Abstract: New methods of manufacturing coiled tubing result in increased useful life of the coiled tubing string by creating an enhanced strip-to-strip weld zone having load bearing and/or fatigue resistance properties substantially equal to or greater than the load bearing and/or fatigue resistance properties of the strip base material. The enhanced weld zone is transition into the nominal tubing to reduce stress concentration.

Abstract: New methods of manufacturing coiled tubing result in increased useful life of the coiled tubing string by creating an enhanced strip-to-strip weld zone having load bearing and/or fatigue resistance properties substantially equal to or greater than the load bearing and/or fatigue resistance properties of the strip base material. The enhanced weld zone is transition into the nominal tubing to reduce stress concentration.

Abstract: A combination mechanical and metallurgical connection is provided for joining members such as conduits wherein amorphous diffusion bonding material is placed at mating or abutting surfaces in the mechanical joint, the bonding material is compressed under pressure and heat is applied to cause the bonding material to diffuse into the mechanical connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fraud control in cellular telephone systems. The invention identifies relative fraud probabilities for call records from the cellular telephone system, associates the call records with radio frequency (RF) signatures, and identifies the radio frequency signatures as being fraudulent or valid based on the relative fraud probabilities for the associated call records.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fraud control in cellular telephone systems. The invention identifies relative fraud probabilities for call records from the cellular telephone system, associates the call records with radio frequency (RF) signatures, and identifies the radio frequency signatures as being fraudulent or valid based on the relative fraud probabilities for the associated call records.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fraud control in cellular telephone systems. Call records from a switch are scanned to identify a fraudulent cellular phone based on its behavior. An identifier, e.g., a radio frequency (RF) signature, representative of the fraudulent phone is stored in a control channel editor at a cell site. A database of identifiers may comprise a positive validation database storing the identifiers for all valid phones used in the cellular telephone system, or it may be a negative validation database storing the identifiers for known fraudulent phones. A control channel editor intercepts a call origination request transmitted by a phone, and a control processor compares one or more characteristics of the phone transmitting the call origination request to the database of identifiers. The control processor then prevents the call origination request from completing when the comparison indicates that the phone is fraudulent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fraud control in cellular telephone systems. Call records from a switch are scanned to identify a fraudulent cellular phone based on its behavior. An identifier, e.g., a radio frequency (RF) signature, representative of the fraudulent phone is stored in a control channel editor at a cell site. A database of identifiers may comprise a positive validation database storing the identifiers for all valid phones used in the cellular telephone system, or it may be a negative validation database storing the identifiers for known fraudulent phones. A control channel editor intercepts a call origination request transmitted by a phone, and a control processor compares one or more characteristics of the phone transmitting the call origination request to the database of identifiers. The control processor then prevents the call origination request from completing when the comparison indicates that the phone is fraudulent.

Abstract: Method and apparatus involving the use of an X-ray video fluoroscope for nondestructive analysis of rock samples, including core obtained during the drilling of wellbores through subterranean strata, to determine the presence, location, and orientation of any internal features, or to monitor the flow of fluids through the rock sample. Rock samples can be both moved through and rotated in the analysis zone of the X-ray video fluoroscope and the visible light image obtained from the X-ray video fluoroscope can then be viewed, recorded photographically or on video tape, or digitized to facilitate computer implemented storage, retrieval, and digital processing of the X-ray video fluoroscope image.