Abstract: A pruning device (10) for cutting the highest branches of a fruit tree or the like without the need to resort to the use of a ladder or elevated platform wherein the device (10) includes an elongated hollow shaft member (20) that slidably receives an even longer actuator rod (30) in a reciprocating fashion under the influence of a pair of actuator arm members (31) (32) pivotally associated with both the actuator rod (30) and the hollow shaft member (20); wherein a clipper member (40) is operatively associated with both the upper end of the actuator rod (30) and the upper portion of the hollow shaft member (20) to sever branches when the actuator arm members (31) (32) are brought toward one another.

Abstract: A system and method for providing soft modem and soft audio copy protection for hardware interfaces and software code utilized in an AC '97 architecture to prevent against unauthorized copying. The system confirms that a codec connected to the AC '97 architecture is provided by a desired supplier. The system performs a sample rate negotiation to determine an operating sample rate for data transfer. When the system provides a desired sample rate which does not correspond to a sample rate appearing in a predefined set of sample rates supported by an AC '97 architecture, the system expects the codec to echo back a predesignated sample rate during the sample rate negotiation indicating that a desired sample rate has been received which does not correspond to one of the supported sample rates.

Abstract: A system and method for providing soft modem and soft audio copy protection for hardware interfaces and software code utilized in an AC '97 architecture to prevent against unauthorized copying. The system confirms that a codec connected to the AC '97 architecture is provided by a desired supplier. The system performs a sample rate negotiation to determine an operating sample rate for data transfer. When the system provides a desired sample rate which does not correspond to a sample rate appearing in a predefined set of sample rates supported by an AC '97 architecture, the system expects the codec to echo back a predesignated sample rate during the sample rate negotiation indicating that a desired sample rate has been received which does not correspond to one of the supported sample rates. When the system determines that the predesignated sample rate has been echoed back, the copy protection system recognizes the codec as being provided by an authorized supplier and authorizes the codec for operation.

Abstract: A system and method for providing soft modem and soft audio copy protection for hardware interfaces and software code utilized in an AC '97 architecture to prevent against unauthorized copying. The system confirms that a codec connected to the AC '97 architecture is provided by a desired supplier. The system performs a sample rate negotiation to determine an operating sample rate for data transfer. When the system provides a desired sample rate which does not correspond to a sample rate appearing in a predefined set of sample rates supported by an AC '97 architecture, the system expects the codec to echo back a predesignated sample rate during the sample rate negotiation indicating that a desired sample rate has been received which does not correspond to one of the supported sample rates.