Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for the coupling of a safety-critical process from a safe environment to an environment that is not safe or to an environment that is safe but has fewer processing channels. To this end, provision is made of a method which processes a data record that is relevant to the safety-critical process to form a respective safe protocol using at least two redundant processing channels in accordance with identical laws, and forms a common safe protocol taking into account at least two redundant safe coupling protocols. When writing at least elements of the common safety-based protocol using a processing channel with write authorization, another processing channel is used to check whether these elements are identical to one another. Access to a common buffer register for the purpose of storing these elements is enabled only when they are identical to one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the bandwidths of optical fibers, wherein the method provides the coupling of light with a first optical power and a first modulation frequency into an optical fiber, as well as measuring a first signal level as a function of the optical power of the light of the first modulation frequency, coupling light with the second optical power and a second modulation frequency into the optical fiber, measuring a second signal level as a function of the optical power of the light of the second modulation frequency, and determining the bandwidths of the optical fibers as a function of the first and second coupled optical [power and/or] the measured first and second signal levels while using a predetermined specification that describes the frequency-dependent attenuation response of the optical fiber, wherein the first and the second modulation frequencies have essentially the same value.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the construction, maintenance, and usage of social-trust networks is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment monitors the call processing details of communication events between users of a telecommunications system as the basis for estimating whether or not a relationship exists between the users that can be exploited in a social-trust network. This is possible because the call processing details of communication events between users is an excellent indicator of the nature of the relationship between users. For example, if Alice calls Brian three times a day on average, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and Brian answers Alice's calls quickly and returns her unanswered calls quickly, then it is reasonable to infer that Alice and Brian have a relationship that is substantial enough to be used in a social-trust network.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for interfacing business processes with telephony functions. Particularly, an orchestration engine is interposed between a business process engine that executes business processes and an enterprise telecommunications network that executes telephony functions. Acting as an intermediary between the business process engine and the telecommunications network, the orchestration engine decouples the atomic telephony functions that are required for a business application from the business logic that is used in features that comprise one or more business processes. Thus, a new protocol state, feature, or algorithm change is isolated to a single and easy-to-develop location in software.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed that enables a set of information to be represented by data packets, where those data packets can then be distributed as needed throughout the telecommunications system that uses the data. The data packet of the illustrative embodiment is an autonomous encapsulation of data, a subsection of a data model at a certain time in relation to other data in the system at another time. The data packet is identified at a particular time and value with a globally unique identifier. Relationships of the data packet to other data packets are made known by using references to the other packets. As a result, referenced data packets are retrieved throughout the system based on their relationships to each other. Whenever a data packet is transmitted or received, each node involved in the transmission applies rules that determine where the data has to be transmitted to and what to do with the data when received.

Abstract: A crew transfer system for transferring personnel from a vessel to a stationary platform, such as an oil rig, is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a ramp that is coupled to the vessel and an interface that is attached to the stationary platform. The ramp is coupled to the vessel in such a way as to permit one translational and three rotational degrees of freedom at the vessel-end of the ramp. The ramp is coupled to the interface in such a way as to permit no translational and at least one rotational degree-of-freedom at the rig-end of the ramp with respect to the interface. The interface is rotatably coupled to the stationary platform in such a way as to permit a rotation of the interface about the yaw axis. Permitted rotation of the interface enables a range of acceptable angles of orientation between the vessel and the platform.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing an observer with an intuitive sense of the tactical situation in an operational area that surrounds a point-of-interest. The observer is simultaneously presented a top-down view of the operational area that includes contact indicators for each of one or more contacts within the operational area, and a status display that indicates the instantaneous hostility assessment of one or more of these contacts. In addition, the operator is automatically presented historical information, including contact images, for each contact whose hostility assessment exceeds a threshold level. The operator, or a group of operators, is enabled to view all of the displayed information from a single vantage point, assess the relative hostility of numerous contacts simultaneously, and rapidly confirm the identity of apparently hostile contacts prior to engagement.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that features a transport vehicle in which a responsive object is present, such as a truck in which a cellphone is present, in which the object is equipped to provide location or other state information when queried. The transport vehicle is outfitted with a proxy that represents the responsive object. The proxy is configured such that it is better able than the responsive object to estimate the responsive object's location or state. The vehicle is also outfitted with i) sensors that detect the responsive object and ii) sensors that detect state information of the vehicle. The object sensors are able to query the object in the same way as the querying device would query that object in the prior art. Using information from the sensors, the proxy then responds to the query on behalf of the responsive object, and an authentication device processes the query.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a collagen implant for wound covering, in which a suspension comprising a telopeptide-containing collagen is produced and a phosphate buffer is added. An areal structure is produced by drying the collagen-containing mixture produced.

Abstract: In order to connect together the conductors of the leadthroughs of an electrical leadthrough module in a dependable and simple manner, the invention specifies an electrical leadthrough module that comprises at least two separated electrical leadthroughs, each with at least one conductor passing through an insulating element and protruding on both sides of the insulating element, wherein the conductors of the electrical leadthroughs are connected electrically together by a rod arranged to be axially displaceable with respect to the conductors.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that breaks the “one line, one location” paradigm of teleconferencing in the prior art. The teleconference bridge in the illustrative embodiment is able to utilize more than one audio channel from each location. By having access to more than one audio channel from a teleconference location's sound field, the bridge is able to create a multi-channel effect during a conference call. When more than one microphone is present in the first sound field, they can be used to create a multi-channel effect in a second or other sound field involved in a conference call that has more than one loudspeaker. With the bridge mimicking the multi-channel imaging in one room with the multi-channel imaging in another, the conference call participants can experience audio depth during a conference call and can experience two-dimensional imaging, depending on the microphone or speaker separation that is present.

Abstract: A method for fault tolerance and fault recovery in multiprocessor systems that concurrently manage queues is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment comprises a plurality of servers, a queue of jobs to be assigned to the servers, and two queue managers—a primary unit and a secondary unit—such that the secondary fills in for the primary unit while the primary unit is down. The illustrative embodiment provides for smooth transitions from the normal state into the failure state and back into the normal state without losing jobs or violating the queue discipline of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for intelligently responding when a user refuses an incoming message at a telecommunications terminal is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiments, the apparatus comprises a processor that prompts the user to optionally specify (i) one or more acceptable alternative message delivery mechanisms (e.g., email, text chat, etc.), and/or (ii) one or more alternative devices (e.g., pager, PDA, etc.) when a user refuses an incoming message. For example, a user in a noisy environment who refuses a voice telephone call might specify the following as alternative delivery mechanisms and devices: short message service (SMS) on the user's pager, text chat on the same device as the first message, and email on the user's personal digital assistant (PDA).

Abstract: A telecommunications terminal is disclosed that is capable of displaying information about calls that are on hold or queued for delivery at a data-processing system, wherein the calls are to be delivered the terminal itself. The terminal displays characteristics of each call, such as: (i) the caller's name, (ii) the calling number, (iii) the subject of the call, (iv) the urgency of the call, (v) the holding time of the call, and (vi) a telecommunications address of a messaging resource (such as email) associated with the call. The user (e.g., an off-premises representative, etc.) of the telecommunications terminal in the illustrative embodiment, in contrast with some terminals in the prior art, has the ability to remotely reorder or otherwise dispose the calls based on one or more of the call characteristics.

Abstract: A telecommunications system is disclosed that enables a user to pair a desk set that is an extension of a private-branch exchange with a cell phone that is accessible via the Public Switched Telephone Network. One feature of the telecommunications system enables a call that is directed to the user's desk set to be automatically forwarded to the user's cell phone. This is advantageous to the user because it provides the illusion to the caller that the user is physically in his or her office when they are not necessarily there. A similar feature also provides the illusion when a third party initiates a call that connects the user's cell phone to a called party. Such a third party includes a computer telephony application in a telephone telemarketing center, which automatically places many outgoing telephone calls.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for receiving call-control data, often from a variety of sources; processing the data into a format, content, and size that is appropriate for a telecommunications endpoint; and transmitting the processed call-control data to the endpoint. The personal profile manager of the illustrative embodiment is what first acquires the call-control data, which includes a dialing plan. The manager also reformats the call-control data and deletes redundant data. Subsequently, when a request is received from an endpoint, the personal profile manager further processes the call-control data and then transmits, to the requesting endpoint, the portion of the processed data that is appropriate for the endpoint. Transmitting the call-control data to the endpoint offloads some of the processing from the supporting call-processing server, as the data that constitute call-control rules that are used by the endpoint to make call-control decisions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for safe parameterization in accordance with IEC 61508 SIL 1 to 3 or EN 954-1 Categories 1 to 4 of safe electronic appliances. One object of the invention is to describe a way which overcomes the explicit reading back of the parameters from the safe electronic appliance and confirmation of each of these parameters by the user. For this purpose, the invention proposes that parameter values which are intended for parameterization, are selected or entered via a user interface of an electronic control device and are then transmitted to the electronic appliance, to be kept in at least one memory which can be accessed by the control device, and be read back at least once from the memory for verification of the safe parameterization.

Abstract: A scalable and distributable software architecture for use in conjunction with various different weapons control system and launch systems is disclosed. The architecture discards the proprietary and non-open protocols and services that characterize in favor of open source adaptive and middleware components. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the inventive architecture is implemented as a Launch Control Module that separates different layers of responsibility within a launch controller (e.g., LCU) and exposes its variation points.

Abstract: A single-photon detector is disclosed that provides reduced afterpulsing without some of the disadvantages for doing so in the prior art. An embodiment of the present invention provides a stimulus pulse to the active area of an avalanche photodetector to stimulate charges that are trapped in energy trap states to detrap. In some embodiments of the present invention, the stimulus pulse is a thermal pulse.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating the ends of glass rods in which glass rods are inserted into receptacles in a carrier and with the carrier are carried past a burner and at least one rail in an advancing direction, the flame of the burner melting at least one end of the glass rods and the glass rods being lifted by the rail in the receptacles and rolling on the rail so that the glass rods are made to rotate during the melting process.