Abstract: A framework for performing graphics animation and compositing operations has a layer tree for interfacing with the application and a render tree for interfacing with a render engine. Layers in the layer tree can be content, windows, views, video, images, text, media, or any other type of object for a user interface of an application. The application commits change to the state of the layers of the layer tree. The application does not need to include explicit code for animating the changes to the layers. Instead, an animation is determined for animating the change in state. In determining the animation, the framework can define a set of predetermined animations based on motion, visibility, and transition. The determined animation is explicitly applied to the affected layers in the render tree. A render engine renders from the render tree into a frame buffer for display on the computer system.

Abstract: A system and method are described for initiating and conducting a data conference between a plurality of conference endpoints linked in communication by a private or public computer network. A first conference endpoint then sends a conference initialization request to a dedicated conference server coupled to the computer network. Upon receipt of the conference initialization request, the conference server responsively generates a conference code uniquely identifying the conference and transmits the code to the first conference endpoint. The first conference endpoint subsequently converts the received conference code to a form (such as a string DTMF tone) which can be transmitted by in-band audio to other conference endpoints. The other participating conferencing endpoints, after receipt of the conference code, are configured to log on to the conference server using the conference code.

Abstract: A method, a process and an audio system for embedding bit stream in a voice signal is disclosed. A voice/data interference signal is composed and supplied to the mixer of the voice signal and the data signal such that the resulting mixed signal effectively cancels the interference and allows the interference-free signal being transmitted to the audio signal receiver/decoder. The decoder may decode the data without interference errors. A method using profile shaping to mask the noise due to modulated carrier signal is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for combined alerting. Initially, an event is identified. First information relating to a first response to the event associated with a first application is received. Further received is second information relating to a second response to the event associated with a second application. In response thereto, a single alert is displayed including the first information and the second information.

Abstract: An offshore wind turbine has a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) mounted on a platform. The VAWT has a vertical rotor and curved blades coupled to a gearbox and an electric generator. The VAWT can fixedly extend from the platform or may be capable of reclining on the platform either manually or automatically. The platform can be composed of modular elements coupled together. Offshore, the platform can be semi-submersible with the VAWT extending out of the water and with a counterbalance extending below the platform. Alternatively, the platform can float on the water's surface and can have several arms that extend outwardly from the VAWT to increase the platform's footprint. To anchor the turbine offshore, anchoring systems can anchor the platform to the seabed while allowing the floating wind turbine to adjust passively or actively to changes in sea level due to tidal variations or storm swells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved recessed thyristor-based memory cell. The disclosed cell comprises in one embodiment a conductive plug recessed into the bulk of the substrate, which is coupled to or comprises the enable gate of the cell. Vertically disposed around this recessed gate is a thyristor, whose anode (source; p-type region) is connected to the bit line and cathode (drain; n-type region) is connected to the word line. Aside from the recessed enable gate, the disclosed cell comprises no other gate, such as an access transistor, and hence is essentially a one-transistor device. As a result, and as facilitated by the vertical disposition of the thyristor, the disclosed cell takes up a small amount of area on an integrated circuit when compared to a traditional DRAM cell. Moreover, the disclosed cell is simple to manufacture in its various embodiments, and is easy to configure into an array of cells.

Abstract: Contrast between various frequency components of sound is enhanced through a lateral suppression strategy to provide increased speech perception in the electrically stimulated cochlea. A received audio signal is divided into a plurality of input signals, wherein each input signal is associated with a frequency band. A plurality of envelope signals are generated by determining the envelope of each of a plurality of the input signals. At least one of the envelope signals is scaled in accordance with a scaling factor to generate at least one scaled envelope signal. An output signal is generated by combining at least one envelope signal with at least one scaled envelope signal, and the cochlea is stimulated based on the generated output signal. The lateral suppression strategy can be applied to one or more frequency bands using scaled amplitude signals associated with one or more neighboring frequency bands.

Abstract: A scalpel blade protector comprises an inner housing attached to a scalpel handle, an outer housing and a blade guard slidably mounted between the inner and outer housings for movement between positions exposing and shielding the scalpel blade. The blade protector is attached to conventional scalpel handles. A first embodiment shows a blade protector for a flat scalpel handle. A second embodiment shows a blade protector for a round or hexagonal scalpel handle.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for displaying a status of a security application. A status of at least one security application is initially identified. An index is calculated that is representative of a degree of risk associated with the status of the at least one security application. The index is then displayed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for audio/video conferencing. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises using a dynamic threshold value to determine whether there is speech on a line. One aspect, the method comprises determining a dynamic threshold value based on one or more characteristics of signals received on a port, associating that dynamic threshold value with the port; and comparing one or more characteristics of signals subsequently received on the port to the dynamic threshold value. Signals received over a plurality of ports are summed, but for ports whose signal characteristics have a specified relationship to the dynamic threshold value associated with that port, signals are not contained in the sum.

Abstract: A method of initializing a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) link between a Fiber Channel over Ethernet node (ENode) and Fiber Channel Forwarders (FCFs) in a network by discovering the presence of FCFs available to the ENode and other FCFs, assigning second MAC addresses to the ENode corresponding to each available FCF, and converting from a management and initialization process using the first MAC address to normal Fiber Channel operation using the second MAC addresses. The implementations described herein may additionally distinguish management and initialization processes from normal Fiber Channel operation using separate Ethertypes.

Abstract: A safety valve apparatus has a housing with a bore and a projection in the bore. A flapper rotatably disposed on the housing is movable relative to the bore between opened and closed positions, and a packing element disposed on the housing is compressible to engage an inner conduit wall surrounding the housing. An upper sleeve disposed within the bore above the projection is hydraulically movable from a first position to a second position via the hydraulic communication with a port in the projection. The first sleeve when moved to the second position compresses the packing element. A piston disposed in the housing hydraulically communicates with the port and couples to a second sleeve disposed within the bore below the projection. The second sleeve conceals the piston and is hydraulically movable via the hydraulic communication of the port with the piston to open and close the flapper.

Abstract: Products, methods and system for guaranteeing the minimum accumulation benefit of an investment account owned by an entity are described. The steps of the guarantee include determining an external index or method to use to calculate the guarantee at the end of the defined investment period; allowing the owner of the investment account to select from available investment options; and at the end of the investment period crediting the investment account the difference of the current value of the investment account and the calculated minimum value of the investment account if the investment account has not increased in value above the calculated minimum.

Abstract: A stuffing box assembly for a wellhead intervention has a stuffing box and an adjustable sheave. The stuffing box has a body with a collar for connecting to a wellhead and with a passage for running wireline therethrough. A frame connected to the body has side plates and has a hub assembly with hubs rotatable about a first rotational axis. An axle interconnects the two hubs and supports them between the side plates. The sheave can rotate about the second rotational axis of the axel to run the wireline into and out of the stuffing box. The hub assembly can be rotated about its axis of rotation to adjust the location of the axle's axis of rotation. This can move the sheave away from a fixed guard, can change how the sheave lines up with the stuffing box, and can move the sheave away from the stuffing box.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed such as those that operate to encode data bits transmitted on a plurality of channels according to at least one of multiple Data Bus Inversion (DBI) algorithms. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A removable hydraulic set packer has a piston activated by fluid in the bore of the packer's mandrel. The piston disengages from the mandrel and pushes a lower wedge unit towards an upper wedge unit. The wedge units push a slip outward from the mandrel toward the surrounding casing. The packer uses a delay between the setting of the slip and the compression of a packing element. In this way, the piston's movement does not compress the packing element until the slip has been able to fully engage the casing. Once the slip is set, the piston assembly can then move a lower gage ring and compresses the packing element against a fixed gage ring fixed. The delay can use a temporary connection between the piston and the lower wedge unit and can use a shoulder distanced from the lower gage ring. Alternatively, a secondary piston with dogs can provide the delay.

Abstract: A packer provides multiple seals when deployed downhole. Exposed to an activating agent, a swellable element on the packer's mandrel expands radially outward to form a seal with the borehole wall. Deformable elements, are disposed on the mandrel adjacent the swellable element. These deformable elements deform outward to the surrounding borehole wall to at least partially isolate the downhole annulus and the swellable element. Bias units releasable affixed on the tool adjacent the deformable elements can deform the elements. These bias units can be released either by swelling of the swellable element or by fluid pressure. Once released, the bias units are axially biased toward the deformable elements to deform them. In this way, the packer can form multiple seals with the borehole wall, and the deformable elements can isolate the swellable element from the downhole annulus, which can keep the swellable element from degrading or being overly extruded.

Abstract: A method is provided for implementing a mandatory access control model in operating systems which natively use a discretionary access control scheme. A method for implementing mandatory access control in a system comprising a plurality of computers, the system comprising a plurality of information assets, stored as files on the plurality of computers, and a network communicatively connecting the plurality of computers, wherein each of the plurality of computers includes an operating system that uses a discretionary access control policy, and wherein each of a subset of the plurality of computers includes a software agent component operable to perform the steps of intercepting a request for a file operation on a file from a user of one of the plurality of computers including the software agent, determining whether the file is protected, if the file is protected, altering ownership of the file from the user to another owner, and providing access to the file based on a mandatory access control policy.

Abstract: A quintuplex mud pump has a crankshaft supported in the pump by external main bearings. The crankshaft has five eccentric sheaves, two internal main bearing sheaves, and two bull gears. Each of the main bearing sheaves supports the crankshaft by a main bearing. One main bearing sheave is disposed between second and third eccentric sheaves, while the other main bearing sheave is disposed between third and fourth eccentric sheaves. One bull gear is disposed between the first and second eccentric sheaves, while the second bull gear is disposed between fourth and fifth eccentric sheaves. A pinion shaft has pinion gears interfacing with the crankshaft's bull gears. Connecting rods on the eccentric sheaves use roller bearings and transfer rotational movement of the crankshaft to pistons of the pump's fluid assembly.

Abstract: An improved transceiver circuit particularly useful in an inductively coupled wireless communication system such as an implantable medical device system is disclosed. The improved transceiver circuit is switchable to assume a serial L-C configuration in the transmit mode and a parallel L-C configuration in the receive mode, but does not require high voltage switches. A low-drive transmitter and a high-input-impedance receiver are used, which reduces power consumption in receive mode, while still maintaining good transmitter performance.