Abstract: An apparatus and method for preprocessing multimedia presentations to be delivered to customers such that delays due to interactive response time is virtually eliminated is described. The preprocessor receives as inputs an original multimedia presentation and parameters characterizing other system components, which parameters include the round trip latency between a delivery processor and a presentation processor, and generates a preprocessed multimedia presentation including a delivery schedule in the form of a labelled, directed graph.

Abstract: Electrical connection is maintained between an electrical conductor element (32) and a fragile expanded-metal grid current collector element (12) of a flexible laminate structure rechargeable battery (10) by means of thermally-activated adhesive sheet material (34) which provides physical reinforcement as well as maintaining stable electrically-conductive contact between the elements, Such adhesive materials comprising a metal foil surface (46) may also provide direct electrical connection between current collector or battery electrode elements and external utilization devices.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithiated intercalation battery cell having reduced self-discharge comprises a negative electrode, a nonaqueous electrolyte, and a positive electrode wherein the surfaces of the aggregate lithiated intercalation composition particulates comprising the positive cell electrode have been coated with a passivating layer of a composition comprising a borate, lithiated borate, aluminate, lithiated aluminate, silicate, lithiated silicate, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An inverse twisted or super-twisted nematic liquid crystal device in which the alignment layers on the two sides are homeotropic so as to regularly cause the associated linear liquid-crystal molecules to be, in the absence of an applied field, perpendicular to the alignment layers. Nonetheless, the alignment layers are rubbed or otherwise conditioned, preferably in relatively perpendicular directions, and the gap is filled with a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy so that in the presence of a normally applied electric field the liquid crystals align perpendicularly to the applied field and are at their boundaries in parallel with the two perpendicularly aligned alignment layers, thereby forming a twisting structure within the cell gap. Thereby, in the absence of an applied voltage, light traverses the cell without effect upon its polarization.

Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous ternary lithiated vanadium metal oxide of the formula Li.sub.x M.sub.y V.sub.z O.sub.(x+5z+ny)/2, where M is a metal, 0<x.ltoreq.3, 0<y.ltoreq.3, 1.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.4, and n=2 or 3, comprising the steps of creating an aqueous solution of at least one metavanadate salt selected from the group consisting of NH.sub.4 VO.sub.3 and NaVO.sub.3, and a nitrate salt of the formula M(NO.sub.3).sub.n containing a large excess of a lithium salt; heating the solution; adding a sufficient amount of a base to obtain a suitable pH; and precipitating the amorphous lithiated vanadium metal oxide. A rechargeable lithiated intercalation battery cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, wherein the active material of the negative electrode is an amorphous ternary lithiated vanadium metal oxide of the formula Li.sub.x M.sub.y V.sub.z O.sub.(x+5z+ny)/2 or an amorphous binary non-lithiated vanadium metal oxide of the formula M.sub.y V.sub.z O.sub.

Abstract: A system and method for preprocessing and delivering multimedia presentations to customers such that delays due to interactive response time is virtually eliminated include a preprocessor, mass storage, a delivery processor, a distribution network, and a plurality of presentation processors. The preprocessor receives as inputs an original multimedia presentation and parameters characterizing other system components, which parameters include the round trip latency between the delivery processor and a presentation processor, and generates a preprocessed multimedia presentation including a delivery schedule in the form of a labelled, directed graph.

Abstract: In an intergrated broadband and telephone network, caller identification information is delivered to a remote user through a service control point which retrieves nee information from a database in the telephone network and sends ring telephone instructions to the remote user's telephone through the telephone network but caller identification information to a display device at the remote user's location through the broadband network. The caller information may be displayed on a television set, a computer screen, or a window overlay on a different graphics/video image.

Abstract: The extent of self-discharge of rechargeable Li-ion secondary batteries is significantly reduced by treatment of LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 intercalation compound electrode material with a chelating agent, such as acetylacetone. This treatment decreases the incidence of non-coordinated Mn-ion sites which can lead to battery electrolyte decomposition and resulting loss of battery capacity. The treatment, which also includes annealing at about 400.degree. C. to 800.degree. C., further prevents such decomposition by varying the surface area and topography of the potentially catalytic electrode material.

Abstract: Li.sub.x CoO.sub.2 wherein x is about 1.00 to 1.15 is annealed at about 950.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. for about 0.25 to 10 hours to yield a lithium intercalation material which is used in an electrode to provide a rechargeable battery having high specific capacity and the capability of maintaining such capacity over numerous operating charge/discharge cycles.

Abstract: A broadband intelligent network employs a fast-packet switch having a plurality of ports and a switch processor for establishing switched or permanent virtual port connections, for routing cells through the connections to and from the ports, and for processing network operations signals. A network control system is coupled to the switch processor to receive network operations signals therefrom and to send network operations signals thereto. A network operations system is interfaced with the network control system which routes network operations signals between the switch processor and the network operations system. The operations system may be a family of operations systems which provide respective network support functions including administration, maintenance, provisioning and billing functions.

Abstract: An access subnetwork provides broadcast access transport as well as selective allocation of resources for interactive communications sessions dedicated to individual end users. The access subnetwork has specified broadcast and interactive service interfaces, both for communications to and from an information provider and for communication to and from customer premises equipment. An Access Subnetwork Controller provides a single point of control contact within the access subnetwork. Any other subnetwork (typically an element of a higher level control subnetwork) needing a control function in the access subnetwork always sends the request for that function to the Access Subnetwork Controller. The primary responsibility of the Access Subnetwork Controller is to control resources, provide requested resources and monitor the use of resources within in the realm of the access subnetwork.

Abstract: An electronic instrument is created in a computer-based method for effecting a transfer of funds from an account of a payer in a funds-holding institution to a payee. The electronic instrument includes an electronic signature of the payer, digital representations of payment instructions, the identity of the payer, the identity of the payee, and the identity of the funds-holding institution. A digital representation of a verifiable certificate by the institution of the authenticity of the instrument is appended to the instrument. This enables a party receiving the instrument, e.g., the payee or a bank, to verify the authenticity of the account or account holder. The invention may be generally applied to any financial electronic document.

Abstract: The cycling stability and capacity of li-ion rechargeable batteries are improved by the use of lithium manganese oxy-fluoride electrode component intercalation materials having the general formula, Li.sub.1+x M.sub.y Mn.sub.2-x-y O.sub.4-z F.sub.z, where M is a transition metal, e.g., Co, Cr, or Fe, and x.ltoreq.0.4, y.ltoreq.0.3, and 0.05.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.0.

Abstract: An interface between a protected computer or computer network and the World Wide Web (WWW). The interface comprises a split proxy system that encapsulates TCP/IP transmissions into a script transmission, which is not subject to problems in high latency systems, thereby greatly improving WWW access, via a wireless modem or other low-bandwidth communications network. The split proxy interface also provides compression, encryption and filtering capabilities and allows receipt of unsolicited transmissions from the service provider for such purposes as automatically updating or configuring WWW access software.

Abstract: A system for maintaining various information representative of activities of an enterprise having four components. The first component creates the information including project data, subproject data, task data, and employee data. The second component stores the project data, the subproject data, the task data, and the employee data. The third component creates non-hierarchical relationship keys among the project data, the subproject data, the task data, and the employee data stored by the storing means; and the fourth component updates the project data, the subproject data, the task data, and the employee data stored by the storing means and for updating the relationship keys among the project elements, the subproject elements, the task elements, and the employee elements.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a software tool that aids on the current state of the art of systems engineering of large software systems. The process begins with the step of gathering data on observations of a large number of characteristics about a software system (including historical and planned system adjustments) for each uniquely identifiable software component. Also gathered are historical data regarding faults or problems with each software component. The fault data is statistically mapped to measured characteristics of the software to establish a risk index. The risk index can be used as a predictive tool establishing which characteristics of the software are predictive of the software's performance or, alternatively, the risk index may be used to rank order the components to determine which components need less testing in a effort to save resources.

Abstract: A method for transmitting packets or cells (or both) in a communications network 10 is disclosed. The packets or cells are transmitted along a forward communications path in a network from a source node h1 via one or more intermediary nodes r1, x1, r5 and r2 to a destination node h4. At the intermediary nodes r1, x1, r5 or r2, the packets or cells are received in a buffer 38 or 42-1 to 42-4. The packets or cells are transmitted along the forward communications path according to a transmission schedule. In the presence of congestion at one of the intermediary nodes x1, an indication of the congestion is provided to the destination nodes h4 of the first packets to be transmitted according to the schedule. An indication of the congestion of the first packets or cells is provided by the destination nodes h4 of the first packets or cells to the source nodes h1 of the first packets or cells via a feedback communications path.

Abstract: A process for using a trusted third party to create an electronic certificate for an electronic file that can be used to establish the file and verify the identity of the creator of the file. The process is composed of two phases, a registration phase and an electronic file distribution phase. In the registration phase, a trusted third party receives information about an author, including the author's public key and affirmatively verifies the accuracy of this information. In the file distribution phase, an author sends to the trusted third party a signed message containing the hash of the file the author wants to distribute. The trusted third party creates an electronic certificate, signed by the trusted third party, containing the hash of the file sent by the author.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring structural changes of an electrode in a rechargeable battery include an in situ x-ray study electrochemical cell holder (30) comprising top and bottom cell holder members (32, 34) including at least one beryllium window element (36) for transmission of diffractometer x-radiation. A rechargeable battery cell (43) mounted within the x-ray cell holder enclosure comprises an electrolyte/separator element (68) interposed between positive and negative electrodes (64, 66). A current collector element (70) formed of an electrically-conductive open-mesh grid is disposed between the positive electrode and the separator to enable ion-conducting contact of the electrode and separator while maintaining electrical continuity between the electrode and an external x-ray cell holder terminal (54).

Abstract: A broadband customer premises equipment ("CPE") interface device interfaces with conventional telephones, screen phones, and broadband data and video devices. The interface device includes circuitry to connect with a telephone network via a first telephone connection and circuitry to connect with a broadband network via a second, broadband connection. The interface device can provide control of video information being pumped to the CPE via the broadband network by sending control signals to a video server via the telephone network. In addition, the interface device includes ADSI off-hook alerting ("AOHA") circuitry and adds ADSI script management server ("ASMS") circuitry to provide noninvasive programming of screen phone-type CPE devices. ASMS programming information for a CPE device is transferred to the interface device via the broadband network and stored in the interface device.