Abstract: Methods and systems for ultrasound imaging and beamforming with a matrix array of transducer elements are provided. Receive signals of each transducer array element are amplified. The amplified receive signal of each transducer array element is digitized. A delay and weight are applied on the amplified and digitized receive signals. The amplified, digitized, delayed, and weighted receive signals are summed across all transducer elements of the matrix array to form a dynamically focused receive beam. An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that is integrated with the matrix array of transducer elements performs such steps.

Abstract: A resource allocation can be utilized to control resources to determine trustworthy item scores for a respondent's response to an assessment item. Embodiments may utilize one or more resources to extract the student response to an item, one or more resources to establish an item score for that item based on the extracted response, and one or more resources to evaluate the extracted or score and further utilize such resources until a trustworthy item score is established. Confidence indicators may be used for both digital representations of student responses and the scores derived from such digital representations of student responses.

Abstract: A resource allocation can be utilized to control resources to determine trustworthy item scores for a respondent's response to an assessment item. Embodiments may utilize one or more resources to extract the student response to an item, one or more resources to establish an item score for that item based on the extracted response, and one or more resources to evaluate the extracted or score and further utilize such resources until a trustworthy item score is established. Confidence indicators may be used for both digital representations of student responses and the scores derived from such digital representations of student responses.

Abstract: The current invention is designed to improve the certainty of test-taker classifications in testing programs utilizing open-ended items. The current invention discloses methods to improve certainty in estimates of test-taker performance for all test-takers while using a minimum of scoring resources. The invention selectively allocates resources to scoring by ceasing to allocate scoring resources to test-takers whose performance has been determined with sufficient certainty, and by having an additional reader or readers score responses from test-takers whose scores are close to cutoff levels. The invention further increases precision of scores for test-takers near a cutoff by selectively allocating more reliable and accurate readers to score responses most likely to influence a test-taker's performance classification. Other scoring resources are also shown.

Abstract: A method and system to link an article such as a publication to supplemental content through the use of an RFID tag embedded or attached to the article. Based on the electronic data within the RFID tag, a computer system or other network enabled device obtains specific and appropriate supplemental content for the publication or for a specific copy of a the publication. While the primary application of the invention deals with printed publications, connecting to a server as the source of the supplemental content via a network or the internet, and displaying supplemental content through a standard browser, the system and method can be advantageously used to obtain supplemental content for a variety of documents or objects and the content can be obtained from a variety of sources.

Abstract: One or more content providers push data related to: movies, movie products, digital movie content over a network (e.g., a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, or a wireless network) onto an information filling station which, in turn, wirelessly transacts (over a network based on the 802.11b protocol) and transmits any requested data to a portable computer-based device (e.g., laptop, a pen-based computer device, a PDA, a wireless phone, or a pager). The portable device performs financial transactions for: purchasing movie tickets (directly or via auctions), downloading digital entertainment content of interest (e.g., copy of a movie of interest, copy of a movie identified based on a pre-stored profile, copy of soundtrack of a movie of interest), or movie related products. Any purchased digital content is either transferred wirelessly onto the portable device or, optionally, sent on a storage medium to a physical address associated with the profile.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for acquiring services on a multiplicity of devices. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a service management center (SMC) (100) that has a plurality of service centers (102-110) for supplying services to a corresponding plurality of devices (120-128), and a controller (112) for managing operations of the service centers. The controller is programmed to receive (202) from a select one of the devices an identification reference in response to a request for service by an end user, search (210) for one or more services associated with the identification reference, select (212) from the search results one or more services appropriate for the requesting device, and enable (220) the one or more services on the selected device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method to deliver video data. The method can include selectively transmitting a low data rate video stream to at least one display device. The method can also include generating a mirror video stream that is derived from the low data rate video stream, where the mirror video stream has a data rate compatible with at least one wireless network. The method can also include selectively transmitting the mirror video stream to at least one wireless device via the at least one wireless network.

Abstract: The current invention is designed to improve the certainty of test-taker classifications in testing programs utilizing open-ended items. The current invention discloses methods to improve certainty in estimates of test-taker performance for all test-takers while using a minimum of scoring resources. The invention selectively allocates resources to scoring by ceasing to allocate scoring resources to test-takers whose performance has been determined with sufficient certainty, and by having an additional reader or readers score responses from test-takers whose scores are close to cutoff levels. The invention further increases precision of scores for test-takers near a cutoff by selectively allocating more reliable and accurate readers to score responses most likely to influence a test-taker's performance classification. Other scoring resources are also shown.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to a system including a passive optical network element and a first ultra wideband adapter coupled to the passive optical network element. The first ultra wideband adapter is coupled via a data communication line to a second ultra wideband adapter. The second ultra wideband adapter has a connection to an end user computing device.

Abstract: The current invention is designed to improve the certainty of test-taker classifications in testing programs utilizing open-ended items. The current invention discloses methods to improve certainty in estimates of test-taker performance for all test-takers while using a minimum of scoring resources. The invention selectively allocates resources to scoring by ceasing to allocate scoring resources to test-takers whose performance has been determined with sufficient certainty, and by having an additional reader or readers score responses from test-takers whose scores are close to cutoff levels. The invention further increases precision of scores for test-takers near a cutoff by selectively allocating more reliable and accurate readers to score responses most likely to influence a test-taker's performance classification. Other scoring resources are also shown.

Abstract: A dequantization device is provided for receiving input quantized data values and providing output dequantized data values. A conditional decrement device receives the input quantized data values and conditionally decrements the input data values according to determinations made with respect to the input data values. The conditionally decremented values are applied to a multiplication device which multiplies them by a quantization factor. The output of the multiplication device is applied to a second conditionally decrementing device wherein the multiplication output is decremented according to determinations with respect to the input quantized data value and the quantization factor. The output of the further conditional decrementing device is representative of the output dequantized data values. In this manner, dequantization is performed using only two decrements and a multiply.

Abstract: A video processor system has memory locations for storing images including a buffer block of memory locations. Two separate video processors within the system read and write the buffer block while performing video processor functions. Each of the two video processors has its own read pointer and its own write pointer for indicating locations within the buffer block where it is currently reading or writing an image which it is processing. Both sets of read and write pointers advance through the buffer block as the images are processed. When the pointers reach the end of the buffer block they wrap around to the beginning thereby defining circular buffers. The operations of the two video processors, as well as the reading, advancing, and adjusting of the pointers, is adapted to cause the circular buffers to occupy the same physical memory locations simultaneously.