Abstract: There is provided a method (700, 900) of selecting nodes (120, 130, 140) in a communication network (100), in which a source node (110) communicates with destination nodes (120, 130, 140). The method (700, 900) includes steps of: (a) transmitting a first message (770, 950) from the source node (100) to the destination nodes (120, 130, 140); (b) receiving response messages (780, 960, 980, 990) at the source node (110) from one or more of the destination nodes (120, 130, 140); (c) in an event of contention arising between the response messages (780, 960, 980, 990) received at the source node (110), iteratively selecting a sub-set (510, 520, 610, 620) of the destination nodes (120, 130, 140) to resend their response messages for receipt at the source node (110) until the response messages are received at the source node (110) without contention, the response messages received without contention being indicative of a suitable destination node having been selected.

Abstract: A device (100) for processing audio data (101), wherein the device (100) comprises an uplifting means (102) adapted for uplifting a low-frequency component of the audio data (101), and an adjustment means (109) adapted for selectively adjusting an attenuation of the low-frequency component of the audio data (101).

Abstract: A switched mode power supply assembly that has a plurality of power supply modules cyclically coupled to each other. Each power supply module has a synchronization control module for generating a synchronization control signal for a next neighboring module and for receiving a synchronization control signal from a previous neighboring module to ensure interleaved operation of all modules.

Abstract: A storage unit for a portable radio-communication device includes a main data carrier and a contactless chip associated with the main data carrier. Device data descriptive of the storage unit is transmitted to the portable radio-communication. Further, a warning is transmitted to the portable radio-communication device in response to a storage unit wanted notice. A powering signal is transmitted to the contactless chip. The powering signal provides power to the contactless chip and is modulated with data. Specific data sent by the portable radio-communication device is stored on the contactless chip and, on request, data is returned.

Abstract: A preferably elongated loudspeaker (LS), which preferably comprises a cylindrical moving coil (SP) and an elongated diaphragm (M) with an elongated fastening part (B) and an annular retaining part (H) lying within the fastening part (B), and with corrugations (S1) extending in radial directions, wherein the diaphragm (M) comprises an arrangement for reducing its stiffness in at least one narrow region (SM1, SM2), which arrangement is present between the fastening part (B) and the retaining part (H). In a preferred embodiment comprising an arrangement of the corrugations (S1) in the at least one narrow region (SM1, SM2) the corrugation density is smaller than the corrugation density in at least one wide region (BM1, BM2). Preferably, the diaphragm (M) furthermore comprises an additional corrugation (S2) in the at least one narrow region (SM1, SM2), which additional corrugation (S2) extends transversely to radial directions.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp (2) is operated with an alternating current. A positive lamp current (Ip) is generated with a positive current intisity (Ip) for a positive duration (?p). A negative lamp current (IN) is genrated with a negative current intensity (IN) for a negative duration (?N). A duty cycle (D=?p/(?p+?N)) differs from 50%. A current ratio (R=Ip/IN) differs from 1.

Abstract: A device such as a flexible LCD is described comprising first and second layers wherein the first layer is a flexible substrate and the second layer is a brittle ITO conduction line applied to the substrate. The ITO layer is substantially flat and meanders across the plane of the flexible substrate so as to prevent fracture of the ITO layer when the flexible substrate is deformed. The ITO layer may be subdivided into portions, the length of the portions being selected to prevent fracture when the flexible substrate is deformed to a predetermined radius of curvature.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a device for label-free detection of biomolecules or analytes in a sample liquid. The method comprises the steps of allowing an analyte to bind to one of at least two conductive surfaces. An alternating electrical field between at least two conductive surfaces. Amplitude and phase of alternating current, flowing between the at least two conductive surfaces, are compared with amplitude and phase of reference signal. From the difference between both currents it is possible to determine whether an analyte is present at the conductive surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling to establish a connection between multiple UpnP-compliant resources, wherein each of the resources has a respective ConnectionManager service. The method comprises configuring the respective ConnectionManager services so to enable a UpnP Control Point to use the respective services for negotiating the connection between the respective resources to be established at a time determined in advance.

Abstract: The invention relates to video player devices intended to play a video content DSC including audio tracks forming a disc audio languages list DAL and/or subtitles forming a disc subtitle languages list DSL, in a given number of languages. According to the invention, said device comprises a user interface UIA enabling the user to define a list of interesting languages UPL and a memory MEM to store the list of interesting languages UPL. Said device can then generate a dynamic menu ATL, STL intended to be displayed by filtering of the languages list DAL, DSL of the audio tracks present on the disc in accordance with the list of interesting languages UPL. Said dynamic menu ATL, STL is such that languages of the list of interesting languages UPL have priority in the dynamic menu ATL, STL. The invention enables the user to make an easier choice of a language for video content including audio tracks and/or subtitles in many different languages.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing power consumption in a wireless network by adjusting the transmit energy for each bit at the physical layer and the retry limit at the MAC layer. The method includes creating a look-up table containing optimal pairs of Nlim,Et for a plurality of different sets of transmission properties, wherein Nlim is a retry limit and Et is a transmit energy per bit; determing a set of transmission properties for a sequence of scalable video to be transmitted over the wireless network; accessing the look-up table to obtain the optimal pair of Nlim,Et, corresponding to the set of determined transmission properties; and transmitting the sequence of scalable video over the wireless network using the accessed optimal pair of Nlim,Et.

Abstract: A decoupling module for decoupling high-frequency signals from a voltage supply line that has an inductance, the module comprising a plurality of parallel-connected capacitors (K1, K2, . . . ) which have each a capacitance (C1, C2, . . . ) is characterized in that to at least one of the capacitors (K1) is assigned an inductance (L1) which is selected in dependence on the capacitance (C1) of the capacitor (K1) so that a resonance is generated which compensates the self-resonance of the system from at least a further capacitor (K2, . . . ) and the voltage supply line (S).

Abstract: Tracking system for guiding an optical beam on tracks on an optical disc, said tracking system comprising a photodetector (A1, A2) for detecting optical beams derived from said optical beam, said photodetector generating a first output signal (A) and a second output signal (B), said tracking system comprising first processing means for generating a first differential signal (PP(DC)) corresponding to the low-frequency part of a difference between said first and second output signals. The tracking system comprises second processing means for generating a tracking error signal (PP(AC/DC)) defined by the addition of said first differential signal (PP(DC)) to a second differential signal (PP?(AC)), said second differential signal corresponding to a fraction of the difference in amplitude of the high-frequency components of said first and second output signals. Use: Optical disc player/writer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an encoder for encoding a digital video signal, said digital video signal comprising some sets of objects (OBJ) with associated shapes. The invention is characterized in that it comprises the steps of:—Defining information (FLAG) for determining if the shape of an object (OBJ) is to be encoded, or its complement's one, and—As a function of this information (FLAG), encoding said shape or its complement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an encoding method processing video object planes (VOPs) of I, P or B type and including a dynamic allocation of said VOPs. According to said method, for each input frame a preliminary forward motion estimation is carried out between current and previous frames. Current and previous motion fields are then used to evaluate a coherence factor, expressed as connected to the sums of local differences within current and previous motion field. According to the value of the coherence factor with respect to an empirically determined threshold, a decision is finally taken on the type of the frame to be coded.

Abstract: The present invention concerns substrates for a flexible flat panel display able The present invention concerns substrates for a flexible flat panel display (110) able to bent into a low radius of curvature, wherein the cell gap deviation is controlled and preferably minimised, even when the flexible flat panel display (110) is affected by pressure application or bending. According to a certain aspect there is provided composite substrates consisting of a substrate with a high Young's modulus and a substrate of low Young's modulus.

Abstract: An electrodynamic loudspeaker comprising a chassis (2), a movable body (4) flexibly connected to the chassis and having a three-dimensional diaphragm (8) with a base part (8b) and a top part (8a) which is wider than the base part, and an electromagnetic actuator (6) for moving said body with respect to the chassis along a translation axis (10) extending between said two parts of the diaphragm. The actuator comprises a stationary actuator part (6a) secured to the chassis and a translatable actuator part (6b), which substantially extends inside the space (9) enveloped by the contours of the diaphragm and which is translatable along the translation axis with respect to the stationary actuator part and is connected to the movable body in the region of the base part of the diaphragm. The actuator parts are capable of magnetically co-operating with each other across an air gap (16).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of protecting content stored on a storage medium (7) against unauthorized access, said storage medium (7) being accessible by a drive (D) of a portable device (2) which is connectable to a network (1). In order to provide a high level of protection against unauthorized access it is proposed to use the authentication procedure of the network (1) to generate a cryptographic key (ck) for encryption and decryption of content stored on said storage medium (7). In particular, the present invention is used in a mobile phone network where the authentication key (ak) is stored on a SIM card (8) used in a mobile phone (2).

Abstract: An optical data storage medium (20) for recording by means of a focused radiation beam (29) is described. The radiation beam having a wavelength ? enters through an entrance face (28) of the medium during recording. The medium has a substrate (21) with a surface (24) including a guide groove with a depth g. An inverted stack of layers is present on the substrate (21) including a reflective layer (24a) with a complex refractive index ñM?=nM??i*kM?, in substantial conformity with the surface (24) of the substrate, a transparent layer (22) through which the radiation beam (29) is incident with a complex refractive index ñT?=nT??i*kT? and a recording layer (25) of a material having a complex refractive index ñR?=nR??i*kR? and having a thickness dRG in the groove portion and a thickness dRL in the portion between grooves. The recording layer is interposed between the reflective layer (24a) and the transparent layer (22). When 0.25/(3.0+kM?2)+0.17<g*nT/?<0.22/(3.0+kM?2)+0.45 and 0.2<(dRG?dRL)/g<0.

Abstract: An enhanced protocol for enabling manual control of electronic ballasts in lighting control networks which are compliant with the DALI standard, as well as a communications interface apparatus for such a ballast for decoding both the standard DALI messages, as well as the manual control messages available in the enhanced protocol of the present invention are presented.