Abstract: A label application system that automates a label application process to automatically feed, peel and apply labels to a number of different styles of articles. The label stock is advanced to an application position where the leading edge is deflected over edge guide to peel an individual label approximately half way off of the backing sheet. The article is inserted into the article receiving slot until the lead edge of the article engages a switch and initiates the application of the individual label. An application bar rotates about a horizontal axis swiping the peeled half of the label onto the inserted portion of the article. Substantially, simultaneously the feed operation is initiated to advance the label backing, moving the next sequential label into the application position. The article is then removed from the slot and inserted into a tabbing assembly.

Abstract: A method of decoding a bitstream having an embedded clock, where the clock reference data is recovered from the bit stream. The clock reference data is combined, typically subtracted, from the system time clock to generate a result. This result is input to a pulse width modulator to form a pulse train, which is used to generate an input to a timing device.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for merging one or more secondary audio channels, received from either a streaming application or from memory, with a primary stream of audio data output from a main audio decoder. In addition to the audio decoder, the device/method employs a controller for processing received secondary audio data in a streaming application, and retrieving from system memory audio PCM data once stored. An audio playback device is provided for formatting the PCM data for mixing with the primary stream of audio data output from the audio decoder. Multiple digital-to-analog converters convert the multiple streams of audio data into analog signals which are then mixed into a single merged audio signal for presentation.

Abstract: A transport demultiplexor for demultiplexing an MPEG-2 compliant transport stream into a system data stream, a video data stream, and an audio data stream. The demultiplexor has frontend logic, a packet buffer, and data, video, and audio unloaders. The front end logic receives transport stream input packets, and delivers the transport stream packets to the packet buffer. The packet buffer, in turn, delivers system data to the system data unloader, video data to the video unloader, and audio data to the audio unloader.

Abstract: A method of storing, in memory, table data. The table data has a packet ID (PID), a Table ID, and a Current/Next Indicator, a section number, and a version number. The first step in the method is specifying the PID ID, the Table ID, and the Current/Next Indicator. The next step is initializing the section number in a table section header to filter to ‘0’. Then, each table section is checked as received to determine if the table section is the last table section for the table. This is indicated in the table section header. If this is the last table section of the table the version number field is incremented, and the section number field is set to ‘0’. If, however, the section is not the last section, the section number is incremented, the next section of the table is incremented, and the next section of the table is stored in memory.

Abstract: A method of generating a pulse input to a voltage controlled oscillator of a digital decoder. The decoder has a system time clock (STC) counter and a Pulse Control Register. The method of generating the pulse input starts from the output of the STC counter and the output of the Pulse Control Register. These two outputs are logically combined and latched.

Abstract: A method of decoding a multiplexed, system layer bitstream. The bitstream is made up of packets of audio, video, and system data. Each packet has a packet header, and data packets. The first step in the process is demultiplexing the bitstream into separate audio and video bitstreams for decompression while maintaining synchronization of the video and audio. The system data and the audio and video packets are next loaded into buffers, from which they are unloaded for subsequent decoding. The decoding is in accordance with the system data entries. The method is characterized by storing the system data and the audio and video packets in a single buffer.

Abstract: A method of implementing a time base change to a time-division multiplexec bitstream, for example an MPEG-2-compatible bitstream. The time base change is in response to a Time Base Change Flag. The bitstreams have video and audio packetized elementary streams, and each of these streams has a common time base. Each of the packetized elementary streams has a packet header, and packet data. The packet headers of the packetized elementary streams each contain a Presentation Time Stamp/Decoding Time Stamp flag field, a Presentation Time Stamp field, and a Decoding Time Stamp field. A time base change is indicated by a change in the PCR. The first step in changing the Time Base is receiving a discontinuity in the bitstream. This is used to disable synchronization of the video and audio bitstreams, and to mark a data byte in the bitstream associated with the Time Base Change Flag. The time base change is carried out and an interrupt is issued when the marked data byte arrives for decoding.

Abstract: An assist processor operates in conjunction with a data path of individual hardware functional units to decode an MPEG-2 compliant data stream. The assist processor has the capacity to assist in processing specific blocks of data, assist in processing every block of data, or assist in processing only blocks of data with an indicator or flag or specific bit or byte set. The assist processor, when notified, modifies the operation of the functional unit or the data that it is operating on, and if necessary, returns the data to the datapath of the hardware functional units. The hardware functional units may operate as an MPEG-2 transport demultiplexor.

Abstract: A method of changing the channels in a digital video and audio receiving system. The method includes receiving and decoding the encoded digital video and audio in a decoder, where the input is a multi-channel, time division multiplexed digital video and digital audio datastream. The datastream contains many Programs, each of the Programs includes a video packetized elementary stream, and an audio packetized elementary stream, each of which, in turn, contains a packet header, and packet data. The channel change method is a process of changing input channels from an old channel datastream to a new channel datastream with a minimum of latency. The method includes setting appropriate flags to request the channel change, acknowledging the requests, flushing buffers, muting audio output and/or freezing video output, and activating a data request line for new channel bitstream data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing a datastream. The datastream contains systems data, which is in tables, other systems data, and payload data. The systems data is used, for example, to control the recovery of programs. The method includes parsing the tables to recover systems data to process the other transport layer data. The method further includes detecting errors in the transmission of table sections and error containing table sections and effectively not delivering the errored table sections to memory.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing a data stream. Errors are concealed in the data stream by detecting loss or interruption of data delivery and signalling decoders to invoke error concealment.

Abstract: An alkyd resin coating composition having reduced solvent requirements and excellent physical and cure properties is obtained by blending together a fatty acid-modified polyester resin and an addition-polymerizable monomer or oligomer characterized by vinyl unsaturation and capable of undergoing addition polymerization under free radical initiating conditions.

Abstract: A conventional meat grinder contains a chopper knife and a chopper plate, the chopper knife rides on the inner surface of the chopper plate and directs the bone fragments, sinews and gristle inwardly toward the central portion of the chopper plate as it chops the meat. The central portion of the chopper plate has a funnel-shaped, frusto-conical central passageway within which the bone fragments, gristle and sinews and collected and are urged outward, first passing through the frusto-conical passageway and out the small end of the passageway, into opposed discharge channels which passes through the hub of the plate and communicates with a discharge tube whose distal end is closed or partially closed by a removeable stopper or adjustable clamp.

Abstract: A conventional meat grinder contains a chopper knife and a chopper plate, the chopper knife rides on the inner surface of the chopper plate and directs the bone fragments, sinews and gristle inwardly toward the central portion of the chopper plate as it chops the meat. The central portion of the chopper plate has a funnel-shaped, frusto-conical central passageway within which the bone fragments, gristle and sinews are collected and are urged outward, first passing through the frusto-conical passageway and out the small end of the passageway, into opposed discharge channels which passes through the hub of the plate and communicates with a discharge tube whose distal end is closed or partially closed by a removeable stopper or adjustable clamp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved deck device which is elevated with respect to associated structure. The device includes an elevated platform having sidewalls angled with respect to the horizontal. The sidewalls may be covered with a reflective covering designed to reflect the sun's rays in the direction of the center of the deck to facilitate tanning of individuals seated or lying thereon.

Abstract: A portable, light weight, collapsible IV stand includes telescoping height adjustable hollow tubing sections having IV bag support arms pivoted from a storage position within the top tubing section to a use position locked in a horizontal plane. The IV stand further includes support legs that are stored within the bottom section of tubing and they are extended into a stable tripod configuration in their use position.

Abstract: A coated steel product, namely, a cutting instrument such as a band saw blade, in which the body of the blade is of steel, the tooth tip is of impulse hardened steel and the tip is covered with a coating of titanium carbide or refractory metal carbide, the coating metal or compound having been deposited by ion plating onto the surface of the tip. The process through which the cutting tool is produced includes preshaping and sharpening the tool, then ion cleaning the tips, bombarding the tips with ions of the titanium or refractory metal followed by reacting the titanium or refractory metal with a carbon containing chemical or their carbides and then simultaneously subjecting both the coating and the steel tip to a magnetic flux for impulse hardening primarily the steel tip. Other coatings of metal carbides, nitrides, borides and metal compounds are described.