Abstract: A system for suppressing unwanted signals in steerable microphone arrays. The lobes of a steerable microphone array are monitored, to identify lobes having large speech content and low noise content. One of the identified lobes is then used to deliver speech to a speech recognition system, as at a self-service kiosk.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for managing resources, which can take the form of (a) computer-compatible information, such as data files and programs, and (b) non-computer-compatible information, such as data contained on microfiche, and (c) physical objects. The resources are located at geographically diverse sites. The invention contains a descriptive profile for each resource, and allows any user to search all profiles, and to search the profiles according to “fields” (a database term), such as by location of the resources, or by category of the resources. The user can order delivery of a selected resource, and the system causes delivery of the resource to be executed, irrespective of the form (eg, physical object) of the resource. The invention allows a provider of a new resource to limit access to the resource, by identifying users who are authorized to obtain access to the resource. Non-authorized users cannot obtain access to the profiles of these resources.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for managing resources, which can take the form of (a) computer-compatible information, such as data files and programs, and (b) non-computer-compatible information, such as data contained on microfiche, and (c) physical objects. The resources are located at geographically diverse sites. The invention contains a descriptive profile for each resource, and allows any user to search all profiles, and to search the profiles according to “fields” (a database term), such as by location of the resources, or by category of the resources. The user can order delivery of a selected resource, and the system causes delivery of the resource to be executed, irrespective of the form (eg, physical object) of the resource. The invention allows a provider of a new resource to limit access to the resource, by identifying users who are authorized to obtain access to the resource. Non-authorized users cannot obtain access to the profiles of these resources.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for managing resources, which can take the form of (a) computer-compatible information, such as data files and programs, and (b) non-computer-compatible information, such as data contained on microfiche, and (c) physical objects. The resources are located at geographically diverse sites. The invention contains a descriptive profile for each resource, and allows any user to search all profiles, and to search the profiles according to “fields” (a database term), such as by location of the resources, or by category of the resources. The user can order delivery of a selected resource, and the system causes delivery of the resource to be executed, irrespective of the form (e.g., physical object) of the resource. The invention allows a provider of a new resource to limit access to the resource, by identifying users who are authorized to obtain access to the resource. Non-authorized users cannot obtain access to the profiles of these resources.

Abstract: Microprocessor-controlled equipment, such as cash register/inventory control systems, sometimes require in-field modification of programs which run on the microprocessors. Under the invention, such modified programs are downloaded to the equipment, via a commercially available paging service, through a satellite link. When owners of the equipment receive the new programs, they update old programs, as appropriate.

Abstract: A transmission line for a clock input for a digital device. In the prior art, a clock signal was fed to a digital device on a transmission line. It was found that, when the clock frequency was doubled, the clock pulses received by the device became unacceptable. The invention lengthened the transmission line, rather than shortening it, and thereby removed the unacceptable features of the clock pulses.