Abstract: An apparatus, computer readable medium and method for communicating over a telecommunications network, such as the Internet, with a provider of a service, such as a business. A method for communicating over a telecommunications network with a local representative of an entity, comprising the steps of: receiving, over a data telecommunications network, a request for a connection with a local representative of an entity from a subscriber, wherein the data telecommunications network supports simultaneous voice and data connection over a single line from the subscriber to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) site; determining the geographical location of the subscriber; translating the request from the directory listing database a local representative of the entity that is the geographically nearest to the subscriber requesting a connection; and establishing a voice connection between the subscriber requesting the connection with the local representative of the entity.

Abstract: A method of securely providing data to a user's system over a broadcast infrastructure. The method comprising the steps of: encrypting the data using a first encrypting key; encrypting a first decrypting key using a second encrypting key; dividing at least part of the encrypted data into a series of logical packages; placing at least some of the logical packages into a broadcast carousel for cyclical broadcast over the broadcast infrastructure; broadcasting the packages in broadcast carousel so that they can be received by at least one user's system, wherein the broadcast is cyclical and repeats periodically; and transferring the encrypted first decrypting key, which has been encrypted with the second encrypting key, to the user's system. In another embodiment, a system is disclosed to carry out the above method in a broadcast infrastructure and an image overlaid on top of a primary image being displayed isused to denote that additional logical packages are available for receipt by broadcast.

Abstract: A sinusoidal frequency generator comprising an oscillation circuit controlled by a control voltage, characterized in that the oscillating circuit is a gyrator made up of two transconductance amplifiers whose bias points are fixed by the control voltage in order to regulate oscillation frequency. The gyrator is easy to integrated in a phase control loop in order to realize a square-to-sinusoidal frequency converter.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a system for managing a high volume of request reaching a file server which avoids slowing down of the request of all client computers. The system serves a limited number of clients at one time, and deploys an applet to other requesting clients which is programmed to check the server at a later time for availability, and through which a client user can be informed of estimated times to start and complete the download. A second aspect of the invention is a system managing traffic through a gateway between an Intranet and the Internet which accepts web resource requests along with threshold time value. The system matches up requests for the same resource received from different clients, and issues a single request for the matched up requests. The threshold time values of the requests may correspond to off peak hours when the gateway's resources are not over utilized. Methods and software for the systems are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, computer program product and a method for overlapping boundary data of an audio information track which includes ending data from a previous track and starting data from a succeeding track. By doing this, the ending data from a previous track and the beginning data from a succeeding track are available for the compression process. The compression program then manipulates the additional appended data in order to generate the compressed audio. Later, by severing the overlapping appended additional information before recombining the tracks, the resulting No-Pause CD audio stream is free from distortion and mismatch.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium for providing a snapshot of a subset of a file system. A first snapshot of a first set of source files in a file system is generated. The first snapshot includes an inode corresponding to each source file in the first set of files. Stored in each inode is a first identifier associated with the first set of files and a second identifier associated with the time of the first snapshot. Next, a second snapshot of a second set of source files is taken. The second snapshot includes an inode corresponding to each source file in the second set of files. Stored in each inode are a first identifier and a second identifier. Subsequent snapshots are taken every first period and every second period for the first set of files and the second set of files, respectively.

Abstract: A cart for the transportation of personnel and equipment in a fire or other hazardous environment. The cart is constructed out of fire protective material and designed to float. There are wheels on the bottom surface, which are placed and designed to be able to be operative over very uneven surfaces. The structure also has the ability to store fire equipment and in addition on the top surface a fully dressed firefighter with a Scott Air Pack. The cart has handles, which can be adjusted so as to be folded into different locked positions based on the particular usage conditions.

Abstract: A pointing device for entering data into an information processing system for a 3-dimensional graphical user interface. The pointing device comprises: a switch mounted on a pointing device for producing a first signal during actuation by a vertical downward pressure on a first region of the switch; a circuit for coupling the first signal to a Z-axis on a display attached to the information processing system so as to control movement of information along the Z-axis presented on the display. In another embodiment, the switch produces a second signal by a vertical downward pressure on a second region of the switch; and a circuit for coupling the second signal to a Z-axis on the display so as to move information present on the display along the Z-axis in a direction opposite to that of the movement along the Z-axis in response to the first signal.

Abstract: An electronic calculator having means for enabling a user to input a calculation, characterized in that the calculator has a mode of operation in which the user is required to input additionally at least one estimate of the result of the calculation before the correct result of the calculation is displayed.

Abstract: A disk drive which incorporates separate actuators for each recording head so as to only place required recording heads over the recording media of multiple surface hard disk drives. The reduction in recording heads that are placed over the recording media reduces drag on the rotating disk holding the recording media and thereby reduces the power consumption. Reducing the number of recording heads over the recording media also reduces damage to the recording media surfaces in the event of a physical shock to the drive since inactive transducer heads are not in a position to damage the recording media.

Abstract: A method and system to provide a user additional positional context for the information they are browsing and allows for rapid browsing through large data sets thereby providing a more usable interface. Two embodiments are described in the following sections. In the first, the 2-D scroll area is a continuous area. In this continuous embodiment the user can change the scroll resolution on a continuous scale. The second embodiment uses a set of discrete vertical scrolling bars. These scrolling bars work in concert to fine tune the scrolling access to the data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating a portion of the surface of a substrate according to a first and second surface treatments which are different from each other and are intended respectively for a first group of regions and for a second group of regions of the surface portion, the two groups of regions being mutually complementary with respect to the surface portion, the process making it possible to use only a single operation of positioning a mask which differentiates the regions of the first and second groups of regions, using the same protective materials for the regions of each group of regions against the effects of the treatment intended for the regions of the other group of regions. Application to the fabrication of semiconductor products.

Abstract: A method for building a hierarchical multicast tree which is centered around a specific node in an Internet Protocol (IP) communications network. The method on a subnetwork comprising dynamically electing a subnetwork leader node for each subnetwork using multicast communications confined to the subnetwork. Receiving a configuration file containing a list of all the network addresses of the nodes in a network. Receiving a number of permissible connections each subnetwork leader node in the network is permitted with other subnetwork leader nodes. And establishing a multicast connection between each subnetwork leader node as identified in the configuration file so that there is a multicast connection path from each subnetwork leader node for each subnetwork and a subnetwork containing a network leader node. In another embodiment, a system and computer readable medium is disclosed to carry out the above method.

Abstract: A call director (CD) system and method is disclosed which enables a Virtual Automatic Call Director (ACD) environment with integrated voice response unit (VRU) and Virtual Automatic Call Distributor (VACD) to have a programmable interface with a common script logic so that the complete call flow can be executed in a single process. The disclosed system incorporates a network interface (111), one or more VPU IP telephony servers (112), a MCU configuration/supervision unit (113), Virtual Automatic Call Distributor (VACD) subsystem (114), customer information files (115), and incoming call router (ICR) (104).

Abstract: An emergency telecommunications device that works with existing telephone lines to provide continuous hands-free two-way communication using a remote speaker with built-in microphone sensitivity that allows rescuers to use the device from a far distance. The device is activated with a pull or push of a single button activation mechanism, which instantly contacts emergency personnel who provide potentially life saving instruction to rescuers.

Abstract: A method in a client-server environment having a plurality of client systems coupled to a server over a network, the method on the return processing server for managing the return processing of one or more manufacturers. The method on the return comprising the steps of: coupling to a database containing information about the procedures for at least one manufacturer's product. The return server presents a return processing template to at least one client system coupled to the server system over a network, wherein the template comprises a graphical user interface for receiving information regarding at least one product to be submitted for return processing. The return processing server the information from the at least one client system of at least one product to be submitted for return processing. The return processing server creating a debit invoice in accordance with the manufacturer's policies for the information received for return processing from the at least one client system.

Abstract: E-commerce web page forms contain an encrypted and encoded string, which contains basic information about a product for sale on the web page. Optional product data (e.g. size, color) is selected by an online shopper and transmitted with the basic information when the form is submitted to a cash register server. The form may also contain store ID information which is used to the look up the secret string needed to decrypt the product information. A method for generating the encrypted encoded string for use in the web page is described. Confidentiality is provided with regard to purchases over the Internet.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium for deferring copy-on-write of a snapshot is disclosed. The method includes the generation of snapshot of a source file. Upon modification of a first data block referenced by the source file, the first data block is referenced by the snapshot and a second data block is allocated for the source file. Then, a first variable associated with the source file is set to a value indicating an incomplete source file data block and a second variable associated with the source file is set to a value indicating the valid portion of the second data block. Any portion of the second data block that is overwritten is considered valid. The second data block is then modified and the second variable is changed to reflect the modification. Upon reception of a read request, the corresponding portion of the second data block is retrieved.

Abstract: The vertical insulated gate transistor includes, on a semiconductor substrate, a vertical pillar incorporating one of the source and drain regions at the top, a gate dielectric layer situated on the flanks of the pillar and on the top surface of the substrate, and a semiconductor gate resting on the gate dielectric layer. The other of the source and drain regions is in the bottom part of the pillar PIL and the insulated gate includes an isolated external portion 15 resting on the flanks of the pillar and an isolated internal portion 14 situated inside the pillar between the source and drain regions. The isolated internal portion is separated laterally from the isolated external portion by two connecting semiconductor regions PL1, PL2 extending between the source and drain regions, and forming two very fine pillars.

Abstract: A method in a computer network for identifying users with similar interests is described. The method includes accepting a first query statement from a first user and storing a first item of information related to the first query. The method further includes accepting a second query from a second user and storing a second item of information related to the second query. The method further includes computing a measure of similarity of the first query and the second query by using the first item of information and the second item of information. A system and computer readable medium for carrying out the above method is also described.