Abstract: A magnetoresistive device with a spin valve formed from a stack of layers including at least two magnetic layers for which the relative orientation of their magnetization directions can vary under the influence of a magnetic field, and comprising means of circulating a current in the spin valve transverse to the plane of the layers. The spin valve comprises at least one discontinuous dielectric or semiconducting layer in the stack, with electrically conducting bridges passing through the thickness of the dielectric or semiconducting layer, these bridges being designed to locally concentrate the current that passes transversely through the stack. Application particularly suitable for magnetic read heads, and random access memories.

Abstract: A global path identifier is assigned to each explicit route through a data communication network. The global path identifier is inserted into each packet as the packet enters a network and is used in selecting the next hop. When encountering a new selected path, an ingress router sends an explicit object to downstream nodes of the path to set up explicit routes by caching the next hop in an Explicit Forwarding Information Base (“EFIB”) table. Ingress routers maintain an Explicit Route Table (“ERT”) that tracks the global path identifier associated with each flow through the network. Multiple flows using the same path can be implemented by sharing the same global path identifier. In case of sudden network load changes, rerouting can be performed by changing the global path identifier associated with those flows that need to be rerouted and by then transmitting a new path object to downstream nodes.

Abstract: A haptic feedback touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that provides position information to a computer based on a location of user contact. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position information, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user. The actuator can move the touchpad laterally, or a separate surface member can be actuated. A flat E-core actuator, piezoelectric actuator, or other types of actuators can be used to provide forces. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

Abstract: Managing access to an extranet for an extended service provider (xSP) includes decentralizing the role of access management by using cached access control list (ACL) information, and synchronizing decentralized access management roles using an authentication and authorization (AA) server. Insufficiency of session management is overcome by adopting authentication/authorization based on a web browser cookie.

Abstract: RFID readers, RFID tags, software, and methods decode a signal received in an RFID system. From received data, a decoder determines a number of possible test series for the output. In one embodiment, the decoder uses a memory of a previous sample to derive a subsequent sample in the test series, so as to ensure that all the test series are valid. A metric is then computed for how well each test series fits the received data. The metrics are compared to select for output the test series with the best fit. In a further embodiment, at least one of the metrics is further used to determine if a collision were present.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide an IP telephone or similar device with a mechanism to receive and at least briefly loop back discovery signals received from a telecommunications device such as an Ethernet switch while not permitting the loop back of data packet signals. No mechanical relays are required and the circuitry can be fully integrated on an integrated circuit using commonly available techniques, if desired.

Abstract: Controlling haptic sensations from a vibrotactile feedback device connected to a computer. The vibrotactile device includes an actuator having a rotatable mass, and receives information, which causes a periodic control signal to be produced. The control signal controls the actuator to rotate the mass to induce a vibration in the device, where a magnitude and a frequency of the vibration can be adjusted independently of each other by adjusting the control signal. Vibration magnitude is based on control signal duty cycle, and vibration frequency is based on control signal frequency. Kinesthetic haptic effects can be output on the vibrotactile device by mapping the kinesthetic effect to a vibrotactile effect that causes vibrotactile forces to be output. The kinesthetic haptic effect can be a periodic or nonperiodic effect.

Abstract: A device for moving the hose of an automatic pool cleaner in and out of a swimming pool using water power. The device includes a rotatable hose reel disposed within a tank spaced from the pool. In one embodiment, the tank communicates with the pool through an under-the-deck tunnel. In another, the tunnel extends from the tank and over the deck of the pool, for discharge into the pool. The hose reel is connected to a rotatable water wheel having vertically-oriented blades disposed around its circumference. To move the hose from the storage position into the pool, a stream of water from a blow out jet nozzle flushes the hose into the pool and rotates the hose reel in a first direction, causing the hose to unwind and travel into the pool.

Abstract: A method and appartus for converting FFE and FBE coefficients from a DOCSIS compatible cable modem termination system upstream equalizer into FFE only coefficients to be sent down to the cable modem which transmitted the training burst which resulted in convergence on the FFE and FBE coefficients. The method involves programming an FBE like conversion structure comprised of an FFE filter and an FBE filter whose outputs are summed with the FFE and FBE coefficients from the CMTS equalizer. The FFE coefficients are stored in the FFE filter of the conversion structure. The FBE coefficients are stored in an FBE filter of the conversion structure. Then, an input vector which simulates the Dirac function (an impulse) is input to the conversion structure to derive coefficients at its output which define the impulse response and transfer function of the conversion structure. These coefficients are the FFE only coefficients which may be used to select a subset of 24 for sending to the cable modem.

Abstract: Multiple simultaneous network connections from a single PPP connection may be accomplished by utilizing a gateway in the following manner. A first network connection is established between the gateway and a first network. A first real network address for the user is then received, the first real network address assigned by the first network. Then, the gateway may establish a network session between the gateway and a second network and receive a second real network address for the user, the second real network address assigned by the second network. A virtual network address may be assigned to the user for network address translation purposes. Additional network connections may be added in a similar manner. Network address translation is then performed on packets traveling between the user and any of the network sessions. This allows each of the simultaneous network connections to gain the benefits of network address translation.

Abstract: First and second cast-in-place concrete slabs are maintained in alignment by cutting a semi-circular groove in an edge surface of the first formed slab, positioning a flat rectangular dowel within the groove so that the dowel extends outwardly from the edge surface, and then casting the second slab against the edge surface to embed the dowel within the second slab. A gasket is engaged with the dowel to seal the groove against the intrusion of fluid concrete as the second cast-in-place. The gasket also serves to space the dowel from the groove to accommodate limited lateral movement of the dowel and groove relative to one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing safe and low-cost force feedback peripherals for consumer applications. A device microprocessor local to an interface device is coupled to the host by a first interface bus. The microprocessor receives host commands from the host computer on the first interface bus, such as an RS-232 interface, and commands an actuator to apply a force to a user object, such as a joystick, in response to host commands. A sensor detects positions of the user object and output signals to the host on a second interface bus, such as a PC game port bus, separate from the first bus. In a “recoil” embodiment, a user initiates force feedback by pressing a button on the joystick, which sends an activation signal to the actuator. In other recoil embodiments, the host computer can transmit one or more enable signals and/or activation signals to the actuator to enable or command forces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ingress-session-based authorization and access control method and system to control access from an initiator-host (IH) to objects (Target 1, Target 2) on a target host (TH) by receiving an access-request, preferably a request-message (M1), originally coming from the initiator-host (IH), that references an object (Target 1, Target 2) on the target host (TH) to access, assigning the access-request (M1) to an ingress-session and selecting a session-context (SC-U, SC-W, SC-Y) belonging to that ingress-session, checking whether the access to the referenced object (Target 1, Target 2) is authorized in the selected session-context (SC-U, SC-W, SC-Y)or not wherein references to objects (Target 1, Target 2) on the target host (TH) were handed over to the initiator-host (IH) as a response to an access-request already granted and wherein the object the reference is handed over for is authorized for access under the handed over reference in that session-context (SC-U, SC-W, SC-Y)the al