Abstract: A method for making a particular customer's data on a database containing data for several customers available only to that customer. The data is formatted so that a selected group of data can be accessed by a specific customer by using an identifier which is unique to that customer's data.

Abstract: A spar-type offshore platform includes a buoyant upper hull structure supporting a deck and having lower end in which is received a buoyant lower mooring module. The upper hull structure is connected to the mooring module by connection lines. The upper hull structure is removed from the mooring module by disconnecting the connection lines from the upper hull structure while leaving the connection lines attached to the mooring module and while the mooring module remains moored to the seabed. The mooring module is lowered relative to the upper hull structure, allowing the latter to be moved away. The upper hull structure may be re-positioned over the mooring module, and the mooring module may be hauled upward into engagement with the lower end of the upper hull structure, so that the connection lines can be recovered and re-attached to the upper hull structure.

Abstract: A locking container has a tray with sidewalls, a shelf and a bottom with an elongated opening. A sliding lock and a spring are formed in the bottom opening. A lock flap is hinged to the shelf. A cover has a base glued to the tray bottom, a spine end and a top panel. A latch extension extends form the flap through holes in the shelf and top panel. Sliding the lock with a finger or thumb and lifting with fingers both side sections of the flap releases the latch extension and allows raising of the top panel. Articles are held in bubbles of an inner laminate on the panel.

Abstract: A test apparatus for testing a wheel for a vehicle, including a wheel test spindle and a road simulation drum that is rotated by a motor is disclosed. The wheel test spindle may be supported on suspension components. The road simulation drum includes a chuck hole recess that may be provided in a replaceable module comprising a portion of the outer surface of the drum. The motor rotates the drum causing the tire and wheel to rotate on the test spindle to roll against the outer surface of the drum and through the chuck hole recess.

Abstract: An input apparatus is disclosed having a hand-sensing system, a wake-up detector, and a microcontroller. After a period of inactivity, the apparatus is placed into a sleep mode to conserve power. During the sleep mode, an electrical property that the hand-sensing system presents to the wake-up circuit is measured. If the electrical property exceeds a predetermined level, then the input apparatus is activated. In alternative embodiments, an accelerometer, a pressure switch, or a computer system's response can be used to trigger the activation of the input apparatus.

Abstract: The invention performs handwriting recognition using mixtures of Bayesian networks. A mixture of Bayesian networks (MBN) consists of plural hypothesis-specific Bayesian networks (HSBNs) having possibly hidden and observed variables. A common external hidden variable is associated with the MBN, but is not included in any of the HSBNs. Each HSBN models the world under the hypothesis that the common external hidden variable is in a corresponding one of its states. The MBNs encode the probabilities of observing the sets of visual observations corresponding to a handwritten character. Each of the HSBNs encodes the probabilities of observing the sets of visual observations corresponding to a handwritten character and given a hidden common variable being in a particular state.

Abstract: A frameless switched reluctance motor (SRM) has a stator sandwiched between two housings. Axial load on the rotor shaft is directed through a first bearing, through the first housing to the stator and through the second housing to a motor support. Heat is dissipated using low-loss electrical steel, one or more air movers and air passages through the motor. Preferably a stator profile enables the air passages to be formed through the stator's lamination stack. Optionally air is routed through passages between the coils and through air passages along the air gap and radially through passages between an upper and a lower stator. A first self aligning bearing adapts to misalignment between the first housing and the shaft and a second bearing is provided with transverse movement. Preferably, the frameless motor is adapted for support to a wellhead for driving a downhole rotary pump and a rotary rod string.

Abstract: A bioreactor apparatus and cell culturing system is provided for the automated cultivation and processing of living cells remotely both on earth and in low gravity which utilizes a generally cylindrical reactor vessel that may be optionally rotated about its cylindrical axis while allowing the entrance of fresh or recycled fluid and the removal, optionally, of spent medium, medium to be recycled or filtered or unfiltered medium for the collection of samples. A method of exchanging gases between the culture medium and ambient gases is provided. A fresh-medium storage bag and peristaltic pump is used for batch feeding, perfusion or sample collection. An enclosure and manifold representing an additional level of chemical containment and a series of pinch valves for the periodic collection of samples of suspended cells or cell-free medium is disposed therein together with a humidity control system.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, a method, computer program product, and system for performing automated recognition of blocks of text within a graphic file are provided. The method, computer program product, and system automatically transform drawings into a graphic file format that provides enriched electronic display and text search of the graphic files. The text within large sets of drawings, parts catalogs, and various manuals is automatically discovered, extracted and indexed by the geometric location of the text within the graphic file. Single lines of text and blocks of text are recognized by utilizing geometric reasoning techniques based upon proximity and font characteristics. As such, the present invention automatically produces an interactive electronic representation of a graphic file that allows a user to quickly and accurately search graphic files for particular text, whether the text appears in a single line or over multiple lines in a block of text.

Abstract: The invention provides an antenna system for operation near a ground plane, for example, at or near the surface of a body of water. The antenna system includes, for example, an array of filar elements attached to one or more spiral elements. The system also includes, for example, a buoyant support and/or housing for transporting the antenna to and/or maintaining the antenna at or near the surface of a body of water.

Abstract: A method of monitoring health in chlorophyll containing matter comprises exposing the matter to a light source to cause chlorophyll to fluoresce and emit a fluorescence signal. Any changes in a parameter indicative of changes in the intensity of the fluorescence signal are detected and compared with a predetermined threshold. A change which exceeds the predetermined threshold is interpreted as a transition of the level of stress in the chlorophyll containing matter. An apparatus for monitoring health in chlorophyll containing matter is also provided and comprises a light source for causing chlorophyll in the matter to fluoresce, a detector for detecting the intensity the fluorescent signal, means for measuring changes in a parameter indicative of changes in the intensity of the fluorescent signal and a detector to detect an increase in the change of the parameter above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A connector housing for a communications network includes a housing assembly having a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel. In one configuration, the connector housing includes a jumper management panel that is rotatable into at least two different positions relative to the top panel of the housing assembly. In another configuration, the connector housing has a splice shelf assembly. The splice shelf assembly is attached to the housing assembly and rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the housing assembly. Another configuration of the connector housing has at least one cable entry plate that is removably attached to a side panel of the housing assembly. Additionally, one strain relief assembly has a furcation plug of a cable assembly that is attachable to a mounting rail for securing the same.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communications device, for example, 3rd Generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) user equipment, including estimating (210) noise power of a signal, estimating signal power (220) of the signal, estimating a signal to noise ratio (230) based on the estimated noise power and the estimated signal power, and at least partially unbiasing (240) the estimated signal to noise ratio based on the interval over which the noise power is averaged.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and system for providing multimedia messages to incompatible terminals. The apparatus includes a notification module (216), a media converter (220) and a retrieval module (218). The notification module (216) notifies the incompatible terminal (210) that the multimedia message (222) is available. The media converter (220) transcodes one or more parts of the multimedia message (222). The retrieval module (218) is communicably coupled to the media converter (220) and retrieves the multimedia message (222) in response to a delivery request (232, 234) from the incompatible terminal (210), renders the multimedia message (222), using the media converter (220) as necessary, into a message that is compatible with the incompatible terminal (210) and sends the message to the incompatible terminal (210). This method can be implemented using a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium wherein each function is executed using a code segment.

Abstract: A system and method updating firmware of cells in cellular, high availability, computing systems. One or more cells having missing, obsolete, corrupt, or otherwise errored firmware when compared to other cells in the partition are identified as mismatched cells. An update cell having desired firmware transmits an update message to each mismatched cell via a manageability system slow speed interconnect. In response to the update message, each mismatched cell enables a high speed interconnect over which they can receive the desired firmware. The update cell transmits the update firmware to each mismatched cell via the high speed interconnect.

Abstract: This invention relates to a protective headgear for use by wrestlers and other athletes who require protective covers for their ears during practice and contests. The headgear provides shock absorbency and protection for the ears and forehead in an easily adjustable and comfortable device that is also disassemblable and interchangeable for ease of repair.

Abstract: This invention is directed to compounds which are selective antagonists for melanin concentrating hormone-1 (MCH1) receptors. The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention provides a pharmaceutical composition made by combining a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of this invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention further provides a process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising combining a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention also provides a method of reducing the body mass of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of a compound of the invention effective to reduce the body mass of the subject.

Abstract: An electro-optical cable (38) which includes an optical element (48) having an elongated glass fiber core (50), a medial cushioning layer (54) concentrically surrounding the glass fiber core, and an outer hard shell (56) material surrounding the medial cushioning layer. The cable also includes at least one electrically conductive element (40) comprising an elongated conductive core (42) and a dielectric layer (44) concentrically surrounding the electrically conductive element.

Abstract: An automatic speech recognizer (ASR) is used in conjunction with a gender-neutral grammar to recognize words uttered by a user of a speech application at a given state of the dialogue implemented by the speech application. An identification of the gender (i.e., male or female) of the user is then made from one or more of the recognized words based on gender-specific characteristics of the written language of the user. The identified gender is used in various ways to improve the performance of the speech application.