Abstract: A method and system (100) establishes voice communications between a computer operator (102) and an agent (104) of a business over a computer network, such as the Internet (108). Using an operator computer (106), the computer operator (102) views advertisements of the business' products or services on the Internet (108) via customized home pages (200). When the operator (102) wishes to order a product or ask additional questions about a product, the operator (102) activates a “call me” button (210). A return call screen (300) is then presented to the operator (102) with areas to insert a name (302), a telephone number (304) and a time to call (306). This information is packetized in a call request which is transmitted over the Internet (108) to a telephone switching system (112) associated with the business. The telephone switching system (112) subsequently dials the telephone number (304) at the time to call (306).

Abstract: An output bearing assembly of a transmission includes a housing, and a pair of bearings. At least one speedometer sensor is mounted between the bearings. The arrangement allows the output bearings to be spaced axially by a relatively great distance.

Abstract: An automatic call distributor 100 and method for selectively connecting incoming telephone calls from telephonic units 102 to a plurality of available agents located at agent telephonic units 308 is provided. The automatic call distributor 100 includes a central processing unit 302 which controls a multiport switch 300 to interconnect the incoming telephone calls and the agent telephonic units 308. Each agent is assigned one or more agent-skill indicators indicative of the agent's skills. A proficiency rating indicative of the skill level of the agent is also assigned for each agent-skill indicator. Skill groups 110a, 110b and 110n are formed from available agents having a common agent-skill indicator. Within the skill groups, the agents are arranged by decreasing proficiency rating. Agents with identical proficiency ratings are further arranged by the amount of time each agent has been available to accept an incoming telephone call.

Abstract: An O-plate compensator comprising an organic liquid crystal polymer, and methods for fabricating the same, are disclosed. The compensator is a uniaxial birefringent thin film with its extraordinary axis oriented obliquely with respect to the surface of the film. (It is noted that the birefringent thin film could be weakly biaxial.) The oblique orientation of the liquid crystal director, which is parallel to the films extraordinary axis, is achieved by casting an organic thin film onto a surface specially prepared for a orienting liquid crystals, such as obliquely deposited SiO, mechanically rubbed alignment agents. The film can either be cast from a solution of the liquid crystal polymer or from a reactive liquid crystal monomer having a nematic phase. Any solvent that may be used during the fabrication process is evaporated off and the organic thin film is held at a temperature in its nematic phase. If a reactive monomer is used, the film is then photopolymerized.

Abstract: A method and system (100) establishes voice communications between a computer operator (102) and an agent (104) of a business over a computer network, such as the Internet (108). Using an operator computer (106), the computer operator (102) views advertisements of the business' products or services on the Internet (108) via customized home pages (200). When the operator (102) wishes to order a product or ask additional questions about a product, the operator (102) activates a “call me” button (210). A return call screen (300) is then presented to the operator (102) with areas to insert a name (302), a telephone number (304) and a time to call (306). This information is packetized in a call request which is transmitted over the Internet (108) to a telephone switching system (112) associated with the business. The telephone switching system (112) subsequently dials the telephone number (304) at the time to call (306).

Abstract: A call overflow system 10 and method for overflowing telephone calls from an originating telephonic switch 12A and a destination telephonic switch 12B is provided. An information element data packet 34 containing information relating to the telephone calls is transmitted between the originating telephonic switch 12A and the destination telephonic switch 12B. The data packet 34 comprises information provided by a caller in byte (20b) 80, designated switch status data. The information is thereafter utilized by the destination telephonic switch 12B to route the telephone calls to internal telephonic units 20B for service.

Abstract: A method and automatic call distribution system 100 for routing incoming telephone calls 206 from external telephonic units 102 to selected ones of a plurality of agents A1001-A1007 wherein the agents A1001-A1007 are grouped into skill groups 110a-110n are provided. Each of the skill groups 110a-110n is comprised of agents having a common agent-skill indicator. An agent-skill indicator being representative of a skill of the agent. Further, the agents in a skill group are arranged by length of time the agent has been available. An incoming telephone call 206 is initially assigned a call-skill indicator representative of a skill deemed useful in satisfying a need of the external caller. The call-skill indicator is then matched to a common agent-skill indicator of one of the skill groups. The telephone call is routed to the available agent in the matched skill group having been available the longest time.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting and correcting for cycle slip in a GPS attitude determination system is presented. The method employs several techniques for detecting and correcting for faults in high integrity carrier phase-related applications. A delta single difference is used as a primary measurement residual in detecting cycle slip. The delta single difference represents the difference in phase of a carrier signal of a GPS satellite at two receiving antennas over two points in time. This delta single difference is compared to a detection failure threshold computed based on certain high integrity needs. Satellites showing a failure are excluded. In addition, satellites that fail a detectability test, indicating the inability to detect a fault, are pre-excluded from attitude solution computation.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line communication system does not require the use of a plain old telephone service (POTS) splitter in the resident's home. Digital signal processing techniques are utilized to adapt to varying subscriber line conditions due to POTS telephone equipment. The digital signal processing techniques eliminate the need for a splitter by reducing susceptibility to distortion due to varying subscriber line characteristics. The digital subscriber line modem utilizes quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signals and frequency division multiplexing. The digital subscriber line modem includes a control circuit which includes a rapid retrain circuit. The rapid retrain circuit can retrain the digital subscriber line modem in less than 0.5 seconds.

Abstract: A signal detector 100 and method detects digital signals on a signal path 102. The signal detector 100 comprises a sample detector 108 which detects digital code samples for past sample periods and the instant sample period. Past digital code samples are stored in a sample storage 114. Past digital code samples and the instant digital code sample are compared by a comparator 112. If the samples are equal, the signal path 102 is idle. If the samples are unequal, the signal path 102 is in use. It is contemplated that the past digital code sample substantially immediately preceding the instant digital code sample will be compared to the instant digital code sample.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for minimizing the security boundary of PPS GPS receivers. The primary disclosure is a lump sum SA correction method. This method can be used to limit the security boundary to the portion of the GPS receiver that generates the lump sum SA correction, allowing all PPS measurement processing (within the receiver or across a PPS measurement interface) to reside outside the security boundary. In addition, two methods are disclosed (passive residual method and active residual method) by which the data content of the PPS measurement interface is entirely unclassified when keyed, thereby limiting the security boundary to the GPS receiver itself.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for Doppler compensation in a satellite communications system such as Inmarsat's SATCOM network are disclosed. An aircraft terminal provides satellite communications services in one of several user-selectable modes including a circuit-mode services only mode and other modes providing some data packet services. The terminal includes multiple channel units coupled to a processing circuit. The channel units communicate radio signals via data or circuit channels between the aircraft and a satellite. Each channel unit can receive a channel input transmitted at a known frequency, and measure its frequency. Each channel unit can also transmit a channel output at an adjustable frequency. Each channel unit is operated as a circuit channel when circuit-mode services only is selected. Doppler shift is measured using the difference between the measured and known transmitted frequencies of at least one channel input.

Abstract: An improved flow sensor is disclosed for use with a crop harvesting device to determine flow volume of a crop yield product. The improved flow sensor is of the type which uses a strain gauge and includes an improved probe coupled to the strain gauge and adapted to cooperate with the strain gauge to produce a signal indicative of pressure being applied to the probe by the crop yield product. The improved probe includes first and second connection members adapted to couple the probe to the strain gauge. A probe middle portion is coupled to each of the first and second connection members and extends from a location between the first and second connection members into a middle portion of the flow path of the crop yield product. First and second probe legs are coupled to and extend from first and second sides of the probe middle portion into first and second sides of the flow of crop yield product.

Abstract: A system of utilizing a single radio receiver with continuously broadcast GPS signals in order to determine precise relative positioning between two arbitrary positions or to determine current position. The invention includes utilizing changes in the carrier signal as detected by the GPS receiver occurring as a result of the movement from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: An FMS with the capability of automatically adjusting the view of the flight path as the flight progresses while maintaining a set viewing direction. The vertical dimension of the flight path display chosen to fill the display and provide increased readability.

Abstract: A method and system (100) establishes voice communications between a computer user (102) and an agent (104) of a business over a computer network, such as the Internet (108). Using a user computer (106), the computer user (102) views advertisments of the business' products or services on the Internet (108) via customized home pages (200). When the user (102) wishes to order a product or ask additional questions about a product, the user (102) activates a "call me" button (210). A return call screen (300) is then presented to the user (102) with areas to insert a name (302), a telephone number (304) and a time to call (306). This information is packetized in a call request which is transmitted over the Internet (108) to a telephone switching system (112) associated with the business. The telephone switching system (112) subsequently dials the telephone number (304) at the time to call (306).

Abstract: Disclosed are global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, including digital spatial nulling arrays, and a method of providing antenna pattern outputs using the same. The digital spatial nulling array receives multiple antenna element inputs. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) is applied to the multiple antenna element inputs to obtain frequency domain representations of the multiple antenna element inputs. The antenna pattern outputs are provided by the spatial nulling array as a function of the frequency domain representations of the multiple antenna element inputs.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a moving receiver station capable of receiving broadcast entertainment signals from a first geostationary satellite associated with a first program provider, or from a second geostationary satellite associated with a second program provider. The receiver station is part of an aircraft and includes a tracking antenna and switching and control system that locks the tracking antenna on either the first or second satellite. The switching and control system receives position information, program attribute information and satellite coverage area information to determine when the aircraft is leaving one coverage area and entering another. The switching and control system switches the antenna to the second satellite when the aircraft enters the second coverage area, and limits the availability of received programming based on whether the aircraft is leaving the first coverage area or entering the second coverage area.

Abstract: A lightning protection element is incorporated into the portion of an aircraft signal distribution system which connects an antenna to flight critical equipment. The lightning protection element rejects surge currents associated with direct lightning strikes on the antenna, or its surrounding radome, while passing communication signals without significant interference with those signals. In a preferred embodiment, the lightning protection element comprises an optical fiber isolator element. A segment of optical fiber in the isolator prevents surge currents associated with the lightning strikes from reaching the equipment while passing communications signals transmitted on the signal distribution system.

Abstract: A normally white liquid crystal display includes polarizer and analyzer layers having perpendicular absorbing axes. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the polarizer layer and the analyzer layer, with its director exhibiting an azimuthal twist through the layer. First and second electrodes are proximate to first and second major surfaces of the liquid crystal layer. A first negatively birefringent compensator layer, oriented with its optical axis substantially parallel to the average direction of the optical axis within a central, nominally homeotropic region of the liquid crystal layer in its driven state, is disposed between the polarizer layer and the liquid crystal layer. A second negatively birefringent compensator layer, with a birefringence substantially the same as the birefringence of the first compensator layer and oriented with its optical axis substantially parallel to the optical axis of the first compensator layer, is disposed between the analyzer layer and the liquid crystal layer.