Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for the blocking of recording digital content at an end user multimedia end-user-system during the rendering of encrypted digital multimedia files. Before the process of rendering of encrypted digital multimedia can be started all rendered media stream during playback are opened to ensure that this multimedia content is not recorded. This blocks the usage of the devices and/or ports that can be used to store un-encrypted content that has been decrypted for the purposes of playing or rendering. The method also includes an exception, which allows recording with permission from the present invention.

Abstract: A form assembly formed by front and back plies for creating a postcard having printing on both faces from a single pass through a non-impact printing device.

Abstract: The computerized bidding method matches hospitality facility data and meeting requirement data, permits the posting of offers and responsive bidding by both hospitality facility vendors and meeting planners, and facilitates the exchange of data and enables an auction between multiple parties. The hospitality facility data represents vendors for hotel facilities, meeting room facilities or other hospitality facilities. Meeting requirement data represents the necessities of a plurality of meeting planners for a corresponding plurality of meetings or events. The system and the method stores data in a database. Meeting planner offers (meeting requirement data) are posted to the database. The system matches the meeting requirement data with previously stored hospitality facility data Meeting requirement data (offers) is typically truncated or blinded to all parties except the posting party. The blinded offer is sent to hospitality vendors which match the meeting requirements.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for disinfecting an item, for example, a handle for a door or a tap in a toilet facility. The apparatus includes a movable member, e.g., a door handle having a contact surface for being manually engaged to move the movable member; germicide applying means for applying germicide to the surface; and an operating mechanism coupled between the movable member and the germicide applying means and operable in response to movement of the movable member for applying germicide to the contact surface after movement of said movable member. The germicide applying means may be a pump. The operating mechanism may act to prime the pump when the door handle is turned to open the door. The germicide is sprayed over the handle after the handle is released and returns to its initial position. The return movement may be retarded.

Abstract: A downhole dynamic compressor comprises an electric motor having a stator 6 with stationary windings and an armature with permanent magnets 7 supported on gas bearings 9, 10 for rotation relative to the stator. The gas bearings 9 and 10 are arranged at the upstream and downstream opposite ends of the motor, respectively. The dynamic compressor has a bladed wheel 12 mounted on an overhanging end of the motor armature 7 that projects beyond the gas bearing 9 at the upstream end of the motor, whereby all the gas bearings of the compressor and the electric motor are arranged on the downstream side of the dynamic compressor.

Abstract: A method is provided for using SACVD deposition to deposit at least one layer of dielectric material inside a deposition reactor during the fabrication of at least one semiconductor integrated circuit. According to the method, a reaction chamber is provided for carrying out SACVD deposition, and a stream of a first reaction gas containing oxygen plasma is supplied into a gas feed conduit connected to the reaction chamber. Microwaves are applied inside the gas feed conduit in order to produce sufficient oxygen radicals from the oxygen plasma, the oxygen radicals being necessary to initiate SACVD deposition. A stream of a second reaction gas is supplied into the reaction chamber, with the second reaction gas being suitable to initiate SACVD deposition when reacting with oxygen radicals.

Abstract: The accessory drive unit, mounted intermediate an engine and a transmission, provides mounts for a water pump, an alternator, a supercharger and a starter. The accessory drive unit includes a main planetary gear driving a supplemental gear which is rotatably interconnected to a bevel gear driving a supercharger shaft. A first pilot gear is rotatably coupled to the main gear and is coaxially mounted to a second pilot gear. A water pump gear is rotatably coupled to the second pilot gear. An alternator gear is rotatably coupled to the first pilot gear. A flywheel is mounted on the engine drive shaft and has a peripheral gear thereon. The starter has a geared drive shaft which is adapted to rotatably interlink with the peripheral gear on the flywheel.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a virtual address for a program requesting a DMA transfer. The program is designed to be run in user mode on a system on a chip that includes a central processing unit, a memory management unit, and a DMA controller. The virtual address is a source virtual address or a destination virtual address and has a size of N bits. According to the method, the virtual address is divided into at least two fields of bits. For each of the fields, there is created an N-bit address word comprising a prefix having a given value associated with the field and having more than 1 bit, and the field. The DMA controller is programmed using multiple store instructions that include one store instruction relating to each of the address words created.

Abstract: A method and a device for processing an image to be displayed with a reduced number n of color components are disclosed. The method comprises, for at least one of the color components, a reduction operation that is carried out by means of a dynamic round off dependent on the position (x, y) of the pixel to display. Thus, in a very simple way, image processing preventing the occurrence of artifacts, flickering or other flaws that the reduction of the number of colors would inevitably produce, can be realized.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier is provided that includes a first circuit block capable of amplifying a first voltage signal that is input to the amplifier. The first circuit block includes a first terminal coupled to a first supply voltage by a variable resistance, and a second terminal coupled to a second supply voltage. The second terminal is coupled to an output terminal of the amplifier, and the first voltage signal is applied to a further terminal of the first circuit block. The amplifier also includes a feedback network coupled to the output terminal and to the further terminal of the first circuit block, and a second circuit block coupled between the second supply voltage and the further terminal of the first circuit block. The second circuit block is adapted to compensate for variations in value of the variable resistance to ensure a substantially constant input resistance of the amplifier.

Abstract: Respective items of a software component, a development task and a required specification, which are enumerated as the requirement for performing the development of software products belonging to a certain category are first registered in recording means. In the registration of the development-task items, when a specific development-task item can be initiated only after the completion of one or more other development-task items at the time of the registration, the specific development-task item is registered together with ordinal information specifying the one or more other development-task items. Then, the operator is allowed to set up the correlations between any two of the software component, the development task and the required specification which have been registered by the item registration function, with respect to each of the items thereof, and information about the correlations is registered in the recording means.

Abstract: The extended range of optical data communication is enabled through the use of intermediary relay stations spaced fairly far apart. IRDA communicatiOn, as is well known, uses very short duration optical pulses to send data up to 1 Mbit/sec; this has the concomitant effect of minimizing LED duty cycle and preventing excessive heating. The invention uses a number of integrated pulses to represent a single bit instead of utilizing a one-to-one correspondence between pulses and bits. Processing software causes the transmitter to “stutter” or repetitively emanate the identical pulse representing a bit of information. Sufficient photons are thereby gathered at a receiver to reach a predetermined threshold. A tradeoff of the data transmission frequency in this invention is that as signal intensity drops by a factor of 100 when distance increases by a factor of 10 yielding a distance/intensity ratio of 1/10.

Abstract: A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more portions between which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other.

Abstract: A system and method for production of a printed product individualized for the customer, which offers the customer a selection of information content, depending on the variable payment (price) and the profile of interests thereof. Based on the price decision of the customer, a customer-specific relationship of optionally edited information content to customer-specific advertisement is generated. A dynamic matching of the profile of interests is carried out by feedback. The form of the printed product is determined by the selection of the information and the advertisements and the combination thereof according to the customer-specific relationship and profile of interests by means of an inventive layout.

Abstract: Bit lines (BL0, BL0R, BL1, BL1R, . . . ) of a ROM memory array with differential detection reading are arranged within two overlaid metallization levels so as to increase the read reliability of binary values stored in the array. The ROM array is divided into matrix segments (100, 101, . . . ) aligned parallel to the bit lines. The bit lines are shifted horizontally and/or vertically within transition regions (T) located between the segments of matrix, by effecting circular permutations between the positions of the bit lines that are divided up into groups of four.

Abstract: The present invention provides a patient support apparatus for use during a medical procedure. The patient support apparatus is configured to receive and support a body of a patient on a base member. The base member includes a top surface having a plurality of adjustable members, wherein each of the adjustable members is configured to support a different portion the body of the patient. A plurality of actuation mechanisms are operably connected to both the base member and one each of the plurality of adjustable members, such that each of the plurality of adjustable members is separately, selectively positionable with respect to the base member. A control device operably connected to the actuation mechanism to selectively control the position of each of the adjustable members and the corresponding body portions.

Abstract: An optical semiconductor module including an optical semiconductor component that has a front face including an optical sensor. Encapsulation, defining a cavity in which the optical component is disposed, includes external electrical connections for the optical semiconductor component, and includes a window allowing light to pass through it toward the optical sensor. An optical lens (17) is disposed in the cavity (6) between the optical sensor (10) and the window (5). A support structure (18) supports the optical lens. This optical semiconductor module may also include a shield (24).

Abstract: A tracheal tube positioning apparatus is located relative to a patient's trachea by engaging the patient's Adam's apple. Indicia on relatively movable sections of the positioning apparatus provides an indication of the distance between the patient's mouth and the patient's larynx. A flexible guide rod is moved through a distance corresponding to the distance between the patient's mouth and larynx, as determined by the positioning apparatus. A magnet is utilized to attract a leading end portion of the guide rod. A plurality of emitters may be disposed in an array around the patient's Adam's apple. Outputs from the emitters are detected by a detector connected with the guide rod and by a detector connected with the tracheal tube. Alternatively, a plurality of detectors may be disposed in an array around the patient's Adam's apple to detect the output from an emitter connected with the guide rod and by an emitter connected with the tracheal tube.