Abstract: A system and method for capturing, displaying, and navigating text annotations in a non-modifiable document is disclosed. Once it is determined that a text annotation is to be created, the system determines the file position of the selected object. The file position of the selected object is stored along with the created text annotation in another file or a non-read only portion of a file storing the document. Using the file position, the text annotation may be properly identified with the selected object without modifying the non-modifiable document. Once a text annotation is displayed a user may easily navigate among the captured annotations.

Abstract: An architecture for an integrated shopping service that enables electronic shopping from within a software application. The software application includes web browsing functionality, with the capability to navigate to a limited set of web sites. The client machine on which the software runs maintains a local list of the limited set of web sites that can be accessed from within the software application. A directory server maintains a list of retail web sites that can be added to the client's local list of accessible web sites. Each client machine that runs the software application connects to the directory server in order to add web sites to the locally-maintained list of sites that can be accessed from within the integrated shopping service.

Abstract: Well data and production control commands are transmitted from a remote central data store to wells at a remote location with a well hopping system and method, preferably through a radio frequency (RF) network. Request packets are sent through a field station to one or more well units until it reaches the destination well unit. The destination well unit executes the data request or the command and sends a response data packet back to the central data store through the RF network using the same well hopping system and through the field station. The central data store reads and stores the data. One or more satellite offices are connected to the central data store and can download data from the central data store or send/receive data packets to/from the well units. Oxygen content in production gas can be detected and transmitted to the central store for monitoring and reporting.

Abstract: A method of billing a collect telephone call comprising providing a toll-free or a local telephone number to a customer to access a provider in a toll-free call from a calling party telephone number; receiving the originating telephone number in response to the toll-free call; obtaining a destination telephone number from the customer; billing the call to the destination telephone number as coming from a predetermined other telephone number, whereby the calling party telephone number is not provided to the destination telephone number. Alternately, when a toll-free number is provided, billing the call to the destination telephone number as coming from the calling party telephone number.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for evaluating the probability of success or failure of an entrepreneurial endeavor. A plurality of entrepreneurial issues associated with the entrepreneurial endeavor are generally designated, such that a value is assigned from among a plurality of values to each entrepreneurial issue. A score than be compiled based on a summation of the values respectively assigned the entrepreneurial issues, such that the compiled score is indicative of the probability of success or failure of the entrepreneurial endeavor.

Abstract: Variable focus optical devices, in particular lenses, can include a cavity at least partially defined by a flexible membrane (2), which may be retained between engaging portions of a frame member (8) and a ring member (12), such that a peripheral region of the membrane is caused to change direction more than twice. The engaging portions of the ring and frame may be high-friction surfaces. In addition, methods of filling a cavity of a lens with transparent fluid, methods of adjusting the pressure of fluid in the cavity, and methods of sealing such a cavity are described, as well the use of such lenses in adjustable spectacles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for image display and transmission, including display and transmission of data over the Internet. Image transmission is effected by non-sequential streaming of sequential images or of multiple views of a scene or object. The present invention sends image frames from server to browser out of order. Wherever the cursor is positioned, the browser displays the nearest frame which is received from the server. The viewer, therefore, is able to see more sides of the image without waiting for the entire image to be transmitted.

Abstract: This invention uses a novel synthesis of several different compression methods, some original and some known in the art, to achieve compression of digitized video image sequences. Images are color-reduced by a factor of two in both directions using a colorspace that requires minimal computation for reconstruction of RGB pixel values. Images are then transformed into a `token sequence` corresponding to a series of 4.times.4 blocks, using one of seven transformation methods, some dependent on previous frames and some dependent only on pixel values in neighboring blocks. The resulting token sequence is then compressed using known lossless methods, including Huffman coding.

Abstract: In the field of eyesight correction, there is a need for "universal" spectacles that can be tailored in situ to suit an individual's requirements. The disclosure relates to an apparatus, which may be in the form of a pair of spectacles (1) including one or more liquid lenses (11a, 11b). The apparatus also includes a sealable duct (24) and a pump (e.g., a syringe) for adjusting the pressure of liquid in the liquid lens. In use, the apparatus is adjusted to provide eyesight correction for an individual. The duct (24) is then sealed, thereby rendering the apparatus subsequently non-adjustable and therefore permanently tailored to the requirements of the individual. The disclosure also relates to an apparatus in the form of a flexible membrane mirror.

Abstract: A method and system of providing telephone service comprises associating a list of telephone numbers with a representative telephone number. A call to the representative telephone number is detected and a plurality of telephone numbers on the list are simultaneously signalled. Thereafter, signalling is terminated at at least one of the plurality of telephone numbers thereby allowing a connection to be established with one or more parties at telephone numbers among the plurality of telephone numbers. Each telephone number on the list may be a representative number which is associated with another list of telephone numbers.

Abstract: A method of telephone billing comprise providing a toll-free number to a customer to access a provider in a toll-free call from an originating customer telephone number, receiving the originating customer telephone number in response to the toll-free call, converting the toll-free call to a billable call during or after the toll-free call and billing the billable call to the originating customer telephone number.

Abstract: A Digital Recording Center having a removable playback module for permanently capturing a human voice or other sounds into a compact module for playback within a greeting card or photograph. A recording center having a microphone (or other audio input device) is used to record a brief message, in a digital fashion, for loading into a playback module. Before loading the message into the playback module, the customer may listen through a speaker to determine if his message as recorded sounds proper. If the temporarily recorded message is in good form, the customer activates a transfer command button and the message is non-volatilely stored in the removable playback module. The playback module may be placed into a compartment within a greeting card or picture, ornament, a stuffed animal or doll, or even a dog tag.

Abstract: A high voltage, gas filled, pipe type electrical cable and method of manufacture thereof. The cable comprises a plurality of insulated conductors, each conductor having a central gas passageway and being gas permeable. The conductor is wrapped with tapes impregnated with an insulating oil, and the wrapped tapes are encircled by gas permeable layers and skid wires. Three of such insulated conductors are encircled by a gas impermeable pipe, and the pipe and the conductor passageways are filled with an insulating gas under pressure above atmospheric pressure so that both the interior and exterior surfaces of the wrapped tapes are subjected to such gas. Preferably, the gas is a mixture of sulfur hexafluoride and nitrogen at a pressure of at least 200 psig. The tapes are impregnated with the oil and drained before they are wrapped around the conductor so as to provide gaps between the tapes which are substantially filled with the gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for extruding a first layer of a semi-conductive plastic material around the conductor of an electric power cable and for extruding a second layer of plastic insulating material around the first layer as the conductor is advanced in which the extruder for the insulating material includes an extrusion head which comprises a body with a passageway therethrough for the passage of the conductor through the body and having at least one channel therein extending from the exterior thereof to adjacent one end of the passageway for supplying the insulated material around the conductor. An extrusion tip or tubular guide is disposed in the passageway for guiding said conductor and extends across part of the channel for contacting material exiting from the channel. The guide comprises a ceramic tube with a polished inner surface forming the innermost surface of the guide.

Abstract: Insulation for an electric power cable, and a power cable including such insulation, the insulation having an improved dielectric strength and being irradiation cross-linked polymeric material having mixed therewith carbon black having a particle size in the range from about 200 to about 500 millimicrons, the carbon black content being about 10% to about 40% of the weight of the mixture of carbon black and the polymeric material. Also, the cable insulation may be layers of different density polyethylene, at least one of the layers being the described mixture of polyethylene and carbon black.

Abstract: A stop joint for a pair of electric cables having fluid under pressure therein in which the fluid impermeable pipe or shield around the cable, which is spaced at its end from the bared conductor end to expose the cable insulation, is connected to the connector for interconnecting the cable ends by a multi-part stop tube having an intermediate portion of insulating material and a pair of end portions bonded to respective ends of the intermediate portion, the end portions being made of an insulating material rendered conductive by the addition of conductive material or of insulating material having a conductive layer thereon for forming electrodes for electrical stress distribution purposes. The electrodes have substantially the same coefficient of expansion as the material of the intermediate tube portion to prevent separation of the end portions from the intermediate portion with temperature changes.

Abstract: In a pipe type electric cable installation in which portions of the cable cores extend into a joint casing where the conductors of the cores are conductively joined, the portions of the cores within the casing are enclosed by tubes which are longitudinally curved, preferably, S-shaped, to restrict axial movement of the cores with varying load conditions, one end of each tube being anchored, at least with respect to longitudinal movement, to the casing.

Abstract: Insulation for an electric power cable, and a power cable including such insulation, the insulation having an improved dielectric strength and being irradiation cross-linked polymeric material having mixed therewith carbon black having a particle size in the range from about 200 to about 500 millimicrons, the carbon black content being about 10% to about 40% of the weight of the mixture of carbon black and the polymeric material. Also, the cable insulation may be layers of different density polyethylene, at least one of the layers being the described mixture of polyethylene and carbon black.

Abstract: High-voltage power cables with extruded dielectric plastic insulation, installed underground, have their life shortened by the formation of electrochemical trees in the insulation. This invention provides a high-voltage power transmission cable constructed with sealant in interstices of a stranded conductor that are not filled by the semi-conducting material of a conductor shield of the cable. The construction prevents or greatly delays the formation of electrochemical trees in the insulation of the cable. The sealant prevents entrance of air into the cable at cable ends, and the passage of the humidity of the air through the conductor shield to an interface between the conductor shield and the inside surface of insulation that surrounds the conductor shield.

Abstract: This electrostatic shielding tape is a metal strip of low resistance and low reactance folded longitudinally over the length of an insulated power cable having a semi-conducting insulation shield surrounding its insulation. The longitudinally folded metallic tape has its edges free to permit expansion of the insulation and insulation shield, located directly under it, without significant deformation of the insulation and the insulation shield. When the tape is of a metal requiring a thin corrosion-protective coating, the coating on the side adjacent to the insulation shield is preferably semi-conducting to accept charging current from the insulation shield. It is a feature that the metal of the electrostatic shield is in electrical communication with the insulation shield. .Iadd.