Abstract: An apparatus for simulation of an endoscopy operation. A dummy endoscope (1) is inserted into a unit (2) which monitors the position of the dummy instrument and provides force feedback to the instrument in accordance with a stored software model. A virtual image simulating the view from the endoscope is displayed. Additional simulation is provided of an external condition to the patient body, for example patient orientation (8), external pressure applied to the body (9), (10) and trans-illumination (11).

Abstract: A method for use in enabling a mobile communication device for communication involves establishing communication with an IEEE 801.11 device which is configured to operate as an access point; while communicating with the IEEE 801.11 device: participating in an authentication procedure with the IEEE 802.11 device; after positive authentication from the authentication procedure, participating in a provisioning procedure with the IEEE 802.11 device for receiving information for programming in the mobile communication device; and communicating with use of the programmed information in the mobile communication device.

Abstract: The invention can include an apparatus for producing optical pulses, comprising an oscillator for producing optical pulses at a first optical pulse repetition frequency, the optical pulses having a first wavelength and a first time duration; a pulse picker for receiving optical pulses having the first optical pulse repetition frequency, first wavelength and first time duration and operable to reduce the optical pulse repetition frequency to produce optical pulses having the first wavelength, first time duration and a reduced optical pulse repetition frequency that is less than the first optical pulse repetition frequency; an optical fiber receiving optical pulses at the reduced optical pulse repetition frequency and having the first wavelength and first time duration to produce, at the reduced optical pulse frequency, optical pulses that include one or more nonlinearly produced wavelengths different than the first wavelength.

Abstract: A gravity bending mold for bending glass sheets is disclosed. The gravity bending mold comprises an intermediate mold having an intermediate movable mold section and a final mold having a final movable mold section. Each movable mold section is movable between an operable position and an inoperable position respectively. The intermediate and final movable mold sections are adapted successively to engage a glass sheet during a gravity bending operation. There is a mechanical connection between the intermediate and final movable mold sections, the mechanical connection being selectively disposable in a first configuration, at which the intermediate and final movable mold sections are in the operable and inoperable positions respectively, and in a second configuration, at which the final and intermediate movable mold sections are in the operable position and inoperable positions respectively.

Abstract: Improved thin film getter devices (300, 500) comprise a layer (350, 550) of getter material deposited on a substrate (320, 520). The layer has a main portion (340, 540) and a cap portion (360, 560), which forms an external surface of the device. The cap portion has a lower specific area than the main portion.

Abstract: Portable fitness monitoring systems, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a portable fitness monitoring system includes a portable fitness monitoring device, a sensor in communication with the portable fitness monitoring device for sensing performance parameters during a physical activity conducted by the user and communicating performance parameter data to said portable fitness monitoring device, a portable music device coupled to the portable fitness monitoring device, and an audio output device coupled to the portable fitness monitoring device, wherein music is transmitted from the portable music device to the audio output device through the portable fitness monitoring device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises determining a set of protected components that are associated with a notifying node; determining a single network repair address for the set of protected components, wherein the single network repair address is for use in response to unavailability of any of the protected components when transmitting network traffic to the notifying node; assigning the single network repair address to each of the protected components; wherein the notifying node is an internetworking device and wherein the method is performed by one or more processors.

Abstract: A messaging server forwards emails to mobile communication devices of users to whom the emails were respectively addressed. An antivirus server determines whether an email addressed to a user of a mobile communication device, to be forwarded by the messaging server to the mobile communication device, is infected with a virus. In response to determining the email is infected with a virus, a bulletin generator transmits, to the mobile communication devices besides the mobile communication device of the addressee of the email determined to be infected, an all points bulletin message disclosing the existence of the virus. The bulletin message is transmitted directly to, instead of via email to, the wireless mobile communication devices.

Abstract: A mobile communications device having a digital certificate authenticating the device itself is proposed. A server for authenticating the device and a method of authenticating the device are also disclosed. The device comprises a transmitter, a processor, a memory and a computer readable medium. The memory includes a certificate certifying the authenticity of the mobile communications device, the certificate comprising device-specific data and a digital signature signed by an authority having control of the authenticity of the mobile communications device. The computer readable medium has computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed configure the processor to instruct the transmitter to transmit a copy of the certificate to a service provider in response to a request to authenticate the mobile communications device with the service provider.

Abstract: Distributed assembly of data packets into messages at a group of interface devices that receive data packets from within a coverage area. Each interface device in the group will take ownership of a sequence of data packets forming a message when a data packet of the message meeting predetermined criteria is received by that interface device. Once an interface device takes ownership of a sequence of data packets, it sends a request to the other interface devices for any missing data packets of the sequence that the ownership claiming interface does not have, and then assembles message upon receiving all the data packets of the sequence.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system includes an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser. A heat exchanger, which may be an outdoor heat exchanger, is configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, to selectively extract heat from or to add heat to the refrigerant, and to transfer the refrigerant to the evaporator. First control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the condenser to the heat exchanger in a first mode of operation. Second control valving, disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger, is configured to regulate flow of the refrigerant from the heat exchanger to the evaporator in a second mode of operation. The system may be operated in a variety of modes by appropriate control of the valving and other system components.

Abstract: An impeller comprising: a top shroud; a bottom shroud, a plurality of vanes extending from the top shroud to the bottom shroud, each said vane including a top edge at a radially inner portion of the vane in contact with the top shroud and a bottom edge at a radially outer portion of the vane in contact with the bottom shroud, such that a radially inner portion of the vane at the bottom edge of each vane is not in contact with or adjacent the bottom shroud and a radially outer portion of the vane at the top edge of each vane is not in contact with or adjacent the top shroud.

Abstract: A method of calculating two position fixes, using satellite positioning. The method comprises: using an RF front-end (12), receiving satellite positioning signals; using an analogue-to-digital converter (18), sampling the received signals to generate signal samples; using a processor (20), processing a first set of the samples as they are generated, to calculate a first position fix; storing information associated with the calculation in a memory (22); storing a second set of the samples, or ranging measurements derived from the second set of samples, in the memory (22) for later processing to calculate a second position fix; and later, processing the second set of samples to calculate the second position fix, wherein the calculation of the second position fix is assisted by the information associated with the calculation of the first position fix. Also disclosed are other related methods and apparatus.

Abstract: A rotary actuator has a driven element including a plurality of recesses that are spaced in a circumferential arrangement around an axis of rotation of the driven element by a spacing angle, and first, second and third latch elements that are each movable between a retracted position, and an extended position in which it is engageable with a corresponding one of the recesses. Sequential movement of the first, second and third latch elements between retracted and extended positions causes rotation of the driven element.

Abstract: A method and a system are presented in which federated domains interact within a federated environment. Domains within a federation can initiate federated single-sign-on operations for a user at other federated domains. A point-of-contact server within a domain relies upon a trust proxy within the domain to manage trust relationships between the domain and the federation. Trust proxies interpret assertions from other federated domains as necessary. Trust proxies may have a trust relationship with one or more trust brokers, and a trust proxy may rely upon a trust broker for assistance in interpreting assertions. When a user is provisioned at a particular federated domain, the federated domain can provision the user to other federated domains within the federated environment. A provision operation may include creating or deleting an account for a user, pushing updated user account information including attributes, and requesting updates on account information including attributes.

Abstract: A separator is disclosed for separating particles of at least first and second mass/size ranges from an ambient fluid (e.g. gaseous) medium in which they are present, particles of the first range being of generally larger size/mass than particles of the second range. The separator is especially designed for use in an air monitoring device which is designed for rapid detection of micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, pathogens and the like, and is designed to be portable so that it can be readily and rapidly deployed in both civilian and military environments and can be used indoors and outdoors; it can also be designed for personal use.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing short optical pulses comprising an oscillator for producing optical pulses at a first optical pulse frequency, the optical pulses having a first wavelength; first and second optical amplifiers; a pulse picker, located between the first and second optical fiber amplifiers, the pulse picker operable to reduce the optical pulse frequency of optical pulses, the amplifier amplifying optical pulses at the first optical pulse frequency and the second amplifier amplifying optical pulses at a reduced optical pulse frequency that is less than said first optical pulse frequency; and a nonlinear optical fiber receiving amplified optical pulses at the reduced optical pulse frequency and having the first wavelength to nonlinearly produce, at the reduced optical pulse frequency, optical pulses that include a wavelength that is different than the first wavelength.

Abstract: A method of augmented reality includes associating tint information with a predetermined graphical object, and receiving a video image of a real scene comprising a feature for detection. The method further includes detecting the feature in the video image of the real scene and selecting a graphical object responsive to the detected feature, and augmenting the video image with the selected graphical object. If the selected graphical object is the predetermined graphical object, the method further includes retrieving the tint information associated with the predetermined graphical object, and modifying the colour balance of the video image responsive to the tint information.

Abstract: Portable fitness monitoring systems, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a portable fitness monitoring system includes a portable fitness monitoring device, a sensor in communication with the portable fitness monitoring device for sensing performance parameters during a physical activity conducted by the user and communicating performance parameter data to said portable fitness monitoring device, a portable music device coupled to the portable fitness monitoring device, and an audio output device coupled to the portable fitness monitoring device, wherein music is transmitted from the portable music device to the audio output device through the portable fitness monitoring device.

Abstract: The invention can include an apparatus for producing optical pulses, comprising an oscillator for producing optical pulses at a first optical pulse repetition frequency, the optical pulses having a first wavelength; a first optical fiber amplifier; a second optical fiber amplifier; a pulse picker located between the first and second optical fiber amplifiers, the pulse picker operable to reduce the optical pulse repetition frequency of optical pulses, wherein the first amplifier amplifies optical pulses at the first optical pulse repetition frequency and the second amplifier amplifies optical pulses at a reduced optical pulse repetition frequency that is less than the first optical pulse repetition frequency; a nonlinear optical fiber receiving amplified optical pulses having the reduced optical pulse repetition frequency and the first wavelength to produce, at the reduced optical pulse frequency, optical pulses that include one or more nonlinearly produced wavelengths different than the first wavelength; and