Abstract: The invention concerns a method for receiving a multi-carrier signal of reduced complexity when the number of carriers is not high. The method includes: demodulating the multi-carrier signal; converting a received signal received in binary representation into a modal representation in a base of at least two mutually prime numbers on a finite space of size equal to the product of the mutually prime numbers; demodulating including conversion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of selecting sound contents transmitted by transmission channels and received by an audio or audiovisual receiver. A user first selects a received content and starts playback. Then, the receiver automatically searches among the contents transmitted by the transmission channels for a content whose audio parameters have values close to the values of a previously selected content and plays it back at the end of the current content. The operation is renewed each time the current content ends. According to a refinement, the receiver has a memory that makes it possible to offset the playback of the content in time and thus best synchronize the playback of the various selected contents. The invention also relates to an appliance capable of selecting audio contents originating from several channels and having similar audio characteristics, and playing them back automatically.

Abstract: A decision feedback equalizer (DFE) and method include summer circuits configured to add a dynamic feedback tap to a received input to provide a sum and to add a speculative static tap to the sum. Sense amplifiers are configured to receive outputs of the summer circuits and evaluate the outputs of the summer circuits in accordance with a clock signal. A passgate multiplexer is configured to receive outputs from sense amplifiers wherein the multiplexers is clock-gated for isolation of subsequent ciruitry from the outputs of the sense amplifiers during a precharged period. A gating circuit is configured to perform gating of a selected signal output from a second circuit portion with a clock signal and to enable the isolation of the subsequent circuitry by the multiplexer during the precharge period.

Abstract: A system and method for allocating distributed processing systems includes inputting component descriptions in a distributed processing system and determining importance of each component. Capacity and failure characteristics of resource groups representing units of available processing capacity are also input. Components are assigned to a plurality of resource groups based on the capacity. Each resource group includes components where the failure characteristics permit simultaneous failures, such that in the event of such failures, an output value of the application is maximized.

Abstract: A Scanning Time-Resolved Emission (S-TRE) microscope or system includes an optical system configured to collect light from emissions of light generated by a device under test (DUT). A scanning system is configured to permit the emissions of light to be collected from positions across the DUT in accordance with a scan pattern. A timing photodetector is configured to detect a single photon or photons of the emissions of light from the particular positions across the DUT such that the emissions of light are correlated to the positions to create a time-dependent map of the emissions of light across the DUT.

Abstract: A pickup for accessing moving storage media carrying substantially parallel information tracks has a carrier, an actuator with a lens and suspension wires extending from the rear of the carrier and joining the carrier and the actuator. The actuator is movable in the focus direction and in a tracking direction and has a substantially rectangular flat board carrying the lens and a counter weight. The flat board is arranged orthogonal to a focus direction and carries tracking and focus coils. The pickup has a magnet configuration connected to the carrier with at least two tracking magnets, which are arranged in the tracking direction at opposite sides of the flat board and extend orthogonal to the focus direction above and/or under the flat board, and with at least two focus magnets, which are arranged in front of and behind the flat board and extend orthogonal to the direction of the tracks.

Abstract: A faceted bone screw and a method for manufacturing the same includes a screw thread configuration having facets that are substantially transverse to the thread. The facets are generally made up of a plurality of transitioning peaks and valleys which vary the depth of the thread and are disposed in one or more locations throughout the threaded portion of the bone screw. The facets operate to reduce the torque required to drive the bone screw into bone, while at the same time operate to assist in anchoring the bone screw within the bone once inserted therein, and thereby reduce the possibility for the screw backing out after insertion.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically building applications for stream processing includes providing processing elements with a flow specification describing each input and a stream description describing each output such that the flow specification indicates a stream or streams which are to be received based on processing information and the stream descriptions indicate the processing information. Processing elements that can be reused are identified by determining equivalence between the processing elements. Processing elements that are new and are not reusable are instantiated in a flow graph. An application is dynamically composed, using the instantiated processing elements by routing available streams to the instantiated processing elements in accordance with the flow specifications.

Abstract: Movies are produced in 24 Hz frame frequency and progressive scanning format (denoted 24p) for projection in film theatres, adhering to a worldwide standard for 35 mm film. However, the major TV systems in the world use interlaced scanning and either 50 Hz field frequency (denoted 50i) or 60 Hz field frequency (denoted 60i). Content providers would prefer providing single-picture-frequency single-audio-speed AV discs that can be replayed in most parts of the world. A 24p audio/video data stream is supplemented with additional 50i format data items thereby allowing 24p and 50i format replay of that data stream.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling power and performance in a microprocessor system includes a monitoring and control system integrated into a microprocessor system. The monitoring and control system includes a hierarchical architecture having a plurality of layers. Each layer in the hierarchal architecture is responsive to commands from a higher level, and the commands provide instructions on operations and power distribution, such that the higher levels provide modes of operation and budgets to lower levels and the lower levels provide feedback to the higher levels to control and manage power usage in the microprocessor system both globally and locally.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a quick-connect structure for a bicycle saddle, particularly for removably mounting an accessory, such as a tool kit or the like, to the saddle. The saddle has at least one load-bearing body to be attached to a bicycle frame. The quick-connect structure comprises at least one male member that may be snap-fitted in a corresponding female member. The male member and the female member are associated either to the saddle or to the accessory. Preferably, one of the male member and the female member is integrally and monolithically formed in the body of the saddle.

Abstract: A system and method for improving content diversification in data driven streaming includes computing a weight factor and a qualification factor for each of at least two nodes among a plurality of nodes, based upon a bandwidth of each node. Content is pushed to a node based on the qualification factor and the weight factor of each node. The qualification factor is updated for the node which received pushed content.

Abstract: A system and method for customizing a device includes identifying a user of a device and determining a profile for the user of the device from a network. The profile includes a record of at least one user preference for a type of the device. The profile is translated to a configuration of the device. The device is modified according to the configuration to permit use of the device with the at least one user preference.

Abstract: A method for repairing degraded field effect transistors includes forward biasing PN junctions of one of a source and a drain of a field effect transistor (FET), and a body of the FET. Charge is injected from a substrate to a gate region to neutralize charge in the gate region. The method is applicable to CMOS devices. Repair circuits are disclosed for implementing the repairs.

Abstract: The invention is a method for assessing image quality value of a distorted image with respect to a reference image. The method comprises the following steps: computing, for each pixel of the distorted image, at least one quality level with respect to the reference image; adding, for the distorted image, the quality levels associated to each pixel by weighting them by a weight depending on a perceptual interest of the pixel in order to get the image quality value, the weight being lower for a pixel of high perceptual interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for combating the copying of source pictures by means of a camera while they are being displayed, for example using a camcorder in a movie theatre. To this end, it is known, in classical projection systems, to modulate by a carrier wave the brightness of some pixels of the pictures. The frequency of the carrier wave is usually constant and generally half the refresh frequency. The main problem with such systems is that once a pirate has figured out what the modulation frequency is, he can configure his camcorder shutter to filter out this frequency and bypass the anti-camcorder method. According to the invention, the frequency of the carrier is changed at least once throughout the displaying of the sequence pictures or the movie, to defeat all camcorders standards (PAL/NTSC) and shutter configurations.

Abstract: An access control system and method includes a risk index module which computes a risk index for a dimension contributing to risk. A boundary range defined for a parameter representing each risk index such that the parameter above the range is unacceptable, below the range is acceptable and in the range is acceptable with mitigation measures. A mitigation module determines the mitigation measures which reduce the parameter within the range by mapping the effectiveness of performing the mitigation measures to determine a residual risk after a mitigation measure has been implemented.

Abstract: A voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) caller verification method includes generating a challenge to be sent to a VoIP caller which needs a response from the VoIP caller prior to accepting a VoIP call, wherein the challenge includes a test pattern crafted to create a greater load at a spammer VoIP caller as compared to a human VoIP caller. A response or lack thereof is determined from the VoIP caller, and the response is analyzed relative to an acceptable response to determine whether the VoIP caller is acceptable to communicate with.

Abstract: A decision feedback equalizer (DFE) and method including a branch coupled to an input and including a sample-and-hold element configured to receive and sample a received input signal from the input and a current-integrating summer. The current-integrating summer is coupled to an output of the sample-and-hold element. The summer is configured to receive and sum currents representing at least one previous decision and an input sample. The at least one previous decision and the input sample are integrated onto a node, wherein the input sample is held constant during an integration period, thereby mitigating the effects of input transitions on an output of the summer.