Abstract: A telephone system architecture enabling various components of a telephone system to be distributed geographically yet operates as a seamlessly integrated system. A signaling gateway function interfaces to the PSTN and through an SS7 interface. In addition, one or more media servers interface with a signaling gateway function as well as the PSTN. The interface of the media servers with the PSTN is for purposes of receiving and initiating telephone calls or other communications. The telephone system can include a variety of other elements, such as one or more system management units, one or more application servers and one or more central data and message store systems. Each of the components in the telephonic system communicates with each other over an internet protocol type network. Any functions in the various components that require an SS7 interface to the PSTN are simply handled through the signaling gateway function.

Abstract: A voice mail system that allows for the delivery of voice messages by chunks, thereby optimizing the delivery of the information. When a subscriber attempts to listen to his or her voice mail message, the header information for the first voice mail message is down loaded and played back to the subscriber. While the subscriber listens to the header information, the next two blocks of data of the voice message are downloaded. Upon the completion of the playback of the header information, the first two blocks of the voice mail message are available for playback and the first block is immediately available for playback. As the subscriber listens to the voice mail message subsequent blocks of the first voice mail message, and optionally header information and blocks of subsequent voice mail messages are simultaneously down loaded.

Abstract: A message retrieval subsystem comprises a voice extensible mark-up language browser, a message server, and a message library. The VXML browser is configured with an application programming interface that enables a subscriber of a distributed voice messaging service to request a stored message. The message server receives a request to open a connection from a client process operative on the voice extensible mark-up language browser, spawns a thread to enable the connection, uses the thread to queue one or more subscriber requests for respective blocks of audio information, removes and processes the one or more subscriber requests, and uses the thread to forward a retrieved block of audio information to a subscriber. The message library is coupled to the message server and interposed between the message server and a common message store. The upper library isolates the VXML browser from a streaming protocol used to access the stored message.

Abstract: Outbound calling from a Voice eXtensible Markup Language (VXML) based voicemail system, which has distributed architecture, is disclosed. The voicemail system includes a media server, which is in communication with a telephone network. The media server includes multiple communication termination-link components, and the communication termination-link components are adapted to couple to trunks that extend to the telephone network. The media server also includes a network interface that is adapted to receive and provide communications to components of the telecommunications platform. The media server also includes a link-selector, a browser module, and a processor. The link-selector is adapted to select a given communication termination-link component from the plurality of communication termination-link components.

Abstract: A Voice extensible Markup Language (VXML) based voicemail system that has a distributed architecture is disclosed. The VXML voicemail system includes a media server and an application server. The media server is in communication with a telephone network. The media server receives a telephone call through the telephone network and invokes a voicemail service of the voicemail system by sending a request to an application server. The application server is adapted to generate a Voice extensible Markup Language (VXML) page in response to receiving the request and provide the media server with the VXML page to the media server, wherein the media server renders at least a portion of the VXML page. Methods for implementing VXML based voicemail systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel method of treating vitiligo by using an excimer laser that emits light in the UVB range. The invention includes a method of incrementally increasing exposure of affected vitiligo areas with UVB laser light from an excimer laser to restore pigmentation to skin areas afflicted with vitiligo.

Abstract: A container for a food product includes a wrapper which surrounds a frame. The container can be any polygonal shape which is defined by the shape of the frame. The wrapper forms a top of the container which has an access opening. A sealing layer is adhesively sealed to the top around the opening. The sealing layer is resealable when a tab of the sealing layer is pulled back. The sealing layer is resealable against the top layer to seal the opening when the sealing layer is moved back to a flat position on the top. Various tamper-evident structures are provided to indicate when the container has been initially opened or tampered with.

Abstract: A container for a food product includes a wrapper which surround a frame. The container can be any polygonal shape which is defined by the shape of the frame. The wrapper forms a top of the container which has an access opening. A sealing layer is adhesively sealed to the top around the opening. The sealing layer is resealable when a tab of the sealing layer is pulled back. The sealing layer is resealable against the top layer to seal the opening when the sealing layer is moved back to a flat position on the top. Various tamper-evident structures are provided to indicate when the container has been initially opened or tampered with.

Abstract: Pneumatic sensing elements are provided on the leading edges of power operated vehicle doors. If an obstruction is encountered on closing the doors, the sensing elements are compressed to cause a pressure increase which is sensed and is used to open the doors. Each time the doors are opened, operation of the system is tested by applying a gas pressure pulse to the system. The pressure pulse is gradually vented through a fixed orifice. The pressure in the system produced by the pressure pulse is sensed and is applied to a controller which compares the pressure pulse information with information for known pulses for a normally operating system and for system failures caused, for example, either by a leak or by a blockage in the system.

Abstract: Pneumatic sensing elements are provided on the leading edges of power operated vehicle doors. If an obstruction is encountered on closing the doors, the sensing elements are compressed to cause a pressure increase which is sensed and is used to open the doors. Each time the doors are opened, operation of the system is tested by applying a gas pressure pulse to the system. The pressure pulse is gradually vented through a fixed orifice. The pressure in the system produced by the pressure pulse is sensed and is applied to a controller which compares the pressure pulse information with information for known pulses for a normally operating system and for system failures caused, for example, either by a leak or by a blockage in the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying information by a liquid crystal display is provided. A bistable liquid crystal display is coupled to a signal input to provide a display device. A user device is provided remote from the display device for controlling the bistable liquid crystal display. The user device has a signal output coupled to a driver control. The driver control is responsive to a user input controlled by a user to display the information by the liquid crystal display. The display device is electrically interconnected with the user device by coupling the signal output to the signal input through a signal interface.

Abstract: A system and method inspects containers and cans and includes a conveyor for advancing a plurality of containers into an inspection area. A sensor senses when a can has advanced into the inspection area. At least one light source illuminates the exterior of the can and interior of the can through the top opening after sensing that a can has advanced into the inspection area. The top camera has a field of view looking down into the top opening for obtaining a pixel image of the top and interior of the can and opposing side cameras obtain pixel images in elevation of the container. A processor processes the pixel images and calculates eccentricity, diameter of the opening, and flange width measurements based on the pixel image of the top and the interior of the container. The processor calculates height and flange angle measurements based on the pixel images obtained in the elevation of the container.

Abstract: A routing system comprising one or more maps; route defining means instantiable to respond to driver interaction with a map to define a proposed pooling route and to store said pooling route; request defining means instantiable to respond to passenger interaction to define a request for a pooling route; search means instantiable to search stored pooling routes for one or more pooling routes suitable for said request; and addition means responsive to passenger selection of a suitable pooling route to include a passenger on said route.

Abstract: A chromatography column having an end arrangement including an end plate having a fluid opening and a filter extending over an internal surface of the end plate to define a fluid flow zone between them into which the fluid flow opens is disclosed. There is a liner between the end plate's internal surface and the filter layer. The liner has a surface relief pattern to space the filter layer from the end plate and maintain the fluid flow zone across the filter.

Abstract: A counterflow aggregate recovery apparatus for separating and retrieving material. The recovery apparatus includes a rotatable drum in which a cylindrical screen is suspended. The material to be processed is introduced into the cylindrical screen. The screen permits the passage of material smaller than the openings defined by the screen. The material which passes through the cylindrical screen is received within an annular volume defined between the cylindrical screen and the drum wall. A first material conveyor moves the material received within the annular volume such that the material is discharged from the second end of the drum. A second material conveyor moves the material retained by the cylindrical screen to the first end of the drum and discharges the material from the first end.