Abstract: A machine, computer-readable media, and method using a communications system to automatically refer an inbound communication. The communications system includes a computer and a call-routing database in a memory operably associated with the computer.

Abstract: A system for referring a telephone communication to one of a plurality of financial assistance providers based on lender criteria, the method including the steps of: storing telephone numbers for a plurality of financial assistance providers in memory accessible by a digital electrical computer; obtaining lender criteria for selecting one of the financial assistance providers; storing said criteria for access by said computer; identifying a debtor; selecting one of the financial assistance providers by accessing the criteria, applying the criteria, and accessing one of the stored telephone numbers; and connecting the debtor by telephone to the one of the stored telephone numbers.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a credit counseling agency, the method including: automatically capturing, with a computer system, respective call data for each of a plurality of telephone calls with a credit counseling agency, each said call with a respective debtor associated by the computer system with a respective creditor; and processing, with the computer system, the automatically captured respective call data to produce a report which analyzes the credit counseling agency.

Abstract: An inflation device and method for inflating or deflating inflatable objects, such as game balls is disclosed. The inflation device measures the pressure of a game ball and inflates or deflates the ball to a pressure selected by the user. Also disclosed is an injection apparatus that can be used to automatically retract an injection needle from the game ball or other inflatable object.

Abstract: An inflation device and method for inflating or deflating inflatable objects, such as game balls is disclosed. The inflation device measures the pressure of a game ball and inflates or deflates the ball to a pressure selected by the user. Also disclosed is an injection apparatus that can be used to automatically retract an injection needle from the game ball or other inflatable object.

Abstract: An OCN for integrated processing elements including a network with multiple ports and multiple port interfaces. The ports and the port interfaces conform to a consistent port protocol. Each port interface converts information between bus transactions of a corresponding processing element and network packets and exchanges network packets with other port interfaces. Each port includes an arbitration interface and a data interface and the network includes an interconnect and an arbiter. The interconnect includes selectable data paths between the ports for packet datum transfer. A port source interface submits transaction requests and provides packet datums upon receiving an acknowledgement. A port destination interface receives packet datums via available input buffers. Each transaction request includes a transaction size and a destination port address.

Abstract: Expandable emboli filter and thrombectomy devices adapted for use with microcatheters to remove debris from blood vessels. The devices embody expanded profiles that span the entirety of various sized target vessels and thus are particularly effective in the engagement of debris found in vessels.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus are described for modifying fluid flow in a hard disk drive system to reduce cross-track motion. The systems and methods provide advantages because they include at least one flow modification element. In some embodiments, the flow modification system comprises a set of approximately parallel combs occupying a portion of the space present in between the disks in the hard disk drive system. The combs change the flow pattern of the fluid and act as a momentum channeling mechanism relative to the actuator assembly and suspension assemblies resulting in a considerable reduction in track misregistration error. Various embodiments of the invention include baffle-integrated combs, fixture-integrated combs, contoured enclosure surfaces, and enclosure attached combs.

Abstract: A network that maximizes interconnect utilization between integrated processing elements, including ports, an interconnect, port interfaces, and an arbiter. Each port includes arbitration and data interfaces. The interconnect includes selectable data paths between the ports for packet datum transfer. Each port interface includes processing, source and destination interfaces. The source interface submits transaction requests and provides packet datums upon receiving an acknowledgement. The destination interface receives packet datums via a number of available input buffers. Each transaction request includes a transaction size, a packet priority, and a destination port address. The arbiter includes a request queue and a buffer counter for each port and a datum counter for each acknowledged transaction.

Abstract: An OCN with independent logical and physical layers for enabling communication among integrated processing elements, including ports, bus gaskets and a physical layer interface. Each bus gasket includes a processor element interface and a port interface. Each processor element interface of at least two bus gaskets operates according to a first logical layer protocol. Each port interface operates according to a consistent port interface protocol by sending transaction requests and receiving acknowledgements and by sending and receiving packet datums via the corresponding port. The physical layer interface transfers packets between the ports and includes an arbiter and an interconnect coupled to each port. Additional bus gaskets may be added that operate according to a second logical layer protocol which may or may not be compatible with the first. Any bus gasket may be added that is configured to communicate using multiple logical layer protocols.

Abstract: A scalable network for supporting an application using processing elements including ports, an interconnect, port interfaces, and an arbiter. Each port conforms to a consistent port interface protocol regardless of number of ports, frequency of operation, maximum datum width or data path concurrency. The interconnect has a scalable maximum datum width and a scalable data path concurrency, and includes selectable data paths between any two ports to enable transfer of datums between the ports. Each port interface formulates packets for transmission and receives packets via the corresponding port and the interconnect, where each packet includes one or more datums. The arbiter controls packet transfer via the interconnect between source and destination ports. The interconnect has a scalable data path concurrency. Pipeline stages may be added to support a selected clock frequency. The OCN may be a component library including bus gasket, interconnect and arbiter components.

Abstract: A network with memory device address decoding that enables communication among integrated processing elements, including a network, a processing element and a bus gasket. The network transfers packets between multiple ports, where each port conforms to a consistent port interface protocol. The processing element includes a bus and a memory device programmed with the address of each port, so that a transaction on the bus indicating another port is decoded by the memory device. The bus gasket includes a bus interface that generates packets and a port interface that sends and receives the packets according to the consistent port interface protocol and that uses the decoded address as a destination port address. The memory device may be implemented in any desired manner, such as a memory management unit (MMU) or a direct memory access (DMA) device.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus are described for modifying fluid flow in a hard disk drive system to reduce cross-track motion. The systems and methods provide advantages because they include at least one flow modification element. In some embodiments, the flow modification system comprises a set of approximately parallel combs occupying a portion of the space present in between the disks in the hard disk drive system. The combs change the flow pattern of the fluid and act as a momentum channeling mechanism relative to the actuator assembly and suspension assemblies resulting in a considerable reduction in track misregistration error. Various embodiments of the invention include baffle-integrated combs, fixture-integrated combs, contoured enclosure surfaces, and enclosure attached combs.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus are described for modifying fluid flow in a hard disk drive system to reduce cross-track motion. The systems and methods provide advantages because they include at least one flow modification element. In some embodiments, the flow modification system comprises a set of approximately parallel combs occupying a portion of the space present in between the disks in the hard disk drive system. The combs change the flow pattern of the fluid and act as a momentum channeling mechanism relative to the actuator assembly and suspension assemblies resulting in a considerable reduction in track misregistration error. Various embodiments of the invention include baffle-integrated combs, fixture-integrated combs, contoured enclosure surfaces, and enclosure attached combs.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive housing, one or more rotating storage disks, each having a storage surface, and a fluid diffuser. The fluid diffuser includes one or more stationary diffuser wings, each having a wing surface positioned near the storage surface. One or more of the diffuser wings can extend between two of the storage disks. The diffuser wing includes a surface deviation that disrupts the fluid flow over the wing surface that is caused by the rotating storage disk. The surface deviation can include an indentation in the wing surface or can extend from the wing surface toward the storage surface. In still another embodiment, the surface deviation includes an aperture that extends through the diffuser wing. Further, the fluid diffuser can include a plurality of surface deviations that are positioned along the wing surface. Further, a portion of the surface deviation can form an angle with the wing surface that is greater than approximately 0 degrees and less than approximately 180 degrees.

Abstract: A scalable OCN for supporting an application using processing elements integrated in an IC including ports, an interconnect, port interfaces, and an arbiter. Each port conforms to a consistent port interface protocol regardless of number of ports, frequency of operation, maximum datum width or data path concurrency. The interconnect has a scalable maximum datum width and a scalable data path concurrency, and includes selectable data paths between any two ports to enable transfer of datums between the ports. Each port interface formulates packets for transmission and receives packets via the corresponding port and the interconnect, where each packet comprising one or more datums. The arbiter controls packet transfer via the interconnect between source and destination ports. The interconnect has a scalable data path concurrency. Pipeline stages may be added to support a selected clock frequency. The OCN may be a component library including bus gasket, interconnect and arbiter components.

Abstract: An OCN for integrated processing elements including a network with multiple ports and multiple port interfaces. The ports and the port interfaces conform to a consistent port protocol. Each port interface converts information between bus transactions of a corresponding processing element and network packets and exchanges network packets with other port interfaces. Each port includes an arbitration interface and a data interface and the network includes an interconnect and an arbiter. The interconnect includes selectable data paths between the ports for packet datum transfer. A port source interface submits transaction requests and provides packet datums upon receiving an acknowledgement. A port destination interface receives packet datums via available input buffers. Each transaction request includes a transaction size and a destination port address.

Abstract: An OCN that maximizes interconnect utilization between integrated processing elements, including ports, an interconnect, port interfaces, and an arbiter. Each port includes arbitration and data interfaces. The interconnect includes selectable data paths between the ports for packet datum transfer. Each port interface includes processing, source and destination interfaces. The source interface submits transaction requests and provides packet datums upon receiving an acknowledgement. The destination interface receives packet datums via a number of available input buffers. Each transaction request includes a transaction size, a packet priority, and a destination port address. The arbiter includes a request queue and a buffer counter for each port and a datum counter for each acknowledged transaction.