Abstract: A cutting element, insert or compact, is provided for use with drills used in the drilling and boring of subterranean formations or in machining of metal, composites or woodworking. This new insert besides having a superabrasive layer on the surface of a substrate, also may have one or more superabrasive core element sections incorporated in the substrate to provide improved internal residual stress characteristics. By so manipulating residual stresses, this invention provides cutting elements, which are more fracture resistant thereby providing improved work life. Also, by providing additional superabrasive material in the substrate, this invention improves the cutting efficiency of the compact after the compact has undergone significant wear. Another embodiment of this invention employs one or more carbide core regions within a superabrasive region, which covers the majority of the outer surface of the insert.

Abstract: A method and system for the reception, conversion and distribution of wireless signals over AC power lines to one or more telephone communication devices within a building, office or complex is disclosed. This invention specifically provides for the reception of PCS, cellular and/or satellite communication signals, by receiving the wireless signal and providing an interface to standard generally available telephone equipment. By making use of the power line carrier channel, this invention provides for the reception of the wireless signals upon telephone equipment that is located in the building or complex in locations remote from standard telephone wiring. Moreover, by distributing such received wireless signals over the power line a number of telephone devices can be used to receive the distributed signals.

Abstract: A method and system for the reception, conversion and distribution of wireless communication signals received from such communication devices as PCS, Cellular, and Satellite over AC power lines commonly found within a building, office, home or other structure is disclosed. This invention specifically provides for the distribution of wireless signals in structures where otherwise signal degradation and/or blockage are common. Moreover, this invention takes advantage of the existing AC power lines to create a communication channel avoiding the necessity of rewiring the building or other structure. This invention provides important improvements to the signal coverage and reception of wireless transmitted signals within buildings and other structures and does so in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Abstract: A system and method for dispatching computer system service requests to multiple service providers in a tiered-parallel fashion such that a request can be satisfied in the shortest time possible by the computer, or module, most available to provide valid responses is described. The method is designed to permit a hierarchal ordering, by tiers, of preferred service providers, where the dispatches are performed in parallel as to providers on the same tier and in serial as to providers on subsequent tiers. This invention improves the speed and reliability of response to service requests for data, or objects, across a computer system network with one or more computer processing units.

Abstract: A cutting element insert is provided for use with drills used in the drilling and boring through of subterranean formations. This new insert has a modified diamond surface shape having ridges, facets and/or other discontinuities on the cutting surface topography, formed on or about an otherwise non-planar shape, such as spherical, hemispherical, conical or the like. This modified diamond layer shape provides increased cutting stress at the diamond/rock interface, thereby causing the rock to fail with less over all drilling energy being required, while simultaneously introducing little additional stresses to the cutter or insert.

Abstract: A cutting element, insert or compact, is provided for use with drills used in the drilling and boring of subterranean formations. This new insert, in its preferred embodiment, has a “hoop” region of polycrystalline diamond extending around the periphery of the compact to reduce the residual stresses inherent in thick diamond regions of cutters. This compact has improved wear and durability characteristics because it avoids failures due to stresses, delaminations and fractures caused by the differences in thermal expansion coefficient between the diamond and the substrate during sintering. Moreover, this invention may provide multiple polycrystalline diamond edges as the PDC wears. This exposure of multiple polycrystalline diamond edges slows the rate of wear flat surface development and reduces the weight on the bit required for acceptable drill penetration rates.

Abstract: A method for relocating modules within a programmable logic array is disclosed and used to produce a dynamically-reconfigurable digital processor. The method consists of creating relocatable intermediate circuit modules that can be stored in a configuration library. These modules contain the computation engine and its control logic for executing a portion of an application. When a new module needs to be loaded, an unused portion of the programmable logic array of sufficient size is located, the module from the configuration library is relocated, and the final circuit module is placed in the programmable logic array, configuring it for executing the portion of the application.

Abstract: A method and system for managing mechanical ventilation of patients with respiratory disorders is described. The main objective of the system is to generate executable instructions for patient care which take into account a large number of parameters of patient condition and ventilation. Data regarding the state of the patient are stored in a database. Patient data are processed according to a set of protocols which contain rules for patient care decisions arranged in a logical sequence to generate detailed, executable instructions for patient care. Instructions are updated when new data are entered into the database. The data can be acquired in an automated fashion, or the clinician can be instructed to collect and enter new data into the clinical database. Likewise, patient care instructions can be carried out automatically or manually, but it is preferred that instructions are carried out manually as a safety check.

Abstract: A method and system for imaging data between two or more digital computers across a computer network is described, where the digital computers transfer data in a peer-to-peer mode and/or a client/server mode upon command of the operator. This invention address the problem of managing, updating and installing executable software, such as operating systems, utilities and application software packages on a large number of networked computer systems. By using this invention properly, a system operator can transfer data stored on a single computer system to all or some of the computer system connected to the first system over a computer network and can do so without expensive electronic server equipment. Moreover, this invention provides the capability of transferring data as files, sectors or cylinders of disk media, thereby permitting a single operator to, through a generally automated procedure, simultaneously install new system software, configuration files and executive files on many computers.

Abstract: A ball hitch coupler which provides a simplified structure for coupling a ball hitch mounted on a towing vehicle to a coupler mounted on a trailer. This invention provides an innovative single cam pin locking mechanism, which in combination with a safety pin device and a tension spring provides a strong and secure ball coupler which has a minimum of moving parts and is designed to be easily used by a user by hand.

Abstract: A method and system for receiving, processing and responding to emergency medical calls by emergency dispatchers is described. A consistent, standard and systematic process is provided which in combination with adequate training, supervision and quality assurance serves to provide a method for gathering emergency medical information, categorizing such information into various determinant levels for appropriate response, and for giving qualified emergency medical information to callers thereby permitting "zero-time" response by those at the scene. By using this invention properly a dispatcher is guided through the interrogation of callers, gathering the critical information, dispatching the appropriate mobile care rapidly when needed and giving the appropriate guidance to the caller. This invention specifically guides the dispatcher through the universal entry protocol, thereby identifying the most urgent emergencies.

Abstract: A wireless power line carrier data communication device is provided. The device is specifically adapted to meet the requirements of high-speed modem data transmission, such as is typically required by digital computer networks and similar devices. The device employs an improved power line transmitter power output which reduces the effect of harmonic distortion and also employs a bit-stream sine wave generator with a digital to analog converter to producing a sine wave for the sub-audio carrier signal, which also reduces the effects of harmonic distortion. The device is specifically designed for data transfer over the AC power lines and is compatible with standard AC power signals as well as standard modem equipment and standard telephone connections.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the performance of emergency medical dispatchers in adhering to a provided systematic procedure or protocol for handling emergency medical calls is described. This invention provides a systematic, objective, approach to grading the dispatcher's response and thereby providing for continuous quality assurance and improvement of the dispatcher's skills. In its preferred embodiment, this invention is performed in computer software which enhanced the evaluation process by working in association with a computerized emergency medical dispatch protocol to accumulate data and efficiently grade the performance of the dispatcher.

Abstract: A method and system for receiving, processing and responding to emergency medical calls for patients with pregnancy related medical problems is described. A consistent, standard and systematic process is provided which in combination with adequate training, supervision and quality assurance serves to provide a method for gathering emergency medical information regarding a patients pregnancy problems, categorizing such information into various determinant levels for appropriate response, and for giving qualified emergency medical information to callers thereby permitting "zero time" response by those at the scene. By using this invention properly a dispatcher is guided through the interrogation of callers concerned with pregnancy, childbirth or miscarriage medical problems, gathering critical information and giving the appropriate guidance to the caller.

Abstract: A channel loop controller is disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a processor operably associated with a television, an input device operably connected to the processor, a memory device operably connected to the processor, and an output device operably connected to the processor for displaying output data. The input device may be a keypad incorporated within the television, or it may be a remote control unit. If a remote control unit is used, a loop button and a save button may be included within the remote control unit. Executable code stored in memory and executable by the processor enables the apparatus to, in combination with user input, configure one or more channel lists having channels selected by the user. The save button may be used to save a channel to a channel list. The loop button may be used to increment or decrement to the next channel in a channel list.

Abstract: Polycrystalline diamond cutter (PDC) designs which substantially improve the penetration rate of fixed cutter drill bits while simultaneously reducing the wear on the bit during drilling operations are disclosed. The designs are based upon the observation that: 1) the wear pattern of a PDC is roughly a conic section and is parallel to bit rotation, and 2) the cutting surface is perpendicular to the rotation of the bit. The inventive PDC designs provide cutting action both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of bit rotation.