Abstract: A broadcast datastream is received, and audio identifying information is generated for audio content from the broadcast datastream. It is determined whether the audio identifying information generated for the broadcast audio content matches audio identifying information in an audio content database. In one preferred embodiment, the audio identifying information is an audio feature signature that is based on audio content. Also provided is a system for monitoring broadcast audio content.

Abstract: An improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.

Abstract: A method for estimating the frequency error of a demodulator for restoring two binary signals carried on two carriers of same frequency but in phase quadrature, including the steps of forming vectors having as components the successive couples of values of the two binary signals; applying to each vector a transform which multiplies by four its angle at least when it is equal to a multiple of &pgr;/4 and which substantially preserves its module; and calculating the average of the transformed vectors. The frequency error is obtained as being the derivative of the angle of the average vector.

Abstract: This invention relates to an air bag system for accommodation behind a vehicle covering. The air bag system contains an air bag, which advances in a main inflating direction when the air bag system is triggered, and a gas generator for supplying the air bag with pressure gas during triggering of the air bag system. The gas generator and the air bag are connected by a gas distributing duct which extends at least partially at an angle with respect to the main inflating direction of the air bag. In this case, the gas distributing duct is formed of air bag material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a manufacturing process and a triggering process for such an air bag system as well as to a motor vehicle having such an air bag system, of which at least the air bag is arranged on a sliding roof frame part.

Abstract: This invention provides a defragmentation utility that works on-line in parallel with other file system activities. Thus, it avoids making the file system unavailable for periods of time which would, if not for this invention, slow down data communication exchange and the execution of other tasks dependent upon the data. In particular, this invention, steps through all of the valid inodes finding each of the fragments. The defragmentation engine decides which fragments must remain in their current location and which fragments should migrate to another disk block sub-block location. Since the data blocks span across multiple disks, for each valid disk of the file system a set of disk blocks are constructed that are chosen to be filled, herein called plates. When the plates become full or reach a certain fullness, they are removed from the set and replaced by other disk blocks. When a disk block is removed from the plate set, it is moved to a “done” list as it is considered “full”.

Abstract: A needle holder for use in a seed handling assembly that is made as a box-like open-sided metal frame having a bottom, a top and opposed side frame members with a pair of steel shielding plates enclosing the sides of the frame. The top frame member defines at least one row of holes for receiving elongated needles containing radioactive seeds. Feet are attached to opposite sides of the frame to enable the needle holder to be free standing. Lifting elements are attached to the frame to enable the needle holder to be picked up and moved while needles are held in the needle holder and for a person lifting and moving the needle holder to be shielded from radioactive seeds in a needle.

Abstract: A method to present auxiliary lighting for enhancing a scene during a multimedia presentation. The method in photonic enclosure comprising the steps of: coupling one or more illumination sources over a network, so that at least one illumination source of the one or more illumination sources is capable of being uniquely addressed; displaying a multimedia presentation; reading a series of preprogrammed illumination identifiers stored in computer readable medium corresponding with the primary multimedia presentation; interpreting one or more illumination identifiers to set one or more illumination sources for a period of time and to set the address of at least one of the one or more illumination sources; and sending a set signal in response to the interpretation of the one more illumination identifiers to one or more illumination sources over the network. In another embodiment, a gaming helmet is disclosed as the photonic enclosure used to carry out the above method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a MOS transistors substitutive circuit having a transformer/data interface function, in particular for ISDN networks, comprising first (11a) and second (11b) power supply/transmitter blocks, the first power supply/transmitter block (11a) being connected between a voltage reference (V) and a first data interface (RX), and the second power supply/transmitter block (11b) being connected between a ground potential reference (GND) and a second data interface (TX), both power supply/transmitter blocks being connected to a supply voltage reference (VDD). The MOS transistors substitutive circuit according to the invention comprises first (12) and second (12′) MOS transistor pairs connected to the voltage reference (V), the MOS transistors being diode configured and held in their saturation range, so as to have a high A.C. impedance and virtually zero D.C. impedance, thereby minimizing power dissipation through the substitutive circuit.

Abstract: A communication system (100) includes a network, a first application running on a first Host computer system (First Host) (102) coupled to the network, and a second application running on a second Host computer system (Second Host) (122) coupled to the network. The first application issues an Extended PING command (300) for sending an Extended ECHO message (380) from the First Host (102) into the network and directed to the second application in the Second Host (122). The second application in the Second Host (122), in response to receiving the Extended ECHO message (380), issues an Extended PING command (300) for sending an Extended ECHO reply message (380) into the network and directed to the first application to measure the full loop-back network latency of communicating a message application-to-application across the network.

Abstract: A safety system and method for school buses in which sensors are associated with each seat to sense if a person is occupying the seat and if the seat belt is buckled. A display, within the vision of the bus driver, shows the condition of each seat. Sensors determine the head count of students on the bus. An alarm signals a mismatch between the head count and seats occupied. A telecommunications link and a global positioning system provides bus location to a remote station. Additional sensors detect shook, heat, smoke, CO, water and tire pressure.

Abstract: The fabrication process comprises a phase of producing a base region having an extrinsic base and an intrinsic base, and a phase of producing an emitter region comprising an emitter block having a narrower lower part located in an emitter window provided above the intrinsic base. Production of the extrinsic base comprises implantation of dopants, carried out after the emitter window has been defined, on either side of and at a predetermined distance dp from the lateral boundaries of the emitter window, so as to be self-aligned with respect to this emitter window, and before the emitter block is formed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for monitoring a system in which a fluid flows and which is characterized by a change in the system with time in space. A preselected place in the system is monitored to collect data at two or more time points correlated to a system event. The data is indicative of a system parameter that varies with time as a function of at least two variables related to system wash-in and wash-out behavior. A calibration map is made on a calculated basis with each pixel or voxel representative of a color hue indicative of wash-out behavior and a color intensity indicative of wash-in behavior. When a satisfactory map is obtained, the collected data is processed on the basis of the map to obtain an image of the preselected place with each spatial unit thereof correlated with a color hue and a color intensity. Software and a data processing system are provided to develop the calibration map. The calibration map and image of the preselected place are also novel implementations.

Abstract: A method for encapsulating the form and function of user data in a relational database that eliminates database schema changes whenever the presentation of the user data changes is described. The method comprises receiving source data, associated source data definitions and report layouts consisting of report headings and report logic. The source data definitions and the report layouts are parsed into three or more user data types: (1) an organizational type fields identifying a data collection; (2) value type fields containing data values in the data collection; and (3) procedural type fields containing one or more form keywords and function keywords.

Abstract: A current generator with thermal protection has an input terminal and an output terminal. The current generator includes a voltage generator, first and second controlled switches, a temperature sensor, and a control circuit. The first controlled switch has a control terminal applied to the voltage generator, a first terminal connected to the input terminal, and a second terminal connected to a resistance. The second controlled switch has a control terminal coupled to the voltage generator, a first terminal connected to the resistance, and a second terminal connected to the output terminal. The temperature sensor of the current generator measures the temperature of the generator, and the control circuit controls the second controlled switch so as to open the second controlled switch when the temperature of the current generator overcomes a preset temperature.

Abstract: In a data processing system, a method for fetching information through a data network includes the following steps: (1) receiving a user profile comprising user preferences; (2) using an agent for periodically accessing current information from the data network as specified in the user profile; (3) fetching the current information from the data network; and (4) modifying the stored time sensitive information according to the current information. The method can be implemented in various information processing systems or devices such as a portable computer or a server linked to the portable computer by a wireless or wireline communication link. According to another embodiment the invention may be realized by a computer readable medium including programming instructions for any suitable data processing apparatus.

Abstract: A communication system (100) includes at least one digital signal processor (DSP) and a WAN driver (80) operating on a processor that is electrically coupled to a memory. The WAN driver (80) receives task allocation requests from a host to open/close communication channels that are handled by the at least one DSP. Each task is allocated to one of the at least one DSP according to a total current task processing load for each of the at least one DSP, a maximum processing capability for each of the at least one DSP, and a processing requirement for each task being allocated to the one of the at least one DSP that can handle the additional processing load of the task being allocated.

Abstract: In a method for the display of teletext headers on a television receiver screen during a search for a teletext page, the teletext service uses a first group of characters comprising fixed characters and locations to receive variable characters and a second group of sets of characters, each set of characters being proper to a language and being designed to be introduced selectively at the locations of variable characters of said first group. The set of characters to be introduced into the first set is selected as soon as the first data packet enabling it to be identified is received by the TV receiver in such a way that the headers are displayed properly.