Abstract: A system for determining at least one angler rating for at least one angler comprises a processing element, at least one electronic database and an output element. The processing element can receive fishing information, where the fishing information is associated with at least one lake. Based on at least a portion of the fishing information, the processing element is capable of determining the at least one angler rating. The electronic databases are responsive to the processing element for storing the electronic fishing information based upon the fishing information received by the processing element. The electronic databases are further capable of storing the angler ratings. The output element is responsive to the processing element for outputting the angler ratings.

Abstract: A system for determining at least one angler rating for at least one angler comprises a processing element, at least one electronic database and an output element. The processing element can receive fishing information, where the fishing information is associated with at least one lake. Based on at least a portion of the fishing information, the processing element is capable of determining the at least one angler rating. The electronic databases are responsive to the processing element for storing the electronic fishing information based upon the fishing information received by the processing element. The electronic databases are further capable of storing the angler ratings. The output element is responsive to the processing element for outputting the angler ratings.

Abstract: A process for the production of tetrahydrofuran, gamma butyrolactone, 1,4-butane diol and the like from a hydrogenatable precursor such as maleic acid, succinic acid, corresponding esters and their mixtures and the like in the presence of hydrogen and a noble metal catalyst, wherein oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide, oxygen or air are used to regenerate spent noble metal catalyst for further use in the process.

Abstract: A system for accessing electronic game information for a plurality of hunters includes a processing element, at least one electronic database and an output element. The processing element can receive game information that is associated with at least one hunting area and at least one hunting trip. The processing element can additionally determine weather information for at least one time during the hunting trips. The electronic databases, which are located remote from the processing element, can store the electronic game information, and the weather determined by the processing element. The output element, in turn, can output dynamic electronic information at least partially based upon the electronic game information and the hunters, and can output the weather information for the times during the hunting trips.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for backlighting a handwriting input area for a portable computing device. The portable computing device includes a display area for displaying alphanumeric data and other images. Underneath the display area is a digitizer input area by which users enter handwritten information into the portable computing device. The portable computing device contains handwriting recognition software which converts the handwritten information into alphanumeric data. Both the display area and the digitizer input area are both backlit to facilitate usage in poor lighting conditions.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing calcium fluoride. The process comprises (a) mixing phosphate rock with aqueous H2SiF6 at ambient temperature for at least one hour; (b) nucleating the calcium fluoride in the slurry prepared in step (a) by reacting the slurry at a temperature and for a time sufficient to initiate and sustain nucleation of calcium fluoride and SiO2 by-product; (c) aggregating the SiO2 by-product by heating the slurry produced in step (b) at a temperature of about 90° C. to about 105° C. for at least 0.5 hours; and (d) recovering a calcium fluoride-containing product of an average particle size of less than 1 micron.

Abstract: The present invention relates to signal processing and, more particularly, to the use of local signal behavior parameters for the description of signals within sampling windows. Improved accuracy in local signal representation is achievable by using appropriate windowing functions within the local sampling windows where such windowing functions approximately compensate for truncation errors arising in finite representations of the exact signal. Other embodiments include windowing functions approximately compensating for the expected noise values that tend to corrupt the signal. Improved accuracy in local signal representations employing chromatic derivatives are described.

Abstract: A compact disc handler includes a picker elevator containing a helically threaded lead screw journaled for rotation about a vertical axis and having a traveling nut thereon to which a disc picker arm is attached. A guideway in the tower cooperates with the picker arm to constrain the picker arm from rotating until reaching a predetermined height elevator. Using this design, a CD can be retrieved from an input hopper, placed in a label printer or other CD publishing/playing device and upon completion of same operation on the disc, it is transported by rotation to an output hopper.

Abstract: A retaining element system is provided that improves face stability in poorer quality soils that are not suited to conventional soil nailing. The method includes inserting retaining elements substantially vertically into an earthen mass to shore the face of an excavation. The earthen mass can be any material or combination of materials, such as soil, clay or rock that requires excavation for the installation of a shoring wall. The plurality of retaining elements are placed side by side in a substantially linear arrangement. A plurality of soil nails are then inserted into the excavation plane, at the approximate midpoint between a pair of adjacent retaining elements. An exposed tip portion of each soil nail attaches to a wale, which is a substantially horizontal element that contacts a retaining element on both sides of each soil nail. The wale can be a beam, bracket, or a set of concrete reinforcement bars.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of improving the catalytic performance of palladium or ruthenium, rhenium-on-carbon hydrogenation catalysts operating in aqueous media where loss of soluble rhenium may result in rapid catalytic failure. A rhenium-containing hydrogenation catalyst comprised of rhenium on a support material is regenerated by first treating the catalyst with aqueous perrhenic acid or potassium perrhenate followed by treating the catalyst under reducing conditions at elevated temperature and pressure. Treatment of the catalyst as described replenishes dispersed fresh finely divided rhenium which enhances the activity of the catalyst while at the same time allowing the operations to be carried out in situ in the hydrogenation reactor or in a side stream reactor with significant savings in reducing reactor down time and precious metal expenses.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing calcium fluoride comprising: (a) mixing aqueous H3PO4 with aqueous H2SiF6 to form a mixture such that the concentration of H3PO4 is at least about 3 moles/liter, (b) adding phosphate rock to the mixture at a rate such that the pH of the mixture is maintained at less than about 1.0 and at a temperature sufficient to form a second mixture containing calcium fluoride, and (c) separating calcium fluoride from the second mixture.

Abstract: A dual mode terminal is provided, in which a mobile station of a mobile radio system and cordless telephone are combined. This kind of terminal can have a connection with both a base station of the mobile radio system and a base station (fixed part) of the cordless telephone system. Handover in the case of this dual mode terminal implies the transfer of a call from the base station of the mobile radio system to a base station of the cordless telephone system. A call re-establishment procedure is utilized for inter-system handovers between a cordless telephone system having terminal-initiated handovers and the supporting mobile radio system having network-initiated handovers. A single mode (cordless) terminal and a method of performing handover from a base station of the cordless telephone system to another base station of the cordless telephone system is also provided.

Abstract: A dual mode terminal is provided, in which a mobile station of a mobile radio system and a cordless telephone are combined. This kind of terminal may have a connection with both a base station of the mobile radio system and a fixed part of the cordless telephone system. Handover may imply the transfer of a call from a fixed part of the cordless telephone system having a terminal-initiated handover to a base station of the mobile radio system having a network-initiated handover. In order to carry out a proper handover procedure, the cordless telephone part obtains from the mobile station part of the terminal measurement results relating to received signal strengths of the mobile system base stations in the neighborhood. The cordless telephone part of the terminal forwards these measurement results via a fixed part of the cordless telephone system to the mobile exchange of the mobile system in a handover request message.

Abstract: Loop-back detection and signalling is achieved on any DS-0 channel that conforms to 56 kbps operation such as DDS in a DS-1 digital data transmission system. A standard DS-1 chip set (line interface unit, framer, and link layer controller) is used, coupled to 24 transmit and receive buffer means in the customer main memory. The framer detects control bits by using Channel Associate Signalling, (designed for digitising voice in-band signalling and not normally used for data transmission), in the incoming signal and interrupts the customer CPU, which determines from the framer which channel caused the interrupt, changes the mode of the relevant channel, checks that channel's receive buffer means for loop-back codes, and, if enough successive loop-back codes are found, copies the receive buffer means into the transmit buffer means (with code mapping) for as long as the loop-back condition exists.

Abstract: A halogenated hydrocarbon recycling machine M1 comprising a cylinder-emptying apparatus including means for transferring a vapour mixture from a cylinder 10 to a fluid storage reservoir R1, a cylinder-filling apparatus including means for filling the cylinder 10.sup.1 from the reservoir R1 and a fluid separating apparatus including means for separating from the vapour mixture of an emptied cylinder, a reusable halogenated hydrocarbon fluid for use by the cylinder filling apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing particulates from objects comprises a cleaning chamber which is open on at least one side to receive the object, a curtain of air which covers the opening to the cleaning chamber, and two converging air streams within the cleaning chamber, which converging air streams create turbulence in the vicinity of the object and dislodge particulates from it. The air curtain acts as a barrier to prevent such dislodged particulates from escaping into the surrounding environment. The air streams and the air curtain are recirculated and HEPA filtered to trap the dislodged particulates.

Abstract: A system for determining and registering the amount of food consumed in a given period of time by each of a plurality of animals, such as cattle, comprising a feed station which the animals can enter individually and separately for feeding purposes. The feed station includes a food hopper mounted on a load sensing means whose output changes as the amount of food in the hopper changes. Means, such as a photo-electric sensing device, are provided to determine the presence of an animal at the feed hopper. The actuation of the photo-electric sensing means will energize a scale weight measuring means which sends a series of pulses corresponding to the weight of food in the hopper to a consumption measuring means. Actuation of the photo-electric sensing means will also energize an interrogation coil which repeatedly sends electromagnetic pulses to the animal to actuate an identification tag attached to the animal. The tag includes a small R.F. transmitter capable of transmitting an R.F.

Abstract: Stepping motor techniques are made viable for heavy duty machines with variable speed operation (motors or generators) by reason of the simplification and gain in specific output and efficiency which results from constructions ensuring maximum saturation of magnetic flux at the stator pole faces and with minimal airgap between the associated stator and rotor pole faces. The density of the ferro-magnetic material forming the arcuate faces of the rotor poles may be varied (graded) circumferentially of said faces and the poles relatively shaped and arranged so as to render possible uni-directional current, 2-phase operation. Energy stored is minimised and the reduced energy inductively stored is returned to the source by vestigial coupled windings. Uni-directional currents only flow in the windings, and the switching circuitry, although not fundamentally novel, is greatly simplified.