Abstract: A tremolo device with a movable bridge, an adjustment device, and a support frame is implemented on an acoustic guitar, with features that can also be employed on an electric guitar or other stringed instruments. The movable bridge holds strings of the musical instrument in tension. The adjustment device, such as a tremolo bar, moves the bridge to change the tension of the strings. The support frame engages the bridge at a first area and engages the musical instrument at a larger second area. When the tremolo device is used, the support frame receives a force over the first area and transmits a corresponding force to the musical instrument over the larger second area, reducing the pressure that would be experienced by the musical instrument. The support frame also transmits string vibration received through the bridge to the instrument body to produce proper acoustic tones.

Abstract: A Dynamic Digital Pre-Distortion (DDPD) system is disclosed to rapidly correct power amplifier (PA) non-linearity and memory effects. To perform pre-distortion, a DDPD engine predistorts an input signal in order to cancel PA nonlinearities as the signal is amplified by the PA. The DDPD engine is implemented as a composite of one linear filter and N?1 high order term linear filters. The bank of linear filters have programmable complex coefficients. To compute the coefficients, samples from the transmit path and a feedback path are captured, and covariance matrices A and B are computed using optimized hardware. After the covariance matrices are computed, Gaussian elimination processing may be employed to compute the coefficients. Mathematical and hardware optimizations may be employed to simplify and reduce the number of multiplication operands and other operations, which can enable the DDPD system to fit within a single chip.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for identifying near and exact-duplicate documents in a document collection, including for each document in the collection, reading textual content from the document; filtering the textual content based on user settings; determining N most frequent words from the filtered textual content of the document; performing a quorum search of the N most frequent words in the document with a threshold M; and sorting results from the quorum search based on relevancy. Based on the values of N and M near and exact-duplicate documents are identified in the document collection.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for protecting a communications device connected to a communications system against an unauthorized intrusion, including providing a variable identifier to the communications device and entities authorized access thereto. The variable identifier is provided to a user address book and assigned with a permanent identifier and the permanent identifier, but not the variable identifier, is available to a user. The presence or absence of the correct variable identifier is sensed during an attempt to access the communications device for granting or denying access to the communications device. A new variable identifier is periodically provided to the communications device and to the authorized entities and to the user address book and assigned with the permanent identifier, wherein the permanent identifier, but not the new variable identifier, is available to the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating the shipment of a package or packages, each package containing one or more items, from a Sender to a Recipient, via one of a number of shippers. The apparatus includes a database for storing shipper data, a processor for processing the data in the database, a Sender's terminal for selectively receiving and sending shipment information to and from the processing system, a first communications link for selectively enabling communication between the database/processor and the Sender's terminal, a second communications link for selectively communicating between the database/processor and the shipper of the package(s), and a third communications link for selectively communicating between the database/processor and customs facilitation entities such as customs brokers. The Internet may be used as at least one of the communication links, and the database may be made available through a Web site.

Abstract: A method of operating a venture capital investment business, comprising establishing a business entity; the business entity establishing an investment fund; establishing a fund managing entity of the investment fund, the fund managing entity attending to administrative matters relating to the investment fund and making investment decisions for the fund; the investment fund having investors that provide capital contributions to the fund, the fund managing entity also providing capital contributions to the fund, the fund utilizing the contributions to invest in portfolio entities; the investors receiving a general participation interest in the fund, and the fund managing entity receiving a carried interest in the fund; providing the investors that have provided at least a threshold capital contribution to the fund with stock rights in the business entity to enable such investors to become shareholders in the business entity; the business entity securing a portion of IPO shares that become available in the portf

Abstract: Orthogonal Code Division Multiplexing (OCDM) transceiver system with Complementary Code Keying (CCK) and method for baseband OCDM-CCK encoding and decoding are provided. The OCDM-CCK method comprises a serial-to-parallel data converter converting a stream of M*n-bit serial data to n-bit parallel data in ‘M’ parallel baseband paths, and encoding each n-bit data segment with a distinct complementary code using CCK modulation for spreading. The CCK encoded baseband signals are all summed and transmitted simultaneously on the same carrier frequency and spread spectral bandwidth. The OCDM-CCK method of encoding and transmission of information, results in enhanced datarates of 33 Mbps, 88 Mbps, 176 Mbps and higher multiples of 5.5 Mbps with backward compatibility for IEEE 802.11b WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), and wireless communication networks supporting real time Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS).

Abstract: A bed top covering includes a top portion; and a bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a gusseted foot canopy therein configured to allow feet of a user to be extended in an upward direction therewithin and providing room and maneuverability for the feet of the user. A foot canopy for a bed, including top and side portions. The top and side portions form a gusseted foot canopy. The side portions are configured to be removable and attachable to a mattress of a bed. The gusseted foot canopy is configured to allow feet of a user to be extended in an upward direction therewithin and provides room and maneuverability for the feet of the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for influencing a person to develop, accept and/or understand a concept, position or idea using questioning, including a technique sometimes known as the Socratic Method. A universe of question and answer subsets comprising questions and respective multiple choice answers to each question designed in advance, arranged and inter-connected on a stand-alone computer, a computer on a local area network or computer network, or any computer network and displayed in such a way as to allow the participant to follow the individual's own path by selecting answers he accepts, which tend to logically lead the individual toward agreement and or understanding on the subject.

Abstract: A Dynamic Digital Pre-Distortion (DDPD) system is disclosed to rapidly correct power amplifier (PA) non-linearity and memory effects. To perform pre-distortion, a DDPD engine predistorts an input signal in order to cancel PA nonlinearities as the signal is amplified by the PA. The DDPD engine is implemented as a composite of one linear filter and N?1 high order term linear filters. The bank of linear filters have programmable complex coefficients. To compute the coefficients, samples from the transmit path and a feedback path are captured, and covariance matrices A and B are computed using optimized hardware. After the covariance matrices are computed, Gaussian elimination processing may be employed to compute the coefficients. Mathematical and hardware optimizations may be employed to simplify and reduce the number of multiplication operands and other operations, which can enable the DDPD system to fit within a single chip.

Abstract: A method of operating a venture capital investment business, comprising establishing a business entity; the business entity establishing an investment fund; establishing a fund managing entity of the investment fund, the fund managing entity attending to administrative matters relating to the investment fund and making investment decisions for the fund; the investment fund having investors that provide capital contributions to the fund, the fund managing entity also providing capital contributions to the fund, the fund utilizing the contributions to invest in portfolio entities; the investors receiving a general participation interest in the fund, and the fund managing entity receiving a carried interest in the fund; providing the investors that have provided at least a threshold capital contribution to the fund with stock rights in the business entity to enable such investors to become shareholders in the business entity; the business entity securing a portion of IPO shares that become available in the portf

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for identifying near and exact-duplicate documents in a document collection, including for each document in the collection, reading textual content from the document; filtering the textual content based on user settings; determining N most frequent words from the filtered textual content of the document; performing a quorum search of the N most frequent words in the document with a threshold M; and sorting results from the quorum search based on relevancy. Based on the values of N and M near and exact-duplicate documents are identified in the document collection.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamic adjustment of drain or collector voltage of a power amplifier (PA), including a PA having a voltage input, a temperature sensor measuring ambient temperature of the PA, and an adaptive PA control processor that dynamically changes the input voltage based on the ambient temperature, achieving a desired peak power when the system is subjected to high temperatures. In a further embodiment, a power sensor measures output power of the PA, and the control processor dynamically changes the voltage based on output power when the system serves a large cell in a mobile communication infrastructure employing high power. In a further embodiment, a multistage PA and method include amplifier stages having drain or collector voltage inputs, wherein a voltage applied to the inputs are set so as to be proportional to the peak power requirements of each stage, enhancing overall efficiency.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable medium for managing a financial transaction of a user at a merchant, including authenticating the user via a device of the user while the user is at the merchant; transmitting activation information for activating a reusable, pre-existing, unaltered and permanent credit or debit card account number of the user from the user device to a financial institution for processing financial transactions, while the user is authenticated; submitting a payment request including the account number to the financial institution from the merchant, while the account number is activated; and de-activating the account number after the payment request is processed by the financial institution. The financial institution only accepts and processes payment requests received from merchants while the account number is activated, and the financial institution declines payment requests while the account number is de-activated.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for secure e-commerce communications, including an e-commerce system, including a private system for maintaining confidential information; and a public system for maintaining non-confidential information. The private system provides variable cyber coordinates to authorized parties for secure communications with the private system, and the public system provides cyber coordinates to the general public for communications with the public system.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing a coefficient set used by a digital predistortion (DPD) engine to apply pre-distortion to a transmit signal and cancel distortion generated by a distorting element or distorting system when transmitting the transmit signal, including obtaining an initial coefficient set; rotating the initial coefficient set to maintain a phase of fundamental components (w10(t), . . . , w1Q(t)) of the initial coefficient set as a constant value; averaging in the time domain the rotated coefficient set to obtain an averaged coefficient set; applying the averaged coefficient set to the DPD engine, the initial coefficient set expressed in a first equation [27]; computing the phase of the fundamental components of the initial coefficient set with a second equation [28]; and computing the rotated coefficient set with a third equation [29].

Abstract: A system and method for performing digital crest factor reduction. In one embodiment, the method is devised to suppress the signal amplitude to maintain a low signal peak to average ratio (PAR), while maintaining a desirable Error Vector Magnitude (EVM). This technique may be designed to operate in highly dynamic signal conditions.

Abstract: A tremolo device with a movable bridge, an adjustment device, and a support frame is implemented on an acoustic guitar, with features that can also be employed on an electric guitar or other stringed instruments. The movable bridge holds strings of the musical instrument in tension. The adjustment device, such as a tremolo bar, moves the bridge to change the tension of the strings. The support frame engages the bridge at a first area and engages the musical instrument at a larger second area. When the tremolo device is used, the support frame receives a force over the first area and transmits a corresponding force to the musical instrument over the larger second area, reducing the pressure that would be experienced by the musical instrument. The support frame also transmits string vibration received through the bridge to the instrument body to produce proper acoustic tones.

Abstract: Orthogonal Code Division Multiplexing (OCDM) transceiver system with Complementary Code Keying (CCK) and method for baseband OCDM-CCK encoding and decoding are provided. The OCDM-CCK method comprises a serial-to-parallel data converter converting a stream of M*n-bit serial data to n-bit parallel data in ‘M’ parallel baseband paths, and encoding each n-bit data segment with a distinct complementary code using CCK modulation for spreading. The CCK encoded baseband signals are all summed and transmitted simultaneously on the same carrier frequency and spread spectral bandwidth. The OCDM-CCK method of encoding and transmission of information, results in enhanced datarates of 33 Mbps, 88 Mbps, 176 Mbps and higher multiples of 5.5 Mbps with backward compatibility for IEEE 802.11b WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), and wireless communication networks supporting real time Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS).

Abstract: A method and computer program product for operating a linearizer for a circuit, including generating a set of coefficients via a characterizer; predistorting a signal input to the circuit responsive to the coefficients and generating a linearized output in response thereto; filtering the signal through a linear digital filter having linear digital filter taps, each tap other than a first tap being successively delayed by one delay unit; generating powers of the signal; inputting the generated powers of the signal through tapped delay lines, each line having nonlinear digital filter taps, each tap other than a first tap being successively delayed by one delay unit; applying the coefficients to the linear and nonlinear digital filter taps; summing each of the nonlinear digital filter taps corresponding to a certain number of delay units; and adding the sum of each of the delay units to a particular linear digital filter tap.