Abstract: The package type identifier of "conversation with permission" is utilized in certain ANSI-41 Mobile Application Part (MAP) messages to allow a node receiving the message to generate an appropriate response message necessary for MAP operation closure within a Transaction Capability Application Part (TCAP) transaction. In one implementation, an ANSI-41 MAP error or reject message includes a package type identifier of "conversation with permission" instead of "response" thus allowing the node receiving the error or reject message to appropriately respond in connection with the closure of an open MAP operation. In another implementation, the "conversation with permission" package type identifier is specified for an ANSI-41 MAP instruction request message to support MAP operation closure in the event of an error or rejection in that operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of removing drill cuttings from an oil and gas well drilling platform includes the steps of separating the drill cuttings from the well drilling fluid on the drilling platform so that the drilling fluids can be recycled into the well bore during drilling operations. The cuttings are then transmitted via gravity flow to a materials trough having an interior defined by sidewalls and a bottom portion. The drill cuttings are suctioned from the bottom portion of the trough interior with a suction line having an intake portion that is positioned at the materials trough bottom. Drill cuttings are transmitted via the suction line to a pair of hoppers that each have an interior. A vacuum is formed in sequence within the interior of each hopper using a blower that is in fluid communication with the hopper interiors. The two hoppers are positioned one above the other so that cuttings can be added to the first, upper hopper via the suction line and then fed by gravity to the second, lower hopper.

Abstract: A stuffed figure is provided having a detailed plastic face secured to a soft plush head. The soft plush head is formed of a fabric material and is filled with stuffing material. The plastic face includes a face body, a pair of artificial eyes, and a plurality of locking washers. A front side of the face body is contoured to form a mouth, a nose, and eye sockets. A face locking stem is integral with the face body and rearwardly extends from a rear side thereof and through the fabric material. The artificial eyes are each located in a separate one of the eye sockets and may be integral or non-integral with the face body. Each of the artificial eyes has an eye locking stem integral therewith which rearwardly extends therefrom and through the fabric material. The locking washers cooperate with the face locking stem and the eye locking stems to clamp the fabric material between the plurality of locking washers and the rear side of the face body to secure the plastic face to the soft plush head.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed by which a round-trip calculation is used to determine the distance between a mobile radio station (MS) and a radio base station (BS) using the apparent uplink and downlink signal propagation air-times (e.g., T-up and T-down). As such, no absolute time reference is required. The MS and BS report to a service node in the mobile network the local departure and arrival times of the uplink and downlink signals, and calculate the apparent air-times, T-up and T-down. The distance, D, between the MS and BS can be calculated as D=c(T-up+T-down)/2, where "c" equals the speed of light. The distances, D1, D2 and D3, to at least three base stations whose locations are known, can be used in a triangulation algorithm to determine the MS's position.

Abstract: An electronic device operates with an external accessory by initiating a serial data communication over an accessory control bus. If data communication is established with the external accessory, the electronic device operates in a first interface mode, when one or more operating parameters are transferred over the bus. If data communication is not established, the electronic device operates in a second interface mode, when no operating parameters are transferred over the bus.

Abstract: A multi-plane bone distraction system including a saw guide, a drill guide, a rigid plate and a distraction assembly for use as a distraction device in cutting and lengthening the bone or as a compression device in cutting and shortening the bone in conjunction with repositioning the other end of the bone in three planes relative to the one end of the bone.

Abstract: An antenna switch for selectively connecting an output differential signal pair of an output power amplifier to a single-ended signal of an antenna when transmitting and selectively connecting an input differential signal pair of a low noise input amplifier to the single-ended signal of the antenna when receiving. A first balun having a single ended-signal connected to an antenna connects a first and second output differential signal to a power output amplifier. A second balun having a single-ended signal connected to the antenna connects a first and second input differential signal to a low noise input amplifier. A first diode selectively shorts the first output differential signal to the second output differential signal of the first balun when receiving and a second diode selectively shorts the first input differential signal to the second input differential signal of the second balun when transmitting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining more accurately, in a radio environment with time dispersion, the distance between a radio receiver and radio transmitter, by special processing of received radio signals that have been transmitted repeatedly from the same radio transmitter and are possibly subject to multipath propagation. The Time of Arrival (TOA) of the received radio signals is repeatedly estimated using channel power profiles. A TOA value near the minimum occurring TOA is selected wherein each estimated TOA is derived from incoherent integration of a randomly chosen number of the received bursts having the same known bit sequence, in order to eliminate the influence of noise.

Abstract: A can holder worn by a person comprising a can holding member having a rigid back plate and rigid support arms extending from the back plate to form a gap between the support arms of sufficient distance to allow a can's sidewalls to pass between the arms. The support arms have opposing notches sized to receive a can handle attachment members and where the notches are positioned to permit the can to pivot about the can handle attachment members; and a belt suspension member attachable to one end to a belt and pivotally attachable at its end opposite the back plate.

Abstract: A large-caliber weapon includes a barrel having a longitudinal barrel axis; a cradle supporting the barrel; a breech ring mounted on an end of the barrel; a breech wedge disposed in the breech ring for linear displacements transversely to the barrel axis; a control lug affixed to the breech wedge; and an opening lever pivotally mounted on the cradle for angular displacements about a lever axis oriented perpendicularly to the barrel axis. The opening lever is disposed externally of the breech ring and has an initial position and an actuated end position. The opening lever is engaged by the control lug of the breech wedge in a position of rest of the barrel such that upon motion of the opening lever from its initial position to its actuated end position, the breech wedge is moved from a closed position into an open position.

Abstract: An anti-pilferage ring display system consists of a tag assembly which is attached to the shank of the ring and a display assembly for receiving the rings with the attached tag assemblies. The tag assembly includes an elongated, rigid card and a flexible, tear resistant strap for securing the card to the ring shank. A first end of the card includes an arcuate seat for receiving the ring shank in abutting relation. The strap is received through the shank of the ring wherein the first and second ends of the strap are secured to opposing surfaces of the card by means of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the surfaces of the strap. The display assembly includes a pad having a plurality of slots for receiving the ring shanks and further includes a stand for supporting the slotted pad above a supporting surface. In use, the elongated card is passed through the slot so that the shank is received in the slot in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A new structure for a colored gem, generally round or oval, in which a barrel cut is employed, but which has a center top edge and transverse boundaries which increases the thickness of the stone with additional facets provided to enhance reflection and overall brilliance.

Abstract: Pre-inked impression members for hand stamps are made from a gel or premix of thermoplastic resin particles and liquid ink with use of a disposable molding device comprising a matrix board that is recessed in its molding area with cavities to form inked indicia of the impression members and has a peripheral surface area to which is adhered fluid-tight, and entirely about the molding area, an upright rigid wall means comprising a structure of fiberboard, wood, hard resin or other suitable material shaped to a height corresponding to the desired thickness of the impression members. As another feature, during the heating for curing of a layer of premix formed over the molding area of a matrix board, the layer of premix is confined in place by a covering means, applied over it and held under pressure, which comprises, together preferably with overlaid pliable ink-absorbent material, e.g.

Abstract: A container assembly includes a container member having an open end, and a lid threadably engagable with the container member for closing the open end of the container member. A locking member is provided on the lid which is engagable with a latch member located on an upper surface of the container member. The locking member is pivotable about a horizontal axis and prevents rotation of the lid with respect to the container member when the locking member is engaged with the latch member. A seal is provided between the lid and the container member. The seal is located between tapered wall members of the lid and the container member such that the seal is gradually compressed as the lid is threadably secured to the container member. The configuration of the lid and the container member, along with the seal, presents a torturous path for fluid movement, thus effectively sealing the container assembly.

Abstract: A system for transferring heat to an impingement surface includes a first radial jet reattachment combustion nozzle operable to direct a flame toward the impingement surface and comprising a central longitudinal axis. The system also includes a second radial jet reattachment combustion nozzle operable to direct a flame toward the impingement surface and comprising a central longitudinal axis. The first and second nozzles are positioned such that the central longitudinal axes are substantially parallel and spaced apart such that flames directed from the first and second radial jet reattachment combustion nozzles interact with each other.

Abstract: In a process for dyeing textile material including polyester fibers, the textile material is treated in an alkaline dye bath containing a dispersion dyestuff at a temperature above 100.degree. C. The pH-value of the dye bath is adjusted by the initial addition of a buffer mixture preferably comprising glycine and soda lye prior to the commencement of the dyeing operation. A perborate salt such as sodium perborate is also added. The pH-value is kept substantially constant from the beginning to the end of the dyeing operation. A sequestering agent including nitrilotriacetic acid and polycarboxylates can be alternatively or additionally added to the dye bath.

Abstract: A wrist mechanism for a robotic manipulator having kinematically zero length and mutually orthogonal unlimited joints is provided. The wrist mechanism provides access to any reachable point from any arbitrary direction. The wrist mechanism includes an intermediate joint created by two parallelogram four-bar linkages operating in parallel. Each of the four bar linkages include two side bars, a fixed bar and a coupler bar. The coupler bars extend to support a last link of the wrist mechanism which holds an end effector. The kinematic lengths of the side bars are less than the kinematic lengths of the fixed and coupler bars. The side bars of the first parallelogram four-bar linkage are fixed out of phase with respect to the side bars of the second parallelogram four-bar linkage. Also, the side bars of both parallelogram four-bar linkages occupy multiple planes which, along with the kinematic lengths of all the linkage bars, allows for unlimited rotation and zero dwell time.

Abstract: A multiple chip self-aligning clock distribution system. The clock signal provided to any given chip is delayed by the on-chip distribution time of every other chip with which it is to be synchronized. Equal delay paths are added to each chip which provide a delay equal to the clock distribution delay of the chip. The equal delay paths can comprise a series of logic gates, such as for example inverters. The clock distribution delay of the equal delay path is designed to be equal to the clock distribution delay of the clock distribution tree on the chip. For each chip to be synchronized, the clock signal is routed through an equal delay path on each of the other chips to be synchronized before being coupled to the clock distribution input terminal of the destination chip. The number of equal delay paths that is included on each chip is a function of the number of chips to be synchronized. "N" equal delay paths are used where the number of chips is greater than 2.sup.N-1 and is less than or equal to 2.sup.N.