Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for creating a financial index related to healthcare costs. A financial derivative instrument can be created from the index. Using the financial derivative instrument, an entity can hedge against unexpected fluctuations of healthcare costs.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel child-resistant senior-friendly blister card packaging that is cheap and easy to manufacture. The packaging requires a push-peel-push method for opening, which is cognitively and physically challenging for children and mentally impaired adults. Yet, competent adults can easily open the package, especially after reading instructions. More specifically, opening the package requires the user to: 1) Push through a aperture to create a pull tab; 2) Pull on the pull tab to remove a panel; and 3) Push the blister to force the contents through the blister's seal. Advantageously, the present invention is designed such that information such as instructions and product information can be easily printed directly on the packaging. Moreover, users may also record information directly on the packaging. Thus, the present invention not only provides child-resistant and senior-friendly features, but also provides convenience for viewing and recording information.

Abstract: A method and computer program product which allows both phone-based and IP-based clients to participate in a single audio conference. The method enables at least two multi-point control units (MCUs) (i.e., conferencing servers) to connect via a standard data linkage (i.e., full-duplex dial-up or IP link). The method and computer program product enables the phone-based MCU to handle the phone clients and the IP-based MCU to handle the IP-based clients, while connecting the two to allow each participating client to hear all other participating clients.

Abstract: A system for customizing a communications network, the system including a first communications station associated with a calling party, a second communication station associated with a called party, a storage device containing at least one announcement, and a communications device for initiating a forked or forwarded call to locate the called party at the second communications station. The forked or forwarded call is initiated by the calling party whereby at least a portion of a call signal is replaced with at least a portion of the announcement. The announcement is associated with the calling party and is chosen by the called party and played to the calling party after initiation of the call but prior to active communication with the called party. Also, the call signal is selected from one of ringback signals, busy signals, network redirect signals, call progress signals, network announcement signals, or dial tone signals.

Abstract: The present invention optimizes the performance of integrated circuits by adjusting the circuit operating voltage using feedback on process/product parameters. To determine a desired value for the operating voltage of an integrated circuit, a preferred embodiment provides for on-wafer probing of one or more reference circuit structures to measure at least one electrical or operational parameter of the one or more reference circuit structures; determining an adjusted value for the operating voltage based on the measured parameter; and establishing the adjusted value as the desired value for the operating voltage. The reference circuit structures may comprise process control monitor structures or structures in other integrated circuits fabricated in the same production run. In an alternative embodiment, the one or more parameters are directly measured from the integrated circuit whose operating voltage is being adjusted.

Abstract: An ESD protection structure includes, in part, a NMOS transistor having a source and drain in a well in a substrate and a gate on the substrate with the source and drain being connected between ground and a series diode, and the gate being connected to ground. The structure further includes a diode having a cathode connected to the input pad and an anode connected to the well so that the diode is reverse-biased in the event of a positive voltage ESD event on the input pad. As a result, in a positive voltage ESD event, the avalanche effect rapidly injects current into the substrate and therefore into the base of the parasitic bipolar transistor so as to trigger the transistor into conduction and discharge the ESD pulse. Alternatively, the diode is a Zener diode and the current is generated by the Zener effect. A complementary structure provides protection against a negative ESD pulse.

Abstract: A multi-segment parallel wire capacitor includes substantially identical multiple capacitor segments fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. Each segment comprises at least first and second interleaved metal finger formed in a first metal layer above the substrate and third and fourth interleaved metal fingers formed in a second metal layer. The first and fourth sets are connected together to form one plate of the capacitor and the second and third sets are connected to form a second plate. The multiple capacitor segments are arranged in a matrix having M rows and N columns. The multiple capacitor segments are inter-connected in such a manner that the capacitor segments in each column of the matrix are connected in parallel. First and second metal lines selectively connect the plates of the different capacitor segments in the first and last rows and serve as the two opposite terminals of the multi-segment parallel wire capacitor.

Abstract: Method, including monitoring an audio signal on a telephone line with a detector and detecting an energy pulse in the audio signal on the telephone line; processing the energy pulse with a processor, where the energy pulse comprises a plurality of frequency components; determining a length of the energy pulse on the telephone line; calculating a phase for each of the plurality of frequency components to generate a plurality of phase values; generating a signal if the plurality of phase values are linear and if the length of the energy pulse is less than 40 milliseconds, where the signal is indicative that the plurality of phase values are linear and that the length of the energy pulse is less than 40 milliseconds, and further indicative that the signal is a three-way call attempt on the telephone line; and transmitting the signal to a host computer.

Abstract: A server arrangement for facilitating the exchange of content between a plurality of user system associated with a common group is provided by employing a centralized server for directing publishing and extracting of content and a plurality of associated servers for facilitating the transmission of content between the user systems. A publisher is directed by the central server to a specific data server where content is to be provided. A consumer is directed by the central server to a specific data server from which content is to be extracted. The system is particularly adapt for facilitating the exchange of video data between members of a common group coupled to the Internet.

Abstract: A system for sharing and processing traffic information includes a number of traffic information computer systems within individual vehicles and a traffic information server system. The traffic information computer systems are each connected to the server system through a network, which are additionally connected to one another by peer-to-peer radio communications, and which each operate with a database for displaying road maps, with a database storing average speed data for directions of travel along roadways, and with a location sensor used to determine the location and average speed of the vehicle, which are transmitted to the server. The server returns average speed data for road segments, which is displayed on the road maps.

Abstract: The present invention is a trigger device useful, for example, in triggering an SCR in an ESD protection circuit. Illustratively, an NMOS trigger device comprises a gate and heavily doped P and N regions in a P-well on opposite sides of the gate. A first N type source/drain extension and a first P-type pocket region extend from the P region toward the N region with the pocket region located under the source/drain extension and extending under the gate. A second N-type source/drain extension and a second P-type pocket region extend from the N region toward the P region with the pocket region located under the source/drain extension and extending under the gate. Preferably, the gate itself is heavily doped so that one half of the gate on the side adjacent the heavily doped P region is also heavily doped with dopants of P-type conductivity and the other half of the gate on the side adjacent the heavily doped N region is also heavily doped with dopants of N-type conductivity.

Abstract: A signal routing apparatus comprises a register bank to store a set of data signals. A delay locked loop generates a set of phase displaced clock signals. A phase controlled read circuit sequentially routes the set of data signals from the register bank in response to the phase displaced clock signals. A Low Voltage Differential Signaling buffer connected to the phase controlled read circuit transmits the data signals in a Low Voltage Differential Signaling mode. The phase displaced clock signals operate in lieu of a higher clock rate in order to reduce power consumption.

Abstract: A compact ESD protection device is described that uses the reverse breakdown voltage of a base-emitter junction as a trigger diode to switch a transistor that shunts the forward bias ESD current to ground. The trigger diode in series with a leakage diode provides a path to shunt the reverse bias ESD current to ground. The leakage diode is matched to the trigger diode to shunt any leakage current from the trigger diode to ground.

Abstract: A multi-segment capacitor fabricated on a semiconductor substrate includes M×N capacitor segments arranged in a matrix of M rows and N columns. Each capacitor segment includes two groups of conductive fingers preferably made of metal wires. The metal wire fingers are distributed within multiple metal layers in such a manner that two neighboring parallel metal wire fingers within a particular metal layer are electrically insulated and connected to different terminals of the capacitor. Further, at least the longitudinal axes of the parallel metal wire fingers within two different metal layers are not parallel to each other within the same capacitor segment.

Abstract: A power amplifier for use in wireless communication devices is disclosed that reduces the noise generated at the output of the amplifier in the receive band of the wireless communication device. A resonant circuit is inserted between the base ballast resister and the lumped resister. The resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is adjusted to correspond to the frequency offset between the transmission frequency and the frequency corresponding to the peak noise in the receive band of the communication device.

Abstract: A method and circuit system for improving power efficiency of RF power amplifiers is disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a power amplifier comprising: a plurality of amplifier stages, a power regulator providing an output supply voltage at an output node responsive to an adjustable power control signal, wherein the output supply voltage is applied to at least one stage of a power amplifier; and an amplifier biaser providing a bias signal corresponding to the adjustable power control signal, wherein the output supply voltage and the bias signal are independently generated as functions of the adjustable power control signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a centrifugal turbine gas blower with foil bearings for use with a fast axial flow laser. The blower utilizes variable components in order to operate at different speeds for multiple applications. In addition, a bypass load has been incorporated to avoid a surge condition. The blower utilizes foil bearings that are self-lubricating in order to achieve improved efficiency and maximized speeds during operation. The bearings are designed with a bump layer that provides damping for pre-load. Additionally, the backplate of the thrust assembly contains holes in order to reduce the thrust load and to balance the force on the impeller.

Abstract: E-commerce which may include delivery of a good ordered or purchased over a network (e.g., the Internet) to a purchaser/user, and/or arranging for electronic payment of the good is accomplished while securing private and personal information of purchasers/users, which may include the user's identity and address(and those of the user's computer), and financial information. Proxy software is provided for user computers, one or more proxy computers, or both, for users to communicate with vendors anonymously over the network, provide for delivery of an ordered good and provide for electronic payment, while securing the user's private information. The proxy software provides for a proxy party to deal with a vendor and arrange payment from a bank or credit card company to the vendor based on an account that the proxy party has with the bank. The proxy party is not required where the purchaser/user is provided with a transaction identity that masks the true identity of the purchaser.

Abstract: A programmable memory interface circuit includes a programmable DLL delay chain, a phase offset control circuit and a programmable DQS delay chain. The DLL delay chain uses a set of serially connected delay cells, a programmable switch, a phase detector and a digital counter to generate a coarse phase shift control setting. The coarse phase shift control setting is then used to pre-compute a static residual phase shift control setting or generate a dynamic residual phase shift control setting, one of which is chosen by the phase offset control circuit to be added to or subtracted from the coarse phase shift control setting to generate a fine phase shift control setting. The coarse and fine phase shift control settings work in concert to generate a phase-delayed DQS signal that is center-aligned to its associated DQ signals.