Abstract: A data-gathering and reporting system for collecting WEB summaries from the Internet for individual subscribers to a Portal subscription system has a plurality of gatherer servers each connected to the Internet, to an ascending hierarchy of work request distribution servers, and to a ascending hierarchy of collector servers. A work request generator at the top of the hierarchy of distribution servers generates work requests for collecting WEB summaries, and a filer server at the top of the hierarchy of collector servers writes data to a database. Work flow is by work requests from the work request generator down the hierarchy of distributor servers to the gatherer servers, where work requests are accomplished by gathering WEB summaries from Internet servers according to the work requests, and by data collected from the gatherer servers up the hierarchy of collector servers to the filing server.

Abstract: A message-sending system provides for entering an identifier uniquely associated with an intended recipient and a message for the intended recipient in a WEB page, and associating the identifier with the intended recipient's pager routing information from a database accessible to a WEB Server providing the WEB page. A successful association leads to formatting a pager message for the intended recipient, and forwarding the formatted message to a pager system serving the intended recipient. In some embodiments success or failure of the pager message is reported back to the original sender.

Abstract: An Internet-enabled subscription teaching service system has an Internet-connected lecture server executing a software suite, one or more teacher-author stations coupled to the Internet-connected lecture server, having input and display apparatus, and including lecture-authoring software, and one or more Internet-capable lecture client stations having lecture-participation software. Teacher-authors use the teacher-author stations to prepare lectures through the lecture-authoring software, the lecture server stores prepared lectures and provides lectures on a pre-determined schedule to lecture clients at the lecture client stations, and the lecture clients follow the provided lectures at the lecture client stations through the lecture-participation software. Some lectures are fully automatic, and some are directed by the teacher-authors in real time. In the real time case recipients are directed to WEB pages in unison, and annotation and commentary is provided by the teacher-author as pages are visited.

Abstract: A server connected to a data network for transmitting files over the data network to one of a plurality of destination servers is adapted to spawn a software agent in response to a file to be transmitted and meeting certain preset criteria, such as file size. The software agent is associated with the file by at least the file's destination, and is transmitted over one or more routes to the destination to collect routing information, and returns to the source server. The associated file is then transmitted using the information collected. In an alternative embodiment the agent also collects validation information at the destination and returns same to the source server. The agent may also, in some embodiments, negotiate reserved bandwidth and security protocols or other validation information for transmission of the associated file at certain intermediate servers.

Abstract: An Internet portal system for accomplishing a multi-component task involving interaction with one or more Internet Web sites includes an Internet-connected server having access to client-related data, an internet-capable client station usable by a client, and software executing on the server for managing individual component tasks in execution of the multi-component task. The software, in response to initiation of a multi-component task specified by the client, defines the component tasks, identifies Internet Web sources for completion of the tasks, manages interaction with the identified Web sites gathering results of the interactions, integrates the gathered results, and communicates final results to the client at the client station. Tasks may be such as trip planning and may include payment for services rendered at Web sites, such as airline reservations, car rentals and the like.

Abstract: A cast-concrete simulated log has a longitudinal axis and an outside surface simulating a natural log appearance, and also has at least one triangular rebar reinforcement embedded in the concrete in a plane at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis, with corners of the triangular rebar exposed at the outside surface, such that the exposed corners of the rebar triangle are available as connection points for attachment to other structures or for lifting and manipulating the log. In some cases there are two or more embedded rebar triangles spaced along the length of the log, and the concrete is colored to simulate the color of a natural log. Concrete logs are assembled to simulate large-woody-debris.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plastic encapsulated integrated circuit (IC) package has steps for placing a diamond substrate in a lower cavity of an encapsulation mold such that the diamond substrate in the finished package underlies the die attach pad and a portion of the leads in close proximity to each. Pins are provided in lower cavities of molds to support and/or position diamond substrates to lie close to both die attach pads and leads to facilitate efficient heat transfer from an operating IC, through the die attach pad, into and through the diamond substrate, and finally to the leads leading from the encapsulated package. Apparatus is disclosed for positioning and supporting diamond substrates, and combination heat slugs for the purpose are disclosed, having diamond substrates bonded to metal slugs.

Abstract: A service communication system for mobile vehicles has a cellular telephony interface in individual ones of the mobile vehicles, for establishing telephony events over a cellular network with a base station, and a global positioning system in individual ones of the mobile vehicles for determining global position from transmissions from GPS satellites. A network of cellular base stations receives from and broadcasts to the mobile vehicles, lo and bridges events between cellular and public switched telephone service (PSTN) protocol. A unique network-level routing system is connected by first telephony trunks to the base stations and enabled to retrieve GPS position from the telephony events, and is connected by other trunks to a plurality of service centers connected to the network-level routing system, which determines a destination for individual ones of the telephony events among the plurality of service centers according to the retrieved GPS position.

Abstract: A striking tool having a handle engaged in an eye in a head uses a metal strongback unit engaged in a slot the handle to secure the handle in the eye of the head. The metal strongback unit has openings in a web that fits in the slot in the handle that allow wedges to be driven into the handle in a manner that both the handle end and the web of the strongback unit are spread. Metal of the strongback unit urges against an inside surface of the head in the eye to form a secure fit. In a preferred embodiment the strongback unit has metal sides that may extend below the head and provide metal surfaces for overstrike protection.

Abstract: A collar for collaring a snake has an elongated collar section forming a physical collar when wrapped around the body portion of the snake. The collar further has a support section for supporting an attachment mechanism for accepting attachment of a tether and a connector system comprising at least two components affixed to strategic portions of the collar section for securing the collar in place around the body portion of the snake. The length of the collar section is such that a portion thereof overlaps itself when fitted around the snake providing an adjustable interface containing separate components of the connector system whereby mating the connector components together. secures the collar in place on the snake. In one embodiment the collar apparatus further includes a concertina movement-neutralization device for reducing concertina movement through the collar.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing data streams meant to be displayed concurrently at an end station, but delivered by separate delivery networks is disclosed. In one aspect, apparatus and methods for marking one of the data streams relative to the other are taught, including insertion of frame numbers in vertical and horizontal blanking intervals, the numbers referring to frames in the other stream and related to timing markers, and inserting such numbers by pixel data alteration. In another aspect, apparatus and methods are taught for receiving and re-synchronizing the data streams at a delivery point, including decoding of the relationship data inserted in one data stream referring to the other data stream. Re-synchronization is accomplished by controlling the separate data streams in separate buffer pipelines by a single controller. In a preferred embodiment one data stream is a live video data stream and the other is an annotation stream having added material to be displayed with the live video data stream.

Abstract: A multilevel logic gate for processing digital data in a semiconductor application is provided. The multilevel logic gate comprises, two or more signal input leads for receiving signal input, two or more signal output leads for outputting signal results and a symmetrical structure of an even number of transistor circuit pairs for combining and amplifying the input signals, the symmetrical structure directly interfacing the input leads. The symmetrical structure causes any input signal to propagate through the structure to output at a same latency as any other input signal to the structure.

Abstract: An Electronic Document Answering Machine is adapted to connect to remote information sources and to download digital documents including e-mail and WEB pages, and to store the documents for later review by a user. The Answering machine has an alert device for alerting a user that new documents are available for review, and an initializing device for a user to cause documents to be communicated for review one-at-a-time. In a preferred embodiment documents are communicated over a speaker via voice synthesis. In an alternative preferred embodiment a small display is provided wherein documents may be displayed in alphanumeric characters. The answering machine can be implemented as a stand-alone device or can be connected via a serial port to a host PC for transferring documents to the PC for processing and review. In other embodiments the Answering Machine is implemented as a system in a PC, with alert and selective input added as an interface.

Abstract: A clothes hanger has a hook for engaging a bar to support the change, a first and second side bar extending at substantially opposite angles from the hook, an horizontal bar extending between the side bars at ends of the side bars away from the hook, and a pliable compression strip having a length and opposite ends, one end engaging one of the side bars and the other end engaging the other of the side bars at engagement points on the side bars between the hook and the horizontal bar. The length of the pliable strip is greater than a straight line distance between the engagement points, such that the pliable strip, curving downward, urges against a portion of the horizontal bar, in a manner to secure an article of clothing against the horizontal bar.

Abstract: An Internet access system to be used by organizations such as hotels and the like uses local service centers adapted by first modems to in-house telephone wiring at separate premises maintained by the sponsoring organization. The modem connecting the local service center to the in-house telephone wiring is assigned a specific extension number on the in-house telephone system. The service center connects calls at the first modem to a converter that is adapted to provide Internet access through a line interface unit (LIU) to the calls answered at the first modem. A user configures a dial-up profile on his/her computer, usually a portable computer, with the extension number of the first modem, and uses this profile when resident at the hotel or other sponsoring premise. The user then is connected to the Internet at a local connection without having to have the dial-up profile and possibly script files to gain access otherwise.

Abstract: A call center having agent stations comprising telephones connected to computer stations by a Telephone Application Programming Interface (TAPI)-compliant bridge has data pertaining to callers stored in a database on a local area network (LAN) to which the computer stations are also connected. Origination data for incoming calls, both conventional calls to the telephones and computer-simulated calls to the computer platforms, is used as a key to extract data pertaining to calls from the database for display on video display units (VDUs) of the computer workstations where the calls are terminated. In some cases, data is only extracted and displayed for calls from previously listed origination points.

Abstract: A system for integrating multiple related knowledge base files into a single file keeping all of the parameters and constraints of the multiple files operates by identifying two or more common parameters among the files, and merging the two or more parameter statements into a single statement in the integrated file, the single statement listing all of the values of the several statements in the multiple files. Additional constraints are added to the new, smaller file to properly relate the values to a characteristic of the original files. The resulting single file is also optimized by combining value and activity constraints into single constraint statements. The resulting smaller file is more efficient for transfer and use in knowledge base systems of many sorts.