Abstract: A collapsible keyboard that includes a base, at least one hinge and a plurality of keys. The base has a plurality of sections. The keys are provided on the sections of the base. The hinge connects the plurality of sections so that the sections are rotatable with respect to each other, allowing collapsibility of the keyboard to facilitate transport.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving the configuration of virtual connections. Specifically, virtual path identifier (VPI) and virtual channel identifier (VCI) Availability Indexes are made available to network administrators. The Availability Indexes present valid, available values. Thus, the potential for misconfigurations is reduced and even less experienced network administrators may easily configure virtual connections. The Availability Indexes provide administrators with control over exactly which paths and channels are allocated for each connection while eliminating the guesswork and tracking burden present in current network/element management systems. Availability Indexes also reduce the time and frustration required to configure virtual connections.

Abstract: An Internet facsimile apparatus makes inquiry about capability, which a destination possesses, to a local server. The server is connected to the same LAN as that of the Internet facsimile apparatus. When the local server has no capability information of the destination, the Internet facsimile apparatus makes inquiry to a DNS server and obtains capability information. Then, the Internet facsimile apparatus makes an image to be suitable for the capability of the destination and transmits it to the destination via the Internet. As a result, the Internet facsimile apparatus on a transmitter side can surely obtain capability information of a destination terminal, thereby making it possible to carry out the same capability exchange as that of G3 facsimile apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brushless motor system. The brushless motor system has a brushless motor, a motor driver, and at least one sensing circuit. The brushless motor has a rotor, and the sensing circuit is used to detect the rotor position. The sensing circuit has a Hall sensor and two capacitor devices. The Hall sensor has two output ports. As the rotor rotates, the Hall sensor will generate a sensing signal at each of the two output ports. Each of the capacitor devices is connected in series to one of the two output ports of the Hall sensor, and the two capacitor devices are used to filter out DC biases in the two sensing signals. The motor driver is connected to the two capacitor devices for driving the rotor of the brushless motor according to the two sensing signals from the two capacitor devices.

Abstract: A multi-stage optical amplifier that has an optical fiber with a first length of amplifier fiber and a second length of amplifier fiber. The optical fiber is configured to be coupled to a signal source that produces at least a signal wavelength &lgr;s and a pump source that produces a pump wavelength &lgr;p. Pump wavelength &lgr;p is less than signal wavelength &lgr;s. Signal input, signal output and pump input ports are each coupled to the optical fiber. A first lossy member is coupled to the optical fiber and positioned between the first and second lengths of amplifier fiber. A pump shunt is coupled to the signal input port and the signal output port.

Abstract: Telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network which includes transfer of information across the internet. A media order entry captures complete user profile information for a user. This profile information is utilized by the system throughout the media experience for routing, billing, monitoring, reporting and other media control functions. Users can manage more aspects of a network than previously possible, and control network activities from a central site. The hybrid network also contains logic for responding to requests for quality of service and reserving the resources to provide the requested services.

Abstract: A system and method for improving clarity of an audio signal selects frequencies of the audio signal for processing and adds even harmonic distortion to the selected frequencies, preferably, of at least the second order. The system and method are particularly suited for hearing aid, voice messaging, and telephony applications. In addition, the system and method may be applied to other very low bandwidth signals, such as data compressed audio signals, computer voice files, computer audio files, and numerous other technologies which have an audio response less than normal human perception. The technique also applies to the use of perceptually coded audio.

Abstract: A prediction section sends a prediction signal to a heater control section when receiving a document setting signal from a sensor for detecting a presence of a document or a book door open signal from a book door open/close sensor. The heater control section turns on power of the heater of a print section. Thereafter, a print control section executes a print operation when a print designation is operated, and turns off power of the heater when no print designation is operated within a fixed period of time or a transmission designation is operated. Therefore, power of the heater is turned on prior to instruction of a print start, and this allows the reduction of time from the operators instruction of the print start to the actual print start.

Abstract: The outputs of antenna elements 111 to 11M of a wide directional pattern 12 are distributed by a distributor 13 to respective channel parts 141 to 14N, and in each channel part 14i (i=1, 2, . . . , N), its connection points 311 to 31M to the distributor 14 are divided in groups of P=4; four connecting ends of the respective groups are connected via level-phase regulators 231to 234 to combiners 221 to 22L (L=M/P), then the combined outputs therefrom are applied to receivers 151 to 15L, and the outputs therefrom are combined after being applied to regulators 161 to 16L which are adaptively controlled.

Abstract: A media feeding mechanism mainly comprises a base provided with a first surface and a second surface, a first roller, a second roller, a first one-way bearing used to support the first roller, a second one-way bearing used to support the second roller, a cam gear and a stopper. To prevent media from wrinkling or skewing, the media transmitted by the first roller is deskewed by contacting with the idled second roller for a predetermined period of time. The first roller 11 is idled when the deskewing process concludes. Rotation of the second roller clockwise scrubs the media toward the exit point.

Abstract: A reciprocating optical modulation system includes a device that modulates light of a predetermined frequency by an integer multiple n to produce a group of nth order sidebands thereof; a device that modulates the nth order sidebands to produce (n+1)th order sidebands; and a device that selects at least part of the (n+1)th order sidebands.

Abstract: A method for transmitting high-frequency signals in an optical communication system includes combining an optical signal, the first optical local component from a local light source and the second optical local component from the local light source having a predetermined frequency differential from the first optical local component, selecting the first high-frequency signal which consists of two predetermined electrical components from plural electrical components obtained by the optical frequency mixing process, and mixing the two selected electrical components included in the first high-frequency signal.

Abstract: The timing circuit includes at least one delay element and its supply voltage is obtained from an active current source. The current source is a current mirror which is driven by a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier compares a voltage on the delay element supply line to a voltage on a current control node connected to a voltage controlled current source. An RC compensating circuit may be coupled to the current control node.

Abstract: Only a first radio station is equipped with a local oscillation signal source. A signal transmitted to a second radio station includes local oscilaation signal components used to up-convert a modulated intermediate frequency band signal in addition to intermediate frequency band signal components. The second radio station that receives the signal from the first radio station extracts and regenerated the local oscillation signal used at the first radio station using a local oscillation signal regenerator. The extracted and regenerated local oscillation signal is used to down-convert modulated radio signal components to the intermediate frequency band and simultaneously up-convert to the radio frequency band the modulated intermediate frequency band signal to be transmitted to the first radio station.

Abstract: A POP access section accesses a POP3 server using a first user ID/password registered in a user ID registration table, fetches message information from a mailbox of the user ID, and stores it to RAM. A message information extracting section extracts necessary information from the message information, and stores it to be associated with the user ID. Thereafter, a reception list generating section reads message information of all user IDs from RAM, and generates a reception list. Sequentially, the reception list generating section outputs the generated reception list. A user, who has seen the reception list, instructs the POP access section to fetch an e-mail message from a panel control section. This improves communication concealment.

Abstract: Secure access is provided for a limited access data network (intranet) to handheld electronic devices which include the functionality to process alphanumeric information and process information received in handheld device markup language (HDML). A handheld device user may first establish a connection with a data network such as the World Wide Web. Through use of a uniform resource locator (URL) request made over this data network, a connection is made to an intranet. At the firewall for the intranet, an identification process is performed to determine that the URL request originated from a handheld device. Such a request is routed through a socket designated for such requests and received by a proxy server. The proxy server provides the necessary security steps in order to provide access to applications within the intranet, and once validation has been confirmed, connection to the application is established.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a satellite system that will permit for signals of two different frequencies and polarities to be transmitted simultaneously over the same cable. The system will accommodate two different polarity commands from two or more different sources at the same time. The satellite system of the present invention includes a satellite dish or antenna that receives signals. These received signals are transmitted to a converter. A head-in frequency processor is coupled to the converter. This head-in frequency processor enables the different frequencies and polarities to be transmitted simultaneously via a single coaxial cable. This single coaxial cable is coupled to a head-out receiver processor which is connected to a receiver. This receiver is connected to a TV or other source. This unique design and configuration provides for a system that will permit satellite broadcast reception in locations that are not in the line-of-sight path of the satellites.

Abstract: A communication network system includes a mobile node and a plurality of fixed nodes. The mobile node is a node moving along a predetermined route, and the fixed node is a node to be fixed along the predetermined route. A packet signal is sent to a destination node by way of those mobile nodes and fixed nodes. In other words, a packet communication among the fixed nodes is carried out by way of the mobile node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting variable length messages on a network in fixed length slots including the provision of a source identifier field in the header of each slot, the source identifier field including a code which is uniquely associated with the message to be transmitted. The fixed length slots are then transmitted on the network and reassembly of the slots by a reassembly machine is controlled in accordance with the identifier codes in the slot.