, according to Russell, just didn't follow the assignment. Both Airic and Jason didn't take both close-up and full-body shots — they really only took close-ups. Jason's photos were actually named the best of the whole batch, but because Airic and Jason didn't follow the assignment closely enough, the team suffered. So it was down to Airic and Jason. Jason's photos were deemed messy and the judges argued that he locked himself into only one position. When defending his lack of full-body shots, Airic dropped the, "I didn't have enough time" excuse, which really pissed the judges off, especially Italo, who was having none of it.
Ultimately, it was Airic who was sent home in the end. The randy photographer (remember his butt shots from the volleyball shoot?), who claimed that his dream in life was to shoot the Victoria's Secret catalog, will sadly have to use a non-VH1-related means to fulfill this lifelong dream.
– Alexis Swerdloff


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If you run a small business or freelance, chances are good that you're looking into a portable payment processing system you can run with a tablet or smartphone. Enter Square Register, the leading mobile payment app for iOS and Android devices. And it's not just for businesses on the go. Many companies are using Square Register and an iPad as their primary point of sale system. In this short course, Jess Stratton shows you how to set up an account, use the Square Reader to process payments, set prices and discounts, and enter products and inventory.
My name is Jess Stratton and welcome to Up and Running with Square Register. Square Register is a point of sale service and app that allows you to focus on your small business, without having to worry about adding an expensive cash register and credit card machine to your store. You can create a product catalogue, and then use that to tap your orders directly on the tablet. From there, you can even finish the transaction and swipe a credit card using a tiny card reader that connects to the headphone jack of the device itself.
You can have your customers tap to choose a tip amount. And you can even email them their receipt afterwards. You don't have to sign up with a separate merchant services account to start accepting credit cards. Square takes care of everything, including depositing the money directly into your bank account. But Square Register doesn't just work for tablets. You can also have a completely mobile office, and still be able to accept and swipe credit cards from your smartphone, wherever you are. To get started all you'll need is an iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
You can use a desktop computer also. In this course, I'll take you through everything you need to get up and running with Square Register.
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Undergraduate Academic Catalog 2012-2013
ENGL 2130 American Literature Early to Present
Prerequisite: ENGL 1102
A survey of important works of American Literature. Includes a variety of literary forms such as poetry, drama, nonfiction, short stories, and novels. The course presents literature as a reflection of culture and the history of ideas.
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Thursday, June 26, 2014
Mount Pleasant Waterworks (MPW) wants to advise all customers about a mail solicitation they may receive from HomeServe regarding coverage for water service lines. It has come to their attention that these solicitations are again being mailed to Mount Pleasant Waterworks customers.
HomeServes mail solicitation is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mount Pleasant Waterworks.
Mount Pleasant Waterworks is currently working to develop a separate service line program that will provide coverage for both residential water and wastewater service lines. This program will be administered and managed by Mount Pleasant Waterworks. MPW anticipate their program becoming available in the fall and Mount Pleasant Waterworks customers will be notified directly by Mount Pleasant Waterworks.
So look forward to the exciting opportunity our MPW program will provide each residential customer coming soon, said General Manager Clay Duffie.
Moultrie News is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Moultrie News.
If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.
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LOVEFiLM has confirmed yet another partner for its Instant service which lets you choose from a large range of films and TV shows and stream them
LOVEFiLM has confirmed another partner with the Amazon owned company's Instant service to be making its debut on LG Smart TVs. LG have confirmed that included in all future TVs will be the LOVEFiLM Instant app which will let you stream to your hearts content.
This means that those who are subscribed to the service will be able to browse through LOVEFiLM's 5000+ collection of films and TV shows all using LG's connected TVs.
This also means that you'll be able to utilise the new Magic Remote that was showcased at CES and also search for films using the Nuance Dragon voice-recognition software that has been built-into the remote.
While already available on other TVs the idea, no doubt, is to seal the deal on their dominance of the market, especially after Netflx saw its UK release this month, offering its own streaming credentials via Xbox 360 and certain Smart TVs.
Tried both LOVEFiLM and Netflix? Let us know which one you think is best via the comments box below or on Facebook and Twitter.
Source: TechRadar


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Danny Avila To Give Exclusive Performance At The Beats By Dre Store This Sunday May 19th
Fresh from EDC NY Friday, Spanish hotshot Danny Avila stays on in the Big Apple for an exclusive performance at the Beats By Dre store this Sunday May 19.
Joined by NYC favorites dBerrie and Seabiscuit, the 18-year-old sensation promises to shake the neighborhood to its foundations as he unleashes his high-octane brand of house and electro on hundreds of fans expected to pack out the Greene Street store.
Danny teams up with Beats By Dre for this special showcase to introduce the new Neon Mixr range of headphones, developed by the pioneering headphone designers specifically for DJs at the request of none other than David Guetta.
Super-light, yet built to withstand the rigours of professional DJ life, the Mixr range is easily foldable, features rotating ear cups, dual input and daisy chain connectors and delivers extremely deep bass at extraordinarily high volume – making them perfect for Danny's trademark jump-up sets that usually threaten to blow the speakers!
Fans in attendance will have the chance to win a pair of the new Neon Mixrs signed exclusively by David Guetta and handed out by Danny throughout the afternoon.
To be a part of the experience, head over to the Beats By Dre store, 67 Greene Street, New York, NY 10012 this Sunday from 3pm ET!
Photo Credit: Al Powers, PowersImagery.com


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The following individuals served as the primary writing team for Climate Change: Evidence & Causes:
Professor Eric Wolff FRS, University of Cambridge (UK Chair)
Eric Wolff is a Royal Society Research Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge. Eric is one of the foremost investigators of Quaternary and recent climate records using ice cores. His major contributions include demonstration that industrial heavy metal pollution was global in extent, his re-interpretation of sea salt in ice cores as a proxy for sea ice, and pioneering work on the physical properties of impurities in ice cores. He has led the incredibly successful EPICA project which has produced detailed records of climate and atmospheric composition spanning the last 800,000 years, providing an unprecedented insight into the Quaternary climate system.
Professor Inez Fung, University of California, Berkeley (US Chair)
Inez Fung is a Professor of atmospheric science at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-director of the Berkeley Institute of the Environment. She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2001. She was a contributing author to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third and Fourth Assessment reports. Her research looks at the interactions between climate change and biogeochemical cycles, and focuses on the processes that maintain and alter the composition of the atmosphere, and hence the climate. A question driving her research is how atmospheric CO2 and climate will co-evolve, and what we can do about it.
Professor Sir Brian Hoskins CBE FRS, Grantham Institute for Climate Change, Imperial College London
Sir Brian Hoskins is the first Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College, and is also at Reading University, where he has been Professor of Meteorology for 30 years. His research area is weather and climate processes, and he is a member of the scientific academies of the UK, USA, China and Europe, He has played significant roles in international weather and climate research and in the 2007 science report of the IPCC, and is currently a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change. He was knighted in 2007 for his services to the environment.
Professor John Mitchell OBE FRS, Met Office
John Mitchell gained a BSc and PhD, Theoretical Physics in from The Queen's University, Belfast. In 1978, he took charge of the Climate Change group in what is now the Met Office's Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research. His main speciality is the climatic effects of increases in greenhouse gases and related pollutants. He was a lead author in the first three IPCC Working Group I reports. He is a past Chief Scientist and Director of Climate Science at the Met Office, where he is now currently the Principal Research Fellow. He is a visiting Professor at the University of Reading and an Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia.
Professor Keith Shine FRS, University of Reading
Keith Shine is Professor of Physical Meteorology at the University of Reading. He graduated in Physics from Imperial College in 1978 and gained his PhD in Meteorology from the University of Edinburgh in 1981. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2009. His primary research area is "radiative processes and climate" and his current interests include the role of water vapour in the climate system, the impact of aviation on climate change (and vice versa) and the quantification of the radiative forcing of climate change due to changes in concentrations of greenhouse gases. He has been involved in several Working Group 1 reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including being a Lead Author on its First Assessment Report in 1990 and as a Review Editor for its recently completed Fifth Assessment Report.
Professor John Shepherd FRS, University of Southampton
John Shepherd is Professorial Research Fellow in Earth System Science at the School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton. From 2001 to 2010 John Shepherd was also a Deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1999.
His current research interests include the natural variability of the climate system on long time-scales, and the development and use of intermediate complexity models (especially GENIE) of the Earth climate system, for the interpretation of the palaeo-climate record, and for long-term projections of climate change.
Professor Tim Palmer FRS, University of Oxford
Tim Palmer is Royal Society Research Professor in Climate Physics at Oxford University and Co-Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Modelling and Predicting Climate. Tim's research spans a wide variety of areas, from the theoretical to the practical, in issues related to the predictability and dynamics of weather and climate. On the theoretical side, Tim is especially interested in aspects of the climate system which exhibit nonlinear behaviour, for example where climatic processes on different space and time scales interact. On the practical side, Tim has developed probabilistic weather and climate ensemble forecast systems, and worked on the application of weather and climate forecasts e.g. for malaria prediction, flood forecasting, and crop yield estimation. Most recently Tim's research has focused on the use of energy-efficient hybrid stochastic/deterministic computer hardware to simulate climate at extremely high resolution.
Professor Susan Solomon ForMemRS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US
Susan Solomon is well known for having pioneered the theory explaining why the ozone hole occurs in Antarctica. She is also the author of several influential scientific papers in climate science, including one on the irreversibilities of the climate change problem. She received the 1999 US National Medal of Science, that nation's highest scientific honour. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Acadameia Europaea. She served as co-chair of the climate science group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from 2002-2007, and in 2008, Time magazine named Solomon as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. A glacier in Antarctica has been named after her, Solomon Glacier.
Professor Donald Wuebbles, University of Illinois, US
Donald Wuebbles is the Harry E. Preble Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Illinois. He is a Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences as well as an affiliate Professor in the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He was the first Director of the School of Earth, Society, and Environment at Illinois, was the first Director of the Environmental Council at the University, and was Head of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences for many years. He is an expert in numerical modelling of atmospheric physics and chemistry and has authored over 400 scientific articles, relating mostly to atmospheric chemistry and climate issues. He has been a lead author on a number of national and international assessments related to concerns about climate change.
Dr Kevin Trenberth, National Center for Atmospheric Research, US
Kevin Trenberth is a Distinguished Senior Scientist in the Climate Analysis Section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. From New Zealand, he obtained his Sc. D. in meteorology in 1972 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a lead author of the 1995, 2001 and 2007 Scientific Assessment of Climate Change reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Kevin's research addresses many aspects of climate variability and climate change research. Recently, his primary research has focused on the global energy and water cycles and how they are changing. His work mainly involves empirical studies and quantitative diagnostic calculations.
Professor John Walsh, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, US
John Walsh is President's Professor of Global Change & Chief Scientist at the International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. He graduated with a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Dartmouth College before gaining his PhD in Meteorology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. John's professional interests cover climate change and meteorology of Polar Regions, arctic sea ice and extreme weather and impacts. His research on sea ice has involved working to establish a long-term sea ice database for use in a formal, searchable Sea Ice Atlas interface. He has served as a contributor on the subject of ongoing Arctic changes to a number of official reports.
Dr Benjamin Santer, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, US
Benjamin Santer is an atmospheric scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Ben's early research contributed to the historic "discernible human influence" conclusion of the 1995 Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. His recent work has attempted to identify human factors in a number of different climate variables. Ben holds a Ph.D. in Climatology from the University of East Anglia, England. He spent five years at the Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology in Germany, and worked on the development and application of climate fingerprinting methods. Ben served as convening lead author of the climate-change detection and attribution chapter of the 1995 IPCC report. He was the convening lead author of a key chapter of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program's report on "Temperature Trends in the Lower Atmosphere".
Read short summary answers
1. Is the climate warming?
2. How do scientists know that recent climate change is largely caused by human activities?
3. CO2 is already in the atmosphere naturally, so why are emissions from human activity significant?
4. What role has the Sun played in climate change in recent decades?
5. What do changes in the vertical structure of atmospheric temperature – from the surface up to the stratosphere - tell us about the causes of recent climate change?
6. Climate is always changing. Why is climate change of concern now?
7. Is the current level of atmospheric CO2 concentration unprecedented in Earth's history?
8. Is there a point at which adding more CO2 will not cause further warming?
9. Does the rate of warming vary from one decade to another?
10. Does the recent slowdown of warming mean that climate change is no longer happening?
11. If the world is warming, why are some winters and summers still very cold?
12. Why is Arctic sea ice reducing while Antarctic sea ice is not?
13. How does climate change affect the strength and frequency of floods, droughts, hurricanes and tornadoes?
14. How fast is sea level rising?
15. What is ocean acidification and why does it matter?
16. How confident are scientists that Earth will warm further over the coming century?
17. Are climate changes of a few degrees a cause for concern?
18. What are scientists doing to address key uncertainties in our understanding of the climate system?
19. Are disaster scenarios about tipping points like 'turning off the Gulf Stream' and release of methane from the Arctic a cause for concern?
20. If emissions of greenhouse gases were stopped, would the climate return to the conditions of 200 years ago?
In addition to the 20 key questions answered in 'Climate Change: Evidence & Causes', we asked for your questions about the science of climate change on Google Moderator.
View all questions and our responses.
Download the answers (PDF).
Our policy projects are led by Fellows and other experts.
Our policy work is organised around four themes.
Search all of our policy publications.
Meetings, events and discussions for policymakers.
Get the latest news and comment from the Science Policy Centre.
Send a message to the Science Policy team.


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Chuck Landon: Hamrick goes way back with Tulsa coach
Once upon a time, there was a conversation that sounds like a fairy tale.
The ironic fact that it took place in the Land of Oz, otherwise known as Kansas, just makes it seem more whimsical.
Yet, Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick swears every word is true, despite no confirmation from the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion or even John Calipari.
It all began in 1983. ...
"I'm an assistant athletic director at the University of Kansas," said Hamrick. "We had just hired Larry Brown as the basketball coach. His first year was 1983-84. I was with Larry and a couple of other guys. ... Bob Hill, a longtime assistant there and John Calipari who was an assistant. We were sitting around at a fund-raising event and Larry had just gotten off the phone.
"He comes in and says, 'Guys, we're going to win a national championship here at Kansas.' And I say, 'That's great, Larry. What has gotten you so excited?' He said, 'I just hired a great assistant coach.' And I said, 'Who is it?' He says, 'His name is Ed Manning.'
"I was kind of puzzled about how an assistant coach was going to win a national championship for us. So, I said, 'How do you know him?' And Larry said, 'He played for me in the ABA.' I said, 'Where's he coaching now?' And he said, 'He's not coaching.' I said, 'What's he doing?' He said, 'He's working for a trucking company in Greensboro, N.C.'
"And I said, 'Wow, Larry, and this guy is going to help us win a national championship?' He said, 'Yep. He's got a son who is 6-foot-10 and is the best high school basketball player in America.' I said, 'What's his name?' He said, 'His name is Danny.'
"I could see those assistant coaches' eyes light up like Christmas trees. But I didn't know who Danny Manning was. I can remember Larry saying, 'I've got to get Danny Manning out of North Carolina. I've got to get him away from Dean Smith.'
"And Larry had been a great player at North Carolina. I don't think the people from North Carolina have ever forgiven Larry Brown.
"Danny was a junior, so Ed moved to Lawrence (Kan.) and Danny came with him. He played his senior year at Lawrence High School in '84, which was my last year at Kansas, and led them to a state championship.
"We would all go down and watch Danny play. He was just a phenomenal player and he was such a classy, classy kid. He reeked of 'Yes sir, no sir.'
"Then, Danny played at Kansas in 1985-86-87 and they won the national championship in '88. They were called 'Danny and the Miracles' and Danny was voted the outstanding player in the NCAA Tournament.
"But I will always remember the day that Larry Brown said, 'Guys, we're going to win a national championship here at the University of Kansas.' "
That's quite a tale.
Yet, it becomes even more compelling when the ending is added. Twenty-five years later, Manning, Brown and Hamrick are all in Conference USA.
The pupil, Manning, out-coached the teacher, Brown, by leading Tulsa to a 48-47 win over SMU on Sunday. Next, Tulsa plays Marshall at 7 p.m., Wednesday, in the Henderson Center, giving Hamrick and Manning a chance to renew old acquaintances.
But the best part of this fairy tale come true?
They really did all live happily ever after.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Contact him at 304-526-2827 or email@example.com.
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Trident Technical Colleges Department of History, Humanities and Political Science is presenting Joseph McGill and The Slave Dwelling Project on Monday, Nov. 26 at 12:35 p.m.
The free event will take place in Building 410, rooms 212 and 214 on TTCs Main Campus in North Charleston. The public is invited to attend.
The event will consist of a presentation on McGills overnight experiences in 36 former slave dwellings across 11 U.S. states. McGill, who is a field officer for the Charleston Field Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is working to bring awareness and preserve the dwellings where African American ancestors lived while enslaved.
For more information on the presentation call (843) 574.6468
The Gazette is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Gazette.
If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.
© 2015 The Gazette an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


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Seeking God's Calling for Your Life
There's something so appealing about the idea of knowing and pursuing your calling.
Maybe it's just me who feels this way, but I doubt it.
I think we all want to know that we're on the right path. And that's what a "calling" really implies—it's more than a job or task. Whether your primary work is in the professional world, the home, or some combination of both, we all desire the assurance and purposefulness of being able to say, "I was created for this. I'm doing what God wants me to do."
Granted, I'm especially goal-oriented, so the idea of knowing exactly what God wants of me is pretty appealing. If God had sent the 25-year-old me a memo detailing his practical goals and expectations for my life, I might have jumped for joy.
Over time I've learned—mostly the hard way—that that's not really how God works.
"But why not?" we all ask, "It would be so much easier that way. I could just get done what God wants me to do and I wouldn't have to waste time wondering whether it was right or not."
It's not about you
What if I told you that pursing your calling isn't really about what you can do for God?
As special and unique as you are, and as much as God loves you, he doesn't need you to do anything for him. If he did, he could just send you a memo, right? What he wants, more than any accomplishment, is your heart. He wants to bring you into relationship with him.
To hear God's calling, you must learn to recognize his voice, and there's no shortcut for that.
So my first and biggest piece of advice is this: Spend time in God's Word and time in prayer.
I'll be the first to admit that there have been times in my life when I heard advice like that, and I shook it off: Who has the time? I thought, I'm giving everything I've got just trying to get me, my family, and my employees through the day in one piece, and I'm not always managing that well enough. How am I supposed to add something to my to-do list?
I had this idea in my head that "time with God" meant I had to sit quietly somewhere, reading the Bible, meditating and talking to God for hours. It seemed impossible, and so I forged on for too long, snatching bits of Bible study here and there, and praying half-delirious, exhausted prayers in bed at night until I fell asleep.
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Diane Paddison is a business professional and founder of 4wordwomen.org, local groups of professional working women committed to faith, family, work, and each other.