Abstract: A communication system has stations arranged in clusters of member stations, each of which communicates with the other member stations. One member station is a head station of the cluster that communicates with head stations of other clusters. The stations are configured by determining the communication state between a station and one or more cluster head stations. The station is assigned to at least one cluster when a prescribed communication state has been determined between the station and the cluster head station. The station is set to be in independent communication with the one or more cluster head stations which have the prescribed communication state with the station.

Abstract: Shells fired from the gun of a ship create an underwater explosion that is used to drive a sonar system. Sonobuoys [201] and/or a ship-towed array measure acoustic signals caused by the underwater explosion. A ship processing component [306] analyzes the signals and locates reflections of objects [102] in the signals. In addition to controlling the location at which to fire a shell, an adjustable fuze on the shell may be set to thereby control the depth at which the shell explodes. The low-frequency impulsive nature of the explosion makes it particularly suited for detecting objects in a littoral environment.

Abstract: There is disclosed multiple embodiments of a predictive active compensation system for dampening vibration in an optimum manner employing feedback control wherein stiffness of dampening material is adjusted on a continuous and dynamic basis to ensure that relative displacement between vibrating machine or object and its foundation does not exceed particular limits including limits preventing impact between object and foundation. In these disclosed systems and methodologies of the present invention the foundation may also be subjected to movement. Further disclosed are computer plots of mathematical models on which embodiments of the present invention are based, thereby demonstrating efficacy of the present invention.

Abstract: A navigation system for an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) includes an MPEG encoder that pre-processes frame data from a plurality of cameras on the UGV before the data is used to generate maps that identify objects in the vehicle's field of view and that identify terrain characteristics. The MPEG encoder converts the red-green-blue (RGB) data into luminance-chrominance (YUV) data. The luminance and chrominance data for each frame are divided into blocks for determining motion vectors, average chrominance values, and spatial frequencies for each block. A range map identifying objects is generated from the motion vectors and average chrominance values, and a slope map identifying terrain characteristics is generated from the spatial frequencies.

Abstract: In a cryptographic device (140) storing a number of templates (310), a system and method for supporting authentication services is provided. The cryptographic device (140) receives inputs representing a request for authentication services. The cryptographic device (140) then compares the syntax of the input to the syntactic constraints defined in one of the templates (310), where each template (310) includes syntactic constraints associated with at least one authority. When the cryptographic device (140) determines that the syntax of the input is consistent with the template (310), the cryptographic device (140) validates the input.

Abstract: A network for routing packets includes multiple nodes. A first node has a direct link to a second node. The first node receives a packet and identifies a primary next hop to which to transmit the packet (410). The primary next hop identifies at least the second node. The first node transmits the packet to the second node (420), determines whether the transmission was successful (430), and identifies at least a third node when the transmission to the second node was unsuccessful. The first node identifies the third node by: finding a node in the network that has a direct link to both the first and second nodes (440); identifying at least one alternate next hop, assuming that the link between the first and second nodes is unavailable, determining the cost associated with each of the alternate next hops, and selecting one of the alternate next hops based on the determined cost (640); or retrieving a predetermined alternate next hop from a forwarding table stored by the first node (940).

Abstract: A communication device sends a message to one or more recipients in a communications network. The communication device retrieves device identifiers from a list of device identifiers stored in a memory of the device. The device identifiers include audio, pictorial and/or video data. The communication device presents the audio, pictorial and/or video data to a user of the device in auditory or visual form (1310) and then receives user input in response to the presented data (1325). The communication device designates a second communication device as a destination for the message based on the user input (1330). The communication device then sends the message to the second communication device.

Abstract: A communications system for communication among plural stations in a network has stations (CH1, CM2, CM3, CH4, CH5, CM6, CM7) arranged in clusters (1a, 1b, 1c) of communication member stations, each communicating with each other. One of the member stations (CH1, CH4, CH5) is a head station of the cluster. The cluster head stations (CH1, CH4, CH5) communicate with other cluster head stations (CH1, CH4, CH5). A method for configuring the network of stations includes a step of operating at least a first (CH5) and a second (CH4) station of the plural stations as cluster head stations, the first (CH5) and second (CH4) stations forming a communications link. The method also includes a step to resign the first (CH5) station from operating as a cluster head station when a predetermined resignation condition is met.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for normalizing a score associated with a document is presented. Statistics relating to scores assigned to a set of training documents not relevant to a topic arc determined. Scores represent a measure of relevance to the topic. After the various statistics have been collected, a score assigned to a testing document is normalized based on those statistics. The normalized score is then compared to a threshold score. Subsequently, the testing document is designated as relevant or not relevant to the topic based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system penalizes callers for annoying voice calls. The system identifies a caller (540) associated with a call to a called party in response to invocation of a feature activation code by the called party. The system records the occurrence of the feature activation code invocation (550) and notifies a billing entity (560) of the identity of the caller and the invocation of the feature activation code so that the billing entity can charge the caller for the call to the called party.

Abstract: In an apparatus for varying the rate at which the broadcast beacons are transmitted, there is at least one router (2). The router transmits beacons which contain various types of data, controls the rate at which the beacons are transmitted, and adaptively varies the rate at which the beacons are transmitted, in response to a variety of network conditions.

Abstract: A system (101-139) receives a transmitted optical signal and generates an orthogonal despreading code that is different than the code used to spread the transmitted signal. The system (101-139) then despreads the received signal using the despreading code. By using a code to despread the received signal that is different than the code used to spread the signal, the overall interference in the system can be reduced and even eliminated.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a transmitted signal and generating an orthogonal despreading code that is different than the code used to spread the transmitted signal. The method then despreads the received signal using the orthogonal despreading code. By using a code to despread the received signal that is different than the code used to spread the signal, the overall interference in the system (100) can be reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods for networking detection devices associated with police activity are provided in a network that includes at least one server (180) and a number of client devices (130-150). Each of the client devices (130-150) transmits its location information to the server for storage. When a client device (130) receives detection information relating to radar activity, a police sighting or other police activity, that client device transmits the detection information to the server (180). The server (180) may then transmit the detection information to other client devices (140,150).

Abstract: A first wireless node provides a method of avoiding multiple access collision in a wireless network. The system receives a request to send data from a second wireless node (405) and determines if the system is receiving data from a third node (410). The system transmits a non-authorization message if the system is receiving data from the third node (415). If, however, the system is not receiving data from the third node, the system transmits an authorization message to the first wireless node (420). The system receives data from the second node in response to the authorization message (425) and then transmits an acknowledgment message to the second node acknowledging receipt of the data (435).

Abstract: A communications system for communication among plural stations in a network has stations (CH1, CM2, CM3, CH4, CH5, CM6, CM7) arranged in clusters (1a, 1b, 1c) of communication member stations, each communicating with each other. One of the member stations (CH1, CH4, CH5) is a head station of the cluster. The cluster head stations (CH1, CH4, CH5) communicate with other cluster head stations (CH1, CH4, CH5). A method for configuring the network of stations includes a step of operating at least a first (CH5) and a second (CH4) station of the plural stations as cluster head stations, the first (CH5) and second (CH4) stations forming a communications link. The method also includes a step to resign the first (CH5) station from operating as a cluster head station when a predetermined resignation condition is met.

Abstract: A system enables tracking of a communication device associated with a subscriber of a geo-location tracking service. The system receives (1115) a set of subscriber-defined alarm conditions associated with the tracked communication device. The system further receives location (1435) and sensor data (1440) associated with the communication device. The system compares (1510) the location and sensor data with each alarm condition of the set of subscriber-defined alarm conditions. The system indicates an occurrence of one or more alarm events based on the comparison (1520).

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing or determining parameters for a system are disclosed. These systems and methods exploit the Tensor Convolution Block Toeplitz (TCBT) structure involved in certain systems wherein a symmetric positive definite linear system of equations needs to be solved in the design or determination of the parameters for the system. Further, these methods and systems employ a TCBT-PCG process that uses a fast matrix-vector multiply in order to improve the computational efficiency in the design or determination of these system parameters.

Abstract: A variable reluctance load cell for measuring the static or slowly fluctuating load, or tension, on devices is contained in a support tube. A sensor in the tube utilizes opposing C and I shaped magnetic cores attached to opposing ends of the support tube. A magnetic circuit is formed having an inductance defined by the size of the gap between the magnetic cores with the reluctance dominated by the gap. The sensor inductance is coupled with a fixed, predetermined capacitance in a resonant LC circuit, and the resonant frequency is a function of the gap. The sensor is in a cavity within the tube, and the cavity is sealed in a manner that prevents water or other damaging agents from entering the sensor. In this manner, mounting the sensor and tube to a static device and measuring the AC voltage at the sensor, the amount of load, or stress can be determined.

Abstract: A method and system for attenuating noise including arranging a plurality of accumulators (210, 310) to form a transmittance path for compressible flow mass and noise between a noise source (212, 312) and the external environment (218, 318), and selectively accumulating and confining compressible flow mass and noise within at least one of the plurality of accumulators, and attenuating noise confined within the at least one accumulator by ringdown. The system may include a plurality of interruptors/valves (220, 320) which are operated at respective timings for periodically accumulating and confining compressible flow mass and noise in at least one of the plurality of accumulators.