Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing nitro-substituted, enantiomerically enriched 1-phenylethylamines, and to their use.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing an engineering web portal are disclosed. The system maintains a database of data and drawings for parts sold by a vendor. The drawings can be downloaded to a client and inserted into a CAD system, whereupon the vendor charged a fee for each drawing downloaded. The database of parts can be searched for parts meeting a user's requirements. The parts resulting from the search can be submitted to a search engine that searches for auctions that offer the part for bidding.

Abstract: A method for operating an end user unit includes operating a screensaver on the end user unit and embedding event-related data into an output of the screensaver so as to maintain an operation of the screensaver.

Abstract: A method for managing communications includes communicating, from a first end user unit, data indicating a second end user unit. The data indicating the second end user unit is configured to initiate a communications link with the second end user unit. The data indicating the second end user unit is routed to a web site associated with the second end user unit.

Abstract: A web site for providing communications includes an event identification element and a processing device. The event identification element is configured to identify an event and the processing device is configured to provide, as a function of the event, private communications between an end user unit and a specific entity associated with a web page of the web site.

Abstract: A web site for providing communications includes a processing device and an event creation element. The processing device is configured to provide, upon an accessing of a web page of the web site, private communications between an end user unit and a specific entity associated with the web page. The event creation element is configured to create an event capable of changing a state of the web site.

Abstract: A web site for providing communications includes a web page corresponding to a specific entity and a processing device. A layout of the web page includes a plurality of zones. The processing device is configured to provide, upon an accessing of the web page, private communications between an end user unit and the specific entity.

Abstract: A web site for providing communications includes an individual event settings element and a processing device. The individual event settings element is configured to define a rule for responding to an event. The processing device is configured to provide, upon an accessing of a web page of the web site, private communications between an end user unit and a specific entity associated with the web page.

Abstract: A web site for providing communications includes a caller recognition element and a processing device. The caller recognition element is configured to recognize a caller of the web site. The processing device is configured to provide, upon an accessing of a web page of the web site, private communications between the caller and a specific entity associated with the web page.

Abstract: A web site for providing communications a web page associated with a specific entity and a processing device. The web page is configured to accept an inputting of data and the processing device is configured to provide private communications between an end user unit and the specific entity using the inputting of data.

Abstract: A communications environment includes a first end user unit configured for performing network-based communications and a web site corresponding to a specific entity. The web site provides, upon an accessing of the web site, private communications between the first end user unit and the specific entity.

Abstract: A communications environment includes a first portal having a first web site residing thereon and a second portal having a second web site residing thereon. The first web site is configured for providing, upon an accessing of the first web site, private communications with a first user. The second web site is configured for providing, upon an accessing of the second web site, private communications with a second user. The first and second portals are configured for providing communications between the first and second web sites and thereby provide private communications between the first and second users.

Abstract: A communications environment includes a web site corresponding to a specific entity and a first and a second end user unit associated with the specific entity. Also provided are a first and a second connection device controlled by the web site. The first connection device is configured for connecting the first end user unit to a third end user unit so as to provide first private communications. The second connection device is configured for connecting the second end user unit to a fourth end user unit so as to provide second private communications.

Abstract: A communications environment includes a first web site corresponding to a first specific entity and a second web site corresponding to a second specific entity. The second web site is configured for providing, upon an accessing by the first web site, private communications between the first specific entity and the second specific entity.

Abstract: A communications environment includes a first end user unit for performing network-based communications, and a portal having a web site residing thereon. The web site corresponds to a specific entity and provides, upon an accessing of the web site, private communications between the first end user unit and the specific entity.

Abstract: A communications environment includes a first end user unit configured for performing network-based communications and a connection device configured for establishing a connection from the first end user unit to a specific entity. A web site corresponding to the specific entity is also provided. The web site is configured for providing, upon an accessing of the web site, private communications between the first end user unit and the specific entity via the connection using the connection device.

Abstract: A communications environment includes a first web site residing on a portal and corresponding to a first specific entity and a second web site residing on the portal and corresponding to a second specific entity. The second web site is configured for providing, upon an accessing by the first web site, private communications between the first specific entity and the second specific entity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an information processing system are disclosed for improved manipulation of documents consisting of multiple pages. In one embodiment, a multi-page document is depicted by a representation of a stack of pages and a request area through which an operator may navigate within the stack. In another embodiment, a multi-page document is depicted by static icon representing the stack and a dynamic miniature replica of a current page within the stack. Additional functions are disclosed such as adding one or more pages to a document, removing a page from a stack, rotating a page within a stack, and adding annotations to a page.

Abstract: A document imaging system detects skew and/or size of a document. In one embodiment, a document imaging system generates scanning signals representing the documents, analyxes the scanning signals to detect one more edges of the document before the entire lenght of the document is scanned, establishes a skew angle between the detected edges and a reference orientation, and modifies the scanning signals to compensate for skew while the document is being scanned. In another embodiment, a document imaging system detects one or more edges of a document, defines a polygon having sides substantially congruent with the detected edges, and establishes the size of the document in response to the polygon.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to optical scanning and image processing, and relates more particularly to a document imaging system which detects skew and/or detects size/shape of a document image. Preferred embodiments utilize a background with optical characteristics which contrast with those of the scanned document. In one embodiment, a document imaging system generates scanning signals in response to optical characteristics of a medium such as a sheet of paper, detects transitions in the scanning signal which define points along one or more edges of the medium, establishes a skew angle between the detected edges and a reference orientation, and compensates for skew by modifying the scanning signals as required such that the resultant skew angle is substantially equal to zero.