Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus for manipulating video or audio signals. The apparatus includes a mechanism for analyzing a video or audio signal having a size. The apparatus includes a mechanism for producing a representative signal from and corresponding to the audio or video signal that identifies the audio or video signal but has less information than the audio or video signal and is smaller in size than the size of the audio or video signal. The producing mechanism is connected to the analyzing means. The apparatus includes a mechanism for transmitting to a remote location the representative signal. The transmitting mechanism is connected to the producing mechanism. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for recreating the audio or video signal from the representative signal at the remote location. The recreating mechanism is connected to the transmitting mechanism.

Abstract: A technique for controlling a multiplicity of time-sorted queues with a single controller and supporting memory, which may be software-configured so as to allow the use of the controller in an implementation having a multiplicity and variety of output lines or channels. The technique includes receiving a plurality of packets from one or more packet flows at a respective time-based output port queue of the network switch, in which each packet has a timestamp associated therewith. Each output card memory can be divided into a plurality of queues, in which the number of queues corresponds to the number of flows received by the switch and the size of each queue is proportional to the fractional amount of the total bandwidth of the switch used by the corresponding packet flow.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient with cancer includes the steps of obtaining cells from a cancerous tumor in the patient. Then there is the step of performing multiple correlated measurements on each cell to obtain cell data for each cell regarding each cell's place in a genetic evolutionary pathway that had occurred in the tumor. Next there is the step of determining from the cell data a likelihood of recurrence of the cancer by minimizing false negatives. A method for treating a patient with cancer. The method includes the steps of obtaining cells from a cancerous tumor in the patient. Then there is the step of obtaining cell data for each cell regarding each cell's place in a genetic evolutionary pathway that had occurred in the tumor. Next there is the step of recognizing distinctive false negative patterns from the cell data. Then there is the step of correlating the false negative patterns to aberrations in mitogenic signaling to determine a likelihood of recurrence of the cancer in the patient.

Abstract: A videophone. The videophone can include an imaging mechanism for taking a video picture of a scene. The videophone can include a mechanism for producing a first video stream of the scene and a second video stream of the scene from the video picture and sending the first video stream and the second video stream onto a network at the same time, the producing mechanism in communication with the imaging mechanism. The videophone can include a mechanism for receiving a plurality of video streams of different scenes from a network. The videophone can include a mechanism for displaying the different scenes of the plurality of video streams alongside each other. A method for a video call.

Abstract: A system for determining shared broadcast domains. The system includes a network having devices which have physical ports and/or logical interfaces, and having a network management system. The network management system having a mechanism for learning features about ports or interfaces of devices of the network. The system includes a mechanism for identifying which ports or interfaces on each device are part of a same broadcast domain from the learned features. The identifying mechanism in communication with the network management system. A network management system. A method for determining shared broadcast domains of network devices and ports or interfaces includes the steps of learning features about ports or interfaces of devices of a network by a network management system. There is the step of identifying which ports or interfaces on each device are part of a common broadcast domain from the learned features.

Abstract: A file server for serving data of a client from a network. The server includes disk means for storing the data. The server includes means for receiving the data from the network and sending an acknowledgment that the data has been stored to the client through the network but before the data has been stored in the disk means, the receiving means in communication with the disk means. The server includes a memory for storing the data until the data is stored in the disk means, the receiving means is in communication with the memory. The server includes a first power source for provide electricity to the disk means, the memory and the receiving means, the first power source in electrical communication with the disk means, the memory and the receiving means. The server includes a second power source that provides electricity to the memory when the first power source fails, the second power source in communication with the memory. A method for serving data of a client from a network.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a packet based network. The system includes a packet ingress node for packets having a QOS in communication with the packet based network. The system includes an ATM ingress node for an ATM network. The ATM ingress node receiving the packets from the packet ingress node through the packet based network, segmenting the packets into cells and identifying the QOS associated with each cell. The system includes an ATM network in communication with the ATM ingress node. The system includes an ATM egress node which receives cells from the ATM ingress nodes. The ATM egress node in communication with the ATM network. The ATM egress node reassembles the cells back into the packets. The ATM egress node in communication with the packet based network. The system includes a plurality of VCs corresponding with QOS between the ATM ingress node and the ATM egress node through the ATM network.

Abstract: An improved air jig apparatus and method is disclosed in which a dry magnetic separator is used to separate paramagnetic and ferromagnetic minerals from the dust component of coal cleaned with the air jig. The cleaned product of the dry magnetic separator is combined with the cleaned product of the air jig thereby improving both the quality and the quantity of the unmodified air jig product. The dry magnetic separator may be of a variety of types including but not limited to separators made from permanent magnets, electromagnets, and superconducting magnets, each of which may also employ triboelectric and/or aerodynamic means to enhance the separation of the dust material.

Abstract: A directing apparatus includes a mechanism for producing steerable energy. The apparatus includes a mechanism for steering energy from the producing mechanism while the producing mechanism is stationary. The steering mechanism is in communication with the producing mechanism. The steering mechanism includes a scanning mechanism which continuously in a first direction scans the volume of a surrounding vertically and horizontally. A directing method.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the accuracy of meter factors of a flow instrument in conjunction with a prover having upstream and downstream prover detection switches and a flow computer including a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for correcting errors in a meter factor of the flow instrument measured in a proving run and correcting effects of flow rate changes during proving. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium whose contents causes a processor to increase the accuracy of meter factors of a flow instrument in conjunction with a prover having upstream and downstream prover detection switches and a flow computer. A method for increasing the accuracy of the meter factors of a flow instrument in conjunction with a prover having upstream and downstream prover detection switches and a flow computer.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring data in a telecommunications network. The apparatus includes a memory in which a packet memory length is stored. The apparatus includes a mechanism for determining a link length for the packet that will be sent into the network based on the memory length and at least one parameter, where the link length correctly corresponds to the packet's physical line bandwidth usage in the network. The apparatus includes a mechanism for sending the packet having the link length to the network. A method for transferring data in a telecommunications network. The method includes the steps of storing in a memory a memory length of a packet. There is the step of determining a link length for the packet that will be sent into the network based on the memory length and at least one parameter, where the link length correctly corresponds to the packet's physical line bandwidth usage in the network There is the step of sending the packet having the link length to the network.

Abstract: A folding step stool includes a hinge mechanism. The step stool includes a first section connected to the hinge mechanism. The first section having a bottom step. The step stool includes a second section connected to the hinge mechanism. The step stool includes a third section connected to the hinge mechanism, wherein when the folding step is in and unfolded state, the first and second sections form a base on a floor and are in angular relationship with each other, and the third section extends upward from the hinge mechanism relative to the first section, and when the first, second and third sections are in a folded state, they are essentially in parallel with each other, are no more than ¾ as tall and ½ as long as when the step stool is in the unfolded state. A method for using a folding step stool. A hinge for a folding step stool having a folded and unfolded state and having a top rail, front rail and rear rail. A method for using a folding step stool.

Abstract: A system for responding to failures of connections in a network. In one embodiment, there is a system for responding to destination failures involving SPVx (switched-permanent virtual circuit) connections includes a primary source node. The system includes a primary source switch for producing an SPVx connection, the primary source node in communication with the primary source switch. The system includes a primary destination node. The system includes a primary destination switch for receiving the SPVx connection, the primary destination node in communication with the primary destination switch, the connection following a primary path between the primary source node and the primary destination node. The system includes an alternate destination node. The primary destination switch redirects automatically the primary connection to the alternate destination node along an alternate path when the primary destination switch detects a failure of the primary path.

Abstract: A scheduler for a server. The scheduler includes a first level generator associated with groups of connections. The scheduler includes a second level generator associated with connections corresponding to the groups of connections. The first level generator identifying which connections in the second level generator corresponds to a group in the first level generator that is to be considered for service. The second level generator identifies the connections corresponding to the group to receive service from the server. The second level generator in connection with the first level generator. A method for scheduling service of a server. An apparatus for serving connections. The apparatus includes a hierarchical scheduler connected to the server. An apparatus for serving connections. The apparatus includes a scheduler connected to the server which schedules based on intercell intervals.

Abstract: An apparatus for lighting. The apparatus includes a first light source. The apparatus includes a first housing in which the first light source is disposed. The apparatus includes a support structure to which the first housing is attached. The apparatus includes a reflection portion having a least two reflectors. The reflection portion attached to the support structure and in spaced relationship with the first housing such that light from the first light source is directed to desired locations. Alternatively, the apparatus includes a first light source. The apparatus includes a first housing in which the first light source is disposed. The apparatus includes a support structure to which the first light source is attached. The apparatus includes a second light source. The apparatus includes a second housing in which the second light source is disposed. The second housing attached to the support structure and in spaced relationship with the first housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for data storage includes a cluster of NFS servers. Each server has network ports for incoming file system requests and cluster traffic between servers. The apparatus includes a plurality of storage arrays in communication with the servers. The servers utilize a striped file system for storing data. A method for data storage. A method for establishing storage for a file. A method for removing a file from storage. A method for reading data in a file. A method for writing data in a file.

Abstract: A switch of a network for switching data. The switch includes a fabric for switching the data. The switch includes a parity fabric. The switch includes a connection mechanism connected to the fabric for providing data to and from the fabric and connected to the parity fabric for providing parity data to and from the parity fabric. The switch includes a first port card which receives data at a first rate from the network or sends data at the first rate to the network, performs first parity calculations on the data received at the first port card, produces first parity data from the first parity calculations or sends data at the first rate to the network. The switch includes a second port card which receives data at a second rate from the network or sends data at the second rate to the network, performs second parity calculations on the data received at the second port card, produces second parity data from the second parity calculations or sends data at the second rate to the network.

Abstract: A switch of a network. The switch includes a topology database having configuration information. The switch includes a mechanism for sending the configuration information from the topology database to the network and for receiving configuration information from the network and storing it in the topology database. A telecommunications system. A method for operating a telecommunications network.

Abstract: An electron gun. The electron gun includes an RF cavity having a first side with an emitting surface and a second side with a transmitting and emitting section. The gun also includes a mechanism for producing an oscillating force which encompasses the emitting surface and the section so electrons are directed between the emitting surface and the section to contact the emitting surface and generate additional electrons and to contact the section to generate additional electrons or escape the cavity through the section. A method for producing electrons.

Abstract: A switch includes a port card for receiving packets from and sending packets to a network. The switch includes a fabric connected to the port card for switching the packets. The fabric has memory controllers which perform logical functions and in which portions of the packets are stored. The fabric has stages for switching the portions of the packets. The fabric has a mechanism for propagated lockdown of each stage wherein each stage is idle a correct number of cycles and each memory controller performs the same logical functions the corresponding same logical cycles. A method for switching packets includes the steps of introducing idles a correct number of cycles in each stage of memory controllers in fabrics of a switch to maintain the fabrics in logical synchronization. Then there is the step performing with each memory controller in the fabrics same logical functions at corresponding same logical cycles.