Abstract: The present invention allows telephony users and on line users to communicate with one another using an instant massaging (AIM) service. The on line IM user will provide and receive textual messages, wherein the telephony user will provide and receive corresponding audible messages. To allow more efficient interaction with the telephony user, responses to queries posed to the telephony user are structured with possible answers. The answers are used to define and limit the voice recognition grammar for processing the telephony user's response. Predefining the grammar for responses increases the effectiveness of the speech recognition system and the integrity of the IM session. Further, voice commands may be predefined to facilitate better control of the IM session as well as provide more effective communications.

Abstract: A microchannel for analyte band broadening compensation is disclosed. The microchannel includes a bend having an inside radius of curvature, an outside radius of curvature, and a width. The bend is constructed such that the width and either the inside radius of curvature, the outside radius of curvature or both change simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention allows telephony users and on-line users to communicate with one another using an instant messaging (IM) service. The on-line user will provide and receive textual messages, wherein the telephony user will provide and receive corresponding audible messages. These messages may convey emotion using associated emotional indicia, such as emoticons, or other emotional indicia, including the use of capitalization, emphasis, and the like. Emotional indicia provided in the text messages from the on-line user are audibly conveyed to the telephony user. Similarly, emotional indicia provided by the telephony user in the form of actual emotions or commands are provided in text to the on-line user.

Abstract: This autobalance hybrid circuit is used to connect a 2-wire duplex telephone line to a 4-wire line which has separate receive and transmit pairs. The impedance of a balancing network automatically is adjusted to equal the impedance of the 2-wire line, thereby maximizing echo return loss. "Howling" and "singing" are eliminated, regardless of changes in the 2-wire line impedance. Balancing is achieved by comparing the absolute values of the receive line audio voltage components appearing across two coupling transformers, one associated with the 2-wire line and the other with the balancing network. A control signal, indicative of the difference between these components, alters the balancing network impedance until equal voltages are achieved. In this condition, the receive signal cancels out as a common mode in the output circuit, so that none of the receive line audio is returned to the transmit pair.