Abstract: A system and method for enabling electronic use and presentation of exhibits at a deposition or like proceeding. Exhibits may be placed on a server, and selected for use at a deposition or like proceeding by a questioning attorney. The selected exhibit may be presented for marking and for display to one or more of a deponent and a non-questioning attorney. Annotation of selected exhibits and/or proposed exhibits by the questioning attorney and/or another attendee may also be permitted.

Abstract: A method for providing consumers with alternatives to existing consumer relationships. A service may prompt a consumer to provide information about first existing terms of a first existing relationship between the consumer and a first provider and to provide information about second existing terms of a second existing relationship between the consumer and a second provider. The service may then enable a determination about whether another provider is willing to provide to the consumer first alternate terms that are more favorable than the first existing terms and about whether another provider is willing to provide to the consumer second alternate terms that are more favorable than the second existing terms. The service may, when another provider is willing to provide the consumer with the more favorable first alternate terms, enabling the presentation to the consumer of an offer based on the first alternate terms.

Abstract: An optical waveguide has a surface. An array of separately actuated bodies is disposed proximal to the exposed surface, and an actuator separately actuates at least some of the bodies to change a spectral characteristic of a wave propagating through the waveguide. Preferably, the bodies are metal striplines, an electro-optical material is disposed between the striplines and the exposed surface, and the actuator is a CMOS chip that imposes a voltage to some or all of the lines. The voltage changes the refractive index at the interface with the surface, changing an index of refraction profile of the waveguide and effectively imposing a grating. Alternatively, the bodies are micro-beams and the actuator, also controlled by a CMOS chip, separately moves each micro-beam into and out of proximity to the surface. The grating is programmable via the CMOS chip.

Abstract: A telephone solicitation method based on agreement between a telephone solicitor and a telephone owner, to provide telephone solicitations for consideration. The consideration can be in the form of free or reduced cost telephone service. The phone service can be a land line, wireless service, or Internet access.

Abstract: A unidirectional ring operates in accordance with a call setup procedure in which a single node on the ring, referred to herein as the “hub node,” simultaneously (i) processes call setup information from and provides call setup information to an ATM network, and (ii) controls the call setup operations of the nodes on the ring. When a source node that is part of the ring initiates a call, the node directs a call setup message to the hub node. The hub node determines if there is sufficient bandwidth available on the ring for the call. If so, the hub node passes the call setup message to the ATM network, and simultaneously multicasts call setup information to the nodes on the ring. While the call setup message is progressing over the ATM network in a conventional manner, the nodes on the ring simultaneously set up the associated virtual path and/or virtual circuit and send back connection information to the hub node.

Abstract: A method and system for providing items from a third party (i.e., non-airline) source to a passenger travelling on a commercial airliner. An air traveler orders an a third-party originating item from an ordering location and provides sufficient identifying information to permit later delivery, the item is prepared at a preparation facility, the item is then delivered to the airliner on which the air traveler is to travel, and the item is then provided to the air traveler at the airliner. Preferably, the air traveler makes payment for the item at the time of ordering. In the preferred embodiment, the item is a coffee-type drink.

Abstract: A system with predefined primary and secondary routes sets up corresponding virtual circuits over both routes. A destination node maintains primary and secondary sets of routing tables that contain, respectively, routing information over each of the rings for every virtual circuit. A destination node disables the appropriate entries in the routing tables for the non-selected route, such that the node ultimately discards the traffic received over that route. To switch a virtual path, and thus all of the virtual circuits included therein, from the selected route to the nonselected route, the destination node disables and enables the appropriate entries in the primary and the secondary routing tables, to switch from using the set-up virtual circuits on the selected route to using the set-up virtual circuits on the non-selected route. To detect an event that triggers protection switching, such as path failure, the system uses “Continuity OAM cells” to provide path status information to the nodes.

Abstract: A method and system for managing access and configuration of multiple independent communication related application services. The work associated with redundant configuration data or provisioning data necessary for managing the application services is minimized though a common directory server. The system utilizes a control module application having a common interface for modifying and entering duplicate data as well as data peculiar to each independent service.

Abstract: A method and system for common control of virtual private network devices. Common control is achieved by configuring one or more virtual private network devices, connected to both an open network and private local area networks, to authenticate clients through a centralized database or directory. The database or directory contains network access information or access policy for use by the virtual private network device(s) to control secure transactions over the open network between clients and the local area networks. The method and system may be used for sharing virtual private network devices between multiple private local area networks to allow various entities with private networks to employ the benefits of working over an open network such as the Internet, while simultaneously avoiding the high cost of acquiring and maintaining their own virtual private network devices.

Abstract: A shoulder protection device for use with a barbell, during the performance of a bench-press-type exercise. The device consists of a cylindrical pad adapted to be coupled to the barbell at a point substantially over the chest of a user, and having sufficient thickness to reduce the downward travel of the barbell during the performance of a bench-press movement. Such reduction, preferably, should be to the point where the upper arms descend to the horizontal plane defined by the back of the user, but do not break that plane.

Abstract: A method for contraception which features administering to a patient a contraceptive agent having activin-antagonist activity. The contraceptive agent results in inhibition of the activin-stimulated release of FSH, thereby resulting in a decrease in fertility and facilitating contraception in the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the amount of corrupted data in a system for transmitting encoded data across a network, which system requires sychronization between encoding and decoding nodes, the method and apparatus involving (a) providing an indication of the reliability of the channel between the encoding and decoding nodes; (b) performing automatic resets at the nodes at intervals I; and (c) utilizing the indication of channel reliability to control the interval I. The interval I may be determined, for example, by the error rate on the channel for one or more preceding time interval S, and may be determined at either the encoding or decoding node.

Abstract: A single queue or descriptor ring references several context control blocks, each of which corresponds to a different data path in a communications system. An entry in the descriptor ring references an appropriate context control block and a source packet representing a packet locations prior to processing. The descriptor ring may include a destination packet representing the packet locations after processing. The descriptor ring is particularly suitable for communications between a main processor and a coprocessor.

Abstract: A method for contraception which features administering to a patient a contraceptive agent having activin-antagonist activity. The contraceptive agent results in inhibition of the activin-stimulated release of FSH, thereby resulting in a decrease in fertility and facilitating contraception in the patient.

Abstract: A system for transmitting compressed data for multiple channels or contexts from a single node which system reduces memory utilization without significant adverse effect on compression ratio by providing a separate history buffer for each channel, with a single hash table being provided for generating potential match addresses in the history buffer for at least selected ones of the channels. A single chain table may also be provided, the chain table having a single offset address for the corresponding offset addresses in the buffers for the selected channels. Collisions in the common hash table may be reduced by including channel address or the like as an additional input to the hash table, thereby biasing the address outputs therefrom.