Abstract: A refrigerator having an in-door water dispenser and a water routing system is provided with a cabinet. A door is reversibly hinged to the cabinet at either a first edge or a second edge. A water supply line leads from a water reservoir and has a first connection at a first top front corner of the cabinet and a second connection at a second top front corner. A feeder line leads from the dispenser to a top surface of the door with an end at one of the first door edge and the second door edge. When the door is hinged along the first edge, the end of the feeder line is connected to the first connection and when the door is hinged along the second edge, the end of the feeder line is connected to the second connection.

Abstract: A device for administering cold therapy to a human ankle, and a method for administering cold therapy to a human ankle using the device. In accordance with the invention, two opposing flexible sheet members are connected via a web that spans a gap between them. At least one insert that includes a flexible, fluid-tight pouch containing at least a chilled, non-gaseous, temperature retaining fluid is releasably secured to one of the flexible sheet members. The insert is positioned adjacent to either the lateral or medial side of the human ankle. Bottom portions of each of the opposing flexible sheet members are secured to each other underneath the human's foot. Straps extending from the opposing flexible sheet members are drawn in opposite directions, one over the ankle ligaments on the top of the foot and another around the leg above the ankle, to secure the device to the human's ankle and thereby provide cold therapy and compression thereto.

Abstract: A hand-held laser pointer is disclosed that comprises a laser module that is isolated from unwanted hand tremor motions of the laser pointer housing. A passive inertial stabilizer is utilized for stabilizing the laser module to suppress laser dot jitter associated with hand tremor. To achieve the above object, a collimated laser diode module is mounted on a stage that is suspended by a low-friction gimbal that pivots with respect to the housing of the pointer on two intersecting and mutually perpendicular axes. The inertial stage is coupled to the housing via a spring and damper.

Abstract: A telephone conferencing system includes a voice services equipment (VSE) allowing a number of telephone calls to be connected together to form a conferencing function. Parties wishing to set up a conference agree on one of their telephone numbers being designated as a “link number”. The conference participants dial into the system and then each enters the link number. The system stores the link number in a link number store when the first caller calls in. The system also checks the caller's calling line identity (CLI) with the entered link number, and the conference will not be enabled unless there is a match; thus, the conference cannot be initiated until the link number participant has called in. Any other participant calling earlier can be put on “hold”. A number of different conferences may be taking place simultaneously, and participants will be grouped together correctly in their conference in accordance with the entered link number.

Abstract: The apparatus stores for a first user a number of addresses representing members of one of a number of groups of users, the addresses being configurable by the first user. The first user may send a text message to a service address corresponding to that group of users such that the apparatus replicates the text message to members of that group. Also, the first user may make a voice call to the same service address, the apparatus then initiating an audio conference with members of that group.

Abstract: In a telephone system, such as a mobile telephone system capable of handling text messages, address signals for telephone communication may be in one of first and second signal formats such as dialled numeric signals and alphanumeric signals. An SMS Router (10) can distinguish between the numeric and alphanumeric signals and directs numeric address signals to a short message service centre SMSC (18). The alphanumeric address signals may instead be re-routed on the basis of stored information, such as in a database (14), for example directly to an SMS Host (16). Alternatively, the alphanumeric address signals can be converted by the SMS Router (10) to numeric signal on the basis of the stored information and then directed to the SMSC (18).

Abstract: An elongate bar having sliding handgrips concentrically mounted thereon adapted for use with various types of resistance-type exercise devices. In a preferred embodiment, the handgrips, which are constrained to move only in an axial direction with respect to the bar, are interconnected on an inner bar-facing portion of the handgrips by linking means such as belts, in such a manner that the handgrips and bar retain a low profile, and the handgrips remain equidistant from the center of the bar throughout their axial range of motion. In the preferred embodiment, the linking means are belts that are supported by pulleys housed within recesses in the bar and rotatably attached thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for occluding the flow of embolic blood from entering the brain or other arteries during surgical procedures. The apparatus includes an expandable coiled occluder. The occluder is deployed in a coiled state into a body lumen where it then at least partially uncoils and at least partially conforms to the diameter of the lumen. The method includes introducing an occluder into a body lumen; having the occluder in a deployed/uncoiled position when emboli are likely to be released; and, if determined to be necessary, having the occluder removed or coiled when emboli are not likely to be released. The occluder has an open center to permit the flow of blood through the lumen while restricting the flow of blood and hence embolic matter through or into side or branch vessels.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for chilling beverages in containers. The apparatus includes a tubular body having a first opening, a second opening, an inner surface and an outer surface. The first opening, the inner surface and the second opening cooperate to define a passage through the tubular body for receiving a beverage container. The inner surface and outer surface of the tubular body are formed of and defined by a continuous film of flexible material. A non-gaseous temperature-retaining fluid is received between the inner surface and the outer surface of the tubular body. The apparatus is pre-chilled prior to use, and then is rolled onto the beverage container such that the beverage container is received within the passage through the tubular body to rapidly chill the beverage to a desired serving temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for storing a language preference and providing the stored language preference automatically without any intervention of a user. The user may have an option to set a desired language preference on the calling apparatus such as a telephone device. A call center may send a query requesting language preference information of the user to the calling apparatus when the user makes a call connection to the call center. The desired language preference saved on the calling apparatus may be sent directly from the calling apparatus to the call center. In this manner, the user may not have to repeat a language selection process for every call made to the call center.

Abstract: In a telecommunications apparatus. a control processor (CSRS) receives a call request from a caller's terminal and establishes a call with a voice messaging system (VM). Signals from the voice messaging system (VM) and from the caller's terminal are combined and sent to the called party (user) upon receipt of an acceptance signal from the called party. If desired, the conversation between the caller and called party may be recorded by a recording apparatus.

Abstract: An expandable structured wiring box (100) for managing and organizing wiring for household communications systems is disclosed. An adaptive trim ring (202) is provided for increasing internal space to allow for additional internal components. The trim ring (202) also hinges wall edges (208A, 208B) caused during installation of the box (100).

Abstract: In a text message processing system, an SMS router (3) can recognise a predefined arrangement of one or more characters, such as “*”, as a suffix to a destination address of a message being submitted by a mobile telephone (1) to the system. Upon such recognition, a function required by the message sender is selected so as to change the normal delivery function, for example by forwarding the received message to an email interface (6) for delivery by email either instead of, or in addition to, normal text message delivery.

Abstract: An electrical box (100) for mounting between adjacent studs of a structural wall and having side panels (102, 103) defining spaced apart stress relief regions (182) each encompassing a mounting hole (184) and outwardly deflectable in response to actuation of a fastener through the hole (184) into penetrating engagement with a stud.

Abstract: In a telephone conference unit, any participant to a conference is able to invite an additional participant to the conference by specifying the telephone number of the new participant. A transaction convertor (6), under the control of a service control point (5), sends an invitation message such as a text message (or a voice message) to the new participant. The invitation message includes a telephone number for the invited participant to dial in order to be connected to the conference.

Abstract: A text message is identified by an SMS router (16) by means of message attributes, such as addressing, address type, message content or signalling fields, as belonging to one of a number of different categories, each category relating to a specific messaging application. The identified messaging application may be executed by a message transformation means (22) which may parse, interpret and transform the message content and addressing in order to generate a response message. The response message may be generated according to a programmable table of exceptions, the exceptions conforming to a syntax permitting matching of a single exception to multiple forms of message construction. The message transformation means (22) and SMS router (16) may return the response message without requiring a routing query to an HLR (28), the response message addressing and routing information being instead derived from the original message.

Abstract: A comprehensive method for handling telephone calls directed to a telephone number of a terminated user that has been reassigned to a new user. The present invention provides user with a notification service that intercepts telephone calls to said telephone number and notifies callers that the telephone number has been reassigned to the new user. Callers seeking the new user continue calls to user, which results in user only being alerted by continuing callers and not being bothered by callers seeking the terminated user. The user can customize the notification message to inform callers of the details regarding the telephone number reassignment and to whom the telephone number was reassigned. The user can specify a time period for the notification service to be activated. The notification service stores all continuing calls in a log, and bypasses all subsequent calls from telephone numbers listed in the log.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for verifying the validity of a day/date combination, which includes the steps of: detecting a day/date combination; verifying the validity of the day/date combination; and, notifying a user upon finding that the day/date combination is invalid.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing alerts. A ring tone is audibly presented to alert the user of the incoming call in response to detecting receipt of the incoming call. A selected movement of the mobile communications device is monitored in response to audibly presenting the ring tone. The volume of the ring tone is reduced without answering the incoming call in response to detecting the selected movement.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for providing a browser functionality to determine the existence of a table, identify data therein and manipulate the data according to a user's input. Thus, a method for manipulating data tables in a client machine includes determining at the client machine, existence of a table via a loaded graphical user interface operable with a markup language; extracting data from the table; storing the data from the table in a local cache; manipulating the data in the local cache; and displaying the data in a user-defined table by applying a function within the graphical user interface. The manipulating can include sorting the data in the local cache which could include re-sorting the data according to user-defined parameters. The user-defined parameters can include determining a column by which to sort and a row by which to sort. The table on the client computer can be generated by the graphical user interface loading a Web page from a server machine.