Abstract: A method and system for transmitting a text message from a caller to a subscriber at an unknown address based on a known address or number associated with the subscriber includes a server application having a database. The database contains addresses and phone numbers associated with the subscriber. The caller transmits a first signal to obtain access to the database, and then transmits a second signal representative of one of the known address and number upon accessing the database. The caller then receives either a text-based address or number, or both, associated with the subscriber in response to the second signal. A text-based address or number is an address or phone number capable of receiving text messages, such as an e-mail address or fax number. The caller then transmits a text message to one of the text-based address and number for receipt by the subscriber.

Abstract: A method and system for providing computer-network related information about a calling party. First, the called party receives a telephone number of a calling party. The called party's customer premises equipment (CPE) or elements in a telephone network then use the telephone number to index a database, which contains combinations of telephone numbers and computer-network addresses. Once the calling party's computer-network address is retrieved, calling-party-customized information present at the computer-network location specified by the computer-network address can be sent to and displayed on the called party's CPE. Also, the calling party's telephone number can be sent to an application in the computer network, causing the calling-party-customized information to be automatically displayed on the called party's CPE.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automatically retrieving and displaying supplemental information about a called party on the customer premise equipment (CPE) of a calling party. When a caller places a call, the number called is used to look up and return to the caller the Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the called party. Application software resident in the caller's CPE uses the URL to retrieve the home page of the called party from the Internet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing broadband conferencing services is provided. The method includes the steps of establishing a voice channel over a circuit switched telephone network and a virtual data channel over a packet data network between at least two parties. The apparatus includes a telephone line and a digital data line sharing a single subscriber loop in addition to a system for establishing a virtual data channel over a packet data network. Further, an advanced intelligent network telephone network having a first database of customer premise equipment and a second database having data addresses associated with the customer premise equipment is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for providing computer-network related information about a calling party. First, the called party receives a telephone number of a calling party. The called party's customer premises equipment (CPE) or elements in a telephone network then use the telephone number to index a database, which contains combinations of telephone numbers and computer-network addresses. Once the calling party's computer-network address is retrieved, calling-party-customized information present at the computer-network location specified by the computer-network address can be sent to and displayed on the called party's CPE. Also, the calling party's telephone number can be sent to an application in the computer network, causing the calling-party-customized information to be automatically displayed on the called party's CPE.

Abstract: A system and method for providing user-selected information to a paging-capable device. An enhanced paging system responsive to information sources and a selection device transmits information to a paging-capable device. Such a system can provide user-selected information to a paging-capable device, allowing the user to control what information will be sent and when the information will be sent. Intelligent-agent software can automatically search for and store information that would be of interest to the user and can alert the user that more detailed information is available. It can also send critical information to the user without user request.

Abstract: A wind turbine apparatus having a frame assembly consisting of a hub and an outer rim interconnected by a series of spokes. Several wind vanes are rotatably secured within the frame assembly so as to extend from the hub radially outwardly around the frame assembly. Each wind vane consists of an impeller and an impeller shaft, the impeller shaft being positioned so that it does not pass through the center of wind moment of the impeller. Thus, when a wind vector reaches the impeller, the impeller and shaft rotate in direct accordance with the wind's velocity, thus ensuring that the impeller faces optimally into the wind. A biasing device is attached to each impeller shaft, the biasing device serving to retard the rotation of the wind vanes when the wind vector exceeds a given velocity, thus ensuring that the impellers maintain a constant rotational speed. A link means interconnects the adjacent impeller shafts so as to ensure that the wind vanes rotate simultaneously.

Abstract: A wind energy conversion system includes specially shaped blades mounted in a specific location on a specially shaped blade-supporting body to maximize energy conversion from wind energy to electrical energy. The blade-supporting body includes a concave section located upstream of a convex section, with the two sections being joined together at a location of maximum diameter. The blades are mounted on the body at the location of maximum diameter. Each blade includes two surfaces each of which includes a concave section and a convex section. The blade surfaces are spaced apart from each other by a blade thickness dimension that increases from essentially zero at blade tips to a maximum adjacent to a blade longitudinal axis that extends from a blade proximal end mounted on the blade-supporting body to a distal end spaced from said blade-supporting body.

Abstract: An expandable chuck for insertion into a vertically oriented, longitudinally extending, cylindrical hollow core about which a web of paper or other material is wound to form a roll. An elongate body is dimensioned for insertion into the core. Mechanisms are connected to an upper portion of the body for engaging an upper end of the core to prevent the body from falling down through the core. A central lifting post is mounted to the body for vertical reciprocation relative thereto between a lowered position and a raised position. A plurality of jaws are connected by a linkage between the central lifting post and a lower portion of the body for movement from retracted positions in which they are disengaged from an inner surface of the core to extended positions in which they are grippingly engaged with the inner surface of the core. The jaws move from their retracted positions to their extended positions upon movement of the central lifting post from its lowered position to its raised position.

Abstract: Multiple induction type generators are drivingly connected to an impeller. As wind velocity increases, the generators are successively activated until all of the generators are operating at a maximum wind velocity. As the wind velocity decreases, the generators are successively de-activated until all of the generators are inoperative below a minimum wind velocity. Wind energy is more efficiently converted into electric power where impeller RPM must be maintained substantially constant under varying wind conditions to achieve the desired constant phase of the AC output.

Abstract: An expanding mandrel chuck for internally gripping a tubular core. The chuck has a cylindrical sleeve which can be slid over the shaft of a web handling apparatus, core cutter, or other apparatus. A plurality of hexagonal shaped cams surround the intermediate portion of the sleeve. The flat surfaces of these cams are aligned. A plurality of circumferentially spaced, generally pie-shaped jaw segments are freely positioned in overlying relationship with respect to the cams. Each segment has a flat inner surface overlying a corresponding set of faces of the cams. Guide pins extend from opposing end surfaces of each segment and slide within radial slots in disks mounted on the sleeve on opposite sides of the segments. Spring rings are mounted in grooves between the cams and yielding urge the jaw segments radially outwardly. Relative rotation between the cams and the segments causes the cams to push the segments radially outwardly into positive gripping relationship with the inner wall of a surrounding core.

Abstract: A control system for a slitter-rewinder apparatus which forms a web of material into a plurality of individual rolls, the web being unwound from around a supply core and slit into strips which are rewound about a plurality of individual product cores. The slitter-rewinder apparatus has at least one takeup roller adapted to slidably receive the product cores there about. The supply core and the takeup roller are rotatably supported in spaced apart relationship with a portion of the web extending therebetween, around at least one idler roller and past a plurality of knives which cut the web into strips. The slitter-rewinder apparatus further has a first controllable motor for rotating the takeup roller and a second controllable motor for rotating the supply core. The control system includes a sensor for detecting the rotational speed of the product cores.