Abstract: The invention determines when an Internet browsing customer should be provided assistance by monitoring factors such as the customer profile saved at the server or in cookies, the time a customer spends on particular web pages, errors in forms submitted by the customer, web pages repeatedly viewed by a customer, and statistically established abandon points. When the invention determines a customer should be provided assistance, the invention reviews the availability and probability of availability of the customer service representatives (CSRs). If a CSR is available or predicted to be available, the customer is presented with a HELP option. If the customer does not respond to the HELP option within a predetermined time, the HELP option is removed. By dynamically determining the appropriate time to provide a HELP option and only providing the HELP option when a CSR is available, the invention proactively provides meaningful service at the critical time.

Abstract: A core chuck includes “lock and key” or “key and keyhole” interfaces between the central cam and the mounting plate and the central cam and the end cap. The central cam includes central region having a multi-faceted camming surface adapted to expand and retract a plurality of jaws as is well known. Unlike known core chucks, the first end of the central core has a non-circular perimeter and the mounting plate includes a cavity sized and shaped to substantially correspond to the non-circular perimeter of the central and form a “lock and key” or “key and keyhole” arrangement. A plurality of fasteners secure the central cam to the mounting plate with their heads disposed proximate the second end region of the central cam. The end cap includes a second cavity sized and shaped to form a “lock and key” or “key and keyhole” arrangement with the heads of the fasteners.

Abstract: A system and method of propagating exclusion records between a plurality of networked call centers is provided. Each call center includes a CTI system having a dynamic data record exclusion system. The system includes an exclusion record exporter and an exclusion record importer interfacing the dynamic data record exclusion system at each networked CTI system, which export and import exclusion records that are generated at one CTI system to the remaining networked CTI systems. The method begins by maintaining at least one exclusion table including at least one exclusion record in a first call center's dynamic data record exclusion system. Then, the exclusion records, along with a list of the networked call centers to which the exclusion records should be sent, are sent to an exclusion record exporter, where they are saved in a transfer file. The exclusion record exporter then transfers each transfer file to a defined directory at an exclusion record importer at at least one other networked call center.

Abstract: A system, including a method for prioritizing on hold calls connected to an automated telephone system is disclosed. The system and method utilizes customer information retrieved from a customer database as call prioritizing information for each connected call. The method begins by connecting a plurality of calls to the automated telephone system. Caller identifying information is obtained from each connected call and each connected call is placed on hold. Then, a customer database is searched and a customer database record is identified corresponding the obtained caller identifying information for each connected call. A call record for each connected call is created and inserted into the hold queue. Each call record includes the caller identifying information and call prioritizing information corresponding to the connected call. The connected calls are then directed to available agents based on the call prioritizing information stored in each call record in the hold queue.

Abstract: A hydraulic mechanism is positioned within the drogue bridle of a parachute system. The hydraulic link is slowly moved by tension on the drogue bridle to operate a release. The release operates to release the drogue chute and to deploy the main chute. The movement of the hydraulic link provides a time delay between deployment of the drogue chute and the main chute to allow the load to stabilize before deployment of the main chute.

Abstract: A deck of rock, paper, scissors playing cards and methods of play therewith are disclosed. The deck has fifty-two cards including four wild cards identified as little sister cards and little brother cards, and forty-eight cards including fourteen paper cards, fourteen rock cards, fourteen scissor cards, two crumpled paper cards, two broken rock cards, and two broken scissors cards. Each of the cards has a point value. The associated method includes playing the cards against each other wherein the cards have a hierarchy based on the pictorial. The hierarchy determines the winner of each game. The cards having point values for determining the points awarded for each card.

Abstract: A mounting disk for holding a binding base plate through a central aperture in said base plate to the top surface of a snowboard. The binding plate may be secured in a plurality of rotational positions relative to the disk. The mounting disk may be secured in a plurality of linear positions along the width and/or length of the snowboard top surface.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting distortions that occur in image capture systems is disclosed. The present invention in some preferred embodiments includes provisions to correct or change magnification differences for all causes including position errors in zoom lens positioning mechanisms as well as those caused by chromatic aberration, CCD alignment errors, lens distortion off center variations, pincushion/barrel lens distortion, magnification distortions, camera and lens misalignment errors, and lighting variations (including flash-to-flash illumination variations). A significant feature of the present invention in contrast with the prior art is that with the use of a movable calibration plate in the present invention it is possible to image capture both the calibration plate and the input object image in a single image capture, thus permitting simultaneous compensation for a variety of lighting and illumination variations not possible with the prior art.

Abstract: A web browser based client workstation receives web browser based information and displays the web browser based information in a web page browser format. The web browser based information may include operation critical application information which is interactively displayed and utilized to perform an operation critical application from the client workstation. The operation critical application may include a telephony application. The web browser based client workstation may include a script wizard for allowing a user to generate non-proprietary, industry standard, active objects to handle one or more applications. The client workstation may also include at least one host connection active object to handle information exchange between the web browser based client workstation and a host computer/database. Persistent data to be utilized by the client workstation may be stored within the workstation for later reuse without access to a server computer.

Abstract: An automatic controlled parachute includes a parachute canopy, a flight controller and risers connecting the canopy to the flight controller. Pneumatic actuators are connected along the risers. The flight controller operates the pneumatic actuators to control the length of the risers. The direction of flight of the parachute is controlled by the length of the risers.

Abstract: A seat back or a seat base of an automobile seat with a frame includes a spring system extending between two opposing cross braces consisting of meander-shaped shaped spring wires and upholstery in a seat surface. The level determined by the supporting surface of the shaped wire springs may be so changed by tension belts passing through the shaped wire springs at different tensions that it is more strongly arched when the belts are in relaxed condition than when they are tightened.

Abstract: A switching apparatus for a contact center is integrated into a legacy contact center including a PBX. The switching capacity of both of the PBX and the switch are utilized efficiently by handing off controller specific desktop agents between the central processor and the PBX.

Abstract: In a video receiver, a photodiode is terminated with one or more junction diodes to provide an output voltage that is a log function of the incident optical power. The termination with the diode provides a nonlinear resistance which converts the output current of the photodiode to a voltage, with the output voltage being the log of the input current due to the nonlinear resistance characteristic associated with junction diodes. The subject system eliminates the necessity of providing a transimpedance amplifier used to obtain a voltage from the photo current of a photodetector and also the requirements for a log amplifier to provide the log of the voltage to give the receiver a wide dynamic range. In one embodiment a PIN diode is provided with a series of termination diodes, with the larger of the number of diodes, the more voltage that is available. The series-connected termination diodes provide a passive low noise system for converting the photo current to a log voltage.

Abstract: A method for allocating agents to telephone call campaigns by a telephony system is disclosed. The disclosed method is aimed at maximizing productivity of successful agents by prioritizing call distribution to those agents enjoying a high level of success with respect to a particular call campaign during a particular period of time. The method includes providing a plurality of agent resources to participate in at least one call campaign, establishing success criteria for each call campaign, assigning a success index to each agent for each call campaign, directing calls to the plurality of agent resources in a prioritized manner, whereby calls are connected to available agents in accordance with the value of agent success indexes from highest to lowest The method also includes updating each agent success index is based on the established success criteria while the call campaign is in progress.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a joiner for lance joining ductile materials, such as metal sheets, and in particular to a joiner including a die assembly and a punch assembly. The die assembly includes a die anvil and an anvil surface. There are at least two die blades around the anvil, the blades extending in a longitudinal direction, generally above and below opposite sides of the anvil surface to form a die aperture for the punch. Each blade is arranged to move away from the anvil to open up the aperture when ductile material is forced in the longitudinal direction into the aperture and against the anvil by the punch. Each blade has a cutting edge above the anvil facing towards the die aperture for cutting through the ductile material to make a lance joint when the material is forced into the aperture. The assembly also has at least one biasing means by which the blades are biased towards the anvil to constrict the aperture.

Abstract: A system and method for providing audio communication over a computer network between sending and destination devices using differing communication formats is provided. The system identifies the format of the incoming digital encoded audio data signal, identifies the destination device format of the signal, and converts the data to a second digital encoded audio data signal which is compatible with the format utilized by the destination device.

Abstract: A touch pad guard is used to guard a touch pad on a portable computer to prevent inadvertent contact with the touch pad by the user's hand. The touch pad guard includes a guard member having one or more closed side regions for preventing the user's hands from contacting the touch pad. The guard member also has an open bottom region and one or more open side regions for allowing the user's fingers to access the touch pad for controlling the cursor on the computer. In one embodiment, the touch pad guard further includes an attachment device that removably attaches the guard member to a surface of the computer keyboard housing. An optional wrist pad can be coupled to the touch pad guard for supporting the user's wrists while using the keyboard. The touch pad guard can also be integrally attached to the surface of the keyboard housing.

Abstract: The system and method for dialing in a telephony system using a common channel signaling protocol, such as ISDN, maximizes the use of bearer or voice channels. The telephony system includes a dialing switch connected to a central office switch that supports the common channel signaling protocol. In one example, the connection is made using an ISDN primary rate interface (PRI) connection providing 23 bearer channels and one data channel. The dialing switch automatically dials to establish telephone connections between calling parties, such as agents in a call center, and called parties, such as existing or potential customers. The system also includes a telephony system control/manager that controls the dialing and manages telephony resources. The system determines predictive dialing factors, such as an anticipated connect ratio (ACR) of dialed numbers to connections with called parties, average talk time, a number of idle agents, and hold time.

Abstract: A system and method automatically allocates agent resources and prioritizes call campaigns to maximize productivity of a call center by prioritizing call distribution along with agent resource allocation to those campaigns enjoying a high level of success, such as sales success, during a particular period of time. A plurality of call campaigns are grouped together to form a pacing group. Each call campaign in the pacing group is then assigned a campaign pacing ratio each having a sales success criteria. During the processing of the call campaigns, the pacing ratio of each call campaign will then be adjusted, whereby those campaigns realizing higher levels of current sales success will have their pacing ratios increased while those experiencing lower levels of current success will have their pacing ratios decreased.

Abstract: A device to actuate a drive gear of an adjustment mechanism of a vehicle seat includes a stepped switching mechanism manually operable in two directions by means of a swiveling lever that is rotationally connected with the drive gear in order to rotate it. The rotational connection between the stepped switching mechanism and the drive gear is releasable to facilitate a greater range of seat back adjustment.