Abstract: A microfluidic controller and detector system and method for performing screening assays are disclosed. The microfluidic controller and detector system comprises a fluidic chip that includes at least two intersecting channels and a detection zone, a fluid direction system comprising an electrical interface configured for electrical contact with the at least two intersecting channels, an optics block having an objective lens disposed adjacent the detection zone, and a control system coupled to the optics block and adapted to receive and analyze data from the optics block. The electrical interface generally includes electrodes configured for electrical contact with the intersecting channels and coupled to electrode channels for supplying electrical input to the electrodes. A reference channel is optionally provided to calibrate the electrode channels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for augmenting the performance of iterative soft decision-in soft decision-out decoding of block codes with extrinsic information based on multiple parity equations inherent to the block codes. Cyclic shifting of codewords may be applied in the context of iterative soft decision-in soft decision-out decoding to maximize the usefulness of a parity equation corresponding to any particular codeword bit. Soft decisions are determined on a bit-by-bit basis in response to multi-bit symbol measurements. This allows the use of relatively inexpensive bit-based decoders for decoding of multi-bit symbols.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhanced quantitative analysis of hybridization intensity measurements obtained from oligonucleotide probes and other probes exposed to target samples are provided by virtue of the present invention. One embodiment ameliorates the effects of high frequency noise superimposed on a hybridization intensity measurement signal measured over successive probe alignments to a target sample sequence. Detection of expressed genes and ESTs and quantitative measurement of expression level may be improved. Mutation detection and base calling may be improved.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating channel response in the presence of interference. Interference and/or noise present on received training symbols is estimated. Based on the measured noise and/or interference, a weighting among training symbols is developed. Channel response is then estimated based on a weighted least squares procedure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for combining high data rate traffic and low data rate traffic on a common transmission medium while maximizing efficient use of available spectrum. Since spectrum is an economically valuable resource and transport of data generates revenue, the present invention directly leads to more profitable network operation. The disclosed systems are applicable to both wired and wireless transmission media. In one embodiment, a bandwidth reservation scheme provides that data rate may be varied so that when a particular data communication device is allocated a frame, it is also assigned a data rate for use in that frame. Because bandwidth usage varies with data rate, the division of available spectrum into channels for use by individual data communication devices may also vary among frames.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in testing a plurality of compositions in parallel. The apparatus includes an upper plate having a plurality of openings extending therethrough to form upper fluid chambers and a lower plate having a plurality of openings extending at least partially therethrough to form cavities. A central plate having a plurality of openings extending therethrough to form central fluid chambers is positioned between the upper and lower plates with the central chambers in alignment with the upper chambers and the cavities. A porous sheet is interposed between the upper and central plates such that an upper surface of the sheet is in contact with fluid within the upper chamber and a lower surface of the sheet is in contact with fluid within the central chamber. The apparatus further includes a flexible membrane positioned between the lower and central plates such that changes in pressure within the cavities or fluid chambers cause deflection of the membrane to force fluid to pass through the porous sheet.

Abstract: A space-time signal processing system with advantageously reduced complexity. The system may take advantage of multiple transmitter antenna elements and/or multiple receiver antenna elements, or multiple polarizations of a single transmitter antenna element and/or single receiver antenna element. The system is not restricted to wireless contexts and may exploit any channel having multiple inputs or multiple outputs and certain other characteristics. Multi-path effects in a transmission medium cause a multiplicative increase in capacity.

Abstract: A client-server software performance monitor system is disclosed. In the system of the present invention, a performance monitor machine is coupled to a computer network in close network proximity to one or more server systems that are to be monitored. The performance monitor machine monitors all network communication originating from or addressed to the server system to determine client-server transaction times. The performance monitor machine calculates a server processing time by subtracting the time when the server system receives the request packet from a client system from the time when the server system sends the first response packet back to the client system. The performance monitor machine also calculates an network transit time by subtracting said time when the server system receives the final acknowledgement packet from the time when said server system sent the first response packet to the client system.

Abstract: A spatial processor that exploits signals that arrive via multiple outputs of a communication channel to provide soft decision values useful to a trellis or Viterbi decoder. A spatial processor may take into account a statistical characterization of interference as received via the multiple channel outputs. Spatial processor operation may also be optimized to operate in conjunction with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

Abstract: A method for evaluating a test fluid as a fabric care composition or as a component thereof The method includes providing a test sheet of fabric comprising a plurality of test regions and simultaneously contacting each of the plurality of test regions with a different test fluid. The method further includes screening the plurality of test regions or the contacted test fluids for a fabric property of interest to evaluate the relative efficacy of the different test fluids.

Abstract: An approach for minimizing four-wave mixing (FWM) cross-talk (XT) in a WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) optical communication system is disclosed. An Erbium doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) includes a pre-amplifier that receives an input optical signal and outputs an amplified input optical signal. The pre-amplifier includes the following components: a first active fiber that carries WDM signals corresponding to a particular operating band (e.g., L-band); a co-propagating pump laser that induces high inversion in a portion of the first active fiber; a filter that is coupled to the first active fiber and slightly inverts the gain tilt of the WDM signals and suppresses the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) lights accumulated at wavelengths shorter than the signal bandwidth; a second active fiber that is coupled to the filter; and a counter-propagating pump laser that induces high inversion in a portion of the second active fiber. An optical unit (e.g.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying chromatographic data using a graphical user interface are provided. Chromatographic separation data that is a series of measurements for a sample at a scanning location over time can be displayed on a display device in a series of bands. Additionally, the series of bands for multiple samples can be aligned on the display device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for transferring physical layer control information from a central access point to individual subscriber units while maintaining transparency to higher layers. Adaptation of wireline MAC protocols to wireless applications is greatly facilitated. Subscriber unit power level may be controlled from the central access point.

Abstract: An improved method of data and image analysis has been described with reference to specific embodiments. The present invention identifies specific portions of a data file and provides the capability of mathematically comparing those portions with other portions. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user is given the option of reformatting the data file. The user is further given the option of having the processor interpret the result of the analysis step.

Abstract: Improved adjustment of transmission power in a communication system is provided. In one embodiment, in a point to multipoint communication system, transmission power of a subscriber unit is controlled based on power measurements made at a central access point. Power measurement information based on transmissions occurring at irregular intervals may be combined in a beneficial manner to control transmission output power. In one embodiment, a power regulation process determines a series of difference values indicating the differences between desired received power level at the central access point and measured received power level. A smoothing process is applied to the difference values. One or more parameters of the smoothing process vary with elapsed time since a last available power measurement.

Abstract: A computer-based method and system for capturing and verifying a handwritten signature. The handwritten signature may relate to a document, such as an electronically stored document. An image of the document is displayed. A user signs the document electronically, and the handwritten signature is electronically captured. A set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature is determined and stored in a signature envelope. Optionally, a checksum of a checksum of the document can be determined and stored in the signature envelope. The claimed identity of the signatory can also be stored in the signature envelope. The signature envelope is encrypted. The signature envelope can be communicated to another application or computer platform, or stored for later verification. The signature envelope is decrypted, and the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope are compared against a known set of handwritten signature measurements to verify the identity of the signatory.

Abstract: A space-time signal processing system with advantageously reduced complexity. The system may take advantage of multiple transmitter antenna elements and/or multiple receiver antenna elements, or multiple polarizations of a single transmitter antenna element and/or single receiver antenna element. The system is not restricted to wireless contexts and may exploit any channel having multiple inputs or multiple outputs and certain other characteristics. Multi-path effects in a transmission medium cause a multiplicative increase in capacity.

Abstract: Musical instruments that generate notes according to sounds (e.g., vocal sounds) and manually selected scales are provided. Vocal sounds of the user are analyzed to select a note that will be generated in a scale selected by the user. The user can enter the scale or scale constraints by depressing a chord on a keyboard and the vocal sounds can be analyzed to determine which note on the selected scale is closest in pitch to the vocal sounds. Additionally, the generated notes can be augmented in other ways including having the onset and/or offset of the note generated adjusted to correspond to an identified rhythm in the ambient sounds.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying chromatographic data using a graphical user interface. This method is preferably implemented as a software package which takes chromatographic data generated by varying fluorescence levels in a sample.

Abstract: A computer system for sequencing nucleic acids is provided. The computer system may be used for de novo sequencing of a nucleic acid sequence by analyzing the fluorescence intensities of hybridized nucleic acid probes on biological chips. The probes with the highest intensities are utilized to sequence the nucleic acid and related probes are analyzed to increase the accuracy of nucleic acid sequencing. The sequence of the nucleic acid sequence may be determined from hybridization intensities that do not allow identification of perfectly complementary probes.