Abstract: This invention provides a new architecture for a communication system between head-ends and end-users which expands bandwidth and reliability of the communication system. A mux-node receives communication signals from a head-end and forwards the received communication signals to one or more mini-fiber nodes. The connection to the head-end is via a small number of optical fibers and the connections to each of the mini-fiber nodes may be via one or more optical fibers that may provide full duplex communication. The head-end may communicate with the mux-node using digital or digital and analog signals. The mini-fiber nodes may combine the signals received from the head-end with loop-back signals used for local media access control prior to forwarding the signals to the end-users. Upstream data are received by the mini-fiber nodes and transmitted to the mux-node.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) thermometer for performing temperature measurement of an object without having contact with the object. The IR thermometer comprises at least one IR sensing element which, upon exposure to IR radiation, produces a response. The IR sensing element comprises a flat themistor flake supported by a substrate. The IR thermometer further comprises a processing circuit which analyzes the response to predict the steady-state response of the at least one IR sensing element and temperature of the object. In one embodiment, the processing circuit may obtain two or more responses separated by a predetermined period of time to predict temperature of the object. The processing circuit may also associate reference data in its prediction algorithm.

Abstract: Monitoring of customer bandwidth demand is accomplished by comparing mean access router uplink utilization to a prescribed threshold value that is computed based upon granular measurements of uplink utilization. This provides an indication of whether customer demand is met with a statistical level of confidence. Further, the actually measured access router uplink utilization can be used to make a predictive assessment of whether to provision a new customer on the access router without adversely affecting existing customers.

Abstract: A method of forming a solid inter-layer conductive rod. A printed circuit board comprising an insulating core layer, a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer is provided. The insulating core layer is sandwiched between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. A first opening that exposes a portion of the insulating core layer is formed in the first conductive layer. The exposed insulating core layer is removed by laser drilling to form a second opening that exposes a portion of the second conductive layer. An electroplating process is conducted using the second conductive layer as a negative electrode so that conductive material solidly fills the first opening and the second opening to form a solid conductive rod.

Abstract: A multimedia multiparty communication system and method which includes one or more “agents” and one or more “brokers”. Each communication session is managed by a broker which creates and maintains the session. An agent may cause a broker to alter a communication session by entering into “negotiations” with the broker. It is also possible for an agent, through the broker, to enter into negotiations with one or more other agents. Negotiations, between agents and between agents and brokers may consist of any number of exchanged messages (or “offers”), thereby allowing for the dynamic negotiations necessary for effective multimedia multiparty communications.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory apparatus which includes a plurality of terminals including clock, command and other terminals, a control circuit, and a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells. The clock terminal receives a clock signal. The command terminal receives commands including read and program commands. The control circuit reads out operation steps from a program memory for controlling operation of said apparatus by executing the operation steps. In response to a read command, the control circuit controls reading data from the nonvolatile memory cells, and outputting data via the other terminal not the command terminal based on the clock signal. In response to a program command, the control circuit controls receiving data via the other terminal not the command terminal based on the clock signal, and writing data to the nonvolatile memory cells.

Abstract: A DC offset canceling circuit. The DC offset canceling circuit applied in a variable gain amplifier includes chopper circuits, a transconductance amplifier, and at least one internal capacitor. The transconductance amplifier and at least one capacitor function as a filter for canceling DC offset of the variable gain amplifier. A first chopper circuit is inserted between the output of the variable gain amplifier and the input of the transconductance amplifier. A second chopper circuit is inserted between the output of the transconductance amplifier and the capacitor. The DC offset and low frequency noise of the transconductance amplifier, the undesired signal, is translated up to a chopping frequency by chopper circuits. The chopping frequency is much higher than the desired signal bandwidth, and the amount of the undesired signal in the passband of the signal is thereby greatly reduced.

Abstract: An inflatable flotation device for use by persons in a swimming or wading pool includes an inflatable floating chamber for providing buoyancy in water. A bottom seat is provided for supporting a person. The bottom seat includes a pair of penetrations formed therein for enabling the person to extend their legs through the bottom seat. A pair of inflatable arches are removably attached to the inflatable floating chamber, and a canopy is affixed to the inflatable arches for blocking sunlight. At least one of the inflatable arches is removable from the inflatable floating chamber for facilitating entry into and exit from the inflatable floating chamber. An alternative embodiment of the inflatable flotation device having a removable canopy exhibits a construction in which the canopy is fully detachable from the inflatable floating chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide improved cache coherency and more effective caching operations without placing an undue burden on network links. A proxy receives a request for a resource and then, depending on information in the proxy cache, generates a resource request for transmission to a resource server. The proxy appends a proxy filter to the request. The resource server maintains one or more volumes of resources based on some predetermined criterion that can be either static or dynamic in nature. Upon receipt of the request and the proxy filter the resource server generates a request response and a piggybacked list of additional resources selected from the volume with which the requested resource is associated.

Abstract: A premises, connected to receive broadband service(s) and also connected to a cable system, is provided with a broadband interface which connects to in-premises cabling which is coupled to consumer receivers such as a television sets, PDAs, laptops. Connected to the broadband interface is an adjunct device which channels broadband, data and voice signals supplied to an in-premises wireless system as distinguished from the signals supplied to the cable connected consumer receivers. The adjunct device formats the broadband and voice signals or any broadband service into packet format suitable for signal radiation and couples them to the in-premises coax cabling, via a diplexer, at a first selected location. At a second cable location a second diplexer, connected to the cable, separates the broadband, data and voice signals and couples them to a signal radiation device (i.e., an RF antenna or leaky coaxial cable) which radiates the signal to the immediate surrounding location.

Abstract: In a method of learning grammar from a corpus, context words are identified from a corpus. For the other non-context words, the method counts the occurrence of predetermined relationships which the context words, and maps the counted occurrences to a multidimensional frequency space. Clusters are grown from the frequency vectors. The clusters represent classes of words; words in the same cluster possess the same lexical significancy and provide an indicator of grammatical structure.

Abstract: When a through hole 17 is transferred on a pair of contact holes 10 putting a data line DL therebetween, even if a pair of through holes 17 putting the data line DL therebetween are deviated, the pair of through holes are connected to the contact hole 10b and not connected to the data line DL. By this manner, a mask pattern formed by a photomask is use so as to be deviated and disposed in a direction separately from the data line DL at a design stage. This results in improvement of an alignment tolerance of the pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication semiconductor integrated circuit device equipped with a high-frequency power amplifier circuit including a gain control amplifier and a bias circuit which supplies such a bias current as to linearly change the gain of the gain control amplifier, and a wireless communication system using the same. A bias current generating circuit which supplies a bias current to a linear amplifier that constitutes the communication high-frequency power amplifier circuit, comprises a plurality of variable current sources respectively different in current value and start level. These variable current sources are controlled according to an input control voltage and thereby combine their currents into a bias current. The combined bias current changes exponentially with respect to the input control voltage.

Abstract: A display unit comprises a case, a panel, a lamp, an intermediate and a lead wire. The lamp is placed next to the panel, and the lead wire is electrically connected to the lamp to form a conjunctive portion. The conjunctive portion is placed in a mold and integrally covered with the intermediate. When the lead wire is pulled by an abnormal or abrupt force, the majority of the force can be absorbed by the intermediate pressed on the case, and the lead wire can remain fixed to the lamp.

Abstract: A factory layout includes a plurality of substantially triangle units provided in radial directions. The triangle units are combined so as to form a polygonal shape including a triangle shape as a whole. The empty regions with an air-conditioning facility are provided at a part of the central portion of the polygonal shape.

Abstract: A method and system for organizing and storing map data that facilitates use of the map data by navigation application programs such as those in navigation systems. The map data represent geographic features located in a region. The map data are organized into parcels such that each parcel contains a portion of the map data. The map data contained in each parcel represent those geographic features contained in a corresponding separate one of a plurality of rectangular areas located in the region. Each rectangular area has a uniform dimension in a first coordinate direction but has a dimension in the other coordinate direction such that the map data that represent the geographic features contained in the rectangular area are close to, but do not exceed, a maximum data size for a parcel.