Abstract: An Internet Protocol (IP)-based radio telecommunications network and method of providing data services to a mobile terminal. An Internet Protocol Shared Interworking Function (IP-SIWF) is implemented in the network, and is controlled from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) utilizing the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) device control protocol. When a data call carrying a data payload is originated by a mobile terminal, the data call is transported utilizing radio access and radio link protocols to the IP-SIWF. The radio access and radio link protocols are terminated in the IP-SIWF, and the data payload is transported thereafter utilizing a real time protocol over a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and an IP protocol layer.

Abstract: An apparatus (410) for holding a plastic bag (36) in an upright and open position comprising a base (412), an upper frame (414), a vertical support member (416) and a pair of handle receiving members (418, 420) rotatably mounted to the upper frame (414) is disclosed. The handle receiving members (418, 420) each include a pair of rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428). The rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) having a first position and a second position. In the first position, the rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) are generally vertical for receiving and removing the plastic bag (36). In the second position, the rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) are rotated a predetermined angle from vertical. The rotation of the rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) from the first to the second position increases the distance between the rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) in each pair of handle receiving members (418, 420), thereby securing the plastic bag (36) in an upright and open position within the apparatus (410).

Abstract: A semiconductor memory architecture for embedded memory instances having redundancy. A fuse box register is provided outside the memory macro associated with the memory instances. The memory instances are daisy-chained to the fuse box register containing a plurality of fuses used for storing fuse data associated with the defective rows and columns of main memory. During power-up or after blowing the fuses, the contents of the fuses (i.e., fuse data) are transferred to a plurality of volatile redundancy scan flip-flops. The fuse box is then deactivated to eliminate quiescent current through the fuses. The redundancy scan flip-flops, connected in a scan chain, are located inside the fuse box as well as the memory instances. During the shifting mode of operation, the fuse contents are scanned into individual flip-flops, organized as scan registers for row redundancy and column redundancy, of the memory instances.

Abstract: A method in a radio telecommunications network of broadcasting data in an over-the-air multicast to a group of mobile terminals. Statistics from regular point-to-point cellular transmissions to build a statistical database for each base station. The statistical data indicate the optimal signal quality that users normally experience when operating in that cell. From this data, a minimum transmission quality (TQmin) that a mobile terminal must receive for the type of data being broadcast is determined. The method then broadcasts a test transmission to the mobile terminals, and includes a maximum transmission quality (TQmax) in order to limit the number of responses. A response is then received from a mobile terminal representative of the group, the response including an indication of the received transmission quality. The method then determines whether the received transmission quality was greater than or equal to TQmin.

Abstract: A vehicle status device and system for remotely updating and locally indicating the status of a vehicle. The vehicle status device is located in a vehicle and indicates status information for the vehicle on a vehicle-status indicator on the vehicle when the device is interrogated by an interrogating unit. The device includes a database of status information for the vehicle and owner. An update receiver in the device receives encoded updated information from a wide area paging network for storage in the database. An interrogation receiver receives an interrogation signal from the interrogating unit, and a processor decodes the status information and sends it to the status indicator in response. The system also includes an interrogating unit which includes a police radar transmitter or a laser transmitter for transmitting the interrogation signal to the vehicle status device. The status indicator includes a set of summary status lights and may also include an LCD display for detailed status information.

Abstract: A reduced latency row selection circuit and method for selecting a wordline in a memory instance. Capacitance associated with row select path is de-coupled from capacitance associated with row de-select path such that both forward path delay and de-selection path delay may be optimized independently. Clock-to-wordline latency is reduced by a rapid six-stage structure that may be implemented using various logic gates. A row pre-decoder portion generates a decoded wordline clock (DXC) signal based on a row decode select clock (XC) signal and a portion of pre-decoded row address signals. The DXC signal is used by a row decoder portion for generating a wordline select (XWL) signal based on another portion of the address signals. Circuitry is provided for releasing the selected wordline in the memory upon receiving a wordline shutdown clock signal generated responsive to signals provided by dummy wordline and dummy read bitline structures disposed in the memory.

Abstract: A supplied air snorkeling device is provided. This device includes a flotation vest coupled with a tank holder. This flotation vest contains flotation material that cannot be deflated and substantially prohibits a user from submerging. A tank cover is positioned within the tank holder for holding an air tank. Still further, a hose retainer is coupled with the vest. In use, an air tank is placed within the tank cover which is then placed within the tank holder. A hose extends from the air tank through the hose retainer and is connected to a regulator that is connected to a mouthpiece which fits into a user's mouth. The hose retainer keeps the mouthpiece in close proximity to the user's mouth. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of making this supplied air snorkeling device. This method includes coupling a tank holder with a flotation vest.

Abstract: A system in a telecommunications network for providing selected advertisements to subscribers utilizing display screens to conduct a video telephone call. The system comprises a centralized database of subscriber advertising preferences, an information source, a calling subscriber's switch connected to the database and the information source, and a called subscriber's switch connected to the calling subscriber's switch. The database of subscriber advertising preferences stores advertising preferences for subscribers in the network, and is updated whenever a subscriber selects a displayed advertisement for more information. The information source stores a plurality of advertisements, and includes an advertisement selector which selects advertisements based on the advertising preferences for an identified subscriber such as the calling subscriber.

Abstract: A storage card module for supporting more than one SCSI storage device on a printed circuit board to be coupled to a CPCI backplane. The storage devices are positioned on the board with a predetermined spacing disposed therebetween. One or more low profile connectors are disposed in the predetermined spacing for each storage device depending on the number of pins needed. For an 8-bit fast tape drive, a 50-pin low profile connector is utilized. A pair of 34-pin low profile connectors are utilized for connecting to a 16-bit fast-wide SCSI disk drive. Electrical traces are buried in the board substrate which couple the low profile connectors to a card connector on the printed circuit board. The card connector is mated to the CPCI backplane via a backplane connector. A SCSI I/O interface is in an electrical conductive relationship with at least a portion of the backplane connector. Power is provided to the drives via a pair of 4-pin low profile power connectors disposed in the predetermined spacing.

Abstract: The compact PCI cabinet includes an inlet port for receiving external air, a set of blowers for drawing the air into the cabinet and for expelling the air from an exhaust port of the cabinet after having cooled internal active circuits, and a plurality of louvers and openings that create thermal convection within a back portion of the compact PCI cabinet to cool active components coupled to the back side of the back plain of the compact PCI system. Additionally, a plurality of perforated air openings located approximately at the bottom and back side of a side panel of the compact PCI cabinet also is included to conduct an receive some air from the external environment. Openings are formed between a plurality of card guides located approximately at the top of the back side of the back portion of the PCI cabinet for conducting air in and out of the back portion of the cabinet.

Abstract: A method of providing multiple level, price-per-unit (PPU) discounts on gasoline to a customer who purchases at least one cross-marketed product. The customer is awarded a first PPU discount on the gasoline based on a purchase by the customer of a first cross-marketed product, and is awarded a second PPU discount based on the purchase of a second cross-marketed product. The first discount is then added to the second discount to determine a total PPU discount, and a paper receipt is printed for the customer with a customer identification and a transaction identification encoded in a bar code thereon. The total discount is stored in a discounts issued database. The customer then scans the encoded bar code with a bar code scanner at a gasoline dispenser to redeem the discount. The total discount is retrieved from the discounts issued database, and the gasoline station then reduces the price-per-unit-volume of the gasoline by an amount equal to the total discount.

Abstract: A method of scheduling a plurality of time multiplexed cells and a plurality of asynchronous cells in a temporal frame, which consists of first and second subframes, comprises the steps of assigning the time multiplexed cells or clusters of time multiplexed cells interspersed by a first plurality of asynchronous cells to the first frame and assigning a second plurality of asynchronous cells to the second subframe.

Abstract: A shower seat for installation within a corner of a shower stall. The shower seat may be constructed from a wide variety of rigid materials and is polygonal in shape. A horizontal corner strip of backboard of shower walls within the shower stall is removed to form a slot. A back portion of the shower seat is inserted into the slot such that the edges are against vertical wall studs supporting the backboard of the shower walls.

Abstract: A method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) in a radio telecommunications network. The CTN indicates that a call transfer feature is activated, and is displayed on the MS display until the call transfer feature is deactivated or the MS is turned off. The network includes a serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC) which serves the MS, and a Home Location Register (HLR) which stores a subscriber profile associated with the MS. The method begins by storing in the subscriber profile, a CTN Active parameter that indicates whether or not the CTN should be sent to the MS whenever the MS is powered up. A CTN Type parameter is also stored in the subscriber profile and indicates which type of call transfer feature is activated. When the HLR is notified that the MS has been powered up, the CTN Active parameter is checked in the subscriber profile to determine whether the CTN should be sent to the MS.

Abstract: A system and method of providing Internet access to a roaming mobile subscriber located in a visited service area served by a serving MSC of a radio telecommunications network. The radio telecommunications network includes a home service node which comprises a Home Location Register (HLR) and a Service Control Point (SCP). The home service node stores a subscriber service category associated with the mobile subscriber for identifying an Internet Service Provider preferred by the mobile subscriber. An ISP database associated with the identified ISP is coupled to the home service node. When the roaming mobile subscriber initiates an Internet access service while located in the visited service area, the serving MSC sends a message to the home service node in response thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for warehousing information in a wallet consolidator. The wallet consolidator includes a controller for controlling operation of the wallet consolidator, a magnetic stripe reader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, a keypad for inputting user selections and commands, a memory for storing information provided to the wallet consolidator, a smart card interface for effectuating communication between the wallet consolidator and a smart card and a display screen for displaying text and graphics, the display screen further for displaying a bar code pattern capable of being scanned by a bar code reader. To store information in the wallet consolidator, or alternatively in a smart card interfaced to the wallet consolidator, information is read from magnetic stripes on various types of cards such as, but not limited to, credit, debit and identification cards.

Abstract: A shower seat and basket combination. The combination includes a basket which includes a horizontal bottom surface having four vertical sides forming an enclosure to hold shower supplies such as shampoo and soap. The basket also includes two overhanging edges located at a top portion of two opposing sides. The shower seat is a horizontally mounted flat surface mounted to a plurality of walls of the shower stall. On the underside of the shower seat is two railings running from a front portion of the seat to a back portion of the seat. The railings each include a lip to support each overhanging edge. The basket is positioned under the shower seat when not in use. When shower supplies are needed, the basket can be slid outwardly from the shower seat to access the interior of the basket. The basket may also include a plurality of perforations to allow water to drain from the basket. Additionally, a plurality of baskets may be stacked under the shower seat.

Abstract: A system and method of optically inspecting structures on the surface of an object, such as a semiconductor wafer. A platform is used to support the object under examination, and provided thereat are lights or other energy sources for illumination disposed at a selected angular orientation. Optimum illumination is achieved by orienting two opposing lateral energy sources to direct energy along the surface of the object at a very low angle, and using them in conjunction with a coaxial light source that emits energy, which is directed downward toward the surface. Energy reflected back from the surface is captured as an image by a suitable device such as a CCD camera. The lighting may be controlled by an attached computer, which can also be used to process and store the captured image and analyze it to detect and catagorize defects in the object being inspected.

Abstract: An Event Management System (EMS) for logging and correlating alarm events in a network, and a method of efficiently integrating the EMS, which communicates in a standard format, with external devices and external viewers which communicate in device-specific formats. A plurality of core EMS components which log and correlate events are functionally separated from a plurality of EMS boundary components which interact with external devices and external viewers. The boundary components perform both generic external interface functions and device-specific functions. An external device's information, including a class and location for a protocol handler and a content handler for the external device, is stored in an information repository associated with the EMS. When a connection is initiated from the external device to one of the boundary components, the boundary component obtains the external device information from the information repository.

Abstract: A hierarchical sense amp and write driver (SA/WD) circuitry architecture for compilable high-density memory. A predetermined number of secondary, or regional, SA/WD blocks segment the main array associated with the memory instance in multiple banks. Each secondary SA/WD block is coupled to a tertiary, or global, SA/WD block via a global I/O line operating to effectuate data I/O on a per I/O basis with respect to the memory instance. A select number of primary SA/WD blocks per each secondary SA/WD block are specified, wherein the primary SA/WD blocks segment a memory bank associated with a particular secondary SA/WD block into a plurality of sub-banks. Each primary SA/WD block is coupled to a select secondary SA/WD block associated therewith via a common regional I/O line. A select number of memory cells per bitline segment for each of the memory sub-banks may be specified as part of compiling a memory instance for a particular application.