Abstract: An improved picture hanger has a plate, a screw, and a moveable adjusting hook. The plate comprises a set of upwardly directed wire supports, and a top and a bottom screw support. The screw extends through the top and bottom screw supports. The adjusting hook has a threaded opening which meshes with the threads. This allows the hook to move up and down along the screw when the screw rotates. This picture hanger may include openings or supports to affix a picture light or a safety wire. The plate is affixed to a desired location on a wall. This location need not be precisely measured for height. A support wire is placed in open portions upwardly directed wire supports. The wire is also placed in an open portion of the downwardly directed adjusting hook. This places the wire into an "M" shape after the picture hanging device is affixed to the wall. If the object to be hung is not at the desired height, the height may be adjusted by turning the screw, which raises or lowers the object.

Abstract: This and other objects are provided in a method for displaying and managing a set of related images. The invention includes design of screen area in terms of how many, how big, and where workspaces are located. The invention assigns image sets to different workspaces; creates a tree of workspace setups for a specific image viewing session; and allows customization of the tree on a per user, per workstation type basis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for achieving alignment of the header fields of a specific layer, such as the transport layer header fields, at a receiving host. The receiving host determines a number of padding bytes that need to be added to the transport layer header for the fields to be properly aligned in the memory of the receiving host. This number is determined dynamically for each connection because different connections require different numbers of padding bytes. The number of padding bytes for a connection is determined by the receiving host from the first packet received for a particular connection. Specifically, the receiving host examines this first packet and determines the position of the first byte of the transport layer protocol header, and therefore, the number of padding bytes required to achieve 32-bit (or 64 bit) alignment. The receiving host communicates the number of padding bytes to the transmitting host.

Abstract: A system and process for performing character recognition is disclosed wherein inputted characters are compared to prototypes maintained in a predetermined database of the system to determine the best matching character. To generate the prototype database for use in recognition, training character samples are inputted and classified and prototypes, having feature value vectors, are generated for each class. The prototypes are optimized to improve the recognition capabilities of the database. The prototype feature value vectors are updated by only small amounts for abnormal prototypes that are much closer to the nearest class M than to the true class I. In addition, the updating of the prototype feature value vectors is performed so as to minimize an error in the selection of the prototypes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing multi-stage motion estimation on an input video sequence to be encoded. An original image in the video sequence, such as a CCIR601 image, is preprocessed to generate first, second and third reduced resolution images which may be a QQSIF image, a QSIF image and a SIF image, respectively, which are 1/64 size, 1/16 size and 1/4 size, respectively, relative to the original CCIR601 image. A first stage motion vector search is performed on the 1/64 size QQSIF image using a (0,0) motion vector starting point and a first search range suitable for detecting global motion. A second stage motion vector search is performed on the 1/16 size QSIF image using the (0,0) starting point and a second search range smaller than the first search range and suitable for detecting local motion.

Abstract: A rate control algorithm for an MPEG-2 compliant encoder is described. The rate control algorithm has embodiments useful for constant bit rate and variable bit rate encoding. In particular, the invention relates to rate control with panic mode.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed which has a master, such as a processor, a memory, and I/O device, a first transfer path, which includes a bus, and a second transfer path, which includes a transfer interconnection. Transfers between the memory and the I/O device are effected via the first path while transfers between the processor and the I/O device are transferred via the second path. The disparate treatment between these two types of transfers reduces the likelihood that the transfer via the second path is delayed and thereby reduces the likelihood that the master is totally blocked from operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing cells in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communication system. An ATM cell processor provides a modulo arithmetic feature which permits branching on the modulo portion of the result of an arithmetic operation. An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) or other processor instruction is modified to include a modulo field which specifies the number of right to left bits after which the result of the corresponding ALU operation will be truncated. Conditional branch instructions such as branch on zero result, branch on non-zero result, branch on negative result, branch on carry and branch on overflow may be configured to operate only on the modulo portion of the ALU instruction result and/or on a carry out of the most significant bit (MSB) position of the modulo portion.

Abstract: A preparation of 3-amino-1-hydroxypropane-1,1-diphosphonic acid includes the steps of: mixing N-alkoxycarbonyl-.beta.-alanine, phosphorous chloride and phosphorous acid in the ratio of 1:1:1.about.1:3:3 in a reaction solvent, xylene at 70.degree.-140.degree. C.; hydrolyzing; and obtaining 3-amino-1-hydroxypropane-1,1-diphosphonic acid as a product, thus decreasing the production of unidentified by-products and giving and low production cost by using xylene instead of chlorobenzene as a reaction solvent.

Abstract: An analog modulator employing .DELTA.-.SIGMA. transformation and comprising timings generator, at least a single operational-amplifier (OP-amplifier) filter of Biquadratic transfer function and saturation detection circuit, is provided. This novel approach solves the stability issue by controlling the switching timings of the single operation-amplifier biquadratic filter in the .DELTA.-.SIGMA. modulator. During normal operation, this high-order .DELTA.-.SIGMA. modulator constructed by the single OP-amplifier biquadratic filter functions a third-order or fourth-order modulator. As unstable condition occurs, via the saturation detection circuit and timings generator, the third-order or the fourth-order modulator functionally converts into and performs as a stable .DELTA.-.SIGMA. modulator of second-order.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for differential video data encoding which utilizes a reduced number of bits per pixel to encode chroma and luma components of a video data stream. A 4-bit absolute code is determined for a given 8-bit luma or chroma component in the data stream. The determined absolute code is indicative of a particular one of a plurality of ranges into which the given component falls. The given component is encoded using the determined absolute code if the absolute code produces a lower encoding error than a 4-bit delta code which encodes the component as a difference relative to a previously-encoded component. If the delta code produces a lower encoding error than the determined absolute code, the given component is encoded using the delta code. In a situation in which the given component is the first component of its type on a line of video, an absolute code may be used regardless of whether or not the absolute code produces a higher encoding error than the delta code.

Abstract: A multistep process for producing 8-chloro-6-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-4-H-imidazo?1,5a!?1,4!benzodiazepine (midazolam) comprises treating a compound of Formula II with a lower alkyl dithiol to produce a compound of Formula III, wherein n=2 or 3, converting the compound of Formula III to a compound of Formula VII, and then treating the compound of Formula VII with a deprotecting agent, thereby producing midazolam. Novel intermediate compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: A data carrier with an electronic circuit for storing and processing data is provided with an information strip with optically readable markings, and preferably a test field and an authentication feature. An optical interface, for example, can be provided for communication with a write/read device. The markings represent a digital signature. Testing of the authenticity of the data carrier can be done on the basis of the physical properties of the markings, the internal structure of the signature and/or the proof that a test number stored in the electronic circuit is equal to a number calculated from the signature according to a pre-determined function. The signature can also serve as a cryptographic key for encoding and decoding the data to be exchanged between the electronic circuit and the write/read device. The test field can be irreversibly modified when the data carrier is used.

Abstract: A unique DRAM structure has increased capacitance by using a parallel fin capacitor structure. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a silicon substrate having a first conductivity type. Field oxide (FOX) regions are defined in the substrate to separate DRAM cells. Drain and source regions are formed in the substrate by forming in the substrate regions. On the substrate surface and between the drain and source, a gate region is formed. The gate region comprises a gate oxide, a first polysilicon layer (Poly-1) doped to have a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, a tungsten silicide (WSi) layer, and an oxide layer, such as SiO.sub.2 or SiN. Oxide or TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate) spacers cover the sides of the gate region. Above the gate region is an insulating layer of TEOS. A second polysilicon layer (Poly-2) having the second conductivity type contacts the source region and forms a bitline. Layers of WSi, oxide or thin TEOS, and Si.sub.y N.sub.x, such as Si.sub.3 N.sub.

Abstract: A system is provided for retrieving a selected one of a plurality of encrypted software products stored in at least one storage device, such as a CD-ROM. Each software product is decryptable by a unique decryption key. The CD-ROM storage device is coupled to a end-user station having a unique serial number and a processor that is responsive to an application program stored therein. The user can select a software product to decrypt upon receipt of the corresponding decryption key. A remote vender station, having a unique password, is selectively coupled to the end-user station, via a network, to receive a request for the decryption key corresponding to the selected software product. Further, the vender station receives the serial number from the end-user station. A remote server is connected to the vender station, via a network, when the password transmitted from the vender station is validated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casting flux for steels or alloys on an iron, nickel or cobalt basis which make heavy demands on the degree of oxidic purity for continuous or ingot casting and contain as the main components calcium oxide (CaO), aluminium oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) and strontium oxide (SrO), the characterizing feature of the invention being that the chemical composition lies within the following limits (in % by weight):20 to 40% CaO,15 to 30% SrO,0 to 6% Mgo,0 to 8% MgF.sub.2,0 to 8% CaF.sub.2,0 to 8% NaF0 to 6% LiFresidue Al.sub.2 O.sub.3,the flux having a total content not exceeding 15% of oxygen-yielding compounds, such as SiO.sub.2, FeO, MnO, K.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 O, P.sub.2 O.sub.5, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 and B.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for pressure control, in particular, to adjust braking pressures in a utility vehicle, are proposed. Two individual controllers (10, 11) are assigned respectively to an inlet valve (2) and to a discharge valve (3). A pilot control value consisting of a fixed value y.sub.v and of a memorized value .DELTA.y.sub.v is additively input to the output values of these controllers. The memorized components .DELTA.y.sub.v are the integration result of the I (integration) components of the individual controllers (10, 11) for the duration of a pressure increase (inlet valve) or pressure decrease (discharge valve). The memorizing process is ended after approximately five to ten brake applications and the value of .DELTA.y.sub.v which is then reached is used as an individual pilot control value.

Abstract: A process for time-stamping a digital document is provided. The process provides a certificate which not only allows for the authentication of a document at a later time but which includes a name or nickname which allows for the unique identification of the document at a later time. The name or nickname provided in accordance with the present invention is not only simple and concise but allows for the self-authentication of the document which it refers to. The name can be used when two independent parties desire to refer to the same unique document in a quick and simple way.