Abstract: A tool for expanding a hole having a vertical axis in the earth has at least one set of two opposed compactor units constrained to separate and retract in a direction at a right angle to the axis of the hole, and a drive mechanism coupled to the set of compactor units providing force to separate the compactor units, urging the units against a wall or walls of the hole, compacting the earth and enlarging the hole.

Abstract: A system for teaching a student to play a musical instrument has a first portion of a musical score displayed as a first visual example and annotated with a first identifying indicia, a second portion of the musical score following the first portion in the score, as a second visual example annotated with a second identifying indicia different from the first identifying indicia, and a digital memory media having recorded thereon a selectable and playable first audio file of the first portion of the musical score played on the musical instrument according to the musical score, the playable audio file saved on the memory media with a filename the same as the unique identifier annotated on the first musical score, and further having recorded thereon a second selectable and playable audio file of the second portion of the musical score played on the musical instrument according to the musical score, the second playable audio file saved on the media with a filename the same as the unique identifier annotated on the

Abstract: A network system is provided for enabling priority-based number switching from a lower priority access number to a higher priority access number during an active data session is provided. The system comprises, a CTI-switch for establishing call connections and performing call switching according to instruction, a network-hosted part of a software application for monitoring the current user-node connection states and the current states of the alternate access numbers, at least two network-access nodes connected to the network, the access nodes each accessible through dialing a network-access number from the user node and, a client-hosted part of the software application for listing access numbers, configuring priority states to the access numbers and for communicating the pertinent data to the network-hosted part of the software application. The system affects call transfer based on priority state.

Abstract: An Internet-capable radio has a communication port for connection to a modem, a connection function for connecting to the Internet upon user initiation while connected to the modem, sound circuitry for rendering audio data packets received over the Internet as analog audio output, and for delivering the audio output to one or more speaker ports, two or more stored hyperlinks addressing Internet broadcast servers; and a user input adapted to enable a user to select among the stored hyperlinks. Selection of one of the stored hyperlinks by the user input invokes the hyperlink and connects the radio to the server addressed by the hyperlink, initiating thereby an audio data stream as data packets from the broadcast server to the radio, and wherein the radio renders the data stream as analog audio data delivered to the one or more speaker ports. The user input in preferred embodiments has a plurality of pushbuttons associated with hyperlinks, which can be asserted by activating a pushbutton.

Abstract: An Internet-capable radio has a communication port for connection to a modem, a connection function for connecting to the Internet upon user initiation while connected to the modem, sound circuitry for rendering audio data packets received over the Internet as analog audio output, and for delivering the audio output to one or more speaker ports, two or more stored hyperlinks addressing Internet broadcast servers; and a user input adapted to enable a user to select among the stored hyperlinks. Selection of one of the stored hyperlinks by the user input invokes the hyperlink and connects the radio to the server addressed by the hyperlink, initiating thereby an audio data stream as data packets from the broadcast server to the radio, and wherein the radio renders the data stream as analog audio data delivered to the one or more speaker ports. The user input in preferred embodiments has a plurality of pushbuttons associated with hyperlinks, which can be asserted by activating a pushbutton.

Abstract: A system for sharing a display transmission sourced from a media capture device over a television network has a source node connected to the network, the source node including the media capture device storing the content for transmission; at least one receiving node connected to the network; a central server for brokering the transmission; and a transmission splitting module integrated into the display path and into the back channel transmission path of the source node for rendering a second version of the display transmission. The display transmission is ordered from the source node and executed from the media capture device connected to the source node whereupon the transmission splitting module diverts a version of the display to be sent to the central server over a back channel of the system, the central server then ordering broadcast of the display transmission to the at least one receiving node over the network.

Abstract: Relatively wide workpieces, such as auto grilles, are rapidly conveyed into and from a vacuum processing chamber provided with entry and exit air locks and vacuum isolation valves, in which thin metallic coatings are deposited uniformly over workpiece surfaces. The gate member of the valve is supported for sliding vertical movement, as well as limited outward and inward movement for sealing the chamber opening, at the protruding ends of an elongated member backing the gate. Air cylinders act directly on these ends to close the gate. A linkage and air cylinder above the gate vertically propels the gate. The processing chamber is provided with several side by side arrays of sputtering sources with circular cathodes, the workpieces moving thereunder at a steady rate orthogonally to the arrays.