Abstract: Artificial implants having reduced area to provide reduced wear are provided. The reduced area is particularly located at areas where greatest wear is exhibited. In a particular embodiment of a mobile bearing knee implant, the area is reduced on the mobile bearing insert underside, where it contacts a tibial component. The reduced area may be any shape of indentations, for example, grooves, dimples, straight patterns, curved patterns, crossing patterns, holes, channels or slots. The indentations may be various sizes, and have been found to be particularly effective if covering about 10% to about 20% of the insert at depths between about 1-2 mm.

Abstract: A system for transmitting digital programming includes a program source providing digital information, circuitry for modulating the digital information onto a visual carrier modulated with analog television programming, and a visual transmitter coupled to the modulating circuitry. Using a phase modulation method, the system phase modulates the digital information onto a visual carrier, reduces the baseband frequencies of the phase modulated visual carrier, and amplitude modulates the phase-modulated video carrier onto a video signal. The amplified and encoded video signal are combined with an amplified sound signal and transmitted. Using an additive method, the system modulates the sidebands of the video carrier with the digital information and amplitude modulates the video signal onto the video carrier. The data-modulated sidebands are phase-shifted such that they will be in quadrature with the amplitude-modulated video signal.

Abstract: When a subscriber calls into its Internet Service Provider (ISP), a central office receiving the call is triggered to perform a Local Number Portability (LNP) query. This LNP query is sent to an Intelligent Traffic Routing and Control (INTRAC) unit resident on a Service Control Point (SCP) which determines whether the call is to an ISP. If the call is to an ISP, the INTRAC unit polls a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server to determine whether resources are available. The RADIUS server tracks the resources of the ISP and of other ISPs and informs the SCP of the available resources. The SCP then inserts the Local Routing Number (LRN) of the preferred resource into a reply that is sent to the central office. If resources are not available, the call is terminated before signaling occurs with any switch associated with the ISP. On the other hand, when resources are available, the subscriber can be directed to the preferred resource for the subscriber.

Abstract: Systems for connecting telecommunications infrastructure lines to telephones, handsets, computers, telecopy machines and other end user interfaces or consumer electronics devices in a residence or business. Systems according to the present invention include Network Control Units which form the center of a star topology and which communicate via RF link with Wireless Access Units and handsets. Wireless Access Units feature an interface, such as, for example, a standard telephone jack, for accommodating a telephone, a fax machine, a compute modem or other device. Computers or other devices may also be accommodated by Wireless Access Units having other physical and virtual interfaces, including, for instance, serial ports or network interfaces. The Wireless Access Units may also be digital to accommodate ISDN or any other digital standard.

Abstract: The system provides a method for gathering and sending monitored traffic data via a short messaging system message over a wireless network through a publicly switched telephone network (“PSTN”) to a central computer. A remote traffic monitoring unit acts as a data collection device collecting data regarding the traffic count and other conditions at its particular location. The remote traffic monitoring unit can monitor different types of traffic—for example, motor vehicles, trains, and pedestrians. The system routes data messages including monitored traffic count data from the remote traffic monitoring unit to a central computer and routes control information from the central computer to the remote traffic monitoring unit.

Abstract: A method and system for routing calls to a wireless platform uses local number portability searches to achieve advanced intelligent network capabilities. The method and system of the present invention “ports” wireless subscriber numbers to a number for a platform providing a specific service. When a caller dials the subscriber's wireless number, a switch determines whether the number is portable. Since the number has been ported, the switch launches a query to a local number portability service control point to obtain additional routing instructions. The service control point accesses a local number portability database to determine the proper routing number. The new routing number allows calls to be routed to a service platform in the wireless network. The service control point transfers the routing number to the switch which then translates the routing number to a directory number for the platform. The call is then routed to the platform.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for handling incoming calls when call waiting is active. If the called party is not on a call when an incoming call occurs and the called party does not answer the incoming call then a message is played to the calling party that the called party did not answer, and the called party is given the opportunity to record a message for the called party. If the called party is on a call when an incoming call occurs and, after the call waiting signal is played to the called party, the called party does not answer the incoming call then a message is played to the calling party that the called party is busy, and the called party is given the opportunity to record a message for the called party. If the called party is engaged in a first call and a second call when an incoming call occurs then a message is played to the calling party that the called party is busy, and the called party is given the opportunity to record a message for the called party.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide for a unit that is locked against use for communications until the unit is unlocked and that may be activated on a selected network in conjunction with the unit being unlocked. A unit includes a memory for storing an unlock code specific to the unit. The unlock code is used to unlock the unit and is unbreakable without knowledge of a secret code and an algorithm. The unlock code is generated by using the algorithm with the secret code and an identifier unique to the unit. The unit also includes a control for receipt of an input code and a system identification number with the input code and the system identification number having originated from the selected network.

Abstract: A method and system for billing remote calls includes the provisioning of an active terminating attempt trigger on a subscriber's primary line. To make a long-distance call from a remote location, the subscriber calls a service control node and provide a destination calling line number and the subscriber's primary line number (e.g., home telephone number). The SCN assembles the data into a string and includes a feature access code. This string is transmitted to a switch that recognizes the feature access code and transmits a message to a service control point. The service control point also recognizes the feature access code and reassembles the message into a call structure containing the primary line number, the destination line number, and a code indicating that the message should be reassembled. This message is transmitted back to the switch which then routes the call to the primary line switch where the trigger is encountered.

Abstract: Methods and systems in a telecommunications system having a call forwarding service to connect an unanswered forwarded communication directly to a voice mail service of the called party. Upon notice that a communication for a subscriber has gone unanswered at a forwarded location, a call is placed to a code followed by voice mail information. As the call is routed, the code is recognized and the voice mail information is parsed into call instructions including a voice mail directory number as the redirected number. The call is further routed based on the call instructions until a recognition of the designated directory number in the call instructions results in call termination instructions. These instructions direct the serving switch to connect the call to the redirected number which is the voice mail service directory number.

Abstract: A communication network includes a messaging system connected to a mobile switching center in a cellular network. When calls to a wireless device go unanswered, the messaging system answers the calls and records a message for that device. The messaging system sets a message waiting indicator (MWI) flag in a home location register (HLR) associated with the wireless device. When the wireless device then establishes communications with the mobile switching center, the mobile switching center transmits a MWI signal to the wireless device. The wireless device, after receiving the MWI signal, automatically establishes communications with the messaging system in order to retrieve the messages. The messages are digitized and compressed and are transmitted to the wireless device over a voice channel with DTMF signaling. The wireless device mutes the handset of the wireless device so that communications with the messaging system go entirely unnoticed by the user.

Abstract: A method and system to invoke a check of a service package application (SPA) with respect to a communication as the communication is routed through the telecommunications system. To invoke the check, probe information received from a user is arranged and provided to a call probe assembler. This call probe assembler assembles the arranged probe information into a call probe including a called number that corresponds to an SPA. The call probe is associated with a communication which is routed through the telecommunications system based on the called number. In the course of this routing, a recognition is made that the called number corresponds to the SPA and a check is made of the SPA with respect to the communication. The check may result in the SPA performing certain operations based on the type of call probe. An external call probe may result in the SPA applying an advanced service with respect to the communication based on the information in the call probe.

Abstract: Dental implant abutment systems, related devices, and implantology processes and techniques. The abutment systems include a base that is adapted to mount in nonrotating fashion on any desired dental implant, root form or blade, from any supplier, together with a fixation screw which secures the base to the implant. A core, to which an abutment is cast in customized shape and form as desired is attached to the base preferably in threaded fashion and secured with an appropriate antirotational mechanism. Alternatively, the core and abutment may be formed using CAM processes. Such abutment systems, unlike prevalent conventional systems, do not require a central access bore in the core or abutment components, and they occupy significantly less volume than conventional abutments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing international wireless roaming allows an international “roamer” to enter a visited system in a foreign country and originate calls. Upon entering the visited region, the roamer's mobile station initiates a registration request containing the mobile station's mobile identification number to the mobile switching center in the visited region. The mobile switching center initiates a message to an appropriate home location register. The home location register compares the mobile station's mobile identification number to a set of stored values. If an agreement is in place between the home location register provider and the roamer's home service provider, the home location register will return an appropriately formatted North American Numbering Plan mobile directory number to the mobile switching center.

Abstract: With respect to processing a communication, a method and system for delaying the ringing of a line until the status of the communication is determined when providing an advanced service. Upon transmitting the communication for forwarding to a forwarding number, a switch timer for a first predetermined time period is started at a first network element, such as a service node. Upon receiving the communication at the first network element, an acceptance timer for a second predetermined time period is started. The second predetermined time period is less than the first predetermined time period and may be referred to as the service node acceptance timer. During the processing of the communication, a determination is made as to whether the acceptance timer has expired. If so, then the communication may be accepted at the first network element and a ring signal may be played to the calling party.

Abstract: Processes for tufting substrate or primary carpet backing using conventional double needle bars but in which the needles may be shifted less than a full gauge. Processes of the present invention may employ a conventional double needle bar tufting machine to which is added means for shifting or indexing the hook bar laterally to the machine direction of the substrate being tufted. Timing of shifting of the hook bar may be coordinated with timing of shifting of the needle bar and advance of the substrate through the machine to allow piles to be tufted into the substrate at any desired lateral position with respect to previously tufted piles. The invention creates additional pile color pattern alternatives and eliminates repetitive patterns otherwise necessitated by full gauge shifting. Elimination of repeat color sequences reduces matching color sequences on adjoining edges of adjacent carpet tiles made from such substrate which otherwise accentuate or highlight the seams between carpet tiles.

Abstract: A system and method downloads data and reconfigures the data into a database. A telephone user purchases a specific number of lines and specific services (i.e., call waiting) from a telephone company. The telephony company then programs a switch associated with that user so that the user receives the services purchased. The telephone company also inserts the user's purchases into a database used for generating the user's bills. Discrepancies can occur between the data in the switch and the data in the billing database. Billing correction is performed by downloading all of the data within a switch, reconfiguring the data into a database and then comparing the switch database against the billing database to detect billing errors. To facilitate ease of this billing correction process, the switch database is transmitted to the billing correction center via a network instead of the traditional method of using direct tape copies of the switch being physically transported to the billing correction center.