Abstract: A full service network (FSN) provides three communication channels that end between a headend and each set-top within the FSN, namely (1) forward-application-transport (FAT) channels that supply data from the headend to all or to only addressed ones of the set-tops, (2) a forward-data-channel (FDC) that supplies data from the headend to all or to only addressed set-tops, and (3) a reverse-data-channel (RDC) that supplies data from the set-tops to the headend. The FDC carries eight types of traffic, namely (1) conditional access message; (2) entitlement management messages; (3) broadcast data; (4) network management services messages or information; (5) general massaging; (6) application downloading; (7) Internet Protocol external device data services, and (8) VBR downloading. A fixed bandwidth FDC provides a first bandwidth portion for the high priority transmission of items (1), (2) and (3) at a continuous bit rate (CBR). All other items are transmitted over the FDC using at an available bit rate (ABR).

Abstract: An optical-input print reading device with voice output for people with impaired or no vision in which the user provides input to the system from hand gestures. Images of the text to be read, on which the user performs finger- and hand-based gestural commands, are input to a computer, which decodes the text images into their symbolic meanings through optical character recognition, and further tracks the location and movement of the hand and fingers in order to interpret the gestural movements into their command meaning. In order to allow the user to select text and align printed material, feedback is provided to the user through audible and tactile means. Through a speech synthesizer, the text is spoken audibly. For users with residual vision, visual feedback of magnified and image enhanced text is provided. Multiple cameras of the same or different field of view can improve performance.

Abstract: An infant bathtub having a tub of unitary construction, a foam pad attached thereto, a sling selectively and removably attachable to a lip of the tub, and a hook selectively and removably attachable to a bottom surface of the tub. The hook includes shoulders and a notch formed thereon that mate with channels and resilient tabs formed on the bottom surface of the tub. The receptacle is located on the bottom surface of the tub in the position relative to the center of mass so that when the hook is installed therein, the infant bathtub will hang from a shower curtain rod in a substantially vertical orientation. The sling can be removably attached to the infant bathtub along a lip formed on the tub and the clips can be positioned relative to various ribs formed at the head end and foot end of the tub.

Abstract: A technique for performing a time slot interchange in a processor. The TSI process is surrounded by a multiplexing/demultiplexing circuit for converting a plurality of PCM highways into a single input serial data stream. The mux/demux circuit includes elastic stores to align frames and shift resisters to mux/demux with a minimum of delay. The TSI processor includes an input and an output buffered serial port, a pair of input buffers, one to receive even-numbered frames from the PCM highways and one to receive odd-numbered frames, and an output buffer. Data is read from the appropriate input buffer in a non-sequential fashion as commanded by the processor in accordance with information stored in connection arrays (address buffers). The data is then written to the output buffer sequentially. The timing of the reading and writing steps is optimized relative to free running buffered serial port pointers for each BSP to reduce the frame delay.

Abstract: A monitor/hands-free intercom system includes a child unit and a parent unit which are each transceivers. The parent unit operates primarily as a receiver, unless and until a talk switch is actuated on the parent unit, enabling the parent unit to transition to a transmitter. The child unit acts primarily as a transmitter unless and until it detects a carrier signal at the appropriate frequency during one of its short sniff periods. If a carrier signal is detected, the child unit extends the sniff period to look for a non-audible hidden tone encoded into the transmission from the parent unit. If the hidden tone is detected, the child unit transitions to a receiver mode and is able to play back the sound waves detected by the parent unit so that the parent can reassure or provide instructions to the child.

Abstract: A system for utilizing the available bit rate in a constrained variable bit rate channel is described. The system receives one or more encoded information streams, each having a variable bit rate. Rate control circuitry controls the rate of transmission of the encoded information streams so that the variable bit rate of the streams is transformed into a constrained variable bit rate, in which the variable bit rate is limited to a predetermined maximum value. A multiplexer multiplexes the encoded information streams for transmission over a channel. The channel may comprise a 6 MHz television channel. The multiplexer also multiplexes the encoded information streams with a secondary information stream for transmission over the channel. For purposes of multiplexer selection of information streams, the secondary information stream is assigned a lower priority than the encoded information streams.

Abstract: A swing with a pivotably attached tray for pivotable movement about a generally vertical axis, a vibrating mechanism attachable to a seat bottom of the swing, wheels mounted on a frame for selective engagement with the floor when the frame is tilted back when grasping a pair of handles on the frame, a lost motion coupling mechanism for a motorized drive mechanism, and a reclinable seat with an adjustment wire for selecting different reclined positions.

Abstract: A pivotably-mounted extendable gate for restricting access by infants or pets through an opening defined by a pair of opposed vertical surfaces or walls. The gate is pivotably mounted via hinges pivotably attached to the gate which are slidably received within sleeves of retaining brackets mounted to one of the walls. The gate is extendable and retractable via two separate and similar gate members which are slidably coupled together. A pair of vertically-spaced-apart receptacles mounted on the opposite walls receive upper and lower portions of one of the gate members to prevent pivotable movement of the gate when so received. A latch provided on the upper portion of the gate engages with the upper receptacle to prevent sliding movement of the gate.

Abstract: An infant restraint system including an infant carrier, a base couplable to the infant carrier via an improved locking mechanism and having an improved recline mechanism. The infant restraint system further includes an improved handle and an improved belt system, the belt system having a mid-belt adjuster disposed in front of the infant when the infant is positioned in the infant restraint system.

Abstract: An infant stroller with a conventional frame which can be collapsed by releasing a latch mechanism mounted on a central portion of the frame. The handle arms of the frame terminate in a handle assembly which includes a handle bar portion designed for two-handed operation and a handle grip designed for one-handed operation of the stroller. The handle grip is provided at an ergonomically comfortable angle in the range of 60 degrees from horizontal. A console tray is provided in the vicinity of the handle assembly for the operator to conveniently store various sundry items. The console tray supports a back edge of a canopy on the infant stroller. The canopy includes a canopy frame and a sunshade depending therefrom which is supported by a separate sunshade frame.

Abstract: A multiplexer device for multiplexing and demultiplexing signals between a low-speed network including 28 DSX-1 signals and a relatively higher speed network including a DS-3 signal. The multiplexer device includes 7 quad DSX-1 cards and 1 spare card. The spare card is connected to the other 7 DSX-1 cards in a fashion that allows the spare card to automatically be switched in for one of the DSX-1 cards or to allow interface electronics on the spare card to replace selected ones of the interface electronics on various different DSX-1 cards simultaneously. A pair of controller cards, a primary card and a secondary card, perform the M1-3 multiplexing and demultiplexing and the DS-3 framing and transceiving. The controller cards can be selected or deselected by distributed logic in a sufficiently short time period so that alarms are not set off and so that the transition is hitless. This is accomplished by electronically enabling and disabling the transceiver.

Abstract: A swing with a pivotably attached tray for pivotable movement about a generally vertical axis, a vibrating mechanism attachable to a seat bottom of the swing, wheels mounted on a frame for selective engagement with the floor when the frame is tilted back when grasping a pair of handles on the frame, a lost motion coupling mechanism for a motorized drive mechanism, and a reclinable seat with an adjustment wire for selecting different reclined positions.

Abstract: A swing with a pivotally attached tray for pivotable movement about a generally vertical axis, a vibrating mechanism attachable to a seat bottom of the swing, wheels mounted on a frame for selective engagement with the floor when the frame is tilted back when grasping a pair of handles on the frame, a lost motion coupling mechanism for a motorized drive mechanism, and a reclinable seat with an adjustment wire for selecting different reclined positions.

Abstract: A child restraint system including a seat back pivotably connected to a seat bottom and having a fabric cover thereon. The seat back includes two oblong openings defined therein which are covered by mesh portions provided on the fabric cover to allow for the improved flow of air between the area behind and to the side of the seat back and the area in the vicinity of the torso of the child occupying the child restraint system and to allow for the easy connection of the child restraint system to the seat of the motor vehicle. A guide providing multiple possible positions for a shoulder belt of the motor vehicle seat belt system is provided on the seat back. The guide may be fixed with a plurality of fixed channels thereon for receiving and retaining the shoulder belt or the guide may be movable relative to the seat back, being yieldingly held in place by a spring and a pattern of serrations defined on the guide.

Abstract: A high chair which includes a removable tray with a single-handed actuation handle for actuating a release mechanism. The actuation handle is located on the front edge of the tray and can be pushed slightly forward to operate the release mechanism which pivots fingers out of engagement with grooves located on the sides of the seat of the high chair. The seat can be removed from the high chair by actuating a latch located on a bottom side thereof and pivoting it slightly while lifting off to disengage notches defined on the back of the seat from an upper tubular member of a cradle which is attached to a frame and supports the seat thereon. The cradle can be pivoted relative to the frame to provide a plurality of positions for the seat, including an upright and a recline position. A pivoting mechanism includes a pair of nested hubs and a pin which selectively locks the hubs together.

Abstract: An apparatus/method for descrambling a TV cable system transmission that been scrambled using an unknown scrambling algorithm. Insertion apparatus inserts a known visual/electrical characteristic into the TV transmission prior to scrambling by the unknown scrambling algorithm. The scrambled TV transmission, the scrambled insert-characteristic, and an encrypted message that defines the unscrambled insert-characteristic, are sent to all set-tops within the cable system. A set-top descrambler at each system-authorized set-top operates to descramble the scrambled insert-characteristic. The encrypted message is decrypted at each system-authorized set-top, to thereby reproduce the unscrambled insert-characteristic.

Abstract: An intelligent asset management system is disclosed which includes a schedule manager for evaluation of predetermined events particular to each asset and predetermined requirements for distribution, updating, and deletion of the asset in view of real time current conditions and constraints; a resource manager for optimizing the utilization of hard disk storage devices on the system as well as optimizing the use of other types of storage devices available; a configuration manager that tracks and provided updated asset Metadata, application information, storage disk topology, bandwidth topology, weighting factors, and timing information for each asset; and a reporting and polling manager which tracks actual activity on the system such as user input and demands, and provides periodic reporting capabilities for the operators of the system.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for producing oil and natural gas from an oil well in the later stages of the well's lifetime. The apparatus includes a one-way valve located at the bottom of the conventional production tubing and a string of macaroni tubing inserted inside of the production tubing. The three chambers defined by the casing, the production tubing, and the macaroni tubing, are connectable to either the suction or discharge manifolds of the apparatus, which are in turn connectable to a compressor. With the valves manipulated in the appropriate fashion by the controller, pressure differentials can be created in the down-hole region of the well to force oil first into the macaroni tubing and then force it up and out of the macaroni tubing and to the sales line. An optional plunger may be used to help reduce paraffin or scale buildup in the macaroni tubing.