Abstract: A peer-to-peer communication system, including a service manager for managing peer-to-peer services, a zone manager for managing zones, each zone including at least one peer-to-peer service and a window display layout therefor, and a privacy manager for restricting access to a zone, to a select group of users. A method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of classifying an anonymous user communicating over a computer network, such as by age, gender, or personal interests, based on the content generated or otherwise communicated by the user. The method includes: (a) providing sets of reference attributes, wherein each set of reference attributes is associated with one of a number of personal profile classes; (b) analyzing the user content in order to extract a set of attributes corresponding to such content; (c) comparing the set of extracted attributes against the plural sets of reference attributes in order to find a close match; and (d) associating the user with the personal profile class of the matched set of reference attributes.

Abstract: A multi-motor drive in which the resonance existing between one or more output filter capacitors of a current source inverter and an a.c. induction motor is reduced. The inverter features a switching pattern generator which controls the power switches of the inverter based on a reference current. A control loop, connected to the switching pattern generator, measures the load current or voltage and generates a nominal reference current based on an error therein; determines a damping current based on the voltage at the terminal; and determines the reference current supplied to the switching pattern generator by subtracting the damping current from the nominal reference current. The invention essentially simulates the use of a physical damping resistor connected in parallel with each output filter capacitor, but without the corresponding energy loss.

Abstract: A multi-phase vacuum contactor occupying a minimal space envelope. The contactor features a housing; a carriage; an electromagnetic actuator fixed to the housing and having a reciprocating armature connected to the carriage; and a plurality of vacuum interrupters each having a reciprocating stem for the actuation thereof, wherein the vacuum interrupters are fixed to the housing and circumferencially arranged about the electromagnetic actuating mechanism such that longitudinal axes of the vacuum interrupters are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the electromagnetic actuating mechanism, and wherein the stem of each vacuum interrupter is connected to the carriage.

Abstract: A pin-less retainer for mounting a press-pack device, which includes circumscribing fins for preventing arc formation between terminal faces thereof, onto the rods of a clamping mechanism used to stack a plurality of such devices and heat sinks together. The retainer is constructed out of a semi-flexible sheet having two mirrored sections, each section having a void therein and at least two extending tabs. The voids are sized such that the retainer may be press-fitted into interstices between the fins, and the tabs are shaped and sized to suspend the press-pack device from the rods and axially align the press-pack device with other elements of the stack. The retainer, being a pin-less mount, facilitates the easy and rapid removal of a press-pack device from a stack without having to completely disassemble it.

Abstract: A toy sword featuring a handle section and a translucent blade section. The handle section houses a light source for illuminating an interior of the blade section. A switch energizes the light source. A translucent multi-colored object, such as a segmented, multicolored disk, is disposed to substantially filter the color of the light illuminating the blade interior. The multi-colored object is mounted in a cage to preclude it from grossly deviating out of the path of the light illuminating the blade interior, but the multi-colored object is free to float within the cage such that natural parrying and thrusting motion of the toy sword in play varies the color of the light illuminating the blade section and increases the excitement of sword play.