Abstract: Video sequence processing is described with various filtering rules applied to extract dominant features for content based video sequence identification. Active regions are determined in video frames of a video sequence. Video frames are selected in response to temporal statistical characteristics of the determined active regions. A two pass analysis is used to detect a set of initial interest points and interest regions in the selected video frames to reduce the effective area of images that are refined by complex filters that provide accurate region characterizations resistant to image distortion for identification of the video frames in the video sequence. Extracted features and descriptors are robust with respect to image scaling, aspect ratio change, rotation, camera viewpoint change, illumination and contrast change, video compression/decompression artifacts and noise.

Abstract: A cathode material for a secondary battery containing a cathode active material represented by the general formula LinFePO4 (wherein n represents a number from 0 to 1) as a primary component and molybdenum (Mo), wherein the cathode active material LinFePO4 is composited with the Mo. In a preferred embodiment, the cathode material has conductive carbon deposited on the surface thereof.

Abstract: Techniques for providing cost effective and tamper evident prepaid card packaging are described. By forming a cutout in a panel of the prepaid card packaging, covering the cutout with a material such as red glassine, and aligning an activation bar code or other indicia on the card with the cutout when mounting the card within the packaging, the security of the activation indicia can be better maintained. After purchase, the bar code can be scanned through the red glassine but prior to purchase, the red glassine prevents photocopying.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional database and indexes and operations on the multi-dimensional database are described which include video search applications or other similar sequence or structure searches. Traversal indexes utilize highly discriminative information about images and video sequences or about object shapes. Global and local signatures around keypoints are used for compact and robust retrieval and discriminative information content of images or video sequences of interest. For other objects or structures relevant signature of pattern or structure are used for traversal indexes. Traversal indexes are stored in leaf nodes along with distance measures and occurrence of similar images in the database. During a sequence query, correlation scores are calculated for single frame, for frame sequence, and video clips, or for other objects or structures.

Abstract: Hardware and software techniques for interrupt detection and response in a scalable pipelined array processor environment are described. Utilizing these techniques, a sequential program execution model with interrupts can be maintained in a highly parallel scalable pipelined array processing containing multiple processing elements and distributed memories and register files. When an interrupt occurs, interface signals are provided to all PEs to support independent interrupt operations in each PE dependent upon the local PE instruction sequence prior to the interrupt. Processing/element exception interrupts are supported and low latency interrupt processing is also provided for embedded systems where real time signal processing is required. Further, a hierarchical interrupt structure is used allowing a generalized debug approach using debut interrupts and a dynamic debut monitor mechanism.

Abstract: A variety of advantageous mechanisms for improved data transfer control within a data processing system are described. A DMA controller is described which is implemented as a multiprocessing transfer engine supporting multiple transfer controllers which may work independently or in cooperation to carry out data transfers, with each transfer controller acting as an autonomous processor, fetching and dispatching DMA instructions to multiple execution units. In particular, mechanisms for initiating and controlling the sequence of data transfers are provided, as are processes for autonomously fetching DMA instructions which are decoded sequentially but executed in parallel.

Abstract: Techniques are described for using unique features of a storage medium for authentication of data as originating from the storage medium, and also for installing software and data to a storage medium in a way which inhibits unauthorized copying of the software and data to another storage medium. Cryptoprocessing keys are created using unique features of the storage medium such as location information related to storage of selected elements of a software installation on the storage medium, or alternatively defective block information relating to the storage medium. The cryptoprocessing keys are used to encrypt data for transmission to a remote server. The remote server uses the cryptoprocessing keys to decrypt the data and authenticates the data as having been encrypted with the correct keys. In order to control operation of software on a storage medium, location information unique to the storage medium is employed to create links between software modules comprising the software.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described which improve performance, reliability, and predictability of networks without having costly hardware upgrades or replacement of existing network equipment. An adaptive communication controller provides WAN performance and utilization measurements to another network node over multiple parallel communication paths across disparate asymmetric networks which vary in behavior frequently over time. An egress processor module receives communication path quality reports and tagged path packet data and generates accurate arrival times, send times, sequence numbers and unutilized byte counts for the tagged packets. A control module generates path quality reports describing performance of the multiple parallel communication paths based on the received information and generates heartbeat packets for transmission on the multiple parallel communication paths if no other tagged data has been received in a predetermined period of time to ensure performance is continually monitored.

Abstract: A positive electrode material is disclosed which contains an iron lithium phosphate as a positive electrode active material and has a large charge/discharge capacity, high-rate adaptability, and good charge/discharge cycle characteristics at the same time. Also disclosed are a simple method for producing such a positive electrode material and a high-performance secondary battery employing such a positive electrode material. Specifically, disclosed is a positive electrode material for secondary battery characterized by mainly containing a positive electrode active material represented by the general formula: LinFePO4 (wherein n is a number of 0-1) and further containing at least one different metal element selected from the group consisting of vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), indium (In) and tin (Sn). This positive electrode material can be produced using a halide of such a metal element as the raw material.

Abstract: Details of a highly cost effective and efficient implementation of a manifold array (ManArray) architecture and instruction syntax for use therewith are described herein. Various aspects of this approach include the regularity of the syntax, the relative ease with which the instruction set can be represented in database form, the ready ability with which tools can be created, the ready generation of self-checking codes and parameterized test cases. Parameterizations can be fairly easily mapped and system maintenance is significantly simplified.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (SST) (10) is provided which includes a plurality of media dispense and deposit modules (16), a media port (14), and a media transport (22) movable between the modules (16) and the port (14), the transport (22) including a media entrance and a media exit. The transport (22) may be movable vertically, horizontally, or both. Embodiments of the invention include SSTs with a number of separate media module assemblies and a number of movable transports, and SSTs with two communicating transports which may pass media between them.

Abstract: A surface wave touch screen) comprising a hydrophobic touch panel capable of propagating surface acoustic waves, wherein a touch on the touch panel causes a perturbation of a surface wave propagating through the region of the touch. Surface wave transducer means are coupled to the touch panel for transmitting and receiving surface acoustic waves on the panel and processing means are capable of determining the position of a touch on the panel. Use of a hydrophobic panel is advantageous in that operation of the touch screen is unaffected by moisture and so can be used in external environments.

Abstract: A self-service terminal having an acoustic interface is described. The terminal comprises a user locating mechanism, a controller, and an array of individually controllable acoustic elements. In use, the locating mechanism is operable to locate a user and to convey user location information to the controller, and the controller is operable to focus each acoustic element to the user's location to increase the privacy of the user in using the terminal. A method of interacting with a self-service terminal is also described.

Abstract: A security system is provided for use in association with a media entry slot (14, 24) on the user interface (12) of a self service terminal (10), such as a automated teller machine (ATM). At least three profile sensors (60a-60e) are arranged to detect the profile of the leading edge of an object (16) inserted into the slot, (14, 24). An access control means allows objects having a leading edge profile corresponding to a predetermined profile only to access a restricted zone such as the card reader module or a depository. This arrangement reduces the risk of fraudulent access to sensitive parts of the self service terminal via the media entry slots provided on its user interface (12).

Abstract: A self-service terminal (SST) (10) is provided comprising a plurality of user interfacing elements (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) and a plurality of sound issuing arrangements (28, 30). The sound generated may be modulated to provide sound with an apparent source in the vicinity of a selected user interfacing element, so that a user's attention may be directed to the appropriate element, and so the user may be guided through the steps of a transaction. The invention may be provided in conjunction with conventional visual attention-directing devices, such as LEDs (26).

Abstract: The present invention relates to modeling the variables of a data set by means of a robabilistic network including data nodes and causal links. The term ‘probabilistic networks’ includes Bayesian networks, belief networks, causal networks and knowledge maps. The variables of an input data set are registered and a population of genomes is generated each of which individually models the input data set. Each genome has a chromosome to represent the data nodes in a probabilistic network and a chromosome to represent the causal links between the data nodes. A crossover operation is performed between the chromosome data of parent genomes in the population to generate offspring genomes. The offspring genomes are then added to the genome population. A scoring operation is performed on genomes in the said population to derive scores representing the correspondence between the genomes and the input data.

Abstract: An error delegating processing system for performing operations under control of one or more applications, with device requests being made as needed by the applications. If a device returns a normal status, processing proceeds. If a device returns an error status, a specialized error handler performs error correction. The error handler examines the error status to determine if the error interferes with continued system operation. If not, the error status is logged for later correction and control is returned to the requesting application. If the error status interferes with continued operation, the error status is further examined to determine if it is correctable by a customer. If so, the error handler gives the customer instructions for correcting the error. If the error status is not correctable by the customer, the error handler suspends system operation and issues an alert for a non-customer user to correct the error status.

Abstract: Circuits for continuously varying the gain control for a low noise amplifier (LNA) of a wireless receiver are described. The gain, input third order intercept point (IIP3) and noise figure (NF) of an LNA are continuously varied according to the received power levels, causing the receiver to utilize less current at different power levels. At high gain levels the IIP3and NF are at a minimum, while at low gain levels the IIP3and the NF are at a maximum. By continuously varying the gain of an LNA throughout the operational range, the present invention achieves wider dynamic range and higher power efficiency. According to one aspect, the present invention includes a power coupler and a power detector which are utilized to produce a rectified voltage which is proportional to the input power or output power of an LNA. The rectified voltage is utilized by a control circuit which produces a signal which controls the gain, IIP3and NF of the LNA.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (SST) comprises: a data capture device (16); an emitter (34); a detector (40); and an arrangement (44,48) for producing an alarm signal if the detector (40) fails to receive emissions from the emitter (34). The data capture device (16), the emitter (34) and the detector (40) are arranged such that an object (21) in the vicinity of the data capture device (16) will obstruct the path of emissions from the emitter (34) to the detector (40).