Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for determining an estimate of at least one numerical attribute of at least one entity of a population when the population is changing and there are a limited number of observations on the attribute for the entities, in which a conditional index is determined to track how a value of the attribute changes from one time to another for an entity that is a member of the population at both times, and an unconditional index is determined representing an average level of the attribute for the entities of the population.

Abstract: A network requested PDP context activation (57) allows push applications (45) to unsolicited transmit push data to a mobile station (10). A gateway (30), GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node), typically initiates the network requested PDP context activation (57).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for hard address conflict resolution for enclosures in a loop network (200). The loop network (200) has: a loop (202); a host means (201) on or connected to the loop (202); a plurality of devices (207) on or connected to the loop (202); and at least one enclosure containing one or more devices (207). Each device (207) has an address means. Each enclosure has an enclosure control device (208) with control over devices (207) in that enclosure. Each enclosure control device (208) has an address means. The method includes, at the start up of the loop network (200), setting the address means of the enclosure control devices (208) to a default value. Each device (207) is then entered in the loop (202) in a reset state in which only the enclosure control devices (208) and the host means (201) are active in the loop (202).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for relating a device name to a physical location of a device (202) on a network is provided. The network may be a serial loop network, for example a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop network. The network includes a plurality of devices (202) on or connected to the network (201) and a control device (205) with control over at least one of the devices (202). Each device (202) has a check output (204) independent of the network (201) with connection means (206) to a control device (205). The method includes the step of sending a device name from the check output (204) of a device (202) to the control device (205). The check output (204) of a device (202) is also connected to an external indication means for indicating the failure of the device (202).

Abstract: The invention relates to sterile filtered nanoparticulate compositions of beclomethasone and/or budesonide having as a surface stabilizer tyloxapol and, optionally, one or more secondary surface stabilizers adsorbed onto the surfaces thereof. The nanoparticulate compositions have an optimal effective average particle size of less than about 150 nm.

Abstract: A method manages an internet protocol address and time of validity. The method obtains (52) the IP address and validity time period for a mobile station (10). The IP address and validity time period are transmitted (53) to the mobile station (10). Prior to expiration of the validity time period the network (20) renews the IP address for a new validity time period.

Abstract: A presence proxy (40) maintains presence information concerning a number of mobile units (80, 85) user agents (72, 74, 76, 78) and retains the presence information should the requesting user agent (10) be unavailable. Further, presence proxy 40 provides lists of user agents about which a particular user agent (10) is interested in having presence information. Further, presence proxy (40) maintains and minimizes a number of notify messages (126) sent to user agent (10). Lastly, presence proxy (40) maintains information when a user agent (10) loses or drops access (150) to the network (20).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for managing bandwidth and prioritizing different forms of data to be transmitted from a central hub or node to a plurality of ground stations. All data of all types including image data and text data is processed into frames of TCP formatted data at the central hub or node and passed through a bandwidth flow control system which imposes flow control on the data. Some of the TCP formatted data has inserted therein a conversion flag which denotes a desire to convert the TCP formatted data into UDP formatted data. A computer or controller/converter reads the conversion flags and converts TCP formatted data into UDP formatted data for multi-broadcasting simultaneously to a plurality of ground stations which reduces bandwidth.

Abstract: A computer collection model of charged off credit card debt is used to determine the amount and types of commission that should be paid to collection entities and to determine whether and when certain deals should be offered on the debt. The commissions can be plural consecutive percentage commission rates, progressively larger retroactive commission rates, a periodic percentage commission rate resulting in equal profits per period, a fixed collector profit, or another commission arrangement. The model can be designed to maximize at least liquidation rates and/or profitability.

Abstract: A composition for inoculating grey iron, particularly low sulphur grey iron, comprises by weight: rare earth 1.0-4.0%, preferably 1.5-2.5%; strontium 0.5-1.5%, preferably 0.7-1.0%; calcium 1.5% maximum, preferably 0.5% maximum; aluminum 2.0% maximum, preferably 0.5% maximum; silicon 40.0-80.0%, preferably 70.0-75.0%; iron balance. The composition is most preferably free of calcium and aluminum. The rare earth may be cerium, mischmetall or a mixture of cerium and other rare earths. The composition may be a mixture of ferrosilicon and the other constituents, a ferrosilicon alloy containing the other constituents or a rare earth and a silicon-bearing inoculant containing strontium.

Abstract: An electron beam tube includes a unitary metal cylinder and a plurality of transverse walls located within it which define resonant cavities. As the cylinder is in one piece vacuum joints are only required at the ends of the structure. Drift spaces between the resonant cavities are enclosed within drift tubes which join two adjacent transverse walls. The inner diameter of the tube is stepped to facilitate assembly and accuracy of the structure. In use, an electron beam is generated and interacts with applied r.f. energy to produce amplification of an applied r.f. signal.

Abstract: An ingredient feeder meters a selected amount of ingredient into a flowable food product including an enrobing chamber subtended by a blending tube. The blending tube houses an agitator assembly that moves the continuous flow of ingredient in both axial and radial directions as it mixes the ingredient with the flowable food product.

Abstract: A method for preparing substrates for VLS fiber producing reactions and a method for preparing SiC fibers by the VLS process. The first method includes the steps of forming an alcohol sol containing a fiber growth promoter material precursor, applying the sol to at least one surface of the substrate and drying the sol. More particularly, the steps can include forming a sol of colloidal hydrous metal oxide particles in a liquid, the metal oxide being a fiber growth promoter material precursor and the liquid being capable of dissolving a salt of the metal and of wetting the substrate surface as a sol, applying the sol to at least one surface of the substrate and drying the sol.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to spray the interior surface of a refractory lined vessel that receives molten metal where the interior refractory surface of the vessel is most prone to erode. Supply pipes are introduced into the vessel and are pivotally supported on an upper portion of the vessel to pivot about angularly related axis, such as horizontal and vertical axis. Said pipes are pivoted around at least one of said axis while water is propelled through said elongated pipe to a corroded portion of said interior surface to remove scale from and clean said corroded surface. Air entrained granulated refractory material, preferably mixed with water to form a slurry, is propelled through said pipe to coat the clean interior surface. A movable end portion is hingedly connected to said elongated pipe to provide for the angular control of said movable end portion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to spray the interior surface of a refractory body, such as a blast furnace having circumferentially spaced windows above its mantle, each facing a different wall portion where the interior surface of the shell is most prone to corrode. Two window operations can be employed simultaneously to introduce supply pipes pivotally supported for pivoting about angularly related axes, such as horizontal and vertical axes, and pivoted about at least one of said axes while water is propelled through said elongated pipe to a corroded portion of said interior surface to remove scale from and clean said corroded surface. Air entrained granulated refractory material, preferably mixed with water to form a slurry, is propelled through said pipe to coat the clean interior surface. The two process operation is repeated for each window to clean and reline the entire perimeter of the wall portion if required.

Abstract: A system for controlling manufacturing systems having workstations and tools using a Limis system to operate the controllers for the tools. Limis systems use an active transceiver (AT) and one or more passive transceivers (PT). The PT's are attached to the moving parts of the tools, the raw materials, work pieces and other tools. The Pt's communicate with the AT's by coded EMR, light and sound transmission.

Abstract: High surface area open microporous, partially crystalline, partially amorphous, solid ceramic materials containing silicon carbide with or without silica with or without carbon may be prepared by controlled pyrolysis of (RSiO.sub.1.5).sub.n gels in an inert atmosphere. The silica and carbon content, surface area, and pore size and distribution may be altered by optional subsequent processing steps to selectively remove carbon and/or silica.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to spray the interior surface of a refractory body, such as a blast furnace having circumferentially spaced windows above its mantle, each facing a different wall portion where the interior surface of the shell is most prone to corrode. Two window operations can be employed simultaneously to introduce supply pipes pivotally supported for pivoting about angularly related axes, such as horizontal and vertical axes, and pivoted about at least one of said axes while water is propelled through said elongated pipe to a corroded portion of said interior surface to remove scale from and clean said corroded surface. Air entrained granulated refractory material, preferably mixed with water to form a slurry, to propelled through said pipe to coat the clean interior surface. The two process operation is repeated for each window to clean and reline the entire perimeter of the wall portion if required.

Abstract: This invention relates to LIMIS systems, devices and methods. Specifically, it relates to the attachment of passive transceivers which can be altered or coded, erased and recoded to various items as "tags", and the use of active transceivers of various types for Location, Identification, measurement of the Movement of, Inventory and analytical, control, guidance and sorting Systems (LIMIS) using and analyzing the information received from the items.The devices include at least one small unitary, passive transceiver (PT) and at least one active transceiver (AT) and where necessary, one or more repeater-relays and/or reflectors. The PT is attached to or embedded in the item to be identified. The PTs are encoded, decoded, identified, and located and/or their motion is detected and/or measured by the AT. The AT unit functions can be accomplished by one or more independent devices or a single device.