Abstract: A system and method of optically inspecting a structure on a surface of a production object which is supported on a moving inspection platform. The method reliably traces structure edges and stores structure and structure island characteristics. The system uses a camera and a light or energy source to sharply delineate the structure edges. A sequence of images of the object and the structure are captured, and the structure is detected in each image. The structure is then symbolically decomposed into primitives, and a histogram is produced for each image identifying the slope and length of each edge of the structure. The histograms are compared in each image, and are aligned to eliminate differences due to wobble of the inspection platform or differences in magnification. A production structure grammar is then produced from the aligned images. The production structure grammar is compared to a reference structure grammar generated from a defect-free object.

Abstract: A back-supported load-carrying mechanism that includes a molded frame having a lumbar support element pivotally connected to a lower portion of the frame. The lumbar support element extends vertically, approximately halfway up the back of a user and horizontally, the full width of the frame, thus providing a large area of surface contact with the user's back. On the surface that contacts the user's back, the lumbar support element is anthropometrically shaped to fit the user's back. This surface is also covered by a non-sliding foam inlay. The lumbar support element may pivot approximately 95 degrees downwards, with the rear side of the lumbar support element providing a seat for the user. A load-support piece may be connected to the rear of the frame to provide a support shelf for the load being carried and to provide rear support when the back-supported load-carrying mechanism is in a chair configuration.

Abstract: A screw-type, in-ground anchor device for anchoring an above-ground upright. A generally cylindrical drive shaft includes an upper cylindrical housing portion constructed of ¼-inch rolled steel with an inside diameter sized to match the outside diameter of the upright. A conical portion connects the upper housing portion to a lower tip portion. The surface of the conical portion has a slope of less than 20 degrees, and preferably in the range of 5-10 degrees. A set of screw threads (flightings) are attached to the tip portion and have a diameter that is approximately equal to or less than the diameter of the upper housing portion. The flightings operate in soil to screw the anchor device into the ground when the device is rotated. The conical portion outwardly compresses the soil that is disrupted in the wake of the flightings. Since the flightings have a diameter approximately equal to or less than the diameter of the upper housing portion, soil surrounding the drive shaft is not disrupted.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a fraudulent call origination in a radio telecommunications network having a subscriber's home Home Location Register (HLR) for storing a stored location for a mobile station, a serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC) in which the call origination is initiated, and a MSC-Location (MSC-L) covering the location for the mobile station stored in the home HLR. The serving MSC sends a reporting message to the home HLR when a call is originated from the mobile station in the serving MSC. The reporting message indicates a reported location for the mobile station. The home HLR then sends paging request messages to the serving MSC and the MSC-L requesting the serving MSC to page the mobile station in the reported location and requesting the MSC-L to page the mobile station in the stored location. Each MSC pages the mobile station and sends a paging result to the home HLR.

Abstract: A system in a cellular telecommunications network that combines the functionality of a home location register (HLR) with the functionality of a service control point (SCP) in a single functional unit without accessing the public switched telephone network. The system allows cellular subscribers the degree of mobility that they desire while coordinating the interaction between existing cellular subscriber services and new intelligent network (IN)-derived services. A home location register (HLR) component stores mobile subscriber information and location information on mobile stations. A service control point (SCP) component stores IN services for mobile subscribers. A cellular telecommunication interface based on the IS-41 standard is utilized for communication between the HLR component and the SCP component.

Abstract: A nutritional gel containing creatine and the method of producing the creatine gel. The creatine gel is made by cross linking maltodextrin and a modified starch through an aqueous endothermal reaction at a temperature of approximately 90 degrees Celsius. A buffering agent, such as potassium phosphate, is added to the gel to maintain a pH value at approximately 7.0. The gel is then cooled and creatine is added. Next, the gel is stabilized bacteriologically by adding a preservative, such as potassium sorbate to the gel.

Abstract: An intelligent mobile station for use in a cellular telecommunications network. The mobile station comprises a microprocessor that controls the mobile station and enables the mobile station to interface with the cellular telecommunications network and to execute enhanced subscriber services; a script memory connected to the microprocessor which stores service script logic; and a data memory connected to the microprocessor for storing script-related data required for executing the service script logic. The mobile station may collect script-related data from the cellular telecommunications network and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The mobile station may also transmit to the cellular telecommunications network and the PSTN, instructions for executing the enhanced subscriber services.

Abstract: A method and system for transferring subscriber information required for implementing an intelligent network (IN) service in a radio telecommunications network. The method begins by a G-MSC sending a signaling message requesting a location of the subscriber to a HLR. The HLR then recognizes that the subscriber has requested an IN service. Next, the HLR sends an indication that the subscriber has the requested IN service to the G-MSC. The next step includes sending a signaling message from the G-MSC to a service control point (SCP) identifying the IN service requested. Subsequently, the SCP requests from the HLR the subscriber information required for implementing the requested IN service. The HLR then sends a data message containing the requested subscriber information to the SCP.

Abstract: A system and method for improving handoff performance of a cellular telecommunications network having a serving exchange and a serving cell in which a mobile station is engaged in a call. The system adapts a first timeout period during which signal strength measurements are collected from a plurality of cells that neighbor the serving cell. A variable timing mechanism measures time periods starting when a handoff measurement request is generated. The system then sets the variable timing mechanism to measure a specified time period for each of the plurality of cells, collects the signal strength measurements during the specified time period, and processes the signal strength measurements when the specified time period expires. The system also adapts a second timeout period during which a handoff request from the mobile station is queued while awaiting an available voice channel in a target cell for handoff.

Abstract: A network manager for configuring and controlling a simulated telecommunications network having a plurality of nodes which communicate in a plurality of communications protocols. The network manager dynamically connects and disconnects each of the plurality of nodes to the network. The network manager also determines which of the plurality of communications protocols is utilized by each of the plurality of nodes, establishes connections between nodes which communicate in compatible communications protocols, and denies connections requested between nodes which communicate in incompatible communications protocols. The network manager includes a Design function and a Supervisory function. The Design function sets up the network, defines nodes, defines which nodes are to operate on which workstations, and establishes connections. The Supervisory function manages and operates the network. This includes launching the network, monitoring the nodes and links, and reconfiguring the network when requested.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for alerting a mobile subscriber within a radio telecommunication system to wait for the connection of an incoming call which may have a delayed connection time due to network congestion or the implementation of flexible alerting features utilizing alert-and-answer-before-routing techniques. In flexible alerting extension phone service, each one of a plurality of mobile stations is assigned to a single pilot directory number (PDN), and a home location register (HLR) in an originating exchange maintains a list of parameters identifying each visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) in which mobile stations identified with the PDN are believed to be currently located. The HLR places a forward service indicator code in the routing request messages that it sends to the V-MSCs. After all mobile stations identified with the PDN are paged, voice channels are seized with those that responded.

Abstract: In a cellular telecommunication network utilizing home location registers for completion of calls to and from a mobile station, a system and method is disclosed for loading and accessing database information relating to the mobile station, and completing calls to the mobile station while roaming in a visited foreign network without incurring long distance charges. The radio telecommunication system includes a mobile station having a mobile subscriber number (MSNB) and a first subscriber number (SNB), a home network having a mobile switching center (MSC) and a first home location register (HLR) which maintains database information relating to the mobile station, and a visited foreign network having a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) and a second HLR. When the mobile station roams into the visited foreign network, a second SNB is assigned to the MSNB, and subscriber information is stored in the second HLR.

Abstract: The present invention describes a system and a method for distributing channel port loading functionality in a radio base station. The radio base station has a plurality of transceivers and at least one frequency agile combiner. The transceivers have a plurality of channel ports each able to transceive either one of at least two channel functions each having corresponding higher or lower loading averages. The method has steps of averaging loading of each channel port over a predetermined period of time, identifying and seizing the channel port having lower average loading, reconfiguring the identified and seized channel port to the channel function having the higher loading average, letting adjust the frequency agile combiner accordingly and transferring the communication having higher loading average on the reconfigured channel port.

Abstract: A system and method of simultaneously paging a mobile station from a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSCs) in a radio telecommunications network without utilizing a home location register is disclosed. The system and method may be utilized to more rapidly locate a mobile station operating in a roamer port region covered by a plurality of MSCs. When a roamer port call is received in a first MSC in which the roamer port is defined, the first MSC begins paging for the mobile station while simultaneously sending a plurality of paging request messages to each of the other MSCs in the roamer port region. The paging request messages include an indication that the call is a roamer port call, and an indication of the Local Access and Transport Area (LATA) in which paging is requested. Each MSC receiving one of the paging request messages immediately begins paging the mobile station in parallel with other receiving MSCs.

Abstract: A system and method of providing seamless interoperability for a mobile station roaming between cellular telecommunication systems operating in multiple hyperbands such as the 1900-MHz PCS hyperband and the 800-MHz cellular telephone hyperband, utilizing United States cellular standards. An enhanced inter-exchange communications protocol based on IS-41 is utilized to communicate information required for seamless interoperability between mobile switching centers (MSCs). The enhanced inter-exchange communications protocol comprises a plurality of signaling messages and a plurality of modified message parameters within the signaling messages. The modified message parameters are modified to include information elements required for seamless interoperability between the multi-hyperband capable exchanges and are added as optional (overriding) parameters to the signaling messages.

Abstract: A system for remote automatic monitoring and recording of utility meter readings which comprises an electronic meter reader (EMR) for accumulating meter counts from a plurality of utility meters, a data concentrator which collects accumulated meter counts from the EMR, a telephone interface for placing a first data call from the EMR to the data concentrator over an available telephone line, a billing computer connected to the data concentrator, and a modem for placing a second data call including the accumulated meter counts from the data concentrator to the billing computer utilizing standard telephone service. The EMR connects the EMR to three telephone lines, and determines whether each of the plurality of telephone lines is available for placing a data call. The data concentrator sends configuration data to the EMR at the conclusion of a data call.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for accessing a cellular telecommunications network serving a plurality of normal subscribers and a plurality of fixed subscribers. The normal and fixed subscribers access the system through a plurality of cells and a plurality of base stations electronically connected to a mobile switching center (MSC). Each of the base stations transmits radio frequency signals over a coverage area defining one of the cells. The system differentiates during system access the normal subscriber from the fixed subscriber. The system permits the normal subscriber access to the system through any one of the plurality of cells. The system permits the fixed subscriber restricted call setup to the system through a fixed subscription area (FSA) defined for the fixed subscriber to include at least one of the cells.

Abstract: A system for providing seamless interoperability for a multi-hyperband capable mobile station roaming between cells within a cellular telecommunications network having a mobile switching center and a plurality of base stations that transmit and receive radio signals in a plurality of frequency hyperbands. The system comprises a plurality of location and verification devices within each of the plurality of base stations, Each of the plurality of location and verification devices operates in a different one of the plurality of frequency hyperbands. The system builds a neighbor list of candidate cells for handoff that includes cells operating in different ones of the plurality of frequency hyperbands, identifies the best candidate cell for communication with the mobile station, and verifies the presence of the mobile station in the identified candidate cell.

Abstract: A radio telecommunications network for providing redundant interfaces from a mobile switching center (MSC) to an associated voice mail system (VMS) is disclosed. The radio telecommunications network includes a first peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-1) connected to the VMS, wherein the PEG-1 provides a first interface between the VMS and the radio telecommunications network, and a second peripheral equipment gateway (PEG-2) connected to the VMS, wherein the PEG-2 provides a second interface between the VMS and the radio telecommunications network. The MSC receives and routes an incoming call from a mobile station requesting voice mail retrieval, and a home location register (HLR) simultaneously sends routing request messages to PEG-1 and PEG-2, and includes an indication that the routing request messages are for voice mail retrieval. PEG-1 and PEG-2 return routing numbers for the VMS to the HLR.