Abstract: A system for trading precious metals in an efficient secondary market facilitates bidding/accepting transactions between a bidder/buyer and an accepter/seller, the system may also facilitates offering/taking transactions between an offeror/seller and a taker/buyer. Alternatively, or in combination, the system may be a true gold leasing system in which title remains with the owner at all times, though the lessee may have physical custody of the metal. Alternatively, or in combination, the system may be a gold backed currency system.

Abstract: An audio conferencing server that facilitates free form multi-party conversations between computer users. The audio conferencing server includes gateway elements, mixing elements, and a control element. A method for using the audio conferencing system to facilitate free form multi-party conversations between computer users, particularly in a three-dimensional virtual world using an audio conferencing server.

Abstract: A method and system for concurrently monitoring contact center agents. A user interface executes on a supervisor station and displays multiple agent identifiers, including a first agent identifier and a second agent identifier, on a display device. The supervisor station provides to a three-dimensional spatial audio engine (3DSAE) first audio attribute data identifying a location of the first agent identifier in the user interface with respect to a supervisor reference position, the first audio attribute data including first audio direction data and first audio distance data. The supervisor station receives from the 3DSAE first voice signals corresponding to the first agent identifier, wherein the first voice signals include aural characteristics based on the first audio attribute data, and presents the first voice signals to an output port.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically selecting the number of audio channels to mix per listener in an audio processor, such as a server-based three-dimensional audio mixer, as a function of any reasonable measurement of the load on the audio processor.

Abstract: A programming interface and infrastructure of the present invention includes a Shell programming interface and infrastructure (Shell construct), at least one Logic construct, and at least one Data construct. A method for programming using at least one Shell construct, at least one Data construct, at least one I/O construct, and at least one Logic construct. In this method, the at least one Logic construct is independent from the at least one I/O construct.

Abstract: A method and system for concurrently monitoring contact center agents. A user interface executes on a supervisor station and displays multiple agent identifiers, including a first agent identifier and a second agent identifier, on a display device. The supervisor station provides to a three-dimensional spatial audio engine (3DSAE) first audio attribute data identifying a location of the first agent identifier in the user interface with respect to a supervisor reference position, the first audio attribute data including first audio direction data and first audio distance data. The supervisor station receives from the 3DSAE first voice signals corresponding to the first agent identifier, wherein the first voice signals include aural characteristics based on the first audio attribute data, and presents the first voice signals to an output port.

Abstract: An efficient authentication method for providing a user access to a primary server and at least one secondary server. An efficient authentication system for primary and secondary servers for providing secure access to a user.

Abstract: An automatic download provisioning system and method that includes appending an Installer into a Loader, gathering UserInfo, injecting the UserInfo into the Loader, and using the Loader to write the UserInfo into a Registry of a user computer. One preferred embodiment includes the steps of appending an Installer to a Loader having a Static Buffer, posting the Loader on the Web Server, gathering UserInfo, injecting the UserInfo into the Static Buffer, and transmitting the Loader to the user computer. Another preferred embodiment includes means for receiving a Loader having a Static Buffer and an appended Installer, means for gathering UserInfo, means for injecting the UserInfo into the Static Buffer, and means for transmitting the Loader to the user computer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically selecting the number of audio channels to mix per listener in an audio processor, such as a server-based three-dimensional audio mixer, as a function of any reasonable measurement of the load on the audio processor.

Abstract: A telephony software client application for handling the insertion and removal of logical audio devices.

Abstract: A process and software for achieving minimal latency in digital audio playback, which includes calculating a repeatable play cursor lead and a play cursor position and writing audio data at the play cursor position plus the play cursor lead.

Abstract: A process and software for aggressive capture of digital recording on computers, for the purpose of reducing audio latency, which includes periodic frequent polling of a recording buffer containing audio recording data and a known value, reading out data values that do not match the previously written known value, and writing over the data with the known value.

Abstract: A process and software for achieving minimal latency in digital audio recording, which includes calculating a repeatable play cursor lead and a play cursor position and writing audio data at the play cursor position plus the play cursor lead.

Abstract: A process and software for aggressive capture of digital recording on computers, for the purpose of reducing audio latency, which includes periodic frequent polling of a recording buffer containing audio recording data and a known value, reading out data values that do not match the previously written known value, and writing over the data with the known value.

Abstract: A process and software for aggressive capture of digital recording on computers, for the purpose of reducing audio latency, which includes periodic frequent polling of a recording buffer containing audio recording data and a known value, reading out data values that do not match the previously written known value, and writing over the data with the known value.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for restoration of dynamic range to electronically amplified acoustic signals. The apparatus includes in combination: (i) a first input for accepting electrical input signals; (ii) a first output for supplying the electrical input signals to a signal conditioning apparatus; (iii) a second input for accepting conditioned electrical input signals from the signal conditioning apparatus; (iv) a gain-controllable amplifier having a signal input coupled to said first input and an output coupled to a second output for providing dynamic range restored output signals; and (v) a first circuit, the first circuit for controlling gain of the gain-controllable amplifier such that the gain-controllable amplifier has maximum gain when the electrical input signal has a predetermined maximum value and such that the gain-controllable amplifier has minimum gain when the electrical input signal has a predetermined minimum value.