Abstract: An operational support system (OSS) which provisions a virtual circuit automatically potentially without requiring any manual intervention. The virtual circuit may be provisioned upon the reception of an order for a connection from a user location to a target network. The OSS is particulary useful to provision permanent virtual connections (PVC) on service provider networks providing high bandwidth connections to user locations on local loops.

Abstract: Cable winding devices and mechanisms for providing direct cable to electrical component connections without brush contacts are disclosed. Electronic controls may be provided directly on the cable winding device. The cable winding device generally includes two cable segments physically disconnected from each other, a spool configured for winding the cable segments thereon, and a circuit component such as a printed circuit board assembly that rotates with the spool. The circuit component may include electrical contacts to electronically connect corresponding pairs of wires of the cable segments and a user-adjustable or user-actuatable electronic control in communication with the electrical contacts. The circuit component may provide a pair of electrical contacts for each corresponding pair of wires in the cable segments and the electronic control is in communication with at least one pair of the electrical contacts.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide method and apparatus for determining audience affinity and/or aptitude in portions of media works and for developing information that represent measures of the audience affinity and/or aptitude. Further embodiments of present invention provide method and apparatus for utilizing the information to create altered media works and/or to present the altered media works to an audience. One embodiment of the present invention is a method for inferring audience affinity or aptitude with regard to content or properties of portions of a media work which includes: (a) presenting the media work to an audience; (b) obtaining user input regarding presentation rates for the portions of the media work; (c) correlating content or properties of the portion with the presentation rates; and; (d) associating audience affinity or aptitude with the correlated content or properties.

Abstract: A DSP-enabled system and method for increasing intelligibility of audio on amplified telephones by providing digital audio processing customizable based on characteristics of hearing loss specific to individual end users are disclosed. The DSP-enabled amplified telephone generally comprises a DSP capable of implementing at least one digital processing mode for processing audio input, a volume control for allowing the user to select a volume control level, and a controller for interfacing between the DSP and the volume control. The DSP is optionally programmable to implement a processing mode selected from multiple processing modes that the DSP is capable of implementing. The mode is selected based upon the user's hearing loss characteristics. The DSP may be further customized by being programmed with frequency response, compression ratio, and/or knee point according to hearing loss characteristics of the user.

Abstract: Mechanisms for providing electrical controls on a rotating assembly such as a cable winding device are disclosed. The cable winding device generally includes an electronic control actuator such as a keycap attached to a housing and providing an actuating pad actuatable via an opening provided in the housing, the housing containing a spool, a circuit component including an electronic control such as a switch actuatable via the actuating pad, and a rotational actuator interface such as a skid pad located over the electronic control to interface between the actuator pad and the electronic control at all rotational orientations of the switch relative to the actuating pad and/or even while the spool is rotating. The circuit component and the skid pad are configured to rotate with the spool relative to the housing. The switch is disposed off of an axis of rotation and may be, for example, an answer/end, on/off, mute, volume, play/stop, rewind/fast forward, and/or enter/accept control.

Abstract: Systems and methods for gray scale lithography for defining edges such as on microelectronic device patterns during integrated circuit fabrication are disclosed. Methods for critical dimension edge placement and slope enhancement utilize central pixel dose addition or modulated inner pixels. A method for gray scale lithography for defining edges of features generally comprises identifying a center pixel of a feature, exposing the general width of the feature including the identified center pixel with full doses, and enhancing the identified center pixel by exposing the identified center pixel with additional dose to accurately place the edge of the feature, whereby the edge of the feature is defined and moved by exposing the center pixel with the additional dose.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information from a server to a client which includes the steps of: (a) broadcasting information at predetermined starting times; (b) receiving a request for the information from the client at an arrival time different from the predetermined starting times; and (c) transmitting a time-scale modified version of the information to the client for a period of time.

Abstract: A fast convolution method applicable to convolving a signal (indicative of an n-dimensional pattern, where n is greater than or equal to two) with a smooth kernel that can be approximated by a separated-spline kernel, and a system configured to perform such method using software or signal processing circuitry. Unlike Fourier-based convolution methods which require on the order of N log N arithmetic operations for a signal of length N, the method of the invention requires only on the order of N arithmetic operations to do so. Unlike wavelet-based convolution approximations (which typically also require more arithmetic operations than are required in accordance with the invention to convolve the same signal), the method of the invention is exact for convolution kernels which are spline kernels.

Abstract: A drive cooling baffle suitable for rack mount computing systems is disclosed. The drive cooling baffle generally includes a main body defining and extending between inlet and outlet openings, at least one opening is configured to cooperate with a fan to cool an electronics component, the main body portion being configured to generally enclose the electronics component and hook and loop material such as Velcro secured to an interior surface of the main body portion, the hook and loop material being configured and disposed to engage with a corresponding hook and loop material secured to the fan and/or the electronics component. The hook and loop material may be secured to indentations defined in the interior surface of the baffle. The baffle may include a flange to be in contact with an electronics components base to which the baffle, the fan, and the electronics component are attached, the flange being configured to engage with a hold down tab defined in the electronics components base.

Abstract: Systems and methods for placement of dummy metal fills while preventing disturbance of device matching and optionally limiting capacitance increase are disclosed. A computer-automated method for locating dummy fills in an integrated circuit fabrication process generally comprises receiving an input layout of the integrated circuit and specification of device matching for the integrated circuit and locating the dummy fills in the integrated circuit according to dummy rules while preserving device matching. Locating the dummy fills may include locating the dummy fills along the at least one axis of symmetry where device matching is along an axis of symmetry and locating the dummy fills so as to preserve matching of the repeated elements where device matching is repeated matched elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cable management in rack-mounted computing systems for housing electronics devices such as servers are disclosed. The cable management system generally includes a cable management housing to substantially enclose the cables therein. The housing defines openings to contain cables extending therethrough, each opening having a first and a second portion each configured to contain cables extending therethrough and a passage portion extending between the first and second opening portions and configured to allow passing of at least one cable between the first and second portions. The first and second portions may be disposed proximal and distal to the electronics devices to allow the cables extending therethrough to be in first or second cable position, respectively. While connected to the electronics devices, the cables extend through the first portion and are in a first cable position.

Abstract: A telecommunication system for providing a remote access connection having a bandwidth of 128 Kbps or 144 Kbps to any location (homes, small businesses, etc.) connected to a central office by a local loop, and higher bandwidth for some locations. The 128 Kbps or 144 Kbps is provided using ISDN Digital Subscriber Loop (IDSL) technology and higher bandwidth using other DSL technologies such as ADSL. Using shared equipment and transmission facilities, the present invention enables the high-speed remote access connections to be provided in a cost effective manner.

Abstract: A cooling baffle and fan mount apparatus suitable for rack mount computing systems is disclosed. The apparatus generally includes an upper and lower bracket configured to receive fans therebetween, the lower bracket defining mounting openings to cooperate with base openings defined in an electronics components base, and a baffle portion extending between the upper and lower brackets and defining fan openings to cooperate with the fans for airflow to pass through the baffle portion via the openings. The mounting openings may be configured for a flexible securing material, e.g., a hook and loop material, to extend therethrough from the base openings. A hook and loop tab may be secured to an underside of the upper bracket to cooperate with the hook and loop material to further secure the baffle. Each fan may provide a recessed region between two plates to receive the hook and loop material and to allow the hook and loop material to be wrapped around the fan and secured to itself.

Abstract: The present invention provides a source of multiple beams of electrons having a desired spatial pattern, as typically used for multiple beam lithography. A source of radiation, typically ultraviolet radiation, is directed onto a modulator and from the modulator onto a photocathode. The modulator, typically a spatial light modulator, imposes a spatial pattern onto the radiation. The pattern imposed onto the radiation is transmitted to the multiple beams of electrons as such beams are generated by the photocathode. An electron beam lithography system having higher throughput than conventional single beam systems is one result. Methods of creating multiple electron beams and methods of patterning targets with such multiple beams of electrons are also described. A micromirror array is a preferred modulator. Mercury arc lamp directing ultraviolet radiation by means of the modulator onto a cesium telluride photocathode is a preferred combination of radiation source and photocathode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for content delivery, such as Internet content, using hybrid wireless technology, such as satellite technology, and wire technology, such as twisted pair, cable, and fiber optic, at the end user site are disclosed. The system generally comprises a client premise equipment (CPE) at an end user subscriber site configured to send a request for content and to receive requested content signals and a wireless receiver at the end user site in communication with the CPE, the wireless receiver being configured to wirelessly receive the requested content signals. The CPE is in communication with a content request server adapted to receive the end content request via a wire connection and the CPE is configured to receive the requested content signals selectively transmitted by the content request server via one of the wire connection and wireless receiver. The wire connection may be over a twisted pair, cable, and/or fiber optic.

Abstract: A phosphor coated waveguide for efficient collection and detection of back-scattered electrons in an electron beam apparatus such as a scanning electron microscope is disclosed. The waveguide for directing photons to an optical detector generally comprises a first waveguide portion having opposing first and second faces defining a beveled hole therebetween to allow an electron beam to pass therethrough, the beveled hole decreasing in cross-sectional size from the first to the second face. A phosphor coating on the second face around the beveled hole converts the back-scattered electrons to photons. The first waveguide portion may include angled faces at an end further from the optical detector. A surface defined by the beveled hole and/or the angled faces may have a reflective coating. The waveguide may also include a second waveguide portion that adjoins and flares out relative to the first waveguide portion to further increase waveguide efficiency.

Abstract: A virtual L2TP/VPN tunnel network as well as a system and method for automatic discovery of VPN tunnels, such as L2TP tunnels, and other layer-2 services using a method such as one based on the spanning tree protocol are disclosed. The method for automatic discovery of layer-2 services across a network of layer-2 devices generally comprises transmitting an advertisement message on each tunnel of each layer-2 device, the advertisement message containing information for generating a spanning tree based on spanning tree algorithm, receiving advertisement message on the tunnels of each layer-2 device, and processing the received advertisement messages to generate a spanning tree topology of the network of layer-2 devices whereby each layer-2 device in the network automatically discovers layer-2 services of other layer-2 devices on the network. The transmitting is preferably repeated at predetermined configurable intervals.

Abstract: A photocathode as a source of electron beams, having a substrate of optically transmissive diamond and a photoemitter. A photocathode with a single emitting region provides a single electron beam; a photocathode with multiple emitting regions provides multiple electron beams. The photoemitter is positioned on the side of the diamond substrate opposite the surface on which the illumination is incident, and has an irradiation region at the contact with the optically transmissive diamond, and an emission region opposite the irradiation region, these regions being defined by the path of the illumination. The diamond substrate at the irradiation region/emission region interface conducts heat away from this focused region of illumination on the photocathode. Alternately, a diamond film is used for heat conduction, while another material is used as a substrate to provide structural support.

Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting capacitance increase due to dummy fill metals utilized to improve planar profile uniformity are disclosed. A computer-automated method for locating dummy fills in an integrated circuit fabrication process generally comprises reading a layout file specifying layout of the integrated circuit, designating at least one net of the integrated circuit as a critical net, the critical nets being only a subset of all nets of the integrated circuit, identifying metal conductors corresponding to each designated critical net from the layout file, delineating a net blocking exclusion zone extending a distance of a minimum net blocking distance (NBD) from the metal conductor for each metal conductor identified, and locating the dummy fills outside of the net blocking exclusion zone.