Abstract: A method for enhancing a digital image involves selecting an image as an original image to be enhanced, creating by a pixel mapping procedure at least two images altered from the original image in a first image attribute, each of the altered images differing in the first image attribute, displaying the altered images to a user, and selecting by the user one of the images displayed as preferable to the other images displayed.

Abstract: A speaker apparatus has a container holding a volume of ferrofluid, a permanent magnet suspended in the ferrofluid, and a magnetic excitation apparatus proximate the container. Operation of the excitation apparatus causes movement of the permanent magnet, translated through the ferrofluid to walls of the container, which walls act as resonators creating sound waves in surrounding medium. Audio production is accomplished placing a ferrofluid and a permanent magnet in a container, placing an excitation apparatus in proximity of the permanent magnet, and driving the excitation apparatus to cause movement of the permanent magnet translated through the ferrofluid to walls of the container, which walls act as resonators creating sound waves in surrounding medium.

Abstract: A computerized telephony bridge unit has a Data Network Telephony (DNT) Port and a Connection Oriented/Switched Telephony (COST) trunk port, each associated with circuitry for receiving a placing calls in the data format required by connected networks. The bridge unit further comprises conversion circuitry for converting data dynamically between network protocols compatible with each connected network. Control routines executable on the computerized bridge unit are adapted to receive a first call from one of the COST and DNT networks, to place a call associated with the received call on the network other than the network on which the call is received, and to dynamically convert data between a call connected at one port and a call connected at the other port. The data network can be the Internet, and the COST network can be any publicly or privately switched dedicated-connection-oriented telephone network.

Abstract: An agent presence application for monitoring target agent resources and rendering agent states to subscribing applications is provided. The presence application has at least one first portion for collecting data regarding states of activity of the target agent resources, and at least one second portion for integrating the data and rendering the agent states to the subscribing applications.

Abstract: The embodiments herein provide an authentication and tracking and retail analytics system. The system comprises of code generation module, a database server, an authentication module and a communication channel. A code generation module generates unique authentication code. This unique authentication code is printed/labeled on the product. Label/tag that is marked or contains a hidden code is placed on a product requiring verification. In order to verify the product, the consumer or retailer defaces or scratches a portion of the label/tag and reveals its hidden code. Consumer or retailer sends the product authentication code to a specified number mentioned via any communication device capable of sending and receiving SMS/MMS/picture/graphics. The verification software decrypts the encrypted authenticated code and compares decrypted code with the original data assigned for the code to determine an authenticity of the product and sends reply message to the consumer or retailer.

Abstract: A packet-data network is made intelligent in the sense of a connection-oriented, switched telephony (COST) network by enhancing one or more interconnected IP routers in the network with computer-telephony integration (CTI) processors executing CTI applications. No-charge-to-calling-party IP addresses are assigned and sponsored by various enterprises, who may also maintain call centers having at least one CTI-enhanced IP router connected to the network, and agent stations having IP telephones connected to the call-center-located IP router. With appropriate software and the CTI link to IP routers the performance of well-known conventional telephone systems may be provided in packet networks like the Internet.

Abstract: A system for providing third-party call control in a telecommunications environment is provided. The system comprises, a call-control mechanism for providing service logic and routing intelligence, a control application for providing service-logic description and command instruction for implementing third-party controlled call connections, a call-switching mechanism for providing an abstract state of switching matrix and for commutation of external and internal call legs and a commutation application for making and breaking call connections according to commands sent from the control application.

Abstract: A system for generating usage statistics for a communications routing system from data generated at routing points and at end points of the system has a processor having access to the communications routing system for analyzing the data and generating the statistics, and a server having access to the processor for rendering the generated statistics into a format for display. The data used to generate the statistics includes routing path information for events routed through the communications routing system and optionally interaction histories recorded at certain routing points and end points in the communications routing system.

Abstract: A headgear system enhanced for generating sound has at least one speaker apparatus connected to or integrated into the structure of the headgear system, the speaker apparatus including a magnet suspended in a magnetic fluid, and at least one resonator connected to the at least one speaker apparatus. The system is characterized in that excitation of the magnet produces vibration translated to the resonator to generate the sound.

Abstract: A system for identifying and interacting with callers has: a telephone switch for receiving and distributing incoming calls; a messaging server for sending or receiving messages and attachments; and, a software routine for identifying wireless callers and for matching them to messages in the messaging server. The system is characterized in that upon receiving a call the system attempts to identify the call to a caller and of the caller is not already known in the system or identified an automated message is generated and sent to the caller asking for the desired information. In one embodiment the caller sends a message when the call is placed to optimize identification.

Abstract: A real-time operating system (RTOS) for use with minimal-memory controllers has a kernel for managing task execution, including context switching, a plurality of defined tasks, individual ones of the tasks having subroutines callable in nested levels for accomplishing tasks. In the RTOS context switching is constrained to occur only at task level, and cannot occur at any lower sub-routine level. This system can operate with a single call . . . return stack, saving memory requirement. The single stack can be implemented as either a general-purpose stack or as a hardware call . . . return stack. In other embodiments novel methods are taught for generating return addresses, and for using timing functions in a RTOS.

Abstract: A software-based syndication and filtering platform for a first Web server hosted by a first enterprise has a rules-based filter for interacting with communications from customers of the first enterprise, the communications coming from a second Web-site of a second enterprise, and a discrimination layer for providing specific services to said customers according to one or more characteristics of the Web site of the second enterprise. In some cases there is also a layer for interacting with a third Web server hosted by a third enterprise. In preferred embodiments the services include a broad range of transaction capabilities.

Abstract: Gait analysis apparatus using a treadmill, comprising an endless belt, which is guided over at least two rollers and the upper surface of which serves as walking surface, a sensor system for determining a pressure/force distribution on a measurement plate located underneath the endless belt and having a plurality of pressure/force sensors arranged in a matrix on the side facing the treadmill belt, wherein the measurement plate comprising the plurality of pressure/force sensors arranged in a matrix is itself supported by at least one base force sensor and the analyzing unit comprises an additional signal input connected to a signal output of the base force sensor as well as an additional signal processing stage for processing the output signal of the or each base force sensor in terms of a calibration or correction signal processing of the output signals of the pressure/force sensors arranged in a matrix, respectively.

Abstract: A system is provided for rating multimedia content streamed over a data network as a series of data frames, segments, or packets and for administering display of the rated content. The system includes at least one content source device for creating raw multimedia content; an intermediate content marking and delivery agent for marking and delivering the content created; and a content receiving device for displaying or rejecting delivered content according to detection of and comparison of content markings applied to at least one preset value. In one aspect, the content marking follows some existing or devised rating system and whereupon the marked content is identifiable at the receiving end for each received data frame, segment, or data packet carrying content in a payload.

Abstract: A method of and a system for development of health care information Systems (HIS) are disclosed. The method includes providing software programming interfaces for development of application modules, communication interfaces for establishing communication between various modules, and resource management interfaces for allocation of resources such as memory. The system comprises of a server with a health care middleware operating system (HMOS). The HMOS is designed as a multi-tier architecture with 3 tiers namely, application tier, domain services tier, and Foundations tier.

Abstract: A urinary device for use by a person has an elongate tube having an outside wall, an inside wall and a length, a cup for collecting urine, the cup of greater diameter than the tube, formed at a free end of the tube, substantially concentric with the tube, for placing over the person's urethra, and a shield formed about the outside wall of the tube, near the cup, substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube, the shield having a concave surface facing the cup shaped to conform to a user's pubic area.

Abstract: A system for updating parameters of financial transactions associated with financial services initiated and completed on behalf of or directly by a user through access to a data-packet-network into more than one electronic interface accessible to the user is provided. The system comprises, a main electronic interface supported by back-end software, the main interface for registering all user accounts into at least one portfolio group, the accounts accessible in detail through the main interface, at least one cobranded electronic interface supported by back-end software, the cobranded interface mirroring the accounts registered in the main electronic interface and a plurality of institution-specific electronic interfaces for providing direct account registration, reporting, and maintenance specific to accounts provided by the associated institutions.

Abstract: A system for establishing a direct network connection between a first and a second node over a data-packet-network includes a third network node having connection to the data-packet-network for providing an electronic interface accessible to the first node; a navigation agent directed by the third network node for navigating over the network to the second node to gather information; and at least one machine-readable instruction containing the instruction for directing and implementing the direct network connection. The electronic interface may be a Web page providing bill consolidation and payment services to a client operating the first node and wherein the connection established via the instruction enables transparent login payment of a bill at the second node, which may be a direct billing party interface of the client registered and listed on the Web page.

Abstract: The invention relates to a projection module of an automobile headlight. The module includes several semiconductor light sources to broadcast optical irradiation of a primary optics assembly to bundle the emitted irradiation, and a secondary optics assembly that projects the bundled irradiation to create the desired light distribution in front of the vehicle. In order to reduce the weight and dimensions of the projection module, it is proposed that the secondary optics assembly is formed as a multi-part complex lens that includes several lens segments. Each of these lens segments is assigned to at least one irradiation bundle of irradiation bundled from the primary optics assembly, and projects this assembly as partial distribution in front of the vehicle, whereby the overall distribution of the projection module results from overlapping the partial distributions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light-conductor structure (13) for an automobile lighting device (11), with a coupling section (17) to couple light into the light-conductor structure, a curved reflecting surface (25) to reflect light beams (59) of the light coupled into the light-conductor structure via the coupling section, and at least one decoupling section (30, 45, 51) to decouple the light from the light-conductor structure (13). In order to achieve a light-conductor structure (13) in which fewer limitations to the determination of its geometric shape exist, or whose appearance may be more freely configured, it is proposed that the reflecting surface (25) of the light-conductor structure (13) is curved such that light reflected from the reflecting surface (25) strikes directly with no additional reflection either again onto the reflecting surface (25) or passes into the minimum of one decoupling section (30, 45, 51).