Abstract: An electronic device that receives a signal indicative of the sound made my a musical instrument in order to determine the instantaneous rate of play of melodic notes on that instrument in terms of notes played per second and display the rate in real time via a display. The regularity of the musician's rate of play is further indicated by the stability of the display reading. Individual sustained melodic notes are identified utilizing differential capacitance and circuit delay time constants to generate a voltage differential in response to a step signal. The device is also selectively operable as a conventional metronome to provide an exemplary sound cue to the musician corresponding to a given number of notes per second and convertible by a switch or foot pedal to monitor the musicians rate of play as he tries to match the demonstrated rate.

Abstract: A vacuum sputtering apparatus capable of depositing a plurality of thin film layers on a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a vacuum chamber (1) having gas inlet means and gas evacuation means; a substrate support table (2) arranged to be rotatable about at least one axis perpendicular to the plane of the table; means for rotating the substrate support table about said at least one axis; a plurality of sputtering targets (5) spaced around the walls of the chamber, each sputtering target having electrode means associated therewith; and means for altering the position of the substrate support table relative to each one of the plurality of sputtering targets (4) such that in use a substrate placed on the substrate support table may have a film deposited thereon of atoms sputtered from at least one of the said plurality of targets and subsequently, following alteration of the position of the substrate support table, have at least one further film deposited thereon by exposure to atoms form at least one other of

Abstract: An in-line surge suppressor having a body with a bore. The body formed from a first portion and a second portion dimensioned to couple together. An inner conductor positioned within the bore and a shorting element extending between the inner conductor and the body. The shorting element having at least two loop segments, each of the loop segments arranged in a separate plane. Each of the loop segments interconnected with at least one other loop segment by a transition section.

Abstract: A technique for transitioning streamed digital video content between stream servers involves identifying a transition identifier that indicates a point at which streaming of the digital video content transitions from a first stream server to a second stream server and then transitioning the streaming from the first stream server the second stream server at a point in the digital video content that corresponds to the transition identifier. For example, the first stream server stops streaming the digital video content at a point in the digital video content that corresponds to the transition identifier and the second stream server starts streaming the digital video content at a point in the digital video content that corresponds to the transition identifier.

Abstract: An in-line surge suppressor having a body with a bore. The body formed from a first portion and a second portion dimensioned to couple together. An inner conductor positioned within the bore and a shorting element extending between the inner conductor and the body. The shorting element having at least two loop segments, each of the loop segments arranged in a separate plane. Each of the loop segments interconnected with at least one other loop segment by a transition section.

Abstract: A delay management system in a computer system includes a delay manager and a first storage element that stores a delay time. The delay manager is configured to receive a series of delay values and respond to each delay value in the series of delay values by providing a corresponding delay time value. The delay time is updated to the corresponding delay time value if the corresponding delay time value is greater than the delay time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the delivery and presentation of information using an information delivery device is disclosed. Additionally disclosed is an apparatus and method for changing a mode of operation and a speed of delivery of information when in an automated sequential information delivery mode by use of a single input mechanism. Furthermore, an apparatus and method for controlling an information delivery device in an automated information delivery mode and a navigation mode is disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for the transparent takeover of network connections are presented. A first server is engaged in a connection with a client. The transactions of the connection and the traffic are monitored by a traffic cache manager. The first server records sequence numbers for the transactions with a synchronization store. If the first server fails, a last recorded sequence number is updated by the traffic cache manager within the synchronization store on behalf of a second server, which is to takeover the connection for the unresponsive first server.

Abstract: A technique for managing the streaming of digital video content to multiple clients involves identifying an attribute of a content element that is streamed to a client and selecting a protection mechanism for the content element as a function of the attribute, wherein the protection mechanism enables streaming of the content element to the clients in the event of a resource failure. In an example, the identified attribute is an indication of the popularity of the content element (e.g., as measured by the number of active streams), such that the protection mechanism is selected as a function of the popularity of the content element. In an embodiment, protection mechanisms that offer a higher level of protection are selected for the more popular content elements and protection mechanisms that offer a lower level of protection are selected for the less popular content elements.

Abstract: A technique for streaming digital video content to multiple clients involves establishing a logical group of IP-connected stream servers, generating state information at multiple stream servers within the logical group, sharing the state information amongst stream servers in the logical group, and using the shared state information to respond to resource failures within the logical group. By sharing state information within the logical group of stream servers, stream servers with the shared state information can quickly take over the active streams from a failed stream server within the logical group. The quick transition of responsibility from one stream server to another enables the streaming network to provide continuous streaming of digital video content to the viewer without interruption.

Abstract: An in-line coaxial circuit assembly having a first portion with a first electrical connector interface on a first end and a second portion having a second electrical connector interface on a second end. The first portion and the second portion adapted to couple together along an outer wall of at least one of the first portion and the second portion. A cylindrical outer conductor section coaxial with the outer wall may be formed in at least one of the portions. The coupling of the first portion and the second portion forms an enclosed cylindrical PCB chamber between the outer conductor section and inner conductor or outer wall, if present. A PCB may be positioned within the PCB chamber, the PCB coupled to the inner conductor through a slot in the outer conductor section, if present.

Abstract: A packing element for use in a fluidised bed includes a continuous surface with at least one recessed portion. The recessed portion has a volume in the range of 0.2 to 30% of the volume of the packing element itself.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and data stores generate and manage temporarily assigned identities. A requestor issues a request for a service. The request includes an identity used for authenticating the requestor. The identity is used for generating an identity configuration and for generating a temporarily assigned identity that is updated to a protected identity directory. The request and the temporarily assigned identity are transmitted to the service. The service uses the temporarily assigned identity to access the protected identity directory for purposes of authenticating the request. The service uses the authenticated request to access attributes associated with the temporarily assigned identity.

Abstract: A game call includes a thermoplastic body having a front edge with a cutout formed therein. An insert having a flexible diaphragm stretched across an open-ended frame is disposed in the cutout. The game call may be manufactured by providing a blank of thermoplastic material with a central cutout. The insert is placed on one half of the bank, and the other half of the blank is folded over to trap the insert. The halves of the blank are bonded to each other with heat and pressure or an adhesive.

Abstract: A delay management system in a computer system includes a delay manager and a first storage element that stores a delay time. The delay manager is configured to receive a series of delay values and respond to each delay value in the series of delay values by providing a corresponding delay time value. The delay time is updated to the corresponding delay time value if the corresponding delay time value is greater than the delay time.

Abstract: A frangible hollow point bullet is disclosed. The bullet (or slug) is formed from a frangible material such as sintered copper to provide a bullet-shaped body. A plurality of coaxial, substantially cylindrical cavities having progressively decreasing bore diameters are formed in the nose of the bullet-shaped body, extending rearwardly therefrom, to provide a bullet that both expands and fragments in a semicontrolled fashion upon impact with a target. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the coaxial cavities is multiply scored to provide a substantially symmetric fragmentation pattern and controlled and uniform fragment size. Controlling the aggregate depth of the coaxial cavities enables the retention of a recoverable base or shank that is suitable for ballistic investigation following bullet impact.

Abstract: A frangible hollow point bullet is disclosed. The bullet (or slug) is formed from a frangible material such as sintered copper to provide a bullet-shaped body. A plurality of coaxial, substantially cylindrical cavities having progressively decreasing bore diameters are formed in the nose of the bullet-shaped body, extending rearwardly therefrom, to provide a bullet that both expands and fragments in a semicontrolled fashion upon impact with a target. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the coaxial cavities is multiply scored to provide a substantially symmetric fragmentation pattern and controlled and uniform fragment size. Controlling the aggregate depth of the coaxial cavities enables the retention of a recoverable base or shank that is suitable for ballistic investigation following bullet impact.

Abstract: A spinal syringe and needle for preventing the inadvertent injection of an intravenous drug spinally includes a needle engagement extension on the spinal needle defining an opening of a first diameter, a syringe engagement extension on the spinal syringe defining an opening of a second diameter, the syringe engagement extension engageable with the needle engagement extension to operatively connect the needle to the syringe. The first and second diameters are dimensioned such that a surface of the syringe engagement extension is in frictional engagement with a surface of the needle engagement extension, the first diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of an opening defined by the engagement extension of a typical syringe and the second diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of an opening defined by the engagement extension of a typical needle.