Abstract: Compiled configuration files for different programmable logic devices that are intended to be functionally equivalent may be compared using multiple different comparisons to assure functional equivalence. The different comparisons include a fitter or resource report comparison, an engineering bit settings report that compares vectors of bits that represent the settings of hard logic blocks, and comparisons based on location, connectivity and functionality. These comparisons are particularly well-suited for determining equivalence between different models of programmable logic devices, or even different types of devices such as field-programmable gate arrays as compared to mask-programmable logic devices.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and compositions for treating a patient who has a neurological deficit. The method can be carried out, for example, by contacting (in vivo or in culture) a neural progenitor cell of the patient's central nervous system (CNS) with a polypeptide that binds the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and directing progeny of the proliferating progenitor cells to migrate en masse to a region of the CNS in which they will reside and function in a manner sufficient to reduce the neurological deficit. The method may include a further step in which the progeny of the neural precursor cells are contacted with a compound that stimulates differentiation.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program and a program guide display. A viewer may use the program guide display to browse available video-on-demand (VOD) while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The viewer may browse through video-on-demand programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to order a given video-on-demand program; and set a desired broadcast time for that program.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing audio asset information using an audio asset information storage system are provided. The storage system includes a data store containing video program information associated with a video program that embeds the known audio asset. The storage system receives a number of requests to identify the known audio asset and stores an indication of each request within the data store. The storage system provides at least a portion of audio asset information associated with the known audio asset to user equipment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the storage of recordings in a recording device in which the recordings were requested by several users are provided. Each user may be assigned a storage space limit defining the amount of storage space each user is entitled to use. In some embodiments, the storage space limit may be flexibly increased to take advantage of extra space available from other users. The system may intelligently borrow space from other users to limit the risk that a requested recording is canceled due to unavailable storage resources. In some embodiments, the system may jointly allocate a recording to several users who commonly requested a recording. The system may also set aside space in the recording device that is saved exclusively for a particular user. In some embodiments, the recording device may allocate the storage resources based on the usage of the recordings.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a digital logic circuit that comprises circuitry for generating a new iteration xn+1 of the reciprocal square root of A from the previous iteration xn by (i) multiplying the previous iteration xn by the number A; (ii) multiplying the result of (i) by the previous iteration xn; (iii) subtracting the result of (ii) from 3; and (iv) multiplying the result of (iii) by half of the previous iteration xn. According to another aspect there is provided a calculator unit for determining an initial value for use in a iterative process for calculating an estimate of the reciprocal square root of a number A, the calculator unit comprising circuitry for (a) rounding the number A to the nearest number of the form 2J, where J is an integer; (b) if J is odd, rounding J up to the nearest even number to give J?; (c) if J is even, setting J to J?; and (d) calculating 2?(J?/2) to determine the initial value for the reciprocal square root of A.

Abstract: Laser lit flat panel displays are disclosed including edge-lit and direct lit backlights. In certain embodiments, laser assemblies are selected to obtain bandwidth distributions to reduce speckle.

Abstract: A system includes a programmable transmitter device (e.g., a PLD) connected to a programmable receiver device (e.g., another PLD) via a transmission medium for transmitting a high-speed data signal from the transmitter to the receiver. During a test mode of operation a low-speed communication link between the transmitter and receiver allows those devices to work together to transmit test signals having known characteristics from the transmitter to the receiver via the transmission medium, to analyze the test signals as received by the receiver, and to adjust at least some aspect of the system (e.g., equalizer circuitry in the receiver) to at least partly compensate for losses in the test signals as received by the receiver.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is an improved interactive television system and method for t-commerce. The data for upcoming products is pre-loaded into the system's memory. When a product becomes available, a “trigger” appears on the Vertical Blanking Interval (“VBI”) of the shopping channel that causes the system to display special graphics with which the user can interact to order a product. The displayed special graphics may include text, graphics, and/or video about the product. A user can browse a list of upcoming products and select items that he or she wishes to purchase, as soon as the products become available. The system then monitors the VBI of the shopping channel and when a trigger for a selected product appears in the VBI, the system immediately sends a message (the order form) to the order center of the shopping channel and orders the product. The system can accomplish this function unattended while the user is asleep or otherwise occupied.

Abstract: A robust computational secret sharing scheme that provides for the efficient distribution and subsequent recovery of a private data is disclosed. A cryptographic key may be randomly generated and then shared using a secret sharing algorithm to generate a collection of key shares. The private data may be encrypted using the key, resulting in a ciphertext. The ciphertext may then be broken into ciphertext fragments using an Information Dispersal Algorithm. Each key share and a corresponding ciphertext fragment are provided as input to a committal method of a probabilistic commitment scheme, resulting in a committal value and a decommittal value. The share for the robust computational secret sharing scheme may be obtained by combining the key share, the ciphertext fragment, the decommittal value, and the vector of committal values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing injectable medicament preparations containing a therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance which is comprised of an active agent, of a spacer molecule and of at least one protein-binding molecule. After being brought into contact with the body, said therapeutically and/or diagnostically effective substance covalently bonds to the body fluid constituents or tissue constituents via the protein-binding molecule, thus providing a form of transport of the active agent that an be hydrolytically or enzymatically cleaved, according to pH, in the body while releasing the active agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive television system for recording television programming. The interactive television system may include components for providing personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, such as an interactive television program guide (IPG), PVR extensions, PVR application programming interfaces (APIs), a PVR device, any suitable hardware or software, or a combination thereof. These components may be implemented in, for example, an arrangement having an integrated PVR-compliant device with a PVR device, or in an arrangement having a PVR-compliant device (e.g., a set-top box) coupled to PVR equipment (e.g., a remote PVR server or a PVR sidecar) with a PVR device. The PVR-compliant device may include software and hardware configured to implement the IPG. The PVR APIs may be a library of intelligent vendor-specific and vendor-independent APIs able to determine the type of PVR device being used.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing power consumption in a programmable logic device (PLD) is provided. The power consumption may be reduced by preferably continually considering power consumption as a factor in circuit design during the technology mapping, routing, and period following routing of the programmable logic device.

Abstract: Additional functionality in a wireless headset allows it to be used during times that the external device with which it is wirelessly coupled is not being used, but when the headset is nevertheless being worn. This is accomplished by integrating a media player into the wireless headset. The media player may be an audio player, capable, e.g., of playing audio files such as MPEG-3 (“MP3”) files. Optionally, the media player may include a recording function as well, so that a user can record voice notes. In addition, if the external device is a telephone (mobile or landline), the availability of a recording function could make it possible for the user to record all or part of a conversation. Similarly, voicemail messages received on the user's telephone could be uploaded into the headset for later off-line playback. Media files recorded by the headset also could be downloaded to the external device.

Abstract: Provided herein are wrist braces with improved adjustability and performance features. An exemplary wrist brace includes a flexible support casing to enclose a user's wrist; securing loops, mounted substantially along and extending outwardly from the support casing; an elastic securing member passing through at least one of the securing loops; and a puller, attached to the ends of the elastic securing member, configured to adjustably tension the elastic securing member with respect to the casing.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment obtains program guide data from two data delivery mechanisms. Current program guide data is obtained from a continuous data stream. Other program guide data (which may include the current program guide data) is obtained by the program guide from a program guide server. The continuous data stream may also include program and program grouping identifiers. The program guide may perform real-time actions associated with programs identified in the continuous data stream.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that can be used to detect shooters. The systems and methods described herein use arrival times of a shockwave, produced by a shot, at a plurality of sensors to assign weights to each of the plurality of sensors, and determine a shot trajectory based on the assigned weights.

Abstract: In many aspects, the invention relates to systems and methods for synchronizing a communication network, particularly a slotted communication network, having a plurality of nodes. In slotted communication networks, the nodes are configured to transmit or receive data during selected time slots. During a selected time slot, each node transmits a synchronization message that is received by a neighboring node. The neighboring node adjusts its time slot boundary to coincide with the time of receipt of the synchronization message, thereby synchronizing each node with a neighboring node. Such systems and methods are energy efficient, accurate, fast, fault tolerant and easy to implement.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include adaptive routing processes for packet-based wireless communication networks. This routing approach works both in MANETs (when a contemporaneous end-to-end path is available) and in DTNs (when a contemporaneous end to end path is not available, but one of formed over space and time). In particular, the methods include adaptively selecting a routing process for transmitting a packet through a node in the network based on available information on the network topology and/or the contents of the packet.

Abstract: Multimedia distribution and broadcast systems and related processes are provided for transmitting multimedia contents and control information from a central uplink facility to a remote downlink via a satellite. The system is preferably implemented in order to generate sequences of multimedia that are broadcast from the remote downlink facility to viewers. The display arrangements of the multimedia sequences are varied and customized by each downlink facility using the control information in order to better inform and entertain viewers.