Abstract: A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing spherical activated carbon, wherein polymer globules, which comprise thermally decomposing chemical groups, are carbonized. It is characterized by that during the carbonization, a supplier of free radicals is added to the polymer globules, the supplier of free radicals forming free radicals, which are different from the free radicals that are generated by the decomposition of the chemical groups.

Abstract: A modified media key used to decrypt protected media content stored on an optical disc, such as an HD-DVD or Blu-ray disc, is created through application of a transformation using a constant value which is programmatically generated by procedural code that runs on a player. The transformation is obfuscated through application of a random value to the constant value through a logical XOR operation. The programmatically-generated constant, called Soft Key Conversion Data (“SKCD”) is used by a security layer to derive the modified media key, called a Soft Media Key. At the player, a conventionally calculated media key is used to decrypt the first title, while the Soft Media Key is used to decrypt subsequent titles. Optionally, the SKCD may be updated one or more times so that the Soft Media Key is repeatedly transformed and respectively applied, for example, on a title-by-title basis, or to groups of subsequent titles.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a total elapsed play time of an interactive multimedia presentation having a play duration, a video content component, and an interactive content component include identifying two time intervals within the play duration. During the first interval, no video is scheduled for presentation, and a first elapsed play time of the presentation is measured based on a first timing signal. During the second interval, a video (which may include video, audio, data, or any combination thereof) is scheduled for presentation, and a second elapsed play time is measured based on a second timing signal. During the first interval, the total elapsed play time is determined using the first elapsed play time, and during the second interval, it is determined using the second elapsed play time. The total elapsed play time is usable to provide frame-accurate synchronization between the interactive content component and the video content component.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a film of compound material. The method includes providing a substrate and depositing a film on the substrate. The deposited film has a first chemical composition that includes at least one first chemical element and at least one second chemical element. At least one residual chemical reaction is induced in the deposited film using a source containing at least one second chemical element to thereby increase the content of at least one second chemical element in the deposited film so that the deposited film has a second chemical composition. The content of at least one second element in the second chemical composition is larger than the content of at least one second element in the first chemical composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a luminescent substance consisting of a doped host lattice which absorbs at least one part of exciting radiation when it is excited by a high-energy radiation, thereby releasing an energy-poor emission radiation. The host lattice is embodied in the form of a carbidonitridosilicate-based compound. An illuminant which is used for producing white light and comprises a light emitting element and said luminescent substance are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to track viral marketing. The resulting user interfaces can include a map that tracks propagation via a node tree or a geographic map that shows where media was viewed. The information may also be displayed as a cumulative or absolute tracking graph, which is based on various parameters, such as number of views, number of transmissions, rewards earned, etc. The systems and methods can track viral propagation through, e.g., email, social networking service or site messages or postings, and instant messages. Data used by the invention include URLs as received from a media transmission page form, the URLs pertaining to both the propagator and the recipient, time stamps at which the media was propagated and viewed, and so on.

Abstract: A universal inline functional module for operation with nonzero average gain G?0dB over a bandwidth is provided. The module includes at least one optical functional element producing loss over the bandwidth and at least one rare-earth doped fiber segment. The module produces a flat gain spectrum to within a specified tolerance when made to operate at an average gain of 0 dB over the bandwidth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hose set for a device (1) for insufflation of gas into a human or animal body, comprising a first hose portion (2) including a first port (3) and a second port (4), said first port being connectable to the device (1) for insufflation, comprising a second hose portion (5) including a third port (6) and a fourth port (7), said fourth port (7) being connectable to an insufflation instrument (8), wherein said second port (4) comprises a first connecting element (9) and said third port (6) comprises a second connecting element (10), said first connecting element (9) and said second connecting element (10) being mechanically complementary with respect to each other, by means of said connecting elements (9, 10) said second port (4) and said third port (6) being connectable with each other in a gas-tight manner, and wherein said second or said third port (6) comprises a sterile filter element (11), which spans the inner cross section of said third port (6).

Abstract: Disclosed are implantable or insertable medical devices that provide resistance to microbial growth on and in the environment of the device and resistance to microbial adhesion and biofilm formation on the device. In particular, the invention discloses implantable or insertable medical devices that comprise at least one biocompatible matrix polymer region, an antimicrobial agent for providing resistance to microbial growth and/or a microbial adhesion/biofilm synthesis inhibitor for inhibiting the attachment of microbes and the synthesis and accumulation of biofilm on the surface of the medical device. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing such devices under conditions that substantially prevent preferential partitioning of any of said bioactive agents to a surface of the biocompatible matrix polymer and substantially prevent chemical modification of said bioactive agents.

Abstract: A medical device that contains (a) at least one polymeric release region that either contains crazing or which is adapted to undergo crazing as a result of stresses (e.g., mechanical, chemical or thermal) that are applied during the implantation or insertion of the medical device into a patient; and (b) and a therapeutic agent disposed beneath or within the polymeric release region.

Abstract: An arrangement for managing a media file having an associated DRM license is provided by enabling the copying of the media file stored on a source medium to a target medium only when both the source medium and the target medium are held in custody by a media server. The media server writes a copy of a media file and a copy of the associated DRM license from the source medium to the target medium. Upon confirmation that the copy of the DRM license was successfully written to the target medium, the DRM license and media file on the source medium are overwritten. The result is that the target medium contains both the media files and the DRM licenses which are locked to the target medium.

Abstract: An optical wavelength routing device utilizes a free space optical beam propagating therethrough is provided. The device includes at least one optical fiber input, at least one optical fiber output, an optical element having an actuator with at least one tilt axis and a diffraction element having a surface thereon. The device also includes an optical beam-splitting element having spatially varying optical properties. An optical beam transfer arrangement is positioned between the optical element and the diffraction element such that tilt actuation of the optical element elicits a proportional change in an angle of incidence of the optical beam onto the diffraction element, wherein the center of rotation for the angular change is the surface of the diffraction element. Optical routing between the fiber input and the fiber output can be configured by the positioning of the optical element.

Abstract: Bioresorbable medical implants are designed to have different resorption rates over time or over the topography of the implants. The resorption of the medical implants are controlled by including layers having differing resorption rates. The layers resorb sequentially over time through sequential exposure to body fluids. A resorption-controllable medical implant includes a series of two or more layers. The first layer includes a first bioresorbable material. The second layer includes a second bioresorbable material and resorbable particles of a first kind dispersed within the second bioresorbable material. Additional layers of bioresorbable material alone or including resorbable particles may be added to slow or speed resorption and achieve desired control over the resorption of the implant. Resorbable particles can be added in differing amounts or kinds in various segments of the implant to provide topographically differing resorption rates.

Abstract: A therapeutic medical article is provided which comprises a medical article, a precursor compound and an activator compound. The medical article is adapted, upon administration to a patient, to release the precursor compound and the activator compound such that the activator compound interacts with the precursor compound and converts the precursor compound into activated form for local delivery. Specific examples of precursor and activator compound pairs include: (a) a nitrosothiol precursor and a nitric oxide donor, (b) plasminogen and plasminogen activator, and (c) fibrinogen and thrombin.

Abstract: An entry port cuff for providing antimicrobial properties to a medical device having a portion that is insertable into the body of a patient is disclosed. The cuff, which is charged with an antimicrobial agent, is removably attached to the medical device immediately prior to or immediately after insertion of said medical device into the body. The cuff is attached to the medical device in a manner such that the cuff is located outside of the body and in the proximity of the point of entry of the medical device into the body. Also, the cuff is substantially free of an adhesive for adhering the cuff to the body. Methods for using and making the entry port cuff are also described.

Abstract: A catheter includes a wall surrounding a lumen. The wall has an inner portion forming an outer surface of the lumen and an outer portion surrounding at least a portion of an outer surface of the inner portion. A first diffusion rate of materials from the lumen through the inner portion is different from a second diffusion rate through the outer portion. A durometer hardness of the inner portion is lower than a durometer hardness of the outer portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for delivering a content file to a client over a packet-switched network. The method begins by determining a suitable throughput required to deliver the content file to the client. Next, the throughput available in a peer-to-peer network for delivering the content file to the client is determined. The required throughput is compared to the available throughput. If the available throughput is less than the required throughput, the available throughput is supplemented with additional throughput. The content is then delivered to the client over the packet-switched network using the available throughput of the peer-to-peer network and the additional throughput.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for biasing an avalanche photodiodes (APD). The method includes developing a first output signal s(v1) from the APD when biased with a first bias voltage v1 and developing a second output signal s(v2) from the APD when biased with a second bias voltage v2, wherein s(v)=PRZM(v), (P) is an light power illuminating the APD, R is a responsivity of the APD, M(v) is an APD avalanche gain and Z is a trans-impedance amplifier gain (Z). The method continues by acquiring a ratio r=s(v1)/s(v2)=PRZM(v1)/[PRZM(v2)]=M(v1)/M(v2) and invoking a feedback control method to bias the APD using the ratio r.

Abstract: A security system is described which controls the access of applications to system resources in the field of interactive multimedia. The system establishes a framework for application security, including a signature system, and further provides file formats that support security. Signed applications are afforded high access privileges, while unsigned applications are afforded low access privileges. The combination of signed and unsigned applications on, e.g., a disk, provides for low access privileges for all applications, signed and unsigned.