Abstract: An integrated ?CHP electricity generating device and water storage buffer tank is combined into a single system and allows for the simultaneous generation of electric power and the production of hot water in a single system at a minimal foot print and increased energy efficiency.

Abstract: A media relay conferencing system includes a media relay multipoint control unit and a media relay endpoint that handle needs for Intra frames in an efficient way, improves the conferees experience, and reduces the load on the resources associated with that media relay videoconference by reducing the number of Intra frames and lowering the impact of Intra frames when they are needed. In some embodiments, when a requiring media relay endpoint requests an Intra frame for a video stream received from a presenting media relay endpoint, a media relay multipoint control unit may respond by requesting the presenting media relay endpoint to synchronize a reference frame in an encoder of the presenting media relay endpoint, which encodes the relevant relay compressed video stream, with a reference frame in a decoder of the requiring media relay endpoint.

Abstract: A media relay conferencing system includes a media relay multipoint control unit and a media relay endpoint that handle needs for Intra frames in an efficient way, improves the conferees experience, and reduces the load on the resources associated with that media relay videoconference by reducing the number of Intra frames and lowering the impact of Intra frames when they are needed. In some embodiments, when a requiring media relay endpoint requests an Intra frame for a video stream received from a presenting media relay endpoint, a media relay multipoint control unit may respond by requesting the presenting media relay endpoint to synchronize a reference frame in an encoder of the presenting media relay endpoint, which encodes the relevant relay compressed video stream, with a reference frame in a decoder of the requiring media relay endpoint.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method and apparatus for a multipoint video conferencing system that can offer a wide variety of layouts and the ability to support a large number of conferees. A received stream of NALs from a plurality of endpoints can be processed by an exemplary NAL Processor Module (NPM) and be arranged into a stream of NALs that are referred to in this disclosure as organized NALs (ONALs). Two or more streams of compressed video organized into ONALs can be received by an exemplary NAL Editor Module (NEM), wherein each stream was created from a video image that was generated at an endpoint participating in the conference. An exemplary NEM can comprise a compressed composed frame memory (CCFM) module. Each CCFM can be divided into segments according to the layout of the continuous presence (CP) image that is to be displayed by one or more receiving endpoints.

Abstract: An MRC system includes an MRM and an MRE that handle needs for Intra frames in an efficient way, improves the conferees experience, and reduces the load on the resources associated with that MRC videoconference by reducing the number of Intra frames and lowering the impact of Intra frames when they are needed. In some embodiments, when a requiring MRE requests an Intra frame for a video stream received from a presenting MRE, an MRM may respond by requesting the presenting MRE to send a temporary video stream toward the requiring MRE while sending in parallel a normal stream toward the rest of the MREs.

Abstract: An MRC system includes an MRM and an MRE that handle needs for Intra frames in an efficient way, improves the conferees experience, and reduces the load on the resources associated with that MRC videoconference by reducing the number of Intra frames and lowering the impact of Intra frames when they are needed. In some embodiments, when a requiring MRE requests an Intra frame for a video stream received from a presenting MRE, an MRM may respond by requesting the presenting MRE to send a temporary video stream toward the requiring MRE while sending in parallel a normal stream toward the rest of the MREs.

Abstract: A Stirling engine solar concentrator system including a primary reflector (10) mounted on a base supporting structure (1), a secondary reflector (14) located at a focus of the primary reflector (10). a receiver (18) located at a focus of the secondary reflector (14), wherein sunrays are reflected from the primary reflector (10) to the secondary reflector (14) and are reflected back from the secondary reflector (14) to the receiver (18), and a Stirling engine (5) located near the receiver (18), characterised by a cooling system of the Stirling engine (5) including a plurality of heat transfer elements (6, 8) mounted on a shaded side of the primary reflector (10), wherein a cooling fluid (19) is arranged to flow between the Stirling engine (5) and the heat transfer elements (6, 8).

Abstract: The present application discloses a method and apparatus for a multipoint video conferencing system that can offer a wide variety of layouts and the ability to support a large number of conferees. A received stream of NALs from a plurality of endpoints can be processed by an exemplary NAL Processor Module (NPM) and be arranged into a stream of NALs that are referred to in this disclosure as organized NALs (ONALs). Two or more streams of compressed video organized into ONALs can be received by an exemplary NAL Editor Module (NEM), wherein each stream was created from a video image that was generated at an endpoint participating in the conference. An exemplary NEM can comprise a compressed composed frame memory (CCFM) module. Each CCFM can be divided into segments according to the layout of the continuous presence (CP) image that is to be displayed by one or more receiving endpoints.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method and apparatus for a multipoint video conferencing system that can offer a wide variety of layouts and the ability to support a large number of conferees. A received stream of NALs from a plurality of endpoints can be processed by an exemplary NAL Processor Module (NPM) and be arranged into a stream of NALs that are referred to in this disclosure as organized NALs (ONALs). Two or more streams of compressed video organized into ONALs can be received by an exemplary NAL Editor Module (NEM), wherein each stream was created from a video image that was generated at an endpoint participating in the conference. An exemplary NEM can comprise a compressed composed frame memory (CCFM) module. Each CCFM can be divided into segments according to the layout of the continuous presence (CP) image that is to be displayed by one or more receiving endpoints.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method and apparatus for a multipoint video conferencing system that can offer a wide variety of layouts and the ability to support a large number of conferees. A received stream of NALs from a plurality of endpoints can be processed by an exemplary NAL Processor Module (NPM) and be arranged into a stream of NALs that are referred to in this disclosure as organized NALs (ONALs). Two or more streams of compressed video organized into ONALs can be received by an exemplary NAL Editor Module (NEM), wherein each stream was created from a video image that was generated at an endpoint participating in the conference. An exemplary NEM can comprise a compressed composed frame memory (CCFM) module. Each CCFM can be divided into segments according to the layout of the continuous presence (CP) image that is to be displayed by one or more receiving endpoints.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the removal of a gas or of a gas mixture from a closed container. More particularly, the invention provides a method and apparatus particularly useful in the production of semiconductors, for automatically and economically purging a first gas or gas mixture from a closed container.