Abstract: An electronic intermediary electronically connects with a tax data provider and collects electronically tax data from the tax data provider. The electronic intermediary processes the tax data collected electronically, and prepares an electronic tax return using the processed tax data.

Abstract: When a connection passes through two communication networks that guarantee quality of service in different ways, an active packet is sent from one network to the other. Quality of service in the one network is mapped to quality of service in the other network by execution of a program included in the active packet, at the entry node of the other network. End-to-end quality of service is thereby guaranteed, unnecessary exchanges of quality-of-service information are avoided, and each network can modify its quality-of-service practices at its own convenience.

Abstract: An automatic gain control apparatus, employed in a communication system having a circuit that interfaces a two-wire line to a four-wire line, measures the echo return loss occurring at the interface, calculates a gain from the echo return loss, and amplifies an incoming signal on the four-wire line by the calculated gain before transmission through the interface, to compensate for the echo return loss. If the communication system uses an echo canceler to cancel the echo, the echo canceler is preferably shielded from the effects of automatic gain control, by attenuation of the outgoing signal on the four-wire line, for example.

Abstract: A method for detecting a tone signal includes determining a correlative value of an input signal obtained for each frame of a predetermined length, determining an estimating expression that represents an output power of a second order FIR band elimination filter that uses the correlative value of the input signal as an input and a frequency thereof as a parameter, determining a frequency at which a minimum value of the estimating expression is obtained, determining a prediction gain of the FIR band elimination filter at the determined frequency, and determining that the input signal is a tone signal if a value of the determined prediction gain exceeds a preset threshold value.

Abstract: The ATM exchanges that a plurality of connections are established and a plurality of processes with respect to the plurality of connections having each having a transmission rate arise, the ATM exchange comprising a priority computing circuit which computes a priority of a process, according to a updating frequency of priority assigned to a connection to which the process is associated, a priority comparing circuit which compares a plurality of priorities corresponding to the plurality of processes to select a process having a higher priority among the plurality of processes, and a processing circuit which carries out the selected process.

Abstract: A modulation circuit includes a band restriction filter 2, an attenuator 3, a modulator 4, a reference voltage generator 8, a comparing reference voltage generator 9, a voltage comparator 10 and an attenuator controller 7. The band restriction filter 2 receives modulation data. The attenuator 3 is connected to the band restriction filter 2 for adjusting its attenuation in response to an attenuator control signal. The reference voltage generator 8 is connected to the attenuator 3 for providing a reference voltage independent of a temperature and a power supply voltage to the attenuator. The comparing reference voltage generator 9 is connected to the reference voltage generator 8 for providing a comparing reference voltage independent of the temperature and the power supply voltage. The modulator 4 is connected to the attenuator 3.

Abstract: Surface of a transfer disk for performing magnetic transfer is repeatedly contacted or separated relative to a cleaning disk having a smaller hardness than the surface, thereby removing a foreign matter on the surface of the transfer disk.

Abstract: A luminance (Y) and a color difference (C) signal separator switches filters according to an image and separates a Y signal and a C signal included in a composite color picture signal to eliminate a degradation which would otherwise be involved at a transition point because of the characteristics of the filters. A first weighting circuit calculates the weighted average of the C signals extracted from the composite signal by a comb filter and a three-line comb filter. A second weighting circuit calculates the weighted average of the C signals extracted by the three-line comb filter and a two-line comb filter. When the motion level of the image exceeds a predetermined threshold, a selector selects, as the final C signal, the signal output from the second weighting circuit. When the motion level is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold, the selector selects, as the final C signal, the signal output from the first weighting circuit.

Abstract: A network system comprises nodes, a network management system and a plurality of user terminals. Each of the nodes established on the network system comprises an optical cross connect and a packet switch. The packet switch accommodates a plurality of terminals. Each of the nodes monitors traffic transferring in the packet switch thereof. Alternatively, each of the nodes monitors start and end of an application of each of the terminals included therein. Alternatively, each of the nodes measures delay time between the nodes. Then, each of the nodes reports the packet flow, the start and the end of the application, or the delay time between nodes to the network management system. The network management system establishes an optical path between each of the nodes based on the packet flow, the start and the end of the application, or the delay time between nodes monitored by each of the nodes.

Abstract: A digital matched filter stores a series of values of a digital input signal in a memory, compares each stored value with a corresponding value of a known code, and generates an analog comparison result signal for each comparison. The analog comparison result signals are combined to obtain an analog sum signal, which is then converted to a digital output signal. The digital output signal is obtained in real time, because there is little or no processing delay in combining the analog comparison result signals. The circuits that generate and combine the analog comparison result signals are similar to digital circuits, enabling the digital matched filter to be integrated easily with other digital signal-processing circuits.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus for use in a master station in a passive double-star communication network has a management unit and a measurement unit. The management unit automatically acquires information identifying slave stations in the network. The measurement unit measures the propagation delays of the slave stations after their identifying information has been acquired. The management unit manages control states related to delay control in the transmission apparatus as a whole, and issues commands to the measurement unit. The measurement unit manages the state of the delay-measurement operation for each slave station individually.

Abstract: An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus is disclosed which arranges a plurality of optical fibers in parallel, applies a resin to peripheries of the plurality of optical fibers, and hardens the resin to form the optical fibers into a ribbon. The apparatus comprises a ribbonizing jig integrally including an optical fiber aligning mechanism for aligning the plurality of optical fibers in parallel, a resin applying mechanism for applying the resin to the optical fibers aligned by the fiber aligning mechanism and a resin hardening device for hardening the resin applied to the optical fibers by the resin applying mechanism, the optical fiber aligning mechanism, the resin applying mechanism and the resin hardening device being arranged in a line in an optical fiber inserting direction, and movement mechanism for moving at least one of the ribbonizing jig and the optical fibers in a predetermined direction relative to the other.

Abstract: A to-be-sent signal (20) is comprised of a header (21) and convolution encoded data (22). An error correcting code (23) has a capability to correct a bit error or burst error contained in an objective data (24) placed apart from the header (21) in said convolution encoded data (22). Because an error arises easily in data placed apart from a header compared with that positioned near said header generally, said error correcting code (23) is added to data placed apart from said header and the addition of said error correcting code is omitted in data placed near to said header, thereby reducing whole information contents and transmission power.

Abstract: A data transfer circuit has a control circuit which outputs a clock control signal and a data control signal and receives a selectively controlled write signal and a fixed voltage level corresponding to a mode instruction signal-. An AND gate acts as a first transfer circuit which transfers the clock signal to a holding circuit corresponding to the clock control signal, and a second transfer circuit transfers a data signal to the holding circuit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a high-strength, austenitic, stainless steel, and to a method of its production. A method of producing a high-strength, austenitic, stainless steel characterised by air-melting a feedstock of super austenitic stainless steel, introducing nitrogen at 1520° C. to 1540° C. by way of electrolytic manganese containing 6 wt % nitrogen, then low carbon ferro-chrome, adding boron when the other two alloys have been fully absorbed into the molten bath, allowing the bath to cool, casting the metal at 1480° C. to 1495° C., and subsequently subjecting the castings or metal to a solution heat-treatment at 1400° C. to 1160° C. A further aspect of the invention is a high-strength, austenitic stainless steel characterised by the following chemical composition by wt %: Carbon 0.005 to 0.030 Silicon 0.03 to 1.00 Manganese 3.50 to 9.00 Phosphorous less than 0.025 Sulphur less than 0.01 Chromium 23.

Abstract: A shape information coder divides the pixels in the shape information into subsets representing different subsamplings of the shape information. Each pixel in each subset is coded with reference to a context which may be derived from reference pixels in more than one of the subsets. The context preferably includes reference pixels located on all sides of the pixel being coded, which leads to efficient coding. The shape information coder may have two or more cascaded stages, each operating as above, with one subset of pixels passed from each stage to be coded in the next stage. The resulting coded shape information is useful in, for example, wavelet coding of pictures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a drift region in which a drift current flows if it is in the ON mode and which is depleted if it is in the OFF mode. The drift region is formed as a structure having a plurality of first conductive type divided drift regions and a plurality of second conductive type compartment regions in which each of the compartment regions is positioned among the adjacent drift regions in parallel to make p-n junctions, respectively.

Abstract: A monitoring device for controlling connection-by-connection cell assembly times by monitoring the multiplexing of CPS packets and a cell assembly control method are disclosed. A cell assembler includes a multiplexing control circuit made up of a reference timer, a monitor, and a control table storing connection-by-connection control information. The monitor determines, based on a reference time fed from the reference timer, a time when a CPS packet is input via a packet receipt section for the first time. The monitor calculates a time for ending multiplexing on the basis of the control information read out of the control table and the CPS packet input time, and compares the time for ending multiplexing and the reference time connection by connection. When the time for ending multiplexing assigned to any connection expires, the monitor causes a packet multiplexing circuit to execute a preselected operation.

Abstract: To achieve a differential type logic circuit operating at a high speed and with a low voltage, the circuit is composed of a differential push-pull circuit comprising enhancement type NMOSFETs and depletion type NMOSFETs and a CMOS inverter pair circuit comprising inverters, and a threshold voltage of FETs of the CMOS inverter pair circuit is set to a value same as or greater than a threshold voltage of enhancement type FETs of the differential push-pull circuit and smaller than about ½ of supply voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same in which the semiconductor device includes a substrate; an MOS transistor formed on the substrate; an interlayer dielectric provided on at least a portion of the MOS transistor; a hydrogen occluding material which is an interstitial hydrogen occluding compound, which is provided on the interlayer dielectric, and which is employed as a wire by being disposed in the vicinity of the top of the MOS transistor; and a ferroelectric capacitor which has a height which is greater than that of the MOS transistor, wherein the hydrogen occluding material is placed between the MOS transistor and the ferroelectric capacitor.