Abstract: An audio conferencing system comprises an audio conference mixer that receives digitized audio signals and sums a plurality of the digitized audio signals containing speech to provide a summed conference signal. A transcoder receives and transcodes the summed conference signal to provide a transcoded summed signal that is streamed onto the Internet.

Abstract: A serial-to-parallel/parallel-to-serial conversion engine provides a bi-directional interface between a serial TDM highway and a parallel TDM highway. The conversion engine includes a serial-to-parallel data conversion device receives a serially received data word and provides a parallel output data word. The conversion engine includes a serial data input interface that receives the serially received data word and provides a received data word. A serial-to-parallel mapping circuit receives the received data word and generates memory write control and write address signals. A memory device includes a first port responsive to the memory write control signals and write address signals for writing the received data word into the memory device, and a second port responsive to memory read control and read address signals for reading data from the memory device.

Abstract: A system and method for removing cross-talk in measured forces between a railway wheel set and the railhead of underlying track such as found in angle of attack measurements for shallow curvature track. The angle of attack for the leading and trailing sets of wheels in trucks of rail vehicles is measured traveling over track in a wayside system. At a first point on the outside rail of a track vertical force is measured with a first vertical strain gage, lateral force is measured with a first lateral strain gage and an outside angle of attack timing signal is measured with a first angle of attack strain gage. This process is repeated on the inside track so that a raw angle of attack for each set of wheels can be determined based upon speed and time difference. Position signals obtained from position strain gages are used to remove cross-talk thereby improving accuracy. The sensed position signals are calibrated to known forces on the railhead.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask airway has a curved tubular guide for insertion through the patient's mouth and oropharynx. After insertion of the guide, the beveled distal opening of the guide abuts the laryngeal inlet, while the guide's proximal opening remains outside the patient's mouth. A laryngeal mask surrounds the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide A ventilation port adjacent to the proximal opening of the guide supplies air/oxygen through the guide into the patient's lungs. An endotracheal tube can then be advanced along the length of guide and through the patient's larynx without interrupting ventilation.

Abstract: During operation of a casino game, a hint feature is displayed with a displayed decision-making game round under control of a processor. A memory may store a plurality of decision-making game rounds. A hint contains response information for a player to increase the player's odds in winning the game round The displaying of the hint feature may occur at a random statistical frequency, based upon player hesitation, or a prevailing position in the game round. The hint is stored with each game round or is dynamically determined for the displayed game round.

Abstract: A method for providing bonus jackpot payoffs during a bonus mode time period in a system of linked gaming machines interconnected to a controller. Eligible gaming machines are determined at the time the bonus time period starts. Once the bonus mode time period starts, a portion of the eligible gaming machines are randomly selected for multiple jackpot bonus payoff opportunities. The random selection determines the rate the opportunities are issued and the average length of the bonus mode time period. Once gaming machines are selected they are allowed to complete the game they are currently involved in and should the play result in a winning combination, then the game payoff is multiplied by a bonus multiplier. The underlying gaming machine is responsible, in a conventional fashion, for paying the game payoff and the controller then authorizes a further jackpot bonus payoff of the bonus multiplier less one times the game payoff. The bonus pool value is then decremented by the amount paid by the controller.

Abstract: An audio conferencing method in a hybrid network. Input from a plurality of endpoints connected to an audio conference in the hybrid network is received in a media gateway. The media gateway converts the input to an MCU-usable format and selects input based on predetermined selection criteria. An MCU mixes the selected input with other selected input to form an output stream and a sum stream which are matched with the endpoints in the audio conference. The media gateway converts the output stream and the sum stream to an endpoint-compatible format which is returned to the endpoints in the audio conference. Audio conference participants can dial-out from the MCU to bring additional participants into the audio conference. Once established in the hybrid network, the audio conference supports full service audio conferencing. In addition, dynamic routing permits an operator to service multiple MCUs, and an audio conference participant and/or an entire audio conference to be moved between MCUs.

Abstract: A method is set forth for playing a bonus game in a secondary slot machine adjacent a primary slot machine. The primary slot machine issues a bonus qualifying signal to the secondary slot machine to start play of a bonus game when a bonus qualifying event occurs. The reels of the bonus game include value symbols, null symbols, and end game symbols which may be of two basic types: a lose game symbol and a stop game symbol. After the random spin, the values of any value symbols displayed on the payline of the secondary slot machine are accumulated into an accumulated winning value. The value symbols could include positive integer values, negative integer values, and multiples. The random spinning, determination of values of any value symbol and the accumulation of a winning value is repeatedly continued until an end of the bonus game occurs.

Abstract: A virtual matrix comprised of a plurality of grid elements is provided, on which a hidden pattern, comprised of a plurality of matrix entries, is randomly placed. A player views a gaming matrix having a plurality of visible positions, each visible position corresponding to one of the grid elements. The player chooses at least one of the plurality of visible positions on the gaming matrix, after which the game displays the corresponding grid element of the virtual matrix on the gaming matrix. Based on the correct number of guesses matching the pattern location, the player is awarded and a media presentation signals the player's success. If the player guesses incorrectly, a second media presentation signals the incorrect guess.

Abstract: A method of large-scale fault-tolerant audio conferencing in an audio conferencing system using a purely packet-switched network. An endpoint places a call to a conference gatekeeper indicating an audio conference. The conference gatekeeper determines whether the call contains sufficient information to establish the audio conference. If there is insufficient information, the endpoint is connected to an IVR server that obtains sufficient information from the endpoint. Either way, a CACS selects an MCU hosting or that will host the audio conference. The CACS then responds to the endpoint with routing instructions indicating the selected MCU and the endpoint connects or transfers to the selected MCU. The MCU mixes input from all endpoints in the audio conference to form a voice stream, which is then returned to each endpoint in the audio conference. Audio conference participants can dial-out from the MCU to bring additional participants into the audio conference.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask airway has a curved tubular guide for insertion through the patient's mouth and oropharynx. After insertion of the guide, the beveled distal opening of the guide abuts the laryngeal inlet, while the guide's proximal opening remains outside the patient's mouth. A laryngeal mask surrounds the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide. A ventilation port adjacent to the proximal opening of the guide supplies air/oxygen through the guide into the patient's lungs. An endotracheal tube can then be advanced along the length of guide and through the patient's larynx without interrupting ventilation.

Abstract: Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.60 to 1.0 weight percent carbon, 1.1 to 3.0 weight percent silicon, 0.45 to 0.85 weight percent manganese, less than 0.050 weight percent sulfur and less than 0.050 weight percent phosphorus, with the remainder of said steel being iron and incidental impurities, can be used to make railway wheels that are resistant to martensite transformations and, hence, spalling. The addition of 0.50 to 1.0 weight percent chromium to such steels further improves their resistance to spalling.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube can be inserted into a patient's trachea during resuscitation by using a face mask and a curved guide. The guide is inserted through a flexible port in the face mask and has a curved distal portion that extends into the patient's mouth and hypopharynx. The patient is initially resuscitated by supplying a flow of air/oxygen through the mask. For example, a resuscitation bag can be connected to a rotatable ventilation port on the face mask. Alternatively, a resuscitation attachment with an air filter and one-way valve can be removably attached to the ventilation port of the face mask to enable a health care provider to directly resuscitate the patient. An endotracheal tube is inserted over the distal end of a fiber optic probe.

Abstract: An audio conferencing platform includes data bus (e.g., a time division multiplex (TDM) bus), a controller, and an interface circuit that receives audio signals from a plurality of conference participants and provides digitized audio signals in assigned time slots over the TDM bus. The audio conferencing platform also includes a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs) adapted to communicate on the TDM bus with the interface circuit. At least one of the DSPs sums a plurality of the digitized audio signals associated with conference participants who are speaking, to provide a summed conference signal. This DSP provides the summed conference signal to at least one of the other plurality of DSPs, which removes the digitized audio signal associated with a speaker whose voice is included in the summed conference signal, to provide a customized conference audio signal to each of the speakers.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting changes in a property of a liquid/reagent mixture comprises a cartridge having a fluid receiving/dispensing reservoir, one or more fluid-receiving chambers, one or more conduit(s) that permit(s) fluid communication between the fluid receiving/dispensing reservoir and the fluid-receiving chamber(s) and wherein the one or more conduits have a constricted passage for increasing the velocity of fluid flow through said constricted passage and thereby more thoroughly mixing the liquid (e.g., human blood) and a reagent (e.g., protamine).

Abstract: A radio transmitter assembly for use in tracking an arrow employs an insert containing a radio transmitter that can inserted through the open end of an arrow and into the interior of the arrow shaft. After the insert has been secured within the arrow shaft, an arrow head can be secured to a connector on the insert.

Abstract: A method for encasing a ceiling tile. The back surface of the ceiling tile is positioned adjacent to a vacuum table and a facing is placed over the front surface of the ceiling tile so that the facing overlaps each edge about the perimeter of the ceiling tile. In one embodiment, the facing is covered with an air-impermeable cover and a support frame can be placed surrounding the perimeter of the ceiling tile. The facing is drawn onto the ceiling tile by a vacuum applied through the vacuum table. The ceiling tile is then reversed so that the front surface of the ceiling tile is positioned adjacent to the vacuum table. An air-impermeable backing is placed over the ceiling tile so that the backing overlaps each edge about the perimeter of the ceiling tile. The backing is drawn onto the ceiling tile by the vacuum applied through the vacuum table.

Abstract: A casino game and method having at least one hidden attribute for each of a finite number of icons and at least one additional hidden attribute for at least one of the finite number of icons. An initial number of player's picks known to the player are provided and any additional picks found, as a result of the additional hidden attributes, by the player are accumulated to prolong the casino game. The casino game ends when the player's picks are used up.

Abstract: A method for playing a base and bonus live card games with side betting. A video board is used for bonus game play if a predetermined arrangement of cards is dealt in the base game. When a player gets the predetermined arrangement the player can play the bonus game. The other players who made side bets, under one embodiment, are also awarded when the bonus game player wins the bonus game and, under another embodiment, when the bonus game player loses the bonus game. In other embodiments, side bets are not needed for the other players to be awarded based upon the bonus game being won or lost.