Abstract: A system for assessing the quality of the optical connection between a catheter and a console is described that avoids the necessity of a calibration port, although one can still be provided if desired. It operates by monitoring the level of light returning from the catheter head and specifically the degree to which this returning light is attenuated. Reflections will arise at the catheter head's optical window due to the discontinuity between the refractive index of the window and that of air or other medium into which the head is inserted. Since the refractive index of the optical window is known and with the head in a known medium such as air, the level of reflection is known. This enables a controller in the console to calculate the round trip loss and thus monitor the loss in the catheter-console interface. Moreover, since round-trip loss is measured, the accuracy is improved by a factor of two over calibration port systems that only measure loss in a single pass arrangement.

Abstract: A user's prior searching and browsing activities are recorded for subsequent use. A user may examine the user's prior searching and browsing activities in a number of different ways, including indications of the user's prior activities related to advertisements. A set of search results may be modified in accordance with the user's historical activities. The user's activities may be examined to identify a set of preferred locations. The user's set of activities may be shared with one or more other users. The set of preferred locations presented to the user may be enhanced to include the preferred locations of one or more other users. A user's browsing activities may be monitored from one or more different client devices or client application. A user's browsing volume may be graphically displayed.

Abstract: A user's prior searching and browsing activities are recorded for subsequent use. A user may examine the user's prior searching and browsing activities in a number of different ways, including indications of the user's prior activities related to advertisements. A set of search results may be modified in accordance with the user's historical activities. The user's activities may be examined to identify a set of preferred locations. The user's set of activities may be shared with one or more other users. The set of preferred locations presented to the user may be enhanced to include the preferred locations of one or more other users. A user's browsing activities may be monitored from one or more different client devices or client application. A user's browsing volume may be graphically displayed.

Abstract: A user's prior searching and browsing activities are recorded for subsequent use. A user may examine the user's prior searching and browsing activities in a number of different ways, including indications of the user's prior activities related to advertisements. A set of search results may be modified in accordance with the user's historical activities. The user's activities may be examined to identify a set of preferred locations. The user's set of activities may be shared with one or more other users. The set of preferred locations presented to the user may be enhanced to include the preferred locations of one or more other users. A user's browsing activities may be monitored from one or more different client devices or client application. A user's browsing volume may be graphically displayed.

Abstract: A user's prior searching and browsing activities are recorded for subsequent use. A user may examine the user's prior searching and browsing activities in a number of different ways, including indications of the user's prior activities related to advertisements. A set of search results may be modified in accordance with the user's historical activities. The user's activities may be examined to identify a set of preferred locations. The user's set of activities may be shared with one or more other users. The set of preferred locations presented to the user may be enhanced to include the preferred locations of one or more other users. A user's browsing activities may be monitored from one or more different client devices or client application. A user's browsing volume may be graphically displayed.

Abstract: A user's prior searching and browsing activities are recorded for subsequent use. A user may examine the user's prior searching and browsing activities in a number of different ways, including indications of the user's prior activities related to advertisements. A set of search results may be modified in accordance with the user's historical activities. The user's activities may be examined to identify a set of preferred locations. The user's set of activities may be shared with one or more other users. The set of preferred locations presented to the user may be enhanced to include the preferred locations of one or more other users. A user's browsing activities may be monitored from one or more different client devices or client application. A user's browsing volume may be graphically displayed.

Abstract: A user's prior searching and browsing activities are recorded for subsequent use. A user may examine the user's prior searching and browsing activities in a number of different ways, including indications of the user's prior activities related to advertisements. A set of search results may be modified in accordance with the user's historical activities. The user's activities may be examined to identify a set of preferred locations. The user's set of activities may be shared with one or more other users. The set of preferred locations presented to the user may be enhanced to include the preferred locations of one or more other users. A user's browsing activities may be monitored from one or more different client devices or client application. A user's browsing volume may be graphically displayed.

Abstract: A scanning optical monitoring system and method are appropriate for high speed scanning of a WDM signal band. The system and method are able to identify dropped channels or, more generally, discrepancies between the determined or detected channel inventory and a perpetual inventory for the WDM signal, which perpetual inventory specifies the channels that should be present in the WDM signal assuming proper operation of the network. The system includes a tunable optical filter that scans a pass band across a signal band of a WDM signal to generate a filtered signal. A photodetector then generates an electrical signal in response to this filtered signal. A decision circuit compares the electrical signal to a threshold and a controller, which is responsive to the decision circuit, inventories the channels in the WDM signal.

Abstract: A scanning optical monitoring system and method are appropriate for high speed scanning of a WDM signal band. The system and method are able to identify dropped channels or, more generally, discrepancies between the determined or detected channel inventory and a perpetual inventory for the WDM signal, which perpetual inventory specifies the channels that should be present in the WDM signal assuming proper operation of the network. The system includes a tunable optical filter that scans a pass band across a signal band of a WDM signal to generate a filtered signal. A photodetector then generates an electrical signal in response to this filtered signal. A decision circuit compares the electrical signal to a threshold and a controller, which is responsive to the decision circuit, inventories the channels in the WDM signal.

Abstract: A system and method for fast peak finding in an optical spectrum prioritizes the information it first generates and how the information is then forwarded from the system to a host computer, for example. A spectrum detection subsystem generates a spectrum of an optical signal. An analog-to-digital converter converts the spectrum into sample data. Finally, a data processing subsystem first detects the spectral locations of peaks in the spectrum using the sample data and then uploads the peak information to a host computer before performing processing to determine the shapes of the peaks and/or noise information for the optical signal, for example. The system is thus able to quickly find some information, such as whether or not channels or carriers are present, at what frequency the carriers are operating, and the carriers' power level, and send this information to the host computer. In contrast, information concerning spectral shape or the noise floor sent later in time.

Abstract: A laser system for a spectroscopic catheter system utilizes an overmoded cavity in order to reduce mode hoping induced power fluctuations during wavelength scanning. In the preferred embodiment, a semiconductor gain medium is used to reduce cost. A fiber pigtail is used to define the laser cavity, which has a tight cavity mode spacing of less that 15 Gigahertz. A diffraction grating is used as the tuning element. A cylindrical lens is used to reduce alignment tolerances and thereby increase manufacturability.

Abstract: A laser system for a spectroscopic catheter system utilizes an overmoded cavity in order to reduce mode hoping induced power fluctuations during wavelength scanning. In the preferred embodiment, a semiconductor gain medium is used to reduce cost. A fiber pigtail is used to define the laser cavity, which has a tight cavity mode spacing of less that 15 Gigahertz. A diffraction grating is used as the tuning element. A cylindrical lens is used to reduce alignment tolerances and thereby increase manufacturability.

Abstract: A system and method for using a user profile to order placed content in search results returned by a search engine. The user profile is based on search queries submitted by a user, the user's specific interaction with the documents identified by the search engine and personal information provided by the user. Placed content is ranked by a score based at least in part on a similarity of a particular placed content to the user's profile. User profiles can be created and/or stored on the client side or server side of a client-server network environment.

Abstract: A multi fiber optic medical probe comprises at least two optical fibers. There are side-firing terminations for the at least two optical fibers. Further, beam-shaping apertures are provided for controlling light propagating between the side-firing terminations and a region lateral to the probe. The provision of the at least two optical fibers allows for multiple optical signals to be transmitted to and/or from the target area within the patient. The side-firing terminations allow for the interrogation of regions that are adjacent to the probe, i.e., extending in a direction parallel to the insertion direction or longitudinal axis of the probe. The beam shaping apertures are provided for controlling light propagating between the side-firing terminations and the region lateral to the probe, in order to control the shape of the emitted beam and also, the direction from which light is collected.

Abstract: A system and method for fast peak finding in an optical spectrum prioritizes the information it first generates and how the information is then forwarded from the system to a host computer, for example. A spectrum detection subsystem generates a spectrum of an optical signal. An analog-to-digital converter converts the spectrum into sample data. Finally, a data processing subsystem first detects the spectral locations of peaks in the spectrum using the sample data and then uploads the peak information to a host computer before performing processing to determine the shapes of the peaks and/or noise information for the optical signal, for example. The system is thus able to quickly find some information, such as whether or not channels or carriers are present, at what frequency the carriers are operating, and the carriers' power level, and send this information to the host computer. In contrast, information concerning spectral shape or the noise floor sent later in time.

Abstract: An alignment process for a fiber optic system, which includes at least one lens and a tunable filter element, comprises transmitting an optical signal into the system and detecting a back-reflection from the lens and/or the tunable filter element. The position of the lens relative to the tunable filter element is then manipulated in response to the back-reflection. This alignment prevents the excitation of higher order modes.

Abstract: A system for assessing the quality of the optical connection between a catheter and a console is described that avoids the necessity of a calibration port, although one can still be provided if desired. It operates by monitoring the level of light returning from the catheter head and specifically the degree to which this returning light is attenuated. Reflections will arise at the catheter head's optical window due to the discontinuity between the refractive index of the window and that of air or other medium into which the head is inserted. Since the refractive index of the optical window is known and with the head in a known medium such as air, the level of reflection is known. This enables a controller in the console to calculate the round trip loss and thus monitor the loss in the catheter-console interface. Moreover, since round-trip loss is measured, the accuracy is improved by a factor of two over calibration port systems that only measure loss in a single pass arrangement.

Abstract: In accordance with a feature of the invention, a hierarchy of multi-digraph layers may be constructed on top of an input multi-digraph. Each layer represents a multi-digraph obtained from an equivalence relation defined on the edge set of the input multi-digraph. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, each subgraph is small enough to be represented visually in a variety of novel ways.

Abstract: In optoelectronic systems, package moisture can affect stress levels in dielectric coatings on MEMS devices. Specifically, as the moisture content in these dielectric coatings changes, there are concomitant changes in the material stress. These changes in material stress can affect the operation of the overall MEMS device. Specifically, in the context of tunable filters, moisture can lead to a drift in the size of the optical resonant cavity over time as changes in material stress affect the MEMS structures. According to the invention, a getter is added to the package to absorb moisture, and thereby stabilize the operation of the optical filter, and specifically prevent uncontrolled drift in the size of its optical cavity.

Abstract: A laser system for a spectroscopic catheter system utilizes an overmoded cavity in order to reduce mode hoping induced power fluctuations during wavelength scanning. In the preferred embodiment, a semiconductor gain medium is used to reduce cost. A fiber pigtail is used to define the laser cavity, which has a tight cavity mode spacing of less that 15 Gigahertz. A diffraction grating is used as the tuning element. A cylindrical lens is used to reduce alignment tolerances and thereby increase manufacturability.