The inventor is Susie H. Bui. Techniques described herein allow multiple users to sign the same ecard. For example, a first user signs onto an ecard website, and selects an ecard template. After personalizing the ecard, the first user selects an option to invite other users to sign the card. Invitation messages are sent to the invited users. If an invited user accepts the invitation to sign the ecard, the invited user is prompted to login to the ecard website and sign the ecard. Once all the invited users have responded to the invitation, the first user is notified that the ecard is ready to be sent. Before sending the ecard, the first user may preview and modify the ecard. Once the first user is content with the ecard, the first user submits the ecard to the ecard web server to be sent to the intended recipient.

Patent number 7616097 is for handheld devices as visual indicators -- in other words, the illumination system in the iPhone and iPod. Per the patent, acomputing device is configured with a multifunctional backlit display. The backlighting can be operated in at least a first mode and a second mode. In a first mode, the backlighting provides luminance to the display so that images on the display can be easily seen. In a second mode, the backlighting provides visual stimulus for relaying information to a user or a user's surroundings. The inventor is Eugene Antony Whang.

Patent number 7616683 is for automatic switching between DSL and analog on a single RJ-11 DSL/analog combo modem. It's technology used in the AirPort Extreme. A modem for providing both DSL and analog signal connection capability with a single RJ-11 jack via an automatic switching mechanism is disclosed. The switching mechanism is controlled by software, which is responsive to user connection preference (i.e., for DSL or analog connection) and/or the detection that a DSL service is available. Dependent on whether DSL is detected on the signal line coupled to the jack and/or whether the user selects a DSL connection, the switching mechanism routes the signal received on the RJ-11 jack through either a path having the DSL modem circuitry or a path having analog modem circuitry. The inventor is Olivier Mardnian.

Patent number 7617496 is for a macroscalar processor architecture. In one embodiment, a processor receives instructions of a program loop having a vector block and a sequence block intended to be executed after the vector block, where the processor includes multiple slices and each of the slices is capable of executing an instruction of an iteration of the program loop substantially in parallel. For each iteration of the program loop, the processor executes an instruction of the sequence block using one of the slices while executing instructions of the vector block using a remainder of the slices substantially in parallel. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. The inventor is Jeffry E. Gonion.

Patent number 7617225 involves methods and systems for managing data created by different applications. ata such as metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. A single search input is received and the search is performed through the metadata and content of the plurality of files and subset of the plurality of files stored on a user's data processing system. The search input is saved in a folder for performing future searches. The inventors are Yan Arrouye, Dominic Giampaolo, Bas Ording, Gregory Christie, Stephen Oliver Lemay, Marcel van OS, Imran Chaudhri, Kevin Tiene and Pavel Cisler.

Patent number 7615938 is for a method and system for variable LED output in an electronic device. The invention involves a waveform generator that generates LED signal values that define an LED waveform and period. Each signal value is scaled by a particular scaling value to scale the amplitude of the LED waveform. The scaled LED waveform is then transmitted to an LED to cause the light emitted by the LED to pulse at a variable brightness. The inventor is Craig Prouse.

Patent number 7617454 is for accelerator handles. A method and apparatus is described to control velocity of object movement in a display device. A path is provided that the object will follow in the display. A plurality of handles are provided along the path and a velocity of the object is controlled by using the handles. The inventor is Randy Ubillos.

Patent number 7616829 is for reducing undesirable block based image processing artifacts by DC image filtering. A post-processing manager provides reconstructed block based picture post-processing that is uncoupled from picture decoding by dividing a reconstructed image that was encoded using block based processing into non-overlapping blocks, creating a DC image by computing the DC value of each block, creating a zero mean image by subtracting the DC value of each block from the corresponding pixels of that block, filtering the DC image and adding the filtered DC image to the zero mean image. A weak filtering operation can be applied to reduce blocking artifacts, and a strong filtering operation can be applied to smooth luminance transitions. The inventors are Brett Bilbrey and Alexei V. Ouzilevski.

Patent number 7616829 is for a connector reveal. It involves a case for a computer monitor having a tub with a case aperture, which are user accessible thereby. A beveled flange on the subpanel is received within a receiving flange on the case aperture. A structural grid within the case has a flexible portion that includes an electronics enclosure having a screw receiving aperture therein such that a screw is passed through a subpanel screw aperture in the subpanel and secured within the screw receiving aperture, thereby flexing the flexible portion to hold the subpanel firmly within the case aperture.

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