Abstract: An apparatus for pitching and splitting a masonry block is provided. The apparatus includes a first pitching blade configured to move in a first direction. A second pitching blade is disposed adjacent to the first pitching blade, and the two pitching blades are separated by a distance that is small enough so that the splits initiated by each blade join into a single plane, thereby pitching and splitting the masonry block without the need for a splitting blade.

Abstract: The present invention discusses a computerized method for managing a communication network through processing data used in a Capacity Management System (CMS) associated with the communication network. A configurable grammar, such as an XML grammar with regular expressions, is used to implement various aspects of network management. Data management includes pre-processing data (transferring data, decompressing data, parsing data), loading data into a relational database, and data analysis. Results of data analysis can be used to determine a network condition, and thereby to enable network management.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method transmitting a network content, comprising: receiving a first data stream of a network content over a first link; forming a second and third data streams from the first data stream; sending the second data stream over a second link and the third data stream over a third link; and aggregating the second and third data streams to form the first data stream. In the present method, the first data stream may be split or load-balanced over the second and third data streams. The method further provides pulling packets from the second and third data streams; discarding duplicate packets; and assembling the remaining packets according to a protocol sequence number. The method also provides for monitoring links and for switching the data stream from a link that may be degraded.

Abstract: A method for supporting anonymous transactions includes storing a first profile comprising first information associated with a first client. The first information includes identifying data and non-identifying data associated with the first client. The method also includes storing a second profile including second information associated with the first client. The second information includes at least a portion of the non-identifying data from the first profile. The method further includes receiving a request from the first client to engage in an anonymous transaction. The anonymous transaction is associated with a product. In addition, the method includes communicating an order for the product to one of the clients and facilitating completion of the order using the first profile. The second client can gain at least partial access to the second profile but not to the first profile associated with the first client.

Abstract: A network-based announcement and message delivery service for providing a landline customer with information of interest such as weather, financial market data, time/temperature, sporting event results, etc. In a first embodiment, information is provided to a subscriber who simply lifts the handset of the telephone. The subscriber instead of hearing a dial tone hears the information in the form of streaming audio. In another embodiment, information is provided to the subscriber by way of information displayed on a caller-ID display and/or by way of talking caller-ID.

Abstract: A method for migrating a legacy translation map to an evolved translation map includes determining an input file structure from input file structure information in the legacy translation map, determining an output file structure from output file structure information in the legacy translation map, and creating an XML binding object representation of source code for the input and output file structure. The method may further include creating an evolved language object representation of translation instructions in the legacy translation map, adding temporary segments to the XML binding object representation for the input file structure, and generating evolved language object representation of instructions to write input data into the temporary segments. The evolved language object representation of translation instructions is then merged into the XML binding object representation.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes various problems by defining two upstream masks (U1, U2) and two downstream masks (D1, D2) and using a mask selectable system for the long reach digital subscriber line (LDSL), in which a unique modem feature is activated during handshake to automatically check for physical layer status in terms of spectral compatibility and, thus, automatically optimize the boosted mode with the use of the mask selectable system choose the best combination of upstream/downstream masks in any physical layer noise scenario.

Abstract: A method and system for providing enhanced intelligent agents that are moveable by a user from a browser application to a desktop. In specific embodiments, agents provide advanced interactive graphics and communications back to a server.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and tracking vehicles in parking locations, public roadways and highway entrances and exits and other public vehicle access areas is provided, such as to monitor and track vehicles in parking spaces, public roadways and highways without the need for parking or traffic personnel. The system includes a meter system that generates image data of a vehicle in a parking space, public roadway and highway entrances and exits such as by creating an array of pixel data in a predetermined field of view that includes a vehicle identification tag and facial imaging.

Abstract: An end user device includes an application processor, a baseband processor, and a radio transceiver, storage accessible to the application processor, and computer executable instructions, embedded in the storage, for a user agent application. The user agent application includes instructions for transmitting a directory server inquiry in response to entry of a numeric sequence followed by a data termination sequence, wherein the directory server inquiry is indicative of the numeric sequence and the numeric sequence is associated with a targeted entity. The instructions further include instructions for receiving information indicative of at least one service associated with the targeted entity in response to the directory server inquiry and generating a display indicating the associated service or services when the mobile device includes a suitable display.

Abstract: A method for analyzing and adjusting the performance of a speech-enabled application includes selecting a number of user utterances that were previously received by the speech-enabled application. The speech-enabled application receives such user utterances and associates each user utterance with an action-object based on one or more salient terms in the user utterance that are associated with the action-object. The method further includes associating one of a number of action-objects with each of the selected user utterances. Furthermore, for each action-object, the percentage of the utterances associated with the action-object that include at least one of the salient terms associated with the action-object is determined. If the percentage does not exceed a selected threshold, the method also includes adjusting the one or more salient terms associated with the action-object.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is described for optimizing prompts for a speech-enabled application. The speech-enabled application is operable to receive communications from a number of users and communicate one or more prompts to each user to elicit a response from the user that indicates the purpose of the user's communication. The method includes determining a number of prompt alternatives (each including one or more prompts) to evaluate and determining an evaluation period for each prompt alternative. The method also includes automatically presenting each prompt alternative to users during the associated evaluation period and automatically recording the results of user responses to each prompt alternative. Furthermore, the method includes automatically analyzing the recorded results for each prompt alternative based on one or more performance criteria and automatically implementing one of the prompt alternatives based on the analysis of the recorded results.

Abstract: A system and method for managing access to high definition (HD) content includes a master customer premises equipment (CPE) device enabled for prioritizing conflicting requests for HD content based on predefined priority settings associated with a plurality of client CPE devices. Access to HD content by the client CPE devices may be associated with a token and conflicting requests may be resolved in favor of the client CPE device that holds the token. Disclosed systems permit administrators to control the use of limited resources within a location by limiting access to the limited resources by secondary users.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a bone substitute material comprises the steps of providing a foam material (3) having an open cell structure, distorting the shape of the foam material (3) and holding the material in a distorted shape, coating the walls of the cells of the foam material with a ceramic slip (5), removing the foam material, and sintering the ceramic slip to form a bone substitute material that is approximately a positive image of the distorted foam material (3). In another method, a granular bone material is formed from a multiplicity of pieces of foam that are not distorted.

Abstract: A system and method is described for determining a condition of a communication line, such as the absence of a filter device on a digital subscriber line (DSL). A first signal characterized by a high upstream power is activated over the line, and a first set of parameters associated with the communication line is obtained. A second signal characterized by a low upstream power is activated, and a second set of parameters associated with the communication line is obtained. Comparison of first and second sets of parameters is indicative of a condition of the connection and presences or absence of a DSL filter on the communication line.

Abstract: Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment.

Abstract: A program management structure that includes a plurality of projects, where each project is staffed with a project manager and wherein each project includes a plurality of tasks which can have multiple interdependencies and at least one position reporting up to the project manager. A plurality of organizations is also included, where each organization is provided with a plurality of departments, each of which has a department manager and at least one staffer reporting up to the department manager and filling at least part of the at least one position. Additionally, project exceptions are reported to the project manager and functional exceptions are reported to the functional manager.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and apparatus for providing a network service, such as Frame Relay. The apparatus transmits the service to the network utilizing a G.SHDSL transmission standard; converts data between data utilizing a DS-1 transmission standard and data utilizing a G.SHDSL transmission standard; stores a parameter relating to the network service (e.g., bandwidth); and provides access to the parameter to the network. The apparatus further includes a database for storing the parameters relating to the network service, and a processor for running a program, such as an emulator, to convert the data. The processor also may set an operation in response to a signal received from the network, including synchronizing a clock in the apparatus with a network clock, changing a bandwidth of the apparatus, and upgrading a computer program at the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an option to record messages that can be geared to specific audiences, using PIN-restricted access as needed. The present invention provides a method and apparatus way for subscribers to record a number (more than one) of personalized messages or greetings geared towards specific callers or audiences in a plurality of bulletin boards associated with a single telephone number. The personalized greetings comprise public messages, private messages, public comments and private comments. The method and apparatus of the present invention also ensures customer privacy and increases the level of security by providing an option to PIN-protect the content and access to the content for each of the public and private recorded messages and comments.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of this invention relate to a method for increasing fiber yield in a cotton plant by regenerating a whole cotton plant from a plant cell that has been transformed with a dominant negative allele for an endoplasmic reticulum located gene. The expression of this gene results in suppression of oil and protein biosynthesis in the developing seed and increased production of fiber in the plant.