Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are directed towards managing a Voice over IP (VOIP) messages over a network, employing the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) over the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). The VOIP messages are sent by a source device to a destination device through a relay server. The relay server may throttle the VOIP messages employing buffer management. When the buffer is substantially full, the relay server will drop packets from the source device. Indication of the lost packets may be provided to the source device through a Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP) report. The source device may then employ the RTCP report to modify a type of codec employed, and thereby adjust a rate of flow of VOIP packets sent towards the destination device. Additionally, the relay server may provide port translation services for RTP/RTCP packets between the source and destination devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to blocking the activity of IL-TIF polypeptide molecules. IL-TIF is a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. The present invention includes anti-IL-TIF antibodies and binding partners, as well as methods for antagonizing IL-TIF using such antibodies and binding partners in IL-TIF-related human inflammatory diseases, amongst other uses disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides drug-cleavable substrate conjugates that are potent cytotoxins. The disclosure is also directed to compositions containing the drug-cleavable substrate conjugates, and to methods of treatment using them.

Abstract: A rail-to-rail amplifier is provided. The rail-to-rail amplifier includes a p-type differential pair, an n-type differential pair, switches, and an output stage. The switches are arranged to selectively couple either the p-type differential pair or the n-type differential pair to the output stage so that only one of the differential pairs is coupled to the output stage at a time.

Abstract: A circuit for reducing EMI is provided. The circuit includes driver circuitry that drives a power switch, such as a power MOSFET. The power switch provides an output voltage. The circuit decreases the drive strength by which the power switch is driven during each output edge (i.e. when the output goes from low to high (rising edge) or high to low (falling edge)), and returns the drive strength to its normal level when the output edge is complete or approximately complete. Reducing the drive strength of the driver circuitry causes the output edge to occur over a longer period of time. This results in reduction of the EMI of the device.

Abstract: The present invention describes the identification of novel non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and associated biosynthetic genes from Streptomyces hygroscopicus. The present invention further provides methods for generating novel compounds, such as antibiotics, from these synthetases and associated genes.

Abstract: A circuit for monitoring a PWM signal and providing an output indicating a condition of the PWM signal. The circuit also uses condition based hysteresis to maintain an output value at a previous state until the condition of the PWM signal has remained unchanged for a given duration. In addition, the circuitry may be used in conjunction with a switching regulator to reduce switching noise during high duty cycle operation.

Abstract: A method for removing blocking artifacts from moving and still pictures, comprising classifying horizontal and vertical boundaries in each picture as blocky or non-blocky; for each blocky boundary, defining an adaptive, picture contentdependent, one-dimensional filtered pixels region of interest (ROI) that crosses the boundary and is bound at each of its ends by a bounding pixel; defining a finite filter having a length correlated with the length of the ROI; defining a filtering pixels expansion that uniquely determines the padding values of the finite length filtered pixels ROI for the finite length filtering; and filtering the ROI pixels using the finite filter and the filtering expansion.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are directed towards enabling information filtering using measures of an affinity of a relationship between subscribers of an online portal system. The affinity of a relationship may be determined based, in part, on the tracking of various online behaviors of and between subscribers of the portal system. Any of a variety of behaviors may be tracked, including message communications between subscribers, participation in instant messaging groups, purchases, activities, categories, and so forth. Such behaviors may be employed to determine a level of trust (or affinity) between subscribers of the portal system. This affinity measurement may be used to filter various information, including, but not limited to, product recommendations, ratings, polling queries, advertising, social network communications, personal ads, search results, and the like. Moreover, this affinity measurement may also be employed to perform message spam detection.

Abstract: A control system with a simplified control device (10) for direct selection of electronic media operations, and for programmed navigation through the content without using dedicated navigation functions of a media player. The simplified control device (10) includes a limited number of keys, comprising direct-select keys (20-26) and navigation keys (30-36), which transmit programmable number key signals rather than dedicated key signals. Direct-select keys (20-26) are visually associated with icons displayed by the medial player by shape, color, and/or the like. The icons are dynamically associated with portions of content and/or software instructions stored on a medium, such as a DVD. Activating a direct-select key (20-26) cause the media player to access the associated content and/or instructions.

Abstract: Video data of successive image frames are processed in a digital camera or other video image data acquisition device immediately after acquiring the video data, or during post-processing of the video data at some time after acquiring the video data, to reduce the effects of unintended motion (jitter) of the hand-held devices by stabilizing the images. A processing circuit used to calculate an estimate of motion between components of successive image frames as part of a MPEG-4 or other compression algorithm is also used to estimate motion upon which the video data are altered to stabilize the images. The individual images may be pre-stabilized by using the results of stabilizing a prior image in order to reduce the amount of processing necessary to stabilize a current image.

Abstract: A synchronous buck regulator controller is provided. The regulator controller includes switch control circuitry, an unloading event detection circuit, an inductor current detection circuit, and a synchronous switch control logic circuit. In operation, the regulator controller controls a main switch and a synchronous switch to control the buck regulation. The unloading event detection circuit is arranged to detect an unloading event, and to assert an unloading event signal if such an event is detected. The inductor current detection circuit is arranged to assert an inductor current detection signal if the inductor current is close to zero. The synchronous switch control logic circuit is arranged to block the synchronous switch from turning on if the unloading event signal is asserted and the inductor current detection signal is not asserted.

Abstract: A game that serves to educate a player about the decision making process for determining the cost of a premium for insurance coverage for an entity. The player(s) and/or team(s) select a fictitious name for an insurance company. The company can subsequently bid on providing insurance coverage for an entity. Several rounds of bidding on insurance premiums for providing insurance coverage to an entity can be played before determining a winner of the game. A round consists of a player(s) and/or team(s) bidding on the amount to charge for an insurance premium to insure the entity for a particular period of time, such as one year. The winner of a round is the insurance company (player/team) that provides the lowest bid for the insurance premium for the particular period of time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a half-bridge power converter controller that employs current mode control. The power converter controller includes pulse modulation circuitry, error circuitry, and stabilization circuitry. The stabilization circuitry stabilizes the voltage at the mid-point of a half-bridge power converter input capacitor circuit. The input capacitor circuit mid-point voltage is stabilized by selectively adjusting the on-times of the high-side switch and low-side switch of a half-bridge power converter. This adjustment tailors the current that is provided to the input capacitor circuit and thus maintains the mid-point voltage near a desired value.

Abstract: To provide a spark plug with improved heat resistance and an internal combustion engine in which that spark plug is mounted where there is good conduction of the heat near the opening on the combustion chamber side of the mounting hole for the spark plug provided in the engine and the effects of thermal stress occurring near that opening are mitigated. A cylindrical part without threads formed thereon is provided on the leading end side of a metal housing of a spark plug and the thermal stress applied to a mounting hole is mitigated by avoiding close contact with the mounting hole of an engine head. Furthermore, the spark plug has a mounting structure in which the leading end surface of the cylindrical part is disposed 1.55 mm or more to the base end side in a mounting hole in the direction of the axial line O with respect to the wall surface inside the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method and system is directed to routing a flow of packets over a network to multiple traffic management devices. An apparatus receives each packet from a network and forwards the packet to one of a group of traffic management devices. The apparatus also may receive packets from servers for which the traffic management devices are managing communications. When forwarding packets, a traffic management device is selected from the group of traffic management devices by employing a hash of an IP address and port number. The IP address and port number are selected from source or destination information in the packet that has a greater port number. When the traffic management device performs a network address translation, further actions may be performed so that packets that are part of a flow between two network devices are delivered to the same traffic management device.

Abstract: A security system for a digital trunked radio system having a digital control channel and a plurality of working channels, wherein said working channels are assigned for temporary use of individual radio units by digital control signals transmitted over said control channel, said control channel carrying digital control signals between a base site and said radio units, comprising a digital key, said key used to limit access to the system equipment and system control channel transmissions.

Abstract: A furnace includes: a furnace housing; a perforated tray mounted in the furnace housing; and a stirring rod disposed rotatably on the perforated tray. The stirring rod has top and bottom ends, two opposite lateral ends, a middle portion, and opposite first and second portions, each of which extends from the middle portion to a respective one of the lateral ends. Each of the first and second portions has an inclined face that extends between the top and bottom ends of the stirring rod from the respective one of the lateral ends toward the middle portion of the stirring rod, that is inclined relative to the perforated tray, and that faces toward the perforated tray.

Abstract: The reverse opening type slide fastener has a separable bottom end stop including upper and lower sliders, wherein a stopper for preventing the lower slider from slipping off is provided at the bottom end of a box pin. A first engaging portion is formed on an opposite side edge opposite to an insert pin of the box pin and a second engaging portion is formed on an opposite side edge opposite to the box pin of the insert pin to position the insert pin in a downward direction when the second engaging portion engages the first engaging portion. A projecting portion which makes contact with the inner face of the blade of the upper slider to suppress a free sliding of the upper slider, is formed on at least any one of front and rear side faces opposite to the inner face of the blade of the upper slider of the box pin.

Abstract: The present invention provides analogues of duocarmycins that are potent cytotoxins. Also provided are peptidyl and disulfide linkers that are cleaved in vivo. The linkers are of use in forming prodrugs and conjugates of the cytotoxins of the invention as well as other diagnostic and therapeutic moieties. The invention provides prodrugs and conjugates of the duocarmycin analogues with the linker arms of the invention.