Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing operator services to callers in a fully or partially automated manner are disclosed. In addition, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for providing new telephone services, e.g., the forwarding of messages to non-published telephone number customers. It is also directed to methods and apparatus that can be used to detect, report and correct operator input errors. Automated, e.g., unmanned, apparatus of the present invention are capable of interfacing with conventional telephone switches using known operator protocols. This allows automated devices of the present invention to appear to existing telephone switches as manned operator positions capable of servicing telephone calls. In accordance with the present invention, the unmanned apparatus of the present invention is assigned one or more operator position identifiers conventionally used to identify manned operator positions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing operator services to callers in a fully or partially automated manner are disclosed. In addition, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for providing new telephone services, e.g., the forwarding of messages to non-published telephone number customers. It is also directed to methods and apparatus that can be used to detect, report and correct operator input errors. Automated, e.g., unmanned, apparatus of the present invention are capable of interfacing with conventional telephone switches using known operator protocols. This allows automated devices of the present invention to appear to existing telephone switches as manned operator positions capable of servicing telephone calls. In accordance with the present invention, the unmanned apparatus of the present invention is assigned one or more operator position identifiers conventionally used to identify manned operator positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically moving at least one animal related item in relation to the body of an animal comprises a position indicator adapted to be applied to at least one teat of the udder, a sensor adapted to sense a position of the position indicator, a controller adapted to be responsive to a signal from the sensor regarding the position, and an actuator adapted to move the animal related item in relation to the body in response to a signal from the controller. The invention also relates to a method for automatically moving at least one animal related item in relation to the body of an animal.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing animals, having a stall, such as a milking stall with an automatic milking machine. The stall comprises an entrance and an exit and is provided for housing one single animal. One or more enticing devices are provided to entice the animal to approach or to leave the stall.

Abstract: A method of guiding a milking apparatus support towards at least one teat of a milk animal, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: moving a support to a fixed start position within a stall; illuminating a region expected to contain at least one udder with a sheet of light from the support; capturing images by viewing the region with a video camera; analyzing the captured images to identify possible teat candidates and selecting one of these teat candidates as a target teat; determining the position of the target teat and homing in the support and any supported milking apparatus to the target teat.

Abstract: A magnetically annealed amorphous metal motor stator is manufactured by magnetically annealing individually the stator yoke and stator teeth and then assembling the components to form a stator so that the field is radial in the teeth and varies or is circumferential in the yoke.

Abstract: The present invention which is an interactive communication system includes a specialized software or programming system to function in a general field known as intelligent tutoring, which is a promising means of delivering instructions on procedural skills relating to programming and like subjects. What has been developed is integrated distance learning tutor (IDLT) techniques involving the specialized programming, and which inexpensively integrates the concepts of "shared work space" and distance learning technology for a PC based intelligent tutoring systems.