Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple telephony devices that are associated with one or more users. One or more group identifiers would be associated with each user group. When an incoming communication is directed to a user group, a group identifier is used to retrieve a list of the members of the group, or a list of devices that correspond to the members of the user group. The communication is then sent to one or more members of the group, or to one or more of the devices that correspond to members of the user group. Handling preferences may determine how the incoming communication is delivered. In some instances, the incoming communication could be a telephone call. In other instances, the incoming communication could be a SMS message or an instant message.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a percutaneous stimulation lead for applying electrically stimulation pulses to tissue of the patient comprises: a plurality of electrode assemblies electrically coupled to a plurality of terminals through a plurality of conductors of the stimulation lead, wherein each electrode assembly is disposed in an annular manner around the lead body and each electrode assembly comprises (i) an electrode adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to tissue of a patient, (ii) an interior conductive layer, and (iii) a dielectric layer disposed between the electrode and the interior conductive layer; the electrode and interior conductive layer being capacitively coupled, the dielectric layer further comprising an inductor, the inductor being electrically connected to one of the plurality of conductors through the interior conductive layer, and the inductor being electrically coupled to the electrode.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. A user group is established by collecting a plurality of identifiers that are associated with members of a group, and associating the member identifiers with a group identifier. The member identifiers could be telephone numbers of telephony devices for each of the members, or device IDs of IP telephony devices for members of the group. The group identifier could be any type of identifier, and in some instances, the group identifier could be a telephone number.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. A group identifier is assigned to each user group. When an incoming communication directed to the user group identifier is received by the service, the service obtains handling instructions for the user group that specify how the incoming communication is to be terminated to the members of the user group. The service then terminates the incoming communication to one or more members of the user group based on those handling instructions.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. A group identifier, which could be a telephone number, is assigned to each user group. As a result, a single telephony device belonging to a member of a user group can be associated with its own unique telephone number, and the telephone number used as the group identifier. The system allows the user to select which of multiple telephone numbers associated with his telephony device are to be used as the originating telephone number when an outgoing telephone call or an outgoing message is sent.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. When a member of a user group sends an outgoing communication from one of the telephony devices associated with the user group, the service obtains communication handling instructions for the user group. The outgoing communication is then processed in accordance with the handling instructions. This could include sending copies of the outgoing communication to the telephony devices of other members of the user group. This could also include sending the outgoing communication with an origination identifier associated with the user group, rather than an origination identifier associated with the member's telephony device.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. A user group is established by collecting a plurality of identifiers that are associated with members of a group, and associating the member identifiers with a group identifier. The member identifiers could be telephone numbers of telephony devices for each of the members, or device IDs of IP telephony devices for members of the group. The group identifier could be any type of identifier, and in some instances, the group identifier could be a telephone number.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple telephony devices that are associated with one or more users. One or more group identifiers would be associated with each user group. When an incoming communication is directed to a user group, a group identifier is used to retrieve a list of the members of the group, or a list of devices that correspond to the members of the user group. The communication is then sent to one or more members of the group, or to one or more of the devices that correspond to members of the user group. Handling preferences may determine how the incoming communication is delivered. In some instances, the incoming communication could be a telephone call. In other instances, the incoming communication could be a SMS message or an instant message.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. When a member of a user group sends a messages to another member of the user group, the message is posted to a group message board so that all members of the group can view the message. This could include sending information to each of the telephony devices for all members of the group so that each telephony device could display the message on a display screen. The displayed messages could also indicate who sent each message and to whom each message was directed. As a result, each member of the group can view messages passing back and forth between all members of the group.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. Each user group is assigned a unique group identifier, which can be a telephone number. As a result, a single telephony device belonging to a member of a user group can be associated with its own unique telephone number, and the telephone number of the user group. This also means that a member's telephony device could be associated with multiple different billing accounts. The system allows a user to select which of multiple different billing accounts that are associated with his telephony device are to be billed for outgoing communications.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. A group identifier is assigned to each user group. When an incoming communication directed to the user group identifier is received by the service, the service obtains handling instructions for the user group that specify how the incoming communication is to be terminated to the members of the user group. The service then terminates the incoming communication to one or more members of the user group based on those handling instructions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method electrically stimulates an area in a spinal disc. The method comprises: implanting at least one steerable lead at a placement site for stimulating a spinal disc such that the lead is disposed exterior and immediately adjacent to and circumferentially along an annulus of the spinal disc, the at least one lead including a plurality of electrodes distributed along a majority of a circumference of the annulus; connecting the lead to a signal generator; and generating electrical stimulation pulses using the generator to stimulate targeted portions of the spinal disc, wherein the stimulation of the targeted portion of the spinal disc sufficiently stimulates nerve tissue within the spinal disc to prevent communication of pain signals originating in the spinal disc without damaging tissue of the spinal disc.

Abstract: Described are techniques for detecting data collisions between a first portion and a second portion of an application executing on a computer, the first portion and the second portions executing concurrently with respect to each other. While the first portion and second portion are executing, before the first portion accesses a memory location shared by the first portion and the second portion, a value stored in the memory location is captured and the first portion is delayed. While the second portion continues to execute the first portion is delayed. After a period of the first portion having been paused or slowed, the current content of the memory location is compared with the captured content to determine if there is a data collision. The first and second portions may be threads, and the capturing, delaying, and determining may be performed by code inserted to the application after it has been compiled.

Abstract: A proppant comprises a particle and a polycarbodiimide coating disposed on the particle. The polycarbodiimide coating comprises the reaction product of a polymeric isocyanate and a monomeric isocyanate, in the presence of a catalyst. A method of forming the proppant comprises the steps of providing the particle, providing the polymeric isocyanate, providing the monomeric isocyanate, providing the catalyst, reacting the polymeric isocyanate and the monomeric isocyanate in the presence of the catalyst to form the polycarbodiimide coating, and coating the particle with the polycarbodiimide coating.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a percutaneous stimulation lead for applying electrically stimulation pulses to tissue of the patient comprises: a plurality of electrode assemblies electrically coupled to a plurality of terminals through a plurality of conductors of the stimulation lead, wherein each electrode assembly is disposed in an annular manner around the lead body and each electrode assembly comprises (i) an electrode adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to tissue of a patient, (ii) an interior conductive layer, and (iii) a dielectric layer disposed between the electrode and the interior conductive layer; the electrode and interior conductive layer being capacitively coupled, the dielectric layer further comprising an inductor, the inductor being electrically connected to one of the plurality of conductors through the interior conductive layer, and the inductor being electrically coupled to the electrode.

Abstract: The application relates to a stimulation device with power conservation functionality. In implantable devices, power supplies may be limited. Replenishing these power supplies may require costly surgery or periodic recharging depending on the model. A method may be implemented that skips or drops periodic pulses without apparently changing the frequency of the pulses. In this manner, the dropped pulses may be undetected by the patient. On the other hand, the dropped pulse represents power savings. Dropping one in ten pulses may lead to a 10% energy savings. The stimulation device may implement the method with one or more counters implemented in hardware or software.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method electrically stimulates an area in a spinal disc. The method comprises: implanting at least one steerable lead at a placement site for stimulating a spinal disc such that the lead is disposed exterior and immediately adjacent to and circumferentially along an annulus of the spinal disc, the at least one lead including a plurality of electrodes distributed along a majority of a circumference of the annulus; connecting the lead to a signal generator; and generating electrical stimulation pulses using the generator to stimulate targeted portions of the spinal disc, wherein the stimulation of the targeted portion of the spinal disc sufficiently stimulates nerve tissue within the spinal disc to prevent communication of pain signals originating in the spinal disc without damaging tissue of the spinal disc.