Abstract: In a virtualized computer system, a network frame is transmitted from a virtual machine using a network interface device, possibly through a virtual switch, by copying only a part of the network frame to the transmit buffers that have pre-translated mappings from guest physical addresses to hypervisor virtual addresses and to machine addresses. The length of the part of the network frame that is copied to the transmit buffers may be variable.

Abstract: A protective undergarment, such as trousers or a shirt intended for use under other clothing, employs seamless welding to permanently affix one or more protective pad segments to the main body of material. An ultra-sonic welding process may be employed. Thus, a welding material, such as a suitable polymeric film, may be used to fuse a small-area fabric member to the main body material of the undergarment, so as to form a pocket for a pad segment. To ensure that the pad segment does not fold or otherwise move within the pocket, at least one channel may be formed within the pad segment to allow welding within the interior of the pad segment.

Abstract: A flexible hinged cleat for a shoe includes a base, a hinge section and a traction section formed as a one-piece mechanism. The flexible hinged cleat is capable of flexing upwardly or downwardly, depending on the direction of the applied force. The hinge section is configured such that the traction section is hinged for rotation relative to a generally fixed axis. Multiple flexible hinged cleats may be molded as parts of a strip and subsequently sandwiched between the outsole and midsole of a shoe.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for providing an instant messaging (IM) environment. The network includes a plurality of client computer processing systems, a plurality of public IM services and an IM server appliance coupling the client computer systems and the public IM services for one of one-on-one and group communication. The IM server appliance includes an IM server for directing IM communication between the client systems and the public IM services, a message logging for creating a log entry of IM communications, a conferencing server interacting with the IM server to providing multiple user IM conferences, a web providing an administration interface and a plurality of public IM service gateways for translating messages from a native IM protocol employed within the IM appliance to a public IM protocol executing in any of the public IM services.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes multiple A/D (analog-to-digital) paths and cross-path calibration to provide accurate and reliable measurements for each input channel in a data acquisition system. When the system and method are applied, user and automated methods of selecting among a number of alternative input range settings can be reduced, or even eliminated. That is, there is a significant reduction or complete elimination of input range settings in a measurement system. For each measurement channel of interest, the input signal is directed to at least two paths, e.g., Path A and Path B. The first path measures the full range (e.g., +/?10 volts), while the second path includes a high-gain amplifier. Each path includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), so that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the number of paths and the number of ADCs, which sample the input signal simultaneously.

Abstract: The coating of internal surfaces of a workpiece is achieved by connecting a bias voltage such that the workpiece functions as a cathode and by connecting an anode at each opening of the workpiece. A source gas is introduced at an entrance opening, while a vacuum source is connected at an exit opening. Pressure within the workpiece is monitored and the resulting pressure information is used for maintaining a condition that exhibits the hollow cathode effect. Optionally, a pre-cleaning may be provided by introducing a hydrocarbon mixture and applying a negative bias to the workpiece, so as to sputter contaminants from the workpiece using argon gas. Argon gas may also be introduced during the coating processing to re-sputter the coating, thereby improving uniformity along the length of the workpiece. The coating may be a diamond-like carbon material having properties which are determined by controlling ion bombardment energy.

Abstract: A space-conscious system utilizes a low profile expansion card for providing a physical and electrical interface between a larger scale board, such as a motherboard, and an external component. The expansion card is mounted in a perpendicular orientation relative to the larger scale board, despite dimensional limitations with regard to such an orientation. The expansion card includes an input/output circuit board and a “signal-conduction extender” for enabling coupling to an external wall of the housing in which the expansion card and larger scale board are contained. In one possible embodiment, the housing is compatible with the 1U standard, the expansion card is an Ethernet card, and there is an adapter board at the front wall of the housing for routing connections from the expansion card to an exposed port. The invention allows a number of the expansion cards to be mounted in parallel within the same container.

Abstract: A guide wheel assembly adapted to retrofit a shopping cart having a guide wheel capable of only rotating in the intended direction of travel of the shopping cart and a flexible one piece mechanism possessing strong material memory such that constant contact between the guide wheel and a traveling surface is maintained. The guide wheel assembly is configured to allow the nesting of multiple carts.

Abstract: A power amplifier utilizes cascode arrangements to achieve target performance levels for a power amplifier, such as the type used in wireless communication devices. A negative resistance circuit is provided for the cascode arrangement such that high gain, or oscillation, is promoted during operation of the power amplifier. In one embodiment, the negative resistance circuit includes cross-coupling transistors. Various features are provided in order to reduce the susceptibility of the power amplifier to voltage breakdown while maintaining good performance.

Abstract: A backpack containing a gravity flow water filtration system. The backpack incorporates a compartment at its top to hold a reservoir of untreated water, and a compartment at the bottom to hold a reservoir for filtered water. A tube and filter connect the two compartments, and a drinking tube and mouthpiece allow the user of the backpack to drink filtered water from the filtered water reservoir. In some embodiments, the bottom compartment is accessible from both ends, and can store other items as well.

Abstract: A mounting assembly in accordance with the invention provides rotational adjustment of a board binding, such as a binding of a snowboard, wakeboard, or the like, without the use of external tools. A spacer plate which enables the mounting of the binding in a position above the board is combined with a mechanism which can change its thickness on demand, thereby locking or unlocking the binding from a freely rotatable position.

Abstract: A portable multi-event reminder device includes a battery-powered electrical timer circuit that is programmable with respect to selecting at least two overlapping time periods, so as to generate prompts for at least two functionally related but time-independent events. A solitary two-state switch is the sole input device employed by a user to provide the desired timing programming. The timer circuit is configured to generate a first electrical reminder signal upon expiration of the first selected time period and to generate a second electrical reminder signal upon expiration of the second selected time period. The reminder signals activate one or more sensory alerts that generate human-perceivable alerts for prompting a user.

Abstract: A support structure utilizes a combination of positive pressure openings and negative pressure openings to precisely position a workpiece, such as a sheet of float glass. The positive pressure openings are supply openings that direct a flow of fluid, such as air, onto the surface of the workpiece. The negative pressure openings are exhaust openings that are used to regulate the leakage of fluid from between the workpiece and the support structure. In the preferred embodiment, the surface of the support structure includes raised regions that surround the exhaust openings and that function as self-regulating pinch valves. This arrangement enables an equilibrium condition to be quickly established and maintained upon placement of the workpiece on the support structure.

Abstract: In a titanium nitride-based optical coating, the structural stability of the coating is enhanced by providing a damage-retardation base layer between the titanium nitride layer and a substrate. Where the optical coating is to provide solar control, the titanium nitride layer is selected primarily for achieving desired optical characteristics, while the thickness of the damage-retardation layer is selected primarily for achieving desired mechanical characteristics. The damage-retardation layer is formed of a grey metal, with nickel chromium being the preferred metal. The grey metal layer reduces the likelihood that the titanium nitride layer will crack. The tendency of such a layer to crack and form worm tracks is further reduced by exposing the substrate to a plasma preglow and/or by using a slip agent on the side of the substrate on which the layers are to be formed.

Abstract: Localized heating of a window, such as a vehicle windshield or sidelight, is provided by dividing an optical coating that is electrically conductive into high and low heating zones. While the conductive coating covers substantially the entirety of the window, the coating is patterned to establish a preselected heating power density pattern. In one application, bus-to-bus dimensions are kept short and opposite polarity high heating zones are placed in a side-by-side relationship, so that the major portion of the window is left unheated and the bus connections may be placed along the same window edge. In another application, the bus-to-bus dimensions are significantly larger, but power concentration is provided by a pattern of isolation lines that narrow the dimensions of current flow through a zone in which heating is desired.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a data network includes storing topology information that identifies interconnections and interdependencies among network components, as well as links between websites and the components. Each component is also mapped to relevant protocol layers of a hierarchy of protocol layers that are ranked according to dependencies among the protocol layers in implementing functions. Network test measurements are also mapped to the appropriate protocol layers. Based upon the topology information and the various forms of mapping information, a user is able to navigate through a web-based user interface to determine root causes of network problems. Alternatively, an automated correlation process may be used to prioritize alerts of network problems, so that the root cause can be more easily ascertained.

Abstract: An automated tee device uses air pressure through a tee to determine whether a ball is rested on the tee or whether a next ball should be supplied. When a ball is in a rest position on the tee, the airflow through a passage within the tee is inhibited. Consequently, by determining the current condition of airflow through the tee, it can be determined whether a ball is rested on the tee or whether a next ball should be supplied. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the tee can be adjusted to any height within a preselected vertical range. Upper and lower limit switches reverse the adjustment of a tee height in response to determining that the upper or the lower limit of the range has been reached. The automated tee device may be used in sports such as golf, baseball and softball.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ball projecting apparatus having a ball singulator with a fork-and-actuator mechanism that is adjustable to allow the apparatus to be used for a variety of different sports. A fork assembly is adjustable or replaceable to convert the apparatus from use with balls of one sport to use with balls of a different sport. Each fork may be referred to as a “rocker,” since it is pivoted from a first position in which a foremost ball is impeded from advancing to a second position in which the foremost ball is released, but the next ball is impeded. The rocking motion alternates which of two prongs is within the ball-supply path. When the forward prong is in the ball-supply path, all balls are prevented from advancing. Alternatively, when the rearward prong is in the ball-supply path, the foremost ball is allowed to advance.

Abstract: Method of providing technical support using an expert system including exchanging information between the system and the computing devices in a conversational format utilizing the Internet. The expert system is connected to a knowledge base having data relevant to diagnosing operating conditions of at least one product. The knowledge base may have a tree-like arrangement of rules in which each rule includes a number of antecedents and a solution. Incoming text strings to the expert system are free-form descriptions of the operating conditions of the product for which technical support is sought. The outgoing text strings include questions strings and solutions strings, and the identification of user options, which may include requests for explanations and/or summaries of the session progress. Deduction and induction are employed to identify a rule which includes a solution that resolves the problem experienced by the user who is engaged in a session.

Abstract: A golf teeing device includes a one-piece singulation arm having a ball-receiving region that is connected to a ball-seating region by a ramp region. The unitary singulation arm has a raised rest position and a lowered delivery position. The configuration of the ramp region channels a golf ball to the ball-seating region when the singulation arm is in its delivery position. The configuration of the ball-seating region inhibits horizontal movement of the ball in any direction when the ball reaches this region. In one embodiment, all three regions of the singulation arm have dimensions that are consistent with the channel of the ramp region. A ball-striking mechanism within a supply path to the singulation arm is activated to provide dislodging forces to at least two balls, thereby ensuring a consistent flow of balls to the singulation arm.