Abstract: A method to present auxiliary lighting for enhancing a scene during a multimedia presentation. The method in photonic enclosure comprising the steps of: coupling one or more illumination sources over a network, so that at least one illumination source of the one or more illumination sources is capable of being uniquely addressed; displaying a multimedia presentation; reading a series of preprogrammed illumination identifiers stored in computer readable medium corresponding with the primary multimedia presentation; interpreting one or more illumination identifiers to set one or more illumination sources for a period of time and to set the address of at least one of the one or more illumination sources; and sending a set signal in response to the interpretation of the one more illumination identifiers to one or more illumination sources over the network. In another embodiment, a gaming helmet is disclosed as the photonic enclosure used to carry out the above method.

Abstract: The fabrication process comprises a phase of producing a base region having an extrinsic base and an intrinsic base, and a phase of producing an emitter region comprising an emitter block having a narrower lower part located in an emitter window provided above the intrinsic base. Production of the extrinsic base comprises implantation of dopants, carried out after the emitter window has been defined, on either side of and at a predetermined distance dp from the lateral boundaries of the emitter window, so as to be self-aligned with respect to this emitter window, and before the emitter block is formed.

Abstract: A method for encapsulating the form and function of user data in a relational database that eliminates database schema changes whenever the presentation of the user data changes is described. The method comprises receiving source data, associated source data definitions and report layouts consisting of report headings and report logic. The source data definitions and the report layouts are parsed into three or more user data types: (1) an organizational type fields identifying a data collection; (2) value type fields containing data values in the data collection; and (3) procedural type fields containing one or more form keywords and function keywords.

Abstract: In a data processing system, a method for fetching information through a data network includes the following steps: (1) receiving a user profile comprising user preferences; (2) using an agent for periodically accessing current information from the data network as specified in the user profile; (3) fetching the current information from the data network; and (4) modifying the stored time sensitive information according to the current information. The method can be implemented in various information processing systems or devices such as a portable computer or a server linked to the portable computer by a wireless or wireline communication link. According to another embodiment the invention may be realized by a computer readable medium including programming instructions for any suitable data processing apparatus.

Abstract: In a method for the display of teletext headers on a television receiver screen during a search for a teletext page, the teletext service uses a first group of characters comprising fixed characters and locations to receive variable characters and a second group of sets of characters, each set of characters being proper to a language and being designed to be introduced selectively at the locations of variable characters of said first group. The set of characters to be introduced into the first set is selected as soon as the first data packet enabling it to be identified is received by the TV receiver in such a way that the headers are displayed properly.

Abstract: A method for presenting to an end-user the intermediate matching search results of a keyword search in an index list of information. The method comprising the steps of: coupling to a search engine a graphical user interface for accepting keyword search terms for searching the indexed list of information with the search engine; receiving one or more keyword search terms with one or more separation characters separating there between; performing a keyword search with the one or more keyword search terms received when a separation character is received; and presenting the number of documents matching the keyword search terms to the end-user presenting a graphical menu item on a display. A system and method of metadata search ranking is disclosed. The present invention utilizes a combination of popularity and/or relevancy to determine a search ranking for a given search result association.

Abstract: A metallized pattern, used as an electrical conductor, is altered by means of standard lithographic processes to have regions of interspersed missing metal, or voids, in a specified region of the pattern. The voids in the conducting pattern allow radiation, emanating from various angles, to penetrate through the voids so that a glue seal, disposed underneath the pattern, can be exposed to the radiation and thus activated and cured. The preferred application is found in flat panel displays where radiation is required to cure a glue seal that affixes two substrates to one another. The openings in the metallized pattern in the region of the glue seal minimize the shadowing, caused by the solid portions of the pattern, which can result in the lack of glue seal curing or polymerization. The absence of shadowing assures that the glue seal is fully cured and will not contaminate the liquid crystal after final processing.

Abstract: A system and method for associating a personalized application tool and/or service in response to data supplied by any number of search requests is disclosed. The present invention in some preferred embodiments integrates a Session Manager (0701), Tool/Service Integrator (0702), Result Analyzer (0703), Registration Manager (0704), and a Request Server (0705) in conjunction with a DTD Schema (0707), a Tool/Services Database (0706), and an Optional Accounting Manager (0708). Several preferred embodiments of the present invention are configured to process user search requests (0711) comprising Internet search queries (0712) that are subsequently processed by an Internet Search Engine (0713) under control of a Session Manger (0701). The focus of the present invention is to permit brokering of search results post-processing tools and/or services, thus improving the overall efficiency of the searching and data analysis functions by a given user.

Abstract: Process for producing electrical-connections on a semiconductor package containing an integrated-circuit chip and with an external protective layer having apertures that least partly expose metal electrical-connection regions, and semiconductor package provided with such metal electrical-connections. The apertures having walls are filled with a metal electrical-connection layer covering at least their walls. A metal solder drop is soldered to the connection layer so that it is not in contact with the external protective layer.

Abstract: A method for provisioning at least one subscriber characteristic in a billing system includes the steps of creating at least one subscriber characteristic record. The method continues by creating a one subscriber record with entries for subscriber identification and inserting in a subscriber characteristic record, a first key for associating with the subscriber record. A characteristic record is created with entries for subscriber characteristics. A second key is inserted in the subscriber characteristic record. The second key is associated with the characteristic record so that the characteristic record is associated via the second key to the subscriber characteristic record that has been associated via the first key. A characteristic group to characteristic record is created for holding characteristics for a group of subscribers. A third primary key is inserted in the characteristic group.

Abstract: A system for identifying different language versions of the same structured format document (e.g., HTML web page) detects the language of the two documents and translates one or both into a preferred language if necessary, parses the two candidate documents and builds two hierarchical data structure based on the document. The data structures are used to compare the hierarchical structure of the two documents and also to access text portions in congruent positions in the two documents. A fuzzy measure of similarity of a set of text portions occupying congruent positions in the two documents is then obtained, to induce a measure of the similarity of the two documents which is compared to a fuzzy threshold.

Abstract: A method to intercept operating system messages in an informational processing device, the method comprising the steps of: waiting for an operating system message; determining if the message corresponds to a previously selected operating system message; and performing an operating system call that has been previously mapped to the selected operating system message.

Abstract: In a data processing system, a method for fetching information through a data network comprising: transmitting information to a client unit for causing the client unit to display a user interface enabling a user to enter user information relating to certain data items to be searched in the database and when to transmit the data items to the user; receiving the user information; creating a set of rules according to the user information received; searching at least one database for the data items specified by the user according to the rules; and transmitting the data items according to the rules. According to another embodiment the invention may be realized by a computer readable medium including programming instructions for any suitable data processing apparatus.

Abstract: A system for providing bulk calling over a public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising: an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony gateway for receiving at least one PSTN line; a database connected to the gateway for providing telephone customer information; one or more client information processing units, each unit capable of being linked to at least one IP telephone; and local area network connecting each of the client information processing units with the gateway. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method and computer readable storage medium that corresponds to the above system.

Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate (SB) having locally at least one zone (ZL) terminating in the surface of the substrate and entirely bordered, along its lateral edges and its bottom, by an insulating material so as to be completely isolated from the rest of the substrate. The horizontal isolating layer may be a layer of constant thickness or a crenellated layer.

Abstract: A system, a method and a computer readable medium for distributing messages from a third-party to a group of subscribers by using subscriber information and subscriber preferences stored in a database so that the group of subscribers can form a community to negotiate a group purchase of a good and/or service from the third party. A subscriber selection system is used for querying the database using one or more subscriber criteria to form a group of one or more subscribers. The one or more subscriber criteria used to query the database is chosen by the third party, which allows the subscriber selection system to form a group of subscribers who satisfy the criteria for a type of subscriber that the third-party wants to send a message, such as an advertisement, to. A billing system, which is coupled to the database receives one or more messages from a third-party and then provides the one or more messages from the third party to the group of subscribers that was formed by the corresponding query of the database.

Abstract: A system using several wavelengths, preferably from the output of a single laser, is described for curing a dual cure glue seal that affixes two substrates to form a liquid crystal display panel. Here the liquid crystal is already in place before the glue seal is cured so that a high temperature bake to promote the sealant curing is not permissible . The multiple wavelengths from the single source of radiation result both from frequency doubling and mixing of the fundamental laser to achieve frequency tripling. Generally a UV wavelength is required for curing the photolytic component of the glue seal so that in the present invention the fundamental from a ˜1 micron (1000 nm) wavelength laser is frequency tripled. The UV is scanned along the entire peripheral region of the glue seal.

Abstract: A self-aligned double-polysilicon type bi-polar transistor with a heterojunction base comprises a semiconducting heterojunction region lying over an active region of a semiconductor substrate and over an isolating region delimiting the active region, and incorporating the intrinsic base region of the transistor. An emitter region situated above the active region and coming into contact with the upper surface of the semiconducting heterojunction region. A polysilicon layer forming the extrinsic base region of the transistor, situated on each side of the emitter region and separated from the semiconducting heterojunction region by a separation layer comprising an electrically conducting connection part situated just outside the emitter region. This connection part ensures an electrical contact between the extrinsic base and the intrinsic base.

Abstract: An adaptive system for optimizing the bandwidth of a communication link in a communications session is disclosed. The decision as to when bandwidth in a communication session is to be released, or added, is based on the actual user activity rather than on an a priori determination which may not reflect the actual workload. Additionally, this decision is based on the actual costs associated with maintaining, releasing, and/or establishing a communication link or additional bandwidth. The costs include both direct costs and opportunity costs. The algorithm can also adapt its decision making process to its own performance, using feedback information to determine if it is minimizing the costs involved.

Abstract: The present invention is a docking interface for portable electronic devices that feature at least a printed circuit board (PCB) contact and a set of spring loaded contact pins for facilitating the recharging of power source and transfer of data between the devices and their hosts. Because of the thickness of a PCB and the retraction of the spring loaded pins, the overall profile of the present invention is reduced to a minimum. At the same time, the reliability of the contact between the portable device and the docking station is assured. As such, the present invention offers an economical and reliable solution for docking interface in portable electronic devices that permit further reduction in size and weight without imposing constraints on the availability of increased functionality.