Abstract: A system and method are provided for reducing power consumption within a video processing portion of a system based on display content. Display content is monitored to determine whether the display content is changing. New display content is compared to old display content to determine if the display content is changing. If the display content has not changed, a frame rate used to output display data is reduced. A color depth associated with the display data is also reduced. Power consumption can be reduced when it is determined that display content is not changing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for supporting an external display on a portable device. A system on a chip (SOC) of the portable device provides a first set of graphics data to a graphics controller. The embedded graphics controller renders the first set of graphics data for output using an LCD screen integrated with the portable device. The SOC renders a second set of graphics data and provides rendered graphics data to an external display interface. The external display interface formats the rendered graphics data for output on an external, remote display.

Abstract: A method of providing collect call service includes receiving a request for a collect call from a calling party (18). A selected number to call is received. A call is placed to a receiving party (20). Agreeability of the receiving party (20) to accept the credit card billing for the collect call is determined. The calling party (18) is connected to the receiving party (20) in response to the acceptance.

Abstract: A network for smart card applications using a smart card in combination with a smart card terminal. The network arrangement includes a communications network connected to at least one smart card terminal, and a central database server in operative communication with the network central office. The network central office is part of the public switched telephone network and transmits smart card data between the smart card terminal and central database server. The central database server includes many partitioned memory locations each containing information associated with a smart card application. The information contained in the partitioned memory locations is accessible by data pointers stored on the individual smart cards. In this manner, the amount of data stored on the smart cards using the system is reduced and all of the information relating to a smart card user is centralized in one location.

Abstract: A method for solving finite element problems in n+1 dimensions by iteratively extruding an n-dimensional finite element mesh in an n+1th dimension to form “slabs” which can be more easily solved within the entire n+1-dimensional problem. In a preferred embodiment, a three-dimensional unstructured finite element mesh representing a physical system is extruded in the time dimension. The four-dimensional prisms formed by the extrusion are divided into simplices, forming the four-dimensional finite element mesh of an individual time slab. Time slabs corresponding to a series of time intervals are sequentially generated and solved. In a preferred embodiment, only a few time slabs are stored in working memory at a time so that a reduced amount of memory (in comparison to conventional methods of solving comparable problems) is required.

Abstract: A presence of a facsimile transmission tone generated by a calling party within a call is sensed for within a public telephone network before the call has been routed to a called party. If the facsimile transmission tone is present in the call, the telephone network denies completion of the call to the telephone line of the called party. If the call is absent the facsimile transmission tone, a telephone network switch is instructed to complete the call to the telephone line of the called party.

Abstract: A system clock circuit that provides a high-speed reference clock signal for operating an integrated circuit. The system clock circuit comprises a frequency combiner circuit that receives a first external clock signal having a frequency F1 and a second external clock signal having frequency F2, where F2 is an integer multiple of F1. The second external clock signal is phase-shifted by P degrees with respect to the first external clock signal. The frequency combiner circuit generates from the first and second external clock signals a first output clock signal having an operating frequency that is the sum of F1 and F2. The system clock circuit also comprises a clock selection circuit that selectively applies the first output clock signal to the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a design is disclosed, wherein a target element contributing to an undesirable characteristic in an original netlist is modified to create a modified netlist. A set of test vectors identifying differences between the original netlist and the modified netlist is identified and used to identify a set of corrections. In one disclosed embodiment, the set of corrections is identified by using an error correction algorithm. Each correction of the set of corrections, when applied to the modified netlist, results in a corrected netlist logically the same as the original netlist. One of the corrections is selected that improves the error characteristic of the original netlist. A final equivalency verification is performed as necessary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for qualifying a telephone transmission line for XDSL communication services is disclosed. The system includes a modem, located at the customer premises to be connected. The modem analyzes actual signals to determine the electrical characteristics of the communication channel associated with the customer premises. The modem includes a transmitter, receiver and controller to generate test signals and receive responses. The modem then analyzes the data to generate an output value indicative of the electrical characteristics of the communication channel being tested. This output value is then displayed to a user or transmitted over the communication channel to a network. The system thereby eliminates the necessity of dispatching a technician to test the telephone line, and provides more accurate test results than those achievable at the network-side of the connection alone.

Abstract: In accordance with a specific aspect of the present invention, a compressed video stream, such as an MPEG-2 video stream, is received by a transport demultiplexor, synchronized, parsed into separate packet types, and written to buffer locations external the demultiplexor. Adaptation field is handled by a separate parser. In addition, primary elementary stream data can be handled by separate primary elementary stream parsers based upon the packet identifier of the primary elementary stream. Video packets can be parsed based upon stream identifier values. Specific packets of data are stored in one or more system memory or video memory buffers by an output controller based upon allocation table information. Private data associated with specific elementary streams or packet adaptation fields are repacketized, and written to an output buffer location. In specific implementations, the hardware associated with the system is used to acquire the data stream without any knowledge of the specific protocol of the stream.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconducting conductor is disclosed, including providing a substrate, depositing a buffer film having a biaxial texture to overlie the substrate by reactive sputtering, and depositing a superconducting layer to overlie the buffer film. Deposition of the buffer film is carried out by exposing the substrate along a deposition zone to a material plume generated by bombarding a target in the presence of a magnetic field, the deposition zone having a length of at least 1.0 m. The assist ions may be generated from a gridless ion source. The buffer film may have a biaxial texture having an out-of-plane crystallographic texture represented by a mosaic spread of not greater than 30°.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for processing graphics to be displayed in a portable device. A current mode of operation of the portable device is identified. In a normal mode of operation, image data associated with the portable device is rendered by a graphics system of the portable device and stored in memory external to the graphics system prior to display. When a screen refresh mode of operation is identified, image data rendered by the graphics system is compressed and stored in memory integrated internal to the graphics system. The present disclosure has the advantage of allowing the memory external to the graphics system to be disabled during the screen refresh mode of operation, reducing power consumed by the portable device.

Abstract: The current invention is directed to a system for adaptive medical decision support. The invented system provides a system that allows users to efficiently enter, access, and analyze medical information, without disrupting patient-doctor interactions or medical facility course of business; which assists in all stages of medical assessment and treatment; and which is tailored to the particular medical practice or specialty and taking into account the developing habits, preferences, performance, and individual patient histories, of an individual user. The invention provides a learning capacity configured to learn previously presented data and decisions and predict data or decisions based on data that it receives from the user, thereby adapting its operations to the developing habits, preferences, performance, and individual patient histories of an individual user.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, an oscillator adjustment circuit is disclosed. The oscillator adjustment circuit includes a resonator portion comprising a capacitive element coupled to an inductive element and a signal balancing portion comprising a secondary coil of the transformer. The inductive element comprises a primary coil of a transformer. The secondary coil has a grounded center tap.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck is provided which includes a ceramic body comprising aluminum nitride (AlN), and at least one electrode in the ceramic body. According to a particular feature of this embodiment, the aluminum nitride has a resistivity ratio ?10V/?500V less than about 5. In this regard, ?10V represents the resistivity of the electrostatic chuck at 10 applied volts while ?500V represents the resistivity of the AlN material at 500 applied volts.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a solid oxide fuel cell including an electrolyte. The electrolyte is formed using a fused electrolyte powder. The disclosure is also directed to a solid oxide fuel cell stack including a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells. Each solid oxide fuel cell of the plurality of solid oxide fuel cells includes an electrolyte. The electrolyte is formed using a fused electrolyte powder.

Abstract: The disclosures made herein relate to RF power semiconductor devices. In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, a RF power plastic semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor (RF) device, a Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) impedance matching structure electrically connected to the RF device and a plastic package body formed over the RF device and the impedance matching structure. The LTCC impedance matching structure comprises a metallized layer overlying a major body portion of the impedance matching structure and comprises a passivation layer on the metallized layer. The passivation layer enhances bond strength of a mold compound of the plastic package body to the metallized layer. Portions of the metallized layer are exposed through the passivation layer for enabling electrical interconnects to be formed between the LTCC impedance matching structure and the RF device.

Abstract: An engine fan containment shroud including a containment structure composed of a composite material including a reinforcing fiber having an elongation to break of at least about 3.6%. The preferred fiber is a quartz fiber having an elongation to break of at least about 5%. Additionally or alternatively, the reinforcing fiber, in particular quartz fiber, has a hardness of at least about 4 on the Mohs scale, as measured on bulk material, which resists cutting by an impacting object. The composite material and specifically an epoxy/quartz fiber composite provides for weight reduction while providing fan blade containment without loss of structural integrity and with improved resistance to impact and puncture.

Abstract: An optimal printed circuit board input/output switching system is provided and includes a printed circuit board having multiple input/output ports with communication channels coupling the input/output ports to a switching fabric located thereon. Two printed circuit boards may be connected with a board connector for providing switching between input/output ports of the printed circuit boards in a dual-board switching system. The switching fabrics of each printed circuit board can function as an aggregate switching fabric to provide communication channel switching between the input/output ports of the two printed circuit boards. A dual-board switching system may include a single printed circuit board having the switching fabric located thereon. A board connector facilitates modification of the switching configuration.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved method of timing synchronization with transmitted data packets in a receiver on a communication channel using differential phase shift keying (DPSK) modulation—especially an RF wireless communication channel. The invention reduces the complexity of the circuits, especially the multipliers, required for digital signal processing. The invention also increases performance compared to previously known methods.