Abstract: In a reduction process, data in portion buffers are selectively sampled at different sampling rates proportional to their assigned weights. For instance, portions assigned highest weights could be sampled at a reference rate corresponding to the repetition frequency of the originally received frames, portions assigned lowest weights could be sampled at {fraction (1/10)}th the reference rate, and portions assigned weights intermediate the lowest and highest ones could be sampled at rates less than the reference rate but more than {fraction (1/10)}th the reference rate. Accordingly, sampled portions assigned less than highest weights, but containing data representing objects in motion, could be subject to reproduction with less clarity than sampled portions assigned highest weight.

Abstract: A connector is fastened to a central portion of a connector bracket adjacent a slot in a slotted bracket to provide a number of electrical circuits extending through the slot. A first end of the connector bracket is fastened to the slotted bracket by means of a screw. The central portion of the connector bracket extends inwardly along the slotted card bracket, adjacent the slot, which the central portion overlaps. An end tab of the card bracket, opposite the first end thereof, extends outwardly along a part of the slotted card bracket, which itself extends from an end of the slot.

Abstract: For a station in a data communication network having a predefined limit of congestion for handling data immediately undergoing transmission through the station, a system for improving service given to network users requesting new access services to support new transmissions through the same station while the predefined congestion limit is exceeded. This system contains: a first element for determining when the predefined limit is exceeded by existing data transmissions through the station; and a second element, responsive to requests for new access services that are received while the predefined limit is being exceeded for: concurrently processing the request for new service and reducing the quality of service (QoS) to selected users. The reductions in QoS generally have the effects of reducing the speed/priority of handling of data being transmitted to or from the selected users, and of freeing up of sufficient bandwidth to accommodate the requested new access services.

Abstract: A system for use in a memory disk test system is disclosed. The system comprises a fixture for holding a disk head and a moveable slide coupled to the fixture. The system includes a non-magnetic motor system engageably coupled to the slide for moving the test fixture. A system and method in accordance with the present invention offers an SDT system which utilizes piezoelectric motors resulting in higher throughput in producing memory disks. The system and method further achieves high performance, is lower cost in implementation, and is more compact than conventional SDT systems. The system and method, by removing time delay, offers the advantage of cycle time reduction over conventional SDT systems.

Abstract: The present invention affords a predefined class of authorized users of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) access to extended telephone services through public communication networks external to the PSTN, the latter networks including the web and Internet. Authorized users in the predefined class can receive the extended services at residences, offices, and locations remote from both residences and offices. Authorized users can activate respective extended services through the external networks, and can do so without having to communicate with telephone company representatives. Resource management intelligence of the PSTN is adapted to link to the external networks for communicating with and delivering extended telephone services to the authorized users. Extended telephone services include variations of presently standard telephone services such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding facsimile image transmittal, voice mail, etc.

Abstract: A content-indexing search system and method provides search results consistent with content filtering and blocking policies. The search system comprises a content-indexing search engine including a database coupled to an information network. A user provides search queries to the search engine through a gateway serving as a proxy server and cache and blocking engine. The blocking engine implements content filtering and blocking policies with respect to the search results. Alternative embodiments provide consistency between the results of the user content searches and the content filtering/blocking policies. One embodiment modifies the search engine to implement the same content blocking policy as the caching and filtering engine. Another embodiment modifies the search engine to build an indexing database by searching the caching and engine content. A third embodiment modifies the search engine to go through the cache and filter engine as the search engine builds its indexing database.

Abstract: The vibrating probe of a scanning force microscope is brought into engagement with a sample surface in an initial approach process moving the probe toward the sample surface until the amplitude of probe vibration at an excitation frequency is measurably affected by forces between the tip and the sample, an then in a final approach process in which a change in vibration amplitude caused by a dithering vibration superimposed on the excitation vibration exceeds a pre-determined threshold limit. The excitation frequency is reduced if the phase angle of vibrations exceeds another limit, and the amplitude of the excitation driving function is increased as the amplitude or tip vibration falls below a setpoint. During approach and scanning, vibration amplitude is measured through a demodulator having an intermediate reference signal locked in phase with the tip motion signal.

Abstract: A multi-media search and indexing system for automatic selection of scenes or sounds recorded in media for replay in other context by analyzing the media for a set of frequency ranges of interest for replay. The media is analyzed to select desired frequency ranges of interest within the media, the selected frequency ranges being indicative of a scene or sound of interest. The granularity or length of the selected frequency ranges is selected for analysis. A number of analysis intervals are determined in the selected frequency ranges. The media is filtered for the selected frequency ranges and the audio level is measured for each interval. An audio clip level is established for each frequency range as indicative of a scene or sound of interest. The interval frequency range and audio level are recorded for subsequent replay.

Abstract: The present invention affords a predefined class of authorized users of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) access to extended telephone services through public communication networks external to the PSTN, the latter networks including the web and Internet, in situations wherein the users have only a single telephone line that is shared for receiving both extended telephone services and standard telephone services, and wherein the extended services are deliverable while the shared line is connected to the external network. The shared line can be a line serving a residence or business establishment containing equipment for communicating through the external network(s) and equipment used in standard telephony (e.g. standard telephones, standard facsimile receivers, standard computer fax modems, etc.). The extended services can be activated automatically, by interaction between users and computer intelligence in the PSTN, without assistance from human representatives of the PSTN.

Abstract: A fixture for testing circuits includes a rectangular array of conductive test pads, alternating with insulating areas in a checkerboard-like pattern. In a first embodiment, the entire array is printed on a central portion of a plastic membrane, with outer portions of the membrane carrying electrical lines from the test pads to connectors. In a second embodiment, the rectangular array is formed on surfaces of a number of closely packet plastic membranes, each of which has tabs extending away from the testing surface to connectors. The test fixture is generic, not being configured for testing a particular circuit configuration. To compensate for conditions of linear misalignment, the rectangular array is moved in a raster pattern having a size equal to the cell size of the rectangular array. To compensate for conditions of angular misalignment, the array may be rotated after such misalignment is measured, or test results may be compared with exemplary data for a number of misalignment conditions.

Abstract: Network browser applications are improved by providing visual status indications informing users that currently displayed pages are one of: old (outdated), partly old or new. Conventional browser applications load old or partly old page information from a cache and new information from a (usually remote) server to which the browser links via a network. A user expecting to view only new information (e.g. information that might be useless if out of date) is alerted by present status indications to request the browser to reload the entire page; which the user can do by operating a reload selector/icon conventionally presented by the browser. Various alternative status indications are shown, along with potential associations of such with a reload selector button (or equivalent icon).

Abstract: The vibrating probe of a scanning force microscope is brought into engagement with a sample surface in an initial approach process moving the probe toward the sample surface until the amplitude of probe vibration at an excitation frequency is measurably affected by forces between the tip and the sample, an then in a final approach process in which a change in vibration amplitude caused by a dithering vibration superimposed on the excitation vibration exceeds a pre-determined threshold limit. The excitation frequency is reduced if the phase angle of vibrations exceeds another limit, and the amplitude of the excitation driving function is increased as the amplitude or tip vibration falls below a setpoint. During approach and scanning, vibration amplitude is measured through a demodulator having an intermediate reference signal locked in phase with the tip motion signal.

Abstract: A pair of communications adapters each include a number of digital signal processors and network interface circuits for the attachment of a multi-channel telephone line. A bus connecting the communications adapters can carry data between a network line attached to one of the adapters and the digital signal processors of the other adapter. The digital signal processors on each card are connected to a host, or controller, processor. Each digital signal processor interrupts its host processor by transmitting an interrupt control block as data to a data memory of the host processor, and by subsequently sending an interrupt causing the host processor to examine the data memory. Preferably, the interrupt control block includes data representing a number of requested interrupts.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope operates in the manner of an atomic force microscope during intermittent periods of scanning motion, in which a sample surface is driven so that a scan line on the surface is moved past a probe tip being vibrated in engagement with the surface. Between these intermittent periods of scanning motion, the vibrating probe tip is moved out of engagement with the sample surface, so that the amplitude and phase shift of probe tip vibrations are determined by the gradient of a force field extending outward from the sample surface. Such a force field is established when the probe tip is attracted by, or repelled from, a magnetic or electric field at or near the sample surface. For each sample point, the system stores data representing the height of the sample surface and the force field.

Abstract: An inspection station for determining the characteristics of a visible overlay pattern on a ceramic substrate includes an electronic camera unit directed at each corner of the overlay pattern. The inspection station is calibrated using a calibration substrate having a known pattern, portions of which are viewed by the cameras. The cameras remain stationary during both the calibration process and during the subsequent inspection of one or more substrates. In a first version of the station, a holder holding the substrate in place is split into quadrants, which are moved with associated camera units to accommodate varying sizes of rectangular substrates. In a second version, a lens is added to increase the magnification of the optical path to the camera units.

Abstract: A method for determining whether short circuits exist among networks within a circuit under test includes bringing test probes into contact with each such network and switching groups of the test probes among two sides of a test circuit so that current flows through the testing circuit only when one of the test probes connected to one side of the testing circuit is connected by means of a short circuit to one of the test probes connected to the other side of the test circuit. This first test process establishes the fact that a short circuit exists without determining which networks are connected by the short circuit. A version of this method subsequently applies tests to individual networks to make this determination, in the event that a short circuit is found to exist by the first test process. Other versions of this method additionally determine which networks are connected to which other networks by short circuits.

Abstract: Apparatus for contact exposing each side of a substrate to a different image on a mask includes a first-side imaging station for imaging the first side of the substrate, a second-side imaging station for imaging the second side thereof, an intermediate station between the imaging stations for inverting the substrate. In each imaging station, the substrate is moved longitudinally with a transport carriage, from which it is transferred to an imaging carriage to be driven to an imaging point at which illumination through the mask occurs. The imaging carriage moves in both longitudinal and transverse directions, providing for both exposure to a mask covering the substrate and for step-and-repeat exposure of multiple portions of the substrate to a smaller image. Before exposure, the top surface of the substrate is aligned to be parallel to the adjacent mask, fiducial markings in the substrate are aligned with fiducial markings on the mask, and air is evacuated from the area between the mask and the substrate.

Abstract: Provided are a method and system for locating data stored within an environment having multiple interconnected computing systems. The method and system achieve their objects via the following actions. A superset of one or more elements comprised of data location identifiers and associated data attributes is created. A list of data attributes is received. In response to said received list of data attributes, any data location identifiers, within said created superset, which have the data attributes in the list, are transmitted. In one embodiment, the superset elements consist of object identifiers paired with the computing system wherein the objects associated with the object identifiers are located, the list of data attributes contains a list of object attributes, and the data location identifiers transmitted consist of an object identifier paired with a computing location.

Abstract: A communications adapter card provides an interface for a TI or E1 transmission line and a signal processing circuit which can be programmed to process receive and transmit data in either an ISDN or an ATM format. Preferably, two such interfaces and two such signal processing circuits are provided on the card, so that a single adapter card can be used for attachment to both an ISDN network and to an ATM network. Each signal processing circuit includes a pair of DSPs, each of which has a two port buffer extending to a parallel bus. All such DSPs are connected to a data bus. The DSPs in each signal processing circuit execute programs to operate in either an ATM mode or an ISDN mode.

Abstract: A disk texturing tool is used, for example, to provide textured spots in an annular portion of both sides of a hardfile disk. Disks are moved into and out of the texturing process in cassettes, through two disk-handling stations. In each disk-handling station, a lifter raises each individual disk from the cassette. The individual disk is then transferred to a pick-and-place mechanism, which moves it to a spindle. The spindle spins and translates the disk, so that both sides of the disk are exposed to beams derived from a pulsed laser. The pick-and-place mechanism then returns the disk to the lifter, which lowers it into the cassette pocket from which it was taken. The pick-and-place mechanism simultaneously moves one disk from the lifter to the spindle and another from the spindle to the lifter. While disks are moved by the pick-and-place mechanism of one disk-handling station, a disk in the spindle of the other disk-handling station is exposed to the laser beams.